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Consensus breaking out: Not Newt
Washington Post ^ | December 4, 2011 | Jennifer Rubin

Posted on 12/04/2011 6:04:20 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife

On Friday, I suggested that Republicans “could pull a name out of a hat and find a more consistent and personally stable conservative” than Newt Gingrich. Many smart conservatives seem to agree. (VictorDavisHanson points out that with Gingrich as the nominee the GOP would forfeit the “crony capitalism” issue; No one has been a bigger crony than he.)

The latest and perhaps brightest warning flare to the right is sent up by GeorgeWill. There are too many delicious lines in his column from which to choose a favorite. (e.g.,“There is almost artistic vulgarity in Gingrich’s unrepented role as a hired larynx for interests profiting from such government follies as ethanol and cheap mortgages”; “Gingrich, who would have made a marvelous Marxist, believes everything is related to everything else and only he understands how.”) George patiently explains to those who think the conservative movement began with the Internet and is defined by those who can burnish the most withering rhetoric: “Conservatism inoculates against the hubristic volatility that Gingrich exemplifies.” Yes, Gingrich is what conservatism aims to save us from.

Now, George would choose TexasGov Rick Perry or Jon Huntsman. RameshPonnuru would take MittRomney. There is also RickSantorum to consider. Reasonable conservatives differ on the alternative, but other than sheer contrarianism and temporary amnesia it is hard (for those who want to maintain the ideological health of the conservative movement and win the WhiteHouse) to justify embracing Gingrich. That he is more “gregarious, upbeat” than he used to be is no reason to choose him as president or to declare he has turned over new leaf.

For those conservatives who are not systematically averting their eyes, Gingrich every day gives Republicans further reason to conclude there is no “New Newt,” only the same disorganized egomaniac who drove his House caucus to revolt.

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


TOPICS: Government; Politics; Religion
KEYWORDS: 2012; conservatism; gopprimary; notperryeither; rinos4romney; romneycare; rove4romney; tokyorove
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To: gogogodzilla

Victor Davis Hanson is pimping Romney. Checkout the National Socialist Review Online and read it yourself.


81 posted on 12/04/2011 6:45:46 AM PST by o2bfree
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Huntsman???? Isn’t he a Democrat impersonating a Republican?


82 posted on 12/04/2011 6:45:54 AM PST by Old Retired Army Guy
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To: TomGuy
Here's the explanation for the Newt hoopla:


83 posted on 12/04/2011 6:46:07 AM PST by Huck (LIBERTY is the object.)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

And the LSM, the advertising arm of the Obama Campaign, continues to execute “the plan”.


84 posted on 12/04/2011 6:47:14 AM PST by Redleg Duke ("Madison, Wisconsin is 30 square miles surrounded by reality.", L. S. Dryfus)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Crony Capitalism? Seriously?!

Palin on Perry’s Vaccination Executive Order: ‘That’s Crony Capitalism’

85 posted on 12/04/2011 6:47:54 AM PST by Servant of the Cross (the Truth will set you free)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Not in FL. Newt has almost 50% - and MORE than 50% of tea partiers.


86 posted on 12/04/2011 6:48:07 AM PST by Notwithstanding (1998 ACU ratings: Newt=100%, Paul=88%, Santorum=84% [the last year all were in Congress])
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
"Well, C.E.W. we know they aren't the only ones."

Yes, Cincinatus' Wife is also in their camp.

87 posted on 12/04/2011 6:49:01 AM PST by Redleg Duke ("Madison, Wisconsin is 30 square miles surrounded by reality.", L. S. Dryfus)
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To: BunnySlippers
It seems to me there are two kinds of strategists.

We generally think in terms of a candidate being a conservative enough, or having the ability to appeal to independents sufficiently, or possessed of a connection which will stir the base, as the signals whether a candidate can prevail in a national election.

When we think that way we tend to think like Karl Rove. We do something similar to what the Democrats do which is to slice and dice the electorate into finite demographics and try to reassemble the pieces into a result on election night that equals 50% plus one vote. The Democrats do it on class and race. Karl Rove shifted the demographics very close in 2000 when he did not get the 50% plus one vote from the general electorate but only a majority in the electoral college.

There is another way to think about winning elections and that is to nationalize the contest and to dominate the stage. That is the way of Ronald Reagan and, I submit, Newt Gingrich. There is no one standing on the stage today who has anything like the potential Newt Gingrich possesses to utterly transform the electoral process and turn it against Obama. By way of illustration but not by limitation, Gingrich's challenge to Obama to the Lincoln Douglas debates gives us a foretaste of how we can turn the tables on Obama. I have no confidence that Obama will accept the debate terms, but I do have confidence that Gingrich will effectively dog Obama's appearances and force the media to present the other side of the story.

Gingrich will nationalize the election. He already did it when he crafted the "Gingrich Revolution." He is talking now about putting together a team as part of a national coordinated campaign.

I recite all of this to tell you that in the long run I believe that the Gingrich way is the less risky way to fight and win a national election not only for the head of the ticket but down ticket as well. Karl Rove's method ultimately was to abandon the Congress to the Democrats so that he can keep Bush in office. Gingrich runs the opposite way.

This is not the time to shave the demographics but to inspire the people and convert the election into a movement. Gingrich alone can do that. I think he is the safer bet.


88 posted on 12/04/2011 6:50:11 AM PST by nathanbedford ("Attack, repeat, attack!" Bull Halsey)
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To: heiss
I would be ok with Newt as Def Sec or Secretary of State, serving under a conservative president.

A question. How do you think it would be having Newt as an employee working under YOU?

I wouldn't like it. He's too unpredictable and flighty. He doesn't hold himself accountable; he glosses over his weaknesses and has no humility.

And since a "President" Newt would be hired to work for us, the people, it gives me HUGE pause and heartburn just thinking about it.

89 posted on 12/04/2011 6:51:41 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Shery

Good thing I’m old enough to remember it well, or I might be jaded by your posting. I didn’t see what you saw in the 90’s. I saw Newt rise to the top of the political world on the strength of his ideas. I saw him take the House, and the Speakership and begin to set this country on the right path...balanced budgets, welfare reform, etc. And I saw Newt get so close to revealing the left for their marxism and relegate them to the dustbin of history that they HAD TO destroy him. So they vilified him...on the cover of Newsweek as the grinch, as the man who delivered divorce papers to his wife on her deathbed, with 65 ethics charges that were all bs and constant complaints about his “book deal.” And finally with that stupid story about complaining about where he sat on Air Force One and depicting as a baby. They destroyed him with the help of their movie producer friends the Thomassons and turned the independents against him...just like they have done to Cheney, Bush, Palin, and Cain. Destroyed them with lies. If you want to believe the crap they spoon feed you, be my guest, but I’ve been a Newt fan since before 1994, and although I know he is not the perfect conservative candidate, I am convinced that he is the best hope to get the marxist muslim out of the peoples White House.


90 posted on 12/04/2011 6:51:47 AM PST by ez ("Abashed the Devil stood and felt how awful goodness is." - Milton, "Paradise Lost")
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To: Solson
If not Newt, then it will be Romney.

And like it or not, that is what it is in GOP 2012.

91 posted on 12/04/2011 6:52:32 AM PST by Servant of the Cross (the Truth will set you free)
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To: nathanbedford
The people are much smarter and more sophisticated than Ms. Rubin gives them credit. They know these are extraordinary times which require an extraordinary candidate. They had not been conned, they and we know the liabilities that come with Newt Gingrich. We have made a calculation that we need the upside so we'll take the risk on the downside.

As one who was for Sarah Palin, then Herman Cain, I think you've correctly characterized my own thinking process. I still like Bachmann and Santorum would be ok too, but how can I justify sending them any money with where they are in the polls?

We can win with Newt.

It's the fearful, frustrated mood voters are in.

The country's looking for an adult, a decisive person who doesn't beat around the bush, a Commander-in-Chief, and a person who can actually answer questions yes or no.

Someone like Newt is who we always turn to when we're afraid and angry-the dude with the gun who's not averse to telling us who he'll shoot first.

92 posted on 12/04/2011 6:54:30 AM PST by wayoverontheright
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To: BunnySlippers

“Please support Perry”

I think Palin would have more chance to win as a “write in” in the general than Perry would.


93 posted on 12/04/2011 6:54:39 AM PST by babygene (Figures don't lie, but liars can figure...)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
For those who don't know, I have been a Cain supporter and CW and I have been on different sides throughout this campaign; however, I think we respect each others positions. I have been openly critical of Gov Perry on his “illegals/instate tuition” issue. That said, of the field that is left, for those still “wandering in the desert,” I think Perry at least deserves consideration; along w/Bachmann, Santorum and Gingrich. (Full disclosure: I am a “no go” for Romney because of trust issues related to “flip-flops” on several key issues and I cannot support Congressman Paul due to his foreign policy stance. Huntsman is also a “non-starter.”)

Personally, I am not “sold” on the “New Newt's” Conservatism and I am particularly troubled by his “immigration reform” policy stance ...it is duplicitous; and I believe Newt is intelligent enough to realize this. In my opinion Newt's policy will either result in amnesty imposed by court challenges OR it will result in a permanent impoverished class of non-citizen “guest workers” w/the same results as what we are seeing in Europe (ghettos/riots and various crimes of violence).

If anyone happened to catch Ken Cuccinelli’s comments on FOX this morning (He is VA’s current Attorney General and recently announced gubernatorial candidate); he has similar concerns about Newt on several issues. Cuccinelli is a serious Conservative and Tea Party supporter. He is definitely not a RINO insider and is actually taking on the GOP elites in his run for governor. For these reasons, I take Cuccinelli’s comments and opinions very seriously.

I would also add that I am not saying that Newt doesn't deserve consideration; however, it should be thoughtful consideration; not a rush to judgment. We need to know what we are “buying” before we “sign on the dotted line.”

94 posted on 12/04/2011 6:55:07 AM PST by Ozymandias Ghost
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To: ez
And Newt was a choir boy who "had to be destroyed?"

......"In the nineties, Mr. Nussle’s current wife was working for Mr. Gingrich; while Mr. Gingrich’s current wife was working for a committee which Mr. Nussle served on in the House of Representatives.

Furthermore, both men were married when they began affairs with each other’s staff members – all while Mr. Gingrich was leading the investigation into Bill Clinton’s extramarital affair with Monica Lewinsky. This is an unfortunate irony.

More importantly, it points to a willful disregard of personal behavior and you are forever linked to both of these candidates in a way that is unacceptable for many of us who demand Christian leadership.

Which brings us to our next concern.".... Source

95 posted on 12/04/2011 6:55:41 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten

well to be fair to her she was treated badly by the msm and establishment rinos


96 posted on 12/04/2011 6:55:41 AM PST by Jeff Vader
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Gee. So the self-proclaimed Republican elitists don’t like Newt.

Hmm. My opinion of him just went up.


97 posted on 12/04/2011 6:56:33 AM PST by Pravious
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To: nathanbedford

No thanks.


98 posted on 12/04/2011 6:56:43 AM PST by BunnySlippers (I LOVE BULL MARKETS . . .)
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To: nathanbedford

Dude, that last post, was the equivalent of Albert Einstein lecturing a Trucker’s convention. I doubt any of it will register.

But as usual FRiend.....Spot On!


99 posted on 12/04/2011 6:58:08 AM PST by PSYCHO-FREEP (If you come to a fork in the road, take it........)
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To: OrangeHoof

For me that ‘some other’ must include Lt. Col/Congressman West.


100 posted on 12/04/2011 6:59:33 AM PST by noinfringers2
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