Kill Newt's Chances of Winning the Republican Nomination for President of the US

[Moliere]

Why isn't he done because he was sanctioned by the House? I don't get that.

I've had several discussions about this with TEA Party people. They use words like "repentance" and "forgiveness" as the reasons they can look past Newt's prior indiscretions (both personal and political). While I'm a big fan of repentance, if someone comes into my home and steals $100 from my wallet, I'll forgive them but the next time I invite them back I'm hiding my wallet.

[Surfah]

Oh man I hope Wolf asks Newt about this tonight:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/...f-deportation/

I feel bad for his staffer who has no answer to what Gingrich suggested.

[LA Ute]

I think CNN is going to want to extract their pound of flesh out of Gingrich. They're going to have to be smart about it, which really worries me because I don't think they're that smart.

To the extent Romney or Romney's supporters have gone after Gingrich on his Reagan bona fides, I think it was a huge mistake. I have a suspicion that this will be the focus of the debates tonight. Romney claimed in 1994 to be a registered independent in the 80s and said he opposed the Reagan agenda. If the debate turns on this point, Romney will lose badly. Gingrich has so many other weak points, to go after him on the extent of his support for Reagan is a horrible idea.

Call me crazy, but I think Wolf Blitzer is a lot smarter than John King and Brian Williams and won't pursue stupid themes like "what have you contributed to conservatism?" The best thing for Romney would be a boring debate that focuses on the issues and doesn't allow any grandstanding. CNN probably feels stung by the way the last SC debate became The Newt Gingrich Show and wants to avoid a repeat performance. I hope so, anyway.

[Flystripper]

Call me crazy, but I think Wolf Blitzer is a lot smarter than John King and Brian Williams and won't pursue stupid themes like "what have you contributed to conservatism?" The best thing for Romney would be a boring debate that focuses on the issues and doesn't allow any grandstanding. CNN probably feels stung by the way the last SC debate became The Newt Gingrich Show and wants to avoid a repeat performance. I hope so, anyway.

Yet they allow for audience hootin' and hollerin'. I think CNN wants ratings and that is about all they are worried about.

[San Juan Sun]

Yet they allow for audience hootin' and hollerin'. I think CNN wants ratings and that is about all they are worried about.

To be fair, the crowd noise is actively organized by the campaigns. I think NBC has it exactly right when they don't allow their network and debate to be home for cheap political tricks.

[Omaha 680]

To be fair, the crowd noise is actively organized by the campaigns. I think NBC has it exactly right when they don't allow their network and debate to be home for cheap political tricks.

I'm with you. I wouldn't mind it if there was no live audience like the first televised debates. Then Newt could just fill the roll of a sweating Nixon.

[Flystripper]

To be fair, the crowd noise is actively organized by the campaigns. I think NBC has it exactly right when they don't allow their network and debate to be home for cheap political tricks.

I agree with NBC's approach but I don't think it gets the best ratings.

[San Juan Sun]

I agree with NBC's approach but I don't think it gets the best ratings.

You think people watch the debates because of the crowd?

[Flystripper]

You think people watch the debates because of the crowd?

I think it makes the debates more entertaining for the masses and people are less likely to change the channel.

[LA Ute]

Yet they allow for audience hootin' and hollerin'. I think CNN wants ratings and that is about all they are worried about.

A circus, IOW. Sigh.

[Pelado]

This will be an interesting debate. Will he go to the Dark Side, giving in to his anger?

[Katy Lied]

This is a pretty enlightening article on Gingrich.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/27/us...nted=1&_r=1&hp

I didn't know that Gingrich focused on ethics solely as a ploy to discredit opponents and gain political power rather than as a strategy to keep congress relatively clean. I might even have thought Newt was doing it idealistically, but from today's perspective, knowing that he was engaged in his own affair with a young staffer while pursuing impeachment against Clinton for doing likewise, I'd have to say Newt is all about slash and burn tactics.

[oxcoug]

Politifact rates Romney's "ghetto language" attack ad as.....

"mostly true"

http://www.politifact.com/florida/st...h-said-spanis/

[oxcoug]

Newt cldn't have handled the first lady question any worse.

First of all: there are word combinations Newt shld never, ever let escape his lips on a national stage. "Three wives" is one of them.

Secondly - he almost gave off the impression that he was talking Callista down. He said she wldn't be "innately better" than any of the others. He used the word "like" instead of love. And then he wrapped up by saying "I'd love to hang out with her in the White House."

I'm guessing it was a cold lonely night for Newtie.

And what. In. The. Hell. Was he thinking?

What voters HAD to hear from him in that moment was how deeply in love he was with her, how she inspires him, how she will inspire America. They should have heard NOTHING about any other woman - nothing that suggested anything but his undying devotion to her. Instead they got exactly what they expected/feared. It was like "hey these broads are pretty much interchangeable so, uh, who's up for a wife swap?"

Given that he went third AND had a full commercial break to reflect.... mindboggling.

I think that the question itself was some subtle payback from CNN who has been steamed all week.

On a separate note: This thread has very nearly fulfilled its purpose. You're welcome, America.

[Viking]

Newt cldn't have handled the first lady question any worse.

First of all: there are word combinations Newt shld never, ever let escape his lips on a national stage. "Three wives" is one of them.

Secondly - he almost gave off the impression that he was talking Callista down. He said she wldn't be "innately better" than any of the others. He used the word "like" instead of love. And then he wrapped up by saying "I'd love to hang out with her in the White House."

I'm guessing it was a cold lonely night for Newtie.

And what. In. The. Hell. Was he thinking?

What voters HAD to hear from him in that moment was how deeply in love he was with her, how she inspires him, how she will inspire America. They should have heard NOTHING about any other woman - nothing that suggested anything but his undying devotion to her. Instead they got exactly what they expected/feared. It was like "hey these broads are pretty much interchangeable so, uh, who's up for a wife swap?"

Given that he went third AND had a full commercial break to reflect.... mindboggling.

I think that the question itself was some subtle payback from CNN who has been steamed all week.

On a separate note: This thread has very nearly fulfilled its purpose. You're welcome, America.

you do great work here, Ox.

Any way you might move up the Hottie date timing?