Obama Loses His First Debate (can't rebut Newt's compelling understanding of U.S. energy policy)

The American Spectator ^ | February 29, 2011 | Peter Ferrara

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Lying is not going to rebut Newt Gingrich's compelling understanding of America's energy policy and huge energy reserves.

In a speech that the Gingrich campaign has begun broadcasting around the country, and which is posted at Newt.org, Gingrich presents a unique new vision for a booming American economy. I think you will find it pathbreaking. It is so compelling that it drew Obama into a transcontinental debate with the former Speaker, the first exchange that Obama has decisively lost since he appeared on the national stage.

Gingrich began the explanation of his vision like this:

"What if we had a program that enabled the American people to develop so much new energy that we were, in fact, no longer reliant on Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran. We didn't care what the Iranians did in the Strait of Hormuz because we were safe in national security terms.

What if that new energy program created well over a million new jobs, high-paying jobs, jobs that put Americans back to work and kept the money here at home that we had been sending overseas, giving us a dramatic improvement in our balance of payments, strengthening the dollar and giving us a chance to live much freer and more independently?

What if that very idea also meant that we'd also have dramatic increases in federal revenue… without a tax increase but that, in fact, the federal government would have literally an entire new stream of money?

And finally, what if that big new idea meant that you personally were better off because you are buying gasoline for $2.50 a gallon, not for $3.89 or $4 or what some people project by the summer could be could be $5 or more?..............."

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Take 30 minutes. Expand the video to fill the screen and listen to Newt [or read -- full transcript].

[txrangerette]

Triple BUMP to Perry’s and Newt’s energy plan!!!

If only people would wake up...

[Cringing Negativism Network]

DRILL BABY DRILL!!

Drill here, drill now.

[ought-six]

“If only people would wake up...”

Well, that’s the problem right there.

[Christie at the beach]

Thanks, I watched it again. I sent to some friends.

Gosh, if we could begin drilling here, our country will

produce so many jobs with good pay.

[txrangerette]

North Dakota is living the dream right now.

Alaska, too, benefits from jobs and revenue to state coffers, dating from before the ND “miracle” unfolded.

So besides Perry and Gingrich, Sarah Palin understood this long ago.

Wake up, America!

[nathanbedford]

For those of us who count ourselves among the very early supporters of Newt Gingrich on these threads, it is impossible to express how profoundly depressing the polling and election results have become.

I am a foaming at the mouth, flopping on the floor conservative but that does not mean I cannot confront reality. In the wake of polling results and last night's election results in which Gingrich could not even outflank Ron Paul in Michigan, I have to conclude that Newt's chances are going a glimmering. I do not write them off entirely, he is a remarkably gifted politician, resolute, resourceful and resilient, but the odds are lengthening ominously.

When one sees the contrast between Newt's energy policy and the ludicrous algae policy of the Pond Scum President, one is heartbroken that Newt cannot get a nomination at a time when the country so desperately needs his vision. Consider the disparity in lucidity on energy to be not just between Newt and Obama but between Newt and the other Republican candidates. No one comes into his league for clarity of vision and power of expression. No one comes close to him in seeing the issue in such a timely manner. Remember, Gingrich has been on this issue literally for years and was one of the early crafters of the "drill here, drill now" theme.

Consider that the energy issue is but a single facet of a multidimensional mind which embraces all the issues and which can replicate this clarity and dynamism on balancing the budget, or freedom of religion etc.

Note further, Gingrich has always an over arching theme and ties one issue into another. Thus, he speaks not just of energy but integrates our energy policy with our foreign policy, our defense policy, our war on terrorism, jobs, balance of payments etc. etc.

He tells us why Obama is committed to a witless green energy policy and frankly tells us it is part of his radicalism, his submission to the radicalism of Saul Alinsky. He tells the voter why Obama's energy policy is more than misguided, it is the product of a seriously misguided mind. Do you get that understanding from Santorum or Romney?

I have not given up on miracles, but I have to believe that I do not see the world the way even my fellow Republicans do. I am prepared to question my ability to judge common perception which leads to candidates' popularity but I do not concede my position on the issues or my judgment on the candidates' relative merits.

It is a pity at this time of moral and existential crisis for the nation that even conservatives are turning their face from the one-man who was destined for these times.

[GlockThe Vote]

Problem for Newt is that he is too smart and well informed for the average moron at home buying in to soundbites and msm narratives.

[Solson]

Well written and it captures my sentiments as well.

[ought-six]

“Wake up, America!”

Before it’s too late.

[Mangia E Statti Zitto]

I am not ready to throw in the towel. Last night could prove to be the best possible outcome. Newt didn’t campaign in MI, in essence telling Santorum, “Okay, let’s see what you got.” Santorum went there with HUGE momentum and wall-to-wall support from Rush Limbaugh and Mark Levin. And he couldn’t beat Romney, even though a week or so ago he was ahead by what, 10 points? Rick and his supporters might blame Newt (if he had only told his supporters to vote for me) or Romney (all those negative ads) but the truth is, Rick did this to himself.

It’s time for Rick to go, although I have no illusions he will.

[livius]

Gingrich is the only one offering ideas that would bring about a serious, profound change. I haven’t quite given up, because I think the votes yesterday were basically for the frills - that is, the candidate’s public image or his rhetoric about social issues - and Santorum will quickly fade because he really has nothing to offer except a slightly different and less popular version of Romney.

The problem is that people obviously like what both of these candidates are offering, which is more big government, more nanny state, and more repression and control. They have somehow decided that the function of the state is to be mother. I think that silly race-car driver, Danica Patrick, was actually expressing a common attitude when she said in the course of an interview that she could always trust the government to know what was best for her (she was supporting the Obamacare attack on freedom of conscience).

People say that women voters don’t like Gingrich because he was married three times, but that has nothing to do with it. They don’t like him because most women voters, whether liberal or theoretically conservative, are big-government people and think that the duty of the state is to look after us all, and he’s the only one who thinks that the function of the state is simply to guarantee the tranquility, stability and order of our environment in such a way that we are free to go ahead with our individual creativity and enterprise. We don’t need looking after.

I wouldn’t say I’ve quite given up. Now that Romney’s mini-me Santorum is fading, perhaps it will be possible for Gingrich to bring his ideas to the fore and perhaps, just perhaps, there will be enough Americans who really understand the contrast between his vision and that of Romney/Obama and will choose Gingrich’s vision. It’s going to be hard, though, because I think the sad reality is that many Americans have either tacitly accepted or enthusiastically embraced Holy Mother the State.

[Christie at the beach]

You have expressed how I feel exactly. For 2 weeks, on Sarah Palin’s facebook, Newt supporters were often posting that they would help stop Mitt in Michigan possibly making Newt’s numbers even lower. I respect Newt. The media is out to stop him at all costs.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Triple BUMP to Perry’s and Newt’s energy plan!!! If only people would wake up...

Newt on Fox and Friends tells the viewers -- Obama is full of baloney!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Long and short version of Newt's new ad:

Winning Our Future | It's Time to Choose Newt. Ad (0:60)

Winning Our Future | It's Time to Choose Newt. Ad (0:30)

[Marguerite]

Newt Responds To Obama’s Energy Speech point by point

http://youtu.be/7gaHJz7qz4s

[Cincinatus' Wife]

You speak for many.

[dforest]

Does anyone understand yet that any debates with Obama will be run by the MSM and will totally be routed to only cover issues that Obama wants to talk about?

Winning will not rest upon any debates.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Here is a better link to Newt's point by point response to Obama's muddled anti-American energy scheme.

Good audio/visual: Newt Gingrich Speech to California Republican Convention [46 minutes]

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Understood.