I’ve come to the exact same conclusion. Started looking closer at Newt after they drove out Cain. I can honestly say that I like the man. I like his grit, I like his fire, I like his spirit and I like his vision. He sees great things for America. A rebirth of freedom!
I was a fan of Newt for years...then came the Pelosi/Couch thing and it rang my bell...hard, since I come from a landuse/OHV background. I was extremely miffed. So much so that I had no intention in supporting him if it came down to it.
Like many here, now that things are getting to brass tacks, I was forced to rethink my position. When I look at his actual record of accomplishment and the fact he had a 90+ rating on conservative issues while in office, I cannot throw out the baby with the bath water.
Further, the more time we spend arguing the details is less time spent working for solutions. Am I thrilled with Newt? Nope. Was and still am a Palin guy at heart. But I respect the good he HAS done and that good is considerable. That’s enough to get my support and my vote.
Am I holding my nose again? I once thought I was. But when I add the numbers up, I’m not really. I’m still pissed he botched my pet issue, but so be it.
Same here. Like a lot of other conservatives, I nearly laughed when Newt first entered the race. I didn't give him a snowball's chance of getting anywhere near the front of the pack, based on all of my recent grievances with the man.
And then a funny thing happened......I started to hear him speak. As the months rolled on, and he carefully laid out his vision for America's near-term future, I found that he was speaking my mind. Not only that, he was doing it with such steely-eyed precision and force of will, I couldn't help but be impressed.
I think it was at that point, that I began carefully reviewing his record in Congress (your many posts about that helped!), the life he's lived (warts and all), his career alliances, his depth of knowledge of our history and unique form of government, etc.
When I weighed it all, and looked at the man in the present day, juxtaposed against the backdrop of the horror we're living through, it all fell together for me. It helps a lot that some of conservatism's leading lights also like what they see in Newt.
He may be flawed in certain ways, but name me one giant in our history who wasn't. I want a bulldog to rip the left-wing fascists to shreds, and help me get my country back. I think that Newt's that bulldog.
And he actually accomplished balancing the budget and taking on liberals in the media - changing the whole discussion of the country towards conservative ideals and reforms. We went from welfare, race baiting and political correctness dominating our country to talking about life in the US honestly. He won’t play destructive PC with Islam.
Conservatives made progress when he was the leader of the House and when he left, their voice and reforms died and Rinos took over again. He actually led making a majority for conservatives in the House through GOP organization via the contract with America. He recruited conservative women and minorities to the party. He knows how Washington works and how Socialists and Rinos undermine. He understands and gives voice to the American constiutional ideology.
He has accomplished more for the conservative movement than any of the GOPers whinning about him. That said, if we get him in, we have to watch and ride him because he has suffered spaz attacks in recent years (getting snowed by man made global warming nonsense, for example.) I know the liberal establishment hates him and they hate him because he derailed the “bi-partisan” destruction of the US. If he has the Senate and House, he’ll succeed in creating real reform and stemming the damage done by the Left.
Goooooo Newt.