Posted on 12/17/2011 2:14:27 AM PST by Jim Robinson
I respectfully dissent from National Review’s Wednesday-evening editorial, which derided Newt Gingrich as not merely flawed but unfit for consideration as the GOP presidential nominee. The Editors further gave the back of the hand to the bids of two other prominent conservatives, Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann — a judgment that is simply inexplicable in light of the frivolousness of its reasoning and of the Editors’ embrace of Jon Huntsman, a moderate former Obama-administration official, as a serious contender.
The editorial surprised me, as it did many readers. I am now advised that the timing was driven by the editorial’s inclusion in the last edition of the magazine to be published this year, which went to press on Wednesday. The Editors believe, unwisely in my view, that before the first caucuses and primaries begin in early January, it is important to make known their insights — not merely views about the relative merits of the candidates but conclusions that some candidates are no longer worthy of having their merits considered. Like many other voters, I haven’t settled on a candidate. What I want at this very early stage is information about the candidates so I can consider them, not a presumptuous and premature pronouncement that good conservatives do not even rate consideration.
Regarding former Speaker Gingrich, I have no objection to the cataloguing of any candidate’s failings, and Newt has certainly made his share of mistakes. But there ought to be balance — balance between a candidate’s failings and his strengths, balance between the treatment of that candidate and of his rivals. The editorial fails on both scores.
Gingrich’s virtues are shortchanged—his great accomplishment in balancing the federal budget is not even mentioned, an odd omission in an election that is primarily about astronomical spending. His downsides are exaggerated...
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalreview.com ...
yitbos
Pretty good assessment.. for what do we “really” know of any of the candidates..
This election is and should not be a popularity game..
The best man/person for the job may not be “NICE”...
Being “nice” may even be a dis-qualifier..
Eddie Haskel(huntsman) is a joke.. and Ron Paul IS NOT crazy..
LOL.. oh man what the hell is going on with my country when even the Republican based media does what they are doing to a guy who has done more for the Conservative cause than any living human being in the last 40 years?..
No, he’s not. Just has a few bats in the attic.
” Under a Republican president, they [the Republican Congress] added over $3 trillion to the federal deficit, shunned conservative policy in favor of Beltway influence-peddling, and so damaged the GOP brand that we...lost the majority Gingrich had worked years to forge,..How much should I really care that Newt’s fabulous colleagues think his reemergence would be a disaster for Republicans? Lest these characters forget,...2010 was not a merit promotion; they were the only alternative in town.”
Go Newt! I haven’t seen another candidate with as much capacity for leadership as he.
McCarthy really sticks it to NRO.
I am thankful that in this day the truth can still come out.
She was reallllly snarky and attacked Newt as much as I've ever seen her attack Dear Leader.
I realize that since her 1st luv, Tubby Christie would not run, she now has gravitated (obviously, though she did not come right out and say it) towards Mitten, but as with all Mitt (Paul) supporters, they simply can not support their candidate by advancing their virtues and policies, they ALL resort to trying to destroy the other leaders, the same as they did with Cain and before him, Perry and Bachman.
It is disgraceful and a tactic one usually expects from the Demo-Rats.
bfl
On FR, we often look at a candidate’s RECORD, not their words, as an indicator of their core values.
As an example, Romney is unacceptable based on his RECORD, not his words. In fact, we do not trust is words today.
So, why is it that we excoriate Gingrich for his words while ignoring his clear, conservative record?
Andrew McCarthy in this piece - and Mark Levin last night on his show - make eloquent and impassioned indictments of those engaged in the anti-Newt hysteria. What is amazing is that neither McCarthy nor Levin support Newt at this point - but even they are off put and ashamed of the behavior of the irrational “haters” of the Speaker.
It is my observation that the supporters of Newt - and certain other “defenders” like McCarthy and Levin and Rush - are far more realistic and measured in their plus/minus assessments of him. I think this more rational approach would be something I would suggest to many around FR as well.
As McCarthy mentions, all of us conservatives are beneficiaries of some great things Newt did in the 80s and 90s. We should at least debate the merits of the man in that context, regardless of where one ends up in that debate.
NR = Vichy Republicans
To show you how bad Coulter is and how low she has fallen, when she was in full Cristie-orgasm ranting not too long ago, she repeatedly and loudly exclaimed that if Krispy wasn’t nominated, Romney would end up the GOP nominee and was SURE TO LOSE to Barry! So, when she’s in her new Mitt-orgasm mode, how can she claim that “electability” is Mitten’s strong suit in this present race? Perhaps somewhere in her giraffe-elongated neck lies the answer to this bloviating (since she’s now Billy O’s favorite “conservative”) hypocrisy!! The spin stops here, Annie!!! (But, then, coming from the Chris Shays Connecticut wing of the Republican party, what can you expect???)
I intend to support Gingrich if he is the candidate. I’ll support Perry if he is the candidate.
What's the difference between Mittens and Demon Rats?
Welcome to the club.
She lost me months ago with her hyperbolic shilling for Christie.
Thank you, Andrew McCarthy. SHAME ON NRO...this sin is less forgivable than all of Newt’s “indescretions”, in my book.
I’m voting for Newt JUST BECAUSE the good ole GOP is telling me not to and I’M SICK OF IT. They need a good spanking and since Sarah isn’t running, Newt is my protest vote.
GO NEWT !
“Gingrich’s virtues are shortchanged...”...and other conservatives are ignored or excoriated.
Indeed! .....not to mention the FEAR FACTOR, which was mentioned by this author and by Rush: They are afraid of conservative principles. They fear losing their power. They are afraid of reform of the *status quo* in Washington DC. This nation does not simply need to fix its economic policies. It needs something FAR more profound...and I honestly think that operating by conservative PRINCIPLES, which include seeking God’s wisdom and assistance, is EXACTLY what is needed.
Some of the people over at National Review need to revisit the talks and writings of William Buckley. They’ve wandered from the path...
Thanks to Andrew C. McCarthy for adding his voice to the few others who still have brains and some wisdom.
Hmmmm ....what about a Gingrich/Perry team?
And furthermore, GOP, that money you keep asking me for, I’m sending another donation to NEWT !
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