The American Spectator

home
ADVERTISEMENT
Print Email
Text Size

Another Perspective

Gingrich’s March

By on 1.31.12 @ 6:10AM

In the spirit of a famous general, he’s ready to take it to the sea and beyond.

What happens after Florida’s Republican primary today, which polls show Mitt Romney leading by double digits as the official ballot-casting day arrives? For Newt Gingrich, the answer may lie in some of his state’s most famous military history.

First, the other candidates:

Mitt Romney will be working to solidify his lead. The fact that there are only caucuses over the week after the Florida contest (except for a meaningless primary in Missouri which will not result in the allocation of delegates) can only help the former Massachusetts governor whose caucus organization is only matched by Ron Paul’s.

Despite coming to Colorado on Wednesday to campaign ahead of that swing state’s February 7th caucuses, Rick Santorum will soon get out of the race primarily because he’ll be out of money but he will say (and it will to some degree be true) that it’s to be with his youngest daughter who was born with an inevitably fatal genetic anomaly and whose health has been bad in recent days. There are two things which could make this prediction wrong: First, the fact that he really doesn’t have anything else to do and he’s proven that he’s willing and able to stick around on the lowest of budgets. Second, if he dislikes Newt Gingrich more than he dislikes Mitt Romney, he could stay in just to keep trying to split the “anti-Romney” vote. Your guess is as good as mine, though I’d have to think Santorum would prefer Gingrich to Romney.

Ron Paul, who will also be in Colorado this week, will never get out of the race because he, like Santorum, has nothing else to do (since he’s retiring from Congress after this term), and he has plenty of money to keep going. But he’s basically a non-event since Ron Paul voters are just as likely to vote Libertarian, Democrat, or not at all, as to support either Romney or Gingrich. He will not run on the Libertarian ticket because it would put his son in an impossible position.

Newt Gingrich has said that he intends to stay in until the nominating convention, and given how deeply personal his antagonism toward Mitt Romney has become, it’s hard to see that as an idle boast. Newt is out for blood, feeling that he would be leading the chase for the nomination if only Romney weren’t so well funded, and feeling wronged at every turn by a “Massachusetts liberal” dissembler. This despite a Gallup poll released Monday showing that on the question of who is more “sincere and authentic,” Americans give Romney a 14 point edge over the former Speaker of the House… not to mention a 20 point lead on the question of presidential personality and leadership skills.

But Newt will have none of it. He wants to break the will of those supporting Romney. In 1864, the Union’s Major General William Tecumseh Sherman issued orders prior to his (in)famous March to the Sea. Included in these orders was direction to army commanders that if local inhabitants “burn bridges, obstruct roads, or otherwise manifest local hostility, then army commanders should order and enforce a devastation more or less relentless according to the measure of such hostility.”

So, what happens after Florida? My prediction: Mitt will spend much of the next month prior to the March 6th “Super Tuesday” primaries campaigning in Ohio, the most important state until Texas’ April 3 contest.

But Gingrich’s strategy may not be that straight forward: As Charles Krauthammer mentioned on Fox News on Monday, Gingrich may in fact focus on trying to win a few smaller states, especially southern states, to get to a plurality of delegates in 5 or more states. He’s got South Carolina and you have to figure he’ll take home state of Georgia. He needs three more, and like General Sherman he will do whatever it takes. And here’s why…quoting from the Rules of the Republican Party:

Each candidate for nomination for President of the United States and Vice President of the United States shall demonstrate the support of a plurality of the delegates from each of five (5) or more states, severally, prior to the presentation of the name of that candidate for nomination.

If Gingrich can get a plurality of delegates in 5 or more states, he will have his name entered into the nomination and perhaps turn the convention into a circus depending on a few other factors, particularly how large Romney’s delegate lead is at the time (assuming Romney will be leading as political bettors seem to think it will).

Gingrich feels deeply wronged by Romney and by the vicissitudes of election politics. After all, Gingrich’s dramatic post-South Carolina surge and his equally dramatic collapse was the second time he’s had momentum which put him ahead of Romney in national polls (although he never overtook Romney in betting odds at intrade.com).

Gingrich has been on his share of political rollercoasters but probably never anything like this. It’s a minefield of “what if”s and “if only”s that would be particularly hard for a man with Gingrich’s ego to peacefully coexist with. What if Rick Perry had gotten out earlier and perhaps given me a chance to prevent Santorum’s Iowa surge and take the first caucus? If only Mitt Romney and his friends weren’t so rich. What if that Freddie Mac news had never come out? If only I could control the debate rules.

It’s hard to go from being the master of the universe to just another player on the political chessboard, maybe more than a pawn but certainly not the king.

Newt Gingrich is out for bloody revenge against the man who is about to snatch away the brass ring that was tantalizingly near to the former Speaker’s grasp. Like General Sherman, he shows no qualms against instigating war in which the vast majority of the damage is fundamentally unnecessary but simply meant to destroy the psychology of the enemy. And, in another historical irony, Gingrich, like General Sherman, believes that in his cause “the rich…are usually hostile, and the poor or industrious usually neutral or friendly.”

Unless saner heads prevail — and Gingrich is not known for being easily persuaded into a more temperate course — the rest of the Gingrich campaign will be the political equivalent of Sherman’s March to the Sea, leaving behind miles of scorched earth (including, like Sherman, much of Georgia) that may not be arable political land for Mitt Romney for months to come – with all the possible ramifications for the most important presidential of most Americans’ lifetimes.

As far as Gingrich’s upcoming Sherman-inspired march goes, Newt is a professor of history who lectures at the National War College, and he’s from Georgia on top of it all. No doubt he thought of these comparisons before you or I did, and no doubt someone with him at the time would have seen an unmistakable, if brief, smile pass over his face.

About the Author

Ross Kaminsky is a self-employed trader and investor and is a senior fellow of the Heartland Institute. He is the host of The Ross Kaminsky Show on Denver’s NewsRadio 850 KOA at 11 AM on most Sundays. You can reach Ross by e-mail at rossputin(at)rossputin(dot)com.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (238) |

Jay| 1.31.12 @ 6:29AM

The GOP loses in November if it cannot hold onto Ron Paul's voters.

I gave another $200 to the Ron Paul campaign because of the article's stupid analysis.

spike59| 1.31.12 @ 6:39AM

The GOP loses in November if it cannot hold onto Ron Paul's voters
=======================
25 stoners wearing tinfoil hats in mommy's basement eating cheetos are noting to sneeze at, i guess

Jack in Wi.| 1.31.12 @ 6:47AM

He is right. 70% of the people want out of the wars, an end to foreign aid, slashing the Federeral budget and return to the Constitution and it's civil liberties. Gingrich is another Mussolini and Romney is Bush the 3rd, no thank you.

loulou| 1.31.12 @ 11:03AM

Mussolini but no Hitler? Or is he one of your heros?

Boar Hunter| 1.31.12 @ 1:43PM

Ron Paul is Neville Chamberlin.

Clint| 1.31.12 @ 1:54PM

" Dr. Ron Paul served in the United States Air Force as a flight surgeon for several years (1963-1965). While in the air force, Paul reached the rank of Captain. Directly after his service in the air force, Paul worked again as a flight surgeon for the United States Air National Guard (1965-1968).

" Paul served as a flight surgeon in the U.S. Air Force in the 1960s, spending time on the ground in countries like Ethiopia, Iran, Pakistan, South Korea, and Turkey. He also sits on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs."

Boar Hunter| 1.31.12 @ 6:11PM

Ron Paul is a nut.

Boar Hunter| 1.31.12 @ 6:22PM

Benedict Arnold was a general during the American Revolutionary War and a hero before he sold us out to the British.

Ron Paul wants to sell us out to our enemies in advance of the fight. No thanks you Marijuanacino-Ron Paul-cultist.

If you want to see where Ron Paul's policies would get you just forget the election and move to the middle east with a cross on your shirt. Oh, don't forget to draw a dotted line around your neck so the peace loving Neanderthals over there will know where to cut.

Occam's Tool| 1.31.12 @ 9:03PM

6.9% in FLA, Clint. OW. Bradley manning is not a popular guy, moron.

Going on to history---Sherman's purpose WAS to demonstrate that the South could not protect its civilians. His purpose was primarily psychological, since Hood wrecked his army before Sherman captured Atlanta and started his march. Sherman also had the biggest battalions during the march, as well. None of this applies to Newt, really.

Now that Paul is destroyed, all that matters is beating Obama. Fratricide will not help, and Santorum is the better non-Romney, anyway. It would be nice if Newt would leave and let Rick carry the banner. Besides, I think Romney and Santorum will debate more civilly, perhaps on their opinion on the issues. A Romney/Santorum ticket could be quite useful.

irish19| 1.31.12 @ 10:28PM

Personally, I'm still hoping for a brokered convention where a real conservative can get the nomination. I'm thinking Allan West at this point.

markenoff| 2.1.12 @ 3:41PM

Romney/Santorum makes sense in some ways. It balances the fiscal/social conservative sides to a degree. And both, unlike Gingrich and Paul, have won state wide races. Drawback is both are from the east coast though Santorum might help swing PA to the Reps.

Alan Brooks| 1.31.12 @ 8:23PM

Boar Hunter, I apologize for what I said about you: I want Gingrich to die, not you.
I'd rather have Warren G. Harding as president than Newt;
at least Harding wasn't a serial-lying egomaniac who thinks he will finish the border fence in less than a year (1/20/'13- 1/1/'14").
Harding didn't promise to colonize the Moon in his second term. Harding died, cutting off his term: hopefully Newt will take the cue and die as well.

Occam's Tool| 1.31.12 @ 9:04PM

Harding was actually a GOOD President. Much better than Carter, Hoover, Obama, LBJ, for example.

Boar Hunter| 1.31.12 @ 1:50PM

Don't be so quick to dismiss Ron Paul, he just received the often touted and ever coveted Snoop Dogg endorsement, whoop whoop!

More proof that the only cause the Ron Paul cultists really care about is the legalization of marijuana. Just check out his web sites and the facebook postings with marijuana leaves and bong smoking college children who think they are grown up.

Clint| 1.31.12 @ 2:07PM

The Mr.Newt Endorsement Coup:

The Gary Busey Endorsement.

http://cdn.theatlanticwire.com.....R1XJ71.jpg

Oldefarte| 1.31.12 @ 3:17PM

Newt couldn't secure all of those outerspace martians endorsements....since they are all committed to Paul!!!!!

Margie| 1.31.12 @ 6:48PM

Ha!!

Boar Hunter| 1.31.12 @ 6:10PM

Ron Paul 7%

Occam's Tool| 1.31.12 @ 9:06PM

I must DISAGREE with you, Boar! That fine representative from the oil strewn beaches of Galveston finished with 6.9% of the vote, not 7%, suh! ;-)

Jack in Wi.| 1.31.12 @ 6:42AM

It is Ron paul or ruin. He is the only one who can attract the young voters, Independents, disaffected Democrats, and people who don't usually vote, that the Republicans, absolutly need to win a national election in this country. No-prowar Republican has a chance in this election. 10 years of nonsense wars and national bankruptcy are enough. The only way this country can ever get it's fiscal house in order is to get out of these wars, bring the troops home to their families, ans slash the Federal budget. Ron Paul is the only one who has proposed such a program.

PolishKnight| 1.31.12 @ 10:06AM

Jack, based upon the poll numbers I've read where primary candidate supporters are then asked to choose whether to vote for their choice or Obama, Ron Paul voters are the most likely to vote for Obama. In other words, they view them as the best Democrat candidate to run for the Republican presidential nomination. But Obama is where their heart is at.

And that sums up how I've felt about the Libertarian party for some time now. I sent back their requests for financial support with a letter explaining clearly how I felt and observe: They don't think the borders should exist and should allow a "free market" of migrants to come in and out of the states at will and hope they vote for libertarian causes. They want toll roads and even sidewalks. It simply doesn't work in these modern times and as much of a failure socialism is most of the time, the problem is they have a few good points. You don't have to worship government in order to respect it's sheer power. Either we take the reins or the left will use that power vacuum and suck us up like a hoover deluxe. Here are a few:

1) We need national ID to end identity theft and illegal immigration. Law abiding conservative citizens already have ID anyway so this is not a problem. Use it at schools and workplaces. Problem solved.
2) We need public transportation, rail, and to fund alternative energy. Someday, it will pay off and the left will take credit.
3) The right needs to lead the charge to improve working conditions for private workers. If they don't, the labor unions and leftist consumer advocates will and, again, will take the credit. They're still cashing in from the myth of FDR.
4) Defend your electorate. It sounds simple, but the right still doesn't get it. Obama and Hillary visit representatives of their key demographics and talk about direct things they will do as politicians to help them or at least defend their rights. Hint: If you want the Nascar Dads to show up at the polls, stop using the term "deadbeat dads."

buckeyeman| 1.31.12 @ 11:04AM

1. Disney World can provide you with an ID validated by your very own thumbprint in about 30 seconds. An ID will not help unless there is the will to enforce the law. How 'bout it we make it a felony to illegally enter or remain in our once-great country.

2. "...public transportation, rail..." no, let the morbidly obese welfare moms walk to the bingo hall. The only "alternative energy" that has a prayer of working is nuclear and the leftie-loonies won't hear of it.

3. "...lead the charge to improve working conditions..." WHAT??? Did you miss the last 100 years of human/US history?

4. What the hell are you even talking about. How 'bout if we defend the constitution?

PolishKnight| 1.31.12 @ 1:14PM

1. Illegals commit a great deal of identity theft. Close that loophole and it will protect our citizens and make things that much harder for them. In addition, a national ID would establish citizenship while drivers' licenses do not. It's basically allowing states to issue illegal ID cards.
2. Er, the morbidly obese are sitting in traffic here in this declining country. Solar can work, but photovoltaics are based upon silicon technology which is expensive to refine.
3. Outside of government crony and management jobs in private industry, the rest are being sent to Asia where 80 hour workweeks are common. That's "human history". Brings back the final chapter of Animal Farm. In the meantime, they bring in socialists to do cheap labor.
4. With all due respect, F the constitution worship nonsense. I know that's radical and allow me to explain: The constitution exists to serve us, not us to it. The whole basis of the constitution was to have government serve people and not the other way around. If you don't defend the people who defend the constitution, then no more constitution! Ultimately, the constitution is defined by the people in government including The Wise Latina. If you staff the courts and bureaucratic offices with leftists, then the constitution is leftist! Deal with it.

Hmmm, that gets me to thinking that while the right are great at handling guns they're truly lousy at managing politics and understanding it.

ShineKehNihGeht| 1.31.12 @ 3:48PM

?. Liberalism is killing the country. Adopt liberalism.

??. The Constitution is the document protecting liberty. Become a tyrant.

???. What's to understand? Deal with it.

PolishKnight| 1.31.12 @ 5:10PM

If The Constitution truly protected liberty, then the civil war wouldn't have happened and we wouldn't have most of this mess we do today with race politics. Yes? The Constitution itself was a product of political compromises, many of them bad. It's not a holy document brought down from the mountain by Moses. I'm amusing by your wording that The Constitution protects liberty. It's a mere document. It's not a Koran or a Bible. Liberty is protected by PEOPLE. Get it? PEOPLE!

If "liberalism" is about representing your constituency and ensuring they're taken protected, without necessarily violating others' civil rights, then what is so bad about that? Liberalism and leftism and socialist democracies are smart in that they recognize the basic reality that democracies, even with a constitution, are a game of GO. Get enough votes and people in the right places and it doesn't matter what the Holy Constitution says. As The Emperor in Star Wars put it: He'll make it legal. It's legal even by the definition of The Constitution. Congress passes a law that seemingly conflicts with the Constitution but the courts and the president think it's ok and the police and military protect it and there you go.

ShineKehNihGeht| 1.31.12 @ 7:22PM

????. "The Constitution is the DOCUMENT protecting liberty."
"I'm amusing by your wording that The Constitution protects liberty. It's a mere DOCUMENT."
What're we dealing with, DEALING WITH, again?

?????. "Liberty is protected by PEOPLE. Get it? PEOPLE!"
"Get enough votes and people in the right places and it doesn't matter what the Holy Constitution says."
What's, WHAT'S, the people, THE PEOPLE, to protect liberty with, TO PROTECT LIBERTY WITH, better than, BETTER THAN, a document, A DOCUMENT, that documents the justification for, THAT DOCUMENTS THE JUSTIFICATION FOR, the liberty of the people, THE LIBERTY OF THE PEOPLE?
What's to understand, UNDERSTAND, again, AGAIN?

markenoff| 2.1.12 @ 3:56PM

To paraphrase Mao. liberty comes out of the barrel of a gun. That's why we have the Second Amendment even though the right to keep and bear arms was the first right our Founding Fathers fought for. It was stocks of weapons and ammunition that the Redcoats were marching to Conord to destroy, not a printing press or a church.

markenoff| 2.1.12 @ 3:54PM

"Protect your consituency". I agree. As the Constitution says, Article IV, Section 4: "The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence."

It's not Holy Writ but it is the supreme law of the land. On D-Day 160,000 allied troops landed at Normand. This was called an "invasion". There are currently in excess of 12,000,000 illegal aliens in the US. Is that not an invasion?

The president should "protect his constitutencies" and uphold the Constitution by protecting the states from this invasion.

Occam's Tool| 1.31.12 @ 9:09PM

At this time, solar cannot work. Difficult to store electricty efficiently and solar, outside of New Mexico, etc. is highly unreliable.

I have great working conditions. I also vote Republican.

Diogenes| 2.1.12 @ 10:15AM

Use each power source where it is best suited. Refine and develop them, just as we did autos and gasolines. The rabid oil drilling mindest is not wrong, it is severely misguided. Make safe what can be made safer, stop LYING about how poisons in the atmosphere 'don't make a difference', realize that dinosaurs developed an atmosphere of highly toxic volcanic vapors and the and the trees oil and coal comes from refined that atmosphere into a doubly oxygen rich content than we have now.
Burning hydrocarbons, refining them and cutting down rainforests (what do you THINK used to be where the sands of the Gobi, Mojave and Sahara are now?) and burning them off too is NOT a sustainable practice. NOT researchingand developing Alternative supplies and methods of energy is foolishness.

WE need to 50/50 the subsidies and drilling permit grants For every dollar a potential oil lease may yield, a matching amount should be mandated for alternative energy investments. A) not only is half the US electric production from alternative means... B) the faster you use up the limited amounts of fossil fuels, the more you will NEED the alternatives AND the higher the prices wil be for fossils (and the cost to begin research later)... and C) America will STILL pay 10-25% less than the rest of the world for gasoline.

Antisthenes| 2.1.12 @ 11:21AM

"realize that dinosaurs developed an atmosphere of highly toxic volcanic vapors"

You are attempting to reason when to have never displayed any, with those who value knowledge and truth, whether on science or on faith, when you have never revealed any, on either.

You, the five year old child, insist that staying up past your bedtime, in order to watch the television show you want to see - a show that is inappropriate for any audience regardless of age - is not only the correct thing to do, it is the only thing to do, and you are convinced the parents do not even have the capability to comprehend that this is the right thing to do much less the only thing to do.

Mensan, indeed.

Crassus| 1.31.12 @ 10:20AM

Yada, yada,yada.

Oldefarte| 1.31.12 @ 3:19PM

You no doubt mean instead.....either Paul AND ruin, huh??????????

Oldefarte| 1.31.12 @ 3:22PM

'.... Ron Paul is the only one who has proposed such a program...' No Clem Cadiddlehopper did previously, but that was before your time!!!!!

Occam's Tool| 1.31.12 @ 9:06PM

6.9% Jack, when votes are counted, not stuffed polls, cheesehead.

Le Cracquere| 1.31.12 @ 10:21AM

If--IF--so, the GOP winning isn't worth it. Four more years, sez I.

Diogenes| 2.1.12 @ 10:27AM

I agree on BOTH counts. More RED madness AND 4 more years of fair and balanced Governmental leadership. WHY? BEcause the longer the RED party sandbags AMerica, the harder the voter backlash and the sooner the REpublicans go the way of the Whigs.

Tommy Blue | 1.31.12 @ 10:56AM

In scrolling through the reader comments attached to A.S.'s daily political writings, I'm struck with the number of cut and paste commentaries (back and forth and forth and back) from the usual collection of Pajamaville suspects. Of course, this is still a country where free speech has yet to be totally restricted, but you'd think some of these folks would have learned one of the critical rules of communication and persuasion: "Brevity is the soul of wit." Having said that, it's apparent that parts of greater Babbleon, and selected areas of suburban Wisconsin have yet to learn the opposite affect: "Overkill is the soul of the witless."

Having said that, I suppose a comment Tommy Lasorda of the Dodgers once tossed to a pesky sports reporter could be applied here: "Opinions are like a-s holes. Everybody's got one."

Apparently, opinions are running rampant in Pajamaville, USA. Day after day after da ...

zzzzz ...

Occam's Tool| 1.31.12 @ 9:12PM

Dear Tommy: some folks, like Clint and Jack, have only one hole to their digestive tract, like flatworms: this explains much.

(Note the brevity)

skip| 2.1.12 @ 1:04PM

Speaking - commenting - of opinions of azzholez...

Apparently, it is the opinion of the above commentator that "cut and paste", "(back and forth and forth and back)", "Babbleon", and "Pajamaville", represents 'keenness of perception and discernment of an idea in comments to clever humorous effect'; and that the use of "Pajamaville"- twice - also represents 'concise comments of short duration'.

Having said that, I suppose a quoted comment by a manager, a manager who assumed the duty of third base coach only in games broadcast nationally on television, and only then, does make a point about the narcissism rampant in the city notorious for bringing everyone all the material that is broadcast on television, which people in this country watch, day after day after day, instead of interacting in the exchange of thoughts and ideas, at places like AmSpec's daily articles.

Diogenes| 1.31.12 @ 1:20PM

It's cheaper to give it to Obama.

Hobbes| 1.31.12 @ 5:48PM

In his democratizing plans for Iraq and for the entire Middle East, Bush and his colleagues were world-class destructive ideologues, their abstract neoconservative theories disconnected from reality. Bush smashed the Iraqi state. His invasion dismantled the bureaucracy and internal security, wrecked the economy and sent the army home with its guns. Bush, not surprisingly, could not put Iraq back together. Inevitably Iraqis turned to their sects and local militia for community and protection. The result has been sectarian civil war. Iraq is now a predictable catastrophe. Bush was not conservative. Very far from it. He belongs among Burke’s revolutionary philosophes, joining the party of Robespierre and Antoine St. Just. In the near future, Iraq will remain Iraq, and, as Burke foresaw a Strongman arising out of the chaos the ideologues caused, a Strongman will probably emerge in Iraq to restore order. To be sure, Robespierre and St. Just went to the guillotine. Bush will merely retire to Crawford, to be judged by history. Jeffrey Hart

Alan Brooks| 1.31.12 @ 7:12PM

Marge, stop picking on Catholics before you take issue with Jack in Wi.
What is your proverb?:
"Love The Jew But Not The Catholic"
?

Margie| 1.31.12 @ 9:21PM

What I love, is the Truth. And that is what Jesus is. Jn. 14:6.

Alan Brooks| 1.31.12 @ 8:15PM

Gingrich's bummers tear a hole through the South's heart.

Kitty| 1.31.12 @ 6:35AM

McRomney is the Sherman in this race with his scorched earth tactics.

Dick Nome| 1.31.12 @ 8:28AM

Sherman won.

Vern Crisler| 1.31.12 @ 9:25AM

Ross, your understanding of Sherman is woefully lacking. See:

http://vernerable.wordpress.co.....federates/

See Section 7: William Tecumseh Sherman as Humanitarian

buckeyeman| 1.31.12 @ 11:08AM

Yes, Romney is more like Sherman and Gingrich is more like the German "werewolves" who strung piano wire from trees after WW II just to get even. They also had goofball theories about how the valkyries with delegate votes would ride in and save them.

Jack in Wi.| 1.31.12 @ 6:35AM

Gingrich will keep campaining until his Israeli money runs out. He is in it for just one reason to push war with Iran. Romney must have said something to the Zionists to make them dump millions into Gingrich's campaign. Maybe it was." I will not attack Iran if it isn't making nuclear weapons. " Well we all know Iran is not making nuclear weapons and has no program to do so. It is under constant inspection and all our intelligence agencies say so as well. It is time to for Mitt to tell the Israeli Lobby to go to hell. They are a tiny part of the party and not worth the trouble. Of course that would be something couragous. Mitt has never been good in that department.

spike59| 1.31.12 @ 6:41AM

zeeeeeee CHEWZZZZZZ...Immer zee CHEWZZZZZZ!!!!! what is it with you Rontards?

William R| 1.31.12 @ 8:07AM

Newt Gingrich’s Deep Neocon Ties Drive His Bellicose Middle East Policy

http://www.thedailybeast.com/a.....olicy.html

Crassus| 1.31.12 @ 10:21AM

Quit wearing your war wound like a crown and go back to blowing up cartoon balloons, Levon.

Paul Kotik| 1.31.12 @ 12:28PM

My theory about Jack? He's a precocious 12-year-old with an iPhone.

KennesawJack| 1.31.12 @ 1:23PM

By Jove! I think he's got it!

Oldefarte| 1.31.12 @ 3:24PM

That is about the dumbist f&*king thing I have ever heard.....congratulations!!!!!!!!!

Mike 3/505| 1.31.12 @ 6:40AM

To Gingrich's favor, he didn't start the negative war. Romney did, and continues despite numerous attempts By Gingrich to make peace & focus on Obama. Romney may win this, but I don't see him being able to govern as a conservative.

spike59| 1.31.12 @ 6:43AM

when exactly, did Gingrich EVER, in his entire career, try to make peace with anyone except fellow serial adulterer Bubba Clinton? when he was busy stabbing Reagan in the back during the 80's? when he's gone on his hysterical foam flecked rants against Romney? when he ran off his entire campaing staff before Iowa? when he's screeched at anyone and everyone who hasn't fallen at their feet in worship?

Clint| 1.31.12 @ 7:10AM

The Stupid Party Marches Off The Cliff Again.

The Tea Party Benefits From A Brokered Convention.

Oldefarte| 1.31.12 @ 3:27PM

No, the Stupid Party accused Paul Ryan of pushing grandma off the cliff, don't you remember. Guess not, since you're a Justice Dept paid blogger [by Eric] of same, right??????

rightasrain| 1.31.12 @ 7:58AM

One of my favorite lines so far: saying Newt Gingrich is volatile is like saying Picasso is a guy who could draw a litttle.

loulou| 1.31.12 @ 11:05AM

I prefer a volitile person to a robotic, preprogrammed liberal/moderate pantywaist.

rightasrain| 1.31.12 @ 11:10AM

The preprogrammed robot is certainly handing Newt his volatile head in Florida

buckeyeman| 1.31.12 @ 11:09AM

Did you ever see a Picasso "drawing"? They really suck.

skip| 2.1.12 @ 4:52PM

Suck, like what the representation of emotional prattle would look like on canvas, maybe? The subjective over the objective? The relative over the absolute? Picasso, the liberal's idea of art.

John Schuh| 1.31.12 @ 9:06PM

Stabbing Reagan in the back? You are confusing the President with his underlings who were serving the heir, G. H.W. Bush, not Reagan. Gingrich was pushing for a Republican Congress, something that few in the administration cared anything about. It was accepted that Republicans would hold the Presidency, the Democrats, the Congress. Had to not been for Ross Perot and for Newt, that would have been the way it would have remained until this day. Two true radicals upset the apple cart.

oldfart| 1.31.12 @ 6:49AM

My father grew up listening to stories from his Grandmother as she related watching Sherman's soldiers destroy EVERYTHING in their path. And for no reason other than some kind of misplaced personal revenge. The Confederacy was already defeated militarily and was in the death throws. There was no valid military reason for the wholesale destruction of the ability of the local population to support themselves. Sherman was a despicable man, unlike General Joshua Chamberlain who may have been the one person who saved the Northern Armies at Gettysburg from total defeat on the second day of battle and setup the victory on the third day.
General Chamberlain later demonstrated his professional and personal character by the respect he showed for the defeated army of General Lee at their surrender.
General Sherman later went on to demonstrate his character during from 1869 to 1884 when, as Commander-In-Chief of the US Army, he applied the policy of total burnt earth on the Native American tribes that lived on the Great Plains.
Mr. Gingrich is showing himself to be a General Sherman, not a General Chamberlain and is therefore unqualified to be nominated for President.

Kitty| 1.31.12 @ 6:54AM

oldfart indeed

Jack in Wi.| 1.31.12 @ 7:02AM

For once I agree with you old geezer. Gingrich is for nothing but destruction. He is breaking the party so, that there is no hope that it can be put together again.

oldfart| 1.31.12 @ 7:03AM

eh - what's that you say sonny?
Perhaps that is his intent?

bull-gator| 1.31.12 @ 8:20AM

I'll drink to that! The republican party needs to be destroyed and replaced with a federalist party comprised of true conservative patriots.

loulou| 1.31.12 @ 11:06AM

I'll drink to that!

Al Adab| 1.31.12 @ 4:39PM

Don't forget, the Federalist Party was considered the strong central government Party opposed by Jefferson and his Republican Party.

Oldefarte| 1.31.12 @ 3:30PM

Ginguich has done more for the Republican Party in one year than Paul has done in his entire political lifetime!!!!!!!!!

Crassus| 1.31.12 @ 10:23AM

I resemble that remark. My great-great grandpappy rode with Sherman on his march through Georgia. He considered it a badge of honor.

oldfart| 1.31.12 @ 11:00AM

What would your great-great grandpappy think if he was beat up and his family is starving and someone came to his neighborhood and burned down his house?
I don't care how Sherman justified his actions in his mind - as a military issue it was totally unjustified and created hatred that lasted until WWII.

Crassus| 1.31.12 @ 11:08AM

My great-great grandpappy was a Southerner who wanted to stay neutral in the Civil War but the Confederate state government of Virginia came along and confiscated his business (a sawmill) for the war effort. He immediately went across the state line into Kentucky and joined the Union cavalry. You see, the noble Confederacy had already taken away his property and turned him into an exile. He probably enjoyed getting a little payback.

calvin | 1.31.12 @ 12:11PM

Old F;
The South could have surrendered if it was willing to agree with you that the war was over.
The South started the war.
Lee did not shrink from killing men on both side, since you bring up Gettysburg.
War is hell. It was likely better to starve Lee's army than to kill it.
My great great grandfather nearly lost a leg at the battle of Bentonville, NC, after he had marched through Georgia. My mother remembers him continuing to require daily dressing of his chronic osteomylitis 65 years later.There were no slaves in Michigan for him to free. He had to go to Georgia to do that.

Diogenes| 1.31.12 @ 1:28PM

The Rebs were to proud and too stupid to give up their hatred and embarrassment without Sherman bankrupting their land into oblivion. Lee knew it at Gettysburg, it's WHY he let his troops have the glory of Pickett's charge to take home and tell generation after generation that they were brave, not stupid. Gingrich is playing both sides in this primary war. he's burning up every Republican principle on his march to Tampa AND he's going to go bankrupt denying he is not only a failure, but a reject as well.

Oncethey ost on youtube, they are public domain and ALL of Gingrich's ads can be retelevised against Romney. Obama will have zero production costs which will double his billion dollar budget's effectiveness.

Romney will need 1.6 Billion just to stay even with The winner.

Oldefarte| 1.31.12 @ 3:33PM

'Billion dollar budget'.....yeah, and all of it coming from Hollywood and the Middle East too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Diogenes| 2.1.12 @ 10:32AM

you still have to fight against it! and you will still lose. Obama's contributors are mostly citizens who give to what they believe in and corporations, who are betting on his success. The will STOP betting on the RED party when they sense the suicidal infighting will NOT stop, which will happen between now and Super Tuesday.

Antisthenes| 2.1.12 @ 1:36AM

Obama's 15 -going on 16 - trillion is all Romney, or a turnip for that matter, will need.

Moral virtue always was beyond your ability, I'm sorry to say.

Mensan, indeed.

Diogenes| 2.1.12 @ 10:33AM

A turnip, preferrably one fresh off the truck would do a better job than
ANY RED party candidate. not just today, but since Reagan.
And I mean ALL of them!

Antisthenes| 2.1.12 @ 1:22PM

Moral virtue would indicate a rank, reeking, rotted, rancid turnip preferrable than the altenative, one who, before even the end of his first term already has been deemed worst ever of 43 over a span of 224 years.

Mensan, indeed.

John Schuh| 1.31.12 @ 9:13PM

Sherman not only ended the Civil War, he put the quietus on any revival of it. Even Bedford Forrest, as fierce a warrior as could be, knew the jig was up after Lee surrendered. After Sherman’s march, there was never again any thought by Southerners that they could ever again take to the field against the United States Government. For he did not stop in Savannah and marched into the hornet’s nest, South Carolina and pulled out all their stingers.

markenoff| 2.1.12 @ 4:03PM

Actually it was General Governour Warren, Chief Engineer of the Army of the Potomac, who recognized the crucialness of little Round Top and sent for troops to occupy it. Without him (then) COL Chamberlain's troops would not have been in position to stop the Confederate surge.

PCC| 1.31.12 @ 7:29AM

It may be worth noting that this is the first time Mr. Gingrich has ever run for an elected office larger than a congressional district. It shows.

Welcome to the big leagues, Newt.

albert constantine jr.| 1.31.12 @ 7:58AM

Not to strain the metaphor, butI think ultimately the Sherman comparison fails in the postscript. Aafter the war and in the twilight of the Grant administration, a Draft Sherman movement was under way, and he gave his response on serving as the nominee:

"If nominated I willnot run, if elected I will not serve".

It is doubtful that Newt would ever utter these words.

markenoff| 2.1.12 @ 4:04PM

Newt is more like Gollum. He will possess the Ring even if it means defeat at the hands of the evil hordes.

Otis the Hand | 1.31.12 @ 8:04AM

If anyone deserves to be saddled with the Sherman label, it is Romney, not Gingrich. Sherman and Lincoln introduced the concept of "total war" wherein all the respected conventions of war were thrown out. They did what it took to win, consequences be damned.

Romney represents the well funded, Northern, federal government political machine instituting a scorched earth policy. Romney spares no expense, torching city after city, in his Southern invasion. Mitt Romney truly represents the war of liberal Northern aggession. He cares not what havoc he wreaks in the process.

So put that in your pipe and smoke it.

Ross Kaminsky | 1.31.12 @ 8:25AM

Otis,

I take your point but would suggest a major difference: What Gingrich seems aiming to do is to destroy for the sheer sake of destruction and not out of political necessity.

I agree with everyone who says that Romney went negative first. I'm not saying I like it, but politics is a rough game. I don't think that what Romney did was like what Gingrich seems he might try to do, however, because I think that stage was about trying to win the nomination where if Gingrich does what I suspect he might, it will only be about personal spite, without really giving Newt any increased chance of winning anything.

Dick Nome| 1.31.12 @ 8:36AM

You have that wrong. The Establishment Republicans are taking out everyone who presents a challenge to Romney's coronation, especially Conservatives. It isn't just on the POTUS nomination either. The better comparison is to Dear Leader. BO has his hacks take out all the opposition so he has little competition. That's how he won his Senate race. Romney and the RINO Establishment is doing the same thing with it's Alynski style tactics.

VonMisesJr| 1.31.12 @ 10:20AM

Exactly dick. You should write for TAS instead of Kaminsky. His article is poorly reasoned as usual. The only reason I scanned it is to understand the comments. That is the only redeeming value.

Ward Bond| 1.31.12 @ 8:48AM

My question -is Romney(or the forces that support him) willing to go after obama the same way?

Crassus| 1.31.12 @ 10:26AM

I fully expect Mittenz to plant a wet kiss on the Bummer's lips after their first debate this fall.

loulou| 1.31.12 @ 11:08AM

Of course not--Pantywaist Mitt will run a respectful campaign modeled on McCain's.

Butch| 1.31.12 @ 6:38PM

Absolutely not. These RINOs use their heavy negative ammunition only on conservative primary opposition. Contrast McCain's patheticly weak campaign against Obama with his savaging of J. D. Hayworth.

A Romney campaign would have no criticism whatever of Obama's wiped background, Reverend Wright, Bill Ayres, none of that. The first time his criticism of Obama's policies or actions in office(Czars, the pipeline) is answered with a bombardment of accusations of racism, he will be reduced to trying to tell everyone of what good things he could do, only to have those answered with accusations of racism. He will be destroyed in all but a few states, and our Dear Leader will return to his second term with one of the most significant "mandates" in history.

He will be savaged for his experiences at Bain Capital, and he is remarkably poor at defending them. He is otherwise pretty articulate, so I am beginning to suspect something else. I have had a dual career all my life, college professor and owner of a firm consulting with large corporations. In the latter capacity, I ran across many Ivy-League-credentialed executives who were just holding down positions. They received
"connected" appointments, and didn't even understand what their subordinates were doing. When they were there, I often had to identify the "real" boss.

I am told that Romney helped found Bain. Did he? Was he really the managing partner? If so, why is he so pathetic at explaining what Bain did and the long-range economic implications of that? Kaminsky defended "creative destruction" here, and somebody does it in the current paper edition of NR. Why can't Mitt?

Butch| 1.31.12 @ 6:39PM

Reply was for Ward Bond.

rightasrain| 1.31.12 @ 11:16AM

If he's willing to get this tough against Newt to win the nomination why would you think he wouldn't be this tough against Obama. Mitt's hard-fought battle against Newt certainly puts the lie to the thought that only Newt is a fighter.

Mike Hawk| 1.31.12 @ 1:43PM

Oh yeah?? Capt McQueeg ran his 'respectable' campaign and lost to Obama in '08 yet when he got a primary challange from JD Hayworth in '10 he went scorched earth and spent $23MM. Citizens of AZ may have second thoughts about now about McCain as he's back to his old two-faced self. The Republican Establishment hates Conservatives more than Liberal Democrats apparently.

Otis the Hand | 1.31.12 @ 9:13AM

Gingrich is guilty of seceding from the Republican establishment, for which he must be completely and utterly destroyed.

“It not about winning here anymore,” one Romney staffer told BuzzFeed. “It’s about destroying Gingrich — and it’s working.”

Just as in the Civil War, there is an argument over "who started it." But the scorched earth tactics of the invader are undeniable.

Just as in the Civil War, the real battle is over federal intrusion. Romney makes a pretense of distinguishing between instituting a state or a federal mandate, but the fact is that he as already laid the groundwork for his own federal intrusion. Witness the tapping of Florida AG Pam Bondi for his own health care "task force."

"If healthcare is a state issue, as Romney reminds us at every turn, why does he have a healthcare plan at all, let alone a task force?"

You say that Gingrich's intent to keep fighting represents a base desire for revenge. That is your characterization, and one that falls flat. What if he merely believes that there is too much at stake to just give up? What if he thinks he just might win? The rest of the delegates are apportioned. That means a different ball game.

I have not heard Gingrich express a personal vendetta, whereas Romney (or at least his surrogate) has, as noted.

This entire article is one gigantic case of psychological projection.

W| 1.31.12 @ 10:48AM

Mr Kaminsky
When you say Mitt went negative or Newt went negative, what do you mean by negative? If either told the truth in the ad then it is negative in the sense it hurts the other, but it is still accurate. It would be more informative if we stop using negative and focus on whether the charges are truthful and accurate.

Margie| 1.31.12 @ 1:31PM

You should abide by your own advice, hypocrite!

W| 1.31.12 @ 2:24PM

The MullahMargie appears.
Yawn.
You still haven't answered the question. Do you want me to post the qustion and the info about what you posted, Mullah?

loulou| 1.31.12 @ 2:37PM

"Yawn"--aren't you the clever one.
How about an LOL?

W| 1.31.12 @ 3:03PM

What is your point loulou?

W| 1.31.12 @ 5:53PM

MullahMargie

You still have not answered who is receiving the $549 per week since Aug 2009 in unemployment comp that you posted last week under your name.

Is it your husband,Victor, or you?

Come clean, Mullah, if you intend to preach to us about conservatism and working. The truth will set you free.

What does the bible say about someone who receives unemployment comp for 30 months paid by the taxpayers and about working?

Time to come clean, parasite.

Margie| 1.31.12 @ 3:45PM

Go mutilate yourself, Troll "W". Gal. 5:12.

W| 1.31.12 @ 6:10PM

Mullah the Mutilator,
Wow. I am overwhelmed by your brilliance, go mutilate yourself??
Yawn.ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Margie| 1.31.12 @ 6:50PM

Like I said, go mutilate yourself, asswipe.

W| 1.31.12 @ 6:58PM

MadMargie the Mutilator,
You are still a fraud and phony parasite, afraid to answer. You are no conservative, parasite.

MikeG| 1.31.12 @ 7:07PM

Is this a private fight or can anyone join? Do we have to take a number to mock margie.

Margie| 1.31.12 @ 9:25PM

Go mutilate yourself, liar.
Gal. 5:12.

You really aren't getting away with what you're doing, scumbag.

"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked.
For whatever a man may sow, that he also
will reap.
For the one sowing to his own flesh will
reap corruption of the flesh. But the one
sowing to the Spirit will reap everlasting
life of the Spirit." Gal. 5:7 & 8.

Lotsa luck!

Diogenes| 1.31.12 @ 1:33PM

Interesting observation. I see him more of a carpetbagger, making points to pick up what votes Gingrich won't be able to use. The three days before Super Tuesday, Romney should announce his short list for VP and even take out ads : "I am Mitt Romney and I am ready to be your President come January. I have made the following list of candidates for My Vice President and all of the cabinet posts. Email Me and help give Me your input, I love taking crap from employees before I gut their futures and fire them for being useless."

Ted R.| 1.31.12 @ 8:47AM

If 2012 is the Republicans' idea of "the most important of our lifetimes," I'm gonna be laughing all the way to the polls, that you chose this Ken doll to go up against a REAL president. Four more for no. 44.

Ross Kaminsky | 1.31.12 @ 9:12AM

I don't see how even Democrats can claim that Obama is presidential. He's a farce, the furthest thing from a leader we've had since Jimmy Carter, and not going to be re-elected.

Vern Crisler| 1.31.12 @ 9:28AM

With the empty suit Romney as nominee, Obama has this in the bag.

Crassus| 1.31.12 @ 10:28AM

Have another drink, Ross. The GOP establishment has already thrown in the towel by offering up Mittenz as their sacrificial lamb candidate. The Bummer's re-election is as good as done. Even if he is the worst President since Carter.

Ross Kaminsky | 1.31.12 @ 10:44AM

It's not as if I think Romney is a great candidate. I've made that pretty clear in prior articles on these pages. I do think he can and will beat Obama even though the GOP should have been able to do much better than Romney.

Al Adab| 1.31.12 @ 11:01AM

Why does the GOP insist, year after year, in promising simply to better manage the social welfare state? That path has led to defeat after defeat since the time of Dewey. Unless the GOP represents a viable alternative vision, one that values liberty above government pottage it remains an accomodationist party, a distinction without a difference.

Tim the Enchanter| 1.31.12 @ 11:20AM

Agree with "...the GOP should have been able to do much better than Romney." Consider this, however: they don't WANT to do better than Romney, or, maybe they think Romney IS the best- from their point of view, at least.

rightasrain| 1.31.12 @ 11:49AM

The idea that there is some great Republican establishment (whatever that is) puppetmaster in the sky pulling the strings for Romney is simply ridiculous. What happened is that Romney decided to run and that other, better choices chickened out. Romney worked hard, put together a great organization and threw his hat in the ring. Love him or loathe him, Romney took the plunge while much better conservatives quailed.

John Schuh| 1.31.12 @ 9:30PM

Republican Establishment is short-hand for those Republicans who are of like -mind with George H.W. Bush. The East Coast internationalists who have since Dewey named all our candidates and except Reagan and, maybe Nixon, who we wrongly thought a conservative. Today they are still pro-choice and pro-gay rights, though they give lip service to a social conservatism they reject, and pro-big-government, though they condemn it with their lips.

Jeff Perren| 1.31.12 @ 4:10PM

"the GOP should have been able to do much better than Romney."

The interesting question, to me at least, is why they didn't. It's not as if there is a shortage of good potential candidates in the GOP - Mike Pence, Paul Ryan, Jim DeMint, Rick Perry, and many others.

The odd thing, to me, is that they either stayed out (Pence, Ryan, DeMint) and tanked quickly (Perry, Daniels).

I can only attribute this to the philosophical chaos within the Republican Party, who seem very afraid to confront the Democrats on morality (except in the area of abortion, where many Democrats already agree with them). But I don't think mine hypothesis is a very good one as stated. Something is missing.

Diogenes| 1.31.12 @ 1:41PM

Think about the Republican postion. Would YOU want to have the power in a ruinous time as we face now? So much can go wrong and it is easier for the HOuseto sabotage Obama than is would be fore a Romney do better. Even WITH support from the obstructionists turned legislation sluts (passing anything that makes good soundbites).

I kNOW McCain was suppoed to DUMP the election, Palin is proof of him folding a full house hand to Obama. Almost any other choice including Bobby Jindal would have had a fair chance to beat Obama in a 5% race. Hell, Jeff Berry, the blind, invalid, ex KKK felon would have helped him more than Palin! McCain got his shot and the Republicans were off the hook for the worst of it. I never faulted the RED party for not being slick enough.

John Schuh| 1.31.12 @ 9:39PM

You have got to be kidding about Palin. She gave him a big boast over Obama for a two-week period. What sank his candidacy was September 15 and his complicity in the Wall Street bail-out initiated by George Bush’s secretary of the Treasury. His limp performances during the campaign contrasted strongly with Obama’s brave new world preaching. . The only enthusiasm his campaign saw were those in which he appeared with Palin.

Diogenes| 2.1.12 @ 10:39AM

Don't forget the third week, when GOTCHA QUESTIONS like "What do you read?" from the media chewed off what ever was left of McCain's testicles. GO back to My oint and read it again, McCain was a sacrificial lamb, given a nomination as a parting gift from the RED party. They NEVER wanted to win. Their smartest and strongest power play was to let the BLUE idiot have the Whitehouse and spend their energy stagnating as only the REDS can do so well.

Diogenes| 2.1.12 @ 10:41AM

The REDs KNEW September 18 was coming, the underestimated how soon and how bad it would get. The tax rebates of 2008 were only meant to bump the GDP enough to carry Bush through to the end of his term.

scotchieguy| 1.31.12 @ 11:03AM

Ross, I hope to hell you are right. The only one who truly believes we will win is Rush. But he thinks Newt is the only conservative who is also electable (he thinks Santorum would be fine too, but is not going to be able to pull it off). I listen to Rush daily, and he won't admit to endorsing anyone, but just read between the lines--he keeps saying conservatism wins everytime. Don't run from it by settling for mods like McCain and Romney. At least Newt SOUNDS conservative, despite his mixed record, and he has the stones to go after the real culprit--the media, whom Obama wouldn't stand a chance without their help.

loulou| 1.31.12 @ 11:11AM

Will you pundits please stop throwing the term "presidential" around? What is your definition of presidential? Does it mean a robotic, plastic wedding cake topper like the loser Thomas Dewey? Is Mitt presidential because he has good posture and has just a touch of grey?

Conservatives are sick of you establishment GOP elites.

rightasrain| 1.31.12 @ 12:07PM

Presidential is hard to define but like pornography, you know it when you see it--and Newt ain't got it. I have absolutely no problem with Newt and Mitt attacking one another but I do have a problem with Newt's unpresidential whining. I don't recall Mitt whining that Newt stacked the SC debates with his supporters.

Pete| 1.31.12 @ 12:17PM

Its in the eye of the beholder. Otherwise you would have notice Romney's whining and Ross's whining this past week.

rightasrain| 1.31.12 @ 12:23PM

What has Mitt whined about? He's fought back hard but he's never whined about having to fight.

loulou| 1.31.12 @ 1:04PM

Mitt hasn't fought back--his PACs are fighting and Mitt knows nothing about it.

loulou| 1.31.12 @ 1:03PM

I do recall Mitt whining about a question from Brett Baier he didn't like.

Diogenes| 1.31.12 @ 1:41PM

Conservatives sick of the establishment???? Rhuh Rhoh!

Drunken Sailor| 1.31.12 @ 2:20PM

I know, right? Next thing we know Obama will start to lose the liberals and black vote.

Oh damn
http://www.politico.com/news/s.....59897.html

Marco2| 1.31.12 @ 9:23AM

Remember Ted R., the useful idiot goes up against the wall, too, as soon as his utility is at an end.

cicero| 1.31.12 @ 9:28AM

The South had lost the war possibly at the point they invaded Maryland and were thrown back, and certainly when they were defeated at Gettysburg. The problem was that the South didn't think they had lost. Their press continued to beat the drum for the Confederacy, and, particularly in Georgia, where Johnston was still fieldding an army that looked inpressive, the people thought they were winning. Georgia was the breadbasket of the South. Sherman wanted to disabuse the South of that belief. He knew that war was hell, and wanted the South to know it too. He was of the opinion that it was far better to ravage the countryside to teach that lesson, than to watch more thousands of the young men of the country die in a futile pursuit by the South.
While I would prefer either Mitt or Newt to the current administration, I believe that the country needs a sharp change of direction. Tweeking the current pathway to destruction won't do it. This time we must really do more than just "hope for change". We need a fundamental turn to the right. Do you really believe that a Romney administration, put in place by the same guys that backed Obama (Goldman, Chase, etc,) will be capable of doing that. If you do, Mitt is your man. If not, give me the bomb thrower. Perhaps he will even be able to convince Boehner and McConnell that accomodation is not the way to go.

oldfart| 1.31.12 @ 11:04AM

I think you miss the point of the comparision. Newt's path of destruction of the people he will need if he gets the nomination is very short sighted and will insure the re-election of Obama as people vote for a person from a third party.

loulou| 1.31.12 @ 11:14AM

I'm not getting YOUR point. It seems to me that Mitt is alienating the conservative base. He thinks he doesn't need the conservative base. He thinks democrats and moderates are going to vote for him. He's following the winning bobdole and McCain formula.

Pete| 1.31.12 @ 12:15PM

And if by some miracle he did win the election, Romney would form his coalition of Democrats and Republicans to neutralize the Tea Party members.

Pete| 1.31.12 @ 12:15PM

And if by some miracle he did win the election, Romney would form his coalition of Democrats and Republicans to neutralize the Tea Party members.

Slacker| 1.31.12 @ 7:08PM

True. Tea is sinful in Romney's cult.

calvin | 1.31.12 @ 12:18PM

My friend's mother-in-law is a lifelong blue collar Wisconsin hate-the rich-demo0crat. She says in the next election she will vote for Romnney; unless Newt is the nominee, in which case she votes for Obama (again).
We forget that she and many others do not read TAS. They are the people who will decide the next election.

calvin | 1.31.12 @ 12:18PM

My friend's mother-in-law is a lifelong blue collar Wisconsin hate-the rich-demo0crat. She says in the next election she will vote for Romnney; unless Newt is the nominee, in which case she votes for Obama (again).
We forget that she and many others do not read TAS. They are the people who will decide the next election.

ncatty| 1.31.12 @ 1:17PM

When did the Confeds lose the War? Which was the decisive battle? Ft. Sumter.

Thom| 1.31.12 @ 8:25PM

Way before that ncatty..... I think it was the battle of Cowspens......

Thom| 1.31.12 @ 8:23PM

"The problem was that the South didn't think they had lost."

The Germans in WWI and II, the Japanese in WWII, the VC and NVA in Vietnam and the North Koreans and Chinese seemed to have had that problem too..... Oh, I forgot Vietnam and North Korea are still Communists today.....

The Greeks lost way before they got to the Hot Gates too btw…. Perhaps you should explain how the side with about 1/3rd the forces lasted 4 years and inflicted over 80,000 more KIA on the winning side than they lost….

David T| 1.31.12 @ 10:09AM

Ross--So after three contests, out of which Romney has won one and was resoundingly defeated in another, you say it's all over and Gingrich should just give up without a fight so that Romney won't be so bruised and battered, and will therefore be in a better position to go up against Obama in the general election?

Ross Kaminsky | 1.31.12 @ 10:46AM

I didn't say Gingrich should give up without a fight. What I am saying is that it will become clear to him that he almost certainly can't win, and I fear he will do what I just wrote about anyway, even if it means reelecting Obama. There is a difference between putting up a fight and scorched earth once a battle is already lost (the latter of which is not the situation Sherman was in.)

Al Adab| 1.31.12 @ 12:03PM

Frankly, I think these candidates need to meet in a smoke filled room, put their egos aside and pick a nominee who can win in November even if it is someone other than these four.

Pete| 1.31.12 @ 12:12PM

Its the insistence of the Romney supporters to ignore the tea party and ram Romney down our throats (and supporting RomneyCare, his AGW positions and gun control) that will cause Obama to win the election.
Romney is the lower to the 2008 loser, with no ability to rally the base and one who is easy to demonize by the left as the life long member of the ONE percent.

rightasrain| 1.31.12 @ 1:29PM

Again, how is anyone ramming Romney down your throat? If your and my preferred candidate didn't care enough to run how is that Romney's fault? Of the four that are left, I think Romney is best but who is stopping you from voting for Paul, Gingrich or Santorum?

John Barleycorn| 1.31.12 @ 1:44PM

Well, the Republican establishment here in Virginia has prevented me from voting for Gingrich or Santorum.

Looks like Ron Paul 2012!

rightasrain| 1.31.12 @ 6:14PM

Don't blame Virginia, blame the cnadidates. Neither submitted enough qualified signatures.

Diogenes| 2.1.12 @ 10:42AM

Those dumbasses failed to do their JOBS as candidates, they don't DESERVE a bigger job!

Purp| 1.31.12 @ 2:13PM

Nah - remember, it wasn't until the fight was over that the "superdelegates" of the D party picked Obama over Clinton.

Bill| 1.31.12 @ 10:16AM

PLEASE VOTE NEWT GINGRICH!
-Orchestrated the 1994 GOP Revolution
-Balanced the budget 4 times
-Reformed the welfare
-Impeached Bill "Serial Rapist" Clinton
-Passed the Crime Bill
Gingrich will REPEAL Obamacare, the Dodd-Frank Bill, and the Sarbanes-Oxley law. He'll also drop litigation against AZ, SC, AL, GA over immigration and the Voter ID laws.
Gingrich is the "Shadow of Ronald Reagan."
SC voted Gingrich, FL will do so.
DEFEAT ROMNEY!
-Romneycare
-pro abortion
-pro gay marriage
-pro gun control
-pro cap & trade
A "New England big-government liberal RINO."

Diogenes| 1.31.12 @ 2:00PM

Good luck with that!

Bill| 1.31.12 @ 2:19PM

Gingrich kicked ass of Romney, again! FL in no place for " New England liberal RINO."

Cpm| 2.1.12 @ 1:54AM

Right again!...no, wait....

Cpm| 1.31.12 @ 10:26AM

This is about Newt's massive ego. Scorched earth, consequences be damned. Moon colony? He lost it right there.

loulou| 1.31.12 @ 11:16AM

You exhibit concrete thinking. If everyone had a brain like yours we'd still be in the Stone Age.

Cpm| 2.1.12 @ 1:41AM

Hey cementhead, the issue is jobs and the economy. Blowing billion$ on a moon colony is about the last item on anybody's list of priorities. Floridians have spoken, they don't want Newt's moon colony either.

1ConservativeUSA| 1.31.12 @ 11:26AM

Still looks better than anything Obama and Romney are saying.

Cpm| 2.1.12 @ 1:43AM

I'm glad you are ready to open your wallet to pay for it. I'm not.

Diogenes| 1.31.12 @ 2:02PM

NO kidding!!! At least Kennedy had a MOTIVE to land on the moon! Talk about a spending boodoogle. This will be called the 'Cruise to Way Out There!"

Bill| 1.31.12 @ 10:59AM

Romney's "Bain $" and the "Mormon Brigade" cannot save him from another massive defeat in FL. Gingrich will repeat what he did in SC, a landslide victory over Romney.

rightasrain| 1.31.12 @ 11:20AM

We'll be able to judge your predictive abilities in about 12 hours.

Bill| 1.31.12 @ 11:49AM

The Obama Camp. is working behind Romney's camp. to sabotage the outcome of the FL primary in favor of Romney, rigging the ballots, just like the Dems did in 2000. Gingrich will win in a landslide. If Gingrich gets the GOP nod, Obama is DOOMED! If Romney gets the GOP nod, Obama will have 4 more years! That is why the Dems are rooting for Romney. Watch out!

Pete| 1.31.12 @ 12:09PM

We should never forget that ACORN was told to make sure that Obama and Mc Cain won the primaries in 2008.

Diogenes| 1.31.12 @ 2:02PM

Where do you GET this crap?

Antisthenes| 2.1.12 @ 2:01PM

Must not be from your recent sources Wikipedia, About.com, CBS, and ABC.

Mensan, indeed.

Cpm| 2.1.12 @ 1:44AM

Bill, you don't know shit.

Clint| 1.31.12 @ 11:44AM

We Are Being Set Up By The RINO-CINO Flunkie Stooges For The Ruling Elites' Frontman Mittens Romney.

These Are The RINO-CINO Flunkie Stooges Who Gave Us The Serial Traitor To Conservatism, John McCain Of McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy,McCain-Lieberman,Gang Of 14, Opposing Bush Tax Cuts Of 2001 & 2003,TARP.

Now They Are Trying To Give Us RomneyCare,TARP, Cynical Flip-Flops On Abortion, Gays, Refuses to Sign Pro-Life Pledge, Illegal Immigrants, "Little Chain Saw Al" At Bain, Crony Capitalism Campaign Money Trail.....

Oldefarte| 1.31.12 @ 3:43PM

Nah, we should all just instead join you, Ronnie, the group at Catholic charities, the socialist Democrats and the HOMOSEXUALS SEEKING MARRIAGE in one big Liberatian love fest, allow the ragheads to overrun Israel and confiscate their missles so that Salem, Mohammed etc can start lobbing missles over here. %%%%HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN, THEY SKY IS BLUE......%%%%%

Clint| 1.31.12 @ 6:49PM

These RINO-CINO Israel Firsters Are Gonna Attempt To Stick Us With Their RINO-CINO Back Up Candidate, Mittens Romney.

The Tea Party Benefits From A Brokered Convention.

Oldefarte| 1.31.12 @ 7:56PM

Whatever you say.....CHARLEY MCCARTHY!!!!

Diogenes| 2.1.12 @ 10:44AM

How much longer did you geriatric physician predict your batteries will last?

Bill| 1.31.12 @ 11:52AM

Romney's "Bain $" and the "Mormon Brigade" cannot save his ass in FL, just like he was sucked in SC. It's the "Great" South. No Country for RINO!

RJ| 1.31.12 @ 11:57AM

Well Ross, if the General Sherman analogy rings true, perhaps Newt knows what he is doing. It was General Sherman's conquest of Atlanta that changed the 1864 Presidential election. Until that victory, everyone, including Lincoln, knew that McClellan was going to be elected president.

Pete| 1.31.12 @ 12:07PM

He also cut off the supply lines to Lee's Army. Lee's soldiers were sound starving and without fresh supplies. It hastened the end of the war.

RJ| 1.31.12 @ 2:00PM

Good point. Ross shouldn't have dismissed the strategic consequences of General Sherman's campaign.

Diogenes| 1.31.12 @ 2:03PM

Except McClellan! He never had a clue

Cpm| 2.1.12 @ 1:52AM

Except everybody knew McClellan was an incompetent boob.

Pete| 1.31.12 @ 12:04PM

So Ross I gather that you have no problem with ObamaCare for with Romney repealing it is completely off the table. Romney has no problem with socialized medicine. He has no problem with mandates. You see he has a work-around. Just institute the mandates at the state level. Ross we are seeing who the conservatives really are.

Slacker| 1.31.12 @ 12:05PM

If a scorched earth march to the sea is what it takes to break Romney and his supporter, then march on Newt. Personal revenge or whatever, who cares? I don’t even like Gingrich but, anything that will keep Romney out of the White house is fine with me.

Barack Obama| 1.31.12 @ 2:27PM

"anything that will keep Romney out of the White house is fine with me."

Give me a call...

Slacker| 1.31.12 @ 3:53PM

I’m going to have so much fun watching Ann Coulter hiss and snort when your side exploits the Mormon cult thing.

Interested Conservative| 1.31.12 @ 12:09PM

"Like General Sherman, he shows no qualms against instigating war in which the vast majority of the damage is fundamentally unnecessary but simply meant to destroy the psychology of the enemy."

Others have commented about this, but not quite to the extent of how this precisely misses the point. Sherman's March was fundamentally necessary to end the war forever. The century following saw plenty of legal discrimination, and certainly plenty of racism, but the question of "union" is simply not an issue.

It even changed verb usage from the United States "are", to the United States "is". A terrible price, surely, but there's little question of the effect. 150 years of domestic peace is good for freedom and economic growth.

John Saliba| 1.31.12 @ 12:17PM

Great insight Ross, keep it up!

Rick| 1.31.12 @ 12:21PM

BREAKING NEWS: President Obama has agreed to throw his full support behind the Newt Gingrich campaign! He's also inviting Newt, Palin, Cain & Fox's Sean Hannity to the White House to sing their newest single: "We're Just a Swinging". Stay tuned for further updates.

Bill| 1.31.12 @ 1:07PM

BREAKING NEWS: President Obama just endorsed Mitt Romney! Obama said "I expect Romney to win the GOP nod, it'll make my life easier since I will beat Romney in a landslide. By the way, thanks to Romney, for implementing ObamaCare." He also promised that he would give Romney a job since Romney would have been bankrupted by the time the election is over. Obama also invited Romney, Chris Christie, Ann Coulter to his victory party after the 2012 election, saying "I did it again!"
You get the picture, don't you!

Diogenes| 1.31.12 @ 2:06PM

OMB, WHat a strategy! Obama endorses the FLA winner, then flip flops on Super Monday. ALL the REDs will scramble to vote against ANYTHING Obama chooses, and they ALL will commit voter fraud!!

Bill| 1.31.12 @ 2:20PM

That will be up to ACORN, NAACP, SEIU.............

David| 1.31.12 @ 1:30PM

is clear that Santorum has been the adult in this race. It is also clear that he has been the true, principled, consistent conservative his entire politcal career.

If you want to know why the republican congress was decimated after taking control, just read Joe Scarborough's article in Politico. It details how Newt did orchestrate the contract with America and a republican takeover, but what came next is scary.

Take a look of you want to know how and why the repub congress lost its way and allowed the dems to takeover again.

Vote Santorum all day long.

Casey Abell| 1.31.12 @ 1:31PM

Somewhere in the thread Russ commented:

"It's not as if I think Romney is a great candidate. I've made that pretty clear in prior articles on these pages. I do think he can and will beat Obama even though the GOP should have been able to do much better than Romney."

Okay, let's have some names. Who should be the GOP nominee?

rightasrain| 1.31.12 @ 1:40PM

Paul Ryan

Casey Abell| 1.31.12 @ 1:57PM

Actually, I was asking for Russ' ideas. But Paul Ryan didn't run. There's a reason. His budget would have been hung around his neck. Cutting back Medicare would have been a huge winner in FL, for instance.

You think Gingrich wouldn't have gone left on Ryan, ripping him as a Scrooge with no chance against Obama? It would have been "right-wing social engineering" amplified a zillion times.

Sorry for the cliche, but the backup quarterback is often very popular. Then he actually gets into the game...and suddenly he's not so popular any more. All these would-be candidates look a lot better on the sidelines than they would in the actual race.

George S| 1.31.12 @ 1:48PM

Sherman's march was undertaken to win a war and preserve a Union. (Or beat down a righteous secession, if that's your preference).

Which of the two is running to save a country? Well, I cannot figure Mitt's reasons for wanting the Presidency...

... does he want to DO something or BE something?

What was the reason for Romney's campaign in 2008? It certainly wasn't to save us from Obama. So now, in 2012, why is he running? What is the reason, the passion?

I see it in Newt and Santorum -- they wanto to do something.

Sherman didn't march to showcase his leadership skills.

Diogenes| 1.31.12 @ 2:11PM

What I don't understand is that the ONLY clear motivation for ANY RED party dupe s "to get Obama!" it has been from before the 2009 inauguration. It is the sole mission and objective of all factions of the RED party... just like their Soviet role models had no plan for the Soviet Union or it's people, just bind, deaf and dumb dogmatic devotion to beating the United States.

It shames America that brazen acts and policies of SEDITION (Destroying THIS Government is a Constitutional violation of all 300 RED party Reps oaths of office. They ALL ought to be impeached for not DEFENDING the Constitutionally elected Executive!!)
But what gets Me is how blind to that motive the voters of America seem to be?

Scorpio51| 1.31.12 @ 2:39PM

With the GOP elites trying to edge out the conservative base by sowing up this election with their guy Mitt. Carpet bombing Newt has been wrong on so many levels, yet people see Mitt Romney as electable when all he has spouted is platitudes.

I have no faith in the people of Florida. Most of them are from the Northeast and are at the very least moderate in thought. But anyway, we'll see what happens today and I'll stick with Newt the rest of the way hoping there will be an awakening of the people. Oh, and I do believe the Santorum should get out of the race. He's a nice guy and has some good points about him. But I don't believe he is ready for the White House. Plus, the health of his daughter is very precarious at best. Right now, he's splitting the vote and doing more damage causing the nomination to go to Romney.

After reading an article on Townhall today by Thomas Sowell about the character assasination of Newt Gingrich, I took away something from it.
"Character assasination is a form of voter fraud."

I guess the GOP and the pundits are guilty as charged.

David| 1.31.12 @ 2:55PM

Newt, who will lost in a landslide to Bam Bam, is THE ONE who needs to get out of the race so we can get behind the principled, consistent conservative, Santorum!!!

Newt has too much baggage both political and personal.

PattyMor| 1.31.12 @ 2:55PM

Actually, the Sherman in the race is Romney. He is (or his super pacs are) carpetbombing Newt with all kinds of sperlious ads. The most famous one is the clip of Browkaw saying Newt resigned in disgrace; he didn't. Romney is so shameful and disgusting, and then he pretends he's floating above it all like some prince from a far off province.

So I'm taking Sarah's advise and supporting Newt who is the only guy to have balanced the budget in my lifetime. That speaks to me more than any of the campaign ad distractions.

Oldefarte| 1.31.12 @ 3:57PM

I'm not a big Romney fan [being he's a yankee health-and-welfare provider disguised as a conservative, but I'll gladly supprt him over Socialist Che that is the alternative; however, this trashing of Ginguich is way beyond stupid and ludicrous. The GD man stod side-by-side with Reagan and helped the Republicans substantially gain traction and win political wars against Democrats and Clinton; and to be politically assinating him is asinine and way beyond dumbars status. Sure he has faults....WHO DOESN'T? There are two candidates capable of beating Obama, Newt and Mitt. That's it, and anyone thing otherwise is Gomer Pyle Stupid. Do you want to beat Obama/Democrats? If YES, then get your collective heads out of your anul cavaties and think. Between Newt and Mitt, who will bring the fight of conservatism agains Obama/Democrats [and who has done so previously]????? Which one is more likely to overturn the present status quo and to attempt to completely overaul/revamp the current disaster in DC?????? Has Romney ever rocked any political boats in his political lifetime and is he likely to in the future?????? If [as Newt maintains] Santorum were to drop out of the race, would his conservative political support then go to Newt????? What if both Santorum and Paul dropped out, would Newt gain most of their present support and then be able to best Mitt????? Which is more conservative, Newt or Mitt????? THINK, GD-IT!!!!!!!!!!

Oldefarte| 1.31.12 @ 4:01PM

PS: to compare a Southerner like Newt to a GD yankee general during the Civil War is beyond insulting. As the old saying goes, FORGET, HELL NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

David| 1.31.12 @ 4:31PM

Oldfarte, my opinion is that Newt should drop out and let the adult in the race, Santorum, go on to defeat Bam Bam.

Oldefarte| 1.31.12 @ 7:58PM

Only problem with that David is that Santorum couldn't ever garner enough votes to become re-elected as senator in Pennsylvania, so how in hades will he ever do so to possibly become president?????

Woodrow| 1.31.12 @ 4:40PM

Any of the candidates would be far better presidents than the current one. Neither Santorum or Paul can win, so we are left, sadly, with Gingrich and Romney. Neither are conservatives, but appeals to some conservatives, but no independents. Romney appeals to some conservatives, and most all independents. Since our goal should be to oust Obama, then we are left with Romney. Gingrich, with his new friends the Palins and Michael Reagan, are not going to help Newt bring in the votes needed.

somnolence| 1.31.12 @ 4:42PM

I have a feeling that some of these Gingrich people would say Marco Rubio couldn't beat Obama. Knuckleheads, every poll in America says Gingrich will be ANNIHILATED by Obama, while more than one have Romney beating Obama. Romney will tear Obama APART on throwing more money to the privileged unions in GE and GM along with the health care waivers EVERY DAY and win it on it. As I have said before, where the hell are our profit checks from GM? Romney phrases it that way ever day on television and "drives it home" Bamby is toast.

somnolence| 1.31.12 @ 5:03PM

In fact there is some evidence if Santorum-Romney was the match, Santorum would fare much better than Newt. A.C. Stoddard cited such a poll on Fox this morning; if Santorum drops out, most of his votes go to Romney. The decibels of unfavorability against Gingrich are going up every day, irregardless of how many antiquated ads against Romney he runs.

Woodrow| 1.31.12 @ 5:27PM

I'm a conservative, and would love to see a real conservative Republican in the running. But there isn't one who has a chance. We are a politically moderate electorate, with a left-wing socialist for President. In my view, the number one goal is to get the socialist gang out of the white house. Newt cannot attract but a small percentage of the voting public, (regardless of his debating skills). Only Romney (the moderate) can deliver the votes of a good number of nose-holding conservatives, moderates, and a good number of independents. I'm not crazy about any of them, so I pick the one who has the best chance of cleaning out the white house in November.

somnolence| 1.31.12 @ 5:31PM

Newt's "debating skills"? His "debating skills"? He just told NBC yesterday he wouldn't debate Obama unless the EVENTS weren't moderated by someone other than reporters. Little boy, just pack up your toys and go home.

Thom| 1.31.12 @ 5:51PM

Ross,
The next time you want to do a Civil War analogy, do some research about the opposing forces first…..

Sherman had over twice the forces and several times the resources to support his efforts. Does that sound like Gingrich? Sherman had a fleet waiting off the coast of Georgia if things didn’t go as expected with twice the forces and several times the resources to support his drive on Atlanta and to the sea….. What does Gingrich have that compares to that kind of safety net?

If anything Gingrich will find himself in the same situation as J.E. Johnston did and being able to only delay Sherman’s onslaught with twice the forces and several times the resources to support his efforts at best and probably end up like John Bell Hood who went on the offensive against Sherman’s twice sized army and several times the resources to support his efforts in a futile attempt at a miracle of sorts…..

When all is said and done, General Mitt “Sherman” Romney’s march through the Republican Party’s base will likely have a similar and long lasting effect to that only someone of Sherman’s character could appreciate with twice the forces and several times the resources to support his efforts at destroying that which the Republican Party says it stands for……

Take away Sherman’s material advantages and his legacy would be quite different up against someone of J.E. Johnston’s caliber fighting on home ground and a defensive war of maneuver. If you had said, Gingrich’s futile “attacks” against Romney’s resources are like John Bell Hood’s suicidal attacks I might agree. It’s Romney who is on a crusade of destruction through the very ground he will need in the general election if he wins the nomination with several times the resources to support his efforts……

Perspective matters. Get it right.

RJ| 1.31.12 @ 11:31PM

Perhaps Newt is trying to be more like Nathan Bedford Forrest.

Thom| 2.1.12 @ 4:06AM

NBF beat everything and everyone sent by Sherman to kill him. He was grossly out numbered and armed the whole time. A difficult trick to pull off in politics.

RonL| 1.31.12 @ 6:03PM

Don't doubt the many criticisms of Sir Newt. However, many pundits are allowing Romney to skate for his scorched-earth maulings of Sir Newt. It takes two to tangle, though the blindered-media aren't quite capable of sensing that. Romney plays Mr. Milquetoast in public, but behind the scenes he and his ad makers are devilish.

gary siebel| 1.31.12 @ 6:32PM

So just what are you (plural) going to do on Nov 3, with Obama the clear winner, and the Tea Party reduced in congressional seats by about 20% (at least)?

I would not be surprised if Hillary became the VP nominee, except that Biden knows his only shot at the presidency is likely from a shot from a Tea Party gun, a not implausible prospect considering the general tenor of the RW these days.

Congressional Repub intransigence will cost them in Nov. I really don't want Pelosi back as speaker, but the Repubs could get blown out of the water by their own dire rhetoric.

Comparing the Nudist to Sherman is an insult to Sherman -- at least Sherman had principles. Yes, the check-bouncing Nudist is vengeful; he wants to shut the government down; yet start a colony on the moon?

Clint| 1.31.12 @ 6:56PM

We Are Being Set Up By The RINO-CINO Flunkie Stooges For The Ruling Elites' Frontman Mittens Romney.

These Are The RINO-CINO Flunkie Stooges Who Gave Us The Serial Traitor To Conservatism, John McCain Of McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy,McCain-Lieberman,Gang Of 14, Opposing Bush Tax Cuts Of 2001 & 2003,TARP.

Now They Are Trying To Give Us RomneyCare,TARP, Cynical Flip-Flops On Abortion, Gays, Refuses to Sign Pro-Life Pledge, Illegal Immigrants, "Little Chain Saw Al" At Bain, Crony Capitalism Campaign Money Trail.....

Oldefarte| 1.31.12 @ 8:02PM

If they'd ever eliminate the COPY & PASTE [temporary bulletin board] functions on computers, you'd be EXCREMENT OUT OF LUCK, huh????

PCP Smoker| 1.31.12 @ 8:34PM

What happened to the Florida Tea Party revolution crap you are always posting? Asshole.

RCV| 1.31.12 @ 10:11PM

You're not "being set up". You and your hero Ron Paul are being defeated at the polls, over and over and over again. Today in Florida - dead last. The only thing Paul has a chance to win is a speaking slot at the convention, and that slot is likely to be Tuesday afternoon before people turn on their TVs. Pathetic.

PCP Smoker| 1.31.12 @ 8:33PM

What a fucking asshole, you are Kashitsky. What's the prediction about Santorum's daughter? Perhaps your scumbag dad acted that way, but Rick is a man. If he is quitting, he'll say he's quitting. He won't be hiding behind his daughter. For you to say that reflect on your pathetic upbringing, I assume your mother was a whore and your dad a molester, than it says about Rick. You are an asshole and a creep.

John Schuh| 1.31.12 @ 8:51PM

One thing is missing about your estimate of Gingrich. That the longer he is in, the more evident it will be that Mitt is, ,indeed, a Massachusetts liberal, or a temporizer who is unlikely to press a Republican Congress for radical reform, and with a divided or Democratic Congress, would accept that government, at some level of another, ought to control public health and public education.

Pastor emeritus Nathan Bickel | 1.31.12 @ 10:15PM

Ross,

You forgot a couple of things. Days before the Florida primary, Rasmussen polling had Gingrich up by 8 points, nationally. I think that you paint him too much as an underdog.

Secondly, it was Romney who intitiated the "scorched earth" politics of personal character assasination against Gingrich in Iowa, - and, then poured it on hot and heavy in Flordia, outspending Gringrich 5 -1 with his vitriol ads of mischaracterization and unfair stereotypes.

No, Ross, its not Gingrich who should be categorized as being the "scorched earther." It's Romney. Don't you remember the one Rambo movie where Rambo stated: "He drew first blood?"

POST American| 1.31.12 @ 10:20PM

----------------------FINAL WORD----------------------

While 'ROME-KNEE' is most certainly
an 'on board' carbon tax and end of
sovereignty Globalist -----'NEW 'IT''
is even worse.

And so, what exactly is the difference
between them and Obama ---and Obama
and Bush, and Bush and Clinton?

THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE

------------THE REPUBLIC HAS FALLEN-----------

"What the Globalists couldn't even
accomplish through wars and revolutions
---they ARE accomplishing through
decades of illegal, stealth 'treaty making'."
-Invisible Empire
(doc. online)

From McCain, Gingrich and Gore,
to the Clintons and Bushes and Rockefellers
---one and ALLLL who were operative and
at the helm during the stealth handover
to RED China--

--------MUST STAND TRIAL FOR TREASON------

THERE IS NO OTHER WAY

albert constantine jr.| 1.31.12 @ 10:40PM

I think your collected writings have great potential to be a musical. My latest treatment can be sung to to tune of “Eve of Destruction”, the Barry McGuire hit from 1968. Together with a good complete score (including my earlier version of “The End of the World”), I think the POST American musical can knock out “Jersey Boys” as Broadway’s biggest draw.

The Eastern world it is explodin’
And we’re here a talking ‘bout primary votin’
The global treason op it started in Korea
Ya better listen up I’m only tryin’ to free ya

(CHORUS)
And ya tell me over and over and over and over again
That you don’t believe we’re on the eve of distraction

(Cue harmonica solo)

Don’t ya understand what I’m tryin’ to say
Ya can’t get ahead with the interest that ya pay
Ya can’t tell the truth about a corporation
With the Fed and usury we have “Obamanation”

(CHORUS)

And ya tell me over and over and over and over again
That you don’t believe we’re on the eve of distraction

(Cue harmonica solo)

My blood’s so bad resultin’ from eugenics
Ya can’t buy the crack below One Ten and Lennox
Ya don’t know the truth its been AWOL since Clinton
Look out to the east-- a billion Chinese squintin’

(CHORUS)
And ya tell me over and over and over and over again
That you don’t believe we’re on the eve of distraction

(Cue harmonica solo)

Think of all the hate you got with ‘Kos Moulitsas
One big divided nation is the name that fits us
You can blog here and meet with adulation
Tomorrow morning you are just a chemical equation
With pay per view porn a big infatuation
Watch the red Chinese tanks they’re staring their invasion

(CHORUS)

And ya tell me over and over and over and over again, my friend
That you don’t believe we’re on the eve of distraction

(end with harmonica on a down note)

Mutch Moore| 2.2.12 @ 12:58PM

Wow!...you so concisely sum it up. But it's worth mentioning also that 66,000 men died for nothing in LBJ/JFK's war fighting the spread of communism to Viet Nam. Then, flash forward, Bill Clinton designates communist China to be America's "most favored" trading partner.... so just how much of a threat is communism? Regardless, untold economic damage has been done to America by this wealth transfer to China via "trade agreements." How sweet if would be to see him (Clinton) in a prison jumpsuit instead of smirking on his occasional TV interviews. He committed high crimes against the people. And so goes for GWB and U.K.'s TB for their war crime of invading Iraq and bleading their country's treasuries of nothing.
Great post, Post American. Thanks mutch.

POST American| 1.31.12 @ 11:25PM

----------------------LAST WORD------------------------

"DO you understand what's happening?
Folks, UNLESS you realize the unthinkable
has ALREADY been done to you --you're
finished."

Hence, NOT the time for 'INTER--tainment.'

albert constantine jr.| 1.31.12 @ 11:31PM

Finished or not, I'll go out with a song in my heart.

Brian| 2.1.12 @ 1:37AM

Ted Kennedy lives. Vote Ted Romney.

Cpm| 2.1.12 @ 1:49AM

Ted Kennedy was a drunken womanizing manslaughterer and he's dead. Mitt Romney is a sober dedicated family man. At one time they both lived in Massachusetts, maybe that's what you are thinking of.

sylar| 2.1.12 @ 3:25AM

It is very great, my friend,I think the POST American musical can knock out “Jersey Boys” as Broadway’s biggest draw.
http://www.nbajerseyssales.com/

Resist We Much! | 2.1.12 @ 4:32AM

Pinning the CINO Tail on the Newt

http://predicthistunpredictpas.....-newt.html

POST American| 2.1.12 @ 5:19AM

Bushes/ Clintons/ Obamas/ Gingrich. Gore et al
======Rockefeller/ROT-child/ CFR======
-----------------Globalst TREASON------------------

"The US will be at the level of the
Philippines when they get through with you.
----IN FACT, that's the plan."

IN FACT ----that's the I.D.---ALLLLL.

RETRO-active IMPEACHMENT for TREASON
---of our past 4 CFR front op administrations.---

------------WHILE THERE'S STILL TIME-----------

Nick099| 2.1.12 @ 1:33PM

It only figures in the equation that a Wall Street trader and investor could possibly be so short-sighted and narrow-minded. Your ridiculous comparison of Gingrich to Sherman is well....just stupid. More so, it demonstrates you obvious ignorance of history and inability to think in larger terms....a serious associative deficiency. More so, the decision by some editor to even allow you to represent their organization by crafting this drivel calls their abilities and judgment into question as well.

Gingrich has every right to contest Romney. He has every right to be angry regarding being outspent 5 to 1 in money and 99% of that devoted to personal attacks in an effort not to defeat Gingrich but destroy him. That may appeal to shallow-minded morons like yourself, but it is a far-cry from the necessary substance that is required to defeat Obozo.
For some reason you seem to think Gingrich small and mean to defend himself and fight back. That he should cheerily accept whatever lies and BS are thrown his way. That perspective, I find interesting. It is the mind-set of the bully-groupie.

Yep folks, the bully-groupie. You know who they are. They are the drones who mindlessly do and say whatever the bully tells them to do and say. To explain further, they are the drones who hold the victim down, while the bully pummels the innocent. Yep----the bully groupie mentality is alive and well in this moron of a writer.

The Obama Timeline | 2.2.12 @ 7:07PM

Romney will lose anyway, so we may as well have a knock-down, drag-out fight. We may just end up with Newt, who can at least bloody Barry's nose a little - which is more than Romney will do.

More Articles by Ross Kaminsky

More Articles From Another Perspective

Stifle This, Mr. President

May 16, 2013 | Ray V. Hartwell, III

The Scheme to Make America Fat

May 10, 2013 | Marta H. Mossburg

The Plantation President

May 7, 2013 | Jeffrey Lord

In Defense of Mark Sanford

May 2, 2013 | Reid Smith

Please Point the C-Span Camera This Way

April 29, 2013 | Matt Purple

http://spectator.org/archives/2012/01/31/gingrichs-march

ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Headlines

Not Ready for Primetime Players

Daniel J. Flynn|114 comments

Assessing a Week of Scandal

Matt Purple|126 comments

Oops, Maybe Government is Tyrannical

Marta H. Mossburg|61 comments

Soros Funds Anti-‘Torture’ Report

Mark Tooley|114 comments

Treasure State Treasury

Bill Croke|4 comments

My Generation’s Disease

Benjamin Brophy|72 comments

The View From the Other Side

George H. Wittman|18 comments

USPS: Radical Surgery Needed

Peter Hannaford|19 comments

The Spectacle Blog

Alan O’Day, R.I.P.

Aaron Goldstein | 12:26AM

Artur Davis Says Scandals Are Real

Quin Hillyer | 5.19.13

Good New Book: ‘Precipice’

Quin Hillyer | 5.19.13

The Spectator’s Spectacular: Most Read Stories, May 12-May 19

Patrick Ryan | 5.19.13

Elijah Harper, R.I.P.

Aaron Goldstein | 5.18.13

If Only the Tsar Knew!

F.H. Buckley | 5.18.13

Low-Level IRS Staffer: No, We Didn’t Mastermind This Entire Thing

Matt Purple | 5.17.13

UPDATED: IRS Acting Chief Apologizes, But Defends His Actions

Kaylin Bugos | 5.17.13

SPONSORED LINKS

FLASHBACK TO: 1995

Clip of the Day

Most Popular Articles

My Generation’s Disease

Benjamin Brophy | 5.17.13

The Liberal Union Behind the IRS

Jeffrey Lord | 5.16.13

Not Ready for Primetime Players

Daniel J. Flynn | 5.17.13

Assessing a Week of Scandal

Matt Purple | 5.17.13

Oops, Maybe Government is Tyrannical

Marta H. Mossburg | 5.17.13

From Bimbos to Benghazi

Jeffrey Lord | 5.9.13

Low-Level IRS Staffer: No, We Didn't Mastermind This Entire Thing

Matt Purple | 5.17.13

The View From the Other Side

George H. Wittman | 5.17.13

ADVERTISEMENT

Home |About |Contributors |Advertise |Donate |Privacy Policy |Contact

The American Spectator Foundation is the 501(c)(3) organization responsible for publishing The American Spectator magazine and training aspiring journalists who espouse traditional American values. Your contributions are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law. Each donor receives a year-end summary of their giving for tax purposes.

Copyright 2013, The American Spectator. All rights reserved.