Posted on 12/01/2006 7:40:42 AM PST by ZGuy
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich last night offered a grim outlook for the final two years of the Bush Administration, saying at best it would resemble President Gerald Ford’s administration and at worst President Jimmy Carter’s.
Gingrich spoke at a private fundraiser for the Virginia Conservative Action PAC. The event, hosted at the home of Shirley & Banister Public Affairs President Craig Shirley, attracted dozens of conservatives to hear Gingrich’s message.
Despite a clamoring among conservatives for Gingrich to run for president in 2008, he offered no indication he would do so. Recently, Gingrich has said he would make a decision in September 2007. He echoed those sentiments last night.
Gingrich’s remarks were wide-ranging, touching on America’s healthcare system, the bloated federal budget and a history lesson about George Washington’s Mount Vernon home—just miles from the site of the fundraiser.
He reserved his harshest remarks for the Bush Administration and Republicans in Washington, D.C. Gingrich called the consultant community “stupid” and said the GOP has wasted money on campaign ads. He said, “2004 was pathetic, and 2006 was worse.”
Gingrich said Republicans—and especially White House adviser Karl Rove—need to recognize why they lost control of Congress. He said Rove should leave his job if he doesn’t get it.
On Iraq, Gingrich said the U.S. won the first campaign there—toppling Saddam Hussein—but has failed in the second, ongoing campaign. He said he opposes the current plan of action in Iraq, and called on the U.S. to launch a new, broader third campaign. In the past, Gingrich has suggested a preemptive invasion of Iran to thwart that country’s development of a nuclear weapon.
He said the American people are more courageous than the Bush Administration realizes—and when called upon to act, they will respond accordingly. “Show them Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s speeches,” Gingrich implored.
What advice would Gingrich offer Bush and Republicans? He named three bold moves he would take: Abolish the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, make English the official U.S. language, and praise US Airways, in the form of a congressional resolution, for its tough stand against six Muslim imams who behaved like terrorists on a recent flight.
He cited the “fiasco” in New Orleans as another embarrassment for the Bush Administration, which has relied on government to fix the city’s problems rather than private enterprise. “If there was no FEMA, New Orleans would have recovered faster.”
The fundraiser was organized on behalf of VCAP by Erin DeLullo, who most recently worked on Ken Blackwell’s campaign for governor of Ohio. Notable conservatives in attendance included former U.S. Rep. Bob Livingston, Media Research Center President Brent Bozell, public-relations consultants Diana Banister and Christian Josi, Townhall.com General Manager Chuck DeFeo, and American Spectator contributor Quin Hillyer. Virginia Delegate Chris Saxman and Corey Stewart, the newly elected chairman of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors, were also in attendance.
My, my. What happend to all those broken glass republicans, the ones that castigated all us chicken little's on this forum that told you exactly what would happen in the last election.
Remember you told us (R) by the name was the only thing.
You make my point exactly: the fact that he was EASILY "mis-quoted" and thus rendered entirely impotent in the entire debate is why he is not a good spokesman.
OK then, explain why GW and Karl didn't figure this out. Instead they went about stomping on the base at every speach. That stratergy worked out so well for us. Not so sure that they considered it all that bad though.
1) every item in the Contract with America except term limits passed the house.
2) every item in the Contract except the two constitutional amendments became law within two years in some form.
3) the "embarassing" political losses of which you speak only occured in the Nov. 98 election -- and he had a lot of help in bringing those about... there is plenty of blame to go around on that one.
4) the drift of which you speak only came about, IMHO, after Gingrich was gone and Tom DeLay decided to spend his way into a permanent majority.
-- I could go on, but that's enough for a start
He's welcome to run. Perhaps he will "raise the level" of debate, perhaps not. More likely, his gaffes and misquoted comments will BECOME the subject of the debate, not "conservatism." And in that respect, he'll do far more harm than good.
Not looking for perfection, some semblance of fidelity indicates a strong character. Anyone can make a mistake, repetitive cheating on multiple wifes shows that he refused to change his behavior. I like newt, he is very smart and is a patriot, I just don't trust him and wouldn't want him as a President.
What planet are you on?
Thanks for that nugget.
He won't feel better 'til he's all only in the room by himself -- and he'll still be suspicious
the Speaker of the House has nothing to do with the judicial confirmation process...
BUMP!
Any politician in America can be eailsy mis-quoted if the press decides it just going to be sloppy -- you're making up reasons trying to sound smart. He was not rendered impotent -- in fact, his side prevailed. If you think he's not a good spokesman you don't know what a good spokesman is, IMHO.
Notice how acceptable these things are when they fit the purpose of those that still worship GW and Rove. They called it compromise and declared it was always necessary. Oh well, things change I guess.
I'm just saying to all the Newt haters if he is that bad why not throw him out of the republican party they should start a paper drive
The planet of reality.
In an alternative universe if you think McCain and Gingrich are two peas out of the same pod... you don't have to like either of them -- that's your right -- but for heaven's sake at least pay attention.
I would be willing that not a single freeper that warned of the coming defeat, voted for a Dem over a RINO, but it made no difference.
I clearly and often warned that this was coming and that the blame lay at the feet of GW and Karl Rove. You can blame whomever you want, but that won't change a thing.
The embarrassing political losses of which I speak are things like Gingrich's disastrous "Government Shutdown of '95" (which also had the incidental effect of getting Monica and Slick together); getting his ass kicked on Medicare reform; getting rolled several times in making budget deals; and generally making himself the issue for the 1996 election; and so on. Clinton was on the ropes after the '94 elections; Newt handed everything back to him, and more.
Gingrich was a disaster as Speaker.
Amen.
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