I got a disturbing email from a friend who tells me my “prognostication skills are apparently fairly good,” and sends me a link to this analysis from Captain Ed, who confirms what I have been predicting too many times.
“If Republicans want a proven substantive fighter who can out-debate Barack Obama, they may come to Newt Gingrich — even if it’s just by default.”
All I can do is say I told you so (again, again, and again) and hold my nose.
Gingrich has had a uncanny knack for souring me on conservative politics like no one else. Back in the mid-1990s, when I felt drawn to a genuine flirtation with conservatism by Bill Clinton (for whom I had voted in 1992), I got involved with a congressional campaign by a guy who seemed truly refreshing, and I was all set to help him beat the liberal incumbent. Until that is, he received a public call from Newt which beamed out to the assembled supporters that he couldn’t wait to see the guy I was supporting get elected “SO HE CAN COME TO WASHINGTON AND HELP ME FIGHT AND WIN THE WAR ON DRUGS!”
I will never forget the way that call from Gingrich took the wind out of my sails. My rosy new-found, born-again enthusiasm was stopped dead in its tracks, my heart sank, and I felt genuinely sickened and ashamed of myself. I knew then and there that I was not and could never be a real conservative.
Over the years, though, I have learned that not all conservatives are like that. And even though Gingrich (who wants to use the Singapore-style death penalty against drug offenders) is still there, I refuse to let him make me lose all hope. But the fact is, there is no one on the conservative side who makes me feel more distrustful or more cynical.
And all the data suggest that if he is the candidate, he will lose to Barack Obama.
It really won’t be much fun being able to do little more than hold my nose and say I told you so. Yes, even though there is no candidate less to my liking that Newt Gingrich, I would still (as I said) vote for him. Again, ugh! What a sickening thought. Unlike the Romney haters who seem to prefer Obama, I’ll vote for whoever ends up on the ticket.
Small comfort that.
Comments
12 responses to “I told you so, I told you so, and I told you so again!”
Unfortunately all the front runner Rs want to do more about the War on Drugs.
My guess? The Cartels are not getting their money’s worth from Obama and have decided to switch horses.
“The Latin American drug cartels have stretched their tentacles much deeper into our lives than most people believe. It’s possible they are calling the shots at all levels of government.” – William Colby, former CIA Director, 1995
Or maybe something more sinister. TPTB want further militarization of the police forces as a a prelude to a police/fascist state.
I don’t prefer Obama, I just don’t see Romney doing anything much differently.
Veeshir, I had lunch yesterday with a man who was directing things backstage at this year’s Florida CPAC convention. He said he listened to Romney talk to a group of about 20 young people, friends of one of Romney’s sons, and joke with them about the “positions I must take publicly down here in order to satisfy the right” and then go on stage and deliver a rousing speech with plenty of raw meat for the base. It is this man’s take that Romney is absolutely the biggest liar and political phony he’s seen, which confirms your position.
His observation is that Romney is solely after power and will say anything to get elected.
The Drug War has ruined Mexico, and not only do very few Americans care, they even see it as “enemy” behavior that Mexico supplies American habits. It is a disgrace of which I am ashamed. (But I have been for a long time….)
I don’t know which of Romney’s sons friends were at Florida CPAC, but assume they were Craig’s. And one of the disclaimers backstage to this group of young men was about having to push family values, wink, wink. This doesn’t disqualify Romney in my mind, but does indicate deception and lack of courage, especially since he was all for gay civil unions while governor of Massachusetts.
Romney will not have either the courage or the political will to undo all the damage Obama’s done.
A GOP Congress will be less likely to challenge a GOP POTUS.
Of course, with McConnell and Boehner, Congress might not even go after Obama’s power grabs and runaway regulatory agencies even with a huge majority in the Senate.
And that’s why I’m still rooting for the asteroid.
Frank, other than issuing meaningless pontifications from the bully pulpit, the president has no legal power over “values.”
And Veeshir, you are right about power grabs. Like bridge tolls, they are never reversed.
Which makes me think that M. Simon is right about the War on Drugs.
(And how I hope he is wrong!)
[…] Eric at Classical Values has, for a while now, been on a “Newt is looking to be the default, “Not-Romney” candidate” jag. […]
I’m another {small} republican (as well as big R) who just doesn’t really trust Newt. However…at the moment, he’s the only GOP candidate that is acting like an adult and has kept at the forefront that his opponent is Barack Obama…not the other GOP candidates.
“Thou shalt not speak ill of Republicans” has seemingly lost favor with Mitt, Rick & Michelle, and thier stars are dimming for it…while Newt’s has risen immensely. While I live in Maryland, and my vote, one way or the other, doesn’t really count, I would only vote for Newt if he was on the bottom of the ticket as VP. He’d make a hell of an attack dog VP.
But…I won’t vote for him for president.
Rich Vail
Pikesville, Maryland
The Vail Spot dot Blogspot dot Com
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[…] I might be a conservative. Newt threw cold water on my conversion as no one else could have, and I will never forget it: Gingrich has had a uncanny knack for souring me on conservative politics like no […]