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.
But, you know, historically parties go through these periods. For the longest time, the only clear anti-Roosevelt voice who was consistently consistent was Robert A. Taft. And, on the other side, going further back, William Jennings Bryan consistently put forward the (losing) Dem position.
Nevertheless, Newt better decide quickly if he's a pundit or a candidate, because the latter does NOT have the freedom to muse intellectually the way Newt likes to do.
Neither will McCain or Guiliani.
From the statements I've heard Rove make since November 7th (gosh, that seems eons ago)... they are in denial.
Dr. Newt Gingrich was born Newton McPherson in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. While still in his youth his parents separated and the young Newt lived with his mother, Kathleen McPherson. Kathleen would eventually marry Robert Gingrich who would adopt Newt.
Gingrich was first elected to the House of Representatives in the November 1978 election year. Gingrich would be elected 10 times, but would only take his seat nine of those times. In 1994, Gingrich, who served as Minority Whip, drafted the Contract with America. The success of that election year brought Newt immense popularity. He was elected to be the Speaker of the House of Representatives in 1995 and served in that position until his disgraceful behavior led to his resignation in 1998.
Gingrich, preacher of personal responsibility, honesty, and ethics, used tax-exempt foundations for political purposes in violation of House Rules. Gingrich admitted his guilt, and was fined $300,000 by the House Ethics Committee.
Gingrich, critic of the president's infidelity and preacher of family values, was also carrying on an affair with a much younger congressional employee who reported to him. It is interesting to note that Gingrich's 3rd wife is Callista Bisek who was his secretary when he was House Speaker. He divorced his second wife to marry his third just a few months after his second divorce and like the second time he was involved with his second wife before he divorced his first wife.
Gingrich served his first wife (Jackie Battley, his high school math teacher) with divorce papers while she was in the hospital with cancer, and split with his second wife (Marianne Ginther) over the phone on Mother's Day, soon after learning that she had been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.
Sounds like your kind of Guy PDR. Do you want to deny that Newt was fined 300 grand for illegal political use of non profit funds? Would you be even more supportive if he had hidden the illegal funds in his Freezer?
The deal with the Clinton's was as follows. Newt and Livingston would resign. The skeletons in Henry Hyde's closet about an illegitimate child would be revealed. Clinton would be impeached but not convicted. The Senate would vote 100 to 0 not to examine any evidence against Clinton before voting him not guilty.
Newt saw the party polls going into the 1998 election. He knew the Republicans were going to lose seats. But he needed an excuse to resign. That is why he was telling ABC news while the votes were being counted that the Republicans were going to pick up a bunch of seats. He knew exactly what the results of the election were going to be, but he needed an excuse to cover his resignation.
Every one in the Washington Press Corp knew what the deal was by the fall of 1998. Newt's choice was to resign or be removed from his seat in the house.The house can vote not to seat any elected member. They were prepared to do so in both the Gingrich and Livingston cases.
Both Newt and Livingston were allowed to resign with out revealing the real reason. But their choice was to resign or be removed.
Anyone who believes that Newt resigned because the Republicans retained control of the House .. admittedly with a reduced margin, must think that those same house members would have demanded Speaker Hastert's resignation after the 2000 election. In 2000 the Republicans lost more seats. In 2000 they only retained 221 house seats. It is worth noting that 218 are required to retain control of the house. They came within 4 seats of losing control of the house in 2000.
Newt was not even in charge of the RNC Committee that was tasked with winning the 1998 election. After his confession and 300 thousand dollar fine for using illegal campaign funds, the Republicans wanted him as far from the 1998 campaign as possible.
I only have the word of my friends who were at that time were in the Washington Press Corp and few media stories for Newt's sexual immorality, but his 300 thousand dollar fine by the house ethics committee is a matter of record. Newt admitted his crime so the ethics committee vote for the 300 grand fine was unanimous. His excuse was he didn't mean to do it. It just sort of happened.
Newt reminds me a lot of the Governor Of Ohio. Gov. Bob Taft thinks the laws apply to other people .. not him. Newt like Taft will be a disaster for the Republican party. If you go back a few years you will find my posts on Taft were very much against TAFT... I was proved correct on Taft. I will be proved correct on Newt.
To believe that Newt's attacks on Clinton cost the Republicans the 1998 election you would have to believe that immoral behavior by politicians helps them win elections. It does not.
After getting fined 300 grand the Republican party wanted Newt to have nothing to do with the 1998 campaign. But you can argue that the House Republicans wanted rid of Newt. That is why they bought the Clinton deal. But the loss of seats had a lot more to do with Newts 300 grand fine for illegalities than it did with Monica. Money crimes always top sexual crimes, but I still say Newt was guilty of both. And I can prove the money crime.
People who have been fined 300 grand for illegal activities do not make good presidents.
I watched Newt on Larry King months after the Drudge report broke the Monica story. He telling Larry that we should not judge Clinton until all the facts were in. It was obvious that Newt was helping Clinton with his stalling tactics.
I called a former news reporter at one of my radio stations. The former employee was now a member of the Washington Press Corp. I asked him why Newt was assisting Clinton's stalling tactic. I will never forget his answer. He said, "Newt has been banging his secretary and Clinton has the proof."
We will find out how much proof the Clinton's have from back then and from later escapades .. if Newt gets the nomination.
Er, perhaps you should do a little bit of research on the name Callista Bisek, the woman who now is Newt's 3rd wife. You might also look into the circumstances behind Newt's first divorce.... Newt's zipper problems are well known.
save for later
That's why I think Newt would be of far more value to conservatism in explaining what the "real" candidate "meant" when he said "x,y,z."
Moreover, I think his temperament, via Air Force One incident, is such that he would have "Howard Dean" moments---certainly not as bad, but enough to destroy him.
I wouldn't want him for secretary of anything . . . but would LOVE to have him as the advisor to any president. He is great at saying, "Hey, what if we did this?" but weak at following up, when, say, Suzie won't vote for it unless you give her this project, at finding a way to convince Suzie to give you the vote.
It's the same thing as why I don't want Condi as a candidate. Good advisor. Not all her ideas are great, but some are.
Now, I can't tell you who I would like to see as the candidate. Haven't seen anyone yet who floats my boat. But if it's Newt, we're looking at President Clinton and Vice President Obama.
TV face time.
There seems to be a demand for Newt, he's receiving lots of face time lately.
Not sure if it's criticism of the present administration or the ideas he's giving to bring back conservatism to the party.
Clearly Rove doesn't "get it" and hasn't for some time. He's been bitten by the Dick Morris syndrome.
Exactly.. Bleed all the drama out of the campaigning exersize.. Waiting until Sept 2007.. to declare.. is a bit of genius.. keep them all guessing.. You know like Hillary is doing.. Much FREE advertising from that.. Everybody knows Newt is "the MAN".. Everybody!, even democrats.. There is zero republicans that can play the media like yo-yo's, except Newt... Newt is literally the ONLY one democrats are afraid of.. WHY?.. Because he has gravitas and can speak words that echo.. Newt with Ann Coulter as a speech writer would/could change America.. Newt with a positive message and Ann with a sense of how to present it with gusto and prejudice..
This team would be a blockbuster.. They together could rebuild America..
Santa;
Thanks.. I'll be good, I promise..
buck, one thing I know: Newt nor anyone else gets face time for simply being an articulate conservative. How many times have you seen Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn on television?
Look at the exit polls that Luntz did. Better yet show me one race that he affected positively. The base did not want open borders, amnesty and stay the course.
What? You mean GW didn't fit that bill?
I think his point was, try, and make a stink about it.
We can't just sit around talking about what can't happen. There's very little that can happen, that's good, until we're back in power. But we need to fight.
I don't pay attention to exit polls. If you can't show me the quote of a speech in which he "stomped on the base", I will asume your comment was hyperbole.
At least you spelled his name right... the payment to the House was to remburse the committee for work done because of conflictng answers given to the same question on a technical legal point.... there was no determination that non-profit funds had been used for campaign purposes and the FEC lawsuit accusing the same was thrown out at the summary judgment phase.
As for the rest you are repeatng rumors that have little if any basis in fact. Events transpired as I sad they did.... whatever your ulterior motive is well, I'll just leave it there.
Be my guest, ignorance is bliss I guess.
HAHAH. Oh, you kill me. All Bush did was to increase GOP margins in the senate each election until this one, something great God Ronnie never did. In fact, if I recall, Newt began losing seats from 1996 on. I think the first gain was under Bush.
Can't find a quote, huh? LOL!
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.