Curmudgeon's Corner

Another One Down?

Posted by Al Campbell on May 17, 2011

Political, U.S.

“With allies like that, who needs the Left?”

That remark came from Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and it was aimed at Newt Gingrich who had leveled strong criticism against Ryan’s budget proposal.  There seems a growing consensus that Newt Gingrich has just ended his own hopes of reviving his political career.  His weak attempts to put this behind him aren’t working.  Reporters smell ‘blood in the water’ and aren’t likely to ease up on him, either.

I have always thought him to be a ‘big thinker’.  He has always had ideas on just about anything and everything.  BUT…he has also been about staying in the spotlight and making his ‘brand’ greater than life.

I wrote a week ago about a friend who said that Republicans seem to always ‘eat their young’ meaning that the people who call themselves Republicans are very critical of those who run for office, especially in major primaries such as for the presidency of our country.

It looks to me, and I think to many others judging from reports, that Newt Gingrich has just ended his last hope for political office.  This huge gaff coupled with the amount of baggage he brings along with his entry into the primaries just seems to me to indicate that he will be incapable of being able to win out.

An Iowa resident yesterday was reported to have come up to Gingrich and said, “Get out now before you embarrass yourself more”.  I suspect that there are many more who feel the same.  A weak showing in Iowa will prove very tough on Gingrich's chances.

With the ego most candidates must have, it may take a while for Gingrich to come to understand that his best bet is to leave this race, but the sooner that happens, frankly the happier I’ll be.

Republicans will find their candidate, but it isn’t going to be Donald Trump or former Governor Huckabee and I doubt that it’ll be Gingrich.  I really hope that I will be able to vote ‘for’ someone and not ‘against’ someone as I’ve said before.