George Will on Newt Gingrich, Or, What's the Right Word?
From George Will's column in the Washington Post just yesterday:
Republicans are more conservative than at any time since their 1980 dismay about another floundering president. They are more ideologically homogenous than ever in 156 years of competing for the presidency. They anticipated choosing between Mitt Romney, a conservative of convenience, and a conviction politician to his right. The choice, however, could be between Romney and the least conservative candidate, Newt Gingrich.
Romney’s main objection to contemporary Washington seems to be that he is not administering it. God has 10 commandments, Woodrow Wilson had 14 points, Heinz had 57 varieties, but Romney’s economic platform has 59 planks — 56 more than necessary if you have low taxes, free trade and fewer regulatory burdens. Still, his conservatism-as-managerialism would be a marked improvement upon today’s bewildered liberalism.
Gingrich, however, embodies the vanity and rapacity that make modern Washington repulsive. And there is his anti-conservative confidence that he has a comprehensive explanation of, and plan to perfect, everything.
Granted, his grandiose rhetoric celebrating his “transformative” self is entertaining: Recently he compared his revival of his campaign to Sam Walton’s and Ray Kroc’s creations of Wal-Mart and McDonald’s, two of America’s largest private-sector employers. There is almost artistic vulgarity in Gingrich’s unrepented role as a hired larynx for interests profiting from such government follies as ethanol and cheap mortgages. His Olympian sense of exemption from standards and logic allowed him, fresh from pocketing $1.6 million from Freddie Mac (for services as a “historian”), to say, “If you want to put people in jail,” look at “the politicians who profited from” Washington’s environment.
What would be the word for Will's attitude toward Gingrich? "Disdain?" Too mild. "Contempt?" "Scorn?" Perhaps. "Loathing?" Yes. The word would be "loathing."
In any event, I find that I have begun consoling myself with the hope of the truly desperate: a deadlocked convention. Mitch? Paul Ryan? Haley? Jeb? Might one of them step forward at last?
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Sep '10
Re: George Will on Newt Gingrich, Or, What's the Right Word?
You took the words right out of my mouth. I was going to ask Paul Rahe if a deadlocked, brokered convention can still happen.
Its your only hope. If Romney's the nominee, you lose the Whitehouse and then your only hope is that Hillary primaries Barack under the Pat Cadell scenario.
My continuing mantra until a brokered convention:
"You're all doomed."
Sep '10
Re: George Will on Newt Gingrich, Or, What's the Right Word?
And to channel Thomas Sowell your choice is between Mitt (a disaster) and Newt (a catastrophe).
May God Save the Republic.
Re: George Will on Newt Gingrich, Or, What's the Right Word?
Alas, Peter, no one will rescue us from this choice. I need to do my homework on Gingrich. I wrote him off long ago -- too soon, perhaps.
We also need to give some thought to Congress. If it is to serve as a restraint on Romney or Gingrich, we will need to strengthen the conservative contingent in the Senate.
May '10
Re: George Will on Newt Gingrich, Or, What's the Right Word?
Man! That's the kind of bitterness that I'd associate with some past personal offense. Anybody have any idea if Newt ever seriously dissed Will?
Re: George Will on Newt Gingrich, Or, What's the Right Word?
Paul, can't wait to hear your analysis of Newt. Pace George Will, I still lean toward Newt--but chiefly because of the Newt I followed, and knew slightly, during the old days. First as a member of the House during the Reagan years and then as Speaker during the Clinton years, Gingrich, though never less than full of himself, proved a determined and accomplished conservative--his list of conservative accomplishments, from the first GOP majority in the House in four decades to welfare reform, is a long one. (Far longer than Romney's, who did a good job with the Massachusetts budget but not much else.) But in the dozen years since stepping down as Speaker--years of which I have much less knowledge--Newt appears to have been up to a truly remarkable amount of no good.
As I say, I'm eager for your analysis. Am I ever.
Edited on Dec 3, 2011 at 10:33amSep '10
Re: George Will on Newt Gingrich, Or, What's the Right Word?
If you think Newt is wacky on policy, wait till you get a load of the inexcusable hash he's made of traditional Catholic pro life positions. Did you know that life doesn't begin until implantation? Neither did I.
Newt is a notable convert of Fr C John McCloskey. Newt's confusion isn't the innocent ramblings of the mistaken catechized, he's off the rails completely. Newt is the Republican party's Alcibiades and we all know what a great job he did for Athens and Sparta don't we?
Feb '11
Re: George Will on Newt Gingrich, Or, What's the Right Word?
George Will: Newt Gingrich embodies vanity and rapaciousness.
Chris Matthews: Does Newt Gingrich personify evil? (Only raising the question, of course.)
Jan '11
Re: George Will on Newt Gingrich, Or, What's the Right Word?
I think I'm going to end up writing in Paul Ryan...
Jul '11
Re: George Will on Newt Gingrich, Or, What's the Right Word?
Paul, Peter and all of the great brains here I have to say none of this matters a whit if the economy gets falsely propped up as Bernanke is doing and given every chance will continue to do. People will vote based on their level of personal security and the economic plights of their loved ones. Some may decide on the higher ideological battles but not most. There is a high percentage of the universe concerned with food, shelter, and reproductive activities and they voted last election. I suspect they will vote again with the varied confusing mantras of OWS ringing through their simplistic brains.
We currently have 2 stinky candidates with a RINO and a conservative both of whom have personal attributes people disdain as well as ethical flaws. Quite frankly they both disgust me and its an embarrassment there is not a better person in the field. Perhaps like last election the end result is known and the game will be fixed again.
Mar '11
Re: George Will on Newt Gingrich, Or, What's the Right Word?
The problem with Gingrich is that he is a really intelligent flake. He appears to have some conservative principles sometimes, but if he comes up with what he thinks is a great idea it is difficult to see those principles reflected in his actions.
Jul '10
Re: George Will on Newt Gingrich, Or, What's the Right Word?
Do people still listen to George Will?
Color me surprised.
May '10
Re: George Will on Newt Gingrich, Or, What's the Right Word?
My biggest disappointment was Mitch never trying. To see him and Christie both bow out for family concerns, well I just give up. From my career in the Navy, I've seen much better men give more to their country. But, I think the chattering pundits deserve some credit for getting us here as well, back when they all thought the options were limitless they went after Mitch Daniels hard. I wonder if they would do that today?
I agree with George Will that conservatives have more conviction, but hasn't that just increased the intensity of the many litmus tests it takes to get through the process. Mr. Will wrote an article years ago about the Episcopal Church failing badly to attract anyone, in it he said something along the lines of "the church that is accepting of anything attracts no one." (I'm badly paraphrasing from memory) Maybe that notion applies here, the party that wants everything at once gets nothing.
Edited on Dec 3, 2011 at 10:47amJul '10
Re: George Will on Newt Gingrich, Or, What's the Right Word?
As a side note, it appears people have a problem with what Newt says; I suppose if you actually look at his record as the Chief Legislator and before, you'd find his actions speak to someone with conservative principles.
But, regarding voters infatuation with Romney, apparently words matter more than deeds.
Nov '11
Re: George Will on Newt Gingrich, Or, What's the Right Word?
I have to take issue with Will's statement that
Is he talking about the Republican candidates for President, who range from Ron Paul to Jon Huntsman to Newt Gingrich to Mitt Romney? I don't think so. He appears to be talking about the electorate, who, if the polls are to be believed, keep changing their minds about which candidate to support. This reflects ideological homogeneity?
Jun '10
Re: George Will on Newt Gingrich, Or, What's the Right Word?
What a bumbling mistake for someone who is supposed to be a gifted politician (and a Catholic too).
What a squandered opportunity to present a good candidate for our side. With a president more unpopular than Jimmy Carter at equivalent times... you'd think the Republicans could do with Obama what the Democrats did with W's unpopularity.
Because of W's unpopularity, we got health care, two horrid supreme court appointments, more frivolous wars, state sponsored abortion, fast and furious etc.
Because of Obama's unpopularity, we'll get... what? Obama light. Waste of opportunity
Oct '10
Re: George Will on Newt Gingrich, Or, What's the Right Word?
Better Alcibiades than Nicias.
Nov '10
Re: George Will on Newt Gingrich, Or, What's the Right Word?
God, he is Alcibiades.
Jul '10
Re: George Will on Newt Gingrich, Or, What's the Right Word?
Examples of Freudian transference abound in the media underclass.
Jul '11
Re: George Will on Newt Gingrich, Or, What's the Right Word?
Samwise, it is not squandered opportunity if its a rigged horse race. If obama was pre ordained by very large forces to win again, humor my conspiratorial brain here, would it behoove the GOP to put a Ryan/Christie/Rubio up or better keep them until the abyss is large enough to dump this progressive garbage pile in it in 2016.
Jun '10
Re: George Will on Newt Gingrich, Or, What's the Right Word?
Paul A. Rahe:
We also need to give some thought to Congress. If it is to serve as a restraint on Romney or Gingrich, we will need to strengthen the conservative contingent in the Senate. · Dec 3 at 10:21am
You are looking for congressional restraint? Seriously? I thought it was the other way around. The president's veto pen is supposed to restrain congress. Either way, the only restraint I can see will be coming is from the bond markets. Numbers being stubborn things and all that.