What happened to Newt last night?
It served as a reminder of the essential trait of the Gingrich campaign: It is entirely dependent on the candidate’s impulse or mood…
Again and again over the course of the two-hour CNN debate, Gingrich either soft-pedaled his attacks against Romney or failed to make them altogether. Asked to explain it afterwards, Gingrich backers offered a collective shrug – it wasn’t the performance they needed heading into Tuesday’s primary.
His somnolent showing left other November-minded Republicans with a mix of shock that the famously hard-charging politician would go soft at such a high-stakes moment and relief that he may not be able to capitalize on his South Carolina win.
“Speaker Gingrich showed everyone tonight that he does not have the discipline to run a presidential campaign,” said unaligned GOP strategist Curt Anderson. “He clearly came into this debate with no plan and no strategy to win it. If he had won this debate tonight, he would have won Florida, and pandemonium would have set in within the Republican Party.”
Blowback
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Then why do you like Newt now? He’s about as opposite of Huntsman as you can find left in the race.
Esthier on January 27, 2012 at 12:43 PM
Yeah, that one is a real knee slapper. Obama can connect with the middle class just fine. As long as they’re down with discussing “The Autobiography of Malcom X” while their caddy mixes them an appletini on the 17th green.
Kataklysmic on January 27, 2012 at 12:44 PM
Yeah, I really think this is Obama’s best shot at re-election. Newt and Romney have their faults, but I think either one would have a much better chance at winning the White House than a total newbie, even one with decent name recognition.
Esthier on January 27, 2012 at 12:48 PM
I don’t think a brokered convention would produce Huntsman (even though I personally think it would be awesome).
I would actually hope a brokered convention could give us Jindal (or Paul Ryan, tbh). While I wouldn’t particularly like a Mitch Daniels nomination, I would prefer it over Newt or Romney. Almost anyone they could come up with would be better than our choices currently.
Abby Adams on January 27, 2012 at 12:48 PM
Newt happens.
Capitalist Hog on January 27, 2012 at 12:53 PM
Well I’m new here, too, so what do I know? But the workings of this place often are a lot more interesting than a lot of the opinions.
de rigueur on January 27, 2012 at 12:54 PM
Don’t Newt where you eat.
Capitalist Hog on January 27, 2012 at 12:54 PM
Where is your restroom? I need to drop a Newt.
Capitalist Hog on January 27, 2012 at 12:55 PM
To be honest, last nights debate didn’t surprise me. Gingrich has always stuck me as a flawed candidate, completely undisciplined and ruled by his emotions. When he’s doing well at the polls, when the audience is on his side, when he has easy moderators, and when his opponents are trying to run out the clock, he does very well.
However the moment things start looking bad for him, he melts down. When he feels defeated you can see it on his face, and he is completely incapable of taking charge of his emotions and putting himself back in the race.
This is why I said he’d be a disaster in a general election. A general election is a constant cycle of ups and downs, and if Newt kept pivoting between defeated punching bag, and a pompous wind bag, he’d have been completely toxic before we even got to the debates.
Romney on the other hand, for all his faults, has proven this week that he’s steady at the wheel. He did not panic, instead he quickly analyzed his own strengths, focused on Gingrich’s weaknesses, and went after them relentlessly. Say what you will about Romneys positions, its hard to argue that the man isn’t a competent campaigner.
At the very least, he will not damage any other Republican candidates that end up on the ticket with him. This is immensely important, as taking back the senate is just as important as beating Obama, as far as I’m concerned. Harry Reid has acted as the single biggest obstacle to even modest reforms. While we cannot remove him from the senate entirely, we can de-claw him by handily retaking the senate.
If we manage this, then even if we lose the presidency we can force Obama to veto bill after bill, which takes away that obstructionist club he keeps beating us with and makes it easier for us to win additional seats, or the Presidency in 2016.
Beating Obama AND retaking the senate is optimal of course, but at least retaking the senate largely renders Obama a lame-duck.
WolvenOne on January 27, 2012 at 1:00 PM
Isn’t it obvious that Newt never wanted to destroy his fellow opponents en route to the nomination? He was dragged into it kicking and screaming and his team screwed up a lot in their attempts to respond. It’s been awkward to say the least. Am I the only one that finds Newt commendable for initially trying to keep his ire focused on Obama and his media and away from his competing peers?
RepubChica on January 27, 2012 at 1:01 PM
Some people have usernames and don’t comment for years. Then one day, BAM! Open registration gives cover to aged sockpuppets.
You people are hilarious. Speaking of you people, anybody else think Ron Paul and Ross Perot share extra-terrestrial DNA?
Capitalist Hog on January 27, 2012 at 1:02 PM
The biggest advantage of anyone selected at brokered convention over the guys running now would be the advantage of surprise. And a completely re-charged GOP. The Obama campaign would have to throw away the playbook, dig up what they could against a completely unexpected opponent in only 3 months (and not over 3 years), and start tap dancing. Racist to say, I know, but I don’t think Obama’s a very good dancer.
Anyone who’s entered the primaries this year would be a better Chief Executive than Obama, as would anyone selected at a brokered convention. We’re all still looking for a bigger winner, I think.
de rigueur on January 27, 2012 at 1:04 PM
Go in the bathroom. Turn off the lights. Spin 12 times in front of the mirror saying “bloody murder.” Only then will somebody agree with you.
Just kidding. Everybody else knows what Newt is.
Capitalist Hog on January 27, 2012 at 1:05 PM
Will Jindal hold pre-primary seances?
Capitalist Hog on January 27, 2012 at 1:05 PM
As in… “Surprise! We picked Romney!!!!”
What else would you expect from a bunch of professional RNC committeepeople and state chairmen?
joe_doufu on January 27, 2012 at 1:08 PM
That was dumb.
RepubChica on January 27, 2012 at 1:11 PM
FFS, if you’re going to troll at least do it right… it’s supposed to be Jindal and exorcisms, not seances.
Try harder.
Abby Adams on January 27, 2012 at 1:14 PM
raw red meat might excite the palette at first, but pretty soon people want something cooked properly.
reliapundit on January 27, 2012 at 1:19 PM
I can’t envision that scenario. The only reason there even would be a brokered convention is if Romney really can’t close the deal in the primaries. Then to turn around and nominate someone who is so demonstrably weak within his own party anyway would be suicide– oh. Yes. RNC. I see your point.
de rigueur on January 27, 2012 at 2:17 PM
Ah, but there is another candidate, already blessed by the RNC, an experienced national campaigner who’s proven stronger than Romney… McCain!
We should never underestimate the Republican party.
PersonFromPorlock on January 27, 2012 at 2:38 PM
Darth Executor on January 27, 2012 at 3:45 PM
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