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Friday, January 04, 2008
Posted by:
Duane Patterson
at
5:21 PM
Very quietly, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is meddling in the GOP primary field. A couple of weeks ago, there was a press release that indicated Rick Tyler, long time communications director for Gingrich, was taking a leave of absence from his day job, and helping out the communications effort for Mike Huckabee. Mark Levin over on The Corner writes today that Newt and Dick Morris are both helping the Arkansas populist former governor, Newt behind the scenes, Morris publicly. The question is why is Newt doing this? When the Tyler move became public, the theory developed that Newt still envisions himself running for the presidency, but didn't think this cycle was the right time to run because of the aura of invincibility of Hillary Clinton. Newt would then benefit by helping out the perceived weakest of the GOP candidates, ensuring that come January '09, the Republicans would begin their four year wandering through the desert. This would set up Newt as the White Knight in 2012, riding to the rescue after President Hillary screwed things up in her first term. But after Iowa last night, another theory is beginning to develop. Hillary's aura of invincibility is no longer there. Barack Obama is now the frontrunner, and although very charismatic, he's an empty suit, especially when it comes to foreign policy. Newt may now be thinking that there's a window of opportunity this cycle. All that needs to take place is for Huckabee to take a couple of the early states, Rudy take a couple of the big states, McCain maybe taking a state here or there, and Romney to take a couple, and you have yourself a brokered convention. If the Republicans can't decide on a clear frontrunner by the convention, could we potentially see the White Knight riding in a little earlier than expected into Minneapolis/St. Paul this September?
I have just lost all respect for Newt. In fact, there was a time that I thought Newt could walk on water, but in the last few years his shine has dulled. About 8 months ago I watched a debate concerning AGW. It was Newt debating some other guy who's name escapes me. By the end of the debate Newt was agreeing with the guy who thinks we humans have destroyed the earths climate. The show ended with me scratching my head.
Putting himself behind Huckabee has lead me to beleive that Newt is hitting the bottle too much and needs an intervention. |
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This post and many like it are making townhall look like a liberal nut-case site. Newt can think, and he sees that Huckabee can win, better than any other candidate. It's simple, not some twisted jump into the campaign strategy, which he doesn't need. |
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Newt is a real leader he's committed to "Winning the Future" for America and as such he recognizes that Gov Huckabee is a genuine leader capable of doing just that.
For too long the GOP and many of it's "conservative" cheerleaders have failed to win or accomplish very much when they win. I see this as a leadership issue. Leadership is influence. Politics is about power - politicians seek office because they believe that positions afford power.
Now Newt refused to run for president because he believes that he can lead more effectively in the arena of, listen here: not just ideas, but real solutions for America. Gov Huckabee successfully ran for office as a Republican in a 90% Democratic state and won against the Clinton political machine. He did so on the strength of his character and his convictions. But he also governed surprisingly well, he accomplished quite a bit in AR - & was recognized as one of the top 5 governors in the nation. He demonstrated a knack for getting things done despite stiff opposition not because he moved left and became a moderate - but because he practiced vertical leadership. Because he understands the art of influence is not based on manipulation and control but on enabling & empowering people to do the right thing, to find workable solutions that will lift people up.
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Huckabee's vertical politics are based in conservative principles & his approach to finding workable solutions is to clear the way for implementing the best ideas & solutions. I think Newt recognizes a kindred spirit in Gov Huckabee, a positive & visionary leader who knows how to step up & over the horizontal, left-right divide to get to the heart of matters & lead the way up. I think they both realize that to do that effectively & consistently, we have to find ways to increase individual freedom & limit the intrusive size & scope of the Federal Gov't - the Gov't has to operate more efficiently, more frugally, & more responsibly.
Gov Huckabee was outspent 15:1 and he still won Iowa by a significant margin, again on the strength of his character and convictions, but also on his consistent conservative record of getting things done. He cut taxes 94 times, he balanced the budget, left office with a surplus that insisted be returned to the people, he improved education, improved the notoriously bad roads in AR to the best in the nation, he helped bring 100,000 new jobs, he provided some of the most effective relief during hurricane Katrina, when other states, local gov'ts & the Fed Gov't were all doing a poor job. When you don't have a lot of resources you learn to be frugal, you depend more on the ingenuity & creativity of people to step up & as a vertical leader Mike Huckabee encourages & facilitates that.
The conservative movement and the GOP could really use some positive, optimistic leadership like what Gov Huckabee has consistently demonstrated. |
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Maybe Newt sees a winner in Huckabee, and wants to see him get the nomination. It doesn't have to be any more complicated than that. Keep in mind that a Brokered convention is not good for the GOP in a year where the Dems get their nominee early. If Barack (or the Hildabeast) gets it early, he could raise a billion dollars and prepurchase all 12 minutes of TV commercial time every hour on every TV station in key states in the fall by April, and completely shut the GOP out of all TV presence during the general election campaign. |
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As a conservative Republican, I have for the last few months tried to feel energized by the current slate of candidates that we have. I like Thompson, Hunter, Giuliani and Romney, I believe all of these guys would be far better than any of the candidates that the Democrats are offering.
However, with all due respect, I don’t believe any of them would be more formidable that Newt would be.
Thank you,
Paul
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I knew it was just a matter of time before the Neocons would highjack the Huckabee campaign.
They are hoping for Huckabee, McCain, Guiliani...but what if most Americans like 70 percent decided to vote for a candidate who is not pro war? Then the Republicans would be toast. Unless Ron Paul is nominated.
This is precisely why I was leary of Huckabee. After his phone call with CFR president Haas and CFR/Neocon Dr Richard Land......I knew it was just a matter of time. Too bad Huckabee is too naive to recognize the Neocon Satans when they comes to visit. |
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This article is so clearly and blatantly a wish for Mike Huckabee to go away so their good ole boys in Washington can continue to sham the world.
This article is going to pull the rug out from under that mentality. If ever there is a candidate that fits the Founding Fathers ideal President it is Governor Huckabee and Newt has a clear understanding of the real focus this Nations change needs to be.
If you go to American Solutions, you will learn of many planks that near all the populous wants done. Why is it not done? Good question. Either the Washington bubble is so corrupt, they don't really care about the people, most likely, or they are so stupid, they can't even wipe their own noses.
Grow up Washington, your Nations pitch fork wielding populous is picking up their pitch forks. Really Rush, you have gone off the reservation. The populous is we the People!
In one show Rush, you spoke with a clearly obvious fork tongue. Example, the president and Washington have no impact on our nations Morals, then one hour later you are preaching about how certain legislation did so, clearly did so. You are turning into fodder. I hope you can salvage your reputation, as it just may be a temporary event. Please get yourself back Rush. |
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Duane "Generalissimo" Patterson is the producer of the nationally syndicated "Hugh Hewitt Show". In a sense Duane is "the man behind the curtain" -- and this is his blog.
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