Schmidt: GOP Establishment Will Have A Meltdown If Newt Wins Florida

RealClearPolitics ^

[VinL]

Schmidt: "Not only are we not moving toward a coalescing of support with the establishment of Newt Gingrich, we're probably moving toward a declaration of war on Newt Gingrich by the Republican establishment. And if Newt Gingrich is able to win the Florida primary, you will see a panic and a meltdown of the Republican establishment that is beyond my ability to articulate in the English language. People will go crazy,"

And you will have this five week period until the Super Tuesday states that will be just as unpredictable, tumultuous as any period in modern American politics. It will be a remarkable thing to watch, should that happen in Florida."

Maddow: "Is there a component of that which is building a firewall around Mitt Romney, protecting him? We saw the establishment try to do that and Romney helping, saying “You can’t talk any smack about Bain. Bain is what I want to run on, it has to be positive, don’t undercut that at all.” Which to me, was like a flashing red neon arrow, “here’s my glass jaw, please don’t hit it.” Is there a way to protect Mitt Romney other than, I think, this wrong approach, Ithey’ve taken with Bain."

Schmidt: "I think everybody in the establishment Republican circles in Washington D.C. is fixated on the numbers we talked about earlier. Newt Gingrich has a 100% name ID, has a 60% national unfavorable number and it’s a number so high that with the 100% name ID it’s impossible to come back from. You’re not electable in a general election, in a 2012 presidential election if your unfavorable numbers are that high. Particularly against a president, that while vulnerable...

[hinckley buzzard]

Now all he needs is to avoid Reagan's mistake of choosing a RINO as VP

By picking dorkie George, Reagan hoped to buy the acquiescence of the same idiot establishment. Even then they threw up the professorial John Anderson against Ronnie as a turd partier.So yes, there is nothing for Newt to gain by a repeat. He knows the history well enough, he was there at the time, so I don't think he will.

[badpacifist]

Nuclear meltdowns happen when the nim-rods are blown out of the cooling water.

[SandRat]

I hope Picks Sarah Palin to be on his cabinet after he's elected in November. That should drive Schmidt permanently insane.

[okie01]

Newt Gingrich has a 100% name ID, has a 60% national unfavorable number and it’s a number so high that with the 100% name ID it’s impossible to come back from.

Schmidt -- and the entire "Establishment" -- rely upon a reality that consists of media-created numbers.

So, Newt has a 60% unfavorable rating. And Palin has a 60% unfavorable rating. Who created those numbers, if not the media?

Yet, with the vast majority of people, the media is beneath contempt. Fewer than 20% of the people believe what they report. Respect for journalists is even worse than lawyers.

Consider the crowd reaction every time Newt scores against the media moderators. Does that sound like an audience that believes and respects the media, as an institution?

If we accept that the high unfavorables are a creation of the media, we must also recognize that they are an illusion -- as distinct from reality.

The media is a paper tiger. And the unfavorable ratings for any Republican are a fragile fabrication.

[garjog]

“avoid Reagan’s mistake of choosing a RINO as VP”

To fend off charge of “racism” it would be ideal if the VP were a minority, like Allan West or Bobby Jindal.

That ticket would blunt not only the “Republican’s are stupid” attack but the “Republicans are racists” charge. Hee, hee.

[Jenny217]

Establishment meltdown? - sweeeeet!

[mmanager]

Bottom line is who can go nuclear on Obama? We will win this election if we have a candidate that can go nuclear. Only one can do it...........NEWT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a night!

[txhurl]

Newt just blasted through the left and LSM’s biggest meme that he can’t get the women’s vote.

Let’s laugh and see what other can’t-do memes they try to throw at us.

[vaudine]

Is this seer prophesying doom for Newt that same Steve Schmidt who ran McLain's campaign so well he imploded and gave us The One?

Listening to Fox tonight I made a vow to turn off whenever someone starts pushing Romney. With ALL their support, Romney can't get above the 20s in polling.

I would like to see the last of Rove, Perino, and several others.

vaudine

[TheBattman]

Are Freepers actually fooled into thinking Newt is NOT an establishment candidate? I thought the overall average IQ was far higher here.

Newt is every bit as much of a Republican “Establishment” candidate as Romney. The GOP establishment isn’t dumb enough to have just one “horse” in the race. Just as the Dems had two back in ‘08 - Obama and Hitlery. While their “chosen one” was Obama (he was picked long ago for the role), To give the “voters” an illusion of an option, they had Hillary as the “anti-Obama” candidate. Even if she had pulled off a “win”, she would have still given the Dems a gift.

The GOP has Romney, and Newt (the Anti-Romney). Either one is an establishment candidate.

[Moorings]

The establishment needs to have a meltdown.

[FishinTX]

The GOP and the DNC will have a meltdown.

[One Name]

Deconstruction will be a beautiful thing. Unemployed Feds hitting the job market that Obama has destroyed will be symphonic justice.

[VinL]

Are Freepers actually fooled into thinking Newt is NOT an establishment candidate?— The GOP has Romney, and Newt (the Anti-Romney). Either one is an establishment candidate.
****************

So how come the Establishment is universally attacking Newt?

[Earthdweller]

We need to call these people! A part of the GOP is already in the tank...change their minds!

The list below reflects publicly committed GOP backers of 2012 presidential hopefuls.

Mitt Romney (68)
Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.)
Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.)
Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.)
Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) (endorsed Sen. John McCain in 2008)
Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) (endorsed Romney in 2008 cycle)
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) (endorsed Romney in 2008)
Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.)
Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.)
Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) (endorsed McCain in 2008)
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) (the 2008 GOP nominee)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) (endorsed Romney in 2008)
Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio)
Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho)
Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) (endorsed McCain in 2008)
Rep. Sandy Adams (R-Fla.)
Rep. Rodney Alexander (R-La.) (endorsed Romney in 2008)
Rep. Mark Amodei (R-Nev.)
Rep. Charles Bass (R-N.H.)
Rep. Judy Biggert (R-Ill.) (endorsed former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani in 2008)
Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-Calif.) (endorsed Romney in 2008)
Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah) (endorsed Romney in 2008)
Rep. Diane Black (R-Tenn.)
Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-Calif.) (endorsed Giuliani in 2008)
Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.)
Rep. Dave Camp (R-Mich.) (endorsed Romney in 2008)
Rep. John Campbell (R-Calif.) (endorsed Romney in 2008)

Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah)
Rep. Howard Coble (R-N.C.) (endorsed Romney in 2008)

Rep. Ander Crenshaw (R-Fla.)
 (endorsed Romney in 2008)
Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) (endorsed McCain in 2008)
Rep. Robert Dold (R-Ill.)
Rep. John Duncan (R-Tenn.) (endorsed ex-Sen. Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.) in 2008)
Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) (endorsed McCain in 2008)
Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) (endorsed Romney in 2008)
Rep. Jim Gerlach (R-Pa.) (endorsed Giuliani in 2008)
Rep. Tim Griffin (R-Ark.)
Rep. Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.)
Rep. Nan Hayworth (R-N.Y.)
Rep. Joe Heck (R-Nev.)
Rep. Wally Herger (R-Calif.)
 (endorsed Romney in 2008)
Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.)
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) (endorsed McCain in 2008)
Rep. Leonard Lance (R-N.J.)
Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.) (endorsed Giuliani in 2008)
Rep. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.)
Rep. Connie Mack (R-Fla.) (endorsed Romney in 2008)
Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.) (endorsed Thompson in 2008; dropped White House bid in September)
Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.)
Rep. Buck McKeon (R-Calif.)
 (endorsed Romney in 2008)
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.)
Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.)
Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.) (endorsed Thompson and later McCain in 2008)
Rep. Jim Renacci (R-Ohio)
Rep. Phil Roe (R-Tenn.)
Rep. Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) (endorsed Romney in 2008)
Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) (endorsed Romney in 2008)
Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.)
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) (endorsed Romney in 2008)
Rep. Todd Rokita (R-Ind.)
Rep. Tom Rooney (R-Fla.)

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) (endorsed McCain in 2008)
Rep. Aaron Schock (R-Ill.)
Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) (endorsed Romney in 2008)
Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) (endorsed Romney in 2008)
Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio)
Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.)
Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.) (endorsed Romney in 2008)
Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.)

Newt Gingrich (9)
Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas)
Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas)
Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) (endorsed Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) in 2008 and initially backed Bachmann in 2012)
Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.)
Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) (endorsed Romney in 2008)
Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) (endorsed Romney in 2008)
Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.) (endorsed Romney in 2008)
Rep. Austin Scott (R-Ga.)
Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-Ga.) (endorsed Thompson, and later, Romney, in 2008)

[capydick]

I guess it's too much to ask of the establishment to get a set and coalesce around Newt. Imagine how strong a message the whole party could send if they only had a brain?

[2ndDivisionVet]

FUSS!!

[upsdriver]

Nobody said that rebellion would be easy or painless. The establishment will not give up their hold on power without a fight. They’ve pooh-poohed the tea party, denied it, belittled it, loathed it, scorned it, torpedoed it, but now they’re learning to fear it. Fear is good. We have not yet begun to fight!!

Rebellion is here!!

And should the majority be ignored .... they can keep their damn party and we'll start our own! They need us, we don't need them.

Rebellion is here, INDEED!

[DJ MacWoW]

Gingrich ISN'T the GOP establishment. They are drifting toward socialism and have been for some time. Moderates HATED Newt as Speaker. He pushed them to the right. They balanced the budget 4 years running. He had a budget for 1998 that cut $1 Billion. They rebelled. Republicans had not had power for 40 years and they had NO idea what to do with it. They still don't. They want to be LIKED.

[Moorings]

Let us not be complacent or lose our focus. They will re-double their efforts to foist their appointed one on us by any means possible.