Posted on 12/22/2011 7:20:36 PM PST by TBBT
Hello Field Hands. It’s twelve days to the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses to choose between Republican candidates for the US presidential nomination. I’ve been busy in Mexico and other lands in this 20ll, The Year of Civil Resistance. You can read more about all that the post below this one (and please do, you gotta know about the world around you to better understand where you are). But I heard a rumor that you have a presidential election gearing up in the United States, and – alas and of course – the political reporters and pundits seem as clueless and hapless as they’ve been every four years. So let's get down to business. Remember this time eight years ago, when the polls and pundits were declaring Howard Dean a sure thing to win Iowa, only to be disappointed on caucus night by John Kerry? Do you recall four years ago, when, twelve days out, Hillary Clinton was up in the Hawkeye State by between four to 14 points according to five major polling organizations, only to be conquered by Obama at the actual caucuses? Well, let’s see what the reliably wrong pundit class saying this year about the only contested caucus, the one on the Republican side. Scott Galupo of US News & World Report assures us: “Romney poised for Iowa-New Hampshire sweep.” Liz Marlantes writes in the Christian Science Monitor: “Rick Santorum, Iowa’s Dark Horse candidate, gaining ground." Echoing the most common pack-journalists' spin we’ve heard this week from all corners, John Nichols, in The Nation, pronounces Gingrich’s Iowa hopes dead, that he’s “headed for footnote status.”
(Excerpt) Read more at narcosphere.narconews.com ...
Anybody ever heard of this guy?
Did not Huckabee win Iowa in 2008?
you need to give it a rest
But I’m not convinced that Paul or Romney will win Iowa, or even if they do that either will go on to win the nomination, and here’s why: Stuff happens in the final twelve days before the Iowa caucuses, and it’s hard to get accurate polling over the holidays. Then around New Year’s the Des Moines Register will weigh in with its own poll, which is typically given more weight by the rest of the media than all other polls. And in those last couple of days prior to the caucuses, party bosses and activists try to assess which candidates have a chance and there is suddenly momentum on behalf of two or three candidates, maximum, as supporters of the also-rans then gravitate toward the media-fed perceptions of who can win. Those are the hours when the supporters of candidates who aren’t doing well in the polls make their big jumps onto other more convincing bandwagons.Like I've said before... The polls aren't really about reporting reality. They are about creating it. They're a tool used to create or destroy perceptions and momentum.
One thing Newt has going for him is that he has a real sense of what the grassroots conservative American culture is all about. I say that with respect to public policy, not his personal failings.
He was the architect of the ‘94 revolution, balanced budgets, welfare reform, reversal of annual debts to surpluses, and drove Clinton to the Triangulation strategy that balanced our finances and policies and sparked a very big economic expansion. Gingrich never got the credit he deserved by the GOP establishment and was crushed by the mainstream press.
This article infers that Newt is far from mortally wounded by these attacks, and I think the author is right. The Iowa situation is very fluid and will move some more between now and caucus day. The attacks do not relent because Romney knows that the conservative base is not with him, and many are with Newt.
And pigs could start flying out of my ass...
“And pigs could start flying out of my ass...”
And it probably wouldn’t even hurt...
Well, it might hurt the pigs.
“And pigs could start flying out of my ass...”
will you be okay when that happens?
Only if you’re in the habit of putting things in there.
No reason to rest.... Newt is going to win regardless of the moronic remarks by some...
GO NEWT GO........
I feel sorry for the pigs. GO NEWT!
I believe he has weathered the storm and is stronger for it.
http://action.newt.org - National phone banks into Iowa.
really?
Do this and then reconsider your last remark...
click on the name of the original poster of this article.
Then click “in forum”
then click the “article” tab
then read all the stuff that’s been posted by that person in the last month.
really? Do this and then reconsider your last remark... click on the name of the original poster of this article. Then click “in forum” then click the “article” tab then read all the stuff that’s been posted by that person in the last month.Some Ronulan style conspiracy theory tingles running up your leg?
No sarcasm tag?
The grassroots conservative culture I know think Newts a joke. Individual mandate? Amnesty? Government intervention in "climate change"? Calling true conservative programs "right wing social engineering"? Promoter of Fannie/Freddie. Big idea/Big Government?
Sure, right in line with grassroot conservatives.(sarc)
ronulan?
Better to weigh deeds over words. I don’t know if you remember the 90’s. I sure do. He was the force behind Clinton going from radical left to Triangulation. He took the heat for the balanced budget amendments, welfare reform, tax reforms and was a major reason why the American economy went into big growth after the American people voted his conservative congress into power in ‘94. Maybe you’re watching too much liberal media and don’t remember the ‘Gingrich who stole Christmas’. Gingrich was the grown-up who forced the federal government to get our finances under control.
Regarding some critiques you listed:
Climate change - he did not advocate the Pelosi / Obama Cap & Trade with major killer taxes as imposed by the left. He has favored an entrepreneurial approach to green business with tax incentives on investment. He also favors opening the books and showing all scientific evidence from both sides of the issue to be presented, not blocked as done by Obama.
Amnesty - you must be one of those dreamers who thinks 30+ years of abuse is going to be corrected by a president who’s going to get a real big paddywagon and round up 12 million people, ship them out and we go back to the good old days. He lists many real measures including border fence, increase of security, end of Sanctuary cities, etc.
Freddie Mac - on record going back to his consulting days that the system needed proper regulations. He had a firm with employees who were paid over a period of years.
Right-wing social engineering - he learned from his experience that big changes need big support from the wide majority of the whole country. Badly chosen words, but he has said he could see bringing Ryan’s Medicare choice in right away and work on the other elements over time. Otherwise, no matter how good, you give your opponent all the ammunition to tear it apart before you even have a chance to explain it.
Better to measure Newt by his record in governance and a complete assessment of his credentials. He is a conservative patriot, not perfect, but for sure not a liberal sell-out.
I measure Newt, like I do all the candidates, with all of the information I have about them, good and bad. I remember the 1990's and what Newt did that was good, I also remember him quiting after just being reelected and becoming a lobbyist/hired gun who would support the position of whoever paid him. I look at his conservative side and his progressive side, which you ignore.
At best, Gingrich is another McCain, sometimes conservative, sometimes sucking up to the liberals and sometimes a just plain goofy "maverick". Even their personal lives have parallels, both committing adultery when their wives had physical problems.
Our Country needs, and deserves, a lot better than Gingrich, and I don't mean Romney.
Please tell me who this person you speak of, is. I would be thrilled to know. My concern is that what you describe does not exist in this 2012 campaign. If you think Newt simply quit in ‘98, then you weren’t watching the phony baloney ethics scandal that the establishment with the band of liberals forced on Gingrich to save Clinton’s sorry butt. Without Gingrich’s support, Clinton would not have been impeached, and Gore would have been the president in 2000.
Your inference that he is simply a hired gun who supports whoever pays him needs more explanation. Please explain with details. I responded to your points about his ‘progressive’ ideas and I really want to hear what alternatives are achievable. In many of these points he is dealing in reality and not simply offering unobtainable red meat.
I wish we all will get what we want in this election. I think we both agree that Obama needs to go, and I have heard opinions like yours. What I don’t here is a real alternative conservative with an unassailable record who can withstand all the attacks and destroy Obama one-on-one.
I see from where the big attacks are coming against Newt and it’s the establishment, not the conservatives. Read Thomas Sowell’s column this week and you will see the conservative argument favoring Gingrich.
Good luck and I hope a year from now we are celebrating the results of the election and have renewed hope for the future.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.