And So It Begins
Peter Robinson ·
Nov 28, 2011 at 3:05pm
"I don't I don’t claim to be the perfect candidate. I just claim to be a lot more conservative than Mitt Romney and a lot more electable than anybody else."
--Newt Gingrich, opening his three-day swing through South Carolina
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Jun '10
Re: And So It Begins
Peter, is your title a lament or what?
Nov '11
Re: And So It Begins
With all due respect to Newt, his definitions of the words "conservative" and "electable" differ from my own.
Re: And So It Begins
No, I didn't mean it as a lament at all. To the contrary. In the last week, I believe, the race has taken on what is very likely to prove its final form: Romney versus Newt. What we see in Newt's line here--a line, by the way, that strikes me as both entirely true and wonderfully vivid--is Newt's recognition of just that. He's no longer on an extended book tour. He's really and truly running for President of the United States.
Edited on Nov 28, 2011 at 3:27pmAug '10
Re: And So It Begins
Ya know, if this weren't such a serious matter, it might be worth it to nominate Newt just to see what kind of wacky hi-jinks would ensue!
Nov '11
Re: And So It Begins
Peter Robinson
No, I didn't mean it as a lament at all. To the contrary.
Pardon me, Peter, but shouldn't we lament that now that Newt smells blood in the water, he's now going to begin attacking other Republicans, something he cautioned against back when his polling numbers were in book tour territory?
Jun '10
Re: And So It Begins
Peter Robinson ...
Romney versus Newt. What we see in Newt's line here--a line, by the way, that strikes me as both entirely true and wonderfully vivid--is Newt's recognition of just that. He's no longer on an extended book tour. He's really and truly running for President of the United States.
Yes, I think the battle, too, is truly joined. Both very admirable and experienced men. I want this debate to take place. It's time.
Romney is not a country club conservative -- he has come to look like one but he is from another pocket of this vast and complex country. He represents what is best about this country.
Newt is not a standard-issue beltway conservative -- he may look like one but if one spends any time investigating him he comes off as a unique type of politician. We have never before had such a politician.
So, it's not a classic fight -- it's going to be atypical. But these two should be able to flesh out what it is to be a Republican at this crucial juncture in our history.
Lincoln should be proud.
Nov '11
Re: And So It Begins
Larry Koler
Romney is not a country club conservative -- he has come to look like one but he is from another pocket of this vast and complex country. He represents what is best about this country.
Great commentary, particularly as I know you're a fan of Newt. Thanks!
Re: And So It Begins
It strikes me as amazing that in the 2012 presidential, after the 2010 elections, the tea parties, the rediscovery of the constitution and its virtues, Republicans have as the two leading contenders a man who took more than a million dollars from Freddie Mac and another who gave us a version of Obamacare before Obama.
I'm not wild about Mr. Gingrich, who has more baggage than United Airlines. Still, I hope his candidacy forces Mr. Romney, whom I presume will be the standard bearer, into a more thoughtfully conservative direction. Even though many candidates did not prove viable the process has led to a sharpening of proposals, especially on the economic front. In short, I'd like to see Mr. Romney have to fight for the nomination instead of simply taking it by default. I believe the result would be stronger policy proposals.
Nov '11
Re: And So It Begins
Bill McGurn:
In short, I'd like to see Mr. Romney have to fight for the nomination instead of simply taking it by default.
I believe we'll see a good fight before this primary is over. People like Mitt don't like to lose once, let alone twice.
Feb '11
Re: And So It Begins
Newt’s campaign slogan: “The world is a dangerous place. If you want me to debate Obama, I have to be the nominee.”
Jul '10
Re: And So It Begins
ETD
Bill McGurn:
In short, I'd like to see Mr. Romney have to fight for the nomination instead of simply taking it by default.
I believe we'll see a good fight before this primary is over. People like Mitt don't like to lose once, let alone twice. · Nov 28 at 4:05pm
Mitt has lost plenty of times.
Some might consider that a habit.
Oct '11
Re: And So It Begins
I can imagine what the strategy meeting looked like that produced that gem; "Mr. Speaker, to maximize your chance of winning the primary, you somehow need to convey to the American people that you're more conservative than Romney and more electable than the others. How will you do that?"
By telling us exactly what he wants us to think, that's how. Subtle is the antonym of Gingrichian.
Aug '10
Re: And So It Begins
We can picture a hot , spinning Newt building speed like a storm. Mitt and grass growing , on the other hand , are unable to soundbite. 2 smart guys can't match their prophet , few believe the fluff in a job app . And the prophet doesn't buy it . He and his old buddy Timmy have been watching Gordon Liddy and buying gold . The US nows owns close to 10,000 tons . That is not necessarily good news as ten railcars can disappear pretty fast .
Oct '10
Re: And So It Begins
"I can write better than anybody who can write faster, and I can write faster than anybody who can write better."---A.J.Liebling
"I'm more conservative than anyone more electable and I'm more electable than anyone more conservative."---Newt
Edited on Nov 28, 2011 at 5:06pmNov '11
Re: And So It Begins
Michael Tee
Mitt has lost plenty of times.
Some might consider that a habit.
Mitt took three political shots in the bluest of the blue states and was able to win a gubernatorial election. And he came darned close to beating Ted Kennedy in a senatorial campaign.
His record:
- .333 in political contests.
- $250 million in personal contests.
Edited on Nov 28, 2011 at 5:17pmRe: And So It Begins
Bill McGurn: It strikes me as amazing that in the 2012 presidential, after the 2010 elections, the tea parties, the rediscovery of the constitution and its virtues, Republicans have as the two leading contenders a man who took more than a million dollars from Freddie Mac and another who gave us a version of Obamacare before Obama.
I'm not wild about Mr. Gingrich, who has more baggage than United Airlines. Still, I hope his candidacy forces Mr. Romney, whom I presume will be the standard bearer, into a more thoughtfully conservative direction. Even though many candidates did not prove viable the process has led to a sharpening of proposals, especially on the economic front. In short, I'd like to see Mr. Romney have to fight for the nomination instead of simply taking it by default. I believe the result would be stronger policy proposals. · Nov 28 at 3:59pm
Amen to everything you say. That there are no genuine conservatives who are contenders is appalling, but Newt can at least put Romney under pressure.
Oct '10
Re: And So It Begins
That's been one of my persistent themes when I post here on Ricochet. I can't believe given the conditions and what is at stake that the best the GOP could put up was the present field. But then I remind myself that the GOP, as Pat Caddell put it so eloquently on the recent Ricochet podcast, the stupid party. This is the same party that thought Bob Dole would be a smashing success running against Bill Clinton.
Jan '11
Re: And So It Begins
Give the man credit. Look at the "professional" handlers who ditched Newt because they said he was too "undisciplined" ... where are they now? Those were the guys hiding their heads in the front row while Perry tried to remember item #3.
Newt. Was. Right.
There's some Socratic pleasure in watching people who "knew the truth" get truth-slapped.
They. Were. Wrong.
Maybe Newt knew something they didn't. Maybe success doesn't take perfection. Maybe it just takes patience. In a media-world where everyone gets 15 minutes anyway, it makes no sense to spend a fortune and kill yourself to buy ... 15 minutes. Maybe the real trick is to make your 15 minutes count. Newt knows how to make it count.
William Buckley argued that ideas rule the world. Rulers ought to have 'em.
I'm suddenly feeling a little hopeful ...
Jul '10
Re: And So It Begins
ETD
Mitt took three political shots in the bluest of the blue states and was able to win a gubernatorial election. And he came darned close to beating Ted Kennedy in a senatorial campaign.
His record:
- .333 in political contests.
- $250 million in personal contests. · Nov 28 at 5:15pm
Edited on Nov 28 at 05:17 pm
If I didn't know it, from Yer description I would think "Mitt" was a democrat.
May '10
Re: And So It Begins
What started as a total yawner of a primary has now become the most fascinating primary in a generation.
The betting site Intrade has been interesting to check every day. Romney's been steady at 70% through all the trials but over the last two weeks has dropped to 55%-ish, with Newt creeping to 25%. Those streams might very well merge come the SC primary, with FL determining whether they cross or whether Mitt separates again.
It would all be such fun if the stakes weren't so high. Ah, heck, it's fun anyway.