Uh-oh -- it's Westsista's keen perspective on today's South Carolina primary!
Newt Gingrich has made me laugh out loud more than any of the other Republican candidates.
Sure, he lacks the entertaining qualities of Rick Perry, who unselfishly provided many hours of mocking fun. And he never comes close to making as many silly, unsupported statements as Michele Bachmann.
But he does remind me of another political celebrity that we haven’t heard from in a long time: Baghdad Bob
Remember him? He was the guy who on live TV proclaiming that U.S. troops were not in Baghdad, even as you could see them behind him in the video.
It takes a special kind of person to be able to sustain that level of, let’s say, flexibility with reality. And Newt is a very special guy.
The Women
You and I might describe a person’s behavior as “appalling” who cheats on and then dumps wife #1 when she gets sick, and then cheats on and dumps wife #2 when she gets sick. But Newt used that word to describe being asked about an explosive interview given that day by aggrieved wife #2. You gotta love that chutzpah, especially as it earned him a standing ovation!
Many people are guilty of cheating on their spouses, but the exceptional feat here is explaining it this way: “partially driven by how passionately I felt about this country, that I worked far too hard and things happened in my life that were not appropriate.” Genius! Talk about turning your weak points into strengths! What could be more virtuous than hard work and patriotism?
Newt Gingrich went after Bill Clinton with the flaming vengeance of an archangel over Clinton’s affair with a staffer, while he was deeply immersed in his own extramarital affair with one of his own staffers.
The Money
Newt Gingrich is the kind of guy who can pull down over three million dollars in a year, putting him in the tiniest upper tier of the top 1%, and nastily attack his opponent for . . . being even richer?
In 1988, Gingrich helped force the resignation of the Democratic Speaker Jim Wright, who was alleged to have used a book deal to circumvent campaign-finance laws and House ethics rules. This occurred while Gingrich himself was getting money from his own “unusual” book deal that raised money from political supporters to promote sales of his book.
The Positive Campaign
In Iowa, Mr. Gingrich vowed to “stay focused on positive things.” But I knew he would not disappoint. I knew that deep down he was the same guy who wrote a 1996 memo encouraging Republicans to "speak like Newt" by describing Democrats and Democratic policies using the words “corrupt,” "devour," "greed," "hypocrisy," "liberal," "sick," and "traitors."
In a delicious irony, it was his very close business partner – the conservative group Citizens United who helped him make three films – which led to the Supreme Court decision that enabled Romney’s Super PAC to run round-the-clock ads against Newt Gringrich in Iowa.
It wasn’t long before Romney’s relentless assaults caused him to abandon his positive campaign with brutal attacks on Romney.
The Mandate to Buy Health Insurance
Pop Quiz: In May 2011, who made this statement on national TV? “All of us have a responsibility to pay—help pay for health care,” and suggested this could be implemented by either a mandate to obtain health insurance or a requirement to post a bond ensuring coverage.
Nancy Pelosi? Harry Reid? President Obama?
Nope. Newt Gingrich. You can actually see him in a 2008 video making a pretty convincing argument on the merits of the individual mandate. Now he opposes the Obamacare mandate.
Where Newt Gingrich truly sets himself apart from the other candidates is in sheer gall. He appears to be totally untroubled by his own unbridled hypocrisy or his non-stop carousel of positions. I have barely scratched the surface of the “Newtisms,” without even mentioning climate change, immigration, Libya or Paul Ryan’s budget plan, but you can read about some of them by clicking here.
I don’t know about the people in South Carolina, but I would hate to see another Republican debate without Newt in it. He makes me laugh.
Westsista -- thanks for letting me know that Newt makes you laugh because he mostly makes me cry.
He's appalling in so many respects. Thanks for detailing why I find him so despicable.
Posted by: Flannista | January 21, 2012 at 05:40 AM
Hey Westsista -- what do you think of the Stephen Colbert endorsing Herman Cain in South Carolina? Just the kind of act for this Republican circus.
Posted by: Flannista | January 21, 2012 at 05:46 AM
Here's an article from the Washington Post about Colbert's 'campaign', entitled "Stephen Colbert, Herman Cain turn spotlight on super PACs in South Carolina":
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/stephen-colbert-herman-cain-turn-spotlight-on-super-pacs-in-south-carolina/2012/01/20/gIQAOARtEQ_story.html?hpid=z2
A quote from the article:
“I love that he’s making such a mockery of Republican politics and the super PACs,” said Cookie Washington, a Democrat who grew up in the District but has lived here for 25 years. “But this is South Carolina, so I’m not 100 percent sure people know it’s satire.”
Posted by: treesta | January 21, 2012 at 07:23 AM
I read the article earlier, treesta.
I love that Colbert is doing this.
Posted by: Flannista | January 21, 2012 at 07:42 AM
Yep. If nothing else, he's focusing acute attention on the power of the super PACs. I was at the dentist last night (my last visit, hopefully, for many months), and as I sat captive in my chair, the wonderful hygienist recounted the story of her sister, who is running for a U.S. congressional seat in New Hampshire. Apparently, there are 'minimum' amounts on a candidate's coffers ($125,000 each quarter) in order to remain on the ballot, and thus, in the race. The party she's running with is hesistant to put their money behind someone with no name recognition, so their hedging their bets until a clear leader emerges. Yet, she's sticking with her campaign. The hygienist spoke with pride of her sister for undertaking this effort.
Posted by: treesta | January 21, 2012 at 07:50 AM
I haven't watched the entire debate from last Thur, but I saw parts of it, and found myself laughing out loud every time I caught what was being said. It was so absurd and unintentionally funny, especially the feigned outrage that Newt was peddling. Decided it was better to savor the moment, and laugh rather than cry.
I have to say that Stephen Colbert is my hero. This is the most I have ever liked Herman Cain. He's being a good sport about it, and I love the fact that Colbert is urging people to vote Cain, and Cain is urging people not to. Hilarious. A perfect illustration of how ridiculous this election cycle has been.
I'm proud of your hygienist's sister too, treesta. Elections are too much about money, and that is the understatement of the century.
Posted by: Westsista | January 21, 2012 at 08:07 AM
I know people who don't realize Stephen Colbert is satire. Actual people.
Posted by: Westsista | January 21, 2012 at 08:07 AM
Yes, West. My first thought was, "This is South Carolina and folks don't know it's satire??? - that should be 'This is the United States and folks don't know it's satire.'"
Posted by: treesta | January 21, 2012 at 08:21 AM
Can I be the first to say that I miss noway's comments when we talk politics?
Yes, yes, yes, we miss noway and PEACE, period, (Hope you're having a grand time!!!), but I particularly miss noway's infusion of conservative common sense.
Posted by: treesta | January 21, 2012 at 08:23 AM
I'll be the second to say that, treesta.
I had wondered what noway meant when he said that his family would be on four continents this month . . . until I was "friended" by their oldest son on Facebook and learned that he is touring with a band in London. One of his twin brothers is still in Afghanistan, the other twin is in Wyoming and PEACE and noway are in Africa -- four continents. WOW.
West -- noway loves "Meet the Sass" and will be sorry he missed this. I'm curious what he thinks about Nervy Newt.
Posted by: Flannista | January 21, 2012 at 08:35 AM
My guess is that noway and I are in complete agreement on Newt, although we'll have to check with him to see about that.
Posted by: Westsista | January 21, 2012 at 08:50 AM
Westsista -- do you think Nervy Newt will win today?
Posted by: Flannista | January 21, 2012 at 08:55 AM
This whole Republican thing is as funny as watching a bus of convicted murderers sliding down a slick hill hitting cars on the way and wondering if you'll be lucky enough to see the whole lot shoot into the bay and drown or if someone will stop the bus before it submerges and free these people to allow them to wander the streets murdering more people. Ha, ha, ha. Time for my Haldol.
Posted by: half-a-sista | January 21, 2012 at 08:59 AM
Sorry half-a, but even your comment made me laugh. Gallows humor, perhaps?
I am horrible at predicting elections, but if I had to guess I'd say extremely close result, something like Iowa.
Posted by: Westsista | January 21, 2012 at 09:04 AM
Really half-a, you are hilarious!
Posted by: Westsista | January 21, 2012 at 09:14 AM
half-a's comment is very funny.
Westsista -- I met Nervy Newt once in TRM's office. NN was there to discuss "ideas" with TRM -- one Idea Man to another Idea Man.
What do you think of NN's ideas? Any original thinking going on?
Posted by: Flannista | January 21, 2012 at 09:26 AM
This is an interesting graphic from the Post on campaign financial contributions. I find it interesting that the Post lumped Obama's contributions with the DNC, but didn't lump the Republicans with the Republican committee. Maybe they won't do that until somebody wins the Republican nomination?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/campaign-finance/
Posted by: treesta | January 21, 2012 at 10:25 AM
Another one on tracking TV advertisements:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/track-presidential-campaign-ads-2012/
Apparently, these graphics will remain up on the Post throughout the primaries and the national elections.
Posted by: treesta | January 21, 2012 at 10:30 AM
I bet there are a lot of people who don't understand what Stephen Colbert is doing. Scarey.
Gingrich has always bothered me. I don't like his politics or personality. Ideas man? Smartest one in the room? Don't believe it for a second. Plus, I thought Republicans in general weren't looking for a career politician.
Mitt's going to take this one too.
Posted by: Matissta | January 21, 2012 at 11:43 AM
Another headlines in the news:
"The evangelical dilemma in South Carolina: adulterer or Mormon?"
Posted by: treesta | January 21, 2012 at 11:52 AM
treesta -- love the links in your10:25 and 10:30 comments. Very interesting.
Here's the real headline, treesta: "Liar or Sort-of-Liar?"
Posted by: Flannista | January 21, 2012 at 12:00 PM
"The evangelical dilemma in South Carolina: adulterer or Mormon?"
Wow. Is this what it's come down to for Republicans? Or just South Carolina Republicans?
Posted by: Matissta | January 21, 2012 at 12:36 PM
I remember when Reagan was running, my dad didn't think he was electable because he was divorced. Seems like an old quaint belief now.
An evangelical said to me a few days ago: "Mitt Romney was involved for so many years with that cult." I don't care that it's not showing up in polls, that way of thinking is alive and well.
I don't think it's just South Carolina, Matissta.
Newt is smart and does come up with some interesting things. The problem is that for every interesting idea, he has 100 truly bad ones.
Posted by: Westsista | January 21, 2012 at 01:28 PM
I forgot to mention that a certain percentage of his ideas will be directly opposite one of his other ideas. Maybe 40%.
Posted by: Westsista | January 21, 2012 at 03:05 PM
Pollsters are predicting a Nervy Newt victory in South Carolina. Aren't newts those animals that grow a new tale to replace the old tale? Seems like NN has that act down pat.
About the Mormon thing, fundamentalist and evangelical Christians still see Mormons as people who belong to a wacky cult and Catholics as idolaters. So they can't really like Mitt Romney or p.Rick Santorum. But ironically they didn't support their own kind. What's this world coming to?
Posted by: half-a-sista | January 21, 2012 at 05:17 PM