Posted on 05/06/2008 1:03:42 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) is calling on Republicans to seek "real change to avoid a real disaster" in the wake of another Democratic victory in a special election on Saturday.
In a letter to House Republicans posted on www.newt.org, Gingrich urges House leaders to call an “emergency meeting” of House Republicans to address what he describes as a “catastrophic collapse of trust in Republicans.”
“If a majority of the House Republicans vote for real change, they should instruct Republican Leader John Boehner [Ohio] and his team to come back with a new plan by the Wednesday before the Memorial Day recess,” Gingrich wrote. “This plan should involve real change in legislative, communications, and campaign strategy and involve immediate, real action, including a complete overhaul of the Congressional Campaign Committee.”
Gingrich then outlined nine acts of “real change” including the gas tax holiday and an earmark moratorium.
Michael Steel, a Boehner spokesman, said, “Leader Boehner certainly agrees - and has said repeatedly -- that Republicans can only succeed this year by being agents of change and reform. The American people know that Washington is broken, and we have to convince them that we can fix it. We have been clear over the past year that we have two jobs: defining the Democrats and defining ourselves. In the coming weeks, we will be laying out Republican policies that embody the sort of changes we need.”
Democrats triumphed in a special election on Saturday in Louisiana for retired Rep. Richard Baker’s (R-La.) seat. In March, Democrats also won retired Rep. Dennis Hastert's (R-Ill.) seat in a special election.
The Gingrich letter came as no surprise to National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Chairman Tom Cole (Okla.), who exchanged e-mails with the former Speaker Monday night.
Excerpts of the e-mails obtained by The Hill show that Cole outlined his concerns in three points, stressing that in order to be a strong party, each individual GOP candidate would have to be able to pull their own weight. Cole’s points were discussed during the House GOP Conference meeting Tuesday morning and were echoed in Gingrich's letter.
"Whether they be incumbents or candidates running as challengers or in open seats, Republican candidates must be financially capable of running competitive races, structured to execute strategic plans that put them in a position to win, surround themselves with sound advisors and build grassroots networks that offer them the opportunity and ability to communicate, energize and turnout voters this election. When Republican candidates do not prepare and work towards victory, the NRCC will not be in a position to do it for them." Cole wrote. "To be competitive, the members of our Republican Conference must continue to support this institution with their energy and resources for the remainder of the cycle."
He also stressed the importance of having a platform and message unique from the presidential campaign of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).
"Simply relying on the message of our Presidential nominee and the failures of the Democrat Majority is not enough to convince voters that in a time of war and economic unease that Republicans should be handed victory," Cole stated.
Too bad, it's self-inflicted.
If they NEED a warning, its already a disaster.
In a letter to House Republicans posted on www.newt.org, Gingrich urges House leaders to call an “emergency meeting” of House Republicans to address what he describes as a “catastrophic collapse of trust in Republicans.”
Please, don’t let that “change” include anything related to climate or the environment, Newt.
Great idea Newt. They can focus on their new Global Warming agenda. That will win some voters.
That said, the Pubbies seem to be enjoying the minority.
(/rimshot)
Too bad, Cap’n Smith didn’t listen to the fortune teller.. “I see icebergs ahead.”
To quote Pvt Hudson, “game over!”
Damn, 10 seconds.
John McCain’s only promise of change is to sell out Republicans on border issues.
Newt is a opportunistic fraud. He is a slimy as any RAT. The fact that he jumped on the AGW fraud should make all who cherish Liberty and capitalism have scorn for slimy Newt. Newt, do the world a favor and go crawl under a rock.
Republicrats? Why bother.With mcnutts as the nominee it is going to be worse.Man, I really love rinos.
The only way for Republicans to get my trust back is to make TV commercials with Nancy Pelosi about the world ending due to global warming... Ooooooh... Newt has done that already. Well then, trust restored. /sarc
There is NO LEADERSHIP in the Republican Party. The very, very sad part is, Gingrich whose name has not been on a ballot in what is an eternity in politics, appears to be as much of a leader as anybody. The RINO relic is the nominee, and a has been like Gingrich poses as a leader. I think the declaration of a disaster can be declared now, and it will not have to wait until November.
Newt has zero credibility with his little couch stunt over Global Warming with Bela Pelosi.
If the wacos can convince Newt of GW, then he souldn’t be ine giving advice. Lost cred with me as well.
They don't call the GOP the stupid party for nothing.
Shut up Newt, get back on the couch with Nan!
maybe Hillary will bake him some cookies if she wins both states today.
What is it with all these HAS BEENS. It is a requisite for Hannity’s show ... you have to have been a “has been” and then you become the resident expert extraodinaire on the program. i.e. Giulianni, The toe sucker and of course Newt.
I want someone that can do ... not speak.
The old engineers quote ...”Those that can, DO. Those that can’t, TEACH (run their mouth)
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Newt’s little “lets be like Pelosi” gives him no credibility. The smartest thing for the GOP would to get back to core issues/principles and follow through on them.
After 40 years in the minority wilderness Republicans took control of the House and promptly became big spending, big government Democrats.
Gingrich has the correct idea here, but they've badly tarnished their brand and having McCain at the top of the Republican ticket continues the collapse of trust.
grow a set
get a clue
“Nine Acts of Real Change That Could Restore the GOP Brand”
#1 DUMP MCQUEEG
Look, Hillary will either...
1. Not be the nominee, but keep smacking Obama for us until August.
2. Be handed the nomination despite losing the delegate and popular vote, which will give us 1968 all over again.
I think it’s very likely McCain could lose to either one, but if he loses, it will be because of him or because no Republican could win this year, it won’t be because Hillary’s the nominee.
What do you propose we Republicans do to win?
What do you propose the Republicans do to win?
What do you propose the Republicans do to win?
What do you propose the Republicans do to win?
What do you propose the Republicans do to win?
Sorry Newt, I’ve seen you on the couch with Nancy.
You’re a Nancy Boy now, Newt.
What do you propose we Republicans do to win? Can you be more specific than “grow a set”?
Unite behind McCain. Let him fight and cut out the pork in Washington. Let him clean up the corruption. Let him win the War in Iraq.
That would restore the brand credibility and prevent SCOTUS from turning pink.
Only he can do that.
However, losers who have losing in their DNA and blowhard traitors can’t put aside their ego for their own good and good of their cause.
“After 40 years in the minority wilderness Republicans took control of the House and promptly became big spending, big government Democrats.”
That’s unfair. It took the GOP 10 years to get used to being the spending party. and Newt G. wasnt there when that happened, it was a Hastert/DeLay/Bush thing.
alas, it took the Democrats about 10 *hours* to start raising taxes and spending.
How do we fix the Republican brand? At least Newt is asking the right questions.
The House GOP leadership had a choice back at the end of ‘06 of choosing a conservative leader in Mike Pence, or a continuation of business as usual. They chose Son-Of-Hastert as their leader.
Decisions have consequences. I just hope the GOP whigs-out sooner rather than later so we can get about the business of getting a conservative political party to replace it.
“Excerpts of the e-mails obtained by The Hill show that Cole outlined his concerns in three points, stressing that in order to be a strong party, each individual GOP candidate would have to be able to pull their own weight.”
Translation: you’re on your own.
“He also stressed the importance of having a platform and message unique from the presidential campaign of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).”
Huh? That’s how they’re going to unite the Republican party....show opposition to their candidate? Gingerich and McCain are pretty much on the same page policy wise, ie give the left everything they want.
You’re right Norm, this is self inflicted. What do you bet if they get a ‘consensus’ on policy it will lean more to the left than the right?
And this line....
“Michael Steel, a Boehner spokesman, said, “Leader Boehner certainly agrees - and has said repeatedly — that Republicans can only succeed this year by being agents of change and reform. The American people know that Washington is broken, and we have to convince them that we can fix it”
Convince us? Ah, it’s a PR plan. What needs ‘change’ and reform? Really? All I see is they need to do their jobs, enforce the law, uphold the Constitution, protect the country, cut off their corporate handlers. The ‘change’ we need is away from 90% of THEM.
We lost another house seat this past Saturday?????
“What do you propose we Republicans do to win? Can you be more specific than “grow a set”?”
Grow a set bigger than Hillary’s. How’s that?
Whatever happened to the Republican ‘revolution’ of 1994?
Did I miss it?
Humiliating defeat can be a great teacher. Jorge Bush and six years of Republican congressional majorities spent a lot of political capital trying to win the next election instead of being true to the conservative principles that they mouthed to get elected. Winning with McCain is no victory for Republicans. On the issue of Amnesty, McCain is the best bet to get it passed. Just like when Slick Willie went against his base on Nafta, it ultimately cost his party not Slick Willie. So it will be with Amnesty, if Amnesty is passed with the RINO relic's signature and some Republican support, it will be congessional Republicans who pay most in the midterm elections. If either Democrat wins, and gets Amnesty passed and signed, the backlash will be against Democrats. Amnesty was not so much defeated by talk radio as it would have us believe. Amnesty was defeated by Nancy Pelosi in the House to which the bill never got. She had drawn a line that she would not support amnesty without a minimum of 40 house Republicans also supporting it. She knew if Amnesty went along purely party lines in the House, the backlash would be such that Democrats would lose the House in this election.
The answer is in war and politics every battle cannot be won. And if the Keating Five Guy does win, it will be without this conservative's vote.
LOL...the disaster is one of the 3 fools on the hill will be elected.
Hey Newt,
It’s not the flock, it’s the flocks leadership.
We are a whole lot of conservatives who have given our support time and again to the Republican party only to be given the Bush line of moderation b.s.
Old has been like Dole and McLame should just ride off into the sunset.
“..to address what he describes as a “catastrophic collapse of trust in Republicans.”
Did it take him this long to realize that the GOP is in a world of trouble?
“to address what he describes as a “catastrophic collapse of trust in Republicans.”
Self inflicted RINOcide.
Yeah, the nation as we knew it is toast, unless we figure out how to dump McVain and take the party back.
If we don’t, then the great American experiment with liberty and free market capitalism is just about over. If McVain is the Stupid Party candidate, then we have both major party organizations controlled by Big-Statists, who only care about stripping our nation and handing the spoils to their friends.
With modern technology and the stupidity of the American sheeple, they are within an ace of being able to create a Soviet-style state whenever they like, too.
And it’ll have been elected into place, just like the Nazis got elected in Germany, and the Communists in Chile.
*sigh*
Is there ANYONE trying to turn the Stupid Party back from the brink? Newt, you’ve disgraced yourself, so you might as well go away and never come back. I’m no great fan of Dr. Paul, but if that’s all there is . . . .
Dead parties don't get to play anymore.
“We have been clear over the past year that we have two jobs: defining the Democrats and defining ourselves.”
That’s what they’ve been doing the last years? That statement shows they still don’t get it.
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