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Yes I know... This will make some newt-basher's heads explode.

There was a thought or two that struck me while I watched this. I was thinking about the differences between the candidates and what made some more appealing than others. What works and what doesn't in making connections. What I saw in this Newt speech that others lack is his ability to be engaging and at times inspiring. I can't recall one Romney-the-Robot speech that this can be said about.

Newt didn't spend his time in this speech going through a checklist of campaign prepared talking points. He focused on the big picture and why he was running. He kept above the fray and the only swipes that he took were at Obama and not his fellow competitors. He spent time talking about Obama's and conservative's fundamentally different view of America and American exceptionalism. He wove wit, humor, and historical anecdotes in an engaging and (again) at times inspirational ways. I thought the Wright Brothers anecdote was both interesting and humorous (skip to 24:20). Newt notes that he's going to bring a lot of ideas to the table and acknowledges that some are going to be workable and that some are not - a refreshing admission.

Again - back to the original question of why some connect and other's don't - I saw thing's here with Newt's speech that I don't hear from his competitors. Simple things. The ability to be engaging, inspirational, and an effective communicator. It explains why he's done so well in the debates and I think offers some explanation as to why he is experiencing this surge. Love him or hate him, agree or disagree on some issues, you have to admit, Newt is a damn good public speaker. It will serve - in my view - to make him a formidable candidate in the primaries (no I don't see this as just a momentary rise to the flavor of the week status) and it the general (should he win the nomination). I don't see the other candidates - especially Romney - as having this weapon in their arsenal.

The problem you Newt cultists have is you worship at the PR shrine manufactured about Newt. The real Newt falls far far far short of the PR about Newt. There is no way for him to actually live up to the spin.

Find it odd that the same Freepers who recklessly spun all these sort of cult of personality fantasizes about McCain in 2008 are back now doing the same with Newt.

Did you people learn NOTHING from 2008?

"There was a thought or two that struck me while I watched this. I was thinking about the differences between the candidates and what made some more appealing than others. What works and what doesn't in making connections. What I saw in this Newt speech that others lack is his ability to be engaging and at times inspiring."

I see NEWT as a hollow man, I also see his ability which is most crafty and cunning, that is, he uses good words and fair speeches in order to deceive the minds of his audience.

NEWT has a long history of supporting liberal ideals, while saying he is conservative, don't be fooled into thinking this tiger has changed his stripes.

BEWARE the NEWT!