Posted on 11/18/2011 3:54:43 PM PST by jageorge72
From your lips to God’s ears!
I sincerely hope you’re right!
I’m also focused on Gingrich’s history. When Newt started as Speaker he was everyone’s dream conservative & governed accordingly. As his surroundings changed, & his caucus started getting light in the loafers, he adapted to try & keep the caucus together.
Reagan often had to do the same w/ the pantie waists he dealt w/ on his own side.
This is why I’ve been saying lately how important coat tails will be. If Newt can not only get elected, but w/ his coat tails, sweep in a bunch of conservatives in the likes of Rand Paul, then we’re going to see a change in Washington like we’ve not seen in our lifetimes.
If Congress stays status quo, then Newt might adapt as he did before. But that would probably be the same for any of the candidates regardless of their positions now. It’s called necessity. Reagan understood that & so do I. As good as Reagan was, he would have been far better & would have done things far differently w/ a conservative Congress.
In short, if Newt hadn’t a history of conservative governance at some point, I’d be w/ you. But the fact is, he did. It’s that history, not the one you seem to focus on, that I’m betting on.
Not only has there been more attention to them this election cycle, but this is how Newt has conveyed his ideas and solutions so well to the voters.
Put partisan politics and idealism aside for a moment. No other candidate has shown such a consistent stature and level of performance than Newt. He not only explains his ideas and solutions in a manner that the voters understand, but those solutions are uniquely his and they are brilliant.
He displays an acute awareness of the problems we face and is not at all vague in how he plans to solve them. No other candidate has even come close to his caliber or ability.
If you're right, I'm very happy.
However, the "he's changed" thingie is still a little troubling. As someone said on Rush the other day, it's like taking back a bad boyfriend. Yes, "he's changed." Where have we heard that before.
But, we'll see. What I found especially troubling was that he was still pulling this crap even after he'd announced his run for president.
And I can't agree that "reach out to Democrats," especially given Newt's history, is a politically benign statement.
Even if Newt means it in a way that is acceptable to conservatives, what conservative in their right mind doesn't get the lethal connotations that type of phrase has in today's zeitgeist?
You know, I actually started this primary season as one of the few conservatives I know who was leaning toward Newt. I hope you're right that there is a way to make this work.
I'm especially skeptical because of the fact that a lot of Newt's support seems to be centered on the expected enjoyment people will have when he smacks down Obama in the debates. I ask people, "then what?" and they don't answer.
Are most people are actually looking beyond the supposed momentary thrill of seeing Gingrich make Obama "look stupid"? I hope so. Because if they don't realize that the debates do not have anything to do with governing, and they then find they are back to be extremely frustrated with President Gingrich, the result for the country could be horrible.
Newt was forced to go along with them because there was nothing he could do to stop it. Although he did try, but stepped down himself mostly out of frustration.
Here again, reliving all of this past and irrelevant rhetoric, is about to be our ruin. It no longer matters, yet some insist on making it matter out of spite.
I agree. Listen, fightinJAG makes some good points. We are betting the odds here, but the odds are in our favor.
The question for some out there is, who, of the current field, would really be better? Who could rally the folks as a whole better? Who could handle the 2:00 am call better? Who can handle their baggage w/ the MSM better (and they ALL have baggage) etc., etc.
Newt's recent gains is the result of people like us, slowly realizing that Newt is serious about this. But our very nature, has cautiously watched Newt, as he kept presenting what he has to offer and we started to accept that he truly means what he says.
It's also clear that the Cain phenomena was based on this “Perfect Conservative” stigma, totally lacking experience and substance, which has also begun to wake many up to becoming more realistic in our support or choices.
In other words, perhaps it’s time to start focusing on the positives of the candidates rather than just the negatives. Who has the strongest strengths?
It seems like that fact is definately starting to take root.
The tone is less hateful overall.
The one thing that kind of gets lost here is the difference between “he’s changed” & “he’s changed back”.
If Newt had NO history of conservative credentials, than alarm bells would be going off in my head, much along the lines of Mitt. But that’s not the case.
It’s much easier to believe the old boyfriend that says I’ve changed back to who I was, than, I’ve changed into someone I’ve never been.
Again. I disagree. Debates matter. They matter increasingly as time goes by and the is more obviously an arm of the DNC. People want to see debates, they expect to see debates, and enough of them form their opinions from the debates to make a significant impact.
McCain lost the debates. So did Kerry. So did Gore.
That is the difference between Newt and Mitt, and why I could vote for Newt, but never Mitt.
Newt lost his debate with Kerry, when they debated Global Warming.
I didn’t see that one and I’m not taking your word for it.
I'm not a big fan of Newt, but his running against the media is a very smart tactic.
First, most people, and especially conservative view the media as just an alter ego of the big government establishment elite. So, when he goes against the media, many people, mistakenly, view him as outside of the establishment.
Second, it permits him to appear more courageous than the other candidates in the field, most of whom appear wary, if not frightened, of the media.
Third, it is a preventive measure from the future media attacks which are sure to come. Each time he takes on the media today, he becomes a little more inoculated.
Your last two posts to me...very well stated, and there is much truth in your take. :)
“Sorry, I thought you said I was a Mitt supporter.”
I been around here long enough to know better than that...
I agree...and that cannot be seen by many as long as they refuse to take a second look at Newt and where he is today. I did that and wasn't exactly crazy about doing so...but I did the work anyway because this election is vital to our nations survival.
I listened to many of his videos from these past months and a few from prior...it is then you note very much Newt is not the same. Where once there was a clear arrogance about Newt is now a clear confidence and measurable responses...he believes in what he's saying..it's a part of him now where once it was simply political in nature. That makes a huge difference!
Furthermore there is nothing hidden about Newt...the press made sure we knew...but in many cases Newt, and for that matter his family opted to let it slide while they reconciled their differences among themselves. Frankly it was nobody's business.
All his laundry has been on the line for all to see both personally and politically....but when you look at these you find things were not as the press had in mind...I believe Newt...and his family. And Newts' being the different man he is today is the one we need to hear...God has forgiven him...his family has...his friends and those who matter to him have...and politicians have...and we should too.
Meanwhile he has done more for this nation then many can say otherwise......and he truly loves this nation. I am fully in his court now and hope to see the day where He fires all the Czars...Fires Bernake...and most of all gets rid of the stench that has filled the Peoples House so that we can begin again to be a nation under God....and we can all say that the Obama devastation has come in order to pass that we might be a grateful nation once more.
It has been a pleasure reading these posts and the “discussions” about Newt...nobody’s slamming him but genuinely discussing....how refreshing is that! Adults are in the room!
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