Newt spells it out...

GoSlash27

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In an address to the AEI

WASHINGTON - Republican Newt Gingrich, in a jab at President Bush, warned on Friday that the GOP will lose the White House and Congress in 2008 if the nominee is perceived as a continuation of the Bush presidency.

Addressing a conservative organization, the former House Speaker never mentioned the president by name, but his political point was clear.

"If the Republicans run a stand-pat presidential candidate who ends up being on defense for all of September and October and who is seen by the country as representing four more years, the fact is that Republicans are not going to" win, Gingrich told the American Enterprise Institute.

Gingrich, a former Georgia congressman, is considering a White House run, with an announcement likely in the fall.

He has roundly criticized the Bush administration in recent interviews, describing the White House as dysfunctional and saying the president has driven the party into collapse. While he refrained from direct criticism Friday, he cited failures in Iraq, border security and the response to Hurricane Katrina as signs of a broken government.

His comments come just days after a Republican presidential debate in which GOP candidates criticized Bush over his handling of the Iraq war, his diplomatic style and his approach to immigration.

The biting words surprisingly have been uttered while the president is overseas attending an economic summit with other world leaders.

In the speech, Gingrich handicapped the current GOP field — and the prospect of Fred Thompson joining the race.

He praised Rudy Giuliani's handling of crime as New York City mayor, saying that experience and his response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks have propelled his candidacy. Gingrich contended that Giuliani's image on national security would offset his more liberal positions on social issues.

"In a world where a nuclear weapon could eliminate an American city in seconds, he has a very strong case," said Gingrich. "He has certainly done better so far than people would guess."

He said Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record) of Arizona has more to overcome, including explaining his positions on immigration and campaign finance regulation.

"If you were to handicap this race, he has the greatest challenge in a Republican primary," Gingrich said.

Thompson, the former Tennessee senator, is a "very formidable" candidate, while former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is a "very serious person who is working very hard," Gingrich said.

Gingrich, who helped shut down government over spending fights with the Clinton administration in the 1990s, said Republicans must offer a more dramatic platform for remaking government that focuses on private-sector innovation.

In a glimpse of what his candidacy might look like, he said he would shut down public schools that aren't performing and offer a $20 billion reward for the first private company that successfully completes a Mars mission.

"Somebody would be there and back about 40 percent of the way into the NASA process," he said.

I'm not with Newt on his evaluation of the first-tier candidates. Rudy "Thank God for George W. Bush" Giuliani most certainly does
represent the "4 more years" platform. Thompson doesn't bring anything to the table except the illusion that he can beat Hillary Obedwards (he can't) McCain has already imploded and hasn't realized it yet, and Romney is all style and no substance (aside from re-instituting the AWB) :eek:

^ You like that name? "Hillary Obedwards"? Just made it up :D
 
Thompson, the former Tennessee senator, is a "very formidable" candidate

I agree. Thompson will (like every other Repub candidate) will have to distinguish himself from President Bush, while also effectively contrasting himself to Hillary or Obama.

It will be fun watching Thompson contrast himself to Hillbama. He did great with that looney Moore. Have a cigar, Michael! :D
 
Thompson is going to have a very difficult time distinguishing himself from Bush. Particularly with Hillary Obedwards making sure they appear the same.
 
Iowa will have none of Gulliani, thanksverymuch. And thank goodness.

I disagree. Just because Des Moines has done a sample poll, doesn't speak for the whole state. Plus, the margin of error is rather large. Second, Des Moines area is generally more conservative than the Quad Cities area, which actually influences the entire state more often than not.

And most important: I think most people have REALLY been coming down with 'short term syndrome'. The election is A YEAR AND A HALF away. Events, issues, and candidates put their name in the hats and bow out faster than a New York City revolving door from now until the primaries. These polls don't mean squat to me. Not until it's time to get down to the primary season...
 
tuttle8,
OTOH, the race is going on right now, the Ames straw poll is coming up, and the Republican party is trying to eject the one candidate to can actually beat...uhh...Hillary Obedwards.
So the 'short-term syndrome' is entirely valid IMO. Many decisions that impact our choice a year and a half from now are being made as we speak err type.
 
So the 'short-term syndrome' is entirely valid IMO. Many decisions that impact our choice a year and a half from now are being made as we speak err type.

Although I do see your point, my meaning is there's a long way to go. Several other factors can and will arise. This is the earliest I've seen the pres. race heat up in a while. There are too many people sitting on the fence that have short term memory that wait until the final 90 days to even seriously consider who to vote for.

I'm really just tired of hearing 75% of the news these days on the subject of the election. It's enough to hear of it 6 months out more/less 18 months. That's why I think the polls are useless to us. Maybe to a candidate to gauge if he/she needs to spend more time in a state to change ones' opinion, but Iowa is a wishy washy fence sitting state. And that poll will probably be entirely different in 6 months. Therefore, useless....
 
It does seem like the Press is trying to establish each party's candidate right now, without waiting a while to allow the members of each party to make the decision themselves. It is possible that the voters might want their candidate to be someone other than (the media darlings) Hillary, Obama, Edwards, Rudy, McCain, or Romney.

Iowa is an important primary. Losing in Iowa means you're behind the count from at the start of things.
 
Yup. That's why it's critical to get involved now, rather than letting the media and the party powers-that-be define our candidates for us.
If we wait 'til the primaries, or (God forbid) the general election the choice will have already been made for us.
The time to act is now.

(edit)...of course, if your preferred candidate differs from mine....:D

Yeah, I'm kidding. (/edit)
 
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