“If this is what the conservative movement has become, then count me out”
I finaly have an embedable version of Mark Levin’s comments yesterday about the attacks on Newt.
It is a sad commentary on the damage people have done in the name of electing Mitt Romney. Add it to the list.
“I’m going to tell you something. Newt Gingrich was the former Republican Speaker of the House, the first Republican Speaker of the House in almost half a century, and he was fighting the Democrats and to win the House of Representatives before most of the people writing on the Internet about him and trashing him and going with talking points from other campaigns were old enough to wipe themselves,” Levin said. “[W]e can certainly criticize Newt Gingrich, but do not count me among those who are going to destroy the man. I saw that attempt already by the hard-left Democrats led by [Michigan Rep.] David Bonior.” …
“I’m supposed to sit here, read all this crap on the Internet, listen to purported Reaganites and others tell me that he didn’t do these things?” Levin said. “I was there. I lived it. I saw it. Or let me put it this way — Newt Gingrich, if he does nothing else, did more for the conservative movement and to stop the liberal Democrats in the House of Representatives than virtually everybody today who’s criticizing him.”
Update: Romney’s claims about Newt’s ethics charge are false and misleading
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A partial aside (relevant insofar as it involves damage to the conservative movement): does anyone know of a good news aggregator to replace Drudge?
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I use FreeRepublic, though sometimes it has speed problems.
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There’s Newsmax
Interesting that Rush felt the need to defend drudge today, wonder if the Newt bashing had a negative effect on his site – a million or so less hits here and there and pretty soon you’re talking real money!
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I look here for news. Pretty much any political stuff is there with links
http://memeorandum.com/
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I really like memeorandum, but because of the nature of it (highlighting stories being linked by others) it tends to be hours behind the news. But it is one of the best sources out there.
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Thanks, everyone. For now memorandum replaces drudge, & FreeRepublic goes up in my bar. We’ll see how that works.
And great site, Mr. Jacobson. Thanks so much.
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Try this one: http://badblue.bitnamiapp.com/trendr8.htm News and blog links, so interesting stuff there.
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I like that they compile the stories with no bias.
Whatever it the top story, they show who is talking about it.
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Levin has an inimitable ability as a radio voice to reach deep into his gut for outrage and yet remain clear and rational. He expresses righteous contempt for the contemptible about as well as anybody I’ve ever heard. It’s cathartic to listen to him. He’s also one of the best interviewers around. He asks simple, crisp questions and shuts up for the answers.
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If is fair to say that National Review is now “standing athwart Conservatism yelling stop bitching we must elect a Big Government techocrat”
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Didnt take long for NRO and others to go from fair analysis to “all in” for Romney. Im sure after SC results they figured “the little people” had their token win…but now its time to take the reins and show the rubes exactly who is in charge.
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To be fair, there are some pretty strong voices for reason (and for Gingrich) at NR. Like:
1. today’s article by Thomas Sowell. http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/289393/anybody-serious-thomas-sowell
2. the link to Steven Hayward’s article. http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/289473/newt-then-now-kathryn-jean-lopez
3. Melissa O’Sullivan’s full blown defense of Newt http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/289301/send-us-newt-melissa-o-sullivan
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Mark, meet Rush:
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2008/01/14/the_era_of_reagan_is_not_over
Not everybody worried about or opposed to Gingrich is a DC GOP insider. We have our reasons and Gingrich gave them to us.
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Man…I just cracked up seeing this. The est republicans are gonna see exploding heads. Newt up again nationally
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/republican_presidential_nomination-1452.html
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I notice those polls are all over the place. Several are flipped. It looks like total chaos. I don;t know what to make of the average of polls like that, but I hope Newt really is up.
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My analysis is that Romney was back up because of absentee ballots coming in. Gingrch has been pulling in 4-6000 people at rallies vs Romney’s few hundred. I can’t believe Romney would win at this point but we’ll see.
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My opinion: the Florida polls are rigged. It’s inconsistent with reality and on-the-ground reports of huge Gingrich rallies.
Monday, Newt was up 8 to 12. By Wednesday night, he’s down by 9. A 20-point swing for Romney in less than 3 days–what?
In SC, Newt’s biggest poll lead was 6. He won by 12.
Besides, Romney isn’t running like a guy with on the verge of a double-digit win. In that case, you’d expect him to be tapering off, re-directing money, looking to the next step.
Then again, I could be totally wrong. (It’s been known to happen.) But my gut tells me there’s more than meets the eye here.
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No question Mr. Levin is right. Newt was a masterful Minority Leader and took the Democrats to the woodshed.
The problem is, the very qualities that made him such a great minority leader made him a less good Speaker, and (I suggest) a less good President. Newt is willing to mix it up; he’s pugnacious. That’s part of his charm in the primaries and is great if you’re in the minority, but a President has to work with all sides if he’s going to get legislation through. Can Newt do that?
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Well… since he was able to push through conservative principles like welfare reform, tax cuts, and balanced budgets with a Democrat in the Whitehouse.. yeah, I think you could safely say he can work with the opposition in order to advance the conservative cause.
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Newt worked with Clinton to pass all the legislation that is now history: welfare reform, balanced budget(s), tax cuts…..
Yeah, he can.
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I hate Mitt Romney.
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sexy rexyonly has time for ladies and the perfect spiral.
is that berrien in triple coverage?
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The GOP establishment has made a HUGE mistake in its concerted attacks against every candidate who has had the “temerity” to challenge Romney’s “inevitability.”
Yes, they’ve been successful at labeling Bachmann as emotionally unstable, Cain as a womanizer, Perry as stupid, and on and on. They worked hard to destroy Gingrich before the caucuses and primaries started, but he came back. They spent millions to destroy Gingrich in Iowa, but Romney still lost to Santorum. Gingrich came back and won South Carolina convincingly, so they had to try to ruin his reputation- forever.
I am disgusted with the despicable behavior of Mitt Romney. I would rather sit this election out than vote for that man.
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I “liked” your comment, but I won’t sit out the election. ABO, baby.
Get rid of Obama. That is priority #1, along with electing conservative House representatives and Senators.
Priorities. ABO.
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Me too. ABO. All the way.
Still, I have to say this as well–
I didn’t leave the Republican Party. The Republican Party left me.
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As difficult as this must be for long-time Republicans, it’s twice as hard for us former Dems who woke up to the corruption in our party. We thought there was an alternative. We were wrong. The Rep establishment is every bit as corrupt as the Dem.
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I used to believe that and I still think electing Conservatives to the Hse & Sen is critical. I just don’t think that Romney & the strain of the GOP he’s part of will be enough different than what is there today.
I don’t think he has the cajones to resist the GOPers in the back room – Obama may have the Chicago thugs telling him when to dance – Mitt will have his own string pullers and it won’t be the voters. We need to be getting our first string ready for 2016.
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If by some cruel twist of fate Obama won re-election I would at least like retribution of a GOP house and senate majority to override any of his veto’s. He might get so arrogant to do something impeachable.
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God Damn Right, Levin..
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Me too, ABO. I cringe when I hear someone will sit out the election rather than vote for Romney. i at least want to put the breaks on the train wreck…
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oops , this post was supposed to be in reply to JimMtnViewCa
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FINAL DRUDGE POLL RESULTS… READERS FROM FLORIDA ONLY: ROMNEY 34.78%… SANTORUM 24.61%… PAUL 22.7%… GINGRICH 17.92%…
And above are Drudge’s online voting poll of his readers in FL. You gotta be kidding me!
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Gee… an unscientific online poll conducted by a militantly anti-Gingrich website.
I’m shocked… shocked I tell you! /sarc/
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I can’t believe what we are seeing now is the conservative movement. They’ve just co-opted the name. I’m losing respect this year for a number of people who I thought were conservative.
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Rather than classify them as ‘conservative’, I’d call them progressive opportunists.
I’m afraid we’re just going to get another serving of the same ol’ same ol’.
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All I can say is this is bringing out many people who are liberal/RINO’s in conservative clothing. People now should be aware to not trust many no matter how long you have been listening to their radio show, blogging on their website or watching their news shows. At this point, I suspect many and trust few.
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I’ll vote for ABO, but the joy is gone. I was looking forward to a GOP resurgence, it being fun to be a Republican again – this is now just grim, and infuriating.
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I would add that we elected Schwarzenegger in California because he was ‘electable’ and look what happened… Dem light. No strength. None of the principles he articulated so beautifully in his speeches. We thought he was one who ‘got it.’ But – in the end, nothing.
We missed our chance to have elected McClintock – who was the real deal, who had the actual knowledge and commitment to do the right thing. Who had walked the walk and done the work in the trenches.
I have no doubt that Mitt Romney is a good and honorable man, and a good businessman – but Newt knows how Washington works, and how to get things done, and he has enough personal arrogance to stand up to any who try to derail his efforts to reform the government to actually get the job done.
I’m not in favor of voting in another Schwarzenegger.
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Oh man, that brings back painful memories.
I still wince when I think that I voted for Ah-nold instead of Tom McClintock when I had the chance. Ouch, ouch ouch!
When I recall voting for Ah-nold vs voting for the Dem hack-of-the-month, I don’t feel regret though.
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I voted for Arnold too, not because I didn’t like McClintock better but he really had no chance. In retrospect, Grey Davis wouldn’t have been worse..
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Gray Davis was way worse, another nasty campaigner. Schwarzenegger had potential, but he turned – into a Democrat.
But we can’t blame the governor – any governor – it is the fault of the legislators who have driven the state into bankruptcy. They set the budget, they decide on the spending, they decide to steal the money from counties and then dole it back in the form of grants, raking off the top, and decimating county budgets, pass spending mandates that cannot possibly be met… and yet they get reelected over and over again.
The Democrats should be run out of office on a rail, not to return for 50 years, as punishment for what they have done here.
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That is what happens when you accept liberals who are pretending to be conservatives in order to get into power. Schwarzenegger was never a conservative and didn’t turn in to a democrat he was always a democrat, just pretending to be something else.
When I look as Mitt Romney, I see Arnold Schwarzenegger. I big government progressive who is playing conservative until he gets in office and then his true colors will come out.
I will not vote for Mitt Romney, the GOP establishment needs to be taken out, even if that means 4 more years of Obama.
If Mitt Romney wins the nomination everything we fought for in 2010, all the rallies, all the establishment Republicans we defeated in the primaries, etc.. will be for nothing.
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And then California tried to run the “electable” Meg Whitman against “Moonbeam” Jerry Brown and Whitman got beaten by 13 points.
Romney=Whitman and Moonbeam=Obama.
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Free Republic is reporting that Drudge’s traffic has dropped 2 million hits in one day in an article titled: Anti-Newt Backlash?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2838755/posts
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Thanks. That sure makes me feel a lot better. I appreciate the post.
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First they came for Sarah Palin
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This.
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and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t Sarah Palin
Then they came for Herman Cain and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t Herman Cain
Then they came for Newt Gingrich and I dind’t speak out because I wasn’t Newt Gingrich
Then they came for me…
and there was no one left to speak out for me
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I know that’s right.
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People are surprised by this? I have read national review for years but they have become such a crackpot site and this obsession with Gingrich is laughable. They hate illegal immigrants and the big businessmen who promote illegal immigration so who they support, a big businessman who will do nothing about immigration. They are idiots much most of the Republican establishment. Bob Dole never got over the “tax collector for the welfare state” crack from Newt but the truth hurts. This is a fight for the soul of what has become a soulless party. Beating Newt is one thing, this assault is beyond the pale and makes me wonder why I am a Republican. Might as well be a Democrat, collect my government benefits and enjoy watching the whole thing collapse.
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Levin hit this one out of the park and I am not a talk radio fan. I know he is a Santorum supporter. So he stuck up for Gingrich on this one just because it was right. He gets big kudos for that.
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It shows great intellectual integrity.
Meanwhile, Rush Limbaugh is committing professional suicide by parroting all of the sleaze and attacks on Newt. What is going on with Rush? Didn’t even give Newt any “whatever you might think of him” love for trying to run the kind of “ideas only” campaign Rush advocated. When Romney exploited that as a chance to slash and burn, Rush chortled about how they were “defining” Newt, and shut down any callers who disagreed.
The chips are down. Now we know who are the enemies posing as friends.
Coulter, Limbaugh, National Review, American Spectator…
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KTCat says, Romney is driving me out of the Republican Party.
Check it out. I wonder how many more there are, I see another candidate jumping in. I wonder how Alan West would fare, he wouldn’t take this shit from Romney and the Establishment lying down. [Not that Newt is but there is so much they can distort and lie about with him.]
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Thanks for the linky love, ligneus!
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I just notice how all the so-called anti-establishment tea party Republicans are sitting on the sidelines doing nothing. Only Sarah Palin has had the “balls” to speak out and how sad is it when a pretty woman from Alaska has more backbone and testicular fortitude then entire GOP tea party caucus.
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Count me out too.
I’m supposed to go switch out one Alinsky-acolyte big-government-healthcare advocate for another one just because he’s from the other party? Can’t do it.
And that “can’t do it” is turning into a “hell f___ing NO I’ll be DAMNED before I do it” because of this mass pileup of the GOP on Gingrich, and the realization that every one of Romney’s potential opponents EXCEPT OBAMA has been painted as stupid, lecherous, incompetent, immoral, or crazy. I mean, I think I’m seeing the GOP turn into a second Democratic Party. This is the price we’re supposed to pay to deny Obama a second term? We’re supposed to exchange Obama for a progressive who could be in the Oval Office until 2020? What’s the point of kicking out Obama if we’re just going to elect an Obama clone with an “R” after his name?
The GOP is jumping the shark, and I’m ready to say “I’m done with you, GOP. Go have your cocktail parties with your leftist friends, but don’t ever ask me to vote for you or send money to your candidates.”
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For all their faults, the Republicans are the only ones standing up against the massive over-spending, and in favor of fiscal sanity, lower taxes, and individual responsibility. They need to stand tougher – and we need to help them.
Good, bad or indifferent, we go to war with the army we have.
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When did that happen? You are deluded.
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Rose, the current GOP isn’t do much of that at all and are better analogized as a Cub Scout Troop than an army.
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[...] Big thanks to William Jacobson for posting this. [...]
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This has nothing to do with conservatives. This is the Republican Party becoming the reptiles and losers the media has always presented them as.
Been through it all before in VA in the 90s. Screw the Republicans. I would not vote for Romney, not even against Obama. I’ll vote third party or stay home if he’s the nominee.
Absolutely disgusting.
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Whenever a man of Levin’s integrity leaves you, a flower blooms somewhere.
If the actual record doesn’t fit your narrative, tough luck.
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Romney was beat by McCain, McCain was beat by Obama! What makes anyone believe that Romney could win? The fact is, Obama beat Hillary in the debates. Hillary gave a glib remark about Obama using the Clinton’s former advisors and Obama quick on his feet responded by saying that’s right and when I’am President I will call on you for advice. He won the election at that instant. Romney is not nearly creative enough. He will lose on the first question pertaining to Romneycare. Newt could take the fight to Obama and call him out on his policies. It looks as a nation we will have to hit a real hard bottom to wake up. It may be time to form a new Party.
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/28/nbc-mitt-romney-tom-brokaw-ad_n_1239107.html?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmaing10%7Cdl1%7Csec3_lnk3%26pLid%3D130983
Very interesting…looks like the pot doesn’t want the kettle callin it black.
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“Romney was beat by McCain, McCain was beat by Obama! What makes anyone believe that Romney could win?” You forget; Reagan was beat by Ford (in the primary) who was beat by Carter (in the election)….Does that mean voters were foolish to give Reagan the nomination four years later? No. This argument is baseless.
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Romney ain’t Reagan.
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