Newtonian Paradigms for the GOP ?

March 2nd, 2009 by zen

This is not to say Newt is without flaws. Politically, for the Democratic Party, Newt is a “target rich environment” whose unpredictability in the public spotlight can generate incidents that become the story rather than the message Newt was trying to get across. However, lacking any official position, it is much harder for Democrats to represent any gaffe by Newt as coming from the Pope of the GOP. In fact, engaging Newt directly in public debate at this time, especially by a senior member of the Democratic Party leadership or President Obama, will superempower Gingrich politically and increase his influence and profile regardless of what they say. The mere fact they are saying anything confirms Gingrich’s status as a major “player”. Nor can they ignore him forever if his advice permits the Republicans to score significant victories.

Gingrich has his opponents in a familiar bind and I’m sure he likes it that way.

Page 2 of 2 | Previous page

Posted in horizontal thinking, ideas, intellectuals, media, meme, new york times, politics, republican party | 5 comments

Previous post:
Next post:

  1. Eddie:

    March 2nd, 2009 at 7:09 pm

    I agree with many of your observations regarding him, but find it disheartening that the de facto leader of conservatives just finished attacking and dismissing Newt to wild acclaim and cheers from alleged conservative leaders and influences at CPAC.  

    http://thinkprogress.org/2009/02/28/rush-versus-newt-cpac/

    The more I think about it, the more the Republicans seem to be slouching towards continued failure (barring an epic collapse by Obama) until at least 2014. We need far more Jon Huntsmans and Newts than there are realistically out there, especially with the sort of leadership in the party right now. Give the young thought leaders like Ross Douthat a few more years and they may be in a far greater position of power or influence where they (and Newt) could make much, much more of a difference.

  2. Nathaniel T. Lauterbach:

    March 3rd, 2009 at 1:15 am

    Good analysis, Zen.  Thanks for your point of view on this.

  3. zen:

    March 3rd, 2009 at 5:17 am

    Hi Eddie,
    .
    Read your link. I think that Rush is offering advice that is simple, easy, timely and stupid. Reagan did not come into office with old ideas but rather old values and new ideas – they seemed radical at the time. Sure, it is the job of the opposition party to oppose but you win elections on reflexively saying "No!" only when the other side has self-destructed. Absent that, the Republican Party is going to have to be the Party of ideas if they wish to win.
    .
    Hi Nate,
    .
    Thanks for sending that – wasn’t sure how you wanted to be credited at the time so I hat tipped lightly.

  4. andrewdb:

    March 3rd, 2009 at 9:35 am

    Everything you say about Newt is correct. 

    My complaint is that he is not trying to reduce the size of government (a rather quint idea the last few years, and getting more so).  Rather he wants government to be more efficient, but still big and powerful.

  5. Sean Meade:

    March 5th, 2009 at 12:31 am

    i’m willing to grant everything you say above.

    my biggest complaint about Newt is his partisanship. he presided over the Contract with America and i really disliked the tone, at a minimum.

    i also think this movement logically resulted in the poor Republican-led congresses we just got done kicking out in the last two elections.

    i’m not saying the current congress is any better, but i’m not crazy about Newt.