Newt Gingrich supported Rockefeller against Goldwater in 1964. He really wasn't a Reaganite in 1980. Many of his delegates and supporters are going to be old line party people who are supporting him because of his years of party service. I realize that none of his foaming at the mouth supporters can accept this fact because they think the whole world revolves around their little echo chambers online, but much of Dr. Gingrich's support will be made of people who would rather accept someone like Mitt Romney who has has been through the primary process than to have an ugly fight at the convention in order to satisfy the mindless screamers.
The other factor will be whether the Ron Paul delegates are the kind that we find on forums spouting irrational rhetoric or whether they will be more experienced political activists who know when to accept a compromise in order to prepare for the general election. If a good number of Ron Paul's delegates are activists who put the country ahead of their vanity, they will support other candidates when they realize that Dr. Paul cannot win the nomination.
If we have a brokered convention, we may find that about half of the Newt Gingrich and half of the Ron Paul delegates are willing to support Mitt Romney in order to avoid a long fight that accomplishes nothing beyond further dividing the party. The Missouri caucuses showed that Ron Paul's people are willing to cooperate with Mitt Romney's people. Newt Gingrich may ask for some reward, but he's not likely to watch the convention go through dozens of ballots that only make the party look schizophrenic.
Finally, Sarah Palin is not going to be on the ticket. In many ways, I like her, but she's become damaged goods politically. She couldn't deliver Alaska for Joe Miller in 2010 or Newt Gingrich a few weeks ago. To most Americans, she's a joke. That perception is unfair, but crying that the perception is unfair won't change the perception.
" Sarah Palin is calling for an end to the “lies” she charges are being told about Newt Gingrich’s history with Ronald Reagan.
“Enough was enough when I started seeing rewritten history about Newt Gingrich’s relationship with Ronald Reagan and the Reagan revolution in the ’70s and in the ’80s,” she told Sean Hannity of Fox News Monday evening.
The former Alaska governor, who has not officially endorsed a candidate but has urged voters to vote for Gingrich, defended the lessons the former House speaker learned from Reagan, including on balancing the budget, reforming welfare, cutting taxes and downsizing the government.
“When I saw that rewritten by some in the establishment, I said, you know, for what it’s worth, I’m going to voice my opposition to that false narrative being rewritten,” Palin said. “That doesn’t mean I’m out there only boosting one candidate. I’m going to continue to say good things about every GOP candidate because anybody is going to be better than Obama, but enough was enough about lies being told about Newt Gingrich and his relationship with Ronald Reagan and within the Reagan Revolution.”
Earlier in the interview, the ex-vice presidential candidates suggested that the lies against Gingrich were largely coming from Mitt Romney’s camp, saying the battle between the two candidates has gotten “vicious.”
“Whether it is a PAC that is producing false narratives in ads or whether it’s false accusing another candidate themselves, they need to be called out. That is the politics of personal destruction,” she said. “It’s not a bad thing to ask for fairness, fairness means just telling the truth and debating relevant ideas, relevant solutions. Not all this personal stuff.” [end text]
Only one point I disagree with. Reagan was damaged goods as well. The reason that the left can successfully run a candidate with close ties to terrorists, racists, anti Semitics, and proud marxists, is because they could not care less what the right calls their candidate. On the other-hand, if the left makes any attempt to demonize, or marginalize one of our candidates that they actually fear, we are quick to throw in the towel and say, “He / She is un=electable now” Palin could energize the base and that is what wins elections. Romney can’t even energize his own family as his son’s praise of Obama demonstrates and yet nobody is suggesting he is unelectable.
And you’ve made the second sane comment on this thread so far.
Realville, folks.
Finally, Sarah Palin is not going to be on the ticket. In many ways, I like her, but she’s become damaged goods politically. She couldn’t deliver Alaska for Joe Miller in 2010 or Newt Gingrich a few weeks ago. To most Americans, she’s a joke. That perception is unfair, but crying that the perception is unfair won’t change the perception.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
Ahem, Joe didn’t win because Murkowski ran as an indie in the general and siphoned off just enough of the R’s (and perhaps a few D’s) to win. Murkowski is STILL a powerhouse name in Alaska politics with lots of GOP-e support and money. Joe was on a shoe-string budget and would of won if it was a traditional R-vs-D fight.
Palin is “damaged goods” to most Americans? Hmmmm....remember when they said that about Reagan and others in the past. I guess if your clientele are RINOS and liberal democrats, I guess so.
By the way, WTF-R, does it get tired reading the same old MSM talking points or have the zombie cells augmented your critical thinking areas?
Newt Gingrich was 21 years old in 1964. Stop being an asshole.
The. Only. Way. For a non-Romney to get the nomination is the Hail Mary, only possible NOW, of Santorum somehow getting enough delegates. Or getting damn close.
Only possible if from NOW ON, including Tuesday in IL, if people do not vote for Newt. Mathematically this is the only way to beat mitt and Obama. Please understand that no matter how great Gingrich is, he doesn't help stop Romney. He helps Romney win more delegates than Santorum.
Miller? Only God Himself could have delivered Alaska for Joe Miller, he had more baggage than the Queen Mary. And she never attempted to deliver Alaska for Newt, endorsing him tepidly the day before the caucus.