Running for President to Feather the Nest: Investigating Newt

ABC's Brian Ross investigates Newt, who appears to be running for president to earn a bigger paycheck for himself. Apparently, Callista is a trophy wife in need of frequent polishing.

Glitter Dumped on Newt

I don't like Newt, but pouring glitter--or anything--on him is a pretty scummy thing to do. There are other ways to make a point:

No Chance Newt on Meet the Press May 15 Video

Newt Gingrich has ZERO chance to be elected president. It's not certain if HE knows that. David Gregory pretty much let Gingrich spout. He didn't even challenge Newt on WHY people are on food stamps-- the hand-me-down economy that went bust. All Obama has been doing since he took office is cleaning up the mess, one after another like dominoes. Thank goodness people were able to get food stamps. If republicans had their way, there wouldn't be programs like food stamps.
Another thing, I'm so tired of the media catering to Newt as the "intellectual" and the "ideas" guy, just like they did with McCain the Maverick.
And another thing, stop with the Reagan this, Reagan that.
Lastly, I don't care that he had three wives and affairs and just turned Catholic about a year or so ago. But glass house conservatives won't choose Newt based on that. So who is left to elect Newt?

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Las Vegas Casino Mogul Digs Deep for Newt

... Gingrich’s financial angel is the publicity-shy Sheldon Adelson, chairman of the Las Vegas Sands Corp., and the fifth wealthiest man in America as recently ranked by Forbes Magazine.
Adelson, who has an estimated net worth of over $23 billion, has personally pumped $7 million over the past five years into Gingrich’s main political advocacy organization, American Solutions for Winning the Future. His contributions account for more than ten percent of all the organization's funds and have helped the former speaker promote his conservative causes and stay in the public eye. NBC

Media and Politicians Ill Informed on Libya

NPR's On the Media has a great show on how much of our media and many of our politicians -- most of all Newt -- are fools on Libya. Many people are comparing Libya to Iraq, Afghanistan, Rwanda, Kosovo and Somalia. Foreign Policy editor Blake Hounshell says if Libya resembles anything it's Bosnia, only in Bosnia it took too long to save the masses from slaughter there. With Libya, the decision to act came in weeks.
Hounshell says one of the worst commentaries on Libya so far was one in the Nation that said Obama's female advisers "bewitched" Obama into getting involved. He said one of the best commentaries was by Nicholas Kristof. Hounshell says the story of Libya, where people are fighting and dying for freedom, has become a partisan slugfest. Our media have turned Libya into a stupidfest, indeed. Just like it does with nearly every topic that matters. Listen:

From Kristof's story:

In 2005, the United Nations approved a new doctrine called the “responsibility to protect,” nicknamed R2P, declaring that world powers have the right and obligation to intervene when a dictator devours his people. The Libyan intervention is putting teeth into that fledgling concept, and here’s one definition of progress: The world took three-and-a-half years to respond forcefully to the slaughter in Bosnia, and about three-and-a-half weeks to respond in Libya.

Granted, intervention will be inconsistent. We’re more likely to intervene where there are also oil or security interests at stake. But just as it’s worthwhile to feed some starving children even if we can’t reach them all, it’s worth preventing some massacres or genocides even if we can’t intervene every time.

For all the questions there is a simple answer:

Critics of the intervention make valid arguments. It’s true that there are enormous uncertainties: Can the rebels now topple Colonel Qaddafi? What’s the exit strategy? How much will this cost?

But weighed against those uncertainties are a few certainties: If not for this intervention, Libyan civilians would be dying on a huge scale; Colonel Qaddafi’s family would be locked in place for years; and the message would have gone out to all dictators that ruthlessness works.

Colin Powell Comes out Forcefully for Immigrants, Disses Birthers, Gingrich, Dishes on Tea Party, Palin

Powell says republicans need an agenda, especially if they incorporate the tea party wing. I always love to hear from Powell. He's one of the few calm and mature republicans. He needs to speak out more often. I'm so excited about this interview. Day after day of hearing from tea party nitwits in the spotlight, Powell is like a balm.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Powell says republicans can't be anti-immigrant because immigrants are fueling our country. He says immigrants need access to education. The Dream Act is one way to do that, he said.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Powell calls Sarah Palin a "star," though he doesn't think she's ready to be president still. Powell says he is concerned about an undercurrent of of lowlifes out there (I'm paraphrasing).

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Powell says lets get rid of the birther thing. Obama was born in the U.S. Powell says that Obama is a Christian. He says Gingrich is a fool (again, I've paraphrased). He says if the unemployment rate was lower, people wouldn't be attacking Obama in such a manner.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Powell says it could be a good thing if the republicans own one of the houses, then they'd be more responsible. I didn't think of it that way, but it makes sense. They've been do-nothings since Obama took office.
Powell says Obama has lost the ability to connect to people. I'd argue that the reason for that is the undercurrent of lowlifes spreading misinformation about the president. There's one sure way to delude the masses and that is with fear.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Powell on Afghanistan:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Powell on Iran, says they could have a nuclear program that's not on track to be a weapon:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Powell says Obama has done transformational work:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Gingrich Likes to Invent Stories About His Life

John Richardson wrote an interesting article for Esquire about Newt Gingrich -- his cheating ways and how he likes to rewrite his life. Newt is mulling a run for president. Read the article here. The author of the story talks about Gingrich and his three wives on NPR this morning:

Gingrich May Run for President

Tom Schaller at 538 thinks that Newt Gingrich could win the republican nomination for president. I know Newt touts himself as the ideas guy, but I don't think Newt has a chance because he's stale, dug up from another time. Some people should be dug up, but not Newt.

He also has ancient views on foreign policy. America dictating to the world just doesn't cut it anymore.

The fact that he also keeps referring to Obama as a "radical," and a "socialist machine" puts him in the camp of the extremists on the right. By the time elections come around, I think the country is going to be plenty sick of extremes. By then the economy should be much better and people will have moved on from blaming the government.

So I guess I would ask you to give us a status update on where your thinking is about a candidacy for the presidency.

Newt Gingrich: Calista and I will make a global decision probably in February or March. We are methodically trying to think through what we’re going to do. We run four small companies and we have a lot of other activities. So we’re taking steps so that if we do decide to run everything will be in order.

And I have to say that the failure of the Obama Administration in practical, real terms—jobs, terrorism and other issues—and the radicalism of the Obama Administration, I think make both me and Calista more inclined to say, “Yea, looking at it in the context of what is our duty as citizens, how do we live that out?” Read 538's interview with Newt here.

Newt Gingrich is a Goofball

Newt, man turned Catholic, calls Obama a "secular socialist machine," compares the Obama administration to Nazi Germany, and then tries to explain that to the Today Show. Newt is a silly man who's obviously competing with Sarah Palin.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Republican Sourpussing Goes On and On and On and On and On and On

Republicans are a mess. They don't see that they're spinning their wheels because it's their tactics, their fear mongering that no one--other than tea partiers--like. They're an example of how NOT to behave when you lose. They're in the toilet. I feel sorry for anyone just now trying to figure out what's going on in healthcare. The republicans made it sound as though the whole bill was going to pass through reconciliation. What? Healthcare passed? Oh, it's just a few amendments that will go through reconciliation. What? No more refusal of coverage for preexisting conditions? What? There are actually benefits to health reform? What, no Armageddon?

Check out their attempts to muddy up the reconciliation bill now in the Senate. Ugly Losers:

Democrats won their health-care victory ugly, after a yearlong, fractious, uninspiring process filled with rancid deals and worse compromises, redeemed only by the moment when they actually delivered reform to the country.

Republicans lost even uglier, not so much in opposition as in sullen, lockstep refusal to consider any reforms, even ones they were previously for, like cutting waste and fraud from Medicare.

Which would you rather brandish at a town hall meeting? A vote to contain the insurance companies, or a vote to let them have their way? Read more at Bloomberg

Just turned Catholic Newt Gingrich pushes the republican No Agenda:

Mike Pence: Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Blah, blah, blah, blah

Newt: Of Course Obama is a Socialist

What's funny about this video is Newt Gingrich is arguing with Bill O'Reilly. Newt it so far out there on his opinion of Obama, but I guess that's what it takes to win over conservatives. That and turning Catholic.
Newt is usually more tempered on regular TV shows, like Meet the Press or the networks. He usually plays to his Fox audience when he's on Fox. Newt is an old-time politician.

Palin, Gingrich Applaud Obama's Nobel Speech

Newt Gingrich, Sarah Palin and Pat Buchanan liked the speech. Not that any one of them matters, but their lauding of Obama's speech says a lot about the rightwing. They like Obama's speech on "just war" but don't like his speeches on diplomacy. Their lust for war is disturbing.

Obama's speech played to that idea, that war can be justified.

I liked Obama's speech. But I didn't like the gist of the speech. No war is ever just and it can't ever be justified. Not morally. On a strictly moral basis, the death penalty isn't moral and neither is abortion. We should stop trying to morally justify war. We always mix up morality and reality.

Realities must be faced as we work toward becoming more just people. I think that's what Obama was reckoning with in the speech.

We live on a planet that's constantly in a state of war. Human beings haven't figured out how to get over themselves. We seem to be consistently working toward our own demise, whether it be changing the planet's climate or developing nukes to blow up hordes of people.

There isn't any country in the world that's going to dismantle their military, lay down their arms and stop fighting. Terrorists aren't going to stop attacking because they have no moral compass whatsoever.

The military should be reserved for defense, and I'm not sure that the war in Afghanistan is a defensive measure, but Obama has deemed it as such and so I'll trust his judgement.

But we can't give up on aspiring to be peaceful. The rightwing, though, doesn't have that aspiration.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Pat Buchanan says Obama didn't offer "gauzy hope and expectation""

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Duncan, Gingrich, Sharpton Meet the Press Nov. 15

Arne Duncan, Secretary of Education, Al Sharpton and Gingrich have been working on education reform for a few months now. Newt Gingrich is losing his Tea Party cred aligning with the Obama administration on education. I'm surprised he's hanging in. Newt says kids need to know first that they have a future.
The new racism is low expectations, says Sharpton. Duncan says the Department of Education has been part of the problem.
They all agree bad teachers are a problem too. I'd say bad teachers are the heart of the problem.
This is the full broadcast. Hillary's up first and then Duncan, Sharpton and Gingrich talk education reform.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Newt Tries to Regain Cred with Tea Party

Newt Gingrich isn't extreme enough.
To be relevant in the fringe today you have say what Jon Voight said at the tea party protest at the Capitol today: "Obama has subconscious programming by Rev. Wright to damn America." To be a tea partier, you have to believe Obama is a socialist and you have to believe he was born in Kenya.
The tea party doesn't like Newt. He's too mainstream. Hannity and Newt attempt to save their fringe credibility:

Newt is Out. Understanding the Tea Party

Tea partiers believe Obama is a socialist who was born in Kenya.
They don't like people who appear foreign to them, people outside of "white culture," so they tend to harbor various prejudices. Beck is their hero. Beck is being hailed as the new Oprah (for his book selections). What some big-time reporter needs to do is explore Beck's and other conservatives' ties with gold. Somewhere there is a deep profit motive.
Tea partiers are taking over where conservatives failed, in their view. Tea partiers tend to believe in the notion of doomsday. Tea partiers are a fearful bunch of people. David Weigel explains them best.
Another thing about tea partiers, they don't like Newt Gingrich and they don't like republicans. Some republicans are tea partiers, such as Michele Bachmann. Some are more underground about their fringeyness. Tea partiers are tempting republicans to go all the way.

Most Americans don't know much yet about the idiosyncratic ideology of the Tea Party crowd, beyond their conviction that President Obama was born in Kenya (and that his birth announcement in the Hawaii newspapers is therefore part of a plot that dates back to the Kennedy era). But what they have seen so far, they don't seem to like: The more that Beck, Palin and kindred spirits appear to represent the Republican brand, the less appeal that brand possesses.

From the perspective of Gingrich and other veteran Republicans, there is deep irony in these untoward developments. Many of the Tea Party types actually hate Republican politicians, unless, like Ronald Reagan or Barry Goldwater, they are already dead. They hate Democrats, too, of course -- and lots of other people -- but their invective against Republicans is suffused with special outrage.

If they have their way, every Republican who doesn't adhere to the Beck canon will be driven out at the end of a pitchfork, just like poor Dede Scozzafava.

Fifteen years ago, when Newt rode to power on the resentments of the religious right, the gun lobby and the economic royalists, he celebrated their extremism as the political style of "normal Americans." Today when he hears the violent rhetoric, the hateful threats and the fanatical intolerance, he knows they are talking about him, too.RCP

Tea partier says the healthcare bill takes away freedom:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Newt Gingrich on Running for President

Newt Gingrich didn't turn Catholic for nothing.
That's very cynical of me. But Newt suggests if there is a mission for him (if republicans still aren't offering any ideas), he might sign up as a presidential contender.
Newt confirms that Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty is running for president in 2012. He also says Sarah Palin is a contender if her book tour does well and if she does well on Oprah on Nov. 16.
Is Oprah that much of a barometer on presidential politics? Not sure book sales account for a lot either. Obama did well on Oprah and sold a lot of books but that was because he's Obama, a well-qualified, intelligent leader. Palin is Palin.

Gingrich Explains to Ingraham Strategy on Making Obama a One Term President

I think it's funny that any time that Newt speaks he mentions Ronald Reagan. This is an interesting conversation between Newt Gingrich and Laura Ingraham on moderate and conservative republicans. Gingrich is promoting his new novel (novel?) To Try Men's Souls.

Newt Tells Hannity Health Reform Will be Repealed

Poor Sean Hannity is feeling down. Newt Gingrich is boosting his wingnut cred by saying if the health reform bill passes, it will be repealed. That ought to stir the tea partiers:

Suprise! Jim Greer is Still A Hater

Jim Greer is a wingnut. I'll let him speak for himself:

Gingrich Praises Arne Duncan

I'm glad Newt could find a way to make himself useful. Gingrich makes sure that everyone knows that John Boehner, Mitch Daniel and others from the right wing support him in this endeavor:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy