Free Republic

So the first third of the Republican presidential race is ending. The first third is the introduction: "This is who I am, this is what I want to do, this is why you want to choose me."[snip] The incumbent looks smaller than previous sitting presidents, as did Jimmy Carter. His efforts in the Oval Office have not been generally understood as successful. There's a broad sense it hasn't worked. And Democrats don't like him, as they didn't Jimmy Carter. [snip] Predictions? The essential message of phase one was, "I am a credible candidate, and I can win." Phase two will...

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich wept Friday as he recalled his late mother's end-of-life illnesses, a moment of poignancy in a notably negative Republican presidential Iowa caucus campaign with four unpredictable days yet to run. "I do policy much easier than I do personal," Gingrich told an audience of women as he tried to regain his composure. The tears flowed as the former speaker was responding to questions about his mother from a pollster and longtime political ally. Gingrich's emotional moment came as his rivals engaged in traditional campaign tactics, and as polls suggested large...

I've been on FR for several years. Dropped out temporarily when the dialogue turned pretty ugly a few months ago. I'm back now with a new found energy. For this reason I feel compelled to share my thoughts with fellow FRers here. About 5 weeks ago, I decided to throw my support into Newt. As of yet I have no remorse, but I must admit there were times when I thought the world as I used to know it, was upside down when the likes of Ann Coulter, Mark STeyn and many many others, whose opinions I respected, came down...

Newt Gingrich said that former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin would be among the candidates that he would consider when considering a potential running mate..... Gingrich, speaking Wednesday during a conference call with conservative voters hosted by Ralph Reed's Faith and Freedom Coalition, was asked by one of the attendees whether he would consider Palin as a running mate. "She is certainly one of the people you would look at. I am a great admirer of hers and she was a remarkable reform governor of Alaska, she’s somebody who I think brings a great deal to the possibility of helping in...

Twenty years ago, Gingrich’s appreciation of technology was more novel among Republicans, showing that there was a conservative libertarian interest in preserving the burgeoning Internet from efforts to regulate it. At the time, Gingrich talked up the transformative power of the Internet and a world where schools and hospitals would be wired. In 1996, Gingrich — then the speaker of the House — resisted an attempt to fight porn on the Internet. When the Senate began to push for the Communications Decency Act of 1996, Gingrich put up a roadblock that helped undermine the act, which was later struck down...

Ah, 1995. Bill Clinton was president, Newt Gingrich was the House's feisty new speaker, and Chris Farley was still alive. At this April 5 meeting of the House Republican Conference, John Boehner introduced Gingrich, only to have Farley appear from the wings and present a last-minute agenda to round out the new Republican Congress's first 100 days in power. Saturday Night Live currently has Bobby Moynihan playing Gingrich in its debate spoofs, but there's something about Farley that oddly befits the former speaker. Gingrich fancies himself such a serious intellectual that there's almost no way to parody his persona, only...

Deace Show Podcast 12-30-11

It’s an article of faith among many Republicans that Mitt Romney is the most electable candidate in the GOP field. But it’s not clear that this assertion is actually true. In fact, if one were going to design a Republican opponent tailor-made to President Obama’s liking, that opponent would be uniquely vulnerable to Obama’s main rhetorical thrust (making class-warfare arguments), uniquely unsuited to take clear aim at Obama’s least popular action as president (spearheading the passage of Obamacare), and uniquely strong in states that are unlikely to matter in the general election race. In all three of these ways, Romney...

As the race for the Republican presidential nomination hots up, the candidates have been dropping hints about their possible running mates. Newt Gingrich today said he would 'certainly' consider asking Sarah Palin to join him on the ballot, while Mitt Romney was accompanied on a campaign stop this morning by Chris Christie, the popular Governor of New Jersey. Both those GOP heavyweights were thought of as potential candidates for the top job before announcing that they did not intend to run. Mr Christie endorsed the frontrunner Mr Romney in October, but Mrs Palin has yet to give her support to...

The man who ran Herman Cain’s Iowa campaign, before he dropped out of the presidential race, announced he is now supporting Newt Gingrich. Larry Tuel was Cain’s state campaign director until Dec. 3. Friday he endorsed Gingrich in an email to The Des Moines Register. Tuel said in his email that the former House speaker "is intelligent, positive and has the best grasp of policy and the role of government as it relates to tax, spending and regulatory power. I particularly appreciate his national tax policy, welfare reform, and ideas for reducing and refocusing regulatory authority to solve our deep-rooted...

DES MOINES — Alarmed by Newt Gingrich’s decline in the polls in the face of a fusillade of negative advertisements, some senior aides and grass-roots supporters have suggested that he reverse course and fight fire with fire, fearing for the future of his candidacy if he does not. Mr. Gingrich’s vow to stay positive draws applause at every stop of his winding Iowa bus tour, but polls raise questions about that strategy as attack ads against him from his opponents’ campaigns and independent groups have seeped into voters’ minds. New polls of Iowa Republicans this week suggest that Mr. Gingrich...

A popular social conservative radio talk show host whose program is heard statewide in Iowa is backing Newt Gingrich for president. Steve Deace's endorsement comes four days before the Hawkeye State's January 3 caucuses...

This country is in trouble and bold leadership is needed. As someone that has had the privilege to vet these candidates as closely as just about anybody else has, I’ve come to the conclusion there are several good, Christian people running that most years I would vote for. However, this isn’t most years. Sadly, there are only two candidates offering a real means by which to actually undo that which the Left has done to this country for the past 50 years, and not just conservative platitudes. One of those candidates is Ron Paul, but his foreign policy is naive...

Considering its finances, the Newt Gingrich campaign would normally like free press and an endorsement. However, this is one billboard the Former Speaker of the House probably doesn’t want his face on: an advertisement promoting infidelity. Route 1 in Pennsylvania showcases a billboard with Gingrich’s face and the words “Faithful Republican, Unfaithful Husband.” The ad is in reference to Ashleymadison.com, an online cheat dating site for married people. Their motto, featured on their website, is “Life is short. Have an affair.” Why would a hook up website want to feature a GOP candidate? “Now that Newt is the leading contender...

'Black Hawk Down' commander stumps for Gingrich

DES MOINES — His financially strapped campaign unable to buy much advertising of their own, Newt Gingrich‘s well-funded allies are coming to his rescue in Iowa, securing large chunks of airtime across the state. Newsmax, the conservative magazine and Web site, will show a 30-minute special on Mr. Gingrich throughout the weekend in all of Iowa’s major television markets. The program is hosted by Michael Reagan, son of the former president, and makes the case that Mr. Gingrich is the strongest candidate to carry forward Ronald Reagan‘s legacy. “We are featuring a person that we believe will help continue my...

. The Liberal News-Media (now joined by their The Usual E-RINO Suspects) will suffer an "epic fail" ... as they DESPERATELY try to force a "faux disqualification" for Newt Gingrich in the upcoming Iowa Caucus and New Hampshire Primary. I'm confident that Newt Gingrich will "decimate" Mitt Romney and Dr. Winkie (Ron Paul) in South Carolina and Florida ... ====================================== How many successful POTUS candidates have ever won the Iowa Caucus ? In the last thirty-two (32) years ... only ONE Democrat (Obama in 2008) and ONE Republican (Bush-43 in 2000) have won BOTH the Iowa Caucus and the Presidential...

This week at a tele-town hall hosted by Ralph Reed’s Faith and Freedom Coalition, a caller asked Newt Gingrich if he would consider choosing former half-term Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate. Gingrich responded by saying that Palin “is certainly one of the people you would look at” and told the caller that he is “a great admirer of hers.” "She is certainly one of the people you would look at. I am a great admirer of hers and she was a remarkable reform governor of Alaska, she’s somebody who I think brings a great deal to the...

It's amazing how a candidate who everyone is now dismissing is racking up these big name conservative endorsements like Art Laffer and Thomas Sowell (who endorsed him Wednesday though I somehow missed it). For those of you unfamiliar with Thomas Sowell, he is a brilliant economist/writer who is 100% for small government and provides very reasoned commentary on a regular basis through his columns. Here is a key excerpt: Perhaps the strongest reason for some voters to support Governor Romney is that the smart money says he is more "electable" than the other candidates in general and Newt Gingrich in...

Des Moines, Iowa Friday, December 30, 2011 Newt Gingrich's Iowa campaign stops in Des Moines for a town hall-style meeting at Java Joe's Coffee House. The event is organized by the group CafeMom - a bipartisan online group. Their "Moms Matter 2012" initiative is intended to get more mothers involved in politics this campaign season. The former House speaker will be joined by his wife Callista, and GOP pollster Frank Luntz will moderate. The organizers said that more than 100 Iowa moms responded to an invitation to meet with Mr. Gingrich.