Posted on 11/25/2011 5:57:36 PM PST by TitansAFC
Is Newt Gingrich the latest flavor of the month among the candidates pursuing the Republican nomination for president? Or is he a real candidate who can beat the supposed frontrunner Mitt Romney?
If the reaction from his appearance Friday in Naples is even the slightest indication, then the former Speaker of the House will indeed challenge Romney for a spot on the ticket to face President Barack Obama next November.
At least 800 people crammed into the Hilton Hotel for a townhall meeting. The ballroom was jammed to the gills and loud speakers were added in the the hallways to accommodate those who weren’t allowed into the room.
He was a commanding presence at the lectern. He spoke for 39 minutes without notes and not once in his talk did he even utter one “uh.”
Gingrich speech was aimed at Obama and not his GOP opponents. He used his background as a history teacher to pepper his speech with historical milestones and repeatedly referred to the presidential race of 1860 between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas.
It was then that the two candidates held seven three-hour debates with no moderator, just a time keeper. As he has done in other speeches, Gingrich said that if he is nominated, he will challenge Obama to a series of Lincoln-Douglas-type debates.
He said he has a plan that would force the president into debating.
“You see,” Gingrich said, “when Lincoln challenged Douglas and he at first declined, Lincoln began following Douglas where he was speaking and the next day would answer Douglas. It didn’t take Douglas too long to agree to debate.
“So when I am nominated, I will let the White House be my schedule maker. Where ever Obama goes is where my schedule goes. I won’t show up the next day though, I will be there four hours after he speaks.”
In a speech interrupted by applause more than a dozen times, that brought the loudest and most sustained ovation.
In a debate last Tuesday, Gingrich spoke out about his immigration position, and he said, was misinterpreted by his GOP opponents. He said the tenents of his immigration plan are “Control the border, English is the official language of the United States, and it’s baloney, if anyone suggests that I favor amnesty for 11 million illegal immigrants.”
He said the government should make it easier for visitors to get visas. “It should be easier to disspell someone who is not desirable.”
Gingrich said his immigration stance hasn’t changed recently. “Check the transcripts of some debates. I said the same thing at the Reagan Library debate.”
Asked why the brouhaha now on immigration, he said it’s because he’s now running well in polls and his opponents are worried.
In essence, Gingrich appears to be setting himself up as the anti-Romney candidate, someone the tea party can turn to.
Barry Willoughby, founder of the Naples tea party movement, admitted that he has been skeptical about Gingrich, but is being won over to a degree.
“I’ve been following him lately and have been very impressed. I wasn’t that enthusiastic at first.
“The question remains ... is he electable. Does he have too much baggage.”
That also concerns Hal Molhoek of Naples.
“He has a firm grasp of the fact. He makes a lot of common sense. He knows the pulse of the country.
“I’m still not sure. I am a little concerned with his baggage.”
What would a townhall meeting be without an appeal for votes?
“Florida could be the decisive primary. If I win Florida I will be the nominee. I hope to do very well in Iowa and respectably in New Hampshire. We are the favorites in South Carolina. Right now I think Iowa is a jump ball,” he said.
“And, if you know anyone in Iowa, tell them to vote for me.”
How is he to compete with Obama when Obama gets 30,000
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Newt’s not the nominee yet. When he gets the nomination, then the crowds will be huge. This is just a Primary run. Obozo is the President for goodness sakes and spoke recently in a hall that was only half full. Last time he was in Detroit, he couldn’t even get a decent crowd there. You’re comparing apples and oranges.
Grunthor: If you want to get technical, it more correctly would have been: “...the Debate this past Tuesday.” And you are incorrect as well: When you say “this Tuesday” that carries the connotation of the “upcoming” Tuesday, not the past Tuesday. Do you need to get a life, Bro.??? LOL... just messin’ with ya.
So Newt is ‘90s and you don’t want to go back there? Well, hell, Reagan was ‘80s and I’d go back there in a heartbeat.
LOL... anyway, she’s not all that.
Whether you think Newt is a rhino or historian or a politician, he is an excellent speaker just don’t ask him any poignant questions and don’t expect any Reganisk quotables from him.
Rick Santorum might surprise us coming out of Iowa. I like Rick, but the guy has the charisma of a foot stool.
It will be nice when people stop swallowing the media and opponent hype parroting the sound bite and listen to what he has been outlining as his immigration stance all along - starting with POINT ONE: Close the border.
Anyone whose honest knows there is NO way to deport 12-14 million people, especially in this day and age of bleeding hearts that would tie each and every case up in courts for years.
Newt's plan is to put thousands of troops on the border along with more fencing in the main cross over areas and other viable detection methods. First, he says, is to STOP THE FLOW.
Then you systematically tackle the rest. more recent cross overs, criminals and gang members get deported FAST - no more "catch & release."
Those that have been here for decades, worked and raised families, decent people, can stay BUT - READ WITH COMPREHENSION - Do NOT get citizenship and cannot vote and will be kept track of.
He will move the job of tracking out out gov't hands and put it into outfits that know how to track objects.
English will be the official language of this country.
Of course, honest people can research his web site and read his whole plan. And they can ask other candidest who spout off talking points they think the public wants to hear: "Just what are your step by step plans on immigration?
Your Post #40 really did make me LOL!!! Thanks.
He has a big ego. Anyone who runs for President has a big ego.
Who is your candidate montag813?
Of course! My family members were together over Holiday and discussed our preference for Pres. for the first time since the primary race began....interesting is all but one is gravitating for Newt...and that was with no prior discussions about him but all have watched the debates and take their vote seriously. This was great news for me!
When a candidate has something 'of substance' to say people want to listen. When people understannd there might be hope after all...they will be there to learn more.
He said he has a plan that would force the president into debating........
“So when I am nominated, I will let the White House be my schedule maker. Where ever Obama goes is where my schedule goes. I won’t show up the next day though, I will be there four hours after he speaks.”
Oh this is going to be fun!!!.... LOL....ya gotta love Newt for being a hound when it comes to Obama! He isn’t going to make it comfortable for the man who has brought our country down. I love it!
Newt’s going to expose Obama for exactly what he is!...and in full view of the audiance.
I was where you are now a few weeks back....not sure now why I began to look closer except in the debates he addressed issues head on....he WANTS this Presidency and after investigating Newt's past it's clear that he means business about ousting Obama and changing the trajectory this nation is on.
When his campaign seemed to be falling apart he rose above it and just kept on keeping on.....now that's a victory in itself and against all odds. That also got my attention...he's a fighter and willing to do so and that's what our nation needs. It clearly showed he means business.
I'm tired of people who want the title of President but unwilling to develope a convincing plan, and in many cases no plan at all.....Newt's got them and putting them out there for us to see...like it or not....he's going for this and that fully armed.....I want someone to fight for this nation, Newt will do that...I am convinced.
Well there's a couple ways you can take this....One...he's going to need their votes and all the candidates will be appealing to them. Two....it's an excellant way to offset the black majority vote for BO...so that our side wins!
Perry is too accomodating to the muslim community...his state is full of them and he doesn’t see them anymore of a threat then he does the hispanics coming in.
Rotflol....now that was a perfect comeback! hahahaha
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