You know Newt Gingrich is coming from behind to overtake Mitt Romney when Romney fired a shot at Gingrich today. It was supposed to sink Gingrich’s ship. He called him a “lifelong politician.” [WAPO]
At the start of this campaign this claim was already losing its charm. Now even some stalwart Democrats have had enough of inexperience in the White House and are shifting about for ways to avoid Obama. At this turning point in our nation’s history, we cannot afford four more years of studied, careful responses to critical national and international issues. We need someone who can boldly go forward.
It’s taken some time but Newt has finally kept himself respectably together long enough to demonstrate that his experience and ability to deftly deal with the opposition is just what is needed. But he has to be careful. In a CBS interview today, he did what many would have advised him not to do: he commented on the Herman Cain debacle. He sympathized with Cain but said Cain himself needed to be the one to determine his future course. He did acknowledge that he felt Cain’s pain.
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7389949n
With his own past of not handling the women in his romantic past well, he needs to tread carefully in this area and not be drawn in. He did, however, refer to the “dishonest” campaign he felt Obama would wage knowing that the Republicans could win. He let it be know that while he and his wife don’t know what will come from the other side, they are prepared for it. This is the kind of perspective we need in a leader. He did not harass women that we know; he had some appropriate moments in dealing with them. These are not the same things. See this video by a CNN iReport colleague:
http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-710103
James Crawford
November 30, 2011
I definitely feel we need a President with expertise in governance, but the current crop of Washington insiders are the one who created this mess.
We also need to understand that because of crony capitalism enabled this debacle, integrity is paramount. I actually credited Obama with having integrity until he gave that “crazy uncle in the addik” speech to explain his twenty year relationship with his rapidly radical pastor, then shifted into the frighteningly megalomaniacal “I am the redeemer for the. Original sin of slavery” crap.
I was seriously considering Cain until the latest, seemingly credible accusations about a 13 year long affair destroyed his credibility. Given Cain’s experience as a missile targeting expert (expert mathematician who calculated the trajectories) while he was in the US Navy, his apparent misunderstanding about China’s nuclear status suggests the onset of dementia.
I might yet cut Gingrich some slack for his adulteries and divorces if he can provide a more credible explanation for his $1.6 million fee from Freddie Mac aside from “history lessons.”
Ron Paul is intellectually challenging, but his neoisolationist foreign policies are insane. What is horrifying is that Obama’s determination to be harmless to US enemies and lethal to US allies (just ask Mubarak and Pakistan if the US is a trustworthy ally), might leave the US with no viable alternative to isolationism.
I can think of only one potential candidate with actual experience at governance at the municipal and State level that can be transferred to Federal governance and an extensive record of combating corruption. This candidate has demonstrated an. Impressive grasp of diplomacy and national security issues since leaving office. Unfortunately; she isn’t running. Perhaps God will convict her to reconsider and accept that she is called to serve as a leader just as he restored the zeal of Elijah when he fled to Bersheeba.
Palin 2012!
DarcsFalcon
December 5, 2011
Mr Crawford, do you follow C4P, by any chance?
samhenry
November 30, 2011
I agree with you in all but outcome. Palin has not got the level of experience we need here. Unfortunately at this juncture, we need an insider again until we get out of this mess. We don’t have time to support a learning curve and she will have a big one.
AFVET
December 3, 2011
You are very wise my friend.
If you throw a novice into a den of crooks and pirates, the novice loses every time.
Although I am concerned about Gingrich’s past history, he may be the best choice to defeat Obama, and that is the goal.
samhenry
December 3, 2011
I am honored, AFVET. I so respect your views and opinions. Thanks.
James Crawford
December 1, 2011
I beg to differ. Governor Palin is uniquely qualified to cope with the US’s problems.
Our mess, including our foreign policy mess, is essentially the result of economic difficulties resulting from insane energy policies. Our dependance on foreign oil combined with the rapidly expanding economies of China and India as well as Latin America has given OPEC the ability to increase prices with little restraint. That same economic power gives them the means and political influence to support terrorism and build nuclear weapons. It is well understood by competent economists (a group that does not include anyone in the Obama administration) that there is an irrefutable correlation between energy consumption vs economic output and energy prices vs economic growth. Most economists agreed that the tipping point that would plunge the world into a recession or a depression was about $100 per barrel. At $100 per barrel, importing oil was costing the US economy nearly half a Trillion dollars per year. You may recall that the mortgage meltdown was triggered by oil hitting $140 per barrel in 2008.
Obama’s energy policy is to use government subsidies and regulations to force a transition to “green” energy sources whose total cost is well in excess to the equivalent of $300 per barrel. Obama has also abused government authority to restrain development of conventional, domestic energy sources. The most blatant example was the Obama Administration’s eagerly approving BP’s insanely irresponsible drilling plan for the McCondo well that would have been rejected under Bush, then exploiting the almost inevitable blow out as a pretext to severely restrict off shore drilling. Obama has also restricted access to cheap, plentiful and secure Canadian oil by refusing to approve a desperately needed pipeline. It is almost certain that Obama will find a pretext to destroy the emerging shale gas industry. One could dismiss this insanity as the result of naiveté if not for the crony capitalist connections to Solindra and GE that pays zero taxes because of wind energy tax breaks. (warning, will the US tax payers have to pay hundreds of Billions of dollars to bail out GE when the Japanese demand compensation for GE’s crappy design for the Fukushima reactors?)
As Governor of Alaska, Palin has demonstrated the expertise to promote domestic energy development without allowing herself to be corrupted by oil companies. Palin has also been consistent in rejecting Global Warming Theology which has been a pretext to constrain the US economy. With the leadership of President Palin, the US could become energy independent which would eliminate the trade deficit. Abundant domestic energy combined with tax reform (including eliminating corporate capital gains) would give the US a competitive advantage over China and other foreign countries that would trigger a revival of manufacturing in the US and create a surge in living wage jobs that will restore the middle class. US energy independence would dramatically reduce the economic and political leverage of OPEC, thus reducing their ability to support terrorism and build nuclear weapons.
MILF 2012
James Crawford
December 2, 2011
Here is a politician with lots of experience!
http://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/2011/12/02/corzine-subpoenaed-to-appear-before-house-panel/
Should we elect him for President?
How about Rep Barney Frank? No one person is more responsible for the mortgage melt down than he is.
I would much prefer a former Governor from a small state with an exemplary record on fiscal policy, energy policy and crony capitalism.
samhenry
December 2, 2011
But she deserted her post, JC. She put her personal needs ahead of those of the people who hired her. Those who were harassing her could have been exposed and handled. She basically had happen to her then what Herman Cain is having happen to him now.
Bill Clinton not only lied about his affair but went on to be reelected..
James Crawford
December 2, 2011
The people have a right to demand that politicians not abuse their public office to enrich themselves by taking bribes, giving government business to their cronies, or using insider information on pending legislation to make extreme profits on stocks.
However; the people have no right to demand that electrode officials submit to financial assignation, especially when they have young children including a special needs child. The Palins had incurred hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees that they were unable to pay even after Todd returned to the North Slope oil fields working as a laborer rather than a manager to avoid further ethics complaints for conflict of interest. While Bill Clinton eagerly accepted donations to his legal defense fund, Palin was both unwilling and unable to do so.
By resigning Palin regained the freedom to earn the money she needed to pay the legal fees to defend herself from the blizzard of frivilous ethics complaints and ensure the financial security of her family. She accomplished this without peddling influence or otherwise abusing her position as an elected official. Now she has the financial resources to serve without endangering her family’s future.
samhenry
December 3, 2011
I know of her struggle with lawsuits, etc. But surely there were ways if she had good counsel to deal with it. She can’t be the only governor who has been sued.
Her experience is really national issues. Her exposure internationally has been limited. This is a global depression; war on terror and political disaster. We need a seasoned hand.
Gingrich is not my favorite personality but right now I don’t see anyone of better stature to carry this off. I read where someone said he was mean and nasty. No doubt. But I don’t work for him. He will be working for me.
Thanks for the great repartee.
James Crawford
December 4, 2011
I would certainly advocate that Gingrich should have a cabinet position with whichever Republican becomes President. I do not totally trust his character or judgement, but he does have a wealth of experience.
However; experience without good judgement can’t solve our problems. The Obama Adminstration is accurately described as Clinton 3.0 because so many of the people are recycled Clinton officials. Everyone in Obam’s administration have impressive academic credentials. However; none of them have any common sense.
The best analogy I can offer would be the President Rosalind character in the remake of the Battlestar Galactica series. If you haven’t seen it, this will be gibberish to you. Prior to the Cylon attack Rosalin was a former Kindergarten teach elevated to Sec of Education for purely political reasons. When the President, Vice President and nearly everyone else in the government gets killed, the rules of succession make her President. No one respects her until the scene where Adm Adama has gone to a secret arsenal to rearm his ship. His intentions are to abandon the civilian ships so he can launch a suicidal revenge attack. President Rosalin dissuaded him by saying, “this war is already over. The Cylons won and we lost. Now it is time to run away and have babies.”. The character had no experience or education for the job, but she understood life’s essentials. Any President we elect will need to appoint experts to advise them and provide them with knowledge and experience in many areas that no single human can master. We need a President who has the values, understanding of life’s priorities, and integrity to evaluate and implement the advice of the experts.
Alaska has some extremely strict ethics laws in part due to Governor Palin. Unlike President Clinton, she couldn’t solicit donations to a legal defense fund. Even a lucrative book deal would have provoked more onerous ethics charges. Things were going so nuts that it was suggested that Piper Palin’s lemonade stand in the front yard of the Governor’s mansion was an illegal use of State property.
DarcsFalcon
December 5, 2011
I think it’s funny that Romney calls Newt a career politician. D’uh, Mitt! LOL Tell us something we don’t know!
As for the talk on Palin, I think it’s easy for us to forget she’s got 2 decades of political experience. As for leaving the governorship, it wasn’t for personal reasons. The state of AK also had to cover a huge portion of those legal costs incurred by the frivolous lawsuits. AK law at the time allowed people to sue their state officials, and many people who didn’t like Palin took advantage of that and it was costing the state hundreds of thousands of dollars, and man-hours. Her leaving put the brakes on the lawsuits and freed up state resources. I believe (but I’m not positive) that the state law up there has since been changed so that it can’t happen again.
As for Mitt and Newt, and all the rest, I wish they’d stop picking on each other. This race is going to be hostile enough from the outside, without crap being flung from the inside. It is SO not pretty!
samhenry
December 5, 2011
I don’t think we have a candidate that could beat Obama at this point. I don’t think Palin could. Remember, independents will be needed. The Republican Party to survive as a major party needs that Reagan big tent back. It can’t survive as just the Tea Party. That will bring about a third party.
samhenry
December 5, 2011
JC You have reasoned arguments and I see what you are saying but I still think she needs to learn more about international diplomacy and the workings of the federal government. I think she should run for Congress.
James Crawford
December 7, 2011
Good arguments. However; it is inconceivable that independent voters will vote for Newt once his corruption baggage is exposed. Conservatives also have good reason to be unenthusiastic given support for Global Warming Theology (with Peolsi on the Couch), giving Freddie Mac advice on how to lobby Republicans to avert oversight and also the politically annointed insurance companies who are going to have anearly monopoly and unlimited price elasticity once the individual mandate kicks in.
Palin wouldl of course need advisors to assist her in navigating Washington politics just as Obama has. He has relied on political thugs such as David Axelrod and Rahman Emmanual to advance his agenda. To be blunt, ihave seen no evidence the Obama has the political skills to accomplish anything on his own. He never would have won his Senateseat if Rohm Emmanual hadn’t pried open Ryan’s divorce records. (Should we blame ” Seven of Nine” for Obama because whenever would have became nationally prominent if Jeri Ryan hadn’t been such a prudent?)
As for foreign policy, Palin has earned great credibility outside the US because of her participation in prestigious conferences in India and Korea.
Now that Palin no longer needs to be subservient to McCain, she can be herself. She hasan astonishing record on combatting corruption.She is leading the charge on political insider trading. She also has an impressive record on protecting civil liberties that is often ignored because of her religious beliefs.
samhenry
December 7, 2011
I will give the girl a chance! I am less and less in Newt’s camp. Really there isn’t anyone in the Republican camp who can win. It is a travesty. Feckless and fractured that’s the Republican party of today. It is very sad.