The Circular Firing Squad
Pat Caddell infamously refers to the Republicans as the "Party of Stupid" and witnessing the way the conservative media is reacting to the GOP primaries it's hard to make an argument against that assessment.
Here, in early December, it's pretty obvious how the race has evolved. Cain is history. He's just not a "NO" but a "NEIN! NEIN! NEIN!" Bachmann, Santorum, Perry and Huntsman are stuck in the single-digits. Ron Paul has his loyal band, crucified on a cross of gold, silver dimes and isolationism. That leaves Gov. Romney and Speaker Gingrich.
It seems none of the conservative literati really likes Romney. He makes the reddest of the red blue through the cold winds that blow through his debate performance vs Ted Kennedy and his blue record in the blue state of Massachusetts. But they seem to like the former Speaker even less.
And here is where the damage is done. What happens if the primary voters don't agree with the commentariat and hands the nomination to Gringrich anyway?
What you get is a DNC dream ad, informing the independents and the swing voters just how "scary" Newt really is. Can't you see it now? As ominous music plays in the background, a woman's voice intones, "Even conservatives think a Gingrich presidency would be a disaster. Mark Steyn calls him, 'a lily-livered ninny whom everyone thinks is a ferocious right-wing bastard...' Ramesh Ponnuru says Gringrich 'is temperamentally unsuited for the presidency.' If Gingrich makes the people at National Review nervous, why should we put him in the White House? Barack Obama. Four more years of steady leadership..."
We, the Ricochet membership, are free to discuss the pros and cons of any candidacy. Nobody is going to say, "Don't vote for X! EJ Hill thinks he's nuts!" But the brightest lights in our universe? Why do they have to be so dim?
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Comments:
Apr '11
Re: The Circular Firing Squad
Michael Tee
wmartin
DrewInWisconsin
wmartin
It doesn't matter who the Republican nominee is. That person will be absolutely savaged by Obama and his media attack dogs. Are you thinking that Newt will get it worse than Romney? · Dec 7 at 1:26pm
People didn't like him because he was successful. That's human nature.
Name me a leader who everyone loved. Leaders by their very nature are polarizing figures. You don't get to be Speaker of the House without stepping on people's toes. Some of those people have a voice now...<shrug>
One thing I will say is that Dick Morris was brilliant in painting Newt as evil while working with him. · Dec 7 at 4:02pm
Edited on Dec 07 at 04:02 pm
Strangely enough, Reagan was able to become successful without becoming the most unpopular politician in the country.
Most people here seem to be supporting Newt because they just can't turn down the visceral satisfaction they believe they will get when Newt "pummels" Obama in the debates (which won't happen, incidentally). I'd rather get my satisfaction on election night, but to each his own...
Edited on December 8, 2011 at 1:25amOct '10
Re: The Circular Firing Squad
I don't think this is necessarily so. Newt seems much more capable of defending himself. When Romney is knocked off-script--thank you, B.B., for exposing this--he comes across as a petulant , entitled pol.
If Newt is deeply unappealing, what is Romney? Gallup poll, Republican voters nationwide: Gingrich-37%; Chopped Liver-22%.
I'm not sold on Newt, but I'm not writing him off yet with Romney the only reasonable alternative.
Nov '11
Re: The Circular Firing Squad
I personally would love to see a campaign ad namedropping Mark Steyn and Ramesh Ponnuru. The average voter's eyes would glaze over.
Jul '10
Re: The Circular Firing Squad
wmartin
Michael Tee
wmartin
DrewInWisconsin
wmartin
One thing I will say is that Dick Morris was brilliant in painting Newt as evil while working with him. · Dec 7 at 4:02pm
Edited on Dec 07 at 04:02 pm
Strangely enough, Reagan was able to become successful without becoming the most unpopular politician in the country.
Oh, the invocation of Saint Reagan.
Take a look at the deficit numbers under Reagan. In California, the state budget increased from $5.7 Billion to $10.8 Billion. This without fighting the Cold War. The state bureaucracy went from 158,000 to 192,000. He raised taxes three times in California history: the first time his first year in office to the tune of $1B. Income taxes tripled. The deficit in the U.S. went from $74B in Carter's last term to $155B during the Reagan years. The debt went up $2T. Trade? How about his protectionism for Harley-Davidson?
If Reagan was so great, where was his coattails?
What is his political legacy, besides Bush the Elder which lead to Bush the Junior?
It is certain that Mitt Romney didn't pick up on it.
Apr '11
Re: The Circular Firing Squad
I don't invoke "Saint Reagan." Reagan is grossly overrated, and I would be glad to impose a rule that Republican candidates are not allowed to mention the man's name in the debates. I just note that he was able to get elected and advance many conservative goals while being popular, while unquestionably being a failure at cutting government.
Edited on December 8, 2011 at 2:27amJun '10
Re: The Circular Firing Squad
I can't imagine how much Ronald Reagan learned in those terms as governor. What I love about Reagan is the man that he became -- after all of the things he had been through and was tested on. Overall, he's a great man.
I doubt you really disagree, though.
His coattails were there in that first election when the Senate flipped for 6 years to the Republicans.
His political legacy was the Reagan-Gingrich economic boom for two and half decades. And all the conservative young candidates and officeholders all over the country who use Reagan's ideas and quotes as things to aspire for.
And all over Eastern Europe and the gulags of the Soviet Union -- now, that's a legacy.
I'm not missing your overall point, though. Great men are not perfect. Newt is already in the great man category. I think we can trust him. He doesn't have to be perfect.
Apr '11
Re: The Circular Firing Squad
Uh, can you define "great" for me? And maybe tell me what word I should now use for Churchill and Lincoln?
Oct '10
Re: The Circular Firing Squad
Perhaps, but if the ad were written by Steyn, you'd see fireworks.
Oct '10
Re: The Circular Firing Squad
I don't know about you, but I sure enjoyed the PATCO thing. And I was a journeyman in Hawaii Local 745 at the time. Go figure.
And I liked that he lowered taxes and revenue rose. It's true the deficit grew, but the house and senate was Dem controlled, so he had to deal to keep defense spending cranking. Which in turn brought about the wonderful phrase "Former Soviet Union". Enough Legacy for you?
Apr '11
Re: The Circular Firing Squad
Severely Ltd.
I don't know about you, but I sure enjoyed the PATCO thing. And I was a journeyman in Hawaii Local 745 at the time. Go figure.
And I liked that he lowered taxes and revenue rose. It's true the deficit grew, but the house and senate was Dem controlled,
The Senate was controlled by Republicans.
Oct '10
Re: The Circular Firing Squad
wmartin
Severely Ltd.
I don't know about you, but I sure enjoyed the PATCO thing. And I was a journeyman in Hawaii Local 745 at the time. Go figure.
And I liked that he lowered taxes and revenue rose. It's true the deficit grew, but the house and senate was Dem controlled,
The Senate was controlled by Republicans. · Dec 7 at 6:28pm
My prevaricating memory. Still, not a bad legacy, huh?
Apr '11
Re: The Circular Firing Squad
Severely Ltd.
wmartin
Severely Ltd.
I don't know about you, but I sure enjoyed the PATCO thing. And I was a journeyman in Hawaii Local 745 at the time. Go figure.
And I liked that he lowered taxes and revenue rose. It's true the deficit grew, but the house and senate was Dem controlled,
The Senate was controlled by Republicans. · Dec 7 at 6:28pm
My prevaricating memory. Still, not a bad legacy, huh? · Dec 7 at 6:41pm
Not bad at all.
Jul '11
Re: The Circular Firing Squad
I have been thinking about this all day. I am positive Newt will eviscerate Obama in ads and in the debates. Someone needs to finally vet our socialist, lying, corrupt, cronyist, American apologist, thin skinned narcissist president. Let us air his dirty laundry in such an open manner as the MSM will Mitt or Newt. Whether we win or not, the emperor needs his birthday suit flashed for all to see. This will be the meanest and most expensive campaign in all of recorded US history. Romney will stay calmer but can he play dirty, rude and mean. Make no mistake, this election requires guts and determination This election can be won by exposing what an idiot our president is and at the same time convincing people they will be better off in the long run by casting off the shackles of big government. Newt is crazy enough to get mean so maybe he's my guy.
Edited on December 8, 2011 at 9:20amAug '11
Re: The Circular Firing Squad
wmartin
Obviously, they are all going to get pounded. The attacks on Newt will work a lot better because he is a deeply unappealing man who can't even get people he worked with for years to support him.
Er . . . but he's the front-runner nearly everywhere. So I question the assertion that he's "deeply unappealing." He's obviously quite appealing. The trick for Romney is to discover what it is about Newt that appeals to people and replicate it if possible.
Edited on December 8, 2011 at 3:46pmMay '10
Re: The Circular Firing Squad
Hi, Hang-On and Jetstream. I repeat: Karl Rove offered money and assistance to the Angle campaign in 2010, and was turned down by the amateur staff jealous of its own control. That fact speaks for itself, and is like me performing surgery and refusing assistance from Lucy, George, or Doc Jay because they are all compromised mainstreamers.
For those who are pointing out what a traitor President Reagan was to True Conservatism, I must say that I don't get it. Is this the invasion of the Ron Paulites? I've often pointed out that Reagan raised taxes in California and with TEFRA, signed a liberal abortion bill, and negotiated with Iran for hostages. The point was that honest people can change their minds, but also often need to make trades in order to meet larger strategic governing goals. Even Ayn Rand would face uncomfortable tradeoffs. Sorry, that is reality.
It seems to me that in order to be successful as a leader, you have to recognize what you can accomplish and what you can't, as Prof. Hayward illustrates here with the story about Reagan and Newt (h/t Powerline).
Jul '11
Re: The Circular Firing Squad
Ron Reagan had to handle the fallout from LBJ/Nixon/Carter
I think tackling Keynsian economic mental illness was pretty darn conservative. I miss that man, he was like my grandpa in the white house. The body of Reagan's work absolutely details a great conservative. Any details that point otherwise are not even close enough to change what he was.
Well Duane I specialize in compromising. I will this election and gladly vote R in the hopes it gets us somewhere. My blood type now is ABO +, anything but obama.
May '10
Re: The Circular Firing Squad
DocJay:
................. Well Duane I specialize in compromising. I will this election and gladly vote R in the hopes it gets us somewhere. My blood type now is ABO +, anything but obama. · Dec 8 at 1:32pm
I much prefer winning to compromise, but Reagan, besides being principled, was the consummate politician- and understood that he needed people from both parties to get his program through and successfully deployed.
Obama doesn't/didn't, and has crashed. I hope our side doesn't repeat Obama's intemperate errors just because we are impatient.