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Why the establishment fears Newt Gingrich
washingtonpost.com ^ | 12/22/2011 | Robert S. Walker

Posted on 12/22/2011 5:09:37 PM PST by TBBT

After Newt Gingrich rose in the polls, criticism of the former House speaker began grabbing headlines. But Republican establishment attacks on Newt are not new. Newt’s political career has been devoted to mounting a conservative challenge to the establishment’s desire to play the Washington power game of go along to get along.

As a junior congressman, Newt founded the Conservative Opportunity Society (COS), a group of activist members of Congress whose goal was to challenge the liberal welfare state but whose first target was the Republican establishment in the House of Representatives. The “old bulls” who dominated the party in the House had become quite comfortable in their minority status and saw little chance they would ever become a majority. Newt and the COS knew that, to create a true conservative agenda, the party needed to focus on becoming a majority. We used the House floor and C-SPAN to promote our ideas. We attacked spending bills and efforts to expand government, some of which the establishment had endorsed. It reacted by telling newly elected members to stay away from those COS guys because they are trouble.

Newt really stirred up establishment backlash by taking on then-Speaker Jim Wright (D-Tex.) for ethics violations. The further Newt pushed his case against Wright, the more uncomfortable establishment leaders became. When Newt won, they leaned more toward agreeing with Wright’s characterization of the result as “cannibalism” rather than seeing it as a victory for Republicans against an increasingly corrupt majority.

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


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: newt
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The old grudges still manifest themselves today...

The GOP establishment doesn't really care if Romney looses. They are more concerned with regaining control of the senate so that they can have their chairmanships back (and control/spend the money). They figure Romney is safe and won't upset the apple cart down ballot. They know the status quo would be in jeopardy if somebody like Newt wins it.

The media establishment is, in part, concerned with protecting their reputations (a Newt win would be an embarrassment for them).

1 posted on 12/22/2011 5:09:40 PM PST by TBBT
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To: TBBT

nudge, nudge,wink, wink.
Eh, Eh.
I mean , you know..
nudge,nudge, wink, wink.....


2 posted on 12/22/2011 5:14:00 PM PST by nkycincinnatikid
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To: TBBT

Newt reminds me of Winston Churchill - imperfect but strong.


3 posted on 12/22/2011 5:21:36 PM PST by abclily
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To: TBBT
Interesting cannibalism reference by Speaker Wright. I heard just yesterday, that when Newt resigned as speaker, he told them on the phone he was willing to provide leadership, but not for a bunch of cannibals.
4 posted on 12/22/2011 5:32:33 PM PST by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: TBBT
I believe you're dead on.

The question becomes, if the Republican Party is supporting the reelection of Obama by default, why should I vote for the Republican nominee?

This is like a football game where both teams have the same coaches and owner.

With the disgust felt by many Conservatives towards a political party which claims to represent us, yet continues to demonstrate it's disdain for us, these clowns are begging for rebellion and the formation of another party.

I've come to accept that Obama has a very good chance of reelection under the current “two party” system.

While it's too early to say for certain, I'm really thinking a new Conservative party might be the best hope (though slim) of regaining control of the Country from Obama and the party's which support him.

5 posted on 12/22/2011 5:36:16 PM PST by Rational Thought
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To: TBBT

From what I have seen Newt is his own man. He is a leader such as recently backing the House Republicans in the tax dispute. Not a word out of the other candidates. GO NEWT!


6 posted on 12/22/2011 5:43:56 PM PST by Parley Baer
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To: TBBT

They could not control Gingrich. And that is why they forced him out. He would not play by the “rules” and had to go.

Romney, they can control and keep on with the good ol boy program.


7 posted on 12/22/2011 5:45:17 PM PST by crz
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To: TBBT

The establishment likes Newt. He’s the perfect candidate if they can’t get Romney. He may not be the pure blue-blood, but he is pragmatic and likes to be loved.


8 posted on 12/22/2011 5:47:07 PM PST by CharlesWayneCT
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To: CharlesWayneCT
The establishment likes Newt.

They sure have a strange way of manifesting their like!

9 posted on 12/22/2011 6:05:27 PM PST by Bigun ("The most fearsome words in the English language are I'm from the government and I'm here to help!")
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To: abclily

Pardon me while I guffaw. I remember Newty running with his tail between his legs when the dems manufactured the ethics “scandal” against him. Correct me if I’m wrong, he did resign the House speakership—didn’t he?

But, then, your definition of strong is probably different than mine.


10 posted on 12/22/2011 6:10:10 PM PST by dools0007world
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To: dools0007world

And the people who tried to overthrow him in his speakership weren’t the “establishment”.


11 posted on 12/22/2011 6:15:57 PM PST by CharlesWayneCT
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To: CharlesWayneCT

Funny stuff, don’t know what your smoking but it seems to be pretty strong.


12 posted on 12/22/2011 6:25:15 PM PST by Leto (Damn shame Palin didn't run, The Presidency was Her's for the taking)
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To: Owl_Eagle; brityank; Physicist; WhyisaTexasgirlinPA; GOPJ; abner; baseballmom; Mo1; Ciexyz; ...

Former Congressman Walker defends Newt.


13 posted on 12/22/2011 6:27:33 PM PST by Tribune7 (Vote Perry (or Gingrich maybe))
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To: dools0007world

Yeah the dems were going to vote him out when they (the pubs) smelled blood, after all look how good DeLay, Hastert and the current bunch were at limiting spending ....oh wait...


14 posted on 12/22/2011 6:29:00 PM PST by Leto (Damn shame Palin didn't run, The Presidency was Her's for the taking)
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To: Rational Thought

“While it’s too early to say for certain, I’m really thinking a new Conservative party”

There is it is called the Constitution Party.


15 posted on 12/22/2011 6:31:07 PM PST by doc
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To: dools0007world

You probably could not stand up to five minutes of what Newt faced from the establishment of both parties in the 90’s. Of course, we’ll never know, you’ll probably never achieve anything that ruffles anyone’s feathers.


16 posted on 12/22/2011 6:35:22 PM PST by C. Edmund Wright (Moderator of Florida Tea Party Convention Presidential Debate)
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To: CharlesWayneCT
.


How can you honestly make that statement, AFTER reading the article ?


Newt seemed to have a Sarah Palin "The Establishment be Damned" attitude, especially when STANDING-UP to Bush 41 ... over raising New Taxes ...


Is Newt perfect ? Nope ...


Was it STUPID for Newt to sit next to Nacy Botox Pelosi on that Sofa ?

Absolutely ... and that's mistake that Newt freely admits to today ...



Newt Gingrich is THIS Tea Partier's POTUS nominee for 2012 ... Period.



.
17 posted on 12/22/2011 6:38:58 PM PST by Patton@Bastogne
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To: TBBT

I agree. The wealth of the members of Congress put nearly all in the top 1%.


18 posted on 12/22/2011 6:57:56 PM PST by RobbyS
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To: TBBT

I agree. The wealth of the members of Congress put nearly all in the top 1%.


19 posted on 12/22/2011 6:58:16 PM PST by RobbyS
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To: Rational Thought

Got to be careful. The split in the British Liberal Party in the twenties meant the end of them as a national party. Now they are back, and ironically with about the same constituency as before.


20 posted on 12/22/2011 7:01:28 PM PST by RobbyS
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