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Posted on 11/01/2011 8:14:03 PM PDT by jageorge72
Newt Gingrich's poll numbers are beginning to climb. His performance in the Presidential debates demonstrates that he is competent, consistent, calm and convincing. He is clearly Pro-Life, defends the primacy of marriage and the family and society founded upon it and is a passionate defender of authentic freedom. He shows calm in the chaotic displays called debates and stands out. In an age filled with crisis, such calm and competence are refreshing.
WASHINGTON,DC (Catholic Online) - I have followed the political career of former Speaker of the House of Representatives Newt Gingrich for a long time. There are few Americans unaware of his role as the architect and "idea man" behind the historic "Contract with America". His leadership helped to bring the Republicans to victory in the House of Representatives in 1994. As the Speaker of the House he provided leadership which led to a balanced budget amendment and a period of fiscal stability. He was named an "exceptional leader" by Time Magazine in 1995 for this contribution. Speaker Gingrich is also an accomplished scholar. He is a history Professor with an earned Doctorate. He is a very intelligent man with a grasp of public policy issues like few others in public service. Over the years I have followed his career, I have been impressed with his willingness to propose fresh solutions for ever challenging public needs. For example, his proposals in the early 2,000's for person, family and free market based health care reforms, are just now being given the due consideration they deserve. His genuine concern for those who are in need of medical care is one of the areas where he has not received the recognition he deserves.
The man is brilliant. Anyone who has listened to him in the 2012 Presidential debates - if they are being honest - agrees he is well informed on every issue of public policy. The man is articulate- and he is prolific. He has written twenty three books - including thirteen New York Times bestsellers. He is comfortable with creative ideas and unafraid of big picture thinking. Coupled with all of these abilities, Newt Gingrich has a hopeful vision for the future. This defies the stereotypes too often associated with "conservative" politicians. I recall years ago when the amazing rise in communications technology had just begun, I searched for a "futurist" among the ranks of the then "conservative" leaders. I found just such a "conservative" futurist in Newt Gingrich. However, I must admit that it was his faith journey in later life which made my respect for him become something more, admiration. I have learned in my own life that the past is either a tutor or a millstone. For Newt Gingrich, a man comfortable in his own skin, the past has become a tutor.
This Professor has learned that we are always students. His response to questions concerning his own past reveal the wisdom borne of experience, infused with real faith. It is not how many times we fall down, but whether we get up and learn how to walk. In an article in the National Catholic Register in 2011 entitled "Why I Became a Catholic" Newt bore witness to the journey which brought him into the Catholic Church. It is the story of an intellectual - who is also a "down to earth" man. It is also similar to numerous other journeys in the history of converts to the catholic Christian faith. Newt's Catholic journey was not a dramatic "Damascus" experience such as the one recorded in the Acts of the Apostles which captured the Apostle Paul for Christ and His Church.(See, Acts 9) Rather, it was a slow and steady attraction to the fullness of truth - and the beauty - contained within the fullness of Christianity found within the Catholic Church. He began - and then ended - this wonderful account with these words, "I am often asked when I chose to become Catholic. However, it is more truthful to say that over the course of several years I gradually became Catholic and then decided one day to accept the faith I had already come to embrace. After a decade-long - perhaps lifelong - faith journey, I was finally home."
In between he tells of how his intellect was satiated and his desire for happiness fulfilled in the Catholic Church. As a "revert" to the Church - one who questioned my way back into the faith of my childhood - I understand and am moved by such accounts. They call to mind what Blessed John Paul called, in his magna-carta on the Moral Life which bears the name, the "Splendor of Truth". The Catholic Christian faith does not frown on questions. Rather it welcomes them as the very path to truth and into the heart of the Church. His work over the past few years in film production, along with his gifted wife Callista, is extraordinary. Most of those who read me know that Blessed John Paul II is my life "champion". I was captured by his message as a very young man and my life and vocation has been deeply affected by his witness in both life and death. I have dedicated my studies and the rest of my life to making his work more widely known. I will never forget the first time I watched "Nine Days that Changed the World" hosted by Newt and Callista Gingrich. I was profoundly impressed with the way in which they both understood and were able to capture those historic moments and the obvious love and respect they have for Blessed John Paul II.
It comes as no surprise that Newt Gingrich's poll numbers are beginning to climb. His performance in the Presidential debates demonstrates that he is competent, consistent, calm and convincing. He is clearly Pro-Life, defends the primacy of marriage and the family and society founded upon it and is a passionate defender of authentic freedom. He is also a man with ideas and the ability to articulate them. The pundit class is finally beginning to take the candidacy of this intelligent and gifted man seriously. He shows calm in the chaotic displays called debates and stands out. In an age filled with crisis, suffering under ill informed and ineffective leaders, such calm and competence are refreshing. Visit the Gingrich campaign's web site and see where he stands on the vital issues.
Cain ... nuff said.
I wonder how the divorce of his ailing wife, dying of cancer fits in to his faith? I mean, Catholics I thought believed in one wife, no divorce. Not to mention infidelity.
I think it’s a fair question since the article did not deal with it.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,593985,00.html
See "Red Card Solution"
The catholic card doesn’t impress me in the least.
I saw him claim he cheated on his wife to save the country (on CBN interview).
Back in the Spring I saw him on FNC Cavuto bald-face lie and claim in 1995/1996 that Clinton caved on the budget, when it was him that gave in and passed the budget Clinton demanded after 3 weeks of shutdown. That was after his “They made me ride on the back of the plane “ comment got played all over and a SNR skit.
No way!
Bottom line: he's a loose cannon on a slippery deck.
....when he spoke on Dobson's radio show in 2007, Gingrich refused to say that he was actually repentant. The evangelical leader repeatedly pressed him on that point: "When I hear you talk about this dark side of your life...you didn't mention repentance. Do you understand that word repentance?"
-- from the thread Newt and Evangelicals: Not a Match Made in Heaven
"Mrs. Gingrich #2 was dumped after her husband had carried on an extramarital affair with a fetching, blond congressional staffer named Callista Bisek, who went on to become the present Mrs. Gingrich #3. This Family Values paradigm was complicated by the fact that whilst Mr. Gingrich was filibustering Ms. Bisek over the Speaker’s desk, he was simultaneously leading the impeachment charge against a naughty president of the United States....The much-married Newt Gingrich converts to Catholicism this weekend—and I’d pay a year’s salary to have been a bug on the wall during his religious instruction."
-- Christopher Buckley, from the thread The Audacity of Poping
Catholic? Jeez. When I worked in D.C., the stories I heard about Newt and interns made my hair curl. Consistent? What about those Pelosi ads, or work with Hillary on healthcare?
Well not quite. But he did complete the Contract with America in less than the promised 100 days, and he did create the conditions which led to a (nominally) balanced budget, thus making fools of 100% of the whorehouse media who scoffed and snorted at the very idea of cutting taxes and balancing the budget at the same time.
If that were remotely true, he'd have a shot. It isn't, so he doesn't.
Freep-mail me to get on or off my pro-life and Catholic List:
Please ping me to note-worthy Pro-Life or Catholic threads, or other threads of general interest.
For me, after Sarah dropped out, I have been completely turned off to everything political. I just don’t even care anymore. I’m old and I will simply have to leave fixing the country to all you younger folks. I don’t have any heart left for it. I gave it all to Sarah. If I live until the election and if there is even an election, I will probably vote for Newt on the simple fact that he knows what he’s doing.
I'm sure your erroneous statements were just the result of misinformation and ignorance, and not due to being an outright lying unChristian a-hole.
You can thank me later for setting you on the trail of the truth.
I noticed Conservative was not listed as one of his virtues.
We must strive for the best candidate. I know for a fact that Newt can stand up to anyone on a debate stage. I am not as convinced Cain has the right depth of knowledge for this moment in time. I know Newt has a great deal of personal baggage, however, we at least know what that baggage is. What are we still to find out about the rest? More importantly, when? October 2012? Of those on the stage, it is either Newt or Cain, if either of them are still standing.
Thanks for the link. I did not know that.
where did you hear that Palin might endorse Newt? Palin said that She doubts that Newt will gets the nomination because of a lack of money....that statement seems to me that she won’t lift a finger to help Newt through an endorsement or anything else.
Newt is smart and very intelligent but his Achilles heels is his lack of judgement
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