The American Spectator

Bert Spence| 11.29.11 @ 5:37PM

Quinn, I agree with you. I think the left-driven media types are now grinning like Cheshire cats at a Gingrich-Romney cage match for the nomination. They win either way. Obama's minions have wanted him to run against Romney from the beginning. They know that they have a shot at beating him in the same way they beat McCain. Gingrich would thrill them also, for different reasons. Newt has proven that when he gets the limelight, he inspires astoundingly negative reactions.

Rush Limbaugh always says that the left will show you who they are afraid of by who they attack most vehemently. I see no signs that Team Obama is afraid of either Gingrich or Romney.

Narf| 11.29.11 @ 6:14PM

Rush Limbaugh always says that the left will show you who they are afraid of by who they attack most vehemently. I see no signs that Team Obama is afraid of either Gingrich or Romney.

Then you haven't been paying attention. The DNC just ran a commercial attacking Romney for flip-flopping. That's not just pundits flapping their jaws, that's Team Obama putting campaign money into the attack against Romney. Attacking Romney helps his opponents, particularly Newt and Perry who are the only two left with a realistic chance of taking the nomination away from Romney. As you point out, you can tell who they fear by who they attack.

teflon93| 11.29.11 @ 6:37PM

Attacking Romney on flip-flopping is the attack ad equivalent of hitting him with fluffy pillows.

They're saving the ammo for the general and they hope to face Romney because a to-the-manor-born trust fund baby wed to a religion which didn't ordain black men until 1978 who implemented socialized medicine and gay marriage is about the best opponent they could dream of.

Narf| 11.29.11 @ 6:56PM

It's an easy attack to make, but it's also Mitt's weakest point. It's the point on which Republicans attack him as well. And even if the DNC is holding back other attacks for if he gets the nomination you still have to explain why they are only spending money on attack ads against Mitt, and not against Newt or Perry.

Clint| 11.29.11 @ 7:10PM

In May, when Gingrich sharply criticized Paul Ryan​’s Medicare reform plan, FreedomWorks Chairman Dick Armey reminded National Review that Gingrich had been a serial offender:

Citing Gingrich’s support of Dede Scozzafava in the 2009 congressional election in New York’s 23rd district, his backing of Medicare Part D and TARP, and his commercial with Nancy Pelosi​ about climate change, Armey observes that “Newt entered the race with serious ground to make up with these 2 million Tea Party activists.”…

Brendan Steinhauser, director of Federal and State Campaigns for FreedomWorks, reports that the Tea Partiers he’s talked to are “irate” at Gingrich… “I never met a single Tea Party activist that supported Newt Gingrich for president,” he adds."

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here And In Iowa.

Narf| 11.29.11 @ 7:50PM

Brendan Steinhauser, director of Federal and State Campaigns for FreedomWorks, reports that the Tea Partiers he’s talked to are “irate” at Gingrich… “I never met a single Tea Party activist that supported Newt Gingrich for president,” he adds."

Again with the recycling of ancient quotes. Here's something current:

http://politicalwire.com/archi....._lead.html

"November 23, 2011 Tea Party Pushes Gingrich Into Iowa Lead --- A new American Research Group survey in Iowa finds Newt Gingrich leading the Republican presidential field among likely caucus goers with 27%, followed by Mitt Romney at 20% and Ron Paul at 16%. Key finding: Tea Party support has coalesced around Gingrich, from 13% in September compared to 42% now."

Instant replay ... Tea Party support has coalesced around Gingrich ...

The Tea Party is in Iowa ... and they don't care for Ron Paul's ideas about Israel, gay marriage, prostitution, legalizing drugs, ...

Clint| 11.30.11 @ 2:35AM

Ron Paul Endorsed by Cedar Rapids Tea Party Founder
Thursday, November 24, 2011

2012 Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul was endorsed today by Cedar Rapids Tea Party founder Tim Pugh on the first day of the Congressman’s two-day visit to Iowa.

“Ron Paul has an unwavering stance in defense of the Constitution, a conviction to the cause of freedom and liberty, a firm belief in a balanced budget, and devotion to a strong free market economy and a sound monetary policy. He believes in a strong national defense, and not as the policeman of the world,” said Mr. Pugh.

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here And In Iowa.

florin| 11.30.11 @ 11:30AM

If the Tea Party endorses gingrich that means they have moved far away from endorsing family values, honesty, integrity, good character, fidelity...why not endorse Cain? He is only ALLEGED to have been unfaithful while Gingrich is known to have engaged in multiple infidelities during his multiple marriages, besides the fact that he is not and has never been a true conservative. He'll put on the conservative mantle now because it suits him...he'll talk the talk but he doesn't walk the walk...what's the matter with the Tea Partiers...?

teflon93| 11.29.11 @ 7:27PM

Romney's weakest point is the flipflop he DIDN'T make---still supporting Romneycare. He will have zero credibility to repeal Obamacare and will be cast as a total hypocrite in the process.

Narf| 11.29.11 @ 8:00PM

That's a huge weakness in the primaries, and less of a weakness in the general election when the issue becomes whether he can take enough votes from moderates and independents. But it's mostly a weakness in that he'll have a hard time attacking Obama over the issue. Team Obama isn't going to criticize Romney for supporting something Obama also supports. They'd just as soon the issue not come up at all, and Romney probably feels the same.

Again, the key point is that the DNC is spending campaign money to attack Mitt. They aren't spending campaign money to attack Newt or Perry. If you can tell who they fear based on who they attack, the conclusion is pretty obvious. And it's a conclusion that quite a few Republican politicians and pundits agree with, namely that given the weak field Romney has the best chance of beating Obama.

teflon93| 11.30.11 @ 8:12AM

Obamacare is opposed by 70% of Americans. Socialized medicine will be a huge weakness in the general election, especially given that Romney won't be able to make the case against it and will be required to anyway.

Jack in Wi| 11.29.11 @ 11:48PM

Quin you are improving. Lets keep growing and you will be a fine journalist yet. Gingrich is about as electable as hot tar and feathers. He is like Hillary Clinton and Rudy Gulianni. Both of them were unelectable on a national stage.

JeffC| 11.29.11 @ 5:44PM

even I could hold my own with him ... based on your last 5 televised debates I agree ...

Oh wait, you don't have any televised debates to your credit ?

Quin| 11.29.11 @ 6:05PM

That's the point. Even with no formal debates (although a fair number, maybe 100, TV appearances) to me credit, I could take him on. I guarantee it. And if I can do so, so can Obama. Not that I'll get a chance to prove it, but I hereby challenge Gingrich to such a debate.

Narf| 11.29.11 @ 6:38PM

Why so confident? You might have answers you find more convincing in mind, but can you come up with those answers quickly enough and formulate them clearly and convincingly? In front of a national audience? I'm pretty awesome at Jeopardy when I'm shouting at the TV but I'm under no illusions about being able to do well if I were really a contestant.

Also, winning a debate doesn't mean coming up with the best answers. It means convincing the audience. If you've ever tried to convince a Santorum fan that their guy didn't win the debate, even though they are undisuadable in their belief that he had the best answers and that's all that really matters, then you know what I mean.

Quin| 11.29.11 @ 6:53PM

All I can go on is my approximately 100 other TV appearances, in which I had no trouble coming up with answers quickly and articulating them fairly clearly. I'm no superstar at it, but I did okay. My point, though, is not that I'm so great, but that Gingrich is hardly invincible in debate. He'll be particularly vulnerable after being roughed up by $800 million of Obama spending in the general election, if Gingrich gets that far.

Clint| 11.29.11 @ 7:13PM

The RINO-CINO Gingrich Endorsed Dede Scoozafava.

Scozzafava is an abortion rights advocate who favors gay marriage. It would be one thing if Scozzafava balanced that social liberalism with fiscal conservatism. But as a state assemblywoman, she voted for massive tax increases, Democratic budgets and a $180 million state bank bailout. She also supported the trillion-dollar federal stimulus package — which every House Republican voted against.

Scozzafava’s husband is a leading upstate New York union organizer. She supports the federal “card-check” legislation that would massively boost union rolls — and Democratic voting rolls — at the expense of rank-and-file workers’ free choice. And for that matter, at the expense of Republican electoral prospects. Card check is the key to a Democratic majority in perpetuity. Big Labor bosses have said as much.

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here And In Iowa.

Lesser Weevil| 11.29.11 @ 11:12PM

I'd pay money to watch that.

Jack in Wi| 11.29.11 @ 11:54PM

Romney would be a terrible President. but he has none of the personal baggage that Newt has. If you think Cain had some trouble, wait under they take the hide off of Newton. He is unelectable and unacceptable to Independents, the young. and dis affected Democrats. He also is hated by a majority of Republicans.

cain| 11.29.11 @ 5:46PM

The best and most powerful anti-smoking ads. Amazing asticle. Watch here. https://spn.sr/ckr

Bay Stater| 11.29.11 @ 6:23PM

It's the greatest political irony in my lifetime. Yes Romney is the only Republican who can beat Obama but he can't win the nomination of his party. I got me an idea, Romney has the money and organization so why not a third party run?

teflon93| 11.29.11 @ 6:34PM

Except as bad as Gingrich is---and he's bad enough I won't vote for him in the general---he's far, far better than Romney, who has done not one thing to advance the conservative movement in his entire life.

Lesser Weevil| 11.29.11 @ 11:16PM

I disagree. Romney is bad, but in a bland, steady way. I think that a Romney administration would be depressing, but a Gingrich administration would be catastrophic. But where I live, I don't get a vote anyway.

PCC| 11.30.11 @ 7:32AM

Romney is more likely than Gingrich to defeat Obama. Therefore, for me, he's the better candidate.

teflon93| 11.30.11 @ 8:14AM

On what basis do you come up with that? Forget popular vote polls, all of which are within the margin of error and useless at this point anyway. Precisely which blue states does Mitt Romney turn red to get the electoral collage victory? How does he do so when you can expect a good chunk (upwards of 20%) to stay home or only vote the down-ticket?

florin| 11.30.11 @ 11:26AM

gingrich does nothing to advance the conservative movement except talk the talk - how can you forget his passionate and aggressive support of pro abortion, pro gay marriage RINO scozzafava--how can you forget that he stood with Pelosi and gore against conservatives? there's a whole list of anti - conservative positions gingrich has taken throughout the years - his is a pattern of marital and political infidelity that is staggering...sure he says he's sorry - he wants the nomination and he will say and do anything to achieve that. Remember, this is the man who declared that people don't care what he does, only what he says...he really believes he is the most brilliant of all men - the one who will save the world. He is dangerous...and would be more dangerous with more power...look for a true, deeply rooted conservative...not one who has no core principles except to feed his massive ego...

bmatkin| 11.29.11 @ 6:42PM

This is nuts, both Newt and Mitt are loyal conservatives that just don't measure up to the pure conservative dream candidate of conservative voters. I got news for you, neither does Reagan or even Washington.
They all have some flaws, unless you want to nominate Jesus, you're going to have trouble with human foibles.
You want a little more purity, then support Michele, she's as close to your ideal as you could want, even closer than Sarah.
Newt is not as conservative as Romney and that's not saying much, either gentleman will and would make a great president with a Republican house and senate to guard the back door. Even Reagan had an amnesty problem, didn't work out for him very well either.
That's why we have to stick together to make sure that whoever you nominate won't after 6 years (like the last guy) go off the rails.

teflon93| 11.30.11 @ 8:16AM

You RINOs are such dishonest hacks.

Conservatives have had zero problem entertaining all sorts of flawed candidates---Cain, Perry, Bachmann, Santorum, now Gingrich.

It is you country clubbing little liberal weasels who keep churning out the oppo research to derail every one so Little Lord MittleRoy gets to play the John McCain role this time around while you vote for "historic" Obama---again.

Now go be Democrats.

Clint| 11.29.11 @ 7:26PM

“Just as none of the candidates want to talk about being vice president, there is no way on God’s green earth I will think about Romney getting the nod,” Gregg Cummings, Iowa coordinator for the Tea Party Patriots, emailed me. “We the people are doing all we can to get a true conservative in the White House, and Romney is not that person.”

Even inside the Beltway, some conservatives are getting verrrrry nervous at the prospect of Romney capturing the nomination. At the offices of FreedomWorks, the Tea Party–promoting group chaired by former House Republican leader Dick Armey, there is much talk of what can and should be done to stop the former governor. “We have strategy discussions all the time about, how important is it that Mitt Romney doesn’t get the nomination—for the party, for the cause? And how involved and engaged should we be to prevent him from doing so?” says Brendan Steinhauser, the group’s top field organizer. “I’ve been arguing it’s vital that we take him out.”

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here And In Iowa.

florin| 11.30.11 @ 11:22AM

True conservatives should be very worried about gingrich getting the nomination. He is not and has never been a true conservative. He stands with liberals more easily than with conservatives which is why he called Ryan's plan 'right wing social engineering' - he has utter disdain for true conservatives and thinks he is so brilliant that he was sure conservatives would follow him when he urged them to support liberal pro abortion, pro gay marriage RINO dede scozzafava in the special election over the true conservative...the Repubs. lost that election thanks to gingrich.

martin j smith| 11.30.11 @ 7:46AM

Quin while its great to know where some one has stood in the past ( Romney has lots of that kind of baggage baby as does Huntsman as does Ron Paul ( on the foreign policy and defense side etc. ) lets give our candidates a chance to show who they are and will be now --why not ? Why work for the NYT and other Socialist Media-unless you do not care to defeat Obama. !!!!!!!!!!!* See the hit piece in the NYT today on the front page regarding Gingrich. I have not decided who I will support but lets have a bit of measure here and let Gingrich and all the others spell out where they do stand now.

O Tamandua| 11.30.11 @ 9:46AM

Quin,

No offense as I'm sure you'd do well in a debate, but I'm reminded of a line from rapper Kool Moe Dee (sorry to cite a rapper on AS) when he was in his early-90s song battle with fellow performer LL Cool J: "If Mama said 'Knock me out', come DO it!"

We're looking for someone to knock out OBAMA on a debate, and I'm sorry, I've neither seen nor more importantly heard evidence that our current president could land a "death blow" on Rep. Gingrich in a debate. We STILL don't know the former's IQ, or his college grades, or a lot of other things for that matter, but I really wouldn't be afraid of comparing the two.

That being said, I'd still love to have a Bachmann, Cain (believe it or not, some very intelligent conservatives who were at best "on the fence" about the former Godfather's executive are more in his corner now after the Ginger White allegations, which they assign no credence to whatsoever), Perry or Santorum atop the field. Nonetheless, I have much respect for former Speaker Gingrich (who also dragged former President Clinton kicking and screaming into welfare reform and other issues in the 90s.)

What I pray Rep. Gingrich can escape (and this may be something only God can deliver him from) is that seductive Sixtie's cultural soup that he was stewed in during his 20s and which I'm convinced has colored the weird lenses he sometimes sees the world in. (Case in point: in the 90s Newt and his then-wife were described as devotees of Alvin "Future Shock" Toffler, whom I'm sure Rep. Gingrich would have admired for his (supposed) forward thinking. My high school freshman class got stuck with seeing the "Future Shock" film, made with grainy early-70s technicolor, that was just another screed from that era telling us how we were going to pollute and populate the world to death yet be able to enjoy amenities of postModern culture (the film featured a same-sex marriage ceremony) while doing so.)

I'm sure that dynamic was in play when he did that ill-thought commercial on the couch with former Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Time will tell how steady or diminished it stands in his life over the next year.

David T| 11.30.11 @ 10:53AM

Quinn--It's not my intention to throw you into another paroxysm, but consider this: Gingrich is far and away the best qualified of the current crop of candidates. He really is the Churchill of our day. Churchill was brilliant but wrong on just about every issue of his time--except for the one that really counted. Newt has made huge blunders over the years, but at heart he loves this country and understands who and what we are and where we need to go to survive our existential crisis.

florin| 11.30.11 @ 11:18AM

And why will those who desert Cain for alleged infidelity move to gingrich when he is know for his mulitple infidelities during his multiple marriages? and why would Sarah Palin, known for her good family values, endorse a man like gingrich who has a pattern of treating women shabbily, using them for his pleasure and purposes and then tossing them aside? Palin should think long and hard about this..sure newt says he's sorry and maybe he is because he wants the nomination...but his long pattern of dysfunctional behavior is rooted in a massive, self-absorbed ego that feeds it self at the expense of others...don't even think of endorsing gingrich sarah or you will lose all credibility. Instead, try to convince Paul Ryan or John Thune or Marco Rubio or Nikki Halley to run...

Oldefarte| 11.30.11 @ 1:57PM

Even though I consider political debates non-essential, I applaud Newt's recent speech in which he agreed to allow Obama to use a teleprompter in a debate with him, and contrasted Obama's ivy-league Princeton/Harvard educational credentials to his/New't Georgia state ones. Debates are not the answer, be-all end-all of this upcoming contest; but rather whose administrative/managerial, decision making abilities would best be suited to lead this country. If any taxpayer-voter out there is still capable of being brainwashed by Hope&Change; type BS [as they were in 2008], after three years of destruction from this current president, then may the almighty help this country!!!!!!!!!!!!!