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DES MOINES, Iowa -- Before activists here, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour (R-MS) and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA) gave a glimpse of what they might focus on if they launch likely presidential runs -- and they revealed different approaches and priorities.
Barbour focused largely on the economy.
"The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing," Barbour joked, adding, "and the main thing is economic growth."
Barbour was generally well received, and earlier in the week, he showed no qualms in expressing his emotion on the issue of abortion. But with Iowa being a caucus state dominated by social conservatives, some attendees in the hallways and in the audience questioned that focus.
Another speaker, Emmett McGroarty, on a panel on family values, wrapped his speech with what appeared to be a mild shot at Barbour. He said social-conservative values are part of "the main thing, and that's the main thing I'm focused on today."
That drew a mix of laughs and applause.
As he's said before, Barbour stressed that the presidential election needs to be about policy, "because these are the wrong policies. ... These policies make it harder to create jobs."
Barbour showed a mix of humor and seriousness, as he also criticized President Obama for the health-care overhaul law and the administration's energy policy. He described the energy policy not as an "energy" one, but "an environmental policy." He said the policy is to "drive up the cost of energy, so people wont use it."
"We need more oil; we need more gas; we need more coal; we need more nuclear; we need more American energy," Barbour said, adding that the U.S. should also generate energy from wood and waste. "We need all of the above," he added.
Gingrich also hit Obama on energy and health care, but stressed values first as well as foreign policy. Notably, even though he mentioned values as a top priority, he did not speak at length about it. He instead focused much of his speech on other topics, including the president's handling of the situation in Libya.
In the past week, Gingrich has faced charges of flip-flopping on Libya -- being for a no-fly zone before he was against it. He argued today that he moved on his position, because, "I was just trying to follow Obama." That was met with polite laughter.
He went on to argue that if someone were to say jump in the lake, he would have said no. But "once we’re in the lake, I say, "Swim as fast as you can."
Gingrich said the administration has sent a "confused" message on its goals in Libya. The goal, Gingrich said, should -- unequivocally -- be to take out Khaddafy. He even called for ground troops -- just not American ground troops.
In a brief question-and-answer session in the hallways here with reporters after his speech, he attempted to clarify. He said there should be American-trained Arab "advisers," already in the region, who should help the rebels and try to oust Khaddafy.
"We need to be clear the goal is to get rid of Khaddafy," Gingrich said. He called the administration's message "obscure and inaccurate" and added that the "confusing" message helps Khaddafy's supporters because they are "confused about what we're doing."
He demurred, however, when asked if it was a mistake for former President George W. Bush to try and bring Khaddafy back into the fold diplomatically.
He also hit Obama for not consulting closely enough with Congress.
"When the president decides to take the country to war," Gingrich said, "there needs to be a serious public dialogue." He added the president needs to go to Congress for a supplemental to fund the military action.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour are among a group of Republicans gathered in Iowa hoping to potentially win over voters for 2012.
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Differing styles you say...
You mean like Boss Hogg vs. Leon Phelps the Ladies Man? lol
Fiesty---I think Bob must be right, Barbour is very formidable. He has the Hillbilly, K.K.K. and the majority of the Redneck vote just about wrapped up. The gay basher and anti immigrant vote is still up for grabs though. I do feel that Bachman has the looney fringe firmly in her camp, but they can be pretty fickle and may jump ship.
Differing styles?
Uh Huh! Tweedledumb and Tweedledumber!
Tom,
You are pretty clueless on the origin of these Southern bashing terms.
Just to educate you, the Ku Kluk Klan was an offshoot of the racist Democratic Party. Long time US Democratic Senator Robert Byrd held high office in the Klan.
As to the "hillbilly" , you must mean Democratic President Jimmy Carter of Georgia. His political career launched when he supported overtly racist Lester Maddux for Governor. President Carter even walked out of a hall when the Union ballad "Marching Though Georgia" was played. How hillbilly is that ?
Bob - I can't believe how many times I have had to remind people of this - people who conveniently choose to forget, I might add - but the Democrats that spawned the KKK were referred to as Dixiecrats. They left the Democratic party because they (Byrd and the Dixiecrats) found the Democratic party didn't like their brand of racism. They threw in later with... wait for it.... the Republicans. Look it up. How is it a Canadian knows more about your history than YOU do?
Simple, Republicans HATE history and education
"the Democrats that spawned the KKK were referred to as Dixiecrats"
You obviously cut class during US History. Dixiecrats is a term from the 1940s, and is not relevant.
The KKK arose from the Civil war era (1860s, since you are obviously clueless); the Southern racist Democratic Party and the Klan, were one and the same.
"It is like writing history with Lightning. And my only regret is that it is all so terribly true."
-- Democrat Woodrow Wilson in 1918, after viewing the pro-KKK movie 'Birth of a Nation'
Bull Connor? George Wallace? Democrats. But now a magic wand exorcises all the Democratic party's 150 year history of racism...
Are you seriously going to go back to the civil war era to talk about racism and try to make me wrong? You invoked the ghost of Byrd, I was talking Byrd era. More significantly, let's talk about the MODERN era! Today's republicans are clearly more anti-anybody-but-whitey. You would have to be a fool to think otherwise. Even in in the Civil War era, southern Democrats were known to be more racist than northern Democrats or the GOP. That is the faction that would eventually become the Dixiecrats and split to join the GOP. No shell game with eras will help you here, Bob. Republicans are all about white people and the wealthy, democrats tend towards supporting the middle class, minorities, people's rights, etc.
Of course, with Obama being Hitler and the whole new world order thing, I can see how Glenn Beck might have you off your game....
goparefools, I like the way you do not let historical fact get in the way of your politics
Then educate me. Where did I go wrong, TBD? What specifically do you disagree with? Or is it preferable to just use the typical Fox News/republican approach of calling someone wrong and leaving it at that? Are you seriously saying that the modern era republicans are less racist than modern era democrats?
Babour doesn't have it.
Byrd was a Democrat Not a republican that pretty much sums it up
I'm not so sure how different their styles are when you really look at it. One is a fat, obnoxious idiot and the other is a fat, obnoxious idiot. They seem pretty similar to me.
We need more what?!?! JOBS! Where are the jobs!?!
My fellow conservatives tell me that government can not create jobs AFTER the republicans were elected to create jobs. I'd settle for a tiny jobs bill right now. The economy is growing by leaps and bounds and no jobs. I'm not sure what led them to believe that economic growth and social-conservative values has to do with jobs nor how it will help anything else, but they promised me they'd create jobs!
Yeah. George Wallace for true was a democrat at the height of the OPEN racial hate in the south during his era, but most of that 'gang of hate' jumped party lines. Like Jesse Helm and that TEX-ASS governor (coward) who was shot with our President Kennedy '63. Right after President Johnson saw the light and tried to end a wrong for a group of American citizens and help the poor people of all colors out of poverty.
It is THE republican outfit who wants to reverse any actions that move this country from that hateful period.
That was then and now it's many of the Republicans and Tea Baggers who can't stand having a Black Man as President. You should face the facts.
1.15
That's not true at all. We, the American people were and are ready for a black President. Our gracious President represents a 50-50. Therefore, the race comment it goes to the drain.
I am for Allen West and Bachmann.
No matter what the left/Dems/liberals write there is going to be a candidate for the other side of the aisle and he/she is going to be demonized.
goparefools the Dixiecrats did not spawn the kKK. Not even close. The KKK was founded by Confederate general Nathan Bedford Forrest. It purpose was to stand up for the rights of Southern whites during reconstruction, which were being severely trampled. As an example, black voters were taken to the polls singing The Battle Hymn of the Republic while white voters were being turned away right and left. The KKK quickly descended into violence and terror -- not its original purpose -- and when General Forrest saw there was nothing he could do to reverse that trend he resigned from the organization he had founded.
determined0a1
Well, Allen West and Bachmann should really set America back. Here we have crazy and crazier.
Gingrich and Barbour may have differing styles and priorities on Libya, but they share same disconcerting inability to express a coherent policy, and both seem to be in over their heads in trying to make sense of anything that is going on over there.
Same priorities: breakfast, lunch, and dinner (they like to eat).
Different Style: hashbrowns vs. grits.
MSNBC seems to want to focus on Newt, probably so the moonbats can cue up their lame attempts at humor.
....and right on cue, Feisty cues up some stale material.
(Rule of thumb: Whenever a poster types 'lol', you know it is not funny.)
Gingrich is not a favorite to win the nomination, but is a favorite whipping boy for the Left.
Barbour , on the other hand, is a formidable candidate.
if you have ever Noticed. The nasty one usually Ends most of her Snide Comments with LOL, or LMAO..
At least she thinks she is funny
Well, I guess the liberals could focus on Haley Barbour if you really want to talk about lobbying.
Sure, he is formidable candidate for Wall Street.
And he likes to kill grandma.
Is that enough said about him?
Both Barbour and Gingrich look like they're going to drop dead of Heart Attacks at any moment. Both have weight problems, amongst many other mental problems. They should go on "Weight Watchers" and "Hit The Gym" everyday!!
Gingrich is not a favorite to win the nomination, but is a favorite whipping boy for the Left.
So far all the GOP have put forward is whipping boys, idiots and outright kooks. Obama will win with the Black vote and having done nothing about your sive of a Mexican border he will win the Latino vote as well. But if that Donald Trump dude decides to run all bets are off. That guy will cut the debt with the promise of health care once the bills are paid. He is a business man first and foremost so he will tell the unions you want a serious raise show me a serious performance, bad performance = unemployment. It's my guess American military actions around the world would take on a whole new light (for the better) and as the debt comes down and government shrinks the savings would go into infrastructure in all states. Ear marks or Pork barrel spending would become a thing of the past and things would move much quicker. By year 4 the debt would be down over 30%, flow of illegals dialed down to a trickle and deportations would be up and most important America could actually start making freinds with other countries again instead of always looking like they are playing the bully. Trump is the catylist for the future and you guys should be mailing and emailing him your support everyday before he says no. You need him a lot more than he needs you.
Yeah... forgive me if I don't build a shrine to Trump in my basement.
The Trump legacy is "Bankruptcy - 3 Times" and "3 Failed Marriages". Some Businessman and Conservative.
Trump supported John Kerry and Barack Obama in 2004 and 2008. He believes in Abortion. Again, some conservative.
Trump has money but so do I and many, many others. He is simply doing this for his ego and media hype. He sees how much money Palin is making and is trying to get a slice of that money pie.
He's banking on you righties who are stupid enough to buy and read his upcoming book and tune into his reality show.
Please run, "WIG" and all! - ROFLMAO
 I wonder about the perspicacity of these people who summon would-be candidates to their forum to hear them say all the same ole same ole over again just as they did 2 years ago, 4 years ago, 6 years ago, 8 years ago--Oh, of course, social values and religion are immutable, apparently in Iowa anyway and within the GOPTP. Then comes an election and the little robots pull the right levers, their guys and gals get in, and we go back to business as usual. Do they ever get it? The mainstream of the country is going in different directions and they are being left behind.
From AJE:
3:00pm
In the past hour allied war planes have hit Gaddafi targets in the opposition-held town of Misurata. Pro-democracy fighters now say they have moved past Brega further to the west. And that they are heading towards Ras Lanuf - another oil-rich town.
3:53pm Al Jazeera's Sue Turton, reporting from Benghazi, where the National Council for the rebels held a press conference, says a senior Libyan army officer has been captured. She says the rebels believe Gaddafi forces are on the back foot and the captured general will be brought to Benghazi.
"We're hearing reports that the number three in Gaddafi's army, Bilgasim Al-Ganga, has been captured overnight in fighting in Ajdabiya. He has a fierce reputation among the opposition who accuse him of committing many atrocities under the Gaddafi regime.
There is muted optimism. It really does feel the momentum of the Gaddafi forces has been stopped. They are not outwardly celebrating but they are definitely optimistic."
4:16pm
Rebels tell the AFP news agency they have retaken the eastern town of Brega, and a journalist confirms their forces are in the town centre. "We are in the centre of Brega," rebel fighter Abdelsalam al-Maadani told AFP by telephone.
"Gaddafi's forces are on the retreat and should now be at Al-Bisher (30km, 20 miles) west of Brega," he said.
Im so put-off with hypocrites that I dont want to see,read or hear another republican speak about anything - period.....
Another liberal off the deep end, muttering about "hypocrisy"
There is a fortune to be made , if someone had a pill for Liberal Derangement Syndrome..but, alas, there is no cure , other than a dose of common sense.
Education, Employment, and Ethics will be the death of the Republican Party
Loren McCullough
Im so put-off with hypocrites that I dont want to see,read or hear another republican speak about anything - period.....
LOL, I understand Loren they all are a bunch of lying hypocrites.
Gingrich said: criticized President Obama for not consulting closely enough with Congress.
The President did go to congress. Under the war powers act Congress had 48 hours to respond. So what did they discuss instead of a no-fly- zone?
That lying obstructive body of GOP/T-Baggers discussed:
a) Defunding Planned Parenthood
b)Curtailing Abortion Rights
c) Defunding NPR, d) Investigating American Muslims
e) Declaring English As America's Official Language
f) Reaffirming The "In God We Trust" Motto rather than work on a resolution.
Barbour: criticized President Obama for the health-care overhaul law and the administration's energy policy. He described the energy policy not as an "energy" one, but "an environmental policy." He said the policy is to "drive up the cost of energy, so people wont use it."
The Obama administration approved the first deepwater oil and gas exploration plan since the spill.
http://www.neworleans.com/news/local-news/567938.html
So Barbour is not thinking about the number of jobs the republicans created that so happens to zilch; which, by the way, was one of their mandates in midterms. We starting to get jobs back. Economist Mark Zandi from Moody’s (Zandi was in McCain's campaign) says if you eliminate HCR cost 700,000 jobs through 2012.
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/02/28/6154372-economist-predicts-gop-cuts-would-cost-700000-jobs
If some of those jobs are lost, so be it.
To me it's so funny to watch the hypocrites vacillate and do all kind of contortions trying to figure out a way to oppose President Obama. Essentially, what these hypocrites are doing is puling stuff out their collective @a$$es.
Hypocritical: Shouldn't the T -BAGGERS be protesting?? Wars cost money, lots of money, more even than NPR and Planned Parenthood!!!
Who is going to free us, the Americans held hostage by GOP/TP in the 112th Congress?
Where is the fright level? It's here and it started in Wisconsin. UNION BUSTING is solely responsible for this . Forward this post to Scott Walker. LoL it’s real.
Beverly,
Now that's a fine post...backed up by links to source information, rarely seen in right-wing post (because they would all reference foxnews.com). You Repubs better find some new blood, because the current crop of clowns, like Barbour and Newtie don't stand a chance of unseating this fine president we now have.
Romney might have made it, had he not been a Mormon, and therefore unable to glean the Religious Wrong's vote. Not to mention that his own health reform bill for his own state was used by the Obama administration as a model for what you Repubs love to call "Obamacare". Can't elect that guy!
We're all hoping for Sarah, or Christie the Witch, or perhaps Michelle TeaBachmann, or Sharon Angle, or Maybe Ron or Rand Paul to make it as the Republican nominee, and therefore eliminate any chance of a Republican victory in 2012. You guys really are in serious doo-doo!.
See what I mean about "new blood"?
Loren - republicans, democrats... pick your rhetoric
as voters, we need to choose our candidates (as always) and then hold them accountable. approval rating of these turkeys is so low it's freaky - no wonder we limp along like a bunch of weenies. these guys/gals don't run their own households like this, why do we put up with it? it appears that no one is in charge...
"Birds of a feather blow it out their A$$ together!"
Two losers that the liberal media would love to see in the 2012 race for POTUS as cannon fodder is always needed to feed the left wingers.
Is this the best the republicans can find? And are people really defending Gingrich?
These so-called social values, which are continually being parroted back to religious zealots by political wannabes, are tiring but, unfortunately, dangerous when spread among the less than thoughtful with promises of no taxes, more bibles and more guns. Our young people have ,rightly or wrongly (I vote for wrongly), been deployed around the world to fight religious extremism and hatred in any form. Meanwhile back here in the good old USA we still have religious extremists trying to equate their extreme sectarianism with good government when never the twain should be addressed in the same breath. Go to church, if you must, but keep out of governing. If you can't sell it through your church, quit trying to pawn it off on society as a whole.
The "WAR" in Libya was never intended to "Take out Khaddafy" (although I think it should)
NATO passed this resolution to end the bombing and shelling of cities full of innocent civilians immediately
The no fly zone is in place and secured, Not one American was killed or injured and NATO has assumed control
Hmmmmm,,,,,WELL DONE!!!!!
Gingrich talking about values and morality??? Hahahahahahahaha
Barbour talking economics?? Hahahahaha
"It's time for Gaddafi to go."
-President Obama, March 3rd, 2011-
This is what the President said about Hosni Mubarak as well. It is a diplomatically weighty term. It does not mean "We must kill" Ghadafi. It means "we no longer support Ghadafi" and will not stand in the way of people who seek to overthrow him.
In this case, kate, with the Tomahawk missiles flying, and President Obama's coalition attacking...
Maybe it meant more?
A pompous lying, philandering racist Vs. a down-home "good ol' boy" ignorant KKK racist?
Different styles indeed!
For one thing folks..the republicans never repudiated their position in not condemening the KKK at the 1964 convention. Sow e can say they are a party of hate-they just don't advertise it up front. And we can cite example after example-Ronnie reagan's campaign starting from where Cheney and Evers were killed witha cal to state rights-code words for segregation. We can cite the newly elected Governor of Alabama who says if you're not Christan you're "no tmy brothers and sisters"; indirect contrast to Christ who asked "who is my neighbor '-and pointed thatd espised Samaritan was better, and more to the point "Pray for your enemies, even the sinners pray for thier firends"
When a leading Republican candidate talks about "blood libles"- anti-semitic terminaoly used just after a Jewish Congresswoman has been shot-and is praised across the Republican establishment..Romney didn't disown the comment-Barbour didn't disown it-Tim Pawleny practically defended it. MIke Huckabee didn't demur. We didn't hear a peep out of Mitch Daniels-or Newt Gringich.
Gringich hislef is a leading example of this hate. He's called the Democrats "the party of murders". Not an individuall case-a whole party. Thisis guilty by assaication. As the Deniis case decided bythe US Supreme Court said-thisis wrong. Here's the thing:-Gringich is a hnisory professor-he's supposed to know this stuff. So we can safelysayhe's not up to snuff on his professional responsiblities.
If he can't fulfill those-why shoud he be President of anything.?
Try this one on for size;
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-barbour-mexico-20110324,0,3220592.story
Because I care too much for Newt and his current family I urge him not to run for the POTUS position, since in doing so might force him to cheat on his wife again. Perhaps after he makes up his mind whether the current POTUS was wrong then right and wrong again for doing anything about Libya. I don't know how anybody could take this guy serious. I would not trust him to help children cross the street in the morning, let alone be President of the United States.
Barbour and Gingrich have differing styles...
Barbour would like to go back to the good ole days and hang the negroes...
Newt would just like to watch.
OMG...you hit the nail on the head!
b dune, when you have nothing substantive to say you can always make up more fiction.
Different styles?
There is ONE style to sell to the right.
Complain, complain, complain.......Period.
We're all still waiting on those jobs bills the GOP promised.......waiting......waiting..........waiting.
Well maybe they will show up someday, in the mean time all a GOP candidate needs to do is bash the current pres and whoever bashes loudest will get the most attention.
You will see ZERO plan to fix any problem anywhere any time......Mark my words....Bashing-Yes...Plan-NO.
The only governments with "Job Bills" are Communist. You live in a free country that has a free market way of doing things. Stop looking at the government for everything and start using the blessings and opportunities that freedom brings.
The only white house either of these clowns will ever sit in is the one in their back yards with the crescent moon carved out of the door.
b dune
Nicely said!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha
I wonder if Barbour is concerned that American tax payers have to support his state to such a high degree.
At some point he will try to sell fiscal conservatism.....Anyone with a brain will point out that he is the Gov a welfare state that gets a lot of $$$$ from other states.
Maybe Barbour will explain why his state needs the rest of us to pay his bills.
Anyone think he will have an explanation?
Delegates are not going to throw their weight behind either of these guys. The nomination belongs to Tim Pawlenty.
Barbour's D-O-N-E...I can hear the sound of his presidential aspirations being flushed down the toidy from here:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2014596688_apusrepublicansiowa.html
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20110320/NEWS/103200343/Barbour-racks-up-travel-bill-10
http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2011/03/23/haley-barbour-flew-state-plane-to-deliver-cost-cutting-message-to-cpac-fox-news/#ixzz1HXwo4WUR
Do either of these 2 have a jobs bill?
I heard a lot of promises from the right.
Where is that jobs bill?
Is it about time to admit that the GOP has no freaking clue?????
I mean publicly.....Of course anyone with a brain knows the GOP has no fricken clue.....That fact is stamped all over the US economy fromthe previous time the GOP was in charge.
I'm just wondering when the right wing puppet masters will tell their pathetic sheep that they lied to them and really have no plan, no ideas and nothing to offer.
Newt does not want to be president, He is a pro at running for president. A job that brings in about 14 million dollars a year in donations from his supporters and he does spend it on himself. Barbour will become totaly distracted the next time the Duke boys drive by and he can't get a hold of Roscoe P Coltrain and ends up having to chase them himself in his Cadillac. The GOP has no real horse in the race yet.
The major problem is that the GOP cannot find a candidate that is qualified, honest, smart, and has a recognized following. Instead there will be so many mediocre and below GOP candidates running that Mr. Obama should have no difficulty. I certainly am not a great fan of Mr. Obama, but he has far and away more of the demonstrable qualities mentioned above than anything I have seen from the GOP herd. Just saying that you intend to be conservative, cut spending, reduce big government, etc., etc., -- means nothing, especially if your chain is being pulled by big money special interest groups and lobbyists, which is where most GOP candidates find themselves.
Historically about 28% of our UAW membership votes republican despite what appears in the news. This election season seems different. Everyone always knew that repubs hated labor, but were always unable to prove it with a smoking gun or * "Tah-Dah" * moment. That has changed.
Now when I confront my fellow teapublican Union voters about their party preference they kind of look at their shoes and appear embarassed. Before they would get back in my face, but now, after the events in Wisconsin and elsewhere the teapublican Union voters have lost confidence. Teapublicans have made their Union hatred VERY, VERY public, and VERY, VERY naked now. My fellow Union members are furious. They probably still won't vote for a Democrat, but I don't think we'll see them voting for a Republican either.
Teapublicans have lost the Union vote. Totally. And.......they have energized Democrats to a level not seen since the Obama election.
I think what comes out of the November election will astonish America.
Whose pulling Jeffrey Immelts chain ?
Please list his qualities for me.
He heads up GE.
I'm sorry. My statement above was for celeyon...................
......and yes,....where indeed are the jobs?!!
Greg in Detroit, the jobs are in China and that's where they're going to stay no matter who wins the presidency. No one is going to buck the corporations.
So they have different styles - they are both loosers
Losers mark, not loosers.