"Nothing concentrates the mind like the prospect of a hanging." The English poet Samuel Johnson actually put it this way: "When a man knows he is to be hanged...it concentrates his mind wonderfully."
The emerging prospect of Newt Gingrich as the party's nominee for president late next summer has concentrated the Republican mind.
To those who have a big stake in winning the election and returning to the White House, to all the power and perks of the presidency, Newt Gingrich looms as a greater threat than Barack Obama. Top Republicans believe the difficult economy offers them a real chance at beating the president. The far harder problem is beating Newt Gingrich who is now riding at the top of Republican polls. If they can't beat him, the party suddenly looms as the underdog in next fall's race for the presidency.
But how do the Republican leaders and wisemen free the caucus and primary voter from the killer instinct that's sending them to Newt? How do they stop the hard-chargers from voting for a guy who promises in word and attitude to do to Obama what they most want done to him: attack him, all the while debasing him, doing everything but spit at him? How do they stop the voter from wanting their party's candidate to show the same hatred toward the president that they, the party's thinkers, have? If contempt is what they, the party thinkers and leaders, voice toward Obama, how can they rightly deny their voters the right to have a candidate who does just that?
It'll be interesting to watch the Republican leaders and thinkers find ways in the next several months to measure and modify their words to avoid the anger of the party's base itself. Otherwise they will be condemned to repeat what the party did in 1964, run a presidential candidate who said "extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice."
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Mr. Chris 'Softball' Matthews — gesundheit!— and company. Sir,all you guys do is invite people of your likings that have the answers you long to hear. How hardball is that? Why don't you step into the ring with the real Paquiaos that are out there? Although,sometimes you get surprises,right Ed? But,In spite of these unexpected good fortunes,shall we say it like that?,all I hear is a derogatory attitude toward the other candidate(s). Meanwhile,ignoring the real issues that affects the country, which has gotten worst since your man in DC took office. All of them,and then some, are just as confused as the President is,when it comes to matters of interest and foreign policy. But,no need to apologize.
I know the other newsmen take their cheap shots at your guys as well,but at least they sit with both sides and report on other points in question. Simply put,they have more class. Sorry guys,its gonna take more than a gossoon's gossip —gesundheit!— to stop me from choosing right. But Chris,using scare tactics to dismay americans from voting conservative has to be the cheapest shot of them all. Why,take a look at these events sir: WWI/WW2/Fat Man & Little Boy/Korean War/Viet Nam War. They all had a democrat in the oval office. I guess they were different back then. Right Jayne?
As a matter of contention,Chris,I don't think the President came out swinging sunday night. Where do you see that? Just take a look at that image and tell me,if that's not a demoralized face when he herd the numbers. Followed by a contemptuous sneer and with the frown of a clown...,it was just enough to have me switch channel back to them guys. Through out our history the people of this nation had to cope with perilous,or otherwise unfortunate situation from abroad or within. But,along the way we had our heros,whether it be statemen,generals or private citizens,which in any case,they were able to rely on our economy to back up their words or actions thanks to that great american free spirit. And to have this first black-american President undermine and underestimate the rights of citizens,is an insult and a direct violation of the Constitution of the United States of America. I'm not seeing black and white here. It's impossible. I see light through a prism.
" Their philosophy is simple: we are better off when everyone is left to fend for themselves and play by their own rules. I am here to say they are wrong."__BO
Oh Ed!,you know that famous quote from Jack,about patriotism that I mentioned before? I was just saying that of his father. Yeah you know,the man behind the man! And Ed,magpies are known to be smart animals. They can recognize themselves in a mirror. Well,I mean,like those two you found in the street protesting. Why,they recognized you right away Ed. And boy,they could talk too!! They talked about: [[ "left wing values...,like the right to vote!!" ]] You believe that Ed! Come on now!! Wave that red flag with tools!! Come comrades! VIVA LA INTERNATIONALE! We march!! Ooouch!! Ed,the only thing I'm omitting from this short paragraph dedicated to you,are all the laughs I had. By the way,I like how you bottoned that coat like a Stalin and/or like Sgt. Schultz. Jawohl Herr kommisar!
You know Chris,I don't have to despise a man for being neatly rich,or defend him to death because he's miserably poor. Tell me the crime,then I judge. The other night,I saw Piers Morgan's witty interview,to say the least,of Lady Jane Fonda. Here is a woman,that had lived all her life,and I mean all her life!!,in all the high places of society. She has been discribed as an actress,feminist,fitness icon,model, producer,political activist,and as a writer!/? Boy!,she really wants to belong to that 'entitlement circle' of professionals like you guys. She doesn't want to be left 'behind' you know.
And here's the catch (Ed I sound like you already). She's been 'preparing' all her life just for that moment when it comes. And now with Obama,she feels ever so close to it than before. Because her main concerns or worries,has always been to stay out of the other half. You know,those who have to get down to the nitty gritty and really,really practice socialism in the President's farm. Presumably,she's a one per-center by now. One of those one per-centers who don't invest their money for the good of others or that could create jobs for many other people. Her motto always been: I,me,mine,made money! Give it a rhythm Chris; I,me,mine,made money! And she goes on tv to talk about these other people!/?
People haven't forgotten her treacherous role in the Viet Nam War against her own country. I could still read it in the New York Times when she spoke of the POWs returning home calling them: "hypocrites and liars" "military careerists and professional killers" who are "trying to make themselves look self-righteous,but they are war criminals according to the law". And of course, she went as far as Hanoi to shoot down the airmen. She meant Moses' law? Try to envision saying that to all those eighteen years old boys going over there,or to that gay Viet Nam vet you had in your show.
Left wingers are like wolves in sheep's clothing. How do you know this? As the dog that they are,they have to come out of their suit to pee and mark their territory and then scratch behind their ears. Thats when you see or smell them. I feel like loading her into a B-52 and drop her over Hanoi with 100 tons of ordinance,while I smoke a cuban cigar on a 4th of July. I apologize for my belligerent arrogance. But I just can't help puking out all that obnoxious,repugnant pulchritude.
Let me finish now. I'm going to the Jersey shore. Come on down guys! Maybe we meet each other. Trump's Casino has a nice buffet. Let's help with the economy.
Too long; didn't read.
I, on the other hand, hope Tingles' stays on the air to pontificate despite his anemic ratings. Sir, your arrogance, snarkiness and disdain for anyone who does not share your elitist views provide an excellent backdrop for me to teach my son about what not to be on this earth. You see, he is learning about the traits of politeness, truthfulness, objectiveness and integrity. I need to make sure I'm doing my part to cultivate a future leader to clean up this riff-raff that you all have created. So thank you!
Yes, Gingrich is a threat to the GOP. But I don't believe he will get the nomination. I do think the GOP will have a brokered convention. With the split between Ron Paul, Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney. The GOP seems to me to be poised to tear itself apart.
Hopefully the GOP has shown enough of their stripes by now to have become their own worst enemy for this coming 2012 election. Their "Rising Star" list changes too often to credit their (hopeful) demise to any one candidate. I believe our voting public is smart enough to realize that so many of our problems are from the current Republicans in office who refuse to do what is best for their country. Time after time they fall in-line with their party radicals in their effort to discrace this President. All without any sense of the damages it causes their fellow countrymen. I for one will hold them responsible this coming November and I hope others will do the same. I am not a partisan voter and have voted for both major parties over the years, but what the Republican Party has become is exactly why I quit them. Partisan politics is harming our middle class terribly. We had ten years of unfunded spending, durring two wars - all while the top 1% proffited. Now it's time for our middle class to get the benefits. We need to strengthen our middle class before doing anything else and there are pleanty of ways to do it directly without some "Trickle Down Effect."