Posted on 11/08/2008 3:09:11 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
In serious conversations among Republicans since their election debacle Tuesday, what name is mentioned most often as the Moses, or Reagan, who could lead them out of the wilderness before 40 years?
To the consternation of many Republicans, it is none other than Newt Gingrich, the former speaker of the House.
Gingrich is far from a unanimous or even a consensus choice to run for president in 2012, but there is a strong feeling in Republican ranks that he is the only leader of their party who has shown the skill and energy to attempt a comeback quickly.
Even one of his strongest supporters for president in 2012 admits it is a "very risky choice." But Republicans are in a desperate mood after the fiasco of John McCain's seemingly safe candidacy.
Republicans appear chastened by the failure of seeking moderate, independent and even Democratic votes. They are ready to try going back to the "old-time religion."
One Republican critic of Gingrich concedes that he has an "unlimited" energy flow and a constant stream of ideas, an important commodity in a party that appears to have run short of ideas during the Bush years. But there is widespread concern about what is described in the party as deep "character flaws" of Gingrich's that would be difficult to overcome in a presidential campaign.
Nobody in Republican ranks, however, matches Gingrich's dynamism.
The consternation among Republicans is concentrated on McCain's failure to capitalize on Democratic flaws.
It would be a rocky road for Gingrich to the nomination, much less the presidency, but there are no other serious candidates inside the party at the moment.
What's clear is that Republicans are unanimous in trying to avoid a repeat of what happened this year, and there is a surprising consensus that McCain was going in the wrong direction and was the wrong candidate.
What one GOP critic calls Gingrich's "unlimited energy supply" must be overcome by anyone opposing him. Several old Republican hands feel that Gingrich in 2012 is no more outrageous than Ronald Reagan was in 1980.
What is certain is that Gingrich has the desire and the will. He has a deep-seated ambition. He had not even settled into the House speaker's chair in 1995 when he confessed to me his presidential desires for 1996. That was not to be, but he never abandoned the personal dream and is ready to pursue it now.
Being the Governor of a state is not enough anymore?
There's a reason Senator and senile derive form the same Latin word.
Evidently not. It should be but it doesn’t help that Alaska isn’t one of the 48 and one of the smallest.
I don’t think there are many people as conservative as Newt
babubabu, I agree with you.
I have watched Newt for years and have always thought that he was by far and away “the” most intelligent, articulate, and worthy conservative that the right has...
I like Jindal, I love Sarah.
But, we now need someone of Newts caliber to win back the house, senate, and Presidency.
Okay — please let me qualify;
Hear me out; Obie kept framing the argument — his words, “I want to talk about the future — John McCain wants to keep talking about the past.” Because once Wright, Ayers, etc…came out and were hurting him — he didn’t want to talk about the past.
So, IMO, the only reason Newt hasn’t run for President is because of the past.
But, using obies own tactic to beat the left to death with it — you clear Newts past — every time something from the past comes up, “there you go again, talking backwards...”
Then, especially at a time like this, with Palin as his VP…they, because of Newts sound Conservative Principles and Values and his hands down, no questions asked, undisputable knowledge of what it will take to get the country moving in the right direction and keep it moving in the right direction, both economically, politically, and internationally and her ability to draw the kinds of crowds that she drew in the 08’ election win this thing 2012.
Because as we witnessed during the 2008 campaign — this is now about taking on the opponent on the left, which now also includes taking on the media simultaneously...now, I ask, who on God’s green earth has the ability today on the right to stand toe to toe with the media as well as campaign simultaneously and not to mention, who would assemble a top tier campaign organization that would swiftly deal with “undisciplined behavior,” from inside his campaign staff...the shenanigans that went on inside the McCain campaign were reprehensible — if I had anything to do with it — those people would be unable to get jobs at a 7-11 let alone remain in Washington.
But throwing a Jindal/Palin ticket out there would amaturish...and would ruin their chances at ever getting elected...the press would divide them and conquer them...
We need someone (and I’m not saying it has to be Newt, but who else is out there) with Newts vision and ability to take on an opponent and the press — who else is out there.
Let Sarah become the Senator from Alaska — gain much more needed experience and then she will be ready.
But the ticket that would really get me excited would be;
Gingrich/Army General David Petraeus
Again, simply for what its worth IMHO...
Didn’t we learn a dang thing?
The Presidency is a popularity/beauty contest. We ran an old man against a young, suave, sweet-talkin liberal.
Newt is smart but he scares children.
Listened to him when? When he pushed for the prescription boondogle which contributed to our financial crisis?
Newt had his chance but he bailed because of his personal issues.
I could see the RNC in his future but nothing else. He has too many skeletons in his closet and he is not the most motivating person in the world in his speeches.
I think we need new blood not recycled old blood in the next Presidential election.
If we disagree with Newt 1% of the time.. so what. Newt has a proven track record... is a staunch conservative (99.98% of the time)... this is really a no brainer. Lets not jump the shark by picking an unknown politician.
Give me a break. Barack Obama voted for brutal Partial Birth Abortion and he got elected. This brutal character flaw is much worse than any of Newt’s wife cheating etc.
That is my point exactly — Obie kept saying that John McCain kept bringing up the past...Newt can use that same tactic against him.
Don't fault GWB for "GWB hatred" (aka BDS) -- it's purely a product of liberals' own guilty consciences, their own hubris, and their own acute frustration and embarrassment at having been caught red-handed trying to steal a national election from a guy they said they despised for moral reasons, among others.
We can't offer any excuses for the corrupt GOP'ers; Hastert and the others should have been in there sorting those guys out -- Mark Foley types, too. Send them home, they're an embarrassment to the Party -- surely someone else down there can represent that district!
I think Tom Delay imitated Democrats like Tip O'Neill too much, though. And Tony Coelho -- remember him? got caught bigtime, had to slither away? At least the Congress made him go away.
Yes, he did some things I liked, Alito and Roberts being my favorite, but so much crap. Complete destruction of party. Term ‘conservative’ is considered an ‘insult’.
FROM NATIONAL REVIEW
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2129377/posts?page=17#17
I’d like to see Newt run the party, but not the nation.
Forget it.
Jindal
Newt is way too polarizing, people already have made up their minds about Newt.
I don’t even want him for RNC chairman.
And where does Novak get the idea it was a “debacle?”
“Newt is way too polarizing, people already have made up their minds about Newt.”
What the heck was Howard Dean, milquetoast? I am tired of conservatives always having to be the “nice” ones.
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