When Newt Gets Cranky, Really Cranky
Posted: January 5, 2012 Filed under: 2012 elections, fundamentalist Christians, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, U.S. Politics | Tags: 2012 presidential election, Barack Obama, Eye of the Newt, Mitt Romney 25 CommentsOne of the most startling events I witnessed during the Iowa caucus coverage was Newt Gingrich [who I lovingly refer to as Eye of Newt] revealing the true depth of his vindictive nature. Gingrich rode the bubble of ‘The Man Who Would King’ for the briefest of moments. Even Herman Cain and his absurd 999 mantra lasted longer than Newt’s claim to fame, his self-anointing as the Republican Nominee.
This is what a wolf looks like
But after a reported blitzkrieg of negative advertising, financed by Mitt Romney’s Super-PAC buddies, Gingrich’s numbers plummeted. He ultimately finished a limping 4th in the Iowa ugly contest, 13% of the vote.
Oh, how the self-elevated fall!
When I was a kid we were taught the lesson of losing with grace, regardless of what the contest was. It’s one thing to be disappointed, we were told. That’s normal, human. But there was something called being a ‘good loser,’ a certain nobility inferred by shaking the winner’s hand, walking off the field with head held high and chalking it up to . . . life. You win some, you lose some. You go on. [Note to Newt: Hillary Clinton certainly knows how this works.]
Gingrich obviously never learned this valuable lesson. And yes, politics has been called a ‘blood sport.’ But if a candidate is not ready to suffer the slings and arrows that political combat inflicts, then what the hell is he/she doing running for the highest office in the land? Did Gingrich think he was immune to this sort of criticism, these pointed [and I’m sure painful] barbs? Gingrich’s reaction has a certain irony, considering that he helped usher in this generation of ugly political tactics–the nasty personal attacks, the language one uses to inflict the most damage. Politics in America has never been polite but the nasty, personal, take-no-prisoner attacks has been taken to a new level in recent years.
How shall I slice thee? Let me count the ways.
Anger and disappointment are surely typical reactions to a humiliating loss. But hate? What I saw on Gingrich’s face was the sort of rage you’d expect to see on the face of a psychopath. And then the vow. That he would work with his ‘ole buddy Rick Santorum to block Mitt Romney’s nomination.
If he can’t have the prize, he’ll make sure Mitt Romney doesn’t have it either. This is reminiscent of Middle School battles, not Presidential politics.
Which leaves the Republicans where exactly? Santorum? Ron Paul? Huntsman? [Who is a credible candidate but can’t get off the launch pad.] Well, there’s always Rick Perry who has effectively tripped over his tongue in every debate. Rick hasn’t given up, even though he should.
I read Gingrich described elsewhere as a GOP suicide bomber. A startling analogy but not terribly off the mark. Because what I saw in Gingrich’s face the other night, heard in his voice and words was nothing short of a blood feud, a very personal and bitter vendetta, the sort that destroys not only the object of the hate but the hater as well. And anyone standing on the periphery.
The idea that someone so emotionally volatile and hostile is running for President is a scary thought. This is someone who should never be taking those 3 am calls or considered capable of making rational decisions in a stressful moment.
Think of JFK during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Transpose Gingrich’s face.
Now think crispy critters.
The Republican field is in such disarray that a group of fundie conservatives in Texas has scheduled an emergency meeting to find a ‘consensus’ candidate to save the GOP’s 2012 election cycle. It should be noted that this meeting will be hosted by the likes of James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family and Don Wildmon, onetime chairman of the American Family Association. Oh yes, I’m sure they’ll come up with a reasonable candidate. It’s been suggested that Rick Perry’s candidacy was, in fact, their brainchild.
This is what a cranky wolf looks like
After three years of missteps, President Obama should be nervous as hell about his reelection chances. He’s highly vulnerable in the areas of performance, competence and results, particularly in domestic issues [though Obama has continued the Bush/Cheney militaristic postures around the world, even added a flourish with indefinite detention that includes American citizens]. Thank you, Mr. President! Obama has considerable weaknesses with poll numbers to underscore the point. But now? The Administration must be stomping out the Happy Dance in the West Wing.
How this all turns out is up for grabs. We have nine months before Election Day. But assuredly, there will be blood.
peej
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Sky Dancing 
If Newt is vindictive enough to shut down the US government because of a seating issue on Air Force One, he will do anything…absolutely anything.
Yes, minx. The Eye of the Newt is making it perfectly clear that nothing is off the charts when it comes to payback.
There will be blood. Unless, of course, the GOP can whisk him off to a sanatorium, perhaps suggest a buying spree for his wife at Tiffany’s.
Interesting!
I confess to wanting to see Newt destroy Mitt. I hope he goes ballistic in the debate.
Personally, I think Newter has a much better ring and, spelled differently, is something that should have been done to him many, many moons ago. While I live in Florida, I didn’t have the chance to see all of the so-called negative ads, what i did see seemed to be simply telling the truth about Newt’s escapades. He’s the poster child for scam artist, the TV show Cheaters and why so many Americans turn off the TV when politics is being discussed. I never believed that his conversion to Catholicism made him a new, kinder, gentler man. And every time I heard Calista (Mrs. G #3) referred to as a “devout Catholic”, I wanted to scream. Devout? Carrying on not only an affair with your boss but your MARRIED boss for 6 years! Either Catholicism has really changed or Santorum is practicing a different kind of Catholicism. Please, Newt got what he deserved and it’s the one time that I’m grateful for Citizens’ United. May it decimate the entire American Taliban – oops, Republican – field of candidates. Now if only their pants would combust like they are supposed to for flat out LIARS! Maybe they can avoid pants on fire by telling the facts about each other. It’s gonna be fun to see them eat their own.
There are all kinds of variations on Gingrich’s name. None of them flattering. Quelle surprise!
I agree, btw, that the man should have been neutered politically long ago. Let him go back, write his books and/or teach whatever courses he runs, where he can bloviate to a captive audience.
His particular political style hasn’t aged well.
Consider for a moment that you are Newt Gingrich:
You have converted to the Catholic faith and feel yourself “absolved” of all past sins.
You have convinced yourself that you are “above” all the other losers sharing that debate stage and make it known by lecturing the moderators which has earned you applause.
You read in next day follow ups that you are the “smartest guy in the room” thus validating your own opinion of yourself.
You refer to yourself as a “historian” rather than the thieving lobbyist that you are and find that some people are “impressed” enough to join your bandwagon.
You watch your low poll numbers begin to rise after several debates thus assuring yourself that only you are capable of debating Barack Obama.
You are so sure of this that you declare yourself the “winner” of the nomination long before the first vote is cast.
You challenge Obama to three hour debates. After all, you are “brilliant”!
You watch Perry, Bachmann, Cain, and Hunstman implode thus moving you up another notch in the sweepstakes.
You didn’t count on Mitt “playing dirty” as you call it by shoving your own words and past deeds down the throats of the Iowa voters 24/7.
You even manage to “court” the Palinbots by declaring that she is a person of substance even knowing that she is dumber than Rick Perry.
You have kissed more ass than you could ever possibly count and yet here you are, fighting for attention, watching your numbers slide and your chances disappear right before your eyes.
No wonder you are prickly, grumpy, and just plain vindictive. How could this happen to me, Newt Gingrich who has done everything right up until now and find myself taking 4th place behind a far Right religious zealot, a miserable racist senior citizen, and an empty headed billionaire who more than likely wears magical underwear.
How?
You’re describing a sociopath, imho.
Narcissist, maybe? Gotta love definition #2:
nar·cis·sist
[nahr-suh-sist] Show IPA
noun
1.
a person who is overly self-involved, and often vain and selfish.
2.
Psychoanalysis . a person who suffers from narcissism, deriving erotic gratification from admiration of his or her own physical or mental attributes.
Hahaha, Pat. So true. The ‘historian’ comment was classic Eye of the Newt revisionism.
Maybe I’m just amazed at how truly deluded these people seem. Newt Gingrich, in particular, appears to have such a bloated opinion of himself, which he displays frequently. And yet to me, he’s merely the typical gasbag, endlessly bloviating to his ‘inferiors.’.
The hair-trigger rage on display the other night was something else, caught on camera, recorded for the ages. No way should a man like this be anywhere near the WH.
But then in terms of inflated egos, we have Obama who has already declared himself the 4th best Prez in history.
Is it something in the DC water? Maybe it just comes with the territory or the job [the Big Enchilada in Poppy Bush’s words] tends to attract the unhinged in alarming numbers.
The upcoming debates should be mighty interesting.
There’s a touch of that “sociopathy” in most candidates who stand before the mirror convinced that they are the only one capable of ruling the world.
Particularly when viewed close up and personal that they haven’t a clue of how the world works. It all comes out of their own inflated opinion of themselves that drives the engine.
How else to explain Donald Trump?
I don’t know, Pat. Do these people actually see a reflection when they stare in the mirror? The Vampire squid notion of Goldman Sachs seems to have infected the political class with vampires on parade.
Donald Trump cannot possibly see that hair of his in the mirror. Otherwise, he’d murder his barber.
And now Newt is whining about the Super Pacs. Poor baby.
Joe Cannon has an interesting post on the Super PAC/Citizen’s United connection to all this furor. And I think he’s right. Republicans were hot to trot in their defense of Citizens, horrified when Obama criticized the decision in his State of the Union. But now those endless roosting chickens have come home to roost once again, plopping themselves right into the center of the GOP primary and leaving birdie droppings all over the Eye of the Newt.
This might be a case of Be Careful What You Wish For [or Defend] in Republican circles. That awakening could actually be a good thing.
Excellent post and comments. He comes across as petulant to me — not good Presidential material.
There are Swift-Boat type negative ads, which are lies, and there are truthful negative ads. I cannot get upset about the truthful ones.
djmm
Interestingly enough, I think Newt’s display of anger and the way he obviously wants to disembowel Romney was the only honest emotion I’ve seen from any candidate thus far.
More of them should reveal themselves.
‘I cannot get upset about the truthful ones.’
Nor I, djmm.
I don’t live in Iowa, so I’ve only caught a few of the ads. What I saw was common knowledge about Gingrich’s duplicity. Because of the money involved, the PACs were able to flood the airways. But hey, Republicans have supported this nonsense. So, Republicans getting burned with their own fire doesn’t bother me at all.
Priceless…
New Hampshire Republican stupidity
Okay, the news programs are now insufferable because they are following Santorum around like lovesick puppy dogs in NH.
Let’s remind them of the Abramoff connection and how Santorum supported slavery in the Marianas …
Here’s another example of his hypocrisy on abortions. OKay when my Wife needs ONE. OKay when slaves in sweatshops need them.
Mittens is gonna get Newtered
That is so damn funny Wonk!
Indeed – Newt does remind me of the 5 year old petulent child who throws his toys around, stomps his feet and shouts. Is it time to send him to his room or at least for a time out?
He is mean.
We were just watching Men in Black, the first one…and Newt was one of the aliens they keep track of.
Ha. I didn’t remember that. One of my favorite movies. And now it turns out, true, too.
I didn’t remember him being on that screen either Quixote, but he was, right next to Sylvester Stallone.