Giuliani: Gingrich Most Like Reagan, Most Electable
Compared to Romney, who boasts an impressive roster of big name supporters, Gingrich is seriously lagging in the endorsements department. But Rudy Giuliani—who incidentally was the Republican frontrunner according to the RCP average on this very day 4 years ago, which just goes to show that nothing is inevitable at this stage in the game—believes that Newt is the one contender in the race most like Ronald Reagan. And Mitt? Well, he's more like George H.W. Bush.
I kind of go back to 1980. And I remember the Carter White House just dying for Ronald Reagan. Ronald Reagan was the dumb actor. Ronald Reagan said incendiary things. Ronald Reagan was like Newt — gosh, you never know what he was going to say and the whole world would go crazy. The New York Times would write editorials. There was [George H.W.] Bush — greatest resume of anyone that ran for president, solid citizen, right on the mark. They got Reagan and they got trounced. And it may be that Newt is appealing to something that Mitt isn’t appealing to.
Later in the segment, Giuliani asserts that Gingrich has a "much more consistent position as a conservative" than Romney, and is the most likely to appeal to Reagan Democrats.
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Dec '11
Re: Giuliani: Gingrich Most Like Reagan, Most Electable
Mitt can keep Christine O'Donnell, Nikki-nearly-one-whole-year-in-office Haley and the uber-dynamic Tim Pawlenty.
Rudy Giuliani is a man who knows what it is to battle with the Left and come out on top.
Jun '10
Re: Giuliani: Gingrich Most Like Reagan, Most Electable
Do you remember 2008? Rudy may be able to battle the left, but he wasn't very successful with the Republican party.
I admire Guiliani greatly, but I have a hard time imagining two more different people than Ronald Reagan and Newt Gingrich.
Sep '10
Re: Giuliani: Gingrich Most Like Reagan, Most Electable
Watching this primary is like watching one of those old John Wayne western bar room brawls. Every time you think someone's safely ahead on points, the saloon doors swing open, chairs are flying, bottles broken, teeth missing, and another haymaker crashes into a chin and the brawl is on again.
Sep '10
Re: Giuliani: Gingrich Most Like Reagan, Most Electable
Its useful to remember Rudy was a federal prosecutor before running as Mayor of New York or seeking the Presidential nomination. While conceding the flaws of both candidates, he's on to something about Newt. I would never place money on my predictions against Steyn, but Rudy also picks up on the over the top evisceration of Newt, and the parallel with Reagan's *position* in 1980.
Bennett's concerns are valid, but I'm beginning to think the pile on -- if it doesn't sink Gingrich -- will help him. I also found his comments about the nature and speed of Romney's changes in direction telling, as well as his reflections on working with Newt and Bill.
Thanks for posting this Diane: its very interesting.
Re: Giuliani: Gingrich Most Like Reagan, Most Electable
There is this to be said for Giuliani's argument. In 1994, when Mitt Romney was putting as much distance as possible between himself and Ronald Reagan, Newt Gingrich was staging a nationwide revolution, leading the Republicans in the House to a great and lasting victory, and preparing the ground with his Contract for America for a renewal of Reagan's conservative revolution. Moreover, the minute Gingrich was off the stage and Dennis Hastert was in charge, the party lost its reformist elan.
Dec '11
Re: Giuliani: Gingrich Most Like Reagan, Most Electable
Do you remember 2008? Rudy may be able to battle the left, but he wasn't very successful with the Republican party.
That's irrelevant in the current instance.
Rudy could not overcome the hammerlock of social conservatives over the nomination process, but that doesn't mean he's wrong about politics in general, or Newt Gingrich in particular.
Jan '11
Re: Giuliani: Gingrich Most Like Reagan, Most Electable
What's was Halsey's old adage? "There are no great men, only great circumstances that ordinary men are forced to face."
I'm not sure Reagan was Reagan before he became president. We know that Reagan had many years of studying conservatism, but remember, it was after those years that he signed the abortion bill and raised taxes in California. He did those things after giving the Goldwater speech. So, I say, Reagan wasn't fully Reagan until circumstances made him the way we remember him.
And that's why I'm leaning toward Newt. (What's today, Friday? Check back tomorrow.)
The difference between Newt and Romney, I suspect, is that Newt believes in conservatism, but he's like a quarterback who knows he has to get rid of the ball after three-one-thousand. His political instincts are to start big and then compromise under pressure. Football players call it happy feet. Newt's afraid of taking a political sack, so he gets frenetic at the deadline.
But Mitt? I don't think he really believes conservatism, deep down inside.
Reagan had the ideology, but had to master the politics. In a different way, so does Newt.
Sep '10
Re: Giuliani: Gingrich Most Like Reagan, Most Electable
That just proves Newt is unhinged!
Err, somehow.
Jun '10
Re: Giuliani: Gingrich Most Like Reagan, Most Electable
Nobody's Perfect: Do you remember 2008? Rudy may be able to battle the left, but he wasn't very successful with the Republican party.
That's irrelevant in the current instance.
Rudy could not overcome the hammerlock of social conservatives over the nomination process, but that doesn't mean he's wrong about politics in general, or Newt Gingrich in particular. ·
There's a little more to Rudy's loss than a "social conservative" dislike for him. He decided to stake everything on Florida, and passed on New Hampshire (where independents can vote in the primary and it's not exactly South Carolina).
My points were (1) Guiliani, while admirable in most respects (I'd be far more excited about him than Newt as a candidate), has demonstrated a less-than-stellar sense of national political strategy and (2), most significant, I see few similarities between RR and Newt. Different temperaments, different styles, and, I would argue, very different politics (by the time he ran for president, RR was far more conservative than Newt). Rudy is entitled to his opinion--I just happen to think he's wrong on this one.
Edited on Dec 16, 2011 at 5:35pmSep '10
Re: Giuliani: Gingrich Most Like Reagan, Most Electable
Newt swings for the fence; Mitt's content with bunts and the occasional line drive. Surely Mr. Will can appreciate a baseball analogy. Babe Ruth was no svelte charmer either; but he did what he needed to do.
May '10
Re: Giuliani: Gingrich Most Like Reagan, Most Electable
Newt and Rudy also share another important quality...an inability to remain faithful to their marital vows. I'm one of those people who still believes that moral turpitude is an important character issue. Am I alone in this?
Just asking...
Sep '10
Re: Giuliani: Gingrich Most Like Reagan, Most Electable
Keith Preston: Newt and Rudy also share another important quality...an inability to remain faithful to their marital vows. I'm one of those people who still believes that moral turpitude is an important character issue. Am I alone in this?
Just asking... · Dec 16 at 8:45pm
The classy guys all took a pass, and Mitt's buried in a French quagmire as I type this. We peasants, apparently, can't be choosers.
May '10
Re: Giuliani: Gingrich Most Like Reagan, Most Electable
KC Mulville: ........
And that's why I'm leaning toward Newt. (What's today, Friday? Check back tomorrow.)
The difference between Newt and Romney, I suspect, is that Newt believes in conservatism,
Not exactly. Newt believes, first and foremost, in Newt. Sometimes that harmonizes with conservatism, sometimes it doesn't.
Sep '10
Re: Giuliani: Gingrich Most Like Reagan, Most Electable
Duane Oyen
KC Mulville: ........
And that's why I'm leaning toward Newt. (What's today, Friday? Check back tomorrow.)
The difference between Newt and Romney, I suspect, is that Newt believes in conservatism,
Not exactly. Newt believes, first and foremost, in Newt. Sometimes that harmonizes with conservatism, sometimes it doesn't. · Dec 16 at 9:30pm
Very well put.
May '11
Re: Giuliani: Gingrich Most Like Reagan, Most Electable
tabula rasa
Nobody's Perfect: Rudy could not overcome the hammerlock of social conservatives over the nomination process, but that doesn't mean he's wrong about politics in general, or Newt Gingrich in particular. ·
There's a little more to Rudy's loss than a "social conservative" dislike for him. He decided to stake everything on Florida, and passed on New Hampshire (where independents can vote in the primary and it's not exactly South Carolina).
Rudi was on track to win FL until Charlie Christ came out heavily for McCain. Christ TOTALLY expected to be tapped for VP as a result. The pictures of him standing to McCain's right in several other states gives testament . Christ shoved McCain across the goal line in FL to win the nomination. Had Christ stayed out (as I'm sure he now wishes he had) Rudy would have taken FL and probably the nomination.
Jun '10
Re: Giuliani: Gingrich Most Like Reagan, Most Electable
Pilli
tabula rasa
Nobody's Perfect: Rudy could not overcome the hammerlock of social conservatives over the nomination process, but that doesn't mean he's wrong about politics in general, or Newt Gingrich in particular. ·
There's a little more to Rudy's loss than a "social conservative" dislike for him. He decided to stake everything on Florida, and passed on New Hampshire (where independents can vote in the primary and it's not exactly South Carolina).
Rudi was on track to win FL until Charlie Christ came out heavily for McCain. Christ TOTALLY expected to be tapped for VP as a result. The pictures of him standing to McCain's right in several other states gives testament . Christ shoved McCain across the goal line in FL to win the nomination. Had Christ stayed out (as I'm sure he now wishes he had) Rudy would have taken FL and probably the nomination. · Dec 17 at 7:23am
Rudi still put all his eggs in the Florida basket. And why didn't he woo the execrable Mr. Crist? Still, and I believe we all agree, Mr. Crist's train to fame got derailed by Senator Rubio. Justice sometimes prevails.
Jan '11
Re: Giuliani: Gingrich Most Like Reagan, Most Electable
Pseudodionysius
Duane Oyen
KC Mulville: ........
And that's why I'm leaning toward Newt. (What's today, Friday? Check back tomorrow.)
The difference between Newt and Romney, I suspect, is that Newt believes in conservatism,
Not exactly. Newt believes, first and foremost, in Newt. Sometimes that harmonizes with conservatism, sometimes it doesn't. · Dec 16 at 9:30pm
Very well put. · Dec 16 at 11:01pm
Can't argue.