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'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.
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.