Newt Gingrich, weapon of an angry Republican base

The Seattle Times ^ | December 18, 2011 | E. J. Dionne

[no dems]

It is one of the true delights of a bizarrely entertaining Republican presidential contest to watch the apoplectic fear and loathing of so many GOP establishmentarians toward Newt Gingrich. They treat him as an alien body whose approach to politics they have always rejected.

The right-wing faithful knows Gingrich pioneered this style of politics, and they laugh at efforts to cast the former House speaker as something other than a "true conservative." They know better.

The establishment was happy to use Gingrich's tactics to win elections, but it never expected to lose control of the party to the voters it rallied with such grandiose negativity. Now, the joke is on those who manipulated the base. The base is striking back, and Newt is their weapon.

Gingrich is said to be too tough on his opponents, too quick to issue outlandish charges. He's actually been quite candid about his take-no-prisoner approach to politics.

"One of the great problems we have had in the Republican Party is that we ... encourage you to be neat, obedient, and loyal and faithful, and all those Boy Scout words which would be great around the campfire but are lousy in politics. ... You're fighting a war. It is a war for power. ... Don't try to educate. That is not your job. What is the primary purpose of a political leader? To build a majority."

That would be Gingrich in 1978, reported by John M. Barry in his excellent "The Ambition and the Power," a book about the fall of former House Speaker Jim Wright and Gingrich's role in bringing him down. Again, Gingrich is a thoroughly consistent figure. The guy you see now is the same guy who always preached a scorched-earth approach to politics.

[no dems]

In other words: "We're mad as hell and we aren't taking it anymore."

[yup2394871293]

Just be sure that the weapon doesn’t shoot the person firing it in the foot.

[FlingWingFlyer]

E.J. needs to lighten up a bit. He’s the queen of all the liberal drama queens.

[no dems]

The establishment was happy to use Gingrich's tactics to win elections, but it never expected to lose control of the party
Well, seemingly, the establishment HAS lost control of the GOP. We'll know for sure if Romney does NOT get the nomination. If Newt, or another Conservative, is the GOP nominee, we will know that the establishment has lost control. Dear God, please let it be so.

[no dems]

E.J. needs to lighten up a bit. He’s the queen of all the liberal drama queens.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

But, in this case, he is telling the truth about the GOP establishment.

[Cobra64]

But, in this case, he is telling the truth about the GOP establishment.

I agree.

[eddie willers]

E. J. Dionne ?

Wadda ya know....the blind pig finds an acorn.

[hosepipe]

[ Newt Gingrich, weapon of an angry Republican base ]

OH!.. I’m angry..E.J... you have no idea.....

[jdsteel]

Yeah...Newt’s way too mellowed out for my tastes! I’d love to see some real tough politics. But, he’ll do! Not my first or second choice, but he’ll do.

[RIghtwardHo]

I’m part of that angry GOP base and he’s no weapon of mine.

[crz]

I agree with you sir.

What we have with Gingrich is a man who the establishment could not control while he was speaker, so they forced him out. That might explain his tending to do rash things to dig at the establishment. Things he says he now regrets.

I mean 83 ethics charges? 83? And they hoisted him because of one stupid little one that was later dismissed? How many accusations did Palin have brought against her?

If they do not like someone, they use shyster lawyer tactics to remove.

[Donald Rumsfeld Fan]

The establishment was happy to use Gingrich's tactics to win elections, but it never expected to lose control of the party to the voters it rallied with such grandiose negativity. Now, the joke is on those who manipulated the base. The base is striking back, and Newt is their weapon.

click on image

[Donald Rumsfeld Fan]

Yeah...Newt’s way too mellowed out for my tastes! I’d love to see some real tough politics. But, he’ll do! Not my first or second choice, but he’ll do.

not this newt....revolutionary ideas

[restornu]

could someone make sense of this

The Case For TRANSFORMATIONAL Government, Politics Newt Gingrich 2001
http://holtz.org/Library/Social%20Science/Transformational%20Govt%20by%20Newt%20Gingrich.htm

Video: Newt Gingrich Says the Greatest Politician of the 20th Century is FDR!
http://www.nationalbroadside.com/?p=26603

At one time Glenn Beck talked about a book call The Road We Are Traveling I was able to find it on line but there are a few pages missing in the beginning of the book how disappointing.

YouTube Glenn Beck The Dangers of Fabian Socialism Oct 6 3 3 (Stuart Chase The Road We Are Traveling starts 6 mins. into the talk) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nbghoMjKTg&feature=related

This book can be downloaded but a few pages are missing in the beginning http://www.archive.org/details/TheRoadWeAreTraveling

Also the 1933 Twentieth Century publisher is still around The Twentieth Century with an current web site 1996. I thought I pass this on to anyone who might be interested to know.

Twentieth Century 1996
http://www.uiowa.edu/policult/politick/smithson/tcf.htm

Also why is Newt on this progessive web site too

The Gingrich Revolution—”To Violate Natural Right”,
an op-ed by Fund Trustee Brewster C. Denny
http://www.uiowa.edu/policult/politick/smithson/tcf.htm

Newt Gingrich endorses individual mandate in interview with Glenn Beck (Video)
http://www.examiner.com/political-buzz-in-national/newt-gingrich-endorses-individual-mandate-glenn-beck-interview-video

[cripplecreek]

I think the guy is bad news.

[combat_boots]

Thank you for the work and for the ping