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Streetcar Line
Livingston to Kingston
Lessons, and the real record, from the Gingrich era.
(Page 3 of 3)
Anyway, if new Speaker John Boehner intends to really save some money against a president far more liberal than Bill Clinton was, and against not a moderate Republican Senate majority but a liberal Democratic one, he’ll need to engineer as big a shake-up on Appropriations this year as Gingrich did back then. Kingston’s record indicates he has the right philosophy; let’s hope he also has the skill and will.
Third, it helps to keep in perspective the art of the possible. It is counterproductive to carp over every small concession to political realities. The conniption fits some critics had over the balanced budget deal reached in 1997 look silly in retrospect, because that deal now looks like fiscal conservative nirvana. The key, after getting as good as you can get, is to come right back for more (or less, as the case may be) almost as soon as the ink is dry. That’s what Clinton did from the other side in the mid-90s: He fought and fought and fought the GOP’s discipline, finally gave in — and then came back the very next year and fought and fought and fought for more spending again. Conservatives this time can and should do the opposite: Fight for as much discipline as possible — and then after they can win no more concessions this year, they should come back in the next year with an even stronger public case and a rededicated strength of will.
Fourth, stay on an even keel. Gingrich himself, to his credit, now acknowledges that he was too mercurial and too high-profile in the 1990s, even as he led Congress to major accomplishments. Boehner’s low-key steadiness may be a better fit for the job this time around. Steadiness also can ward off a lot of the infighting that broke out (and caused a mid-term near coup) during the Gingrich era. The real story of the collapse of the great Gingrich Congress — and it was, for nearly three years, great — was that the House caucus did survive the “government shutdown” at the end of 1995, but never did overcome the fallout from the coup attempt in 1997. Boehner will need to pay more heed to managing personalities and egos than Gingrich did. And all the new congressmen, including Tea Party conservatives, need to cut him slack on little things even while holding his feet to the fire on major principles. Political cannibalism is, of course, eventually self-destructive.
They all face a long-term battle; not every short-term dispute is a crisis. And sometimes tactical stalemates can lead to strategic gains.
As for the Appropriations battle, I’ve seen Jack Kingston work, close up, when he was still just a congressional fledgling. He’s solid. If he’s the new chairman, conservatives will have a champion just like they had in Livingston. It’ll help him remain a champion if conservatives give him some of the thanks and credit Livingston retroactively was denied.
About the Author
Quin Hillyer is a senior editor of The American Spectator and a senior fellow at the Center for Individual Freedom. Follow him on Twitter @QuinHillyer.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (25) | Leave a comment
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Ken (Old Texican)| 11.24.10 @ 7:37AM
Quin,
This one of your best ever.
I feel like I just finished a course in "Congressional 404"
Thank you
Alan Brooks| 11.24.10 @ 3:30PM
Rich Brookhiser said way back then that Newt's philosophy is "schizophrenic", a mixture of the Founders + Tocqueville, and the Tofflers' computer-geek Marxism.
Has the Newt leopard changed his spots since then?
Has Gingrich poured new wine into old wineskins?
Mark| 11.24.10 @ 7:42AM
Kingston Solid?
He is a Solid Earmark King - requesting over $200 million in pork in the past three years.
One for Blueberry production research.
Hillyer may have been fooled by Kingston's "earmark revelation," but his actions and Earmark requests did not reflect it.
If he is chosen for Chairman the Tea Party will revolt again....it would be House GOP leadership madness to appoint Kingston.
walt| 11.24.10 @ 7:46AM
The US blueberry industry has a hero in Jack Kingston!
One of his $220 million earmark requests he submitted in the last three years was an earmark for Blueberry research.
If you have ever eaten an blueberry, write Jack Kingston and thank him. Or call his office today.
Kingston - the Blueberry Earmark King!
AR Ar ar | 11.24.10 @ 8:19AM
OK, so if Kingston has been an earmark blueberry King in the past how does that square against a no earmark congress now? Just asking, I wouldn't know Kingston if we were walking in front of me. Is he ready for prime-time when prime-time will be earmark free? That should be the question perhaps.
Quin| 11.24.10 @ 9:35AM
If you want purity, go into the mythical land of Camelot and bow to Sir Percival. Otherwise, look at Kingston's lifetime ACU rating. If I remember correctly, it's 96. Blueberries or no blueberries, that's solid. If conservatives don't learn how to avoid making the perfect the enemy of the good, then we don't even deserve governmental authority.
Reagan Loyalist| 11.24.10 @ 11:13AM
Quin,
Taking us inside the Gingrich Congress did more than give us perspective on Livingston, you allowed us to witness both the successful and not so successful leadership tactics, motivations and enumerated the outcomes. Those were heady days, packed full of weighty battles and large egos. My understanding of Newt then and now was enriched as well. My hope is that as a movement we can avoid self destruction as this new congress faces a similar set of titanic challenges, not the least of which is shaking up committee leadership.
Ken (Old Texican)| 11.24.10 @ 10:09AM
Hey Quin,
Thanks for dropping in.
Please do not despair of the ignoramuses here. They have never accomplished anything, and they will never accomplish anything...except being snarky.
No comment on my e-novel?
Dixie Pixie| 11.26.10 @ 4:59PM
Crunchy and best served with a good Bourbon and Branch Water.
Excellent evening treat.
Quin| 11.24.10 @ 10:26AM
I had to go back and find your novel. I don't think I saw it when it first came in, but now I found it. I look forward to taking a look when I can, although it might take a few weeks. Thanks!
Ken (Old Texican)| 11.24.10 @ 6:10PM
QUIN,
WARNING! Do NOT go beyond page three. It will screw up your whole schedule.
(heh)
You would not believe who told me that. (hint, he is a Senator).
P.Smith| 11.24.10 @ 10:37AM
Thanks for the narrative. Accounts like this only strengthen my doubts about Mr. Gingrich. He is full of good ideas, but seemingly lacks the character needed to be a leader. Basically he was willing to spend 40 billion dollars, and probably a lot more if we were to look at other things besides discretionary spending, to possibly impeach the philanderer in chief in order to further his career.
Quin| 11.24.10 @ 10:46AM
To be clear, I am not saying that Gingrich's only motivation was to further his own career. Gingrich legitimately believed that Clinton's perjury was a high crime worthy of impeachment. I merely suggest that Gingrich misplayed and misjudged the PROCESS for the inquiry, with his misjudgment in part probably caused, in part, possibly without even being fully conscious of it himself, by his presidential ambitions. I suggest not that he was ill-motivated, but only human.
Brad| 11.24.10 @ 11:27AM
Thanks for the education. Your article serves as reminder there is a delicate balance between pragmatism and ideology. AND Clinton's crime was not about sex; it was PERJURY, a crime by very definition. (Another unfortunate example of the country being mislead by the MSM.) Thank you.
GMS| 11.26.10 @ 8:46PM
Great article Quin. I feel educated. I'm going to print and save this one.
Newt Gingrich as an historically knowledgable man, should have realized the HofR and speakership has never been a stepping stone to the Oval office. Neither is the Senate. Those members are just plain bad candidates as they do not have Executive bona fides.
Two Senators were nominated in '08 and both poor choices. This was Unfortunate as the country needed leadership and got double-dealing hype instead.
Keep up the good work Quin.
GMS
Oldefarte| 11.24.10 @ 11:13AM
Ah, yes.......they are indeed ALL HUMAN [and as such are guilty of human failing, ie with either prostitutes or girlfriend-leisons; and all can rightfully be considered degrees of adultery]. If memory serves me, I did vote [no doubt, more than once] for Bob Livingston, and still consider him a man of honor, integrity and especially a true conservative. Compared to its history of seedy politics, Louisiana should be grateful for the likes of Treen, Livingston AND VITTER. Oh, being the king of the misspells that I am, I did notice a possibly related error in this editorial ["..... A Gingrich loyalist, he nonetheless was enough infuriated by the spending dust-up that when it was followed with the election losses, he challenged Gingrich for speaker and quickly secured enough support to force the Georgia to step aside...."], but as I've said many times, TO ERR IS HUMAN, TO FORGIVE DEVINE [OPPS, MEANT DIVINE, SORRY]!!!!!!!!!
Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 11.24.10 @ 4:31PM
Someone, somewhere spent a lot of money. I find it fascinating that the Republicans never write about Jeff Flake, who was set down hard for his efforts to cut spending.
Maybe Kingston did all that you say. But someone spent that money and led us on to ever greater spending.
I would never vote for Gingrich for political office. His views on climate change are bizarre considering there is no proof.
In the meantime the Jeff Flakes are pushed to the side, and the Tea Party is slammed by the Republican establishment.
Craig Hersha| 11.26.10 @ 6:18PM
TO ERR IS HUMAN, TO FORGIVE DEVINE . . .
Neither of which is the policy of this company.
Oldefarte| 11.27.10 @ 11:32AM
Me thinks it possibly should be TO FORCE THE GEORGIAN TO STEP ASIDE [but maybe 'Georgia' was of mind?] !!!!!!!!
Alan Brooks| 11.26.10 @ 6:32PM
Andy Devine, the corpulent cowboy!
led display | 11.29.10 @ 10:10PM
Quin,very good!