What would Gingrich do?
President Obama may be in hot water with lawmakers who think the U.S.-led military mission in Libya is a big mistake. But some GOP voices are calling for an escalation of U.S. involvement — or at least an expansion of U.S. goals.
Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker who is considering a run for the Republican presidential nomination, tells NBC’s Today show that the United States will face defeat in Libya if the current mission ends with Muammar Gaddafi still in power.
People might have a hard time arguing with that point.
But what would he do now, if he were president?
Gingrich’s answer sounds just like the message John McCain conveyed on the same TV show a day earlier, when he called for arming the Libyan rebels to ensure the end of Gaddafi’s 41-year rule.
“We should be very clear to the Libyans that Gaddafi is going to go,” Gingrich says. ”We should help equip the Libyan rebels.” Otherwise he’d let the Pentagon, the CIA, etc, determine what needs to be done “to win”.
But there may be problems with the arm-the-rebels idea. Reports from the field suggest the rag-tag Libyan rebel force wouldn’t be able to defeat Gaddafi in its present state. According to accounts, some rebels are so innocent of martial tactics that they may not even be sure which end of the gun goes ‘Bang!”
Reuters/Ipsos poll: Potential Republican candidates not quite household names
At least they know his name.
President Barack Obama’s job approval rating fell to 49 percent in March from 51 percent in February, and dropped among independent voters to 37 percent from 47 percent over the same period, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll.
Separate from their view on Obama’s job performance, a majority of Americans — 55 percent — had a favorable opinion of the president personally, according to the poll. That number was unchanged from December, when the question was last asked.
Potential Republican candidates who may seek to challenge Obama in the 2012 presidential race have their work cut out in the name recognition department.
The survey asked the same favorability question about Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.
Of the three, Gingrich had the best name recognition, with 26 percent replying “don’t know” when asked for an overall opinion of him. Pawlenty has the biggest challenge, with 59 percent saying they don’t know what they think of him — including 57 percent among Republicans. Romney was in the middle with 32 percent who don’t know about him.
Then came social issues and ‘morality’…
The Tea Party’s November victories and the ensuing Republican drive for spending cuts are in large part the result of a political strategy that focuses tightly on fiscal and economic matters, while minimizing rhetoric on moral questions and social topics. But for how much longer can Republicans keep a lid on the culture war?
The 2012 presidential race, though lacking in declared GOP candidates, may be about to pry open a Pandora’s box bearing the name of social issues that have long divided Republican and independent ranks. And such an occurrence could work against the interests of fiscal conservatives, just as the GOP girds itself for a showdown with Democrats over spending cuts and the debt ceiling later this spring.
Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, one of those Republicans who are running for president without actually running for president, tells NBC’s Today show that social conservatism is what built America and made it strong.
And if a recent NBC/Wall Street Journal poll shows 65 percent of GOP primary voters preferring candidates who focus more on the economy and the deficit, and less on social issues? ”I think we can walk and chew gum at the same time,” he replies.
Even the battle of the budget shows signs of becoming a Republican morality fight.
Here’s Santorum speaking to social conservatives in Iowa: “…if what we’re doing to the next generation of America, this entitlement attitude, if that is not a moral issue, I don’t know what is…”
And Newt Gingrich: “…balancing the budget is an essentially moral, not economic question…”
If you listen to Republicans, you’ll hear plenty of proud boasts about how their priorities reflect the will of the American electorate.
And if you listen to the American electorate, you’ll hear something else entirely.
Washington Extra – Trying it out
It’s a bird, it’s a plane… oh wait… sorry, just some trial balloons floating around…
President Barack Obama took a harsh tone on Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi at today’s news conference.
The way he repeatedly emphasized “COLONEL” was an effective reminder that Gaddafi was not an elected leader like a president, but rather a military man who took power through a coup.
Obama’s insistence that Gaddafi go is a way to keep verbal pressure on while he considers which option on the table to use. He also tried to leave the impression that whatever he chooses will be bad for the Libyan leader and good for the people.
Another person exploring options is former House Speaker Newt Gingrich who announced his intent to explore whether there is support for a potential run for president.
Sort of like when policymakers agree on a framework to discuss the framework…
Here are our top stories from Washington…
Trump accepts high marks for CPAC
Donald Trump went to CPAC this week and aced his performance as a prospective White House Wannabe. Any doubts? Just ask him.
“I tell the truth. I tell it like it is, and people understand what I’m saying, and the place did go crazy,” The Donald tells MSNBC’s Morning Joe today. ”That’s what I said in the speech. And that’s why I got 10 standing ovations.”
Remarks like that, taken out of context, might sound like the words of a talking ego.
But the billionaire New York real estate developer’s speech did get high marks from Politico. An A-minus, in fact, which put him right up there with Newt Gingrich and out in front of former Senator Rick Santorum (C-plus) and House Tea Party darling Michele Bachmann (B).
Bully for him, especially when you consider the seemingly tenuous circumstances that brought him to Washington.
“I was sitting in my office building buildings and doing things,” he says. ”I got a call from CPAC: Would I come and speak? And I just happened to be in the right mood. I got on my plane, I went down to Washington.”
In the right mood … just happened to be.
LOL–Well, he certainly knows a thing or two about bankruptcy…
Obama up, Palin down in 2012 poll
President Barack Obama’s reelection prospects seem to be rosier, while former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin’s chances of being the Republican nominee were souring for 2012, according to a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll. But it’s early yet.
Obama is expected to run again in 2012, and CNN said the poll suggests that his tax-cut deal with Republicans, pushed through at year-end, did not hurt him with Democrats.
Among Democrats, 78 percent said Obama should be renominated as the party’s presidential candidate, while 19 percent said they wanted a different candidate. Those readings were the highest and lowest respectively since March 2010, when the poll first asked the question.
Palin has hinted that she might run for president, but the poll found 49 percent of Republicans would support that move, down 18 points since December 2008, right after she and John McCain lost to Obama and Joe Biden.
Palin lagged behind other Republicans who may seek the 2012 nomination – Mike Huckabee (67 percent), Mitt Romney (59 percent) and Newt Gingrich (54 percent).
But it’s still a long way from next winter’s trudge through nominating primaries, caucuses and debates that Republicans will stage to ferret out who they think would best challenge Obama. The winner might not even be any of the names being polled in these early stages.
Photo credit: Reuters/Luke MacGregor (Democratic Party campaign button attached to cardboard cut-out of Palin after announcement that Obama won election, Nov. 4, 2008)
Agree with Donnlashelle. If Sarah Palin wins, it’s doomsday for the world. Think Bush was bad? Sarah will be far far worse. She’ll nuke Korea. Since she’s too stupid to tell north from south, so she’ll probably nuke both. Then she’ll nuke Iran. Giddy after her 2 lopsided “victories” against lesser states…she will try to take on bigger foes. She will try to nuke Russia or China. Unfortunately for her, these states also have nuclear ICBMs and will retaliate in kind. Next thing we know every nuclear power is launching missiles all over the world. 2012 becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. Sarah will doom us all.
Washington Extra – The elections are over, time to start campaigning
The final result of the mid-term elections is not even in yet, but it’s never too early to start the campaign for the White House in 2012. Former First Lady Nancy Reagan invited Republican candidates to take part in the first presidential debate, to be held next spring at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in California.
There are plenty of potential candidates, including Mitt Romney, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty and even former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Then there’s Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels and South Dakota Senator John Thune. And of course, if no one suitable throws their hat in the ring, Sarah Palin has offered to step up to the plate. Honestly, spring seems such a long time to wait.
Finally, a nod to the latest twist in the post-Cold War spy drama, with the unmasking of a Russian double agent who betrayed a Russian spy ring in the United States in June before defecting. The Russian paper which broke the story quoted a Kremlin official as saying a hit squad was probably already planning to kill him. ”We know who he is and where he is,” the unidentified official said. “Do not doubt that a Mercader has been sent after him already.”
In case you need reminding, Ramon Mercader was the Soviet agent who murdered exiled Bolshevik Leon Trotsky with an ice pick in Mexico in 1940, although these days radioactive polonium seems to be a more popular weapon.
Here are our top stories from Washington today…
Deficit plan could lay long-term groundwork
A bold new plan to slash the budget deficit may not get far in Congress, but it could be a starting point in coming years if Washington decides to get serious about controlling the federal budget. It could force politicians to confront the choices they will have to make in coming years in order to avoid a debt crisis along the lines of Greece or Ireland, analysts said.
yep–time to DUMP more money down the DRAIN..nice going CAREER politicians…>google >taxes we pay< GET iT yet PEOPLE
First Republican presidential debate planned for next spring
Okay here we go again. Now that the 2010 elections are behind us, it’s time to start looking ahead to 2012. And so today we have former first lady Nancy Reagan announcing plans to invite Republican candidates to the first presidential debate. It’s to be held next spring at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, California.
Setting up the first debate could have the net effect of forcing some would-be candidates who are sitting back and testing the political winds to go ahead and make a decision on whether they will run. We’re talking about you, Sarah Palin.
“Ronnie would be thrilled that the road to the White House will begin at his presidential library,” Mrs. Reagan said in a statement. “I look forward to welcoming and watching the top candidates debate the issues next spring.”
NBC News and Politico are to co-host the debate, which will be followed by a second debate at the Reagan library on the eve of Super Tuesday of 2012 when the Republican primary campaign will be on full boil.
Now that we have the first debate set, the big question will be: Who is going to attend?
Lots of names spring to mind — Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty, maybe Palin, Newt Gingrich. Many Republicans have said they are considering a run to challenge President Obama in 2012. We’ll see some providing their final decision late this year or early next.
Bill Clinton emerges as leading U.S. political favorite — poll
Nearly a decade after his presidency ended in scandal and disgrace, Bill Clinton has emerged as the most popular figure in the U.S. political firmament, according to a new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll. Except he’s not running for office.
Fifty-five percent of the 1,000 adults who responded to the survey reported having positive feelings about the Arkansas Democrat, vs. only 23 percent who harbored negative feelings. (When he left office in early 2001, his ratings were 34 percent positive and 52 percent negative.)
The poll, which has a 3.1 percentage point margin of error, comes at a time when many voters are angry about the country’s economic straits, including high unemployement and an exploding fiscal deficit. Clinton’s two-term presidency was marked not only by impeachment and the Monica Lewinsky scandal but also by buoyant growth and a balanced budget.
How did other political figures rate?
Only President Barack Obama had a favorable rating clearly ahead of the negative number, at 47 percent to 41 percent.
Former Republican vice presidential nominee and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin rated 30 percent to 48 percent. The most visible of potential GOP presidential candidates also elicited the strongest feelings, both positive and negative.
Bottom Line: Would you let him babysit your teenage daughter? If your answer is yes then maybe your daughter needs to find a parent that cares about her…Assuming you have a teenage daughter. This guy (bubba) was accused of brutaly raping a woman. Now I know it was just an accusation but he (bubba) didn’t stand up to good the last time he was questioned under oath.
Democrats try turning mosque debate against GOP
Democrats were stunned and somewhat speechless last August when Republicans accused them of proposing “death panels” as part of their healthcare reform initiative.
This August, it’s the proposed construction of a Muslim cultural center and mosque near lower Manhattan’s “Ground Zero” that is dominating the end-of-summer doldrums. Once again, Democrats are struggling to gain the upper hand in the debate.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi weighed in on Wednesday, saying, “Where a place of worship is located is a local decision.” The Democrat may have been tweaking Republicans from across the U.S. who are railing about the New York City mosque all the while complaining about the long, intrusive arm of the federal government.
Republicans have argued that allowing a mosque within blocks of the site of the Sept. 11 attacks would be an insult to the families of the thousands killed that day. But Pelosi, like Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, is also noting that if Republicans’ hearts were in the right place, they would stop opposing legislation to help emergency responders and others suffering health problems related to the attacks.
Pelosi says it’s fine to look into who would fund the construction of the Islamic center, but that “we should also ask who is funding the attacks against the construction” of the facility.
A few days ago, a former House speaker — Republican Newt Gingrich – created a stir when he called the planned Muslim center a symbol of “Islamist triumphalism” and said it would be like placing a “Nazi sign next to the Holocaust Museum.”
That may have backfired as other staunch conservatives like Pat Buchanan said Gingrich’s comments went too far.
Sounds to me like the GOP is proposing dumb panels. Nothing too outrageous or fallacious is beyond their power to say and pick a fight with.
Newt Gingrich famously said, “It doesn’t matter what I do. People need to hear what I have to say. There’s no one else who can say what I can say. It doesn’t matter what I live.”
So I guess the answer to the question posed by this article is, It doesn’t matter what Gingrich would do, only what he says OTHER people should do.