Posted on 03/03/2012 3:42:36 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
Let’s be clear about this from the start: On Tuesday, I’ll vote for Newt Gingrich to be the GOP’s presidential nominee.
Now for the explanation.
In recent days, I mentally drafted one piece endorsing him, one backing Mitt Romney, and a third picking Rick Santorum. (Sorry, Ron Paul fans.) In other words, like millions of other Americans, I’ve had a hard time reaching a decision.
......[SNIP]......
Gingrich has a record of changing Washington. Completely? No. But then, completely changing Washington is a big job. And Gingrich led Congress to each success to which Santorum can also lay a claim: balanced budgets and welfare reform, to name two. Just as important, unlike Santorum, he was not there for the excesses of the GOP-run Congress during the 2000s.
Gingrich also matches Santorum’s ability to convey his beliefs — conservative beliefs — unapologetically. But his way is more happy warrior than disappointed dad. That matters.
Of the remaining candidates, he has the best tax plans and is the most specific about addressing runaway regulation and bureaucracy and developing our energy resources. Is $2.50-a-gallon gas realistic? Maybe not. But it is aspirational in a way that demonstrates his commitment to the issue. Again, that matters.
Is he flawed? Yes, as are his rivals. But the most flawed candidate is the one now taking the country in the wrong direction, Obama. And the candidate who is clearest and most effective at offering a different direction is Newt Gingrich. He gets my vote.
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.ajc.com ...
I have been struggling with this myself....Newt or Rick? But am going with Newt. The deciding factor for me was what Rick said about Rush and the Fluke matter. He should have stood up for Rush.
Newt can sell conservatism, like he did in Georgia so many years ago.
“ATLANTA — It wasn’t so long ago that the Republican Party in Georgia was just an afterthought, and Democrats were in firm control of all the levers of state government. Back then, Newt Gingrich and other die-hard GOP stalwarts ventured across the state with the far-fetched message that Republicans could reverse the tide.
Now with commanding majorities in the Statehouse and control of all statewide offices, Gingrich is hoping his vision for how the GOP could overcome decades of Democratic dominance in Georgia will pay dividends. He sorely needs a victory when his home state votes Tuesday, along with a big chunk of its 76 delegates, to prove his stumbling presidential bid has staying power.
Many Republican figures in Georgia still credit him with championing conservative policies, outlining a framework for what a GOP majority in the state could accomplish and broadcasting talking points to a generation of up-and-coming conservative leaders. He’s also applauded for lobbying conservative Democrats, like then-Rep. Nathan Deal, to switch parties.
“Everyone else was trying to lose as slowly as possible, and to die with dignity at the Alamo. He was talking confidently that the Republican majority in Georgia, in the South and nationally was right around the corner,” said Ralph Reed, a veteran Georgia GOP operative who founded the national Faith and Freedom Coalition. “On the one hand it was crazy, but on the other it was just the most exciting thing you’ve ever heard.”.....
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2853676/posts
Santorum is, at his core, just another Huckabee - a pro-life big govt liberal.
Newt’s da man if you are seeking Conservative change.
Have to agree on all points. Newt is less than perfect but Mittens just isn’t motivational in any way. Bottom line; I’ll be voting for the the candidate with the (R) beside their name in November. Unless Cain/Palin are running as Democrats.
There has been no question for me Newt is the only one. Romney is completely out of the question, and Santorum acts like he is running for the senate.
We're an instant gratification, TV/video, playstation, (overly) amused kind of people.
NO ONE ..... NO ONE .... gets us up out of our seats applauding like Newt can do and has done, and whether we like it or not, us old farts understand things we may not be able to put into words well and explain, but we know what WE want, and we WERE those Rockwell kids.
Mittens is the epitome of IMPERFECT for our country.
GO NEWT!!
As you know... because I posted it to you first... this is the same conclusion that I have come to. Newt falls short on so many counts... but he is so far ahead of the other two that he is the obvious choice of the thinking voter.
LLS
Bump!
I agree that Santorum is another Huckabee, but I don't think it's fair to call him a liberal - big government guy absolutely.
The only reason Santorum is getting traction is because thinking people discern that he is the only viable alternative to Romney. I used to admire Newt greatly. Unfortunately, the more one sees of him, the less there is to like. He is starting to come across as a smart untrustworthy weasel like Nixon. Yes, Nixon was somewhat conservative, but he also established federal affirmative action, the EPA, and wage and price controls. Newt seems like a similar opportunist - anything to stay in office.
Care to expand or are you just hear to throw stink bombs?
Gingrich also matches Santorum’s ability to convey his beliefs — conservative beliefs — unapologetically. But his way is more happy warrior than disappointed dad. That matters.Yes, I think it does matter. A lot.And Santorum’s people seem to help him get into trouble that way, too. They just can’t help themselves. Understandable, but possibly tragic, too.
It’s understandable, because you just know that journalists go shopping for just the person to give them the sound bite they lust after, then they twist it out of context. It makes it impossible for the candidate to stay on message. Precisely according to the journalists’ plan . . .
And Newt is able to turn it right back on them. It's a skill-set we need going forward to win.
“I have been struggling with this myself....Newt or Rick?”
_______________________________________
Same here. I’m voting Newt. His ability to destroy someone in a debate (with facts) is his strongest point. America needs a man that can be ‘cocky’ and not take any crap from libs/RINOS.
Rick comes off as just too nice and way too passive for the challenges we are now facing. America is at the crossroads between FReedom from or submission to Socialism.
It’s Newt all the way.
“Newt Gingrich gets my vote”
Right on ALL points!
Now there is trouble in Ohio with Santorum’s delegates.
......”Ohio has 16 congressional districts, or will for purposes of this election. (It now has 18 but will lose two at the end of 2012.) Romney, Gingrich and Ron Paul have slates of three delegates in each. But here is how Santorum’s slates shake out:
District 1: 3 delegates
District 2: 3 delegates
District 3: 2 delegates
District 4: 1 delegate
District 5: 3 delegates
District 6: 0 delegates
District 7: 3 delegates
District 8: 2 delegates
District 9: 0 delegates
District 10: 1 delegate
District 11: 3 delegates
District 12: 2 delegates
District 13: 0 delegates
District 14: 3 delegates
District 15: 3 delegates
District 16: 1 delegate
This could get interesting, and difficult, for Santorum because his failure includes districts where he might otherwise run well”......
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2012/03/rick_santorum_faces_bigger_ohi.html
More: “Santorum Could Be Ineligible For 18 Ohio District Delegates — Report”
http://freerepublic.com/focus/news/2853903/posts?page=19
Romney is a definite NO and in fact if he is the nomination I cannot see myself answering the "GOP Rally Cry." Not this time. And I have the oddest of places from which I historically draw that decision.
For a long time I was thinking Santorum. And if I look at my historical decision making regarding Romney, Santorum is also out.
So, that leaves Newt. I do believe Newt can lead, "We the People." But, can he with his troubled ethics past lead congress? And can we deliver for him a congress that can be lead?
This past week, another FReeper had me looking into a piece of history. A very dark piece of history written by a very dark individual. This piece of literature though highlighted something I had been wondering and missing for some time. What was life like...before WWII? What did the German people miss that caused them to be led so far astray? As I reread this "autobiography" ignoring the racism and the culture warfare...the complaint stood out. The halfhearted efforts of the politicians, theologians, and even the Church that were part of the causes for the ultimate collapse.
And I think this dark person did indeed understand very clearly how and what the difference was between the theorists and the agitators. He took the path of the agitators, but just as easily another path could have been chosen.
Like then the similarities to preWar Germany are astounding. While many here, myself included, have read and dissected "Atlas Shrugged," for the parallels...it is fiction. To combine what we have learned from the fiction that is Atlas Shrugged and the reading of Volume I of Mein Kampf we are at a critical crossroads.
We can choose the community agitator...again. Or we must choose a leader of full commitment to the ideals of a republican form of government. A leader of 'halfheartedness' will be the death of our way of life. It was the "halfheartedness" that made room for the community agitator that was Hitler. Currently our GOP leaders with their compromises and reaching across the aisle attitudes are risking our republic. They are contributing to the marxist way of doing things.
Hitler recognized what the elites were failing to do. His resolutions were wrong, but his observation of preWar Germany were enlightened. He concluded it was the rich Jew etc. to blame. He looked to 'blame' the collapse on someone or something. Failing to fully acknowledge that which he had so diligently observed as the halfhearted nature that had invaded their way of life.
The GOP-E are horribly wrong in their support of Romney. The endorsements for Santorum with his record of 'halfheartedness' is deadly. The election and nomination of either of these two candidates will lead to a result too horrific to consider. Their nomination and election, will lead to a community agitator in 2016 that none will be able to stand against.
And so with history as my guide, I will be voting for Newt on Tuesday.
the question for me comes down to... do I want another mealy mouthed soft spoken “compassionate” so called conservative leading the way, or do I want the orneryest, meanest SOB in the valley leading the way?... I want someone that will take the fight to the enemy (communists) and not give a damn what the msm says about him/her.... newt is the meanest, strongest one left.... now about sarah for vp... would be very interesting..
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.