I think Palin is being pushed aside to make way for Newt as the

[old mark]

main GOP candidate/spokesman/leader for 2012.
The GOP's have NO ONE ELSE who can even come close to being a real national figure, and they they seem to think Newt is "smart" (just like Obama!!!)
I think Newt will run for Pres in '12, maybe Palin as the religious right's candidate, possibly on a new party split from the "mainstream" GOP.
Just my opinion, but watch the news for the next few weeks for more of Newt and less (favorable) on Palin...


mark

[polichick]

1. Kinda says it all when you have to go digging up ol' Newt!

[theoldman]

2. Many assholes are smart and Newt is one of them.

Hitler was smart and so was Stalin. This does not mean that they are right.

[old mark]

15. I prefer to think of him as "clever" rather than really smart.

I also can't think of anyone I dislike more in politics except maybe John McCain.
Newt is a lying weasel.

mark

[salguine]

27. I think of him as more cunning than clever, and then after that I think of him as

more devious than cunning.

[old mark]

29. When I think of him at all.....nt

[acmavm]

3. Newt is the political equivalent of a drug resistant disease. Can't kill it.

It does really disgusting and bad things, but you just can't make it go away, no matter what. It just keeps sitting there, reveling and thriving in its own corruption.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

7. Yup!

Frankly, if anybody wants to run Newt as their presidential candidate in 2012, they're more than welcome to do so. THAT can only be good news for us! :thumbsup: For those who supposedly voted against Al Gore because of "Clinton fatigue" in 2000 (more like "fake Clinton scandal fatigue"), Newt has a whole wardrobe of REAL "skeletons" and scandals for us to bring up. If Newt runs in 2012, there will be such tremendous "Gingrich fatigue" by the end of that campaign that (hopefully) nobody will even want to see him on cable news programs anymore. Run Newt Run!!!!

[tridim]

4. I really do think the GOP is going to split in two for 2012

Newt has already threatened exactly that.

Go for it!

[Kahuna]

5. I agree. The GOP have probably had its fill of her family's redneck antics. nt

[MADem]

6. Newt is too old, and he was getting his carrot waxed in the Speee-kah's office while

he was yelling at Clinton and feigning outrage about all that jazz.

Further, he was also doing other things, in, on, and about the Spee-kah's desk and conference table and xerox machine, that made Clinton's adolescent fumblings look like the Junior High spring dance action under the bleachers.

There are people around who will TELL. The same ones who TOLD his 2nd wife, most likely.

Newt was swept into leadership on a tide of "reform." Many of his staff were "true believers" who honestly thought the GOP was "better" and "truer" and "more patriotic" than we godless, peacenik, tax-n-spend Dems. When Newt's trangressions came to light (and some of them were a consequence of his failing to LOCK THE DOOR) he shocked, appalled, and disappointed more than a few Goody Two Shoes types on his staff. One of the reasons why former Congressman "Morning Joe" on MSNBC can be a bit sardonic and jaded about his party is because he was one of those freshman "true believers" and Newt let him down....of course, he ended up doing the same shit, dumping HIS wife for a new model, but he, too, came to realize that his "better" party was full of shit.

Besides, old Newt is no spring chicken--he's too old. He's what, 66 or so now? He's also fat and doesn't exercise--hardly the picture of health. McCain may have looked like shit, but he exercises like a maniac.

I hope he does run, though. I'd love to revisit all those Newtie moments--the gay sister giving him shit, Connie Chung getting his mother to call Hillary a bitch, the dirty and vicious details of the divorce trials, his nasty, craven attitude and comments down the years....yeah, Newt's a gift that keeps on giving!

[old mark]

16. I think he will run despite all that. He has a lot of cash, and his

GOPAC fund gives money to a lot of GOP'ers who he will squeeze for support. I think his lack of any morals at all will help split the Religious Right from the mainstream GOP's who see lack of morals as a good thing in a politician.
Plus, Newt's ego is even bigger than his gut - he WANTS to be President before he has that big stroke we all so fondly anticipate.

Be interesting to see how it plays out.

mark

[MADem]

18. In a way, it sure would be interesting!

Every time Calista hits the campaign trail on behalf of her cheesy husband, everyone will be looking at her and picturing her waxing Newt's carrot.

I just can't see him living that shit down, but I imagine he's got the hubris to try.

[old mark]

21. Hubris is that fat little bastard's middle name. nt

[JenniferJuniper]

8. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss

So they've tried the "fresh faces" and came up empty so they've hit the graveyard with their picks and shovels.....

Don't see that working either.

[old mark]

17. No I doubt it will even be close - I believe the next election will make

the last one look like a victory for the GOP - they will lose by much more than in '08.

mark

[JenniferJuniper]

9. dup

[CoffeeCat]

10. Palin as VP?

Someone please, please tell me that Palin will be somewhere on the GOP '12 ticket!

She's a disaster and a joke--and that's exactly what we need on the other side.

Someone!! Reassure me that she'll be somewhere on that ticket!

[Egnever]

11. please palin was never a serious contender for anything other than american idol

[oviedodem]

12. I hope there is a 3rd religous right/ultra conservative party b/c it will

GUARANTEE democratic leadership for years.

[saltpoint]

23. It would, I agree, and Newt himself was yacking about the possibility of one

just this past week -- something long the lines of "If the GOP doesn't shape up, a third party will be necessary."

Newt's run at the GOP nomination would be iffy. He'd have to more more folksy than Huckabee, which is isn't, and richer than Romney, which he also isn't.

Palin, Jindal, and Pawlenty, IMO, are nobodies and will not be in serious contention for very long for the 2012 Puke nom.

So I could see Newt setting up a third party run. He has nothing to lose, actually, although not much to gain either. But it would sink the Republican ticket in the general election.

I think babylonsister's post re Paul Ryan deserves more attention than it's getting.

[Vinca]

13. Even Newt is bright enough not to go up against Obama.

I still think they'll let Palin have her day in 2012 and then field a serious candidate in 2016.

[babylonsister]

14. Conservatives have 'annointed' Paul Ryan...

Rep. Ryan annointed 'leader of the future of the conservative movement'

Yep, the 'braintrust' of the GOP budget. :puke:

http://briefingroom.thehill.com/2009/04/04/rep-ryan-ann... /

Rep. Ryan annointed 'leader of the future of the conservative movement'
@ 10:42 am by Jeremy P. Jacobs


If there was any doubt that Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) was emerging as one of the new leading players in the GOP, the conservative Heritage Foundation dashed it aside this week.

The conservative think tank named Ryan "the leader of the of the future of the conservative movement" on Friday, according to Fox News.

Ryan has been the GOP's go-to guy in recent weeks because he is the ranking member of the House Budget Committee. He introduced the Republican alternative budget this week and delivered the Republican radio and internet address on Saturday.

Perhaps what is most notable about Heritage's decision is who they didn't pick. House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.), who was praised for uniting the caucus in opposition to President Obama's economic stimulus package but has since seen his star dim, was passed over.

Heritage also didn't pick any of the pols considered potential 2012 GOP candidates. Louisana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-La.) wasn't picked and neither was South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford (R).

[rucky]

31. ...this week.

[LiveLiberally]

19. Newt is a cunning political animal, but hardly an intellectual -- a failed one in fact

His first career was in academia (History professor). He was denied tenure & left the field. He only appears to be an intellectual in comparison to Rush, Palin & Co.

[old mark]

20. You and I know that. The GOP's think he's a fuckin' GENIUS !

The "architect" of the Contract With America that would ensure Republican leadership of America for all time.

He is smart as hell compared to Palin and the rest of them, but then so is my dog.

mark

[saltpoint]

22. I'm trying to picture either one of them bumping Willard and Huck for

first place in Iowa.

Palin is a lost soul. She has no idea how ferocious the buzz saw she's about to back into is going.

Newt is smarter than some Republicans, but he would have to beat Huck in Iowa and Romney in New Hampshire, for example which doesn't seem as likely to me as it may sound to him.

If Obama is looking strong, and I think he will be, Newt has very little to gain in challenging him, plus he'd have to figure out how to place ahead of his GOP rivals for the nomination.

An uphill climb.

[BlooInBloo]

24. I think it'll be Cantor (Newt's protoge), with Newt sering a Cheney-like role.

[AlinPA]

25. The main stream GOP is the religious right. nt

[ladywnch]

26. does anyone really think that Palin will go away quietly?

does anyone think she would ever settle for second position again?

does anyone think Newt would accept her as a running mate?

Didn't Newt come out dissing Palin during the election?

I just don't see her going away quietly. Her ego is WAY too big for that...and to accept VP again. I can just hear her now, 'people were voting for me in the last election, NOT the old man....the public LOVES me'.

Should be quite fun to watch if Newt and the GOP go this route. :popcorn:

[saltpoint]

28. I'd like to see as blistering and bruising and divisive GOP primary as

possible, leaving the survivor too weak to mount a serious national challenge to a popular incumbent Democratic president.

Sarah Palin clearly looks in her mirror each day and sees the next president, but I don't really think she will have any good luck in the Iowa caucus. Dense as Republicans are, their county chairs know that Palin would be poison for the ticket.

There's not much enthusiasm out there in Republicanland for a Palin candidacy. Plus, Huckabee's better with people and Romney's got the bucks.

[old mark]

30. More "interesting times" coming up. Popcorn sales increase....nt