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Goldberg: Newtzilla to the rescue
latimes.com ^ | 12/13/2011 | Jonah Goldberg

Posted on 12/12/2011 7:35:36 PM PST by TBBT

"How do we stop Newt?"

I've now been asked that question by a lot of conservatives. It's not that I'm the go-to guy for that sort of question. Rather, one gets the sense that many "establishment" conservatives are asking everybody that question — in staff meetings, at the chiropodist, even at the McDonald's drive-through.

The other night while having drinks with some prominent conservatives, I said I thought there was a significant chance that Gingrich will not only win the nomination but that he might be the next president. Going by their expressions, I might as well have said I put a slow-acting poison in their cocktails.

Not surprising then that there are more knives out for Gingrich than in a Ginsu infomercial. For instance, former New Hampshire Gov. John H. Sununu has been nurturing a grievance against Gingrich since he was White House chief of staff in 1990. For two decades he's been like Inigo Montoya in "The Princess Bride." "Hello, my name is John Sununu. You destroyed my boss' presidency; prepare to die."

But Sununu's barbs bounce off Gingrich, as has George Will's more brutal rhetorical artillery fire. Conventional weapons are useless against Newtzilla.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: newt
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To: TBBT
Newt is unelectable in the general election. He will usher in a second and fatal Obama Presidency. Newt is our worst nightmare. He will pummel the republican field so even if he fails in his bid...our nominee will be weakened.

Take the $1,000,000 from Savage, Newt...I'll throw in another $100 with it.

21 posted on 12/12/2011 9:37:55 PM PST by Awgie (truth is always stranger than fiction)
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To: GladesGuru

You should also note that great changes in history occurr when a person of real leadership appears. Sometimes it is a nobody, coming from out of obscurity to lead the way out of chaos, like Abraham Lincoln. Sometimes it is a well known failure, like Generals Ulysses Grant or Tecumseh Sherman during the Civil War.

True leadership and the ability to envision how things should be better are not abilities one is necessarily born with but learn over time.

I don’t know who will be the Republican candidate. But Newt Gingrich sure has a lot of the folks who want to continue Washington business as usual quaking in their boots. Personally, I like that.


22 posted on 12/12/2011 9:42:15 PM PST by SatinDoll (NO FOREIGN NATIONALS AS U.S.A. PRESIDENT)
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To: Awgie
Newt is unelectable in the general election.

If you think that Newt Gingrich is unelectable, then you obviously must know what the electorate wants. So tell me, what is the one thing they want, that Gingrich doesn't have.

23 posted on 12/12/2011 10:02:19 PM PST by csense
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To: Kieri
One had better be very, very careful (remember, "anybody but Hillary" - we got Obama), lest we get Ron Paul winning by default!

Seriously folks, first liberals tore down Palin, then "conservatives" chimed in with, "she's unelectable," dittos for Bachmann, next came Cain and, well Clinton's "bimbo eruptions" popped up everywhere, whether true or not, he's gone; now we have Newt surging and all "respectable conservatives" (read: everyone but US) clamor that Newt's worse than Obozo.

I harken back to Rush, who warned that if conservatives let the democRATS, MSM and liberal RINOs attack and drive potential conservative candidates away, don't think that they'll leave those in the second/third tier alone after successfully killing off the superstars like Palin.

Nope, I predict that after Newt is swatted back home, we will be left the choice of Ron Paul or Mitt Romney - UGH, what a choice!

24 posted on 12/12/2011 10:02:35 PM PST by zerosix (native sunflower)
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To: Awgie
You don't know that for certain. The fact is, almost anyone who doesn't want to see Obama's second term will vote for the republican nominee and the few who don't will stay home; just like there will be a few who won't vote for Obama that did so the last time. So it is a wash. And yes, my statement is as valid as yours. Neither of us have proof. Polls mean nothing at this point.

Reagan was way behind Carter at this same point in 1979 and H. W. Bush was way behind Dukaka as late as early summer 1988.

25 posted on 12/12/2011 10:18:36 PM PST by Dave W
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To: TBBT

I can live with Newtzilla. Light years better than Obama, quite electable.


26 posted on 12/12/2011 10:38:06 PM PST by The_Media_never_lie
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To: TBBT

If you want to stop the Rino anti-Newt train, go to his website and make calls for him to Iowa voters. It’s a simple way for us broke grass roots folks to contribute to Newt.


27 posted on 12/12/2011 10:49:29 PM PST by Liberty Wins
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To: Awgie
"...Savage..."

Of Weiner Nation. Bi-polar, manic-depressive, no-class nutcase.

28 posted on 12/12/2011 10:56:51 PM PST by Matchett-PI ("One party will generally represent the envied, the other the envious. Guess which ones." ~GagdadBob)
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To: csense
“If you think that Newt Gingrich is unelectable, then you obviously must know what the electorate wants. So tell me, what is the one thing they want, that Gingrich doesn't have.”

It's easy to project our values and desires on others and assume that they feel as we do. Freepers are a rare breed, engaged knowledgeable and passionate.

Electing a President requires capturing the vote of the squishy middle...people who only see headlines and are easily manipulated.

For this vast migratory group of voters it generally comes down to “how they feel” about a candidate. Is he “like-able.” Or does he make them feel uncomfortable for some unknown reason.

Unfortunately Newt falls into the latter category. Most people won't appreciate his intellect and experience. They will only see the billion dollars of negative headlines and the unfair labels. Or maybe it's just a nose hair.

The “Grinch” will be reborn and America will die a slow painful death in the hands of a victorious BO and a newly minted democrat congress. It's as plain as the hair on your head.

29 posted on 12/13/2011 6:10:24 AM PST by Awgie (truth is always stranger than fiction)
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To: Awgie
They will only see the billion dollars of negative headlines and the unfair labels. Or maybe it's just a nose hair.

So, which republican candidate will, or has not received this treatment by the DBM?

Or perhaps you believe that the media would not do this if the republicans (or any non liberal party)would simply elect a telegenic or otherwise a likeable candidate?

30 posted on 12/13/2011 6:21:30 AM PST by going hot (Happiness is a momma deuce)
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To: Awgie
For this vast migratory group of voters it generally comes down to “how they feel” about a candidate. Is he “like-able.” Or does he make them feel uncomfortable for some unknown reason. Unfortunately Newt falls into the latter category

Well, that would be a valid reason if it were true, but it's not, and the polls support that. Oddly enough, the greatest resistance I have found, is from conservatives themselves, who again, oddly enough, engage i projection and who they themselves are easily manipulated. Think about it for a moment. They are using your own principles against you. Rendering you ineffective and easily conquered, all the while allowing you to stroke your pride under cover of assault. Know your enemy my friend and know him well because he is not a fool.

If you want the White House, then take it, because it's within our reach. It's in the hands of people like you.

31 posted on 12/13/2011 6:44:52 AM PST by csense
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To: csense

It’s utterly disgusting that these Beltway RINOs are more scared of Newt winning than Obama winning. This article totally lays bare the lies the establishment is spreading that Newt is somehow a RINO himself or a liberal or that he is unelectable.

I can’t explain all of Newt’s seemingly more moderate views in recent years, but it looks like he’s willing and ready to come home. Newt may have been trying to soften his image up to appeal to independents in a potential election, with things like the Pelosi ad. It seems like most of so-called moves to the left were not based on policy, but more based on trying to be friendly to the opposition on a personal level, which may have seemed to have some strategic value at one time or another. I think he assumed Republicans would always know he on his side, and could not have anticipated being labeled a liberal given his long record in the conservative movement.

At any rate, Newt seems to be the most successful Tea Party candidate of all time, even before the Tea Party existed. He shook up the RINO establishment like no one else long before the Tea Party movement came along.

I believe electability often comes down to charisma. The more charismatic presidential candidate seems to have won every time since at least 1976. Who would you prefer to have enter your living room while you’re watching the candidates on TV? I could easily see Newt coming off as a strong, decisive, intelligent yet warm, down-to-earth and approachable candidate, while Obama comes off as a patrician, evasive, condescending, detached-from-reality, out-of-touch candidate (just as Mitt Romney does now and past losers like Kerry, Gore, Dukakis).

Likewise I don’t see the argument that we want the focus to be on Obama, so we should elect a candidate like Romney who will sort of shrink to the background and let Obama be the focus. That will NEVER work. If the media focuses on Obama, they will spin him in a relentlessly positive way. We need a candidate like Newt who is such a lightning rod and so juicy that he will command the attention of the media as they look for ratings. That’s when he can deliver his blows by making his arguments against Obama. How in the hell can the pro-Romney camp think the media NOT focusing on our candidate is a good thing? Talk about leading from behind. Newt’s plan to follow Obama around everywhere he goes and respond to him with his own speech is utterly brilliant and exactly the kind of thing the Republican campaign needs. It also shows the kind of ambition and fearlessness that Newt has unlike any other candidate in recent memory.

We just don’t know how the debate chemistry is going to work out for sure. Rick Perry appears to be Mitt Romney’s kryptonite, inspiring him to make his worst gaffes. There’s a chance Newt might have the same effect on Obama. He is also smart enough that he may figure out Obama’s weaknesses after the first debate and figure out how to target him in the next ones.

To see Newt bashed because of his negative comment on Romney adds to the craziness. Don’t we WANT a guy who is going to snap back on Obama that fast and fearlessly? I don’t really care whether he attacks Obama from the right or from the left.


32 posted on 12/14/2011 8:27:08 PM PST by JediJones (Professor of Palintology)
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To: Awgie

Pummel the Republican field??????? He’s the only one holding his fire. Gimme a break.


33 posted on 12/14/2011 8:32:47 PM PST by Solson (The Voters stole the election! And the establishment wants it back.)
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To: JediJones
Very well said and I couldn't agree more. The greatest obstacle though to gaining the White House is our own fractured base, which is somewhat understandable during the primaries, but there are indications that it may be a real problem during the general election. Time will tell if that remains to be the case, but pride can be a very powerful force. Impervious to reason and self sacrifice. There's a reason that it's among the cardinal sins.

Hopefully people will come to their senses and do the right thing...hopefully.

34 posted on 12/14/2011 9:52:23 PM PST by csense
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