The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

How Bad Is Newt Gingrich?

Posted on | November 16, 2011 | 60 Comments

Bad enough that Ann Coulter would rather have Mitt Romney win:

So now, apparently, we have to go through the cycle of the media pushing Newt Gingrich. This is going to be fantastic.
In addition to having an affair in the middle of Clinton’s impeachment; apologizing to Jesse Jackson on behalf of J.C. Watts — one of two black Republicans then in Congress –- for having criticized “poverty pimps,” and then inviting Jackson to a State of the Union address; cutting a global warming commercial with Nancy Pelosi; supporting George Soros’ candidate Dede Scozzafava in a congressional special election; appearing in public with the Rev. Al Sharpton to promote nonspecific education reform; and calling Paul Ryan’s plan to save Social Security “right-wing social engineering,” we found out this week that Gingrich was a recipient of Freddie Mac political money. . . .

Read the whole thing. Unlike Chairman Ann, I have not yet conceded Romney’s inevitability, although I have previously stated that if we wake up on the morning of Feb. 1 — after the Florida primary — to find ourselves faced with a choice between Mitt and Newt, I’ll endorse Mitt.

There is, however, yet hope that we can avoid such a dire predicament: Either Herman Cain will pull a miraculous recovery or, if that doesn’t work out, Rick Santorum will finally get his shot.

I realize that some of my friends are saying “Slim just left town,” but the one certain thing is that Republicans will never nominate Gingrich, no matter what the polls say today.

They may be the Stupid Party, but let’s hope they’re not that stupid.

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Comments

60 Responses to “How Bad Is Newt Gingrich?”

  1. DaveO
    November 16th, 2011 @ 7:51 pm

    Newt Gingrich would be the best WH Chief of Staff in generations. As POTUS, not so much.

  2. Soopermexican
    November 16th, 2011 @ 7:54 pm

    newt and i won’t forget this. you’re on the list.

  3. Joe
    November 16th, 2011 @ 7:58 pm

    That is spot on.  Newt has his place.   But you do not want to invest Newt with the power of the office of the president.  He would go nuts.  And do we really want Calista as first lady?  Nothing good will come of this.  Nothing at all. 

  4. Joe
    November 16th, 2011 @ 7:59 pm

    Most of us won’t forget Dede Scozzafava either. 

  5. Joe
    November 16th, 2011 @ 8:04 pm
  6. Anonymous
    November 16th, 2011 @ 8:09 pm

    Newt’s place in the administration (assuming Santorum doesn’t squander his turn) should be special advisor to the president for government efficiency.

    I’ve also determined the proper role for Mitt in this.

  7. American Spring
    November 16th, 2011 @ 8:09 pm

    He will lose in Iowa. Newt has supported healthcare mandates before it was kewl. http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/2011/05/13/newt-gingrich-long-time-supporter-of-health-insurance-mandates/3/

  8. Dave
    November 16th, 2011 @ 8:19 pm

    If I wake up in the morning and the choice is between Mitt and Newt, I’ll see you in 2016.

    You have conceded that you will vote for a northeastern liberal Wall-streeter in the general, you have already lost.

    I’m very disappointed in you.

  9. Dave
    November 16th, 2011 @ 8:20 pm

    Newt’s place is far, far away from intra-GOP machinations.  SOS?  Maybe.

  10. richard mcenroe
    November 16th, 2011 @ 8:31 pm

    Remember Stacy, if Romney wins, it’s your fault.  Because everything is.

    And don’t think Ace and Dan aren’t breathing a sigh of relief over that… *g*

  11. Anonymous
    November 16th, 2011 @ 8:31 pm

    Newt is unacceptable, that’s all I’m saying.

  12. James Goswick
    November 16th, 2011 @ 8:32 pm

    Santorum has a better shot of winning anyway. But Newt is still better than Obummer. As for Ann Coulter, does she really know what Mormonism is? How demonic it is? She is clueless. I would take a secularist hypocrite like Newt over Romney anyday. If Romney wins the South, I am the King of England. He has no shot.

  13. richard mcenroe
    November 16th, 2011 @ 8:32 pm

    Send a message to the candidates…

    http://tinyurl.com/7bdo65u 

  14. Joe
    November 16th, 2011 @ 8:36 pm

    See what happens when you make broad statements Stacy! 

  15. Joe
    November 16th, 2011 @ 8:38 pm

    Oh please, not that “LDS is demonic” crap.  I am not a follower, but LDS is not demonic.  You can hate Romney for a whole slew of objective reasons without dragging up hateful stuff like that. 

  16. Anonymous
    November 16th, 2011 @ 8:48 pm

    Not only that, but Stacy is really harshing my mellow.

    I had to watch a nice video of John Petrucci showing off the Mesa/Boogie Mark V head to try and regain my cosmic balance.

    I might have to take up guitar.

  17. Jorge Emilio Emrys Landivar
    November 16th, 2011 @ 8:51 pm

    I’ll take Gingrich over Mitt. 

    Anyway, watch out for Paul, interesting things are happening.

  18. ConantheCimmerian
    November 16th, 2011 @ 9:02 pm

    Joe, LDS is not orthodox.  From the catholics to the baptists, they aren’t considered to be doctrinally a part of the group. Many things the catholics to the baptists that they will disagree about, but they are all on board that LDS deviates too far from essential doctrine……but that is a discussion for a religious post.

    To James’ idea: The southern christian vote will shy away from an LDS candidate.
    How much? Don’t know.

  19. ConantheCimmerian
    November 16th, 2011 @ 9:04 pm

    The above is a split reply. A little confusing, my bad.

  20. Joe
    November 16th, 2011 @ 9:18 pm

    I do not disagree that LDS is diferent doctrinally from other Christian faiths.  Nor am I saying you have to agree with LDS.  I am not a LDS member and have no inclination to join.  But to call it demonic is BS. 

    And I say that because I have friends who are LDS and they are certainly not demonic.  And I have looked at the faith close enough to conclude while it is not for me, it is not demonic either. 

  21. Warrick Locke
    November 16th, 2011 @ 9:20 pm

    The Republican nominee will be Mitt Romney.

    1) Endorsed by the MSM as “most like a Democrat”
    2) None of the others is good enough.
    3) It’s his turn, dammit.

    And in the General Election, faced with a Democrat and an almost-Democrat as choices, Republicans and Independents will stay home and barbecue. B. Obama will be re-elected, not a landslide but not close either. Four More Years!

    You saw it here first.

    Regards,
    Ric

  22. Andrew Patrick
    November 16th, 2011 @ 9:29 pm

    Yeah, but in saying that, more gets said.

  23. Tom Callow
    November 16th, 2011 @ 9:35 pm

    The time since Palin dropped out and even a month or so before she dropped out, have turned the msm and even some of the blogosphere into a GOP circular bashing/hating/firing squad.
    Hell the candidates staffers are in that mode also, waste of time.
    Meanwhile both BHO and Mittens hide out.
    At least when Palin was still really considering, the meme was Palin burns Obama, Media howls, rinse, repeat. Using that meme then Congress and others would pile on actually tilting the media storyboards to concentrate on actual policy and the presidency.
    But not now, sigh.
    The GOP better start Obama bashing now, more of that and less of the circular stuff will change the tone of the electorate IN SPITE OF the so called media, old and some new.

  24. Andrew Patrick
    November 16th, 2011 @ 9:43 pm

    Then the southern christians need to get their priorities straight.

    I don’t give six sides of a fuck if Mitt Romney worships fire spirits from Tierra del Fuego. The idea that anyone should vote against a man because he worships in the church of his fathers — a church that, while incomparably goofy to an Orthodox christian, is utterly harmless — is plainly Un-American.

    When christian doctrine falls under the brief of the POTUS, your argument will have merit. Until then, it is a dull species of propaganda.

  25. richard mcenroe
    November 16th, 2011 @ 10:08 pm

    Please allow me to introduce myself, I’m a man of wealth and taste…

  26. Joe
    November 16th, 2011 @ 11:39 pm

    Well said.  Well said. 

  27. Joe
    November 16th, 2011 @ 11:41 pm

    Well all I know is damning a person because you disagree with their faith is closer to “that man of wealth and taste” than it is to the Jewish carpenter from Nazareth. 

  28. Joe
    November 16th, 2011 @ 11:43 pm

    I hope not.  I hope not. 

  29. Garym
    November 16th, 2011 @ 11:43 pm

    Ann Coulter is a self indulgent biatch. Her love for Christy and hatred of Palin and her supporters, have turned me off the bitch forever. I used to love her dismantling of liberal arguments and her fearlessness(is that a word?) in debating idiot dems on thier turf. But by trashing other conservatives to build up her lousy pick gives her no credibility in my book.

  30. Anonymous
    November 16th, 2011 @ 11:53 pm

    Some people seem to be missing my point about Newt and Dede: If somebody can bitch-slap conservatives like that in 2009, and then become the GOP presidential front-runner in 2011, why should any Republican ever treat conservatives with respect?

    If you roll like a punk, you deserve to be treated like a punk, and to urge conservatives to let Newt get away with such a purposeful diss  is to argue that weakness is preferable to strength.

    And the folks jumping on the Newt bandwagon now are going to regret it when Newt gets beaten silly in Iowa.

  31. Anonymous
    November 17th, 2011 @ 12:01 am

    You see the motto at the top of the page, Richard? I’m not trying to win a popularity contest here. When everybody was jumping on the Perry bandwagon, I warned them, but they wouldn’t listen. Now I’m warning them against the Newt bandwagon, and they’re still not listening. Sometimes I feel like Cassandra warning the Trojans to beware of Greeks bearing gifts.

  32. Newt Versus Obama… | SOOPERMEXICAN
    November 17th, 2011 @ 12:06 am

    […] And if you want to read the most critical reasons why you shouldn’t be for the Nootster: [read here] […]

  33. Garym
    November 17th, 2011 @ 1:03 am

    I’m going to vote for the last man (or lady) standing. None of these candidates blow my kilt up. I like Cain’s story and smooth demeaner, but hate the 999 plan. I love Bachman’s passion and guts to go after Obama and Pelosi, but she has no experience, and on and on.
    Romney and his flippin and floppin, Romneycare, vagueness on global warming, makes him the last possible choice. But I will vote for him over Obastard. Third parties need not apply and that includes Palin, even though I know she would never do that.
    Bottom line is we need to come together and defeat Odisaster.

  34. Anonymous
    November 17th, 2011 @ 1:27 am

    I don’t even see how anybody gets on a bandwagon until after some voting results.

    I mean, fine, send money and stuff, but that’s not an engagement ring or anything.

  35. Adjoran
    November 17th, 2011 @ 2:41 am

    The CoS actually runs the government.  He can’t run it contrary to the President’s wishes for long, but he is the one who issues the orders that do not require an Executive Order.  Newt has no experience at all in such a role.

    In fact, Romney would be the ideal CoS to reorganize the federal bureaucracy by eliminating unnecessary departments and employees and duplication of efforts, having make his personal fortune doing just that.

    But who do we get to be President?  Dang, back to square one . . .

  36. Adjoran
    November 17th, 2011 @ 2:44 am

    I almost had, though.  Couldn’t remember her name on another site, so referred to her as “Scuzzyfuzzy.” 

    I’m thinking everybody knew who I meant.

    It wasn’t so much Newt endorsing her.  He was a national Republican figure and the state party was behind her, it was not such a shock in itself.  It was the comments he made about conservatives supporting Hoffman instead.  They were rather uncomplimentary, so much so that I doubt many of those supporting Hoffman who heard them would ever support Gingrich for anything.

  37. Adjoran
    November 17th, 2011 @ 2:49 am

    If you help reelect Obama, I’ll be very disappointed in you.  And so will your country, which you seem willing to sacrifice to satisfy your personal frustration.

    We’re all frustrated.  But our “bench” for this time period was Daniels, Pawlenty, Barbour, Palin, and Romney.  Only Romney and T-Paw chose to run.  We don’t get to have a Reagan just because we need one.

    Do the right thing.  A mistake could cost us all for decades to come.

  38. Adjoran
    November 17th, 2011 @ 2:54 am

    To me the basic qualification includes some serious management experience – governors, generals, big city mayors, business executives.  I don’t see Newt as having that, nor being a likely candidate to do well with  limited experience.

    There are plenty of other reasons as we know, from ethanol to Dede and beyond.

    But if it ends up him against Obama, I’ll take Newt, globular warts, forked tongue, and all.

    Or Gary Johnson’s neighbor’s dog’s poop, for that matter.

  39. Adjoran
    November 17th, 2011 @ 3:09 am

    If Newt had endorsed Dede as a favor to old pals in the NY Party and left it at that, I wouldn’t care at all.  I doubt his endorsement carried much weight with many people – endorsements almost never do.

    But he just couldn’t keep his mouth shut, IIRC.  It was as if the very idea some other conservative could have a different judgement from him was an insult to his mother’s virtue.  He was sarcastic, he was nasty, he was Newt.

    And sooner or later he is going to bust out Newt all over the place again, and the public will recoil in horror.

  40. Adjoran
    November 17th, 2011 @ 3:13 am

    No doubt.  The country can’t afford for us to split over the nomination, especially when we all agree there’s no perfect candidate in the field.

    Obama must be defeated.  Four more years of his policies, regulations, and edicts could put us in a fatal downspin, and if we manage to survive that, four years of him appointing federal judges for life could damage the country for decades to come.

  41. Bob Belvedere
    November 17th, 2011 @ 7:32 am

    The Greeks can’t afford the gifts anymore [as always, watch out for the Hun].

  42. Dave
    November 17th, 2011 @ 7:32 am

    You’re telling me that I must vote for the guy

    -who enabled gay marriage in Massachusetts
    -was pro-killing babies the whole time
    -whose people knifed Sarah Palin in the back.
    -is chummy with Wall Street.
    – and introduced socialized medicine in Massachusetts.

    Try it again.  I’m not bluffing, and neither are a lot of solid GOP guys.  If Romney is the GOP selection, we’re out.  

    See you in 2016, hopefully there will be a country left, but if the choice is between a liberal statist* and a liberal statist*, I’ll vote 3rd party, if at all.

    *Oh and if we’re going to have a liberal statist as president, it’s probably better that he is incompetent, wildly reviled, and associated with Democrats.  In the long run.

  43. Bob Belvedere
    November 17th, 2011 @ 7:35 am

    Do I even need to vote on this one?  I think it rather safe to assume where my priorities lie.

  44. Dave
    November 17th, 2011 @ 7:37 am

    I agree with you on Newt.  He’s unacceptable.  but remember Mitt’s people leaked on Sarah Palin in October ’08, like rats leaving a sinking ship.

    Mitt and Newt are both unacceptable, but I think it’s understood by most, that Newt can never really get the nomination.  Too much baggage.

    And by baggage, I mean that it’s well understood that the MSM hates him and that he’s a horrible matchup vs. Obama.

  45. Bob Belvedere
    November 17th, 2011 @ 7:41 am

    Spot-on, Stacy.

    If anyone thinks Newt has changed, that he has ‘come to Jesus’, their badly mistaken.  A leopard can’t change it’s spots and neither can the Eric Cartman of the GOP.

    Newt is for Newt, that is all ye need to know.

  46. Anonymous
    November 17th, 2011 @ 8:31 am

    Conan, as far as my Jewish wife is concerned, Christianity is just another Jewish heresy. And I don’t debate theology with the daughter of an Orthodox rabbi.

    And I am a Southern Christian. There’s many better reasons to hate ORomney than that.

  47. Anonymous
    November 17th, 2011 @ 8:32 am

    Actually, Joe, that Jewish carpenter told us quite clearly you could be damned for your faith. But it’s His job to do the damning, not yours.

  48. Anonymous
    November 17th, 2011 @ 8:59 am

    As Professor Jacobson points out, the reason Romney looks electable now is that he’s being carefully shielded by Copperhead and Establican media… a fact of which Mittsuckers prefer to remain unaware. It’s John McCain 2.0.

  49. logos
    November 17th, 2011 @ 9:13 am
  50. Ann Coulter Not a Fan of Newt Gingrich | The Lonely Conservative
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