Current Quarter Expenses.
Posted on 11/19/2011 1:58:34 PM PST by TitansAFC
SAN DIEGO — Newt Gingrich got his new spot atop the GOP presidential field the old-fashioned way: He earned it.
You have to give him credit. And you have to respect his remarkable climb to the upper tier of GOP candidates.
After all, this is a candidate whose campaign was, just a few months ago, running on empty. Political experts all pronounced the Gingrich campaign over and done with.
But the ace up Gingrich's sleeve is that he rarely has a problem saying exactly what is on his mind, and — as someone whom Republican constituents and political pundits alike often describe as the smartest person in this race — he has a lot on his mind. The former House speaker is a master communicator, and Republican voters are hungry for someone who can express his views well.
Add to that a series of strong debates. While political observers say Rick Perry and Herman Cain have hurt their campaigns with poor performances, the opposite is true for Gingrich. Lately, whenever he debates his poll numbers go up. Part of this might be that many Republicans say they would love for Gingrich to be the party's nominee if for no other reason than to see him go one-on-one with Barack Obama. Now the second look that Gingrich is getting from voters has led him to first place.
A Fox News poll shows that Gingrich's support among GOP primary voters has doubled in the last three weeks — from 12 percent to 23 percent. Perry and Cain have lost support, and much of it seems to have found its way to Gingrich. Mitt Romney is stuck at 22 percent.
And, among those conservative voters who are part of the influential tea party movement, Gingrich is the top pick of 35 percent while Cain has the support of 20 percent and Romney is backed by just 15 percent. Not all the news is positive, however. Gingrich is still saddled with enough personal baggage to fill an airplane hangar.
There is the personal; both of his earlier marriages ended because of his infidelity, something he later tried to shrug off by telling an interviewer that he had made mistakes in his married life because he was working too hard. And the professional; Gingrich is currently fending off reporters' questions about his relationship with Freddie Mac. His consulting outfit, the Gingrich Group, was paid between $1.6 million and $1.8 million to offer what Gingrich claims was “strategic advice over a long period of time” to the government-backed mortgage lender.
There may still be more skeletons in this closet. But in the end, GOP primary voters might not care. In a struggling economy plagued with a flood of foreclosures and high unemployment, they might conclude that they're not as worried about a candidate's finances nearly as much as they are their own. And they may resent the media for trying to tell them that they should feel otherwise, and appreciate even more the fact that
Gingrich is so good at putting reporters in their place.
What makes his surge so impressive is that Gingrich has done it not through a massive infusion of funding, or with a national organization that comes from having run for president before, or by being the darling of the media. He has done it on perseverance and determination, and by showcasing his strengths. He has earned his new standing in the polls and his return to the spotlight through something as simple as talent and hard work. That's the way it ought to be.
There is no doubt that Gingrich is a divisive and polarizing figure. In fact, in that regard, he is not unlike the last three occupants of the White House.
But, as we have now learned, Gingrich is also a fighter who hits hard and doesn't give up. Come to think of it, those might not be bad qualities to have in a president.
ping fyi
Their methodology also destroy the conservative momentum and works to suppress conservative turnout. It is so insidious, you might even think it’s coming from DNC fakers or Romney trolls.
To me personally? Nothing. If it translates into him getting the GOP nomination, Obama will be the happiest person in the room.
The country is not going to vote for an arrogant college professor. (Who also happens to be a cranky old geezer with a hell of a lot of baggage.)
And Iowa, I might add, is not likely to ignore the baggage. They are a family values kind of state.
Pay closewr attention ... Newt is polling very high in Iowa and tonight the Iowans appeared to really like listening to him.
Another presidential debate coming up this tuesday. Watch and see how everyone does. Newt’s numbers should go even higher.
Rick Perry gave a very personable answer when he explained why he didn't end up doing what he had grown up wanting to do --be a veterinarian. He was explaining how God seems to have a sense of humor and introduced Rick to Organic Chemistry when Rick was planning on becoming a Veterinarian. He became a pilot ...
Ron Paul was stump by Luntz's question of naming some faltering point in their lives, some mistake they may have made in life. I guess if you live through medical school and residency, you lose the tracks back through the life before that survival point.
Newt finished the response and it was apparent that the Iowans at that event were really taken by him and his answers. He obliquely answered the question of mistakes, but it gave a sort of unspoken answer for his failing at marriages. His answer seemed well received, like the folks there could identify with his answer.
Rick Santorum was doing so great until he got stuck in one category and just drifted off topic without seeming to realize he was doing so.
Michelle Bachmann acquitted herself very well. Her life experiences seem to have enhanced her resiliency and she appears to have great perspective born of adversity. But her answer on education seemed to drift into a non-answer to the question Luntz posed. I found the opportunity to watch the candidates as they listened to the others responses to be the most meaningful aspect of the hour I watched. They were a pleasant contrast to the Milt Rominy constant smirk and condescension when anyone but him is speaking. Shucks, I think I detected him smirking during one of his own self-aggrandizing answers in the last 'debate'.
I don't care about Iowa. I care about sending Obama packing. And you should too.
Yup. Job One
Newt said, “we don’t send our military to war...we send our family to war”
Newt has been the uniter. He follows the Reagan law and does not attack the other candidates..he attacks Obama and the MSM ...that rates very high with me. The rest have all attacked and sometimes been vicious
Newt’s a smart guy and a good debater. He’s also a sprayed fly. I seriously doubt that he will win the primary.
This was the kind of debate we should have.
Instead of candidates lined up in back of podiums, like school kids, being grilled by the enemy. They had substantive questions to answer and to rise or fall on their own...not being hassled by dem/Rat media whores whose agenda is to destroy them.
The debate tonight gave them a chance to really answer questions - and us a chance to size them up. The format ‘around the table’ was great. the close ups give a much more personable look at them as they spoke.
Romney, of course,was a noticeable no-show, not that he was missed. He has written Iowa off and spending his time and money in NH - a face-safe state. He has a home there. To lose NH will be a big blow - followed by Iowa - dominoes, anyone?
Am sooo looking forward to Newt taking on Obama...and his plans to out the Czars on his first day!
They’re already behind Newt.....
Indeed! He has the "Newt Way" of getting congress to support him....he said he'd do exactly as Regan did when assuming the Presidential office...he will reach out to the democrates....and we'll enjoy watching them squirm when he does.
With one hand he will be signinf Executive orders to eliminate ALL czars and more than a dozen obamanoid/democrat executive mandates, and with the other hand he will reach out to see if the democrats are finally getting the picture. And frankly, I love his invitation to be with him rather than behind him, because I intend to slap the crap out of him if he defaults on any of the 21st Century Contract items.
They were behind Huckabee too. Lot of good it did.
Iowa isn't the kingmaker they think they are.
Certainly the primary is “fluid” and will move up and down over the months ahead.....but there’s just no denying, no matter how hard people try to do so, that Newt can do the job, has clear plans, and has nothing whatsoever to loose by giving it his all....no future political asperations in the way...just a good legacy he’ll leave behind for turning this ships wheel to where we can once again be a nation under God....and that isn’t a socialist/fascist nation.
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