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Tampa Tempest :Newt Gingrich Plots Convention Chaos
National Review ^ | March 16, 2012 | Robert Costa

Posted on 03/16/2012 3:46:57 PM PDT by Steelfish

MARCH 16, 2012 Tampa Tempest Newt Gingrich Plots Convention Chaos. By Robert Costa

As he waited for the returns on Tuesday, Newt Gingrich didn’t pay much attention to the soft flicker of Fox News. Instead, as he sat with his family and a few aides in a suite at the Wynfrey Hotel in Birmingham, Ala., he was quietly glued to his BlackBerry, thumbing his way through e-mails. He was mostly cheerful, according to those in the room. He reminisced about campaigns past with his daughters. He reviewed his schedule; he bantered with his wife, Callista; he settled on a purple tie. As he sipped a Diet Coke, he casually prepared for his evening speech.

The takeaway from the relative calm was clear: This was just another night in another city. He’d make his extemporaneous remarks, his aides would pack their bags, and within a few hours, they’d board a plane and head to the next battleground.

“He never discussed dropping out, not even a whisper,” says one Gingrich staffer. “It was business as usual.” His youngest daughter, Jackie Cushman, concurs. “It was never tense,” she says. “People forget that he’s been running since 1974. He doesn’t get anxious.” Downstairs, the scene was more apprehensive. There was a dwindling crowd of Newt enthusiasts. After the networks declared Rick Santorum the winner of both Alabama and Mississippi, Beltway scribes began to write the campaign’s obituary. (snip)

Days later, that consensus remains. Gingrich is committed to staying in the race until the convention, according to his advisers. He believes that there will be chaos within the party come August, and that — with a bit of luck, a clever floor strategy, and a powerful speech — he could build a winning coalition.

(Excerpt) Read more at nationalreview.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: adelson4romney; bigego; bigideas; bigloser; bigsolutions; getoutnewt; goawaynewt; kenyanbornmuzzie; lazyorganization; mittromney; newt4newt; newt4romney; newt4teaparty; newtbots; newtgetout; newtgingrich; newtglobalwarming; newthaters; newtnot4teaparty; newtsplittingthevote; notonballots; ricksantorum; romney4newt; romneyantiteaparty; santorum4romney; spoilernewt; teaparty; teaparty4newt; teapartynot4newt
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To: Steelfish

Go Newt! Obama’s dream come true would be Santorum, who is lame, an Establishment guy, not very knowledgeable and a lousy speaker. I think he’d like Santorum even better than Romney as a so-called “opponent.”

The only person Obama has been singling out for criticism is Gingrich, and that shows you who’s getting his goat. And it its not Mr. Preacher Man Rick.


41 posted on 03/16/2012 4:43:59 PM PDT by livius
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To: cripplecreek

Like Giuliani’s Florida strategy, newt’s “chaos at the convention” strategy is born out of a realistic interpretation of facts on the ground. He’s losing in state after state. Right now his strategic options are very few. Hes counting on reading the tea leaves correctly with the state of the campaign come August. He’s probably reasoned that its the best chance he has....or the only option left.


42 posted on 03/16/2012 4:44:59 PM PDT by Personal Responsibility (Obama 2012: Dozens of MSNBC viewers can't be wrong!)
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To: Yashcheritsiy

Thank you! With all the vapors going on around here I’m thinking Free Republic needs to come equipped with smelling salts!


43 posted on 03/16/2012 4:47:42 PM PDT by Mangia E Statti Zitto
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To: livius

Please explain to us why in the recent Rasmussen Poll, Santorum leads Obama in four crucial states? Simply throwing off the same old off-the-cuff anti-Santorum diatribes is of no help to a productive discussion. Show us numbers, stats, facts etc.


44 posted on 03/16/2012 4:49:58 PM PDT by Steelfish (ui)
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To: Yashcheritsiy

That “once upon time” qualification is apt. In the full glare of the modern media age, the bloodied arena will leave the emerging candidate with wounds so crippling, that he becomes a mere pushover for his opponent who will be appearing fresh and strong, above the fray, looking presidential, and covered in wallops of fawning media coverage. And you don’t think this is a recipe for Republican disaster!


45 posted on 03/16/2012 4:56:53 PM PDT by Steelfish (ui)
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To: livius

>>The only person Obama has been singling out for criticism is Gingrich, and that shows you who’s getting his goat. And it its not Mr. Preacher Man Rick.

..and he did that again today. Even Biden went after Newt.


46 posted on 03/16/2012 4:57:48 PM PDT by Christie at the beach (I like Newt and would love to see political dead bodies on the floor.)
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To: Impy; Perdogg; Clintonfatigued; fieldmarshaldj; GSP.FAN

Things like this make me happy that I huff inhalants!!!


47 posted on 03/16/2012 4:57:51 PM PDT by GOPsterinMA (The Establishment is the establishment.)
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To: sirchtruth

Last sentence of the article:

“If nobody gets this thing on the first ballot, all hell will start breaking loose. If you start to think about who wins debates, and then think about Gingrich getting up there, in that moment, talking about his life and why he should be president of the United States, you can see it.”

I can see it. Go Newt!


48 posted on 03/16/2012 4:58:32 PM PDT by Jacquerie (No court will save us from ourselves.)
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To: TomGuy
Yes. It brings to mind the Speaker on the President's Plane incident. If Gingrich goes into the convention intent on causing chaos, it could be perceived as: I didn't win, so I'm going to throw a big tantrum.

You're a sponge for Democrat Media propaganda.

You just soak it up.

49 posted on 03/16/2012 5:01:38 PM PDT by FreeReign
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To: Yashcheritsiy
"I frankly think that either having a one-day, nationwide, closed primary or simply choosing the nominee at the convention are both better alternatives than what we have now..."

It's unlikely Reagan would have ever been nominated had either of those scenarios been in effect.

50 posted on 03/16/2012 5:04:56 PM PDT by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
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To: Personal Responsibility

I personally think the best possible thing he could do is make a deal with Santorum. Between them, their delegates add up to less than 100 behind Romney and when we start hitting winner take all states, splitting the vote just hands those states to Romney.

Personally I’m hopeful that he’s already quietly working with the Santorum camp.


51 posted on 03/16/2012 5:06:20 PM PDT by cripplecreek (What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?)
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To: JediJones

The Gallup poll says 40% of Newt’s votes would go to Romney and 39% would go to Santorum.

With all those WTA-CD & WTA primaries coming, why do you think Santorum benefits if Newt drops out. Unless of course if the Gallop poll is inaccurate then I will concur with you that Santorum benefits by Newt dropping out.


52 posted on 03/16/2012 5:06:26 PM PDT by entropy12 (Republicans do not hate, that is a monopoly of democrats.)
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To: JediJones
If Santorum was out of the race, then Newt would have gotten all of those delegates!


53 posted on 03/16/2012 5:08:37 PM PDT by Brown Deer (Pray for 0bama. Psalm 109:8)
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To: Steelfish
I would pay for tickets to see Newt knock the blocks off of the insider political correct rinos (sorry, I don't like them at all) Obama will need more than ridicule to defend his agenda. Newt needs to be there; not those other 2 just showing up for a TV spot for same old thing.. Go, Newt. Hell is coming to Tampa. Fight on. I am sending more money this weekend.
54 posted on 03/16/2012 5:08:50 PM PDT by Christie at the beach (I like Newt and would love to see political dead bodies on the floor.)
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To: Jacquerie
“If nobody gets this thing on the first ballot, all hell will start breaking loose. If you start to think about who wins debates, and then think about Gingrich getting up there, in that moment, talking about his life and why he should be president of the United States, you can see it.”

It will make him or break him.

What does he have to loose, he is 68 and it maybe his last shot at this, but...

This could be like the speech Reagan made in 76' and the body populous went oh $&!+ we nominated the wrong guy......

But in this instance they have the choice to get a "Mulligan"...

Let us hope for a Mulligan moment for the delegates..

55 posted on 03/16/2012 5:13:02 PM PDT by taildragger (( Palin / Mulally 2012 ))
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To: Randy Larsen

“May Newt teach those fat bastards a thing or two about confrontation!!!”

ROFL, Newt will only embarrass himself if he thinks he can just show up at the convention, make a speech and get the nomination after getting his butt kicked by primary voters in 48 states. He is in denial and not thinking rationally. This will probably not end well for him. He had his chance and blew it. It’s time for him to go home.


56 posted on 03/16/2012 5:13:42 PM PDT by BarnacleCenturion
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To: Steelfish
SteelFish, I've been thinking about this and I've come to the decision not to agree with you.  I am sorry, but the numbers just don't add up.  Bear with me...

Gingrich is a very smart guy.  I've been told this countless times.  My guy is an idiot, and Newt is brilliant.  Well, okay then.

With two guys in the race against Romney, we'll roll into the convention with Romeny just below the number needed for the nomination.  Santorum and Newt will roll in with a little more than half half Romney's total collectively.  I've been assured by the smartest guy in the room at this point, that the delegates at the convention will then ignore Romney's numbers and pick Newt.  If not Newt, then most certainly Santourm.

At first I thought this was crazy talk, but I'm begining to see the brilliance of this strategy.  In fact I think it's such a great idea, I've decided to contact, Bachmann, Perry, Cain, and Huntsman.  They all need to get back into this race A.S.A.P. and adopt Newt's plans to stay in until the convention.

Santorum and Newt will have to accept that they will wind up with even fewer votes going into the convention, but that should actually please Newt, since this actually doubles down on his open convention strategy.

The only problem is, he would no longer be the candidate rolling into the convention with the fewest delegates.  I guess that means that Bachmann, Perry, Cain, or Huntsman would get the nomination using Newt's logic, becasue one of them will definately roll into the convention with the fewest delegates, and Newt thinks that person will win the nomination.

I hope FReepers will respect Newt enough to join me in advocating all the candiates adopt his politically astute game plan, jump back in and help us defeat Romney with Newt's strategy.

Bachmann, Perry, Cain, Huntsman, come on back.  All is forgiven.  We've got Romney in trouble now!!!!

Thanks Newt.  I never would have tought of this.  Simply brilliant!


57 posted on 03/16/2012 5:16:40 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (Abortion? No. Gov't heath care? No. Gore on warming? No. McCain on immigration? No.)
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To: Steelfish
For a long time in our history (up until the mid 30’s) brokered conventions were the norm. They were actually planned for.
58 posted on 03/16/2012 5:24:18 PM PDT by 2111USMC (Not a hard man to track. Leaves dead men wherever he goes.)
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To: Brown Deer

I don’t care which one drops out. The point is they need to team up, because either at the convention or before it, neither has a statistical chance at the nomination unless one of them drops out and endorses/teams up with the other.


59 posted on 03/16/2012 5:28:59 PM PDT by JediJones (The Divided States of Obama's Declaration of Dependence: Death, Taxes and the Pursuit of Crappiness)
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To: taildragger

Agree. It is essential to derail Romney. Our nation cannot endure either another four years of Hussein nor a placeholder pubbie President.


60 posted on 03/16/2012 5:29:29 PM PDT by Jacquerie (No court will save us from ourselves.)
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