Gingrich, We Hardly Knew Ye. . .

[Profound Gibberish]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43343808...decision_2012/

I was going to post a thread this morning titled "Where the Hell is Gingrich," but I had to like, work and stuff. I check the news and whammo!

Is there anyone less shcocked than I that his staff is leaving him?

[Onomatopoeia]

Originally Posted by dbx820

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43343808...decision_2012/

I was going to post a thread this morning titled "Where the Hell is Gingrich," but I had to like, work and stuff. I check the news and whammo!

Is there anyone less shcocked than I that his staff is leaving him?

Gingrich never had a chance in the first place, but once he pissed off the Tea Party he was really done. I thought his team would go through the motions a while longer though.

[Voyager]

I didn't get why they left from the article. Was he not crazy enough? Too crazy? Or was it clear that he didn't really care. Going on a cruise after you announce, which is when the spotlight is on you, is just nuts.

But this is good news for the McCain campaign.

[Profound Gibberish]

Originally Posted by Voyager

But this is good news for the McCain campaign.

Are you implying that McCain is going to be the White Knight of the Republican nomination

[Boyo Jim]

Clearly, his staff just doesn't get it. Campaigns like Newt's only come along once or twice a century (thank Og).

[RTFirefly]

I set his chances at zero from the very beginning, but even I'm astonished at how quickly Newt's campaign has self-destructed. Almost overnight, he went from being a total joke in the eyes of some of us, to being a total joke in the eyes of pretty much everybody.

Meanwhile, speaking of total jokes that nobody gives a shit about anymore and have only a marginally greater chance of winning the GOP nomination than you or I do, Bill Kristol says Rudy 9/11 is running. I know the other candidates will be losing immeasurably minute amounts of sleep over the challenges that Rudy presents as a rival.

[Rex Goliath]

"Fuck it, we'll do it live!"

[China Guy]

How much you want to bet that Newt's campaign staff saw the contributions weren't going to make payroll through Friday?

[River Hippie]

This will free Newt up to head the Weiner probe.

[Captain Lance Murdoch]

I wish the title of this thread were true.

[Balance]

Originally Posted by dbx820

Are you implying that McCain is going to be the White Knight of the Republican nomination

I would guess that Voyager's referencing a joke/meme from the 2008 election campaign. In response to some particularly ridiculous attempts by the McCain campaign to spin bad news, people took to proclaiming every event as "GOOD NEWS for John McCain", especially if it was irrelevant (or even disastrous) to McCain.

[Profound Gibberish]

Has-been politicians are like vampires--they rise from the dead, scare the crap out of people, and then go away when light is cast upon them. Only to return, again and again. . . . .

[Dewey Finn]

I don't understand the vacation break, mentioned in the article as a Greek island cruise, and in the New York Times as a two-week absence from the campaign trail. That seems like a crazy long time to step away after announcing your bid for the presidency.

[Manduck]

Apparently they quit because of his wife: http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/...fe_574027.html (the cruise was her idea).

[Dewey Finn]

Well, that's a dumb reason to quit his campaign. I'll bet if they had just waited, there would have been a new wife.

[waterj2]

Originally Posted by Dewey Finn

I don't understand the vacation break, mentioned in the article as a Greek island cruise, and in the New York Times as a two-week absence from the campaign trail. That seems like a crazy long time to step away after announcing your bid for the presidency.

Well, it's not like Gingrich's presence was actually helping his campaign. I mean, their best shot was probably to have him be on cruise until the convention, and hope that people figured that if he'd gone that long without making an ass out himself, it's really impressive by Gingrich standards.

[JimH52]

Mister Morality has lost his staff. He is toast.

[R. P. McMurphy]

How long before Newt is looking for a 4th wife? This one struck me as a "Dragon Lady" that was in it for ambition and Tiffany's. That has all crashed and burned. Newt is now radioactive.

Let's check back in a year or so.

[Least Original User Name Ever]

Originally Posted by Voyager

I didn't get why they left from the article. Was he not crazy enough? Too crazy? Or was it clear that he didn't really care. Going on a cruise after you announce, which is when the spotlight is on you, is just nuts.

But this is good news for the McCain campaign.

They figured they get out while the other campaigns are still staffing and moving. I'm guessing Gingrich might have told them in a staff meeting that he wasn't as serious about the run as he should be. It's almost like he's playing for a vice presidential nomination, and that may even be a wise goal.

Romney/Gingrich marks a reunion of some of his staffers that leave and come back and help out because they're working for Romney. Enter the drama.

[Least Original User Name Ever]

Originally Posted by Least Original User Name Ever

They figured they get out while the other campaigns are still staffing and moving. I'm guessing Gingrich might have told them in a staff meeting that he wasn't as serious about the run as he should be. It's almost like he's playing for a vice presidential nomination, and that may even be a wise goal.

Romney/Gingrich marks a reunion of some of his staffers that leave and come back and help out because they're working for Romney. Enter the drama.

Edited to add: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/0..._n_874452.html

Really edited to add: Shit. I quoted myself. I hate the inability to edit posts at will here.

[The Hamster King]

Originally Posted by Dewey Finn

Well, that's a dumb reason to quit his campaign. I'll bet if they had just waited, there would have been a new wife.

LOL.

[Death of Rats]

Originally Posted by JimH52

Mister Morality has lost his staff. He is toast.

He could borrow Anthony Weiner's. I understand he is willing to share his staff with anyone who follows him on Twitter!

<rimshot>

[Profound Gibberish]

Apparently Callista wanted him to run a slower campaign. And I have a feeling that if you disagree with her she will eat your face and incorporate it into her own.

[Boyo Jim]

His two top fundraisers have now quit.

Lucky for me, he can still be amusing for very little money. And perhaps he can pawn some jewelry.

[Merijeek]

Look man, you only see an historic* campaign like this once a century!

-Joe

*for certain values of "historic"

[gravitycrash]

I really think Gingrich is beginning to lose it, for real.

I almost ran off the road when I heard him claim on the radio that he wasn't a Washington insider, Bwaaa? What the hell Newt, you are the very definition of an insider.

And also Newt, your new wife appears to be a real piece of work.

[Onomatopoeia]

Originally Posted by gravitycrash

And also Newt, your new wife appears to be a real piece of work.

And he should consider himself lucky to have that harpie. I'm mean, look at him. He's utterly repulsive. I don't blame her one bit for expecting compensation for having to live with, and be touched {shudder} by that pig.

[Merijeek]

Originally Posted by Onomatopoeia

And he should consider himself lucky to have that harpie. I'm mean, look at him. He's utterly repulsive. I don't blame her one bit for expecting compensation for having to live with, and be touched {shudder} by that pig.

Plus, thanks to his Clinton obsession blow jobs are much more common now. Or so I've been told by an old conservative boss of mine. Basically, women give blow jobs now because of Clinton - and presumably Newt, since he was all tied up in that.

(feel free to bleach your brain liberally)

-Joe

[Fear Itself]

Gingrich had a second line of credit at Tiffany's for up to a million dollars. Just like all his constituents.

[Steve MB]

Gingrich's people have a plan:

"The campaign will continue to reorganize," Gingrich spokesman R.C. Hammond told the Washington Post. "We are going to duct-tape together one coalition of Americans after another that believe in his large, bold vision of change."

Yeah, maybe he should get to work duct-taping his remaining staff together before any more of them get away.

[Dewey Finn]

Originally Posted by Fear Itself

Gingrich had a second line of credit at Tiffany's for up to a million dollars. Just like all his constituents.

How rich is that guy? And that USA Today article said, "Gingrich staunchly defended himself on the first line of credit, dismissing inquiries about it as part of a 'gotcha game' in Washington and saying the 'revolving charge account" was a "normal way of doing business.'" OK, it's a normal way of doing business, but not a normal way of doing one's personal finances. Few middle-class Americans can relate to the idea of having a six-figure charge account at a jewelry store. Most of them wouldn't think of spending even $10,000 on a piece of jewelry.

[Merijeek]

Originally Posted by Dewey Finn

How rich is that guy? And that USA Today article said, "Gingrich staunchly defended himself on the first line of credit, dismissing inquiries about it as part of a 'gotcha game' in Washington and saying the 'revolving charge account" was a "normal way of doing business.'" OK, it's a normal way of doing business, but not a normal way of doing one's personal finances. Few middle-class Americans can relate to the idea of having a six-figure charge account at a jewelry store. Most of them wouldn't think of spending even $10,000 on a piece of jewelry.

I'm far more interested in finding out who was paying off that revolving account. Bet it somehow violated the hell out of some kind of law. Maybe it was a 'business expense'. Has to keep her happy to keep her putting out to keep him from ruining his career and wrecking his income.

See?

-Joe

[Onomatopoeia]

You know, I've been trying to wrap my brain around all the fuss being made about Gingrich's personal credit lines. Why does anyone care about this? Is he doing anything illegal? Did Gingrich take an oath of poverty that I missed somewhere?

There are oh, so many reasons to castigate Gingrich, but his Tiffany account? The man's wealthy. Big deal.

Please. Someone explain this to me.

[Merijeek]

Originally Posted by Onomatopoeia

You know, I've been trying to wrap my brain around all the fuss being made about Gingrich's personal credit lines. Why does anyone care about this? Is he doing anything illegal? Did Gingrich take an oath of poverty that I missed somewhere?

There are oh, so many reasons to castigate Gingrich, but his Tiffany account? The man's wealthy. Big deal.

Please. Someone explain this to me.

Probably because he pretends to be an everyman trying to save America from Washington when in fact he's part of Washington and is trying to fleece the rest of America as hard and fast as he can.

More importantly, though, if it's actually investigated they will find something illegal about it. If a journalist actually starts investigating (not that they do that anymore) I'll happily start laying out money on bets for what they'll find.

-Joe

[Profound Gibberish]

I am only half joking when I say that this may all end in a murder-suicide.
Creepy as it sounds, I would not rule it out.

[MPB in Salt Lake]

Originally Posted by dbx820

I am only half joking when I say that this may all end in a murder-suicide.
Creepy as it sounds, I would not rule it out.

Who are you planning on killing?

[Profound Gibberish]

Originally Posted by MPB in Salt Lake

Who are you planning on killing?

Oh, touche'!

[mlees]

Originally Posted by gravitycrash

I really think Gingrich is beginning to lose it, for real.

I almost ran off the road when I heard him claim on the radio that he wasn't a Washington insider, Bwaaa? What the hell Newt, you are the very definition of an insider.

And also Newt, your new wife appears to be a real piece of work.

Maybe he thinks that since he hasn't held an elected political office in some time (since '98?) that he gets to claim he's not an insider.

I would have laughed in his face, too.

I imagine he still stays in touch with all of the allies he made during his terms, mingling (golf, lunches, whatever) with policy shapers of the beltway.

[Chronos]

Why does anyone care about this? Is he doing anything illegal?

We care about it because we intend to find out if he's doing anything illegal.

[Fear Itself]

Originally Posted by Onomatopoeia

There are oh, so many reasons to castigate Gingrich, but his Tiffany account? The man's wealthy. Big deal.

Please. Someone explain this to me.

Since this is apparently your first presidential campaign, you need to understand this is how it is always played. If the other guy can successfully torpedo Howard Dean by deliberately misinterpreting an exuberant yell, we would be damn fools not to capitalize on every little slip or inconsistency Gingrich makes. There is plenty of room for reasoned debate, but I am not going to pretend that I should be above cheap shots when my adversaries exploit them whenever and wherever the opportunity presents itself.

[Dewey Finn]

Even though in recent decades almost everyone elected to or even ran for the presidency has been wealthy, it's still an issue. People don't like it if a candidate is seen as flaunting his wealth. It makes them seem out of touch with mainstream, middle-class Americans. John McCain was criticized for being unable to answer the question of how many houses he owns. John Edwards was criticized for a $400 haircut. Sarah Palin for an expensive wardrobe paid for by the Republican Party. Etc.

[Onomatopoeia]

Guess I'm out of touch then.

I thought there was something more to the Tiffany credit line story than was immediately evident, because the fervor seemed so, er, fervent, but apparently it's as shallow a non story as it seems. And no, I don't care that the other guys do it, or did it first.

Look, I think Gingrich is a buffoon. He never had a chance at the nomination in the first place, and he made himself look more foolish by attempting a run, especially with all his 'real' personal baggage. I also, however, believe all the hullabaloo about his personal finances is ridiculous, the interest in which probably says more about us than him.

[Fear Itself]

Originally Posted by Onomatopoeia

And no, I don't care that the other guys do it, or did it first.

Fine, you don't mind losing elections; we get it. The rest of us know that, given an opportunity to step on the other guys throat, you take it. Politics ain't for the faint heart, nor fair minded.

[CaptMurdock]

Originally Posted by Steve MB

Gingrich's people have a plan:



Yeah, maybe he should get to work duct-taping his remaining staff together before any more of them get away.

He'd better hurry then... Now his campaign finance team is jumping ship:

A Gingrich spokesman confirmed to the Associated Press's Shannon McCaffrey that fundraising director Jody Thomas and fundraising consultant Mary Heitman have quit the former House speaker's struggling presidential campaign.

He's gonna have to use more duct tape than Dexter...

[Rhythmdvl]

Originally Posted by Onomatopoeia

There are oh, so many reasons to castigate Gingrich, but his Tiffany account? The man's wealthy. Big deal.

Please. Someone explain this to me.

The implications are more than "oh look, Newt is gluttonous and rich!"

During the time of the debt, was Tiffany lobbying a congressional committee that Callista was serving on as Chief Clerk? Are Tiffany's and Gingrich's claims that the no-interest loans were standard practice (the Washington Post gives those claims three Pinocchios)?

While there is political hay to be maid of Gingrich's spending habits, there are actual, significant issues.

Note: I make no claims as to the veracity of the charges or implications, only that there may be more afoot than merely gross consumption.

[crowmanyclouds]

Criswell predicts, Newt Gingrich will buy a dog . . . name it Checkers and buy his wife a respectable Republican cloth coat.


CMC fnord!

[Jinx]

Where is Gingrich? Where is the GOP!?! [And, is anyone really looking for Palin's disappearing bus tour? ]

[Steve MB]

Gingrich Sock Puppet Theater:

Yesterday Newt Gingrich laid out a new argument for why he should be the GOP presidential nominee: He's got the most Twitter followers. But according to a former Gingrich staffer, he bought them.

Gingrich complained yesterday that the press is ignoring his prodigious Twitter audience: "I have six times as many Twitter followers as all the other candidates combined, but it didn't count because if it counted I'd still be a candidate; since I can't be a candidate that can't count." Which is true! Gingrich currently boasts 1,325,842 followers, whereas competitors Mitt Romney and Michele Bachmann have yet to crack 100,000.

But if Newt is winning the Twitter primary, it's because of voter fraud. A former staffer tells us that his campaign hired a firm to boost his follower count, in part by creating fake accounts en masse...

[paperbackwriter]

Startup PeekYou verifies Gawker claims:

The startup uses an algorithm to determine how many of your followers are consumers, i.e. actual identifiable human beings, as opposed to spam accounts, business accounts and private accounts. (The company is so maniacal about making sure it has correctly identified spambots, it bought access to thousands of them on eBay.)

When it came to the GOP field, what stood out was the percentage of verifiable humans that follow Newt Gingrich: just 8% of the total.

“At first, we actually thought it might have been a bug,” says Michael Hussey, PeekYou’s CEO and Founder. “We have seen some pretty low consumer ratios in our testing, but Newt’s was the lowest we had ever seen.”

[neuroman]

It's like getting a lady's shirt off and discovering that instead of a couple of pineapples, there's only a lot of newspaper stuffing and a pair of bing cherries.