Gingrich officially enters 2012 race

[AZGrizFan]

Newt gets confetti dumped on him by a protestor who was upset that Newt didn't come out forcefully for creationism...

http://www.startribune.com/politics/nat ... 66064.html

MINNEAPOLIS - Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich refused to be pinned down Tuesday as a believer in creationism or evolution as the origin of human life during a gathering of Minnesota social conservatives, where he also endured a protester's confetti shower.

The former House speaker adopted a nuanced stance in the thorny debate over how life first formed, telling his Minnesota Family Council audience that both theological and scientific views can be right.

"I believe that creation as an act of faith is true and I believe that science as a mechanical process is true," Gingrich said at an afternoon session that preceded a more formal address. "Both can be true. I don't think there is necessarily a conflict between the two."

The answer left skeptics among the audience, the type Gingrich is working particularly hard to soothe in the early days of his campaign.

Retired plumber Marty Gavic said Gingrich's unwillingness to embrace creationism is a strike against his candidacy.

"When he talks about God in government, then I believe if he's a Godly man he should say that `I believe God created the heavens and earth because that's in the Bible,'" said Gavic, who was among a few dozen people who sat through a screening of a film Gingrich co-produced on religion in American government.

(snip)

During the book signing, a protester poured a cracker box full of glittery confetti over Gingrich and his wife, Callista.

not off to a rousing start...

That's what happens when you try to soothe and appease the crackpots.

[dbackjon]

And this is why Obama will get 300+ electoral votes again. The Republican base, the ones that CONTROL the local parties and thus the primaries/elections, are hung up on purity tests:

Literal belief in the Bible the way they believe
Pro-Life 100%, no exceptions for rape or incest or to save the Mother's life
Anti-homosexuality
Eliminate SS
Eliminate Medicare
And on and on


The Republican base will eat alive anyone that does not meet their purity tests, leaving a far right nominee that will send moderate Republicans and independents three choices:

Vote for Obama to make sure the Republican nominee doesn't win
Vote third party in protest
Stay home

Any option leads to an Obama landslide

[AZGrizFan]

And this is why Obama will get 300+ electoral votes again. The Republican base, the ones that CONTROL the local parties and thus the primaries/elections, are hung up on purity tests:

Literal belief in the Bible the way they believe
Pro-Life 100%, no exceptions for rape or incest or to save the Mother's life
Anti-homosexuality
Eliminate SS
Eliminate Medicare
And on and on


The Republican base will eat alive anyone that does not meet their purity tests, leaving a far right nominee that will send moderate Republicans and independents three choices:

Vote for Obama to make sure the Republican nominee doesn't win
Vote third party in protest
Stay home

Any option leads to an Obama landslide

I think you're wrong in assuming that's the Republican "base", Jon, but it is sick how the candidates pander to the 10% who all they care about are the first 2-3 on your list....much like Obama pandered to the fringe 10% on the FAR left to get the nomination, then immediately pissed most of them off by moving towards the center and away from those "one issue" voters.

Also, most Republicans I know don't want to ELIMINATE SS and Medicare, but are smart enough to understand that entitlement programs IN GENERAL can't continue down the road they're going down as they are what's bankrupting the country (along with runaway defense spending).

I'm WAAAAAAYYYY more concerned about the deficit, the budget, and gov't intrusion into our lives than I am about the bible, abortion, or homosexuality...

[GannonFan]

And this is why Obama will get 300+ electoral votes again. The Republican base, the ones that CONTROL the local parties and thus the primaries/elections, are hung up on purity tests:

Literal belief in the Bible the way they believe
Pro-Life 100%, no exceptions for rape or incest or to save the Mother's life
Anti-homosexuality
Eliminate SS
Eliminate Medicare
And on and on


The Republican base will eat alive anyone that does not meet their purity tests, leaving a far right nominee that will send moderate Republicans and independents three choices:

Vote for Obama to make sure the Republican nominee doesn't win
Vote third party in protest
Stay home

Any option leads to an Obama landslide

I think you're wrong in assuming that's the Republican "base", Jon, but it is sick how the candidates pander to the 10% who all they care about are the first 2-3 on your list....much like Obama pandered to the fringe 10% on the FAR left to get the nomination, then immediately pissed most of them off by moving towards the center and away from those "one issue" voters.

Also, most Republicans I know don't want to ELIMINATE SS and Medicare, but are smart enough to understand that entitlement programs IN GENERAL can't continue down the road they're going down as they are what's bankrupting the country (along with runaway defense spending).

I'm WAAAAAAYYYY more concerned about the deficit, the budget, and gov't intrusion into our lives than I am about the bible, abortion, or homosexuality...

Really, though, it's not like McCain was a far right nominee in '08. Very few people would categorize McCain that way so it's not like the primaries force a candidate like that out. I wouldn't really assume the Republicans have their candidate even in the race yet - Daniels could very well swoop in and be that nominee and again, I think you'd be hard pressed to call him far right.

[AZGrizFan]

I think you're wrong in assuming that's the Republican "base", Jon, but it is sick how the candidates pander to the 10% who all they care about are the first 2-3 on your list....much like Obama pandered to the fringe 10% on the FAR left to get the nomination, then immediately pissed most of them off by moving towards the center and away from those "one issue" voters.

Also, most Republicans I know don't want to ELIMINATE SS and Medicare, but are smart enough to understand that entitlement programs IN GENERAL can't continue down the road they're going down as they are what's bankrupting the country (along with runaway defense spending).

I'm WAAAAAAYYYY more concerned about the deficit, the budget, and gov't intrusion into our lives than I am about the bible, abortion, or homosexuality...

Really, though, it's not like McCain was a far right nominee in '08. Very few people would categorize McCain that way so it's not like the primaries force a candidate like that out. I wouldn't really assume the Republicans have their candidate even in the race yet - Daniels could very well swoop in and be that nominee and again, I think you'd be hard pressed to call him far right.

Not BEING far right and not PANDERING to the far right are two entirely different things. It's the pandering that pisses me off.

[ASUMountaineer]

Newt getting stomped on by an Iowan.

Gingrich made his first official campaign stop to another early state--Iowa--on Monday. But one voter there made a scene by pulling Gingrich aside in the lobby of the Dubuque Holiday Inn to chide him for his Medicare remarks.

"What you just did to Paul Ryan was unforgivable," the man, identified by the Des Moines Register as Dubuque resident Russell Fuhrman, calmly told the candidate and the men shook hands.

"I didn't do anything to Paul Ryan," Gingrich replied.

"Yes, you did. You undercut him ... you're an embarrassment to our party."

Gingrich said, "I'm sorry you feel that way." But that didn't appear to placate Fuhrman.

"Why don't you get out before you make a bigger fool of yourself?" he asked Gingrich.

The exchange was caught on tape. Watch it below:

http://news.yahoo.com/video/us-15749625/25257427

Am I the only one that noticed this guy's last name?

[Baldy]

I think you're wrong in assuming that's the Republican "base", Jon, but it is sick how the candidates pander to the 10% who all they care about are the first 2-3 on your list....much like Obama pandered to the fringe 10% on the FAR left to get the nomination, then immediately pissed most of them off by moving towards the center and away from those "one issue" voters.

Also, most Republicans I know don't want to ELIMINATE SS and Medicare, but are smart enough to understand that entitlement programs IN GENERAL can't continue down the road they're going down as they are what's bankrupting the country (along with runaway defense spending).

I'm WAAAAAAYYYY more concerned about the deficit, the budget, and gov't intrusion into our lives than I am about the bible, abortion, or homosexuality...

Really, though, it's not like McCain was a far right nominee in '08. Very few people would categorize McCain that way so it's not like the primaries force a candidate like that out. I wouldn't really assume the Republicans have their candidate even in the race yet - Daniels could very well swoop in and be that nominee and again, I think you'd be hard pressed to call him far right.

Exactly, not even the most stupid leftist wacko out there (I know an oxymoron) would qualify McCain as being "far-right". Jon's just being a drama queen.

As I have stated before, if the economy is anywhere close to where it is now, Obama will lose in a landslide no matter who the Republican nominee is.

[Wedgebuster]

Yeah, this is all just looking sweeter and sweeter for the GOP in 2012.
--------(exponentially)------------>

[TwinTownBisonFan]

Really, though, it's not like McCain was a far right nominee in '08. Very few people would categorize McCain that way so it's not like the primaries force a candidate like that out. I wouldn't really assume the Republicans have their candidate even in the race yet - Daniels could very well swoop in and be that nominee and again, I think you'd be hard pressed to call him far right.

Not BEING far right and not PANDERING to the far right are two entirely different things. It's the pandering that pisses me off.

The problem is... that fringe 10-20% VOTE in the primaries... the more reasonable voters wait for the general... complain all you'd like but the world belongs to those who show up - and one thing they ALWAYS do is show up... it's why senior citizens get more love and attention than college students... simple math.

the base staying home KILLED McCain in 08. (that and the eight years previous...)

[AZGrizFan]

Yeah, this is all just looking sweeter and sweeter for the GOP in 2012.
--------(exponentially)------------>

Actually, this is a blessing. Getting Gingrich and Trump out of the way early is terrific news. Now if we can just get Palin to implode in the next 90 days we may have a winner.

[Grizalltheway]

Really, though, it's not like McCain was a far right nominee in '08. Very few people would categorize McCain that way so it's not like the primaries force a candidate like that out. I wouldn't really assume the Republicans have their candidate even in the race yet - Daniels could very well swoop in and be that nominee and again, I think you'd be hard pressed to call him far right.

Exactly, not even the most stupid leftist wacko out there (I know an oxymoron) would qualify McCain as being "far-right". Jon's just being a drama queen.

As I have stated before, if the economy is anywhere close to where it is now, Obama will lose in a landslide no matter who the Republican nominee is.

Maybe you should figure out what an oxymoron is before you start calling people stupid, Baldo.

[Baldy]

Exactly, not even the most stupid leftist wacko out there (I know an oxymoron) would qualify McCain as being "far-right". Jon's just being a drama queen.

As I have stated before, if the economy is anywhere close to where it is now, Obama will lose in a landslide no matter who the Republican nominee is.

Maybe you should figure out what an oxymoron is before you start calling people stupid, Baldo.

Sorry Jizzfan...It was a poor attempt at sarcasm so your misinterpretation is totally understandable.

[Wedgebuster]

Yeah, this is all just looking sweeter and sweeter for the GOP in 2012.
--------(exponentially)------------>

Actually, this is a blessing. Getting Gingrich and Trump out of the way early is terrific news. Now if we can just get Palin to implode in the next 90 days we may have a winner.

Who? She has evaporated, wouldn't you agree?

[Grizalltheway]

Maybe you should figure out what an oxymoron is before you start calling people stupid, Baldo.

Sorry Jizzfan...It was a poor attempt at sarcasm so your misinterpretation is totally understandable.

I apologize for not noting the sarcasm in your voice over the interwebz.

[AZGrizFan]

Actually, this is a blessing. Getting Gingrich and Trump out of the way early is terrific news. Now if we can just get Palin to implode in the next 90 days we may have a winner.

Who? She has evaporated, wouldn't you agree?

Mmmmmm...I'd say she has yet to flame out....wait until she actually ANNOUNCES her candidacy first....

[89Hen]

Actually, this is a blessing. Getting Gingrich and Trump out of the way early is terrific news. Now if we can just get Palin to implode in the next 90 days we may have a winner.

Who? She has evaporated, wouldn't you agree?

But according to you libs she was the face of the GOP and would be our candidate. Ooops.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

Who? She has evaporated, wouldn't you agree?

But according to you libs she was the face of the GOP and would be our candidate. Ooops.

Right now, she's as close to a "face" as the GOP really has... doesn't mean she'll be your candidate (I'm still wagering on Pawlenty for that)

[houndawg]

Maybe you should figure out what an oxymoron is before you start calling people stupid, Baldo.

Sorry Jizzfan...It was a poor attempt at sarcasm so your misinterpretation is totally understandable.

I think you meant a "redundancy", your baldness. Using the right word always it a better attempt at sarcasm.

[Baldy]

Sorry Jizzfan...It was a poor attempt at sarcasm so your misinterpretation is totally understandable.

I think you meant a "redundancy", your baldness. Using the right word always it a better attempt at sarcasm.

I think you meant tautology, Pops.
You're right, "it" a better attempt at sarcasm to use the right word.