The Noble Destiny That History is About to Confer Upon Newt Gingrich
Newt Gingrich's destiny? Not, according to Conrad Black, probably the shrewdest observer of American politics in all of Canada, to become president.
What then?
To stop Mitt Romney.
"The office is not seeking," Lord Black writes in a fascinating article over at National Review Online,
and the nation is not turning its lonely eyes toward, Willard M. Romney, widely perceived as a plastic policy weather vane and incorrect health-care champion....If Mitt couldn’t set anything on fire to this point, the tinder isn’t there....
Inconceivable though Newt is as president, he is an articulate and forceful critic of the administration and not just an O’Reilly-Hannity impersonator. Newt sees it plain, calls it straight, and gets the sleep-deprived Republicans halfway home by tearing the incumbents limb from limb. But there’s more: He is such a cyclonic change of pace, he is a non-Mitt who can actually stay the course and stop Mittification from happening. Never mind that he won’t fly himself, he can keep the nomination open for someone who can, who couldn’t face having to campaign for a year and spend $100 million to be nominated....
Either Newt, too weighed down by darts, buckshot, and self-detonated combustion, will start to fade before the caucuses and primaries are too advanced, and one more declared non-Mitt, possibly Jon Huntsman, will arise; or the absence of a contender with a commanding lead will prevail until it is so close to the convention, or even at the convention, that there will be a draft of one of the non-runners, probably Jeb Bush. There will not be endless balloting until the deadlock is broken by selection of a dark horse, as with Warren Harding in 1920, or John W. Davis by the Democrats in 1924. But the process that has produced a nominee easily for both parties at every convention since 1952 now looks likely not to work this year; there is no bandwagon, and there could be the first real draft since the Democrats chose Adlai Stevenson in 1952, and, on the Republican side, since Wendell Willkie in 1940.
The genius of the American system produces a serious leader when the country has to have one....
Newt will never become president--but neither will Mitt. Either late in the primary season or at the convention itself, the American system, still resilient, will produce the leader the nation needs.
A serious leader when the country has to have one.
Oh, how I want to believe this.
May I?
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Apr '11
Re: The Noble Destiny That History is About to Confer Upon Newt Gingrich
Oh Peter. I think we all want to believe this. I give you permission for what it's worth.
But, who is the man in the shadows to spring forth and save our Nation? Do you really feel it is Jeb Bush? If you had the power to pick any Republican politician to stand against Obama and you knew they would not refuse your call, who would you pick?
Edited on Dec 23, 2011 at 6:18amJul '10
Re: The Noble Destiny That History is About to Confer Upon Newt Gingrich
I still believe Mitt will win it. But hey, we can hope for a brokered convention. Warren Harding was an unlikely but outstanding president. The Democrat John Davis, who lost to Coolidge, would have been an outstanding president and might have kept the Democratic party from its drift back to Progressivism. Who would be your dream dark horse, Peter?
Nov '10
Re: The Noble Destiny That History is About to Confer Upon Newt Gingrich
Jeb/Newt? Jeb/Palin? Jeb/Huntsman?
I don't know JB from a rusty nail. How's he in debate mode? That's Huntsman's flaw. Great record and positions, but flat in selling himself. He'll get eaten alive as the front of a ticket, but pretty viable as the partner. Jeb/Newt works for me, assuming Jeb's got the goods (I claim ignorance) and is not Dubya II. I still like Newt at the top of the ticket, but if not there, I think he may be the best wingman in the field.
I am also a true believer in Palin, and haven't discounted the possibility of a phoenix-like rise of Sarah in an older and wiser package. Whoever names her as a running mate had better make a wide berth around the error McCain's team made by trying to rebrand her -- she is who she is. Embrace that; don't cut off her legs.
Also, I think someone should put together a Palin 2040 PAC. I'm talking Piper. Just hold the country together til then, everyone!
Re: The Noble Destiny That History is About to Confer Upon Newt Gingrich
My dream dark horse, Valiuth and Byron? That would indeed be Jeb Bush. He served eight years as governor of Florida, a state in which registered Democrats outnumber registered Republicans. He cut taxes every year for all eight years--this in a state that had no income tax in the first place. He reformed Florida's health care system. He enacted a school reform that remained the most sweeping in the nation right up until Mitch Daniels enacted his school reform in Indiana last year. He balanced the budget. He proved so popular that he enabled the GOP to control both houses of the state legislature. And when he left office, his own approval ratings remained over 60 percent. He's smart, tough, and big-hearted, a brilliant policy intellectual, an adept politician, and a wonderful human being.
If his name weren't "Bush" but, say, "Humperdinck," he'd be president right now.
Edited on Dec 22, 2011 at 11:21pmDec '11
Re: The Noble Destiny That History is About to Confer Upon Newt Gingrich
Jeb Bush would be Barack Obama's dream opponent.
Dec '11
Re: The Noble Destiny That History is About to Confer Upon Newt Gingrich
As a Floridian who has benefited from all great things Jeb, I unfortunately must agree.
Mar '11
Re: The Noble Destiny That History is About to Confer Upon Newt Gingrich
Peter: There is much to respect about Jeb's record, and if someone asked me the counterfactual question "Which Bush brother would you prefer to be elected to the Presidency? You can choose only one", then I think Jeb would be the answer.
But the fact is, Dubya was elected and thankfully was the leader we had at the helm, rather than Gore, during 9/11.
Now, if Jeb was selected either just before or at the Convention, he would not suffer the problem that would usually befall such a dark horse: name recognition and voter knowledge. But the reason that he wouldn't is precisely because his name is Bush. Instead of name recognition, we'd have policy conflation.
And the Democrats will confound the voters with pictures of George W and Jeb standing arm and arm, playing "Anything you can do I can do better" sorts of music and making it impossible for independent voters to consider Jeb on his merits.
They'll also use the name Bush to discredit the Tea Party. "Oh, you see, all these Tea Partiers are just wolves in sheeps' clothing. This whole time, they really just support the party establishment."
Dec '11
Re: The Noble Destiny That History is About to Confer Upon Newt Gingrich
Ummmm.... I apologize. Am I given to understand Lord Black is a Canadian? You know, while I serve with a number of distinguished "C'nucks" would it perhaps be best to say..., "stay within your lane" as it were? I have no doubt "Lord" Black has an opinion, however, when starting out with,"
I don't even know where to start with this one. A duty huh? Let me guess... to the American people right? Really? One cannot help but marvel at the arrogance and condescension of the phrase. Why, thank you Lord Black for framing the US political system in such a way that I as merely a plebe in America's struggle to select a new President am rendered inconsequential by the opinion of one who has no dog in the fight and who's view from the cheap seats must seem pretty good from there.
Nov '11
Re: The Noble Destiny That History is About to Confer Upon Newt Gingrich
Having the last name Bush means that people think that you have foreign policy experience when you really don't. Governor Humperdinck would not be given that distinction as his Saturday Night Live impersonator would say, "I can see Cuba from my house," and then everyone would think that goofy Governor Humperdinck had really said such a thing when he really didn't.
And how would suddenly picking another look Bush from the same ruling family look to foreign dictators who despise democracy? It all feels a bit Vladimir Putin-like to me.
The ticket is most likely to be Romney-Gingrich, Gingrich-Romney, or Romney-"Conservative". That's not so bad as the other side's ticket is going to be Obama-Failure.
His is also remembered for being the lawyer who argued for "separate but equal" in a companion case to Brown v. Board of Education and for being nominated in 1924 at a convention where the power of the Klu Klux Klan was at its zenith.
May '11
Re: The Noble Destiny That History is About to Confer Upon Newt Gingrich
But his name IS Bush. And that is a name with a lot of baggage.
I'm sorry but a third Bush stinks of aristocracy. You might know him but most of America doesn't. And besides, the first two Bushes expanded the federal government's reach substantially.
I would almost vote for Obama or any other virulent Marxist communist before I would vote for another Bush. And if I feel that way, then people who don't despise Obama but merely think someone else could do a better job will more than likely hold their nose and reelect Obama. No to another Bush, even if he came down a mountain with two stone tablets.
Edited on Dec 23, 2011 at 2:23amMay '11
Re: The Noble Destiny That History is About to Confer Upon Newt Gingrich
Jeb is a nice guy, OK? Like EThompson above, I too am a Florida resident that benefited from Jeb's reign. I like Jeb.
Nominating Jeb to run against Obama would be proof positive that the Republican Party is the party of stupid. I can just see Axelrod, upon hearing that Jeb was nominated, falling to his knees laughing hysterically, thanking the heavens for his great good fortune. And Saturday Night Live? A drunken celebration at the fun they are about to have.
Feb '11
Re: The Noble Destiny That History is About to Confer Upon Newt Gingrich
EThompson
As a Floridian who has benefited from all great things Jeb, I unfortunately must agree. · Dec 23 at 12:27am
And I expect he is too decent a fellow to denounce his brother's policies and performance. That's what the media would spend September and October goading him to do.
Oct '10
Re: The Noble Destiny That History is About to Confer Upon Newt Gingrich
Pilli: Jeb is a nice guy, OK? Like EThompson above, I too am a Florida resident that benefited from Jeb's reign. I like Jeb.
Nominating Jeb to run against Obama would be proof positive that the Republican Party is the party of stupid. I can just see Axelrod, upon hearing that Jeb was nominated, falling to his knees laughing hysterically, thanking the heavens for his great good fortune. And Saturday Night Live? A drunken celebration at the fun they are about to have.
I trust the instincts of the lot of you, but please explain why a guy with such impressive budget-balancing and tax-reducing credentials is so loathsome as a candidate against The One. Is he a bumbling communicator like his brother? Look, if he can carry Florida that alone might put us over the top. So, for us far from Florida, why are you all so quickly dismissive of him?
May '11
Re: The Noble Destiny That History is About to Confer Upon Newt Gingrich
HVTs
Pilli: Jeb is a nice guy, OK? Like EThompson above, I too am a Florida resident that benefited from Jeb's reign. I like Jeb.
I trust the instincts of the lot of you, but please explain why a guy with such impressive budget-balancing and tax-reducing credentials is so loathsome as a candidate against The One. Is he a bumbling communicator like his brother? Look, if he can carry Florida that alone might put us over the top. So, for us far from Florida, why are you all so quickly dismissive of him? · Dec 23 at 3:26am
The national media is not that same as the local FL media. The national media hates Republicans and if those Republicans are named Bush the hate goes incendiary.
How are conservative Republicans going to defend Jeb when they are so disappointed with his two predecessors? All we can say is, "Well, Jeb's different." And the Democrats will respond with analogies about the launch capabilities of apples from the tree.
Personally, I would like to see Virginia's governor Bob McConnell nominated for President. If not McConnell, John Thune is still available.
Apr '11
Re: The Noble Destiny That History is About to Confer Upon Newt Gingrich
You may believe this, Peter. Treat your movies where people run from dinosaurs as documentaries, too.
I believe that Obama will serve two terms. If Black is holding out for a white knight, then we are desperate.
Does America's system produce well-timed Solons? FDR? Lincoln did step up. Reagan in his way and to his ability. Not Wilson. Not Kennedy. Coolidge was great but people like him don't run any more.
The last time America's finances were this bad, weren't we coming out of a revolution into what most observers felt would be a short, nasty rivalry with Britain before the Mother country reabsorbed us? She wouldn't have us now -- and we don't have a crop of leaders of that caliber to make it work.
I hope that I will be surprised by next November's result -- but I am determined not to be surprised by the current occupant of the Oval Office retaining his seat. The GOP has retired from the field. The damage he does accrues to the Republican Party, which, for the second time in five years, may fail to oppose a destructive-American in his quest for executive power.
Apr '11
Re: The Noble Destiny That History is About to Confer Upon Newt Gingrich
duplicate post
Edited on Dec 23, 2011 at 5:11amDec '11
Re: The Noble Destiny That History is About to Confer Upon Newt Gingrich
I'm beginning to believe that I may need to take an extended vacation from reading about politics.
As someone who follows politics (like everyone here) pretty intently, I love Jeb Bush. I believe that public school reform alone is a winning and big umbrella issue that could sway independents, conservatives, pretty much everyone who pays school taxes or has a child enrolled in public schools who doesn't financially benefit from the public school system. Everyone complains about the schools, even where I am in a liberal college town with a very decent school system. On this issue alone, Jeb Bush could massacre Obama, but for his name.
I remember early in the 2008 campaign when Obama was talking about school reform. He was talking about a real overhaul and that it was necessary for the future of the country. My immediate thought was, oh s--t, I might have to vote for this guy, because I believe that if we don't get our education system in order, the country is sunk anyway. But the education lobby got to him and he reneged on his claims and I was saved from a wrenching decision.
May '10
Re: The Noble Destiny That History is About to Confer Upon Newt Gingrich
The draftee would be subjected to an anal probe so deep we'd know what his or her eardrums looked like from the inside. Every overdue library book, every time they broke wind in church would be discussed ad nauseum. We'd know the precise calorie count of the babies they ate for breakfast.
There's nothing I can foresee that will deter me from campaigning for the eventual nominee, but I'm not putting much faith in a great wo/man deus ex machina from the convention.
Oct '10
Re: The Noble Destiny That History is About to Confer Upon Newt Gingrich
Pilli
The national media is not that same as the local FL media. The national media hates Republicans and if those Republicans are named Bush the hate goes incendiary.
How are conservative Republicans going to defend Jeb when they are so disappointed with his two predecessors? All we can say is, "Well, Jeb's different." And the Democrats will respond with analogies about the launch capabilities of apples from the tree.
Personally, I would like to see Virginia's governor Bob McConnell nominated for President. If not McConnell, John Thune is still available. · Dec 23 at 4:51am
OK, so it's really not about Jeb Bush per se ... a weakness attributable to him individually. It's about being a Bush in the context of Breitbart's Democrat Media Complex. I understand you now ... don't like preemptive disarmament, but you might well be correct. How's Jeb Bush as a candidate vis-a-vis what some like about Newt ... taking the fight to the enemy, commonsense terms of reference, feisty, giving better than he gets, etc? Or is he more 'find common ground' regardless of the cost?
Oct '10
Re: The Noble Destiny That History is About to Confer Upon Newt Gingrich
Conrad Black makes a case for those of us in our skivvies teetering on the edge of (frigid) Lake Romney, unable to take the plunge. I'm going to put on some warm clothes and wait a little longer.
Israel P.
EThompson
As a Floridian who has benefited from all great things Jeb, I unfortunately must agree. · Dec 23 at 12:27am
And I expect he is too decent a fellow to denounce his brother's policies and performance. That's what the media would spend September and October goading him to do. · Dec 23 at 3:21am
I think I.P. makes an astute point here.