The Gingrich and Romney Cagefight
As Daniel Henninger argues in a marvelous column in today's Wall Street Journal, over the next couple of months we'll witness a bloody, miserable heavyweight brawl--and that's a very good thing.
The Romney campaign may think their man is ready to compete against the president. They should watch the tape of the Saturday night "$10,000 bet" meltdown. In that brief, disastrous exchange over the Massachusetts health-insurance "mandate," a smirking, taunting Rick Perry showed why he won three governor's races. And Mitt buckled, as he had 10 days earlier when Fox's Bret Baier leaned on him about the mandate....
Newt Gingrich will either get Mitt Romney into shape for 2012, or he will take Mitt down in next year's primary contests before the former Massachusetts governor gets himself, and his party, in over his head.
And what if the man who was House speaker 13 years ago does defeat Mr. Romney? If somehow he steals the party's nomination, the Republican establishment—its leadership and its donor base—can blame themselves for failing to find one strong Republican willing to run against a vulnerable president.
For all the guff he is getting now from that same establishment, Mr. Gingrich is the one was willing to stand in and—altogether predictably—take it in the neck over everything from spending at Tiffany to his often antic speakership. The top-tier candidates stayed home. They wouldn't do it. He did....
Newt Gingrich's flaws have been posited. Mitt Romney's inadequacies are known. It's time to put these two in a cage together so that one can emerge a fighter, ready to compete for the presidency.
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May '10
Re: The Gingrich and Romney Cagefight
Peter, are you up early? Or late?
Oct '10
Re: The Gingrich and Romney Cagefight
Peter Robinson:
This pretty much sums up Gingrich for me. Is he the ideal candidate? Not by a long shot. Does the prospect of giving him the most powerful executive position in the world make me nervous? A little bit given what absolute power can do to a man. Would I pull a Clyne and vote for President Obama if Gingrich wins the nomination? Absolutely not. Often the opponents that have the greatest impact and are most dangerous are the ones who have nothing to lose. Gingrich has been through the media gauntlet before. And he is standing up whereas others are home for whatever justified reasons. I appreciate Gingrich's instincts and whether you like it or not, there is a Christiesque quality to his candid comments. His gravity and gravitas are pulling the conversations substantively; voters and the field are better for it regardless.
Aug '10
Re: The Gingrich and Romney Cagefight
Peter, your feelings about Mitt are well known and often expressed. I've heard your pleadings and criticisms of him on nearly two years of Ricochet podcasts and in your posts on this Website. It is obvious that you don't like him at an emotional level and that you are constantly on the lookout for justification for those feelings. So be it.
You may find this impossible to believe, but many conservative, or the center-right as you call them, don't share your perspective. In fact, the numbers show that the "anyone-but-Mitt" crowd is the smallest of the "anyone-but-X" crowds among the GOP candidates.
Newt Gingrich is a flawed and politically vulnerable candidate, even more so than Senator McCain was four years ago. In the polls, he is gaining the support of some of the Herman Cain flock which is searching for a candidate. As those who are likely to vote in the primaries and caucuses are reminded of his past and his character problems, he will most likely fade. God help us next fall if he doesn't.
Sep '10
Re: The Gingrich and Romney Cagefight
Romney is not helping himself with me. I lean towards Gingrich as I sincerely believe this election needs to be about a stark contrast in ideas, not about hiring a new CEO.
Romney isn't that impressive when he plays defense, but on offense he is merely offensive. His comments to the New York Times calling Newt zany is destructive. I wonder if Mitt would DARE use such a strong word to describe Obama or his policies.
If somehow Romney wins the nomination and the general, events will overtake his Presidency and without any real compass or support from ideological conservatives Romney will cobble together a few timid initiatives, and fail to do anything of substance to stop the creeping socialism.
But I doubt Romney can win the general.
Re: The Gingrich and Romney Cagefight
Doc Stephens:
You may find this impossible to believe, but many conservative, or the center-right as you call them, don't share your perspective. In fact, the numbers show that the "anyone-but-Mitt" crowd is the smallest of the "anyone-but-X" crowds among the GOP candidates. Dec 15 at 3:40am
Given the weakness of the field, this is an extraordinarily damaging claim. You damn with the faintest of praise. The proud father of Romneycare is also "a flawed and politically vulnerable candidate" with a long history of losing. To begin to see why, just look at the Bret Baier interview.
Feb '11
Re: The Gingrich and Romney Cagefight
Peter I think this is a great point, truly testing our candidates will not create the best candidate (Ryan, Christie, and Daniels did not run), but it will give us the best of what we have. In the fight, I tend to think Gingrich has an advantage because the time is on his side, Romney only has a few months to do what took Presisent Clinton a few years to do. Romney's main benefit? The media will do their best to help make Gingrich's flaws apparent; however, Romney's main problem? The media will do their best to help make Gingrich's flaws apparent (Gingrich thrives off of media bias).
Sep '10
Re: The Gingrich and Romney Cagefight
My position on both candidates is they both have fatal flaws. But, someone's got to go in the ring and not only fight for the nomination but be willing to have $1.0 Billion worth of scorn dumped on them in the general and have everything including the kitchen sink thrown at them.
The WSJ is spot on: if Newt wins, the RNC's brain trust have only themselves to blame. And, philosophically, I think Mitt is so brittle in debate and confrontation that eventually he'll get rolled just like Ted Kennedy rolled him. I also think he's in grave danger of changing his personality every debate just like Al Gore did. If Newt wins, then let the angry badger unleash his inner cranykydom in the general. The Repubs may lose anyway, but at least there's the entertainment value of knowing you didn't send a squish to the general with their squirt gun and toy bugle so the media can wax poetic about what gracious losers the GOP are.
Sep '10
Re: The Gingrich and Romney Cagefight
His comments to the New York Times calling Newt zany
That so perfectly encapsulates the 1950's Eisenhower tailfin vibe that a Ricochet podcast participant last year (the name escapes me) raised when Claire was on with the boys, that I can't think of a better one line dismissal of his candidacy.
Sep '10
Re: The Gingrich and Romney Cagefight
Final thought for the day:
The base mood about those backing Gingrich seems to be this:
Romney is an Edsel; Gingrich is a Corvair. The Republican Establishment says Newt is unsafe at any speed. The base says "we'll take our chances". One thing's for sure: it will be a wild ride.
Edited on December 15, 2011 at 2:53pmOct '11
Re: The Gingrich and Romney Cagefight
I'm in Iowa and I'll tell you first hand that Romney is flat on his back here. Newt is on the rise, not just because Cain is out, but that most Iowans are truly conservatives. Mitt may have a checkered past on some issues but his record does back that of a conservative. It really is that simple. You are right Peter, he is a threat to both the left and the establishment right and that's what people like about him. They are sick of the go along get along mess of the middle. I'm for Perry, by the way.
Apr '11
Re: The Gingrich and Romney Cagefight
The most frustrating thing to me during this primary season has been the decisions of stronger candidates like Mitch Daniels to opt out. Whatever weaknessess Romney and Newt exhibit, at least they both have game. Whether their game can beat Obama remains to be seen. Let's hope.
Sep '10
Re: The Gingrich and Romney Cagefight
This has turned into the Angelo Codevilla election: its a revolt against the Ruling Class, and anyone perceived to be part of the Ruling Class -- fairly or unfairly -- gets set upon.
Oct '11
Re: The Gingrich and Romney Cagefight
Well put Pseudo, I believe you are right!
Jun '10
Re: The Gingrich and Romney Cagefight
Every candidate in a long and sometimes acrimonious competition is going to make some ill advised impromptu statements. Newt, in his comeback to Romney's ridiculous "give the money back" jab at Newt's Fannie snuggling a few years back uttered exactly one of those regretable statements. He needs to walk the Bain Capital missive back and do so quickly. Otherwise in my reply to Dr Rahe's fine essay on "why he decided for Romney?" I mentioned contrast as an important factor in my support of Newt, so I am with Franco on this one. AND DR RAHE, I still believe your heart still leans to Gingrich. FNC's ubiquitous Dick Morris said last night something to the effect that the more knocks Newt gets now, the stronger he will be later. It's an anti viral immunity that he could be building. Tony Blankly is a solid man to have in one's corner. He doesn't sparkle with the stars, but he is like an offensive lineman in football. Without guys like him, the ball carrier goes nowhere. This isn't over, and we have some better talent on the sidelines, but we can win this.
Apr '11
Re: The Gingrich and Romney Cagefight
The fascinating aspect of the primaries is that two tiny states one with an unusual system(Iowa) can have such a major impact on the whole election process. The Founders would be confused!
Dec '10
Re: The Gingrich and Romney Cagefight
Just once I'd like to go into the general arguing why our candidate is better than theirs instead of arguing that ours is simply less bad.
Dec '11
Re: The Gingrich and Romney Cagefight
That and I would like to send our candidate into the general with both of their kneecaps in place.
Aug '11
Re: The Gingrich and Romney Cagefight
Did you mean "Newt"?
Sep '10
Re: The Gingrich and Romney Cagefight
FNC's ubiquitous Dick Morris said last night something to the effect that the more knocks Newt gets now, the stronger he will be later.
Its the rope a dope strategy of Muhammad Ali combined with the Weebles Wobble But They Don't Fall Down advertising mantra of the 70's. The more beatings Newt sustains without buckling, the more he becomes the lovable old crazy uncle that says stuff you're thinking but are afraid to say out loud.
Oct '11
Re: The Gingrich and Romney Cagefight
Sorry Rick, but the latest Rasmussen poll has Romney in 1st. place 23%, Gingrich second at 20%, followed by Paul at 18%. It looks like the electorate has decided to take the gun out of it's mouth.