Robert Reich nails it again: Don't wish for a Newt nomination.

[pnwmom]

http://www.salon.com/2012/01/26/dont_wish_for_a_newt_nomination/

Republicans are worried sick about Newt Gingrich’s ascendance, while Democrats are tickled pink.

Yet no responsible Democrat should be pleased at the prospect that Gingrich could get the GOP nomination. The future of America is too important to accept even a small risk of a Gingrich presidency.

The Republican worry is understandable. “The possibility of Newt Gingrich being our nominee against Barack Obama I think is essentially handling the election over to Obama,” says former Minnesota Governor Tom Pawlenty, a leading GOP conservative. “I think that’s shared by a lot of folks in the Republican party.”


SNIP

Even if the odds that Gingrich as GOP presidential candidate would win the general election are 10 percent, that’s too much of a risk to the nation. No responsible American should accept a 10 percent risk of a President Gingrich.

I’d take a 49 percent odds of a Mitt Romney win – who in my view would make a terrible president – over a 10 percent possibility that Newt Gingrich would become the next president – who would be an unmitigated disaster for America and the world.

[TheWraith]

1. Reich is wrong.

We don't need to just win a second term for Obama. We need to crush the Republicans into dust beneath a steel boot, securing the Senate and recapturing the House. Gingrich is toxic enough to accomplish that.

[RZM]

4. Classic example of be careful what you wish for

Is it worth the risk? And is flipping the House and Senate that much more likely with Newt at the top of the ticket? I'm not so sure.

I agree with Reich. Best not to take the chance.

[emulatorloo]

6. Senate and House Republicans are afraid of a bloodbath if Newt is at the top of the ticket

I can't remember where I saw the report I saw, but both Republican establishment and R's up for re-election think Newt will have massive NEGATIVE COAT-TAILS.

[TheWraith]

40. They should be. They already have serious problems...

The voter dissatisfaction is at levels that you usually see proceeding a wave election, and the "reelect the incumbent" numbers are about as bad as they ever get. Add to that the premise of every Republican candidate, in every district, having to take positions on the controversial shit Newt says. Either they alienate the Tea Party base, or they alienate voters who aren't insane.

Honestly, I think it's kind of absurd to work from the premise that a Romney administration wouldn't be just as bad as a Gingrich administration. Take a look at the policies that are coming out of the Republican House, and tell me that Romney would really go against his own party over any of those things. He wouldn't. He and Gingrich are peas in a pod; greedy, chameleon-like opportunists who'll do anything to advance themselves. Including getting cuddled up to the Tea Party. The only reason Romney can't do it right now is because they don't like his past, and he's too fake to be able to channel the blind hatred of Obama, brown people, and the poor like Gingrich is doing. But I see every reason to believe they would govern identically, as figureheads of the Tea Party Congress.

[FarLeftFist]

27. I believe we are witnessing a GOP death march.

[joshcryer]

31. Correct. It's more like a 49% chance nothing changes, 10% chance everything changes.

I'll take the 10% chance that everything changes, thanks.

[bluestate10]

33. I really wonder where people like Reich and socalled Liberals stand.

A Gingrich presidential run would be the best thing to happen for progressive social change since Goldwater. First, President Obama will stomp mudholes in Gingrich's ass. Second, Gingrich will bleed republican office seekers dry, leaving them as bait food for their democratic opponents. Gingrich as the republican presidential nominee will deliver the House to democrats BIG and leave the Senate in solid democrat hands.

[WilliamPitt]

2. I don't

...but I want him to stay in as looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong as possible.

[pnwmom]

10. Yes -- let him stay in till the bitter end, softening Romney up for the kill. nt

[Glimmer of Hope]

13. Oh yes but a a landslide win would sweet!

[FarLeftFist]

26. Yeah it will really dampen enthusiasm for the GOP to stay divided.

[Logical]

3. Just another thing he is wrong about! n-t

[DonCoquixote]

5. Wrong

Mitt is more dangerous because many of the left would feel he is niot that different from Obama, and think they can let him get in to punish O and get "a real leftist" in 2016. Of course, they forget the lessons of 2000, because then they would have to admit that they made a mistake abondoning Gore.

[Ebadlun]

14. Is anyone seriously thinking that?

If so, slap them

[bluestate10]

32. I seriously think that.

No one in their fucking right mind would even think of slapping me. The always dis-satified Left cost Gore the 2000 Presidency, and fucked the nation in the process.

[newspeak]

42. all of my family except one are democrats

everyone of them, even though they are disappointed of some of obama's choices in cabinet and the tax cut extension, do not plan on voting for a romney as punishment. They know that the corporations and elite will still get their way and the status quo maintained under romney. It seems the only ones punished are the people from both parties.

Oh, the bush coup was not a punishment by the people-it was a coup that the supremes took part in for the elite and the corporate masters. Gore won even with Lieberman as VP!!!!

[deacon]

7. I know this, a newt win or very close second, burns the GOP for their undying support of Citizens

United. Gooooooooooooo newt!

[jenmito]

8. I DO wish for a Gingrich nomination and here's why:

He and his followers GREATLY underestimate Obama's ability to debate. Newt always says he'll "even let Obama bring his teleprompter." Once the debates happen, and everyone sees how cool, calm, and intelligent Obama is and looks (think Kennedy vs. Nixon) Newt and his followers will panic, since the debates are the ONLY reason they want Newt to win the nomination.

And Newt has very little support among women, Independents, and, of course, minorities. I REALLY hope he gets the nomination.

[Ebadlun]

16. Yes

It's an article of faith amongst them that Obama can't function without a teleprompter. It's not grounded in evidence, it's just shit they made up and repeated so often it seemed real. I would love to see Newt call Obama a food-stamp president to his face.

[jenmito]

21. Yup...

I'D love to see Newt call Obama a "Saul Alinski radical socialist with Kenyan anti-colonial views" to his face.

[Ebadlun]

23. To be fair he would be fairly down on the British occupation of Kenya

Given we crushed his grandad's bollocks. But that's fair enough, really.

[hifiguy]

43. Obama would subtly goad Noot into saying something

that would sink him forever. Gingrinch has a short fuse, no filter, and a big, big mouth. Obama would destroy him in a debate by letting Noot destroy himself.

[Martin Eden]

9. If Gingrich has a 10% chance of winning the general election, and Romney 49% ...

... I'll risk Gingrich. Not only will Gingrich as the GOP nominee practically guarantee Obama a 2nd term, it may also hurt the R's electoral prospects in the House & Senate. This could marginalize the GOP and leave it in disarray.

Still, part of me doesn't want Gingrich to win the nomination because I hate to think that so many Americans would actually vote for such a despicable liar.

[rhett o rick]

11. I am concerned that The Newt would drag the campaign down into the muck.

You dont want to wrestle pigs in the mud.

[DCBob]

12. Im really torn on this issue.

I cant stand Gingrich and I do think its risky if he is the GOP nominee. I also think allowing him a high profile national stage for months running up to the election is not healthy for this country.

However, there is also the possibility that the end result could be very good for Democrats and the country. Gincrich will likley self desruct repeatedly and make the Republicans/conservatives look absurb and dangerous. Obama could win in a landslide and Demcrats could take back the House and strengthen their hold on the Senate. If that happens it mght take a long time for the GOP to recover.

[bluestate10]

30. At LAST. Someone that thinks logically about this.

A Gingrich presidential run will be poison for republicans. Gingrich leading the republican ticket will cause Gingrich to loose and cause republican losses all the way down the republican ticket in every state.

The people that compare Gingrich to Bush-Gore don't know what the fuck they are talking about. Bush II was a well funded candidate who almost caused heart attacks among the republican establishment when it looked like hw would not win the nomination. Bush II was the best candidate that republicans could offer and measured up well agains an ethical, but stiff Gore.

[A Simple Game]

15. Reich is exactly right. No one should hope for the worst candidate of either party

to get the nomination. I remember thinking Gore had the election in the bag when Bush won the Republican nomination. That didn't turn out so well, as the Republicans hope, many seem to have forgotten about those eight years.

I am old enough to remember when people would claim "my candidate is better than your candidate". Now people say mine isn't as bad as yours, and the sad part is they mean it that way. Subtle but significant difference. Myself I don't want to settle for not as bad as.

I don't know which came first, not expecting the best candidate to run so they didn't, or the best candidates not running so it was no longer expected. It's a sad that people just want "good enough to beat the other guy" instead of wanting the best. So often you only get what you ask for.

[Chemical Bill]

17. They do own the voting machines and the media, after all. n/t

[renie408]

18. Even the odds of his actually winning the GE aside, a Gingrich nomination is a sad and scary sign.

[pnwmom]

25. It is sad and scary that a significant slice of Americans is attracted to him. n/t

[dansolo]

19. I'd rather it be Romney

After a long, brutal primary. This election needs to be about the economic inequality. A Romney candidacy would be a perfect storm for the Democrats. The Republican base hates him, and a lot of them won't want to vote for him. Newt will energize the base with a very nasty, scortched earth campaign. I would much rather have the poster boy of the filthy rich running against Obama.

[pnwmom]

24. Yes. A brutalized and broken Romney, tied to the filthy rich by the Grinch. n/t

[baldguy]

20. The GOP deserves to have Gingrinch as their nominee.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

22. I'm only wishing for a fight. I fully expect that Romney will be the nominee.

[bluestate10]

28. I wish people like Reich and Pelosi would shut their mouths.

I want Gingrich to bleed Romney out as long as possible and push Romney's negatives to the ceiling.

[Nye Bevan]

29. He's wrong. Gingrich stands no chance against Obama.

Let the Republicans commit electoral suicide by nominating Gingrich, if they want to. I expect Dems like Pelosi are holding back their most damaging Gingrich stuff until if and when he wins the nomination.

[Jim Lane]

34. Another advantage to a vicious fight: Romney's selection of a running mate.

The better Newt does, the more pressure there will be on Romney to emulate McCain -- to "balance" the ticket with a far right-winger. We can't realistically hope that he'd find someone as laughable as Palin. Still, we could get some benefit if he has to run with a Santorum/Pence/Ryan/DeMint type.

As to Reich's point, I'm torn. I'm inclined to prefer the 10 percent chance of Gingrich over the 49 percent chance of Romney, partly because I think that, in practice, there wouldn't be that much difference between their actions as President.

[pnwmom]

37. My fear is that Gingrich is almost certifiable, and we're at real risk with his finger

on the nuclear button. He shut down our government -- by his own admission -- because he didn't like where he had to sit on Air Force 1. What would he do if he thought China had insulted him?

[Raine]

35. I don't, Noot is VILE

I couldn't stomach his hate for over a year.

[NNN0LHI]

36. They are both complete right wing assholes

Romney just hides it better. Like a chameleon. Romney is no less dangerous than Gingrich.

Don

[Stinky The Clown]

38. Reich is correct. Newt is toxic. He will poison the entire process to no one's advantage

Some people are so destructive they should not be allowed to participate in the process. This man is one of them.

[fujiyama]

39. I don't think it will matter much in the end

Like many reelections, this is really a referendum on Obama. If the voters are ready to dump him, they'll see if Romney is an acceptable alternative. So far, Romney isn't making the sale - even with his own party.

Let the idiots throw whoever they got. Both Romney and Gingrich are a joke and neither looks competent or capable. The difference is just the margin. I see Obama taking the race slightly more narrowly with Romney at the top. Romney would likely take NH and I think he'd play stronger in NV and VA among a few other states. I can't see where Gingrich has any real strengths. The guy is just TOXIC.

Ultimately, Reich is wrong. Romney also may depress Dem leaning voters who get complacent into believing he's not that bad. Gingrich would freak every person in the center and left of center into the voting booth. He's that bad. I don't remember a time this guy was every liked and the GOP took the House in '94 in spite of him, not because of him.

[GeorgeGist]

41. Foolish response.

Newt's already beaten Mr. Reich.

[LynneSin]

44. I keep asking myself which of those 4 contenders would be tolerable if they happened to win in Nov..

I can't think of one - they are all bad in their own way.

[backscatter712]

45. He's got a point. Never underestimate the sheer power of American stupidity.

America elected Nixon. TWICE.

America elected Reagan. TWICE.

America elected Bush 41. Thankfully only once.

America elected Dubya, TWICE (yes, I know, with asterisks. At the minimum, it shows that it was close enough to steal.)

There are millions and millions of dumbasses in America who'll vote for this doucheclown.

DO NOT ASSUME HE WILL LOSE. This election will be a fight.