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.”
Studying this from all angles since day one. conclusion: Romney wins. Reason: conservatives will never settle on the only person with a breath of chance to win the primary. Looking at the second rate folks running, I don’t see anyone in that pack who has anything going for them except Newt. He does have baggage, but nothing that can’t be overcome by his intellect. Splitting the conservative vote will hand the primary to Mitt in every state. It’s either Newt or Romney unless Sarah somehow trumps the system.
HOW’S this folks...
GINGRICH/PALIN ‘12 IS THAT THE DREAM TEAM WE ALL WANT and LOVE?
Douglas beat Lincoln.
It may come to that. Target Dec 4.
Perry has not dug his own grave. He has the money and the will to fight on. Don’t count him out.
The Dallas Morning News took off on him this morning because he led the fight in Texas against sanctuary cities, even called a special session, but couldn’t get it passed.
He also mandated sonograms before abortions and got tort reform passed in Texas so doctors and businesses won’t be persecuted by frivolous lawsuits.
the Dallas Morning News thought those 3 priorities for Rick were just awful. I don’t think so.
You may be happy with either “Romney or Newt”, I myself will keep working for an actual conservative candidate, of which we have quite a few.
Everyone wants conservatives to unite behind one candidate.
However, everybody also wants that to be THEIR candidate.
Eventually one of the candidates will win. You may be right that if all the conservatives split their vote, it will leave Romney sittin’ pretty, but what can we do?
I can’t switch over to Cain. I can’t support Newt with all my heart although I would vote for him.
I can’t convince everyone to vote for Perry even though he’s obviously the best candidate.
So what can we do? It may end up being Newt.
Everyone was angry with Gingrich back then, and saying he just ruined any chance at the Presidency he had with such a stupid endorsement. Then to no ones surprise the liberal Dede Scozzafava dropped out of the race, and endorsed the democrat candidate who went on to win a close election. There was no reason for Gingrich to have ever endorsed Scozzafave, because no Conservative could support a candidate like that and have principle.
Yeah, but did all those Italians in Naples understand anything he said?
Do you recall one of Sarah's last interviews with Hannity? She made a statement near the end of that interview that really caught my attention. She said, this is not going to be a "normal" election. this is going to be a very unusual election. Mark my words, it's going to be a VERY UNUSUAL election." Maybe not her exact words, but paraphrased. It was her emphasis that was so strong on the very unusual. I can't find the interview now, but her statement and the way she said it sure has stuck with me. It sounded like she knew something she wasn't telling.
Obama would have to suck on a 'breathalyzer' in a debate with Newt.
Well, unless you were there the Naples News, a very liberal newspaper for this part of SWFL, didn’t report that the reason for the outpouring of attendance was due to the outrage of folks wanting to raise their voices against Newt’s Amensty Plan.
This was a Town Hall event, not his fundraiser. It was to be held at the Naples News Office Building on Vanderbilt Drive but the turn out started early and they had to move it to the Hilton down the road.
Most of the people were angry! There were, no doubt, Newt supporters who got seats and were the supporters in the crowd applauding and giving Newt standing O’s.
The paper then had an online poll, with the ability to vote only once. 58% said THEY WOULD NOT VOTE FOR NEWT. 39% SAID THEY WOULD VOTE FOR NEWT. The rest were UNDECIDED.
One of the chants that started with some of the group was pretty sweet:
Newt’s a little teapot short and stout
Tip him over and crap pours out
Your’s truly from God’s Waiting Room in SWFlorida
PR at work. Too bad he won’t ever do any of the things the constitution states.
I’ll don’t know. At least Newt can ‘appear’ to be an alternative. Mitt’s just an old crustier, stiffer, whiter version of hussein in my book. And I think he’ll be eviscerated by the lib press and pundits.
I’m not a fan of any candidate granting legal status to ANYONE here illegally. But, what candidate is going to throw them all out? Nobody. So........ for Michele Bachmann to criticize Newt after saying this in a previous debate is pure hypocrisy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiveQh7tx6I&feature=youtu.be
The media, as well as the Gingrich campaign, should be ALL OVER this. She would lose that whole 5% support she does have.
I didn't see Governor Rick Scott there - but I could imagine the Great Charlie Crist being there supporting Newt. They share the same political philosophy.
It was very similar to the townhall forum we attended a few weeks ago in Duluth, GA. The place was packed. Newt is very impressive in person and he sees the big picture. Like him or not he has a vision for America and he is very good at articulating it.
I sure hope so. Unless the GOP voters are suffering from senility, I just don’t see how a pro-amnesty-global-warming-adulterer and liberal sympathizer like Newt can become the GOP nominee. Didn’t Perry catch so much grief for his in-state tuition plan, despite the plan having been kicked around the Texas legislature for a long time before winding up on his desk? The legislature was pushing for that bill and would continue to press the issue despite whatever Perry would do. And in any event, Perry opposes amnesty and wants the border secure, something Newt never cared much about?
I think the mentality of the GOP electorate nowadays is to nominate a glib, fast talker who can beat Obama with his verbal style and someone who sounds good no matter what he says. In what can be referred to as style over substance, it seems that as a voting block the GOP is betting on 'style.'
I don’t see how I could possibly vote for Romney or Newt. I think I will just have to sit out this election, as whether Romney or Newt wins the GOP nomination, Obama will most likely win the election.
You’re doing a great job Titans- Thanks!
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