Posted on 05/14/2007 6:46:39 AM PDT by Hadean
The Former Speaker of the House Warns GOP Hillary Clinton Has a Good Chance of Becoming President
Newt Gingrich for president? It could happen.
In an interview with Diane Sawyer on "Good Morning America," the former Republican speaker of the House said there was a "great possibility" that he would run for president.
He will make that decision sometime in the fall. Sawyer noted that previously Gingrich had only said he was "thinking about" a run for president.
"You said you'll make a decision at the end of the September,{is it} more likely, less likely this morning? Sawyer asked Gingrich. "I think right now, it is a great possibility," Gingrich said.
"A great possibility you'll run? Sawyer asked. But Gingrich declined to elaborate. "I don't want to get into all this stuff," Gingrich said. "I want to focus on what we have to do to make America successsful."
Gingrich was visiting "GMA" to talk about his new book, "Pearl Harbor: A Novel of December the 8th," which he co-wrote with William Forstchen.
But Gingrich took time to assess the field of declared candidates and said he wasn't happy with the current contenders, comparing them to contestants on "American Idol."
"We're in this virtually irrational process," he said. "It's exactly wrong as a way of choosing a national leader."
Gingrich said Republican candidates needed to champion large-scale reforms.
"I think unless a Republican who is nominated is committed to fundamental change in Washington they will certainly lose the election," he said.
According to Gingrich, Republicans need to realize that Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has a good chance of winning the White House if she gets her party's nomination.
"They are very effective at raking on their opponents," he said of the Clintons. "I think she has a very good chance to win the presidency."
Time for Another Conservative Contender? Polls show that the Iraq War is a big undertow for Republicans. Gingrich said as far back as 2003 that Bush had "gone off a cliff" with the Iraq War. Gingrich believes the United States should get out of Iraq as soon as possible.
"I think we have to turn over policing responsibility for the Iraqis as rapidly as possible," he said. "Pull our troops out as rapidly as possible."
A Newsweek poll has every Democratic front-runner beating every leading Republican: Clinton edges out former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani by three points. Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards beats Arizona Sen. John McCain by 10 points, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney by 37. Illinois Sen. Barack Obama prevails over McCain by 13 points.
Republicans also appear to be hitting other potholes on the presidential path. Conservatives are wary of Giuliani's staunch support of abortion rights, while McCain is seen by some as unreliable on other conservative issues, such as immigration.
The top Republican presidential front-runners are trying to woo conservatives, but so far it seems an unrequited love.
"The three front-runners are just not viable conservative choices, and I think what we know about the three front-runners is enough really to doom them," said one Republican voter.
There seems to be an opening for a conservative candidate. Former senator and actor Fred Thompson may have his eye on the White House. Some speculate that Gingrich, with the release of a new book and his apology to conservative leader James Dobson for past personal indiscretions, could as well.
I am not one of the "conservatives" that eat their own. Newt will be a welcome addition to the field. Chances of winning are low, but he will bring conservatives ideals to the process.
"I think unless a Republican who is nominated is committed to fundamental change in Washington they will certainly lose the election," he said." Fundamental change is what the country is in dire need of. I doubt however any President will be able to change what is happening in D.C.. And that is really sad for the Republic.
The MSM would love to beat him up again.
Not a prayer in Hades.
You're very wrong about that.
Hitlery has never been divorced, so she is *better* than Newt.
Actually Newt has been divorced *twice*, so Hitlery is really two times better.
/sarc
Exactly. Plus, he will just split the conservative vote even more and usher in Rudy. We need to choose the one conservative who can actually beat Rudy and the dems and put our support behind him. Hint, hint, hint, ——>Mitt Romney (or Fred - 2nd choice).
I’ve always supported Newt and I always will. The naysayers on this topic seem to forget that of the crop of Republicans that is already running, Newt, as a conservative, trumps them all, especially the so-called front-runners. Rudy is a RINO. Mitt is a flip-floper. McCane is our Howard Dean. Ron Paul has cast his lot with the surrender monkeys. Duncan and Newt are actually conservatives - always were, always will be - and of the two, Newt has a chance of being recognized.
That he can actually communicate with someone like a Kerry or a Kennedy or a Clinton and reach compromise for the sake of discussion (and that’s all it was for Bog’s sake!) rather than resorting to name-calling and childishness is an asset in politics, not a liability. It’s called diplomacy and its been proven to work whenever people of opposing views actually talk rather than rejecting a premise out of hand and stubbornly stonewalling.
Imho, the same Republicans who handed Pelosi and Reid their jobs in the last election are determined to hand the White House to Hillary in the next one.
In the case of Newt, I don't think it's about brains, but ego.
I hope he runs because his depth of knowledge, both governmental and historical, and clear-eyed proposals will greatly energize and shape the debates...I don’t see him winning any primaries so what’s the worry?
It's worse than that. He's an ecotard.
Like this?
LOL
McCain’s are closer.
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