Is it just me, or is Newt Gingrich basically writing the playbook on how not to become president in 2012? Via Ace of Spades:
Gingrich said it is too early to call for Obama’s impeachment, but did not rule it out if he fails to comply with Congress and the constitutional process.
“I believe the House Republicans next week should pass a resolution instructing the president to enforce the law and to obey his own constitutional oath, and they should say if he fails to do so that they will zero out [defund] the office of attorney general and take other steps as necessary until the president agrees to do his job.
The topic is the president’s refusal to use the power of the Executive Branch to continue to defend DOMA. Ace of Spades is not impressed:
My Problem… is that this misreads the electorate, I think. It’s not 1995.
I think the public wants tangible, realistic solutions. I feel that Gingrich here is talking like he’s a blogger, offering up a whole raft of tough-guy posturings we know to a moral certainty will never actually happen.
This to me makes him seem like a politician to me, playing for applause, looking for advantage, and not at all like what I’m imagining a successful challenger to Obama will look like.
The thing is, not only is 2011 not 1995, 1995 wasn’t 1995, at least in terms of the way Gingrich saw things playing out during the days of the 104th Congress. Bill Clinton owes much of his comeback to the fact that the soon-to-be-septuagenarian Speaker politically miscalculated at almost every turn. Gingrich’s policy prowess was second to none during the late 1980s and early 1990s, but politically, he almost always placed his bets on the wrong horse.
Further, Newt’s presidential run has the feel of a once-award-winning film star attempting to transition to a role on a hokey sitcom. Gingrich’s attempt last year to come out swinging on the Ground Zero mosque issue didn’t exactly result in the Speaker breaking out of the pack, as while most Americans agreed with the Speaker on the issue, the vast majority considered it a tertiary issue, more than eclipsed by the economy and the nation’s fiscal situation. And his suggestion now that Republicans should even begin discussing the impeachment of the president, which would be seen by the general public as baseless, and which would change the subject from issue areas where Republicans are actually winning the debate, is just another reason that Newt should presently be in retirement, not considering a presidential run.
February 25th, 2011 at 7:29 pm
This is stupid. How’d that last impeachment work out, Newt?
February 25th, 2011 at 7:43 pm
So I guess we know what we are going to be hearing from Newt about NOT running in the next few days. This is not the kind of statement made by a soon to be candidate. Not even smart for an armchair analyst.
February 25th, 2011 at 7:51 pm
LOL!
I used to think no one could be more of a charlatan than Romney.
GIngrich wants the House to threaten to impeach the President if he “doesn’t do his job”? Could he sound any more vague and ideologically driven? The Netroots nuts would say Bush “wasn’t doing his job”. Newt went from doing an Abbott and Castello with Al Gore on global warming, to laying down in front of the bulldozer to stop the mosque, to this.
He is competing with Palin for the rock bottom of my depth chart.
February 25th, 2011 at 7:56 pm
Matt-
I am happy to hear that Mitt is no longer on the rock bottom of your depth chart. Luckily, we have about 13 more months for him to move into the top 2 or 3. I can’t wait for that day.
February 25th, 2011 at 8:02 pm
Sure, Newt, let’s impeach Obama so we can have President Biden. (sarcasm in case you missed it)
February 25th, 2011 at 8:19 pm
Ray,
Before you get your hopes up too much, you should know I’ve got Christine O’Donnell penciled in just above Mitt right now……….
February 25th, 2011 at 8:22 pm
Does Newt not remember what happened the last time he pushed an impeachment most people didn’t support? At least in the case of Clinton, they had some legal grounds- no matter how spurious they seemed to the other half of the country.
February 25th, 2011 at 8:41 pm
Matt-
Once Christine does “Dancing with the Stars” and becomes the next judge on “XFactor” I think Mitt will jump ahead of her.
February 25th, 2011 at 8:46 pm
“Before you get your hopes up too much, you should know I’ve got Christine O’Donnell penciled in just above Mitt right now”
But he’s ahead of Sharron Angle, isn’t he?
One of the strongest arguments Republicans were able to make last fall was that Obama/Pelosi/Reid were ill-serving the public by focusing on health care when it was jobs the people cared about.
Can you imagine the explosion if congress were to tie itself up in knots for months dealing with an impeachment? Not only would Obama be re-elected, the Republicans would lose just about every contested House or Senate seat. And deserve it.
Luckily, Boehner has rather more sense than Gingrich.
February 25th, 2011 at 8:50 pm
Truth be told, George W Bush’s signing of a bill he knew to be unconstitutional (McCain/Feingold) it was an act that rose much higher on the impeachment scale.
Honestly, I don’t have a problem with what Obama’s doing. I think that both the executive and legislative branches have been derelict in their duties when it comes to interpreting the Constitution themselves. Thankfully, the Tea Party has instilled Congress with at least a bit of integrity on the Constitution. If Obama wants to change the presidency towards actively interpreting the Constitution, that’s a good thing as long as he continues to do his job of actually enforcing the law while it is the law.
I don’t see anything the the Constitution that compels the president to defend an unconstitutional law in court. Therefore he’s on safe ground.
February 25th, 2011 at 9:11 pm
If Newt is such a genius, why would he remind everyone of his single biggest blunder by calling for an even more specious impeachment???
February 25th, 2011 at 9:15 pm
Ray,
Depends on the quality of her paso doble.
February 25th, 2011 at 9:20 pm
I’m not sure how the Clinton impeachment can be tossed in Newt’s lap. He wasn’t the driver of that train.
For that matter, I wouldn’t call the matter specious. The charges and evidence were serious. I think the chamber that acted dishonorably was the Senate by treating the matter as a wholly political exercise instead of acting as the jurors that they were.
February 25th, 2011 at 9:29 pm
Matt,
I have no idea what a “paso doble” is unless your talking about 2 Mexican coins so I’ll just defer you on Mitt vs. Christine’s ranking.
February 25th, 2011 at 9:36 pm
Ray,
Paso doble.
Please note that the woman in the video is neither a witch, nor a ghost.
February 25th, 2011 at 9:37 pm
That Obama is giving in to his base on the issue of the American family is a tragedy – but not an impeachable offence…at least not after the lessons of the last round of impeachment proceedings.
February 25th, 2011 at 9:53 pm
My God! No, it’s not you, DaveG. Apparently, Newt’s compulsive attention-seeking pathology is getting worse. As Bob Hovic said in #1, how did that last impeachment work out??
As you said, DaveG, in your pre-dawn posting this morning re Gov. Christie:
Democrats hoping that 2011 would be another 1995, when Bill Clinton ran circles around Newt Gingrich and set himself up for an easy re-election, are going to be sorely disappointed. Republicans have truly found their voice on these debt/spending/size of government issues, and are the only ones proposing the types of reforms necessary to curb the debt at a time when the broader electorate has finally come to terms with the severity of the issue. To swing voters, Republicans are the ones siding with “the people,” while Democrats defend powerful special interests. Like I said, Election ’96 this ain’t.
And, yes, Obama and the liberal Democrats are trying their damnedest to get us off message. This DOMA bit is a tar baby put out there by them for that very purpose (as was DADT last year). But, leave it to Newt who just can’t stand to have these accomplished conservative governors getting all the attention and leading a GOP comeback. While Newt is a smart guy, he never learned one of the most important lessons: never pass up an opportunity to keep your mouth shut.
February 25th, 2011 at 10:02 pm
“This DOMA bit is a tar baby put out there by them for that very purpose (as was DADT last year).”
I think you trivialize the country’s social fabric – abandoning DOMA is a sad, pathetic, repulsive act. But calling for impeachment is the wrong way to respond.
We should have attacked Obama for distracting from the financial situation, made absolutely clear that any attempt to demean marriage by abaondoning the traditional deffinition was dead on arrival, and threatened Obama that any further attempts to attack traditional values would put good faith negotiations on ANY issue in even greater jeopardy.
February 25th, 2011 at 10:09 pm
Matt
“He is competing with Palin for the rock bottom of my depth chart”.
=========================================
Just in case you missed it,the liberal baptist,
Elmer Gantry,preacher who by his actions directly
or indirectly(makes no difference which)has five
young people in their graves and on his conscience
(assuming he has any),this Lib baptist preacher is
lower than the rock bottom of my depth chart.
February 25th, 2011 at 10:18 pm
Newt Scozzafava Gingrich is trying desperately
to stay relevant.This guy has no character,no honor,
he will do and say anything to advance himself.
He’s done,total loser.
February 25th, 2011 at 10:24 pm
Newt’s just being Newt. Rockin’ the boat… Gotta probably get used to it because he’s very likely running for the nomination unlike Daniels who’s about 40/60 now. Which beats Palin who I think is under 10% that she runs.
http://www.politico.com/2012-election/
February 25th, 2011 at 10:27 pm
“Because everything she’s done since the last presidential election has decreased her job approval all over the country.”
===
Ouch!
February 25th, 2011 at 10:28 pm
Tex,
You never explained your big flip flop on Clemmons.
It’s not political posturing is it- your new found concern for those victims?
February 25th, 2011 at 10:30 pm
Craig,
And when they say, “all over the country” they mean it. Huckabee- who is culturally rather far from being an Arctic Queen- is beating her in Alaska.
February 25th, 2011 at 10:43 pm
Matt,
TEX spent over a year here rightfully and even thoughtfully defending Huckabee in.. well, everything including the Clemmons terrible tragedy up in Washington state.
But then – Pain tanks in all the polls while Huck rises to the very top, opening up a whopping 35 point swing in national net favorabiliy over the S’Cuda.
And voilà!!! TEX’s love for and defense of Huck turns to instant bitterness. Does sound a lot like petty political posturing to me.
February 25th, 2011 at 10:49 pm
Craig,
And his fantasy-like depictions of it are even more over the top than Max or the most hardened Rombots.
February 25th, 2011 at 10:55 pm
Matt,
Yep,
Max is an angel compared to TEX and the hardcore ‘Bots.
February 25th, 2011 at 10:57 pm
Matt,
Hopefully you’ll get time to read Huck’s new policy book and critique it here for Kavon and all of us. That would be so cool.
February 25th, 2011 at 11:02 pm
I’m sorry, I find it hard to believe that Gingrich can be this stupid. A guy with a Ph.D in History can’t be this dumb. Impeaching Obama over DOMA is just… I’m speechless it’s so blindingly dumb.
I for one am extremely glad that John Boehner is leading our forces in the House than Gingrich. Speaker Boehner is far more practical, and far less egotistical than Gingrich.
February 25th, 2011 at 11:09 pm
Matt,Craig…..
Talk is cheap,flapping jaws is entertainment
or more likely waste of time.You “live” on this
site so you are wasting much more time than I do.
I have no crystal ball,nobody does.
But I’m sure of this:
No more RINOS!Not this time!
That leaves only one conservative,Reaganesque
conservative at that,Sarah Palin.
Get used to it and deal with it!!!
February 25th, 2011 at 11:17 pm
Jonny,
Why do you think I call this flake
Newt Scozzafava Gingrich?!
He’s the same off the wall flake that
sat on a couch with another flake Pelosi
and made commercial promoting the biggest
trillions of dollars scheme “global warming”.
February 25th, 2011 at 11:45 pm
Jonathan,
I don’t think Santorum- in his most drunken fit of fevered delirium- would call for Obama’s impeachment over DOMA.
And he actually cares about these issues….. for real.
February 25th, 2011 at 11:46 pm
Craig,
That’s a good idea, and I’ve thought about doing a review of TPaw’s book (which I have not purchased yet). The devil’s in the follow through, though.
We’ll see.
February 25th, 2011 at 11:48 pm
Texxy,
Are you EVER going to tell us what motivated your massive flip flop?
February 26th, 2011 at 12:15 am
Matty,
Why don’t you ask your Huckashmuck compadre Craig,
who used to call himself Sarah and Mike,about his
massive flip-flop?
February 26th, 2011 at 12:28 am
Chris: “This DOMA bit is a tar baby put out there by them for that very purpose (as was DADT last year).”
Excellent point — it’s a bit of SoCon bait, and Gingrich is so desperate to build a constituency that he went for it. As Matt points out, even Santorum is too smart to bite, but not Newt.
February 26th, 2011 at 12:40 am
DeMint – out!
Pence – out!
Jeb – out!
Thune – out!
Christie – out!
Huckabee – out!
Romney 50/50
Gingrich – insane!
T-Paw and Daniels cause narcolepsy.
This thing could be over without firing a shot
Just ask JFK, Ronald Reagan, or Bill Clinton if charisma is an important factor in getting elected.
Or, name for me the last supremely charismatic candidate that lost a presidential election. I contend it doesn’t happen.
Personally, it galls me that the populace often votes for candidates on such shallow considerations, I’m more of an ideologue myself. But I know people who could really be described as apolitical, and probably couldn’t articulate an ideological thought, who voted for Reagan and Clinton and Obama for that basic reason. They will vote for Palin.
These are the squishy ‘swing’ voters in the middle who barely pay attention, yet, sadly, have the power to control our elections.
It drives me crazy. I am just thankful that we have a charismatic candidate on our side this time.
February 26th, 2011 at 1:21 am
While I have no grief for Gingrich, I’m not sure he is being quoted accurately. Either he cribbed this from Rush or it was the other way around. He was saying what would happen to President Palin if she decided to ignore Roe vs Wade and not defend it. If she had ignored a federal judge’s order. The Democrats would be claiming a constitutional crisis and demanding her impeachment.
February 26th, 2011 at 1:32 am
I gave Palin a shot in ’08 and ’09 (as many others did) but her performance on the national scene in most of ’10 and now ’11 has been horrendous with misstep after misstep after misstep.
She’s dug her own hole and as you see I’m not the only one who feels she has shown herself not qualified to be our nominee.
http://polltracker.talkingpointsmemo.com/contests/us-favorability-palin
February 26th, 2011 at 1:37 am
TEX,
We can’t just hand Obama four more years by putting up our most divisive candidate against him. Sorry, hardcore Palinites. But we’re trying to win here.
REAL CLEAR POLITICS:
I hope this answers your question, TEX of Paris & Milan
February 26th, 2011 at 1:40 am
Now, TEX..
Please answer Matt’s question which he’s asked you several times:
February 26th, 2011 at 2:54 am
Misstep after misstep? Yeah she sneezes wrong and its a national scandal. It’s interesting that she’s taking about issues that other candidates are not talking about. She’s not afraid to take anyone on. That’s qualifications to me. She would rip Obama apart in a debate.
Mike Huckabee is the biggest phony in the field. He has supported tax increases. He talks to the Arkansas Legislature and says if you want to raise tobacco taxes, that’s fine. If you want a income tax surcharge, that’s fine. If you want a sales tax increase, that’s fine. That’s not fine and that’s not leadership. Huckabee’s big spending spree in Arkansas does not sound small government to me. He supports Michelle Obama’s war on obesity which means he supports the federal government regulating school bake sales and bullying restaurant owners on how big their portions are. Huckabee flip flops on school choice. Some conservative.
February 26th, 2011 at 3:15 am
Sarah and Mike(aka Craig and many,many other flip-flops names)
“I hope this answers your question, TEX of Paris & Milan
”
=================================================
Out of politeness(that’s kind a nice guy I am)I won’t tell
you what to do with your stupid,worthless polls.
“TEX of Paris & Milan”
Paris is the most beautiful,the most romantic city in the world.
No competition,not even close.And I’ve been around,I should know.
Girlie,sissy men (almost)never win anything,not the pretty
girl anyway.They lack big time what the girls need.
“Sorry, hardcore Palinites. But we’re trying to win here”.
Win what?With who?Spineless RINOS?Liberal,baptist Elmer Gantry
preacher?
NO RINOS!Not this time!
Sarahcuda rules!!!
Get used to it,deal with it!!!
February 26th, 2011 at 11:55 am
Huck again says what’s the hurry and that things are looking good for us (well, that is if we don’t self destruct with the wrong nominee) in 2012.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZd2OObZ9Hk
February 26th, 2011 at 12:02 pm
POLLTRACKER.COM FAVORABILTY ..as of Today…
Huckabee ……. 39.0% / 29.6% … +9.4
Obama …….. 50.6% / 41.7% .. +8.9
Romney ….. 36.4% / 35.0% .. +1.4
Palin …….. 30.5% / 55.2% . -24.7
February 26th, 2011 at 12:35 pm
Only idiots put any credence in polls right now.
Haven’t I said this? Many times?
Only an idiot wouldn’t believe me.
I think we’re getting some strong clues about ol’ Craig…
February 26th, 2011 at 4:54 pm
1/21/07…..Guliani 34% McCain 27%
1/27/07 Guliani 32% McCain 26%
2/08/07 NH Guliani 27% McCain 27%
Net Favorability NH Guliani + 56
2/13/07 Texas Guliani 27% McCain 26%
2/14/07 Guiliani Favorability 66%
3/4 Head to head with McCain Guliani 59% McCain 34%
3/8/07 Guliani 44% McCain 20%
9/28/07 Guliani 30% Thompson 22%
The lesson is that it is malpractice to start saying who is electable and unelectable in Jan and Feb 2011. The emphasis is on today. Today, in the 2008 cycle, Guliani looked like a winner. By the time 2008 came in and people voted, that wasn’t the case. The idea of who is electable and unelectable when no one has declared, no one has campaigned, and no debates hae happened is pound foolish. Any event could turn the race on its head.
February 26th, 2011 at 7:21 pm
In other Newt news, he’ll be in Georgia in 10 days to announce the formation of a Presidential Exploratory Committee which would make him the first big name to get into the race.
On the subject of DOMA, the opinion is that Obama is trying to bring a divisive social issue into the upcoming election season. He knows he’ll have a tough time being re-elected if all we talk about is the economy and the debt so he has to bait Republicans into a debate on social issues. They’d be wise to ignore little Mr. O’s game.