Novak: Newt In 2012?
By Justin Gardner | Related entries in 2012 Election, Newt
Well, it doesn’t appear that the GOP will be lacking superstars to go up against Obama 4 years for now, and Robert Novak throws a familiar name into the mix…
In serious conversations among Republicans since their election debacle Tuesday, what name is mentioned most often as the Moses, or Reagan, who could lead them out of the wilderness before 40 years?To the consternation of many Republicans, it is none other than Newt Gingrich, the former speaker of the House.
Gingrich is far from a unanimous or even a consensus choice to run for president in 2012, but there is a strong feeling in Republican ranks that he is the only leader of their party who has shown the skill and energy to attempt a comeback quickly.
Even one of his strongest supporters for president in 2012 admits it is a “very risky choice.” But Republicans are in a desperate mood after the fiasco of John McCain’s seemingly safe candidacy.
Republicans seem chastened by the failure of seeking moderate, independent and even Democratic votes. They are ready to try going back to the “old-time religion.”
Personally, I think this is a no go.
Sure, Newt is a whip smart guy, but he’s ruthlessly political. And in this new “post partisan” era I think his brand is already too badly damaged.
Also, maybe this is just me, but the guy doesn’t strike me as presidential. He’s too much of a wonk. That was perfect for the revolution he ushered in during the 90s, but I just don’t buy that he would be an effective messenger of new conservative leadership…at least not nearly as much as say somebody like Romney would.
What’s more, I think if conservatives are really interested in the “old-time religion” they will get destroyed in the next couple election cycles. People didn’t just repudiate Bush, they also repudiated his politics. Republicans need to rebrand themselves and picking a voice from the past is a surefire way to reinforce the idea that they haven’t learned from their mistakes.
One last thing…how many of you think Newt talked to Novak and asked him to float his name out there so he could test the waters? That makes a lot more sense to me than GOPers actually thinking that he can lead them out of the wilderness.
This entry was posted on Saturday, November 8th, 2008 and is filed under 2012 Election, Newt. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
November 8th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Newt Gingrich won’t fly in the reddest parts of Red America.
Heck, I don’t even consider myself a social conservative and I find his personal behavior surrounding his two divorces to be pretty sleazy and emblematic of someone with serious character issues.
The opposition research file on this guy is thicker than a phone book.
He’s a smart guy, but he’s political poison.
November 8th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
Bwhahahahahahahahahaha *gasps for air* bwhahahahahahahaha.
Newt, yeah right, give me a break.
November 9th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Doug is right. Two divorces, and he was bonking his own intern, Calista Bisek, in the back rooms, while out in front of the microphones and the cameras, he was slamming President CLinton.
I suppose we’re supposed to ignore all that, though, now that His Holy Self-Righteousness, Mother Superiority Jimmy Dobson has heard The Newt’s confession, and says all is forgiven.
Agnostick
agnostick@excite.com