# Documenting the downfall of Newt **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 7, 2012, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documenting-the-downfall-of-newt/612077 "2012-02-07T15:46:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documenting-the-downfall-of-newt/612077/82 "2012-04-17T15:45:39Z")
It’s very shortsighted of him not to advocate for gun rights on the moon. ---
**Author:** ![gamerunknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6bbea6/32.png) [@gamerunknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gamerunknown)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documenting-the-downfall-of-newt/612077/83 "2012-04-17T16:04:11Z")
Wonder if the right to bear arms extends to DPRK or Iran? > [@Gingrich](#): > > The right to bear arms comes from our creator, not our government Which beatitude lauded the sharpshooter again? In which Gospel did Jesus decapitate those attempting to execute him? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documenting-the-downfall-of-newt/612077/84 "2012-04-17T16:13:47Z")
> [@gamerunknown](#): > > Wonder if the right to bear arms extends to DPRK or Iran? He is, of course, saying the people of those oppressed countries should have the opportunity to shoot the people who are oppressing them. The speech is grandiose posturing and it’s never going to happen on a bunch of levels, but it’s hard to disagree with that general idea. > [@](#): > > Which beatitude lauded the sharpshooter again? He’s selectively quoting from the Declaration of Independence (“all men are … endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights”) and the Bill of Rights (“A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”) ---
**Author:** ![gamerunknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6bbea6/32.png) [@gamerunknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gamerunknown)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documenting-the-downfall-of-newt/612077/85 "2012-04-17T16:33:49Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > hard to disagree with that general idea Well, allow me then! I think the power disparity created by modern technology (well, probably enforced through social strata) means that the right to bear arms will probably never be an effective check on governmental power. This is especially the case in the US, which has incredible military expenditure and is eminently capable of demonising whichever group it perceives as a threat. I don’t think Ted Kaczynski or Timothy McVeigh will ever be celebrated, despite their attacking what they perceived as legitimate targets, with what were legitimate goals in their mind. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documenting-the-downfall-of-newt/612077/86 "2012-04-17T16:46:41Z")
> [@gamerunknown](#): > > Which beatitude lauded the sharpshooter again? Blessed are the poor in aim, for their souls shall be required of them right quick, yew pukes! Now drop and gimme 20 hossanas! :mad: ---
**Author:** ![CJJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecc23a/32.png) [@CJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documenting-the-downfall-of-newt/612077/87 "2012-04-17T17:25:55Z")
> [@gamerunknown](#): > > Well, allow me then! I think the power disparity created by modern technology (well, probably enforced through social strata) means that the right to bear arms will probably never be an effective check on governmental power. This is especially the case in the US, which has incredible military expenditure and is eminently capable of demonising whichever group it perceives as a threat. I don’t think Ted Kaczynski or Timothy McVeigh will ever be celebrated, despite their attacking what they perceived as legitimate targets, with what were legitimate goals in their mind. There’s an interesting discussion on Gingrich’s point–one I’d like to participate in. However, I think it’s one that deserves its [own thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=14974363#post14974363). ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documenting-the-downfall-of-newt/612077/88 "2012-04-17T17:36:23Z")
> [@gamerunknown](#): > > Well, allow me then! I think the power disparity created by modern technology (well, probably enforced through social strata) means that the right to bear arms will probably never be an effective check on governmental power. Tell it to the Tunisians and Libyans. > [@](#): > > This is especially the case in the US He’s not talking about the U.S. That was the whole point of the comment. There’s no chance the U.N. would ever pass a resolution like this and he’s not going to be president anyway, but it’s less absurd than the moonbase or the child janitors proposal. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documenting-the-downfall-of-newt/612077/89 "2012-04-17T17:47:03Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Tell it to the Tunisians and Libyans. > He’s not talking about the U.S. That was the whole point of the comment. There’s no chance the U.N. would ever pass a resolution like this and he’s not going to be president anyway, but it’s less absurd than the moonbase or the child janitors proposal. But the idea that the right to bear arms “comes from the Creator” and was intended to be universal IS absurd. The right to US citizens comes from the 2nd Amendment to the US constitution, which explicitly covers US citizens and the US government. No one, until Newt, had any intention of it having any greater applicability. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documenting-the-downfall-of-newt/612077/90 "2012-04-17T18:10:34Z")
> [@](#): > > Insiders say Callista Gingrich required an entourage of at least two staffers – including one who dressed in an elephant costume to promote her children’s book Don’t knock her for this. Unlike her husband, she’s still got a career ahead of her to think about. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documenting-the-downfall-of-newt/612077/91 "2012-04-17T18:12:58Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > No one, until Newt, had any intention of it having any greater applicability. Let’s keep this confined to the GD thread to avoid crosstalk. The bottom line here is that this will never happen and it’s wrong, but it’s not the craziest thing he’s said this campaign. ---
**Author:** ![conway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@conway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/conway)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documenting-the-downfall-of-newt/612077/92 "2012-04-17T18:16:23Z")
[Newt Gingrich bitten by penguin.](http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/newt-gingrich-bitten-penguin-zoo-place-where-loves-154916520.html) ---
**Author:** ![gamerunknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6bbea6/32.png) [@gamerunknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gamerunknown)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documenting-the-downfall-of-newt/612077/93 "2012-04-17T18:25:55Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > The bottom line here is that this will never happen and it’s wrong, but it’s not the craziest thing he’s said this campaign. Well, I agree there, but I also doubt that any US ally will have a successful revolution. See Saudi Arabia or Bahrain. In a sense, these revolutions came pre-approved and in Libya’s case, with US military support. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documenting-the-downfall-of-newt/612077/94 "2012-04-17T19:12:34Z")
> [@conway](#): > > [Newt Gingrich bitten by penguin.](http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/newt-gingrich-bitten-penguin-zoo-place-where-loves-154916520.html) What is Newt doing with Trump’s hair in the accompanying picture?😃 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documenting-the-downfall-of-newt/612077/95 "2012-04-17T19:22:25Z")
> [@gamerunknown](#): > > In a sense, these revolutions came pre-approved and in Libya’s case, with US military support. There wouldn’t have been any military asssitance in Libya if the citizens hadn’t started an uprising and come fairly close to succeeding on their own. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documenting-the-downfall-of-newt/612077/96 "2012-04-17T23:06:49Z")
> [@conway](#): > > [Newt Gingrich bitten by penguin.](http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/newt-gingrich-bitten-penguin-zoo-place-where-loves-154916520.html) The penguin is under close observation for signs of illness or mutation . . . ---
**Author:** ![CJJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecc23a/32.png) [@CJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2012, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documenting-the-downfall-of-newt/612077/97 "2012-04-20T19:30:44Z")
April 20th: Newt is under pressure from a taxpayer group to [give up his Secret Service protection](http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/20/group-wasteful-of-taxpayer-for-gingrich-to-keep-secret-service-protection/). Refering to the watchdog group Taxpayers Protection Alliance as “tax experts”, Gingrich spokesman R.C\> Hammond commented for CNN: > [@](#): > > "We think tax experts make great tax experts. And we think security experts make great security experts. So if we need tax advice, we’ll check in with the tax experts… > > “It would take five lifetimes of presidential candidates not taking Secret Service protection to equal the same amount of money that Newt has proposed to save in his presidential campaign,” The star has exited stage right, the audience has left the theatre, and now the guy running the spotlight is complaining about the wasted electricity. Yet Newt goes on, reciting his lines for an empty house… ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2012, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documenting-the-downfall-of-newt/612077/98 "2012-04-20T20:10:34Z")
> [@CJJ](#): > > … Yet Newt goes on, reciting his lines for an empty house… That’s his specialty. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2012, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documenting-the-downfall-of-newt/612077/99 "2012-04-20T20:41:01Z")
> [@conway](#): > > [Newt Gingrich bitten by penguin.](http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/newt-gingrich-bitten-penguin-zoo-place-where-loves-154916520.html) > [@BrainGlutton](#): > > The penguin is under close observation for signs of illness or mutation . . . Please tell me someone out there has done a PhotoShop of Newt in Burgess Meredith’s costume from the old Batman series. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documenting-the-downfall-of-newt/612077/100 "2012-04-24T15:38:10Z")
Newy is apparently considering getting out of the race. [This article](http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/gingrich-hints-may-quit-race-063702638.html) quotes an NBC interview and says: > [@](#): > > In an interview with NBC News, the former House speaker acknowledged that he would have to “reassess” his bid if he fares poorly in Tuesday’s Republican primary in Delaware, a state where he has spent considerable time campaigning. > “I think we need to take a deep look at what we are doing,” Gingrich said. “We will be in North Carolina tomorrow night and we will look and see what the results are.” > He told NBC, “I would hope we would do well here—either carry it or come very, very close.” ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documenting-the-downfall-of-newt/612077/101 "2012-04-24T16:07:00Z")
Somewhere there’s a fat lady in a breastplate and a helmet with horns on it, spritzing her vocal chords… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documenting-the-downfall-of-newt/612077.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/documenting-the-downfall-of-newt/612077.md?page=6)