Posted on 12/02/2011 11:47:37 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
...Since Gingrich had taken control in January 1995, Republicans in the House had held together. Focused on fulfilling the Contract with America, they passed a flurry of legislation, which kept them occupied and their divisions concealed for the first two years.
By July 1997, however, the contract was finished, and conservatives, particularly those elected in the Revolution of 94, were growing frustrated with Gingrichs leadership.
The speaker was disorganized. He knew nothing about running meetings and nothing about driving an agenda, DeLay writes in his memoir, No Retreat, No Surrender.
He was erratic. On Monday, we would say were not going to give a $500 child tax credit to people who dont have tax liabilities, Graham tells National Review Online. On Wednesday, hed meet with President Clinton, and that position would change.
In May 1997 . . . Newt declared the GOP willing to separate tax cuts from other items in a balanced-budget deal that we were negotiating with Bill Clinton, writes former speaker Denny Hastert (R., Ill.) in his memoir, Speaker. That was news to us and represented a huge change in policy in less than twenty-four hours.
He was hyperbolic. Hed call something the single most corrupt act in the history of Western civilization . . . always these Armageddon-type announcements, says Rep. Pete King (R., N.Y.).
The congressman still remembers that fateful trip on Air Force One in November 1995, when Clinton made Gingrich sit in the back. Miffed, the speaker later asked the press, You just wonder, where is their sense of manners? Where is their sense of courtesy?
I still think its the main reason we lost [the government-shutdown] debate, King says.
Before the government shutdown we thought Newt Gingrich was invincible, writes Sen. Tom Coburn (R., Okla.) in his memoir, Breach of Trust. After the shutdown, however, he was like a whipped dog who still barked, yet cowered, in Clintons presence....... Continued
1998 was the last year that Gingrich, Paul and Santorum were all in Congress, and the Gingrichs annual and lifetime ACU ratings were far better than both of the others:
100% - Gingrich: Annual 1998 ACU Rating (90% Lifetime Rating as of 1998)
88% - Paul: Annual 1998 ACU Rating (88% Lifetime Rating as of 1999)
84% - Santorum: Annual 1998 ACU Rating (83% Lifetime Rating as of 1998)
Source: http://www.conservative.org/ratings/ratingsarchive/1998/98houseratings.htm
Perry needs to drop out and lend his effort to beat Obama and bury Romney.If he was a man he would do it.
Same goes for Santorum.
1998 was the last year that Gingrich, Paul and Santorum were all in Congress, and the Gingrichs annual and lifetime ACU ratings were far better than both of the others:
100% - Gingrich: Annual 1998 ACU Rating (90% Lifetime Rating as of 1998)
88% - Paul: Annual 1998 ACU Rating (19% Lifetime Rating as of 1998)
84% - Santorum: Annual 1998 ACU Rating (83% Lifetime Rating as of 1998)
Wow, for me this is the post of the week and needs repeating.
I'm old enough to remember when Newt was in power. He brought us a Republican congress, balanced budget, welfare reform and many other accomplishments - all while Clinton was president.
If he is such a RHINO, one worlder, big goverment guy, why did the liberals drum him out of office with phony ethics charges?
What Republican in congress since Newt left has accomplished more for conservatives? Tom Delay? John Boehner, Denny Hastert? Those are the clowns who gave us bloated government and out of control spending that eventually led to Reid, Pelosi, and Obama in power.
I'll take Newt over that crowd any day!
What happened was that the GOP head honchos, embarrassed by Gingrich’s success and afraid of Clinton’s anger, abandoned him. The RINO establishment couldn’t wait to get him out of the speakership.
1997: Gingrich rating 75
Perhaps Newt was pissed over having to sit in the back of the plane because he so wanted to have some private time with the then Pres, in order to compare notes as how they treated women.
What happened was that the GOP head honchos, embarrassed by Gingrichs success and afraid of Clintons anger, abandoned him. The RINO establishment couldnt wait to get him out of the speakership.That's right.
Good post #85.
Delay, King, et al. can knock Newt all they want but would never have seen majority status without him. Maybe they enjoyed being a powerless minority. Republicans can be stupid that way.
Dittos!! I am so exccited to have the potential for an American conservative in the White House. He has great ideas and accomplishments. I have not felt this hopeful and excited in over three years.
“1997: Gingrich rating 75”
That no doubt accounts for his having “only” a 90% lifetime (20 year) rating.
Good points! The GOP had every opportunity after Newt left to move further right, instead they moved left and gave us a larger, more intrusive, more powerful federal government (and more expensive!)
Well, I'm with him on that!
I don't not lie either.
I’ve mentioned more than once that a President Gingrich might have problems with Boehner and the current Tea Party Congress.
Major clash of egos ahead.
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