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Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

Newt Gingrich is the real thing as Romney looks more like Elmer Fudd each passing day

Posted on Sunday, December 11, 2011 at 05:15 AM

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Watching the Republican debate last night it really struck me forcefully.

Newt Gingrich is for real.

I fully expect him to win the Republican nomination.

Watching him in close combat with Romney I was reminded of the tortoise and the hare.

Romney had bolted to the front of the pack early but has never put his rivals away.

One by one they had their day in the sun coming close to him but eventually falling away.

Until Newt, the ultimate tortoise who was once so far behind that Romney could hardly glimpse him in the rear view mirror.

But there he was last night, big and bold, aiming deadly zingers at an increasingly flustered Romney who looks more and more like an Elmer Fudd.

Gingrich's line that Romney would have been a professional pol too if he had defeated Ted Kennedy in 1994 was the best line of the night

Romney's problem is that very few Republicans love him -- they tolerate him.

Newt on the other hand has a love/hate relationship going with most everyone.

He is fire to Romney's and indeed Obama's ice-- and he is all the better for that.

Sure there are times he puts his foot in it-- calling the Palestinians an invented people was too much even for the Israeli government.

But Republicans are beginning to sense that, for the knock down drag out fight they need to wage against Obama, Newt is much better placed to take the battle to him.

Like the hedgehog and the fox fable Gingrich is the hedgehog ---he knows one big thing, how to take the fight to Democrats as he did when he became House Speaker ending decades of Democratic rule.

Romney like the fox knows lots of other things but does not give off the impression that he is a true street fighter.

And that is undoubtedly true.

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34 comments

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Tooreenagrena | Dec 11, 2011, 02:46 PM EST

A new low for me as Gingrich jumps on the anti Palestinian bandwagaon to get the Jewish vote.

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CitizenWhy | Dec 11, 2011, 01:03 PM EST

Those of us reluctantly leaning Democrat, although the party is short on its traditional ideals and solutions but big on rhetoric, nonetheless welcome Newtie as the Republican candidate. He will not win and his loss will prevent even more disastrous Republican policies. perhaps even Obama will give up on the Republican policies he favors.

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jamthecat | Dec 11, 2011, 12:49 PM EST

As PAul Krugman said, "Gingrich is a stupid man's idea of what an intelligent man sounds like." As keeps getting proven over and over and over and over and over....

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Rebelforce | Dec 11, 2011, 12:30 PM EST

Dr. Ron Paul has won each debate hands down. He is the only republican running for president who isn't a clown or insane. Gingrinch, Romney, Perry, Santorum and Bachmann are all George W. Bush clones and warmongerers that will lead the US into more devastating Wars in the Middle East if elected. Ron Paul is the only candidate that appeals to voters whether they be republican, democrat or, like me, independent.

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lokionline | Dec 11, 2011, 12:22 PM EST

"It will be nice to vote for a fundamental conservative who is intellectually superior to our current president". I am still laughing at this one... Newt is a legend in his own mind...

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Hakodarko | Dec 11, 2011, 12:20 PM EST

You're kidding right? I agree that Mitt grows less impressive by the day, by Gingrich as a "hare"? Hare certainly change direction quickly, and have crazed libidos, but other than that, I can't find any similarity. The truth is, Newt is a man without a real moral compass. He stands for whatever helps him at the time....in his professional or personal life. He a narcissist and a hypocrite, and he will take this country no where but down. Please give Ron Paul a thorough hearing....not just rumors, hear what he really has to say...and why.

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lokionline | Dec 11, 2011, 12:18 PM EST

Oh Joy! Well... at least the US electorate -- the part the Republicans fail to prevent from voting at least -- will have the opportunity to vote for, or against, the architect of the 'tone' that has crippled the US congress since the 'Contract with America' was promoted by Gingrich in the 90s. This presidential election will be an even nastier and defining fight for the coming generation than any we have previously experienced.

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larslofan | Dec 11, 2011, 11:32 AM EST

Note to Catholic church: Thanks for your further double-blind hypocrisy in delivering the sacrament to Newt, a serial adulterer. It just goes to show, the church will dole out the blood of Christ to anyone if they're rich enough (and twice divorced).

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larslofan | Dec 11, 2011, 11:29 AM EST

I love the hypocrisy of Newt. Here's a thrice-married man who often boasted of his infidelities and conquests, but suddenly found fundamental hard-line Catholicism as a result of his third wife (who was his mistress during his second marriage. This only further proves the blind double standard of those who vote Republican. So much for "family values, passionate conservatism, and, wait for it...ETHICS. Did the Republicans forget that Newt was the only Speaker of the House EVER to be convicted on ethics charges? Did they forget he had to pay a $300K fine? Republican's are blind with selective memories and ethics of their own. They should be ashamed of themselves for coddling this turd.

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PhlutiePhan | Dec 11, 2011, 11:10 AM EST

Along the lines of just what the meaning of "is" is, I would want to know the feeling of Independents toward Gingrich. Independents in PA which was a key swing state salted away the campaign of J-Mac just because of his apparent lack of judgment with Sarah Palin. Newt obviously has a female issue as well as a greed factor with the 1.6 mill retainer. It is not a matter of how the typical Republican feels but just how the independents feel and will vote.

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faberm1 | Dec 11, 2011, 10:24 AM EST

I am a Texan and if Paul doesn't get the nomination, I will vote for Newt without holding my nose, twisting it off or whatever other nonsense is mentioned here. It will be nice to vote for a fundamental conservative who is intellectually superior to our current president. Newt knows how to govern and he will do so. I would relish the chance to see him debate Obama to articulate with clarity the two paths available to America today: The President's/Democrats' charge towards Socialism, / or Freedom, Free-Enterprise, and the system that has made us the most prosperous, free, and powerful nation on earth.

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eileenkny | Dec 11, 2011, 10:02 AM EST

Huntsman is the only Republican that could meet President Obama on his own level but it won't happen. He's too intelligent for the Tea Party extremists. We can only hope that something, anything, comes out about Gingrich and that it will knock him off his self-constructed pedestal.

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RedBranch | Dec 11, 2011, 10:02 AM EST

A 'street fighter' as President, no thanks. Mitt is a safe set of hands.

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kerryknorpp | Dec 11, 2011, 09:51 AM EST

My Republican friends here in Texas are accustomed to holding their noses to vote for the party candidates, but for Newt, they will have to twist-off their whole nose.Sad for the U.S. that such a pile of trash would be a serious contender. God help us?

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NYCsheridan | Dec 11, 2011, 09:47 AM EST

Ron Paul surely gained votes from this debate. But you won't read it in the media.

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