Posted on 12/18/2011 9:48:58 PM PST by Jim Robinson
It is one of the true delights of a bizarrely entertaining Republican presidential contest to watch the apoplectic fear and loathing of so many GOP establishmentarians toward Newt Gingrich. They treat him as an alien body whose approach to politics they have always rejected.
In fact, Gingrich’s rise is the revenge of a Republican base that takes seriously the intense hostility to President Obama, the incendiary accusations against liberals and the Manichaean division of the world between an “us” and a “them” that his party has been peddling in the interest of electoral success.
The right-wing faithful knows Gingrich pioneered this style of politics, and they laugh at efforts to cast the former House speaker as something other than a “true conservative.” They know better.
The establishment was happy to use Gingrich’s tactics to win elections, but it never expected to lose control of the party to the voters it rallied with such grandiose negativity. Now, the joke is on those who manipulated the base. The base is striking back, and Newt is their weapon.
~~snip~~
This quality endows Gingrich with a peculiar integrity, which I realize is a problematic word to apply to such a problematic figure. I use it in a very specific sense: He is who he is and always has been. The base knows this and loves him for it. But for Republican leaders, Gingrich has become inconvenient. He’s the loudmouthed uninvited guest who is trying to rejoin the country club. The effort to blackball Newt Gingrich will be the next drama in this fascinating train wreck of a campaign.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
But, I must say, that in the article, E.J. is right about the GOP establishment.
Thanks, I caught that after I hit the post button. Oh well.
:>)
If E.J. wasn’t a screaming lib he’d find himself unsuitable for any job description, and probably one of those homeless folks leeching off of the Occupy leeches. Sheesh, what a waste of skin.
ping, to read later....
After Newt and the Republicans took over, the Dems continued to act like it was just a temporary set-back, because the universe wasn't right unless they were in charge.
Their idea of the good ol’ days, when the parties got along in DC and things got done, was before Newt showed up...when the Dems ran the town, and Bob Michel was Tip O’Neills limo driver. The reason things became contentious in DC was not because of Newt as much as it was because the Dems felt entitled to be in charge, and still to this day, refuse to accept their true minority status.
Newt is looking good!
His choice of John Bolton for Secty of State is icing on the cake- Nobody gets the lib's panties more twisted than John Bolton.
I’m not about to vote for Gingrich, because E.J. Dionne claims he’s a conservative. This is a colossal fakeout. The media is pressing this idea that Gingrich is the conservative alternative to Romney. I am not voting for him just because the media tells me.
Even though Gingrich subscribes to Tofflerism, which considers Christianity obsolete?
"In fact, Gingrich’s rise is the revenge of a Republican base that takes seriously the intense hostility to President Obama, the incendiary accusations against liberals and the Manichaean division of the world between an “us” and a “them” that his party has been peddling in the interest of electoral success."
"The right-wing faithful knows Gingrich pioneered this style of politics, and they laugh at efforts to cast the former House speaker as something other than a “true conservative.” They know better."
Good find.
yitbos
"I read his damn book."
yitbos
Any Republican candidate is going to get hit with an onslaught that the press will mischaracterize and blow out of proportion.
Newt at least has the articulation skills to stand up to the onslaught, plus the historical grounding of founding principles.
Fannie/Freddie issue is probably the most damaging thing in his past, unless he has been cheating on wifey number 3.
A flawed candidate to be sure, but perhaps the only one knowledgeable enough about the way the federal government works, and the intent of the founding principles to provide the leadership for what needs to be done. Unless some other candidate get in.
At least I am enjoying watching him in the debates.
His answers to specific questions, one on one, are even more enlightening.
For instance on "Fannie/Freddie issue is probably the most damaging thing in his past":
Newt had a consulting firm. It was not a one man show. Fannie/Freddie contracted with that company for some $1M+ over 5 years. $200K/yr to a company is ? when it comes to Washington retainers?
yitbos
“Newt had a consulting firm. It was not a one man show. Fannie/Freddie contracted with that company for some $1M+ over 5 years. $200K/yr to a company is ? when it comes to Washington retainers?”
Yeh, yeh, yeh. I heard it. His response during the debate to the Fannie/Freddie issues was the least impressive of the whole debate, and is the one the less informed voters are likely view extremely negatively.
It won’t affect my vote. If Newt is nominated I’ll vote for him, but Fannie/Freddie is an issue that can be exploited quite well by Alinsky tactics, and some people will abandon him on this issue alone that is all I am saying.
Newt will attract more votes than he repels.
That means he will top 50%.
yitbos
I like Glenn Thrush said on Politico about who Obama really wants to go up against in the election. “If Romney is a conventional enemy, Gingrich poses an asymmetrical threat: He’s simply a more dangerous, talented and unpredictable political actor than Romney.”
Beating Romney for Obama would be like beating his little brother at checkers. Taking on Newt would be like taking on Garry Kasparov at chess.
What are we on now, the fourth or fifth distinct anti-Newt narrative in two weeks? Either nothing has stuck so far or Newt has managed to throw everyone off of what they were focused on with his own moments of shock and awe. The infidelity narrative got blown away when Newt bashed Romney for his tactics at Bain capital. Now the Freddie Mac stuff seems to be fading away as people focus on Newt’s somewhat radical position on the judiciary. I constantly have the feeling that Newt’s thinking two steps ahead of the public and three steps ahead of the media.
Bill Kristol on Fox News Sunday this weekend said Newt is not as damaged as the Washington elites think he is and may have weathered the worst of the attacks. I think the bottom line is the media has tried to put him in a box, wrap him up and ship him off, but he keeps finding his way out of the box.
If we were good people - politically correct people - we would love Obama out of office. But since we are baaaaad people, we would put Newt against Obama.
Newt will tear Obammy a new one. They are afraid of him.
I'd say if Newt has made his mind up, then they are underestimating him. I can't wait to see him mop the floor with Obama in the debates. Heck, Barry may decide to follow Johnson's example just to avoid Newt. Well not really, but it's good for a smile. LOL.
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