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EDITOR OF REDSTATE

When Will Newt Say When?

By: Erick Erickson (Diary)  |  August 29th, 2011 at 04:45 AM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

One of the saddest spectacles of the 2012 season is seeing Newt Gingrich, who for so long was the ideas guy of the right, run out of steam.

American Solutions, his once much heralded organization, is now shut down. Newt left the organization to run for President and it could not keep the lights on without Gingrich there.

But Gingrich seems to be having trouble keeping the lights on in his campaign.

This weekend saw a straw poll at the annual Georgia Republicans’ fish fry in Perry, Georgia. The event, started by former Governor Sonny Perdue as a campaign fundraiser for himself and the party when he got elected back in 2002, is a huge affair for the state party. Folks come from every corner of Georgia to eat fish and politick.

There are two Georgia sons in the 2012 race: Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich. Cain is a businessman and former talk show host in metro Atlanta. Gingrich was and, for many is, “the Speaker.” He taught at my wife’s alma mater; his first wife was my wife’s high school math teacher. He then went on to represent the Atlanta suburbs in Congress for quite a while, eventually becoming Speaker.

This weekend, as they might say in Georgia, the dogs didn’t hunt for Newt Gingrich.Herman Cain came in first place in the straw poll, followed by Ron Paul. No, Gingrich did not come in third. Rick Perry came in third. Gingrich, who was the only candidate to attend the fish fry and speak to the crowd — Newt gave a great speech, but speaking has never been his problem — came in fourth. Mitt Romney and Michele Bachmann followed him.

Rumors continue to swirl that his campaign is hurting for money. He has failed to gain measurable traction thus far and even in Georgia polls show he would not really be competitive (and I’m not talking straw polls).

For many of us who got our start in politics around the Republican Revolution of 1994, it is kind of sad to see Newt Gingrich neither victorious nor really beaten nor vanquished — then it would at least have been a momentous fight. That would have had some catharsis to it.

He’s just out of gas. He fizzled without so much as a flash in the pan. How does that happen to a guy who once was the most powerful Republican in America?

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COMMENTS

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  • ihateliberals

    Newt used to be the go to guy for conservatives. he led the charge in the ’90′s and since then his many books nd speeches were very conservative based. Yet when he finally decided to be our man and run for the presidency he self-destructed right out of the shoot. Almost immediately he started with Newtcare and trying to look like Romney. In one day he moved from the right to almost over the line of dead center. he became a RINO in most conservatives opinions. Then he did his back-peddling which wasn’t very attractive. The powerhouse conservative had lost his edge because he wanted to look like everyone else running for office instead of being the conservative stalwart we were looking for. . It is amazing how one little slip of the tongue can cause so much destruction.

    Newt, it is time for you to stop and put your energies towards getting a real conservative elected. Although I doubt at this point if you still have any legitimacy left. We trusted you to be what you said you were and you let us down but on the other hand it is much better we found out that you are a RINO now than to have elected you. We conservatives are so tired of RINO’s and their moderation. We now are gun shy of anyone that claims to be conservative because of your example. . What I don’t understand is , What Happened? Where have all the conservatives gone? did they all die with Reagan? I think he would be very a shamed of the GOP today if he could see it and what has been destroyed so fast.

  • barrowmrb

    Newt Gingrich ”SIGNED HIS OWN DEATH WARRANT” when he made comments about Congressman Paul Ryans medical plans.
    Especially, when his comments concluded that there is no difference between left wing medical plans and right wing medical plans. THEN, HE OFFERED NO APOLOGY, OR RETRACTION.
    He has been a compromiser by traveling around the country with
    Rev.Al Sharpton and doing TV commercials with Nancy Pelosi.

    Conservatives and (I believe) many Independants DO NOT WANT
    ANY COMPROMISE WITH THE LEFTIST DEMOCRATES,LIKE NANCY PELOSI, HARRY REID, DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ,
    OR ANY ONE ELSE.

    Newt is officiall a RHINO, and should stop trying to act like a Conservative.

  • bk

    Newt did a great job with the contract – a GREAT job – but it all seemed to go to his head later. Not sure how much of this is fact vs urban legend vs my dropped memory bits, but it seemed like Clinton later played him like a drum, getting the press to say Newt was whining about which door on a plane Clinton let him use or where he sat or some nonsense like that.

    Newt eventually came to like blather for the sake of blather – whatever would get him on TV it seemed. When his whole staff bailed, it was a pretty clear sign that Newt’s entire support consisted of Newt and perhaps whoever his current wife is. I don’t even think he qualifies as the big ideas guy any more – just another talking head, except maybe a bit more arrogant than most.

  • audax

    nt

  • diehardcon

    on the head here about Newt’s failure to inspire support for his candidacy. Indeed, I too very fondly recall that night in ’94 when Newt and the boys shocked the nation with the crushing Demo defeat in the House; we partied long after. However, you now ask what happened to him, and to answer that you must go back to the reasons his speakership ended. It WAS NOT because he ran an unethical college course operation, as the Demos constantly argued. Nor was it because of a marital fidelity issue. He simply lost the support of his own House colleagues, especially the ranking members. That’s what upset me the most. Newt’s core problem, as they will all testify to, is that he cannot maintain a disciplined focus on any particular theme; he’s always moving in several different directions at any given time. He drives away his base of support in the process, and does not appear to recognize it. It is truly a tragedy, given the massive ideological potential he offers. But Newt is, in his deepest heart, an academic. He will never be satified with grasping just one, two or three ideas and really running with them; he must assemble the 10-point plan, the 15 point contract, etc. It is as if he lives for the intellectual feast of ideas, much as Robert Bork described his desire to be a SCOTUS justice, in his failed confirmation hearings. Remember also and likewise, Newt never achieved widespread public political support; he never demonstrated he could win statewide electoral support, let alone national support. And in the end he was typecast as the “Grinch”. It all makes me sad and sick to see it, but he is his own worst enemy, and as you must know, no one can save you from yourself.

  • rockytop9

    Newt had his chance and blew it. While everyone was focused on Bill and Monica, Newt was in the back room doing the same thing. It’s called lack of character. I’m glad he’s over, I wish he would leave. Sickens me to see him in babble mode on TV. He really thinks that he is somebody, much like Obama.

  • ihateliberals

    In the case of Newt he pulled the curtain back himself. He exposed his RINOism and thank God it was before he made any headwind. newt doesn’t even realize or accept what he did as a failure of his candidacy, RINOism is not something you can hide for ling like that ugly tattoo on your butt. RINOism is exposed very quickly as soon as you open your mouth. Newt didn’t just open his mouth though he shouted it out. By the time the Sunday talk shows hit after his announcement he should have realized he ws a dead duck. Much worse than a lame duck. At lest a lame duck is still moving.

  • peg_c

    It’s not anti-intellectualism on our parts per se, despite the left’s claims. It’s elitism, and Newt has them in spades. Back when I was a lefty, my righty hubby thought Newt was fantastic. Now he can’t stand him. It’s not just the congeniality and worse with Pelosi and Dems; it’s the professorial air when he speaks that turns off righties in general and TP folks in particular. And we do, fundamentally, suspect the academics – with good reason.

    Mark Levin has waxed eloquent on Newt and how great he was in the 80s and early 90s and how he’s lost it. It’s a character issue, it’s an arrogance issue, and it’s the issue of betraying the right on critical stuff. He’s lost the hardcore conservative warrior that was inside him. Maybe this happens to all righties as they age, but in any case, Newt’s love affair with global warming was the last straw for many of us. I think Newt just HAD to get the MSM love. He had to suck up to the corrupt D.C. power structure for his ego (which runs on steroids). And he never really liked or respected US. Our approval means nothing to him. He has always seen himself as above us, not of us. He’s never been one of We The People. He’s become Ruling Class.

    Sad, yes. Surprising? No.

  • travis690

    If Newt had not gotten “in bed” with someone other than his wife, at the same time he was criticizing President Clinton for the same activity, he wouldn’t have ruined his credentials with a large part of the Republican Party. A decade later, when he sat on the same couch as Speaker Pelosi, he destroyed his credentials with the rest of the Republican Party.

    His personal credibility was destroyed after those two incidents. At that point, his ideas didn’t matter; his presidential-ness was already out the barn door and down the road.

  • nkqx57a

    Newt is the most articulate of conservative points of view; yet, his politics seems to be corrupted by political correctness. Trying to be all things to all people is a losing position. Compromising principles and values to be political correct does not make a Conservative.

    Newt can and was doing more from the outside with ?American Solutions? and as an analyst for Fox News. Making sure the truth is known and calling out Democrats for their lies and distortions.

    I cannot understand why he would even consider being President in this corrupt system ?we the people? have allowed to become rulers over us.

  • tankertodd

    - Represents yesterday’s Republicans, and yesterday’s Big Government days
    - That stupid commercial with Nancy Pelosi
    - Global Warming?!?! Does anyone still believe in that?
    - Done anything lately?
    - Resignation under a cloud
    - Personal life
    - Tiffany’s
    - Italian cruise

  • cwilson

    he recounted a story about, or rather a description of, Bill Clinton: that the man had an uncanny ability to make whoever he was talking to think he agreed with him. Even a professional pol like Newt.

    The story was, Newt was heading into an Oval Office meeting and was loaded for bear. He left the office thinking he had really persuaded the President to Newt’s way of thinking, on a particular issue. But…after later reflection, realized that he, Newt, was the one who had agreed to go along with the President’s take. I think Newt even used the term “Svengali”…

    Now, no question that Clinton was a gifted politician…but I think the story said more about Newt,, and his inner desire to be one of the club and to appear “reasonable”, than it did about Billy Jeff. This also explains the Green insanity with Pelosi.

  • westcoastpatriette

    Like so many other truly brilliant people, Newt’s number one downfall is pride. He insulated himself from criticism because he truly feels he is superior to others and immune to the consequences that all men and women must accept for choices they make. It has finally all caught up with him and completely tarnished his once good name.

  • robp

    Newt lost all credibility with me when he put (R) over conservative principle.

  • Locked and Loaded

    how does that happen that you just run out of gas?

    Well, in Newt’s case, you take the car off in places you ought not go and it gets all damaged – the body, the chassis, the fuel tank. From then on, it looks bad, runs rough, and leaks – unless made durable again with well-thought-out actions. Without the needed repairs, you wake up one day, and the car won’t run.

    Newt veered far off the conservative course. The body is his witness, his influence, his brand. The chassis is the powerplant, where things are accomplished, great work is done. The fuel tank represents donors and supporters, people who will keep you going.

    This has all been well-documented by the posters above, except for nkqx57a.

    Make no mistake about it – Newt was driving the car. He alone is responsible for the destruction.

  • morstar150

    He will never become president but he would make an excellent press secretary. He is the only candidate who is not afraid to tell the press what he thinks. How did our spokespersons become Commrad “Karl” Rove, and Krautheimer? I would take Newt over either one. He was the ONLY candidate (besides Ron Paul) to discuss the insanity of the Federal Reserve. The issues that matter most in this election are those that deal with the economy. It’s the stupid economy that has made us vulnerable to socialistic ideology.

    Obama Care is dead. We cannot afford it. When it is supposed to go into effect in 2012 there will be no money or support to implement it,

    Herman Cain is an interesting fellow but he is not capable of leading our country simply because he ran a pizza business.

    YOU ARE QUICK TO DISS Newt, but you yourself have become a talking head for the CNN which on many occassions has said that John Huntsman should not be counted out. Your political anaysis seems to be based on assisting your personal favorites.

    When you are asked who the top three Republicans are your gleeful answer is (Perry – this week’s pretty boy,) followed by Bachmann and Mitt Romney.

    I have no problem with any of them but think about these three points 1st, ANYONE of the Republican candidates would be better than the insanity that is now taking place in the White House and in our country. 2nd, the media and the Republican Party, and you too Eric, are so quick to dismiss Ron Paul as this crazy old man, simply because if a candidate does not fall into lock step with the specifically limited positions of certain people who claim to the Tea Party banner, 3rd and finally, we all must come together, if you are willing to not vote for someone because one issue makes that candidate less than perfect, we are doomed. WE CANNOT LOSE THIS ELECTION. WE MUST WIN BACK CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENCY.

    To do that we will find the best candidate, you’re right it will not be Newt, but I sure like having him around to attack the media when they ask the disgracfully insulting questions about gay marraige or submissive women. Newt can be our bulldog.

    Let’s stop pulling our party apart by labeling good people as RINO’s. Of course our congressional Republicans should start acting more like Republicans. (See the US Senate.)

  • Tbone

    who support him are the political spawn of the fools who voted for Ross Perot.

  • westcoastpatriette

    This pride manifested itself most blatantly when he went on Meet The Press and compared the Ryan plan to Obamacare and called it “right-wing social engineering”! He seemed completely oblivious to the betrayal and rage so many of us felt when he said that–not to mention saying it while he was in enemy territory.

    Some things cannot be forgiven or rationalized away.

  • nkqx57a

    Yes, Newt is responsible for his own actions and deeds; which have certainly contributed to his down fall. Yet, what other Republican can articulate the Conservative point of view better than Newt? He can do more to help Republicans and Conservatives by staying out of the race for President.

  • freemanja1991

    He is right about one thing more than anything else. We need 13+more seats in the senate, and 40+ more in the house. He needs to quit his run for the white house. And throw all his effort into helping recruit, raise money, stump, what ever so that we can make these gains. this is his calling and he needs to see that.

  • http://travismonitor.blogspot.com Freedoms Truth

    Pawlenty’s cap-n-trade apologetics. Didnt know what got into him. Now he’s gone.
    Newt on the couch with Pelosi. Never got out of the gate.
    Next up is Romney. flip flop time.

    Perry calling it a scam is giving AlGore a heart attack but it puts him in the lead.

    We do not want to give in to the left, rhetorically or substantively. Politicians who do that are NOT what we need for 2012. We need leaders who will fight for conservative values no holds barred. It’s that simple.

  • pttx333

    - perfect description. Anyone who ever bought into that bunk is thought of as a loon by most folks. Good for Perry calling it a scam since that is exactly what it is. Good ol’ albore has made a killing on it and is out there now calling anyone who doesn’t buy into it a “raaacist.” Isn’t that special? I expect him to drop over at any point now – have you seen his face and his demeanor when anyone disagrees with him or even asks him a question? The man goes completely nutz and is rapidly becoming ceritifiable. Lordy, get the hook and get that man off the stage!

    You are correct – we cannot give in. The more arses kicked, the better. The one who will win in 2012 is the one who dares to do. IMHO, that ‘one’ is Rick Perry, but I will vote for our nominee, period.

  • clintonformccain

    Newt was never a serious, credible candidate. It was always a vanity campaign, designed to sell books, keep his pundit profile high, or whatever.

  • funwithknives

    for three years now. “Aching for a breaking” is the rule, not the exception and Barry’s “ACHIN”. Georgie Patton had it so right when he commented that “America loves a winner”.(and abhores a loser)
    However, an animal hunted & cornered , seeing no way out, is dangerous and will do most anything, and Fair isn’t one of those choices. So you see AL screamin’ ‘n’ swearin’, and every freckle on Perry’s hiney called into question. Where was all this when we wanted to find out about Barry’s Bonafides? (Guffaw inserted here)Then, you were a racist , or worse. Now, Progressives are just “asking Deliberative/Objective questions”, about a candidate with real accomplishments &documented as well. How many turns can a persuasion twist into? Keep watching, and learn.( this is gonna be good)

  • pttx333

    to be quite a showdown for the next15 or so months. Yes, cornered animals (and that is what they are, thanks mostly to the internet – they’ve been caught) come out with teeth bared and claws extended. I only pray that it is the beginning stages of watching a vile, evil progressive giant die a lingering, slow and painful death. It must die soonest or we are lost.

    Get out the popcorn!

  • williamjameson

    who will rise from the ashes and grow in the polls as time wears on. Remember when John McCain was photographed carrying his own luggage on the campaign trail? He sees himself as a contender. The next debate will determine Newt has any potential.

    Newt feels he was sand bagged with the Meet the Press interview where he said he wasn’t for left wing or right wing socialism. Problem is he sand bagged himself by not excluding the Ryan plan nor by stating what he liked about the Ryan plan.

    GOP party leaders never gave Newt much of a thought yet Romney is a worse choice and Mittens is being groomed. A man of ideas vs. a man who was weak and couldn’t control the MA legislature. Perhaps party leaders still blame Newt for losing seats in 1996?

  • http://908StraightSt.wordpress.com/ mbecker908

    In fact, he rose to power and flatly blew it. In the world of completely clueless Speakers, he might even be worse than Pelosi.

    And then there’s his “after Speaker life”. The guy is a creature of DC. He wanted to work with Hillary on making sure healthcare got passed. He’s got nothing but good things to say about AGW. And on and on and on.

    Newt’s time passed in ’95. He’s a major liability now.

  • williamjameson

    shift or he didn’t agree with AGW. I’ve seen Newt on FOX for several years but never knew his AGW support so many of us learned a lot. I don’t see Newt being close to Pelosi but its a good sterotype to wake him up but he’s done for 2012.

  • lastgopinillinois

    People who are so brilliant like New’t can be so dumb at the same time? I just want to ask him one question. Dont you think that it is “compromise” that got us here in the first place?
    But I can never bring myself to miss one of his speeches. Amazing.