# Gingrich, We Hardly Knew Ye. . **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 9, 2011, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gingrich-we-hardly-knew-ye/584898 "2011-06-09T19:14:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gingrich-we-hardly-knew-ye/584898/21 "2011-06-10T01:36:48Z")
> [@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. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gingrich-we-hardly-knew-ye/584898/22 "2011-06-10T13:54:50Z")
> [@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! \ ---
**Author:** ![Profound\_Gibberish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Profound\_Gibberish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Profound_Gibberish)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2011, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gingrich-we-hardly-knew-ye/584898/23 "2011-06-10T14:13:22Z")
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. ---
**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:** [June 21, 2011, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gingrich-we-hardly-knew-ye/584898/24 "2011-06-21T17:28:25Z")
[His two top fundraisers have now quit.](http://beta.news.yahoo.com/apnewsbreak-gingrich-campaign-finance-team-quits-163648732.html) Lucky for me, he can still be amusing for very little money. And perhaps he can pawn some jewelry. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gingrich-we-hardly-knew-ye/584898/25 "2011-06-21T19:09:03Z")
Look man, you only see an historic\* campaign like this once a century! -Joe \*for certain values of “historic” ---
**Author:** ![gravitycrash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@gravitycrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gravitycrash)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gingrich-we-hardly-knew-ye/584898/26 "2011-06-21T23:38:47Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gingrich-we-hardly-knew-ye/584898/27 "2011-06-22T01:40:51Z")
> [@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. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gingrich-we-hardly-knew-ye/584898/28 "2011-06-22T12:27:02Z")
> [@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 ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gingrich-we-hardly-knew-ye/584898/29 "2011-06-22T13:01:05Z")
Gingrich had a second line of credit at Tiffany’s for [up to a million dollars.](http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2011/06/newt-gingrich-tiffanys-debt-presidential-campaign/1) Just like all his constituents. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gingrich-we-hardly-knew-ye/584898/30 "2011-06-22T13:47:40Z")
[Gingrich’s people have a plan](http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2011/06/newt-gingrich-loses-two-more-campaign-staffers-the-fundraisers.html): > [@](#): > > “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. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gingrich-we-hardly-knew-ye/584898/31 "2011-06-22T14:14:05Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Gingrich had a second line of credit at Tiffany’s for [up to a million dollars.](http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2011/06/newt-gingrich-tiffanys-debt-presidential-campaign/1) 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. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gingrich-we-hardly-knew-ye/584898/32 "2011-06-22T15:29:31Z")
> [@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 ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gingrich-we-hardly-knew-ye/584898/33 "2011-06-22T16:20:19Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gingrich-we-hardly-knew-ye/584898/34 "2011-06-22T16:38:24Z")
> [@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 ---
**Author:** ![Profound\_Gibberish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Profound\_Gibberish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Profound_Gibberish)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gingrich-we-hardly-knew-ye/584898/35 "2011-06-22T17:56:32Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gingrich-we-hardly-knew-ye/584898/36 "2011-06-22T18:12:44Z")
> [@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? ---
**Author:** ![Profound\_Gibberish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Profound\_Gibberish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Profound_Gibberish)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gingrich-we-hardly-knew-ye/584898/37 "2011-06-22T18:30:16Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > Who are you planning on killing? Oh, touche’! ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gingrich-we-hardly-knew-ye/584898/38 "2011-06-22T19:08:02Z")
> [@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. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gingrich-we-hardly-knew-ye/584898/39 "2011-06-22T21:25:15Z")
> [@](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gingrich-we-hardly-knew-ye/584898/40 "2011-06-22T22:01:04Z")
> [@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. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gingrich-we-hardly-knew-ye/584898.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gingrich-we-hardly-knew-ye/584898.md?page=3)