Joe Conason must read: The Gingrich Style

[flpoljunkie]

The Gingrich Style

Posted on May 19, 2011

By Joe Conason

It is hard to see why anyone was surprised by Newt Gingrich’s self-ignited implosion in the earliest hours of his presidential candidacy. The career of the former House speaker and Georgia congressman is practically bursting with proof that he suffers from chronic paranoid hysteria—a condition that has done more to advance than diminish his status among conservatives.

They loved him until he aimed his vitriol against one of their own, House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan, deriding the Wisconsin Republican’s plan to gut Medicare as “right-wing social engineering.”

Inundated by denunciations from every quarter of his party and movement, Gingrich swiftly backtracked and apologized and tried to blame the media. But his former fans are perhaps beginning to realize what most Americans understood about him years ago—that he is wholly untrustworthy and unfit for leadership.

Addicted to excess in every facet of his life, Gingrich first became an important figure in the conservative movement almost two decades ago chiefly because—unlike the more decorous Republicans who then led his party—he was eager to utter the most vicious accusations against liberals and Democrats.

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http://www.truthdig.com/report/print/the_gingrich_style_20110519/

[bemildred]

1. The "Gingrich Style" is to yap away no matter what. nt

[Loudmxr]

2. Oh come on. The base hates Newtie. He ACTUALLY sat next to Pelosi. Cooties!!!

[snagglepuss]

3. K & R nt

[PATRICK]

4. I have three impressions

about Gingrich which could equally be shoved to the side should the GOP deign to anoint this tool anyway.

First, he got ditched with a vengeance and scapegoated, perhaps correctly, for the entire GOP defeat under Clinton. He still is part of the machine, Cheney-style that is self-entitled to run things and fulfill all ambition regardless of public will. Third, that in the frustrating combo of the two he has had to seethe outside the Bush circle with no nod to advance, no support, no lifting of the much merited stain. Others have done worse and still are contenders. As far as aspirations to higher office- which he will never give up- he can't get beyond the verge of drowning.

He intends to be President with a dangerous fervor rivaled only by the irrepressible, unpopular Palin. Whether he has the knack to get the permissions required depends on his ability to "comeback" in a phony and irresistable way that continually eludes his poor and disdainful political instincts.

[bemildred]

5. Well said. nt

[MNBrewer]

6. Gingrich DESPERATELY wants to be considered an intellectual

And what's the one thing that's poison to a Republican candidate above all else? Being considered an intellectual!

He even blamed his demise on the "literati" and their minions. You mean the educated people, Newt? They're not your natural base? LOL.