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Newtonian Politics

By on 5.19.11 @ 6:09AM

Conservatives should not give a fig for Gingrich.

So there was Speaker Newt Gingrich, talking about himself as a “world historical figure,” yet petty enough to say that he was now motivated to really stick it to President Bill Clinton because Clinton made him exit from the back rather than the front of Air Force One.

And there was Gingrich explaining that he had trouble negotiating effectively with Clinton because Clinton made him melt.

Then there was Gingrich strutting around like a puffed-up popinjay, saying that he would “never again, as long as I am speaker, make a speech without commenting on” the Lewinsky scandal, and ordering that TV ads be run about the matter, while having at another time said he would not use it to try to score cheap political points.

There was the Gingrich who led an “ethics offensive” against Democratic Speaker Jim Wright but who then himself was rebuked by the whole House for serious ethical misconduct. There was the Speaker Gingrich who established such a history of double-dealing and backstabbing that he was the subject of an unprecedented, mid-session coup attempt. There was Gingrich blowing the 1998 elections by overdoing his blood lust about the impeachment inquiry while completely capitulating on spending. There was Gingrich claiming that he was lured into an illicit affair because of “how passionately I felt about this country,” which led him to have “worked too hard.”

Gingrich is the kind of guy you can pick up at the airport for a fundraising event who will spend the whole 25-minute car ride talking about himself while failing even to ask for the name of one of the people picking him up — or even pretending to listen when the driver tries to introduce Gingrich to his passenger.

There was the Gingrich who wisely insisted that Medicare revisions be kept separate from Appropriations negotiations that eventually led to the famous “government shutdown,” and then there was the speaker who acquiesced to Ways and Means Chairman Bill Thomas’s insistence that a minor Medicare fix be included, thus handing a huge PR victory to Clinton and leaving the entire GOP House communications apparatus on a limb, utterly unprepared. There was Gingrich eight years later strongly supporting the prohibitively expensive Medicare prescription drug entitlement.

While Gingrich was speaker, Republican congressmen and their staffs never could be sure from day to day what whim would send Gingrich running to the cameras with yet another world-changing policy proposal, or whether the new proposal would contradict what he had insisted what was near-holy writ just the day before, or maybe the week before. Staffers also never knew when, without ascertaining the facts, Gingrich would publicly throw them under the bus.

Meetings of various groups of Republican staffers were always quite a show when Gingrich was due to attend. There he would sweep in like an emperor, surrounded by a fawning retinue at whom he barked — no, make that yapped — orders as if they were chattel. More lunging than striding toward the microphone, he would launch into an over-decibeled lecture, absolutely full of (what he considered) his own unmatched wisdom, explaining what he said were frankly and fundamentally the essential insights into how, frankly, the world really worked at a fundamental level that despite its frank fundamentalness could not be understood by the peons in the room unless he himself laid it out for them in dialectic terms. Fifteen minutes later, having sufficiently impressed his subjects with how ignorant they would be if he weren’t there to enlighten them, he would lunge out again, while renewing his yapping directives to his retainers.

There was the Gingrich who was for cap-and-trade before he was against it, but who now denies that he ever was for it. He was for intervening in Libya before he was against it. He was for Dede Scozzafava before he was against her (and he was flat-out insulting conservatives for opposing her before he sucked up to them for their insight in opposing her). He said his blast at Paul Ryan’s plan was “responding precisely to how [David] Gregory asked the question,” even though Gregory’s question was in no way, shape, or form as hostile or challenging as Gingrich now claims, and even though not even Gregory came close to attaching any derogatory label such as “radical… right-wing social engineering.”

Gingrich is a man with all the self-discipline of golfer John Daly, combined with the verbal incontinence of a Tourette’s sufferer except without the actual medical malady as a valid excuse. He’s a man who can’t keep his mouth shut, his pants zipped, his ego in check, or his tempter restrained. He’s as steady as a mechanical bull, as brilliant as a fallen star, as able to keep perspective as Dadaist art.

When the former Speaker stuck both feet and several other appendages into his mouth last Sunday on Meet the Press, it was a perfect manifestation of the essential Gingrich. His logorrhea is innate and apparently uncontrollable. Conservatives should trust him the way the frog trusts the scorpion.

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 (104) |

Doorgunner| 5.19.11 @ 6:58AM

He is a gangster politician; one whose true job is to direct the federal largesse toward the bosses to whom he is beholden... and owned by. His reward is the scraps, the illusion of power, and a silver-plate over tin aura of a statesman.

We are more than tired of his ilk; the rail, the tar, and the feathers are ready.

We want something better, or we ain't votin'.

Doorgunner| 5.19.11 @ 7:11AM

...and speaking of gangster politicians, here's an 'attaboy' for selecting a photo of Newtie finger-pointing and hectoring in a most Clintonian fashion...

SonOfSam| 5.19.11 @ 10:38AM

We ALREADY have a pompous, self absorbed gasbag as Commander In Chief; we surely don't need another.

daddio| 5.19.11 @ 11:57AM

+1

Alan Brooks| 5.19.11 @ 12:53PM

Newt's confusion stems from his double-minded conservative futurist (an oxymoron) ideology.

Alan Brooks| 5.19.11 @ 12:57PM

He can change it rather rapidly by doing 'the business' or getting off the pot:
does Newt want to be a

conservative;

or a futurist?

Sometimes one has to choose and not want to be everything to everyone-- thus winding up as nothing to nobody.

Gretchen| 5.19.11 @ 8:04PM

NEWT: "any of various small salamanders (family Salamandridae) that are usually semiaquatic as adults. (Merriam-Webster)

Douglas Fletcher | 5.19.11 @ 7:14AM

I don't think he had much of a chance at the nomination anyway but he's sunk his campaign completely with just a few words ("right-wing social engineering...").

Enough of him. I hopefully await the entrance of S. Palin into the race, and I will enjoy the ensuing chaos and panic among establishment Republicans.

Vern Crisler | 5.19.11 @ 10:29AM

Yes, enough of Newt. Someone over at National Review -- Rich Lowry I think -- described Newt as an operatic politician. The idea that someone could cheat on his dying wife and expect to win a Republican nomination strikes me as operatic in the extreme.

We need someone who is no-nonsense about politics and strong of character. Sarah's the one to shake up the opera buffa politics of establishment Republicanism.

Run Sarah Run!

SonOfSam| 5.19.11 @ 10:40AM

As an opera fan, I am asking that you please NOT include us with the likes of yet another narcissist who's day has come and gone.

I quite agree with your take on Sarah Palin though!

Seek| 5.19.11 @ 2:37PM

Sarah Palin -- talk about a self-absorbed showboat! And her intellect, shall one say, is wanting.

President Sarah Palin? No way. An even worse choice than Gingrich.

Patrick| 5.19.11 @ 3:42PM

As much as I am ill at ease with Palin, no, Gingrich is far, far worse. He's simply the most duplicitous person to run for president from the GOP since... hmm... he's even slimier than Nixon, so I'm stumped.

Vern Crisler | 5.20.11 @ 6:35AM

Seek, you should seek the truth on occasion. Sarah is the best choice by far for any true conservative.

rightasrain| 5.19.11 @ 7:15AM

It's funny that Quin mentions Newt's annoying habit of beginning every sentence with "frankly." I've always thought that whenever someone does this, you know his next words are lies. Newt's done. We know he's done. He knows he's done. He knows we know he's done. It's just a matter of letting enough face-saving time elapse before he quits.

Mike D.| 5.19.11 @ 8:16AM

Agree, problem is he thinks he's still relevant. I almost laughed myself into a coma listening to Limbaugh the other day try to explain away this guy's slicing his own throat as somekind of political strategy. Gingrich has a history of putting his foot in his mouth. As far as being an infidel, a man who betrays his marital trust is a cheat and lier and had no integrity on any issue. Period! Another RINO retread who needs to shut his yap , take his ego and exit stage left.

Sam Vaughn| 5.19.11 @ 9:20AM

Agreed, he's revealed himself as an unprincipled Rino,which goes hand in hand. Sad though, I heard him speak at a Kiwanis meeting in 1993, he lit up the room and we all left thinking he's the real deal. He said things we were all thinking but afraid to voice out loud. I believe that Newt was genuine but lost to history replaced by a sad shell jello.

Mike D.| 5.19.11 @ 10:34AM

You could add undisciplined to that description as well.

Patrick| 5.19.11 @ 11:34AM

Whoring to the unconstitutional Ethanol mandate doesn't help either.

Anthony| 5.19.11 @ 9:59AM

Mike, You and I apparently had the exact same reaction to the clueless Limbaugh. Another ego who has been riding on his reputation for some years now.
For a guy who claims to do hours of show prep, Limbaugh often appears to have wisked into the studio 5 minutes before air time. He's not the man he was , a tale that dovetails with the downfall of Newt.
BTW, Quin, since you might have Newt's ear, perhaps you can tell him that "Right- wing social engineering" is really just adherence to the Constitution.

Vern Crisler | 5.19.11 @ 10:33AM

Hey, let's not cannibalize our conservative leaders. Rush has always been consistent in his conservatism. No need to dump on Rush just because Newt stepped in it.

SonOfSam| 5.19.11 @ 10:43AM

Yes, lets recall that it was Rush who flatly said that to defend America he wanted Obama's vicious policies to FAIL. He was out front on that one.

I will say that he probably defended Newt as a matter of course, given their long common history. The Speaker had his day, back when my wife was still an undergrad. He should have stayed out of it.

Doctor Right| 5.19.11 @ 12:00PM

"clueless Limbaugh"?!?!

You just disqualified yourself from serious commentary on this board.

The reason Limbaugh is so successful is because he is a genuine, unapologetic Conservative with more true insight into the political scene than ANY other commentator on either side of the aisle.

I've been listening to the man's show since 1993, and except for the occasional foray into golf, I've never heard him slack on show-prep.

Conserdude| 5.19.11 @ 1:03PM

I'm a big Rush fan, but he has a blind-spot toward Gingrich, his singular flaw.

Anthony| 5.19.11 @ 1:39PM

Dear Doctor and friends, Sorry that I have stepped on a sacred cow here. I am as much a Limbaugh fan as you all are, since about '93 in fact.
I listen at least an hour each day, usually more. In fact, I'm listening as I write this. I do not believe, nor have I ever said, Limbaugh has gone squish on his conservativism.
My comments are about his ever growing and out of contol ego, similar to Newt's, which has been a growing problem for years, and I peg it around the time he lost his hearing.
Almost all that he says these days is usually tied in some way to Limbaugh's personal life. A comment on an issue inevitabably involves some riff about him. I find this self centeredness really annoying. Have you also noticed that he has a bit of a mean streak? Do you remember the old couple, some years ago, that complained about his crinkling paper against the microphone, he then immediately proceeded to do it even louder after reading their email? Complain about football, guess what you get more of?
I've also noticed that he is not as insightful as he once was. He hits more glancing blows these days rather than direct hits to the nail. I just don't have the sense that he is as prepared as he once was, and I sense he does the show more by rote and wings it.
I just don't think the show is as good as it was, say 5-10 years ago. His monologues were the stuff of legend up until some 5 years ago, rarely doe he do one that is legend, although he still can, when inspired .
He hasn't done a 4th hours, (yes, I'm a subscriber as well) in years.
Sorry guys, I just call them as I see them. I'm still a big fan of Derek Jeter, but my man isn't what he used to be either. Doesn't mean I still don't love these guys, I just know what I hear and see.
That said, Limbaugh is a great conservative, we just need him to be on top of his game now more than ever.
Sorry me getting this off my chest caused such angst. I'll not do it again.
Hey, he loves Palin, gotta love him for that, and I do!!!
And now for an obscene profit time out.

SpiralArchitect| 5.19.11 @ 3:05PM

TheAngry Man Dr Savage is my main radio personality. :)

Grzmlyk| 5.19.11 @ 4:09PM

Don't have the opportunity to listen much to Savage anymore - he's a very, very strong brew. But I gotta say, he's right on the money.

Grzmlyk| 5.19.11 @ 4:05PM

Anthony, I happen to agree with you to some extent. I think Limbaugh, whose understanding of the strategic moves behind the scenes used to be incredible, was utterly wrong with his apologia for Newt. It was so tin-eared I couldn't believe it.

As I'm sure others have said (after all, it doesn't take a genius to see what Newt was doing) - and as Rush confirmed - Gingrich was sure he had the nomination wrapped up. So he wasn't doing the usual conservative two-step of tacking to the right to shore up the base for the nomination before tacking back to the left for the general election to scoop up moderates and "undecideds;" assured as he was that he'd be the nominee, his appearance on Meet the Press Sunday was intended to leapfrong the pro-forma pre-nomination conservative posturing and go straight for the squishy moderates and illegal aliens who will be voting in droves, IMHO.

His strategy mirrors Obama's - both know they have their base in their pockets; who else are libs going to support BUT Obama, which is why much of his rhetoric is aimed at the center, and, should he be the nominee, who else are conservatives going to support BUT Gingrich, as he saw it.

I used to be blown away by Limbaugh's uncanny ability to understand the chess game of politics when most viewed it as a game of checkers. He seemed to see three moves ahead of everyone else - and still does quite often.

But I've always wished we had a more palatable standard-bearer than the obnoxious Rush (incidentally, his brother David is a perfectly user-friendly and pleasant, normal pundit - and just as clear-eyed as Rush).

I have always had many problems with Rush - his immature love of insular jargon to prove he's hip or a techno-wonk or football savvy or a cigar afficianodo or a golf insider or whatever.

I also think pretty much all of his shtick is insufferable, his voice is grating, his name-calling juvenile, his ad hominem attacks at the way people look petty, his myriad mannerisms - including the deliberate paper crinkling, but also the over-the top sniffing, the never-ending phlegm clearing, the incessant pounding on the desk, his mispronunciation of words (both deliberate and inadvertent) the "giddy" moods - these are such a huge part of his persona. I guess you can't quarrel with his strategem - the guy has achieved unprecedented heights with that clown act - but I find it almost unendurable and MUCH prefer him when he's sufficiently roused about something to drop the act and just speak to his audience simply and honestly.

And I do think, on balance, he's getting worse. All of this supports your thesis that his ego grows larger and larger.

Of course the braggadocio is perhaps the most egregious aspecdt of his act, and although he hides behind the fig leaf that it's just his on-air persona, it is of a piece with his puerile, sex-obsessed sense of humor and his taunts and deflections, which are more appropriate for a sixth grade school yard.

I listen to Limbaugh all the time - not because I like him. As is obvious, I do not. But let's face it - he's still better at crystallizing the issues and articulating the principles behind the issues than anyone else. I do admire that he sticks to his conservative guns (although the Gingrich thing is puzzling) and that he can be gracious on occasion. I'd also call him courageous - he almost never backs away from a stand simply because it's politically incorrect. He has been the biggest thinker for conservatives for 20 years - not an effite intellectual like Krauthammer or a stolid reactionary like Hannity or a phony panderer like O'Reilly.

So, on balance, he remains a net positive, even though he may not be as sharp as he once was (and I concur with you on that). So I'll keep listening to him.

When I was a child, I once got very sick. I had to take some horrific-tasting medicine four times a day for about a month. It was brutal; but I would hold my nose and deal with the nausea because I knew it was making me better.

The same is true of Rush.

Anthony| 5.19.11 @ 5:32PM

Grzmlyk, An insightful post, as always.
The good news pal is that now when we're sick, we can down that stuff and then help ourselves to three fingers of a good single malt.

Vern Crisler | 5.20.11 @ 6:32AM

What is it with all this Rush bashing?

sanjuro| 5.20.11 @ 10:11AM

Anthony, Just keep talkin' brother. I too have noticed that Rush seems to be phoning it in and not as sharp as in the past. Everyone has an off day but it's more then just that. When Rush stated he and Newt play golf together that told me all I needed to know. It's hard to be critical of those you associate with in that sort of relationship.

Margie| 5.19.11 @ 5:48PM

Anthony~ I think you might be the one with the problem ego.
Rush is not clueless, and just because he spoke to Newt's debacle doesn't make him "less a man."
Maybe in your eyes.
I'd like to see any of you big guys do the work Rush does, or even that Newt has done.
Big words, little guys.

SteveN| 5.19.11 @ 11:12AM

Well...Rush was absolutely correct that Newt was positioning himself as part of a political strategy. It was the wrong strategy and it backfired, and if we're lucky it will soon remove Newt from the national stage. Now, Rush could do his listeners and the country a favor by deciding not to give Gingrich air time to try to dig out of this hole. But I'm sure it will be the usual softball interview that Rush gives to the establishment when they beg for time.

Mike D.| 5.19.11 @ 2:17PM

He's getting his dig himself out of the hole interview with Limbaugh as we speak, Hannity will be the next stop on the surgical "get his foot out of his mouth" tour. Guy needs to just go away.

Mike D.| 5.19.11 @ 2:24PM

Somebody should count the "what I really meants".

jomo2009| 5.19.11 @ 3:12PM

Agree completely! I hate when a person says "may I speak frankly." It means they're BSing me the rest of the time.

John Daniel| 5.19.11 @ 7:31AM

Dems may give their folks a pass on adultery, but most Republicans condsider it a preliminary disqualifier. Or, put another way, if he'll cheat on his wife why would we believe he wouldn't cheat on us.

Patrick| 5.19.11 @ 3:44PM

Actually, he already has. His term as speaker was one big showboat for himself, with next to nothing in terms of real accomplishment.

Chef Schnauzer| 5.19.11 @ 7:32AM

Newt and what he typifies is what is fundamentally wrong with politics today. If the Free State project had a chance I'd move to that area in a heartbeat. If I were to support an organized political party again there would have to be a position that would turn over say 500 square miles of federally stolen land to a new 51st state of Franklin (or Jefferson or whatever). This state would be exempt from torturous mandates from what has become an evil and mendacious federal government at it's core constitution (among other restrictions on power and regulation creation). The time is approaching that lovers of freedom and the core of the Republic are going to have to make a stand for our better natures no matter the personal cost.

Richard Baker| 5.19.11 @ 7:32AM

He can't leave the stage fast enough.

sablegsd| 5.19.11 @ 9:54PM

Anybody got one of those big canes to yank him off the stage?

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 5.19.11 @ 7:39AM

You have to wonder why the conservative talk show hosts still trot him out like a prize canine.

Mr. Hillyer did a great job here not only defining Newt Gingrich, but defining what a political insider and game player inside the beltway looks like.

Read it, again and again. Mr. Hillyer's piece defines the mindset of Washington, D.C., a city defined by deceit and reinforced by treachery behind the scenes, all the while misleading the public with a kaleidoscope of never ending lies.

Willis| 5.19.11 @ 9:09AM

I don't disagree with your characterization of Washington, D.C. but wonder how, then, can we expect "Washington, D.C." to solve (or even address properly) the massive national problems of debt, budget deficits, energy policy, international relations and economic prosperity? As an example of why confidence should be lacking, Barney Frank and Chris Dodd were tapped to fix the financail crisis. Gasp!

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 5.19.11 @ 9:25AM

You answered you own question.

The current mafia inside the beltway must be taken down and replaced with decent people, not egg sucking morons and they exist in both parties.

It's a multi-election process and I hope it works.

SpiralArchitect| 5.19.11 @ 3:07PM

Yes Bill - here is a little bit ( about The FED & politics in general ie: money) that also sums up politicians in general.

http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Evils in Government/Federal Reserve Scam/quotes_on_the_federal_reserve.htm

FakeEagle| 5.19.11 @ 7:49AM

I, for one, am happy that Newt stuck a fork in his own campaign. I lost respect for him years ago, and he's proven once again why I did. If you want to know Newt's opinion, just look to the views of the one asking the question.

rightasrain| 5.19.11 @ 10:29AM

I too am revelling in the Schadenfreude of watching this pompous ass self-destruct. For some time now I've been disgusted by Newt's obvious belief that he can talk his way out of any situation because we morons will be just too dazzled by his brilliant rhetoric to notice what a hypocrite he is. Newt's bloated self-regard makes Donald Trump look like Mother Teresa.

martin j smith| 5.19.11 @ 7:54AM

Why would a guy who claims to want to be President on the Republican ticket talk to the base voters as if they were his worst enemy ? What would motivate such behavior. It certainly doesnt sound like a serious candidate in my eyes.

Deborah D | 5.19.11 @ 8:09AM

Excellent, Quin. I think Gingrich truly believes in the country, but he's like Jekyll and Hyde -- and we never know which one will pop out. I think he can't live up to his beloved Founders. It's like the writer who expounds righteously about what should and shouldn't be, but in his private life is a true creep. That kind of narcissism is rampant in the halls of power in D.C. -- and, apparently, at the IMF! (We know it exists at the U.N.) We the people must take all of these folks down several pegs. They are flawed human beings -- not gods, and most aren't fit to govern.

Chalkdust| 5.19.11 @ 8:13AM

Frankly, Newt is fundamentally still a school teacher. His desire to hector, correct, lecturer and to have as many eyes as possible turned upward to his shunning brilliance has been burnished against many hairy Washington a$$holes. Left wing a$$holes I might add.

Patrick| 5.19.11 @ 3:46PM

Huh, just like our current narcissist in the Oval Office.

AnyoneButNewt| 5.19.11 @ 8:39AM

I am so sick of Newt, The Clintons, Pelosi, and their whole rotten stinking generation. Its time for them to hang it up and chair fake foundations and let the Ryans and the Rubios have their turn. Please, please, please, someone TELL NEWT TO SHUT UP.

Butch | 5.19.11 @ 8:42AM

So Quin: were you the driver or the passenger?

Quin| 5.19.11 @ 9:04AM

driver

Dee See| 5.19.11 @ 8:45AM

A.S. seems to be using a little Tavistock Institute
device ---supposedly dissing Newt while psychic driving him into our unconscious via repeated
coverage and photos.

You might try psychic drive for a good cause by
bothering to cover the cover up of the greatest
nuclear disaster the world has ever seen
(Fukishima).

"It's surely looking like a population reduction
operation is underway."
-Dr. Christopher Busby
(latest online interview)

---------------------TO SAY THE LEAST

Michael Tomlinson| 5.19.11 @ 8:51AM

Poor Newt I told him in Gettysburg, PA he should run against McCain. He had a chance then now like the much more suitable Santorum he’s a pol from a bygone age.

Time to fold your tent Newt and call it a day.

The Bishop| 5.19.11 @ 9:10AM

C'mon, Quinn, tell us what you really think. Great insight on the outsized ego of the former Speaker. It will be a blessing to see this campaign swept aside early in the process. Shame on Fox News for keeping the Newt seemingly viable. Good riddance.

Anthony| 5.19.11 @ 9:18AM

For a fat man, brother Newt has been doing some fancy tap dancing lately.
Yesterday, Limbaugh just couldn't figure out what has happened to brother Newt, he blamed it on the Washington liberal culture.
Limbaugh apparently can no longer read the stitches on the ole fastball he claims to do on a regular basis, probably because he and Newt suffer from the same affliction.
The problem with Newt is simple; he has a monstrous ego and an insatiable appetite for power.
He now has become one of those who we need to always question, as his motivations are always rooted in what's good for Newt. The dustoff with Ryan was a perfect example, with each day bringing a new version of a sorta, kinda, apology.
I was, and still am, to a certain degree, an admirer of Newt, however, he has lost his way and succumbed to the lure of power.
He is almost as dangerous as Obozo. History will record our era as the era of the ego, Limbaugh included.
You wonder why people find leaders like Palin and Bachmann refreshing, there's your answer.

jothepro| 5.19.11 @ 9:40AM

Obvious to me is that you Anthony do not listen to the Maha Rushie very often if you think he is of a monstrous ego. Take a little time and really listen.

Conserdude| 5.19.11 @ 12:51PM

I'm a 21-year listener to Rush and a big fan, but if ever he had an achilles heel, it is Newt Gingrich ("Mr. Newt," as you used to refer to him). Example: when Newt was under fire immediately after the disappointing 1998 election results, and was prominently in the news, Rush completely ignored the story, like it wasn't happening. He has a blind spot toward Newt that indicates a refusal to criticize a close friend. At the very least, Rush should stop describing Newt's latest episode as "inexplicable;" when it's quite typical of Newt's well-known character flaws.

Ken (Old Texican)| 5.19.11 @ 9:22AM

Quin,
speaking of candidates, there is a WOW interview on fox online (Hannity, 2 parts) with Sarah Palin today.
I hope all of you check it out.
Essentially, Sarah said that if there is not a candidate she can back whole-heartedly...she will go for it.

Anthony| 5.19.11 @ 9:38AM

Best news I'll get today, thanks Ken.
P.S. Great job Quin, I had come to believe the Washington miasma had gotten the best of you, seems there's hope still.

Quin| 5.19.11 @ 9:59AM

Thanks, Anthony. Not only has the miasma not gotten to me, but I'm moving away next week, to Alabama. I wish readers would understand that when I write about tactics and strategy, I am NOT disagreeing in any way, shape or form with conservative principles. If I ever abandon conservative principles, from ANYwhere, please come rescue me from whatever miasma I'm in! (And I love that word "miasma." Well used, Anthony!)

Anthony| 5.19.11 @ 10:07AM

Congrats Quin, Best of luck on your move to Alabama, I hope the move portends good things for you.
I suspect the good folks of Alabama will never let you lose your conservative way.

John Navratil| 5.19.11 @ 10:22AM

Quin,

I can never hear the word without it being preceded, in my mind, with the word "dank". A "dank miasma" - just sort of goes together like coffee and cream, doesn't it.

Patrick| 5.20.11 @ 4:15AM

choking, sickening, fetid, putrid, noxious, foul, curdling, cloying, and lingering are all good "miasma" adjectives.

Michael Tomlinson| 5.19.11 @ 10:30AM

Sadly, political strategy is considered RINO by many self-identified conservatives. Look at the "sage wisdom" found even in TAS in 2006 that boasted we could "throw away an election or two" or "losing would be winning." Look where that got us Reid/Pelosi/Obama.

There are really only a few moderates in the GOP and most of them come from moderate or formerly moderate states ME, IL, AZ . . .

If Ronald Reagan was running today based on his record as Governor of California or even President (especially the second more publicly popular term) he'd easily fit into the RINO category.

Barry Goldwater (my Dad's guy) was right when he told us to "grow up."

Wayne | 5.19.11 @ 10:37PM

Goldwater was also my hero, and a great moment in my life was getting to chat with him in his living room for an hour and a half. He was truly refreshing.
I don't like to use the term RINO, because I am not Republican. I am not because they have a tendency to protect the very programs the Democrats have pushed upon us for "social justice". A simple example is the useless Head Start program. So instead I say Liberal Republican, and their are many of them.

But remember Goldwater also said "... extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice."

Occam's Tool| 5.19.11 @ 6:45PM

Quin,

that is fantastic! The VERY BEST BBQ in the South is in Alabama (I'm partial to Johhny's BBQ in Cullman, AL, which is off exit 308 on I-65--they have THE BEST Bull Dog Slappin' stuffed Baked Potatoes---I have no financial interest in Johhny's), the children are wonderfully polite, the Ruth's Chris in B'ham is the best in the franchise, and U of Alabama is a great place to send the kids to college. B'ham also has incredibly beautiful botannical gardens, its museum of art is excellent, and 5 points has a great Thai restaurant in Surin West.

'Bama is a lovely place. I wish you the very best of luck there. (Mobile is nice, and so is Montgomery) People have the completely wrong idea. I just can't handle the heat of the summers anymore, and I have a great job where I am. But my in-laws are the nicest people on the planet.

Louis Jenkins| 5.19.11 @ 9:57AM

Common on Mr. Hillyer, tell us what you really think. No holding back now. You murdered the guy. Newt would be fine in an advisory position, but to have him in the presidency is not very smart.

Radioman777| 5.19.11 @ 10:10AM

I never thought much of him anyway.

Mimi| 5.19.11 @ 10:12AM

Last weeks top tier...Huckabee, Mitt, Newt, Trump....So NOW three are GONE all in one week-end. Sure is getting interesting. One thing we have to watch -out for...OBAMA, to win elections, has a HABIT of clearing the FIELD of his opponents.....ATTACKS on our crew will come...some with great noise and some sly and quiet....PRAY and stay strong, we are on the RIGHT side of things.

Mike D.| 5.19.11 @ 10:20AM

I just look at it as pruning the dead wood. Scratch one TV talk show host, two Rinos and one self serving buffoon. Maybe we can finally get to some serious new blood candidates.

Wayne | 5.19.11 @ 10:32PM

You think it will stop here. I don't think so.

A. C. Santore| 5.19.11 @ 10:53AM

And here all this time I thought I was alone in having these thoughts about Gingrich!

Overabundance of elitist "intellect" with a paucity of "common sense."

I hate to draw this comparison, but he's just another Obama in an ineffective disguise.

C Smith| 5.19.11 @ 10:54AM

A "Newt" Vision to Save America? Newt? The guy who visited his wife in the hospital as she was recovering from cancer surgery to discuss divorce? Wanted to marry the woman he was currently "bedding." This lasted until Newt and Bill found something in common, interns and staffers decades their junior. May America's deliverance arise from another place!

For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife. For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her. And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. And she, being before instructed of her mother, said,Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger (Matthew 14:3-8).

http://popularapostasy.blogspo.....erica.html

Drunken Sailor| 5.19.11 @ 11:39AM

New, Exit Stage Left.

Oldefarte| 5.19.11 @ 11:52AM

Being somewhat ignorant of Newt's prior political indiscretions off-camera [from mostly observations of his on-camera personality], I most recently was shocked and dismayed by his statements regarding the mandate of WELFARECARE and Ryan's plans. As indicated, he's mostly toast politically from same, and as Quin states, is questionable from his prior activities. Again, my focus currently will be upon Daniels, Pawlenty [and hopefully if they jump in, Bachmann and Palin]. Newt would probably be a good debater with El Chosen One on various political issues, but me thinks, a lousy administer/manager [which is what is currently needed]!!!!!!!!

Nunya| 5.19.11 @ 11:59AM

Wow. Don't hold back Quin, please tell us how you REALLY feel.

;-)

florin| 5.19.11 @ 12:21PM

Fox News, especially Sean Hannity, is still slobbering over Newt, giving him air time - I don't understand why. And so many refer to Newt as a 'conservative' - he was never a conservative...Newt seems to have no core principles - he is simply and only for himself and his own personal agenda. He could not really care for his present wife/former mistress or he would not considering bringing her more and more into the public eye - surely he knows that no conservative American wants to see his former mistress who, it has been said, bragged about her affair with Newt, live in the White House. Newt knows he doesn't have a chance...but he is shameless! Or so it seems.

Conserdude| 5.19.11 @ 12:43PM

of all the Gingrich commentary this past week, Quin's piece today tops them all!

Michael L. Hauschild| 5.19.11 @ 12:49PM

You are beating a dead horse.

Mike| 5.19.11 @ 1:15PM

I have to admit that I am loving the character assassination of Newt Gringrich being conducted by the right. But, Newt richly deserves it.

I have been thinking about Newt's labeling Ryan's proposal for Medicare reform as "right wing social engineering." He is wrong.

Ryan proposes giving premium supports to all citizens. The poor and the sick would receive more than others. People would use their premium supports to shop for the best plan to meet their needs.

Its seems to me that any rock ribbed conservative would like to see the federal government exit health care all together instead of continuing to collect taxes and mail out vouchers (think of the bureaucracy). Also, by giving greater premium support to the poor, isn't Ryan perpetuating income redistribution? So, how "radical" is Ryan's proposal? It seems to me that it falls within the boundaries of the New Deal social safety net.

gary siebel| 5.19.11 @ 1:19PM

Knee-jerk conservatives, the backlash is coming. Tea Party will suffer a rollback next election cycle. Get used to the idea. You are as bad as the liberals.

Patrick| 5.20.11 @ 4:19AM

Well now that you've stated your opinion, back it up.

Dave| 5.19.11 @ 2:06PM

Gingrich and Paul both are horrible people. They've somehow managed to convince everyone they are conservatives, but they are not. Only a handful of what they believe and want is based on conservatism. The rest is motivated by power, avarice, and their belief they should be president.

Disgusting. Both of them.

CalMark| 5.19.11 @ 2:19PM

Speaking of unethical: it's unethical for journalists to keep attacking Newt for his "ethical problems," because there were NONE.

In fact, the House found no substance to the accusations, but made Newt pay for the investigation. In other words, he was found innocent but required to pay for the prosecution.

Disclaimer: I'm no longer a Newt fan. His clumsy bait-and-switch in 2008 turned me off.

JimP| 5.19.11 @ 2:41PM

I have no favorite candidate for the 2012 nomination. I want the most conservative candidate to be the nominee. Of those still in contention or being considered for the nomination at present, Newt, with all his faults and mistakes/missteps arguably fits that requirement. Newt has bitterly disappointed me on a number of occasions and I’ve been darned angry with him a number of other times. His statements on Ryan’s plan being one. As the campaign season approached, Newt was not even on my radar screen. I didn’t think he would run and that didn’t matter to me.

This whole deal with Newt’s Ryan criticisms is being overblown, IMO. It seems obvious to me that it is driven by personal dislike and jealousy of Newt by many of the critics, and personal feelings of betrayal by most all the others. Newt was the face and embodiment of conservatism in the 90's. He was The Great Conservative Hope to be the next Reagan (especially after the bitter disappointment of GHW Bush) and when he stumbled- in various ways- people got very angry with him. For many, he didn't live up to their high expectations and hopes. For others his abrasiveness and arrogance rubbed them raw. He also exposed the mediocre intellects of many and the lack of intestinal fortitude of others: and they don’t like him for that. For too many of them he exposed that they have both of these traits. Many other Republicans have done things as bad as Newt’s Sunday ‘sin’ on NBC, or worse. Think of John McCain and his long list of perfidies, or GHW Bush and his "Read my lips. No new taxes." promise which he immediately upon election turned into a lie by huddling with Dems to raise taxes. Much less was made of these conservative apostasies. As for Newt’s personal failings, let he among you who is without sin cast the first stone.

Everybody has a bone to pick with Newt it seems. Even with all his mistakes/sins/missteps etc, he's still arguably the most conservative of the candidates, has an actual record of achieving conservative legislation at the federal level, he's still more conservative than 90% of the professional GOP, and he's the only candidate who has actually developed and presented a plan of action for what he will do if elected: And the plan is Reagan Redux. He’s the most articulate candidate, IMO, and has the pugnacity to take the fight to the Dems. No, he’s not the most likeable guy. He can be pompous, arrogant…. heck, pick a flaw. He’s not perfect. So who is and which of the candidates is a perfect conservative? These are pretty desperate times, IMO, and I want a guy or gal with the intestinal fortitude and fire in the belly to stand his ground against the RINOs, MSM and Democrats. Newt won’t need to be talked into running, his wife is onboard, the Bush wing of the party doesn’t want him, the bloviating chatterers inside the beltway don’t want him, the Dems don’t like him. These are all pluses and reasons to keep Newt in consideration. So I’m not piling on like many are. He has screwed up, IMO, but we need him in the debate. His plan is a good one. (See Peter Ferrara’s column at TAS on Newt’s plan) We can talk further about Ryan’s plan and what he meant compared to what I heard. He’s deservedly catching he!! for it. I still don’t understand his rationale on the matter, but as the great Ronaldus Magnus said, anyone that agrees with me 80% of the time is on my team (or something like that). So I want Newt running. I’ll give him equal consideration with Mitt the Mandater, Mitch D the Bush family favorite, Pawlenty, Palin, Cain and the others: and when it’s all said and done I will vote in the primary for the most conservative candidate. Since none of them are without flaws, many with the same flaws as Newt or worse, I will give him a fair hearing and may cast a ballot for him.

me

Margie| 5.19.11 @ 5:54PM

I'm agreeing with you, Jim.
Newt apologized and ok, I can forgive, or rather, Paul Ryan forgave as far as I know.
It is very true that Newt would make a better President than ANY stinking Democrat.
That's the bottom line.

Joe D.| 5.19.11 @ 3:35PM

Quin, tells us how you fell about Newt. Now don't hold back. Wait you didn't. Let's all work together and not tear down our leadership, except if it is Newt. Is that right Quin?

John| 5.19.11 @ 7:26PM

Rush is not a conservative on many issues. He still defends the treasonous Dubai Ports and was on the fence on Harriet Myers. He chastised those who wanted to close the borders after 9/11 and later, only after a grassroots outrage of Bush’s open border policies, did Rush cleverly become for strong border enforcement. He carried Bush’s liberal water for 6 years including defending his PC, liberal, minimal approach to prosecuting the Iraq war. He is for sending our vital industry to Communist China and other enemies. He does not generally champion social conservative issues. He is probably for H1-B visas undercutting American workers. He is against a clean environment, which should be a conservative issue.

Rush is not a nationalist, but rather a libertarian globalist who has twisted the meaning of being a conservative (really a patriot) as Bush did and thus we got the ultra lefty Obama.

Margie| 5.19.11 @ 8:28PM

Whose Lefty water are you carrying, Johnny?

Replica Handbags&wallet; | 5.19.11 @ 9:32PM

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Wayne | 5.19.11 @ 10:29PM

So, the incessant attack on Gingrich and the praise for Obama and his foreign policies. It is getting easier and easier to see where AS stands. And I had no intention of voting for Gingrich.

4stepformula | 5.19.11 @ 11:30PM

Rush thinks people want him to believe as a conservative. But this is definitely not the case. Because he tells many a different stories.

Dee See| 5.20.11 @ 12:45AM

PROSECUTE 'warmly' the prime perpetrators
of our last 4 decades of RED China sellout and set-up.

Take away the outrageous TAX FREE status of
the 'EUGENICS friendly' culture and sovereignty
subverting 'benny violent' foundations and
their thousands of spin offs and proxies.

"WARM" exposure and prosecution for the imbedded, inter-generational
EUGENICS establishment behind these fronts.

DE-fund the U.N. and EXIT this fraudulant,
private, EUGENICS front op organization.

Instant NULLIFICATION of rafts of their
ILLEGAL, sovereignty subverting 'treaties'.

-----------Get it OFF our American soil.

And, as 80% of the American public demands,
END the ILLEGAL 'Federal Reserve' and
fractional reserve lending.

AGAIN, a roll out of their century long legacy of staged conflict (WWI and Bolshevik Coup d- etat for starters) --and economic breakdown (the Great Depression to begin with)

THINGS WILL THEN CLEAR UP MARVELOUSLY

lucywatchesmall | 5.20.11 @ 1:23AM

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Negative Comment| 5.20.11 @ 9:25AM

I will not vote for the Gnewt and that is final.

emo| 5.22.11 @ 11:22AM

Newt is an ideas man, but he has a complete lack of discipline. Remember Lap Tops for the Homeless and Bring Back Orphanages? Newt has a giant ego as well. I suspect one reason Newt attacked Ryan's plan is that he cant sand the fact he is no longer the thinker for the GOP and the right. In short Newt is a undisciplined narcissist

Carrie Hunnicutt| 5.22.11 @ 2:34PM

There is no New Newt, there IS the old Newt, but We, The People don't want ANY Newt in the White House, N now or in the future. Do us all a favor, Newt, find a real job and get out of the race before you turn into a total disgrace. Oh, Wait, you already are!!!!!!!!!

JmsA| 5.22.11 @ 11:53PM

The greatest evil…is conceived and ordered (moved, seconded, carried, and minuted) in clean, carpeted, warmed, and well-lighted offices, by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voice. Hence, naturally enough, my symbol for Hell is something like the bureaucracy of a police state or the offices of a thoroughly nasty business concern. --C.S. Lewis

credibility gap| 5.23.11 @ 12:13AM

Newt said on Face the Nation,to Bob Schieffer, after saying he would not discuss Tiffany account to Greta Van Susteren - - to Schieffer he says, "It was a Revolving Account and we paid no interest on it." An account that is not paid in full each month, is a revolving account. Interest/finance charge is charged on the unpaid balance - - unless Tiffany, like Countrywide for Chris Dodd - has a special Newt arrangement.

We at least have an explanation for Newt's frenzied book-writing in recent times - - gotta pay off those wedding rings.

Considering their declared net worth and income at the time they had this staggering Tiffany bill, it either shows he could actually solve the National Debt problem or he has no more sense of budgeting than Obama.

affinity | 8.22.11 @ 5:03PM

too much talk about politics and blah blah blah . .

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http://spectator.org/archives/2011/05/19/newtonian-politics

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