AP Interview: Gingrich Criticizes Bush, Open to Presidential Run

TBO.COM ^

[PhiKapMom]

Give me a break! Newt cannot beat Hillary and you can take that to the bank -- his arrogance makes him unelectable in most parts of the Country.

You people have a short memory -- he had to resign from the House as Speaker after his affair came out. What planet are you people on to think that people won't remember he was after Clinton and got caught himself!

Anyone wanting the Republicans to have success in 2008 will not be supporting Newt -- he is untrustworthy and already let us down once -- doesn't get a second chance IMHO.

[John Lenin]

He is not going to run, this is just media propaganda .

[isom35]

newt critical of bush? that might make sean hannity's tiny little brain explode (or implode, I dunno)

[Inspectorette]

I believe I made this exact point by referring to the difference between President Reagan's previous marriage, and Newt's peccadilloes:

I don't think he could make it in a run for Prez. The American people are willing to overlook one divorce (such as President Reagan), but Newt's had TWO nasty divorces, with a lot of cheating on both his first and second wives. (Not to mention telling his first wife he wanted a divorce when she was battling cancer.)

I certainly was not excusing Newt's abominable behavior.

[stockpirate]

Please say it ain't so. I could not vote for him. He is just going to be used be the left to trash Bush and then I will dislike him.

[Nita Nupress]

I knew that but forgot to finish my thought process on that reply to you. Actually, I responded to yours because you seemed to be thinking my own thoughts. Sorry 'bout that.

[Inspectorette]

LOL - happens to all of us from time to time ;-)

[proudpapa]

I'll second that: Sanford 2008

[Rhiannon]

I think it is very obvious that Newt is just being coy and allowing the media to speculate, to gather publicity for his book. he is not serious,but if dumb people will talk it up, he will allow it,to get better sales. That said, I really like Newt and am not bothered by the reason he left the speakership.

[A CA Guy]

No Newt, leave him to teach history.

[Ohioan]

No, I did not know that. But I believe that so was Agnew, and he moved sharply to the right, either immediately before or at the time when he was chosen to be the candidate for Vice President. (The scuttle butt at the time was that he was reacting to the race riots.) I have always suspected that the sudden surfacing of the old tax issue, in 1973, was a Rockefeller maneuver because Agnew had left the Rockefeller camp (although it could have had other sources).

Newt is not an always consistent or predictable fellow; but, on balance, he has been more of an asset than a liability for Conservatives.

William Flax

[hinckley buzzard]

I like Newt too, and he did a great service leading the 1994 campaign. But he let himself get rolled by clinton, bigtime, and I don't see him as presidential material.

[SunkenCiv]

"I don't think it's very likely."

Good. I doubt that Newt is electable. Despite his intellect, he's got a slimy vibe, and isn't likeable.

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court... hmm...

[cloud8]

"The American people are willing to overlook [President Reagan's] one divorce...but...TWO nasty divorces, with a lot of cheating...Not to mention...he wanted a divorce when she was battling cancer."

Will we overlook his transgressions, or will we forgive him? Will the Speaker ask the American people for their forgiveness? I don't know. I don't know. Newt Gingrich already has a big place in history, and although a big flaw brought him down--and to be sure he let us down--I think he still has a big part to play.

"...he can have a good living as a pundit, commentator, writer, professor etc."

*cough* or talk show host. The last thing we need is another pundit. Welcome back Newt? Time will tell.

[FairOpinion]

I think Newt IS likable and a real leader. I personally like him, but don't forget the historical change of taking over the House of Representatives from the Democrats. News was able to convince all candidates, to focus on the national aspects, the Contract with America, and was able to convince the people to vote for it. I would think this is quite remarkable.

Given that, he might have a chance for the presidency, but on the other hand the Dems would dig up some minor dirt about him and turn it into some big deal, so I think because of that, he probably isn't really electable as President.

[Reagan Man]

For starters, Newt never cheated on his wife. Secondly. If you'd vote for liberals like Rudi or Schwarzy over Newt, you're NO Republican and you're definitely NO conservative either.

[SunkenCiv]

was able to convince all candidates, to focus on the national aspects, the Contract with America, and was able to convince the people to vote for it.

Kind of reminded everyone of "think globally, act locally", but in a good way. ;') The Contract was a promise to bring a very specific list of things to a vote within, hmm, I think it was 100 days. It was brilliant. But Clinton had laid the groundwork, by 2blecrossing big labor with his support for NAFTA and GATT, and some other constituencies with welfare reform. He let Hitlery run hog wild (hmm, somehow that metaphor seems especially appropriate) with the abortive (hmm, somehow that metaphor...) "reform" of health care.

Also, Newt got rules changes to permit his fellows to "vote their consciences" forgetting I suppose that politicians don't have 'em. You've got elected with the expectation that the Contract ideas would be passed and didn't deliver, N-man. :'D

I doubt that domestic issues will be much of a problem by 2006 or 2008. For one thing, Bush is going to insist on continued tax cuts. There isn't anyone with a brain who will buy into the idea that the Dims -- who taxed the crap out of working people for decades, all the while running huge deficits, and launching the Korean War, the Vietnam War -- will be able to do anything. In the meanwhile, we've got more money to live on, and the economic downturn started under Clinton. And Clinton had inherited the Reagan-Bush1 prosperity.

[Theodore R.]

Yes, Newt once said that he just "melted" in the presence of the "President."

[PhilDragoo]

I wouldn't vote for Gingrich for dog catcher.

Newt is oldt.

His criticism of our commander in chief during wartime is only the latest example of his poor judgment.

His behavior prior to his resignation in 1998 was--remember the word--reprehensible.

He organized the brilliant victory of 1994 and went down in the war for the hearts and minds in the 1995 budget battle.

To philander and desert at the peak of impeachment was unforgivable.

He was replaced by Bob Livingston--who pulled the same paper-man-in-a-furnace stunt.

[I shook Livingston's hand in 2000 when he campaigned for our Senate candidate--you'd have thought I came at him with a chainsaw the way he blanched--then, the dead fish.]

No more weaselly hollow men.

Someone who will not wither when we exorcise the nation in 2008.

[hinckley buzzard]

Exactly. We don't need a President who just might "melt" in the presence of a skillful foreign psychopath.

President Bush's flattery of Putin ("seeing into his soul" or whatever)gave me the willies because I thought he might just have meant it. Now I'm more confident that W was practicing strategery.