The New York Times today (11/29/11) has a somewhat cheeky piece about Republican candidate Newt Gingrich‘s background as a historian–which, according to reporter Trip Gabriel, means he’s unusually smart:
In an election season rife with factual misstatements, deliberate and otherwise, Mr. Gingrich sometimes seems to stand out for exhibiting an excess of knowledge.
I don’t know whether he really “sometimes seems” to have an “excess of knowledge”–whatever that might be. The point seems to be that he comes across as smarter than, say, Michele Bachmann. Well, sure.
But what about Gingrich’s misstatements? According to PolitiFact, at one debate Gingrich claimed that Sarah Palin was right about the “death panels” in the healthcare law–which earned him a “PANTS ON FIRE” from the site.
Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt, though–the healthcare law is not precisely “history.” Perhaps the same goes for his claim that the stimulus bill “is anti-Christian legislation that will stop churches from using public schools for meeting on Sundays, as well as Boy Scouts and student Bible study groups.” To be fair, that was in 2009–way before he was the smartest presidential candidate in the room.
But PolitiFact also gave Gingrich a “PANTS ON FIRE” for his his Twitter claim that the United States spends less on its military (as a percentage of GDP) than at any time since Pearl Harbor. A historian might be expected to know something about that.
The Times adds:
Fellow historians are generally pleased that Mr. Gingrich brings history into the national conversation, even if some dispute his insights.
It would be odd for historians to be pleased by this–which might explain why the Times can’t offer much in the way of evidence for it.
“[A]n excess of knowledge.”
That’s something the corpress will never stand accused of providing us, is it?
What can one say about Newt?A few things actually.Is he “smarter”than Obama?I would say yes everyday of the week ,and twice on Monday.Is he more qualified?Same answer.Can he beat Obama?No i don’t think he can.Is he in fact unelectable?Yes I think he is.I would love to see him in a cabinet position.Maybe even VP i don’t know.But this is not his time.And in fact his running is a waste of our time.
If character doesn’t matter to you, then Gingrich is your man!
Newt Gingrich’s Skeleton Closet
http://chasvoice.blogspot.com/2011/11/newt-gingrichs-skeleton-closet.html
Bill I don’t personally like Newt.He simply rubs me the wrong way.And the article proffered shows enough smoke to know that the fire that burns within can’t hide the fact that he is not the greatest guy in the world.BUT…….how can Dems use any of this to attack him.Adultery….isn’t that a non issue on the left?A checkered past tied to unsavory people and issues…..Obama anyone?The funny thing is these issues can only be argued with conservatives.Liberals long ago ceded any high ground.You are forced to accept any and all weaknesses of the flesh and mean characters who are self serving.Back to arguing his politics,oh what will you do?As for us on the right….A lot of us have a bad taste in our mouth from Newt.We will of course vote for him over Obama.I would vote for just about anyone to remove the wrecking crew now in place.
Yeah, the Newt thing is a waste of time.
What is it about Gingrich that so excites the impressionable “journalists” at our bigger newspapers? Gingrich is an historian and deep thinker in the same way that our troll above is an historian and deep thinker. Gingrich ‘s gargantuan ego is always looking for more stroking, and there’s always an excitable young fellow (Tripp Gabriel . . . hmmm . . . a perfect name) fluttering around his Hugeness who will gush on about him. Gingrich ” . . . brings history into the national conversation . . . .” ? My God, that’s just embarassing, revolting really. Gingrich is probably the biggest fraud in American politics right now, and that’s saying something. He can be counted upon to say some of the stupidist, most revolting shit this side of Pat Robertson (another “historian” of some note), and gullible little toads like our boy Tripp will stroke their chins and marvel at the great man’s genius, his historical acumen. Another new low for the Paper Of Record, with more to come for sure.
P.S.: Did ya get all that, Bill, from FAIR-blog’s right-wing historian? Good. I knew you would.
It’s not a very big room.
Michael e., I am wondering why you didn’t try to vote out G.W. who created this wreck. Perhaps you have mistaken the wrecking crew for the clean up crew. Oh … I forgot there are the sentry dogs, Republican congress, standing at the gate. They seem to like the mess GW & Cheney … wait, should I say Cheney and GW … left behind. Eight years is a lot of time to make a mess such as the one this country is now facing. Let’s see … I do remember Reagan setting the stage. My oh my … short term memory is a wonderful thing to help living in a state of denial. Good luck if it swings your way.
“PANTS ON FIRE” is a pathetic retort to a serial political liar. It is appropriate if you are a spoiled child with no imagination.
We have seen Brute Gingrich’s “vision” for America in the past and any student of history can clearly see that we are now living with the effects of the “ideas” he put into force.
As far as I can see back into history, those of his ilk have turned a great experiment in freedom and justice for all, into a model of servitude for “us” and spoils for “them” Can’t get any clearer than his Fannie and Freddie adventure where you take the money for yourself and cuss the results of your own doing. You are not going to get me to believe that he told them to act otherwise year after year, and they ignored him and hired him again the next year so that they could repete such a worthwhile arrangement as that.
Well Michael I thought Newt riding herd on Clinton produced all the good results that Bill often trumpeted(if their were really any).Your fanny and freddy question is damned important.And we NEED to know the facts there.I hope he is asked that question in a form that he can’t wiggle out of.
A .Carole.I was no fan of Bush.He was no conservative.He spent like a Dem ,and could not bring massive programs like fanny and freddy to heal.He also” murderated” the constitution.Seven years were good(economically) but the last paid for all as they say.All his massive problems aside -what can he say but it collapsed on my watch?For that his party caught it in the teeth, and deservedly so.
Obama has not had a good moment.He came in to a complete wreck and simply made it a thousand times worse.He was completely unqualified and unprepared,and did not have a clue.His ideology does not fit a capitalist country.So he really only now is becoming less of a “wrecking crew” ,as he simply attempts less.Sit down and shut up seems to be the command he has heard from the people ,and it at least has slowed the free fall.But he has nothing to offer.His huge brain has never really made an appearance.So what can he promise?No in the end like Bush he stands on how things stand.The buck does stop there.And he has failed on a level never seen before.He is done
Moving on…..This next election will elect the man who will reignite America ,or moving into 2016, watch it eclipsed by China with all that entails.Obama can promise more status quo.He can still secure the big bucks from corporate America and wall street for his campaign.He can claim to of paid off the Union coffers with the stym money.Kept their pensions flush by printing money.Kept this country alive by borrowing and running the counterfeit presses running day and night.That and manipulation of the FED.Pushing through national healthcare that is probably unconstitutional and definitely un affordable.He does have one idea.Tax the rich.An idea that even Clinton says will accomplish NOTHING.A friggin feel good moment.I can’t say Newt, or Mitt, can do what must be done.I can say Obama can’t.He now has a track record coming in and going out.Snake eyes across the board.i still say for your sides sake Hilary should step in.But she will not.She will wait till her time is right.What that means for a country in need is not her primary concern…or she would throw in now.
Unfortunately his ideology has not matured,and it robs him of gaining a clue as to how to make a capitalist country leap forward.
for Michael e: gingrich has the ugliest voice in the hostoryof the world. How the hell can you stand to listen to him??? IMpose that on me and I would move to another country fast.
Michael E: How many times do we have to repeat that it’s not the adultery, it’s the hypocrisy? Gingrich led the charge for Clinton’s impeachment (for an affair) at the same time that he was having an affair himself! He told one of his wives that it didn’t matter how he lived – what was important was what he had to say. TimN is right: Gingrich is a gigantic fraud.
Gingrich is indeed smart enough to realize that his comeback depends on echoing the baseless right-wing talking points so he can get a shot at the nomination. But how bright is it to say stupid stuff, win the nomination then be exposed as an idiot in the general election. Not that being an idiot prevents people from running and the public from supporting them.
I honestly think he is more egotistical than smart and that will eventually cause his downfall
Once again Michael e out talks and out smarts and out votes all others and is just so all over everybody who dares to disagree with him that well, he is just out there and probably even smarter than everyone as well to judge from how all over every statement he is. I mean the FAIR blog should just shut down while we all aspire at the feet of the Mighty Michael and strive to gain his depth and understanding of matters military, political, economic, sociological, and psychological.
Carole, I don’t care what anyone else says, you hit the nail on the head.
Lawrence….Thats funny.You have to admit that Newt will create an entire industry of comedians.SNL will have a field day.Print political cartoonists…He IS the little kid with the propeller on his head in the schoolyard.
Outdiva……Clinton was rightly impeached for lying under oath, and before Congress.It was never about sex per say.As far as is he a nice guy ,or a hypocrite?I’d vote no ,and yes.I personally would rather have a beer any day with Obama.But we are in dire straits here.He or Mitt are just better than Barrack Obama I believe -at getting this country back on track.
Ray Do I detect sarcasm?
michael e and gingrich have this in common: they think they can bloviate the opposition into submission … hot air like theirs is only good for a balloon ride
That’s right, Jim and Ray. The troll is a genius, a huge genius–what would us pissant libs do without him here? Goddamn FAIR blog leads us down the primrose path, and he comes in to straighten us all out. And trust me, Obama knows he’s out there, truth-tellin’ about the Great Socialist’s lies. When I spoke to Barack last Sunday, I bitched about the troll again, but the Pres just laughed–“You worry too much, old friend,” he said. “We’ll take of You Know Who after the election.” I feel better now, knowing my man Barack is on it. The Pres now declares (through Congress, and on his own) that American citizens can be summarily rounded up and held for ever (no charges, no trial). This, I think, even despite the troll’s loving affection for authoritarianism, should give him cause to reflect, to reconsider his slanders, lest he wind up in a “family camp” coming soon to a state near him. Funny thing, irony, isn’t Ray?
You know what’s almost as scary as Newt being president? His wife as first lady.
Tim…Jim…..Kind of off topic a little but have either of you ever dated a really hot girl?No i d
idn’t think so
Newt Gingrich is a narcissistic nutcase.
Very appropriate description, Boots.
During the Reagan recession of the 1980s’, NPR reporter, robert Krulwich asked bankers and politicians what they thought needed to be done to end the Reagan recession. When he talked to Gingrich, he said, We can grow our way out of the recession. When asked how that would happen since so many jobs were being lost to Japan, Gingrich responded that he had a high tech company in Georgia that could build a space hospital. Once that space hospital was launched into orbit, Japanese businessmen who suffered from severe burns could be launched to the hospital to recover from their burns. He said that gravity causes the most pain for burn victims. I almost choked thinking how many g-forces it takes to launch a rocket into space and what would happen to that poor burn victim on his trip to outer space. So much for Newt’s intelligence, he has none.
There is a Vanity Fair story about Newt Gingrich that was published in 1995, everyone who is thinking about voting for this guy, whose sexual encounters were discussed in the story, might want to change their mind if they read it at: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/newt/vanityfair1.html