Is Newt Gingrich "Electable"?

[ABM]

If not, other than the marital issues of years' past, what are the issues against him?

To me, he seems to be the most capable at defining and discussing the issues - both nationally and abroad. He seems to be plenty experienced, as well. He's well versed and has appeared to the the most confidant during the (farce) debates. Not sure of that will get you a cup of coffee, but at least I'm interested.......very interested.

However, I keep hearing folks claim that he's "unelectable" or that he'll fall off the radar just as quickly as the other GOP candidates who have led the polls, only to drop off as they've become exposed.

What's the skinny with this guy?

 

[BrianFromWA]

Blind hatred from his detractors, but you can say that about any polarizing figure on both sides.

Howard Dean, for instance, became unelectable based on a YeAHATahahAHA!

 

[Denny Crane]

Howard Dean was a nut job all along and the yeha!!! moment was the last nail in his coffin.

Newt doesn't suffer from people thinking he's a loon. He's downright brilliant and eloquent. However, he spouted a lot of broad brush "liberals do X" venom, was generally a grouch, and easily painted as a bad guy and hypocrite. The left used images of him with Bob Dole effectively to drag down Dole's favorables.

I repeat that since then, Clinton set the bar for personal ethics and morality really low. Newt's history is quite public, yet the polls say republicans and independents are willing to overlook his history.

That said, Newt suffers from a key problem that Obama suffered from. His lack of executive experience means he has no effective team of people who know how to work together once elected. A guy like Reagan or Clinton simply picked up his gubernatorial staff and moved the whole shebang to DC.

Tho serving as speaker for years, he was third in line to succeed the president.

No, I am not particularly a fan. I am still hoping Paul gets traction by winning some early primaries and gets the nomination.

 

[speeds]

I guess there is the guest worker issue, and the fact he's a Roman Catholic (twice divorced via multiple affairs due to his love for America, lol wut), and as Denny said he's prone to making sweeping generalizations about his opponents (not so eloquent), but mostly I think people just perceive him as being hostile.

 

[maxiep]

Newt's problem is he never lets an idea go unvoiced. He'd be a terrific senior advisor, but he's too intellectually undisciplined to be President.

 

[mook]

Yeah, I'd say impulse control is his biggest problem, both verbally and, uh, romantically. Clinton had a similar problem, but Clinton had style. His cheesiness was greasy-smooth, while Gingrich's kind of chafes.

Also, I'm not really sure about his organizational skills. Didn't his entire staff quit on him like three months ago when he went on vacation during a primary?

 

[maxiep]

An interesting analysis.

http://legalinsurrection.com/2011/11/why-i-support-newt-gingrich/

 

[MARIS61]

He's a liar, a hypocrite, an adulterer, used his office to attain a lobbying position in which he contributed to the housing bubble, and he's 68 years old but has no executive experience at all.

I guess it depends on just how stupid or desperate Republican voters are this time around.

 

[ABM]

I guess it depends on just how stupid or desperate Republican voters are this time around.

I'm desperate to do my part to ensure Obama doesn't get re-elected, I'll tell you that. Still considering all my options.

I'd be very interested if you could post a link that describes just how Gingrich used his office to gain that lobbying position.

 

[santeesioux]

[video=youtube;pFvIdTbaMhA]

 

[speeds]

Little Jimmy's acting stinks and I don't like it. Look at his hands, he has no idea how to be an actor.

 

[santeesioux]

Little Jimmy's acting stinks and I don't like it. Look at his hands, he has no idea how to be an actor.

tsss he needs an actin coach or sumthin.

 

[barfo]

Still considering all my options.

I would be too, if I had all the options that you have. It's quite the set of options.

I'd be very interested if you could post a link that describes just how Gingrich used his office to gain that lobbying position.

You think they paid him $1.6 million for a history lesson?

barfo

 

[Denny Crane]

I would be too, if I had all the options that you have. It's quite the set of options.



You think they paid him $1.6 million for a history lesson?

barfo

Where do you get your talking points... from Barney Frank?

Realize that Frank is trying to deflect the blame (where it rightly belongs) from himself. Blame for the housing market and bank meltdowns.

C'mon, barfo, Who has more power. Some $200K/year lobbyist, or the chairman of the House Banking Committee?

While we're at it, Obama must have been a lobbyist for Fannie Mae, since they paid him money, too.

 

[ABM]

[video=youtube;MmmY9G9X_sw]

 

[MARIS61]

Where do you get your talking points... from Barney Frank?

Realize that Frank is trying to deflect the blame (where it rightly belongs) from himself. Blame for the housing market and bank meltdowns.

C'mon, barfo, Who has more power. Some $200K/year lobbyist, or the chairman of the House Banking Committee?

The (combined power of) lobbyist(S), by a mile.

Politicians have the "power" to follow orders from the 1%, or to choose another career field.

 

[Denny Crane]

The (combined power of) lobbyist(S), by a mile.

Politicians have the "power" to follow orders from the 1%, or to choose another career field.

The combined power of lobbyists is nada if only Barney Frank wasn't so corrupt and incompetent.

 

[barfo]

Where do you get your talking points... from Barney Frank?

Realize that Frank is trying to deflect the blame (where it rightly belongs) from himself. Blame for the housing market and bank meltdowns.

What drug are you on today? We weren't talking about Barney Frank, we were talking about Newt. Barney Frank isn't running for President. Newt isn't absolved of all wrongdoing just because you think someone else is a bigger criminal.

barfo

 

[ABM]

I would be too, if I had all the options that you have. It's quite the set of options.

Could you expound a bit more on that point, please.

 

[julius]

Could you expound a bit more on that point, please.

Easy. The candidates running for the Republican Nomination are all a joke, cept for maybe 2.

Romney flip flops a ton, Perry is a blistering fool, Cain is obviously doing this for money, Newt is a hypocrit and Bachmann is a buffoon.

If they want to be taken seriously, one would think that Huntsman or Paul would be higher up on the polls.

 

[ABM]

Easy. The candidates running for the Republican Nomination are all a joke, cept for maybe 2.

Romney flip flops a ton, Perry is a blistering fool, Cain is obviously doing this for money, Newt is a hypocrit and Bachmann is a buffoon.

If they want to be taken seriously, one would think that Huntsman or Paul would be higher up on the polls.

Heck, then screw it. I'm voting for Obama.

 

[speeds]

If you quote Newt directly, you're a goddamn liar. That's kind of an issue.

 

[Denny Crane]

What drug are you on today? We weren't talking about Barney Frank, we were talking about Newt. Barney Frank isn't running for President. Newt isn't absolved of all wrongdoing just because you think someone else is a bigger criminal.

barfo

Barney Frank responded to Newt's statements at the debate. You parrot his every word.

 

[Denny Crane]

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/pub...ial_election/iowa/2012_iowa_republican_caucus

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Iowa Republican caucus-goers shows Gingrich with 32% followed by former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney at 19%. Georgia businessman Herman Cain, who led in Iowa last month, drops to third with 13% of the vote. Texas Congressman Ron Paul draws 10% of the vote in Iowa, while Texas Governor Rick Perry and Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann each grab six percent (6%).

 

[ABM]

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/pub...ial_election/iowa/2012_iowa_republican_caucus

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Iowa Republican caucus-goers shows Gingrich with 32% followed by former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney at 19%. Georgia businessman Herman Cain, who led in Iowa last month, drops to third with 13% of the vote. Texas Congressman Ron Paul draws 10% of the vote in Iowa, while Texas Governor Rick Perry and Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann each grab six percent (6%).

Wow, impressive.

 

[barfo]

Barney Frank responded to Newt's statements at the debate. You parrot his every word.

You are being ridiculous. First of all, I haven't heard Barney Frank's words. Secondly, all I said was "You think they paid him $1.6 million for a history lesson?"

If that's Barney Frank's every word, then Barney talks a lot less than I would have guessed.

barfo

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Could you expound a bit more on that point, please.

It's a barfoism. When things start to be indefensible he changes the direction of the thread. It's classic debate tactics.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

As for Newt, he may be the most conservative and strongest candidate, but I think his personal life will turn many people off. He also seems to shoot too much from the hip and says things that just aren't true. I like him, but I doubt he'd be very electable.

 

[barfo]

It's a barfoism. When things start to be indefensible he changes the direction of the thread. It's classic debate tactics.

You aren't even in the ballpark of reality here. I've got nothing to defend in this thread, nor was I attempting to change the direction of the thread. If anyone did that, it's Denny with his rant about Barney Frank.
ABM said he was still considering all his choices, and I said, essentially, yeah, with those choices, I'd be careful too. Hardly a major diversion. I suppose you could say I was trying to broaden the discussion from just Newt to all the candidates, but even that is kind of a stretch, since ABM's message already implied consideration of all the candidates.

For ABM: it was just my way of saying, man, your list of candidates sucks, what a bunch of losers. Although I think I put it more poetically the first time.

barfo

 

[speeds]

^ Exactly what Barney Frank said. Word for word. Even the stuff about ABM.