This is very disappointing. I actually like some of Gingrich’s ideas but I would have a very hard time voting for him if he’s friends with Sharpton and isn’t squarely against open borders, not to mention being cozy with muslims. Unfortunately, none of our choices are very appealing. Sad that we truly don’t have anyone who could be considered a “statesman” who is a candidate.

Jeff on November 15, 2011 at 2:11 pm

Thanks DS for this column, absolutely full of facts about Newt Gingrich, and I hope other conservatives acknowledge all of these facts about Mr. Gingrich.

Do any of think Sean Hannity is going to refute all of the facts to his gullible and foolish audience today or anytime in the future on who exactly Newt Gingrich really is? I kinda doubt, so I’m not holding my breath for Hannity to give out these facts that Debbie wrote and linked here.

“A nation is defined by its borders, language & culture!”

Sean R. on November 15, 2011 at 2:27 pm

I personally don’t believe the polls stating that Newt is on top. Look at the source for the polls and you will understand why. Just more manipulation from the media so that the Dems will have a beatable Republican candidate. As Savage said yesterday, if Newt wins the nomination, Zero will beat him by 30 points. This I agree with since he would be another old Republican in the vain of Senator Lettuce who is in the race just to guarantee a win for Zero.

Pats on November 15, 2011 at 2:37 pm

Damn, all those candidates and none worth really buying. A real pig in a poke. Except for maybe Bachmann there is too much Islamic ass kissing to suit me as well as kissing up to the Brokerage Houses whose gambling habits have thrown America under the bus.
I like Robert Binkley of Alabama for his stance on illegal immigration. Maybe Allen West for his hardline against Islam.
I want to see a president who will actually punish James A. Johnson, Sanford Weill, Lew Ranieri, and the brokerage houses along with abolishing the Federal Reserve.

Confederate South on November 15, 2011 at 2:52 pm

The problem is the GOP field is all flawed… none of them are Reaganesque candidates, which is a shame. If the dream candidate existed, Obama would be sent out to pasture. As things stand, we’re likely to be stuck with him for four more years.

NormanF on November 15, 2011 at 3:01 pm

[Debbie – Anyone who hangs out with Al Sharpton ain’t getting my vote . . . ever. And he shouldn’t get yours, either.]

Are you claiming that if the Republicans nominate Newt you will not vote for him?

I believe that is a serious mistake. If the only choices are “seriously flawed” versus “a heck of a lot worse than seriously flawed” I believe the only reasonable choice is “seriously flawed”.

I don’t see the USA ever recovering from a second Obama term (We may not be able to recover from just one term). As bad as Newt might be, I cannot see him destroying the country the way a second Obama term certainly will.

Debbie – I know you love this country and that is why you are advocating what you have written here. However I honestly believe the effect of a majority of voters adopting your views would be the destruction of this country. I seriously beg you to reconsider.

IAM: Huh? The majority of this country being intolerant of Al Sharpton’s bigotry and racism “would be the destruction of this country”??? The fact that you and too many others tolerate Newt Gingrich’s friendship with this well-tanned Nazi is the reason he will continue to get away with it. We only get what we demand. You don’t demand enough. I do. Newt Gingrich’s tight bonds with Al Sharpton and Jihad Grover Norquist are deal-breakers. Or they should be. Again, if you set the bar at just “better than Obama,” you will never get more than just a hair better than Obama. We deserve much better. DS

I_AM_ME on November 15, 2011 at 3:50 pm

Is there anyone Grover Norquist isn’t in bed with?

CJ on November 15, 2011 at 4:21 pm

I am getting so demoralized by this dirty-tricks campaign. I have to and WILL re-charge because we have to fight but right now I feel like Herman Cain a bit and have to study more…but I barely have the time! There is so much to learn.

I said dirty-tricks because like Pats, I sorta DON’T believe the polls. BUT if I DO, that means that Conservatives are NOT thinking with their heads and are being lead by people who are not as Conservative as we think (and then they re just like Liberals!). And I also must present if one does NOT know all the facts on Newt, he HAS been saying the right things during the last couple of debates (I am not falling for it though because of my natual mistrust of him). And hearing him praise his competitors this AM (on the radio) made me wonder if it were canny strategery? I think so. He’s smart and abrasive so that niceness does not seem to follow, in my humble opinion.

I am not a fan of Newts. I did NOT like him in the 90s (but I was a Liberal for the first part and knew NOTHING politically (redundant if one’s Liberal) due to his character issues) and I don’t like him now because of stuff DS wrote in this post.

And although I like Cain to pull the rug from out of the Establishment (they can’t pick for us this year!) it’s clear that he is lacking re: foreign policy. And I am beyond disgusted by the FRAUDULENT smear campaign and I am annoyed at so-called Conservatives for falling for it. Come on! We know what is happening!

So, where does that leave us? I don’t think I could have ever voted for Newt and I can see why some Conservatives are being pulled that way recently BUT I also see the canny shenanagans AND the paucity of TRUE Conservatives in the race.

I guess even though I see all that, I am still seeing all the dirty tricks trumping what is real and what isn’t and it’s hard to think of a strategy. There is so much to think about. And so much at stake.

Can anyone give a different perspective? Maybe some new ideas will help me not feel so hopeless about this.

Skunky on November 15, 2011 at 4:26 pm

All I do know is dropping our core principles for the sake of electability won’t turn this around in our country. When we remain true to them, we will see better days ahead. The reason we don’t have a good candidate to face Obama is b/c conservatives aren’t demanding better. That’s not the fault of the media or the Democrats. Its b/c Republicans believe winning is the only thing that counts. That is wrong on so many levels. As long we are not to going to demand higher standards, this country will continue to decline.

NormanF on November 15, 2011 at 4:34 pm

What a disappointing group of candidates. What gets me is the teaparty isn’t even all that behind Bachmann and she was the next most conservative to Palin. Is this country just not ready for a female president or is there something else about Bachmann they don’t like or we should know about? Other than her, Santoruum is the most socially&fiscally conservative,but for some reason he’s not doing well in polls&doesn’t stand out in debates. Cain was doing well until the scandal hit…I like him but like others am unsure of him because of his lack of experience and lack of experience is what we have now. I wish Allen West would have run. In the end we have to vote for the most conservative candidate in the primaries and support whoever wins in the general, because not voting will only guarantee Obama a win. We also must make sure we get the majority in Congress. We need the most prolife,pro Israel candidates who are fiscally conservative in the Congress,especially if we end up with Obama again. They will be the ones who nominate the next SCOTUS and the rest of the administration. Hopefully Holder will be out before then. God bless us,we are going to need all the help we can to hold off Obama.

@freedom4usa on November 15, 2011 at 5:02 pm

Norman, you did bottom-line what I feel in my heart we must do. And I never question myself on that bedrock, BUT I have found myself weighing whether I should be so resolute in my NOT voting for McRomney and/or Gingrich. And I am ONLY questioning it because of the advent of Obama. He’s just a Destroyer and liar and it’s scary…and so many people don’t notice. 2012 is scary!

But I also cannot shake the Dems/Media collusion in all this. The media has never been so in the bag and they CLEARLY disdain the Republicans/so-called Consertatives. Look at the behaviour of Maria Bartiromo AND Scott Pelly duing the debates. They cannot hide their bias. And I would also like to stress that the FABRICATED Cain scandal gets more news than ANYTHING the Zero has done. And to reference a previous thread, look how Gabrielle Giffords is allowed to keep her seat and she is short-changing her constituents. I get nauseated by the double-standard.

But you are spot-on about the Republicans settling for crapola. This is the first election I actually SAW the Establishment wheels working as far as choosing the GOP candidate. It was shocking. I actually noticed it early and on other sites (like 2 years back) pointed it out but it seemed people who were supposed to be so Conservative did not care.

And I am NOT a Palin hater and/or Palinista, but I wonder NOW more than ever what those Palinistas saw in her. They sound like nutters when they talk about her!

And like everyone on this thread, I feel regret that we don’t have a better candidate. America really needs one and we do deserve better than the mishagas going on now.

Freedom4USA, I, wonder whatever happened to the Tea Party! As they say in Australia, they are on walkabout or something!

Skunky on November 15, 2011 at 6:51 pm

Gingrich has also done ads with uber-leftist “Princess” Nancy Pelosi. But that’s just scratching the surface of the kind of associations he’s cultivated, as Debbie wrote about.

ConcernedPatriot on November 15, 2011 at 7:20 pm

The Pelosi add really hacked it for me as far as Gingrich goes. No way I would vote for him in the primary. In a general election I can’t say what I’d do. When McCain won (actually he didn’t “win”, he was anointed by the GOP establishment via the rigged primary system) the nomination I swore, more than once, that I could not in good conscience (remember amnesty, gang of 14, cap & tax, etc) vote for him. When it came down to the election though I just couldn’t do it. It became a simple matter of having to eat the proverbial poop sandwich.

I’m convinced that the blue-bloods have already selected Romney and nothing is going to change it. My advice, unless you decide to vote Libertarian or other non-GOP party, is to start stocking up on toppings/condiments like strong onions and garlics, hot sauces (habanero for starters), horseradish, and anything else that might help cover the taste. If you plan on voting GOP in the general it looks like, once again, that you’re going to have to step up to the table and take a great big bite!

CornCoLeo on November 15, 2011 at 10:36 pm

Excellent post Debbie and excellent discussion by everyone here.

In the light of this post and knowing what I now currently know, here is now my score about the candidates who are currently running for the GOP nomination for POTUS.

Most ideal nominee:

1) Michele Bachmann

2) Rick Santorum

3) Herman Cain

Candidates who aren’t great, but would vote if the nominee–may have to hold my nose real tight:

1) Jonathan Huntsman

2) Mitt Romney

Note: A case could be made that either one or both of them currently in my second group should be in this next group below and as is they are currently on thin ice for me. (And frankly, I am expecting someone to make that case to me.)

Anyway…

Candidates who if he were the nominee I would waste my vote by voting for either a 3rd Party candidate (NOT the Green Party), or do a write-in–with Debbie and Allen West to be competing for that vote:

1) Ron Paul

2) Rick Perry

And now sadly, I have to add this:

3) Newt Gingrich

JeffE on November 15, 2011 at 10:49 pm

1. I can barely put into words how disgusted I am with Newt Gingrich and the fact that he is running for President when he should be pelted with vegetables every time he takes the stage. I understand that he supported you in your run for office and gave money to you, but the sheer hyprocrisy of Representative Gingrich, in the throes of yet another affair, helping to orchestrate the impeachment of the President of the United States for horniness . . . I mean, perjury, is disgusting. He should be hiding under a rock.

2. I am saddened to have to agree with Rachel Maddow who says sardonically, “THIS is your Republican Presidential field?” I don’t want someone who is “Reaganistic,” I want someone who is smart, confident, self-assured, decisive, sincere. OK, Reaganistic. But they don’t have to bow at Reagan’s altar; it’s okay to have your own ideas. I also don’t want someone who is yesterday’s news. Newt Gingrich had his moment in the sun . . . except he was locked up in some bedroom, under the sheets with someone not his wife.

gmartinz on November 16, 2011 at 12:53 am

Well, I wanted DeMint or West or Bolton to run—not one entered the field—all of them could have grabbed the Ring.

Occam's Tool on November 16, 2011 at 1:15 am

I would have loved to see Bobby Jindel and/or Mitch Daniels, governors from LA and IN respectively. I think for 2012 we’ll be stuck with Obamanation again. Hopefully 2016 will bring a conservative to POTUS…since Obamanation will have utterly destroyed this country by 2016. G-d help us all…we’re going to need it.

Rick S on November 16, 2011 at 5:11 am

Unfortunately, there is no candidate that will satisfy all of our individual wish lists. The idea that anyone would rule out voting for anyone just because he has acknowledged Al Sharpton should be a disq

Larry Johnson on November 16, 2011 at 8:30 am

Puh-leeze. He isn’t attached to Sharpton at the hip, he’s using Sharpton to get votes. All politicians mingle with the opposing advocates to get exposure, promote their agenda, and garner votes. If you think Gingrich hates Jews like Sharpton does you are nuts. Gingrich is a strong supporter of Israel. Furthermore, he is not a global warming wingnut, his testimony before Congress countering Gore easily shows that. Besides he has recanted his ad with Pelosi. (By the way, the data does show that the earth has warmed over the last century, but not because of CO2 emissions)

FK: The only nutjob is the one who called me nuts and who excuses Newt Gingrich for embracing a Black Nazi. If you have no problem with this, you cannot have a problem with Obama’s connection with Reverend Wright. WAKE the Bleep UP! Your comments on this site are littered with BS apologism for “conservatives” who hang out with extremist Muslims and Black racists. You are a hypocrite. DS

FrenchKiss on November 16, 2011 at 12:06 pm

Hold your nose. The presidency is too powerful for congress to stop. Anybody but Obama. Just his power to allow 3rd world immigrants in this country will put conservatives in a permanent minority. We are at the Rubicon.

Jimbo on November 16, 2011 at 3:27 pm

No, not a hypocrite, a fact-checker and rational thinker. I invite anyone, even you, to search for any of Gingrich’s statements or speeches on Israel and Jews and find out for themselves. I dare you to find one statement where he embraces a black nazi such as sharpton. And you know as well that obama’s relationship to wright is far closer than gingrich’s relationship to sharpton. As speaker of the house, gingrich helped bring to the floor resolutions supporting Israel. Did Obama do that in the Senate?

FK: GET A FRICKIN’ CLUE. He hasn’t been in Congress for years. And since then, he’s repeatedly embraced Al Sharpton–toured the country and shot videos with Sharpton, called to wish him a happy birthday, etc. They are very close. You clearly didn’t read the post or just won’t let the facts sink into your head. If you don’t have a problem with that, please don’t vote. WAKE UP. Apologism on either side of the ideological divide is disgusting. DS

FrenchKiss on November 16, 2011 at 7:37 pm

I have a very narrow view, and am almost a single issue voter — anti-abortion, or no vote from me.

I suspect we are getting exactly what we deserve – a judgement from God because of millions of aborted babies.

A God-fearing congress can overcome any bully-pulpit POTUS rhetoric or veto. We need a Bob Dornan attack dog in congress, but I fear we are dieing like the Roman Republic.

Dr Dale on November 16, 2011 at 11:07 pm

Debbie, you are right, he is not the same Newt that balanced the budget for Bill Hillbilly.

Today, Newt is a big government guy. He might as well be a democrat.

He will look good in debates with Obama and will be subject to who knows what muckraking from Obama and the press.

Unfortunately, even if Newt wins the presidency, the only blessing is that we will not have a black Muslim communist in the White House. However, we will have instead a white haired big government liberal.

I continue to pray for our country.

Panhandle on November 18, 2011 at 10:47 am

Gingrich now claims that the “global warming” ads he did with Madame Pelosi were a “dumb mistake.” Alas, you won’t hear him at any time in the near or even distant future – if ever – designating his ties with Sharpton and Islamofascist sympathizers such as “Jihad Grover” as a “dumb mistake.”

ConcernedPatriot on November 30, 2011 at 5:52 am

ppl are so gullible. did anyone watch the video???…NEWT was supporting Al Sharpton to promote inner school systems….NEWT believes in education….if his appearance helped those kids…what is wrong with that???? OMG After traveling around with Newt, SHARPTON AGREED WITH NEWT ABOUT SCHOOL VOUCHERS. Way to Go, Newt!!! Please ppl, think outside the box.

Mar on December 27, 2011 at 11:00 pm