Last night on "NBC Nightly News," I incorrectly stated that, if elected, Newt Gingrich would be the first former speaker of the House to win the presidency. That, of course, is NOT true.
James Polk was House speaker for four years in the 1830s, then he became governor of Tennessee, and then was elected president in 1844. What got lost in my own head-to-mouth translation of what I was REALLY trying to convey: how hard it is for anyone to be elected president when their only PREVIOUS elected experience was in the House. A little history:
-- Nobody has won the presidency in over 125 years with the lone elected office experience being no higher than the U.S. House of Representatives. The last was James Garfield in 1880 and before that, Abraham Lincoln. In fact, Garfield and Lincoln are the ONLY two presidents who went from holding no office higher than the U.S. House to the highest office in the land.
-- Gingrich will be the first current or former speaker to seek the presidency since 1884, when James Blaine ran unsuccessfully.
-- Gingrich will be the FIFTH former Speaker to seek the presidency in the nation's history: Henry Clay ran three times unsuccessfully (1824, 1832 and 1844); John Bell ran once (1860); Blaine ran once (1884); and of course, Polk, who ran and won in 1844.


Why do you concern yourself with such trivial points, Chuck? Why don't you ask someone in power why there has never been allowed a subpoena empowered, security clearanced, witness protected, investigation into the mass murder that "Changed Everything", 9/11/2001?
It's called "Admitting your mistake". Have you ever heard of that Paul?
CHUCK made the SAME mistake of never asking, while on the air, anyone in power, "Why have we disallowed the investigation into 9/11/2001 to have subpoena,security clearance and witness protection, power?"
He's had Nine years to admit that mistake, and never brought it up.
"Of all the properties which belong to honorable men, not one is so highly prized as that of character."
Henry Clay quote
Exactly, Salt Grass...
As you correctly point out, character trumps many, many other personality flaws.
Thanks for the correction, Mr. Todd.
I disagree with you fairly often...
Hmmm...
Make that...VERY often.
However, I don't doubt your character for a moment.
Not one moment.
Everyone makes mistakes.
The usual suspects here at First Read are the "gold standard" for getting it all wrong.
And...
They NEVER acknowledge it.
Never.
Just for clarity I was using the quote as a comment about Newt. Newts metamorphose in three life stages. Aquatic, terrestrially and fully aquatic.
But, Salt Grass...
This offering was from Chuck Todd, a mea culpa intended to correct the record.
Pay attention.
I met Newt back in 73, but I have never met Chuck Todd, so I can not comment on Chuck Todd.
GRAMMAR ERROR!! "when there only PREVIOUS elected experience was in the House. A little history:"
No, Travis, it is correct as written above.
THEIR........possessive.
What about Bob Dole? He was just Senate Leader before running for the Presidency. Never mind, I just realized you meant Speakers who actually win. Reading comprehension not high today. Sorry.
Apples vs. Oranges... Speaker of the House vs. Senate Majority Leader. Two different animals.
Or maybe in our current case, the Orange part would be the current Speaker of the House.
the Orange part would be the current Speaker of the House
ha ha..and Dole would be the banana
I think Dole makes Pineapples
Great Idea for a follow-up to Dole's ED commercials: a talking banana hawking Viagra to treat ED. LOL
OK, the make bananas, pineapples, mandarin oranges etc. I guess they're all fruits.
$500 Geology.
Land of Fruits and Nuts.
Answer - What is Rubulicana
I'll take Newt's nutty ideas for $1000
California
Ok lets play the country is in jeopardy.
You selected Newt's nutty ideas for $1000
The answer is: Kenyan anti-colonialism
Oh I'm sorry the question is not WTF
The correct question is: What is Newt's way of saying the President is Black
American exceptional-ism
And Dole was in the Senate, not the House. My bad.
What if you are a lying, fat assed social misfit, how does that affect Newt's chances at the presidency.
Oh, well, everyone knows about James Polk. Can't believe you missed something so obvious.
Just kidding.
But maybe it says something generally about leadership positions in Congress -- either House -- and the Presidency. Once you've actually seen how the sausage is made, you're not so hungry anymore.
It's good to see a national correspondent own up to his mistake even if it is a trivial one the the pursuit of reporting.It shows the care and quatily of getting this right-and righting wrongs.
You'd never see Bill O'Reily do that. That's the MSNBC difference.
He doesn't care enough about his craft of journalism to ask the hard questions of those in power; like why no subpoena powered investigation into 9/11/2001.?
Arlin,
I believe he has corrected himself before.
Paul-Glad you still think 9/11 is an inside job. How many people believe you now?
James G Blaine was lableled "The continetasl liar fromthe state of Maine". This was because his role in the rialroad scandals of the 1870-and 1880's in building the trascontinental rail roasd..
We hope, Chuck Todd that you get the chance to Ask Newt Gringich if he thinks the federal law against polygamy should be repealed. In Newt's case it may apply.
James G Blaine...liar fromthe state of Maine...how appropriate our Governor's mansion is the Blaine House. (I don't mean that)
By Chuck Todd, NBC News Political Director
"Last night on "NBC Nightly News," I incorrectly stated that, if elected, Newt Gingrich would be the first former speaker of the House to win the presidency."
That's a pretty big IF there, Chuck. But thank you for the grin today. We needed that.
Newt's never even going to get nominated.............can we move on to a much bigger jounalistic error........the dereliction of duty in the non-investigation of 9/11/2001?
Everyday you "incorrectly state" that 9/11 was an Al Qaeda terrorist attack on America.
This has always been an unproven allegation.......why are you unwilling to demand the PROOF?
Geez Paul watching the video of Osama watching himself on video claiming his group did it is pretty good indication that maybe he was responsible? Just saying.
If you're as gullible as you indicate that you are, sure. But circumstantial, possibly manufactured, "evidence" doesn't come close to being proof of something.
You're gullible enough to believe that the man on the tape is Usama, that he is watching himself, and that you know what is being said in a language you don't understand...........brilliant.
Why has there been no subpoena empowered, security clearanced, witness protected, investigation into the mass murder of 9/11?
Why was the Keane/Zelikow Commission disallowed these powers?
There really is only one logical, rational, answer.
Paul if everyone was not out to get you, maybe you would not be so paranoid.
But doesn't their silence in response to my question speak volumes? They just can't address the reality of the lack of subpoena power in any "investigation" of Mass murder.
CHUCK TODD wouldn't dare to respond, he's not allowed to, by order of the news executives above him.
Paul, I'm not trying to be rude, but honestly it could be that they don't think it merits a response.
Humor me as to why any mass murder investigation of American civilians on American soil would not warrant the power of subpoena and witness protection.
And I do get lots of responses, just never a direct explanation of how this travesty of injustice could have taken place, when it is so easy to correct.
Forrest...........hello................that was kinda rude.
No one is perfect Chuck! It is always important to learn from your mistakes, and move on quickly. Thanks for pointing your historical mistake Chuck, however it is not a big worry for our nation right now. What the Government of Pakistan is now doing today is a very troubling issue. The Pakistan Government just sold out our intelligence services in their country. Read all about it America! The Pakistan Government just made another "two-faced" gesture of it's true hatred of the United States. The funding for Pakistan must be immediately terminated to the Government of Pakistan. Call or write your representatives in Congress America. I have!
If Newt is elected, be on alert for flying pigs.
So the Newt is running, and the pundits are out in full force today commenting on everything imaginable about he guy. I can't wait to hear him debate Barry the One-Trick-Pony.
And the Boner, as many refer to him, wants to reduce the size of government. Well, I'd like to see that happen. While reading the liberal newspaper today, an item caught my eye:
"The Government Accountability Office says that there are 82 Federal pr0ograms to improve teacher quality, 56 to help people understanding finances, and 20 to aid the homeless. Wow, I wish they would say just how many departments or agencies are involved in these numbers. but why the redundency? Couldn't all of these be merged into one group to eliminate the waste to administer these programs? And spending money to increase the size of government to benefit people is good and necessary? I think not.
The Progressives want us to spend, spend, spend to help the unfortunate, spend our way out of the recession and to increase taxes to spend more. Really? Has anyone yet challenged the massive government bureauracy to determine what can be cut, eliminated, or merged to manage more efficiently? No, and probably won't.......just spend seems to be the focus of those elitist legislators.
People make mistakes Chuck. Don't let something that trivial ruin your day!
Hey Chuck-I almost forgot...who are you going to get to replace Samantha Guthrie when she goes to the Today Show next month? I don't think she can stay with the 'Rundown' AND do TODAY, can she?
Take it easy!
OH MY GOD!! SAVANNAH GUTHRIE is going to kill me....Ive been watching Savannah for so long, that I can't believe I called her Samantha! Forgive me!!!! WOW! How did THAT happen?
it doesn't matter anymore when Chuck said Sarah Palin would be a great President that ended his view or comments for me. When he started he was given the benefit he was new and going to make mistakes. But after so many Press Conferences hearing the President have to educate Chuck then answer his question it got boring. Chuck feel in the trap of being to opinionated and without being an insider he has no resources to give information. The polls are funny as the numbers don't represent America. Without Brian Williams, NBC would go the way of ABC and CBS. Viewer no longer trust some journalist as they have been reporting political views and not being fair/balanced. Remember the pride Chuck had in announcing how the GOP would bring Obama a lame duck secession but wow Obama came out a big winner.
Well, if he doesnt win, he can always apply for a job at GEICO as an understudy! Maybe he should do that now, just in case.......
This Morning on Chuck Todd's Daily Rundown Show on MSNBC I watched an Interview with 2 individuals on Food Crisis coming and they blame it on Developed nations and Commodities Speculators and how inequality is the Cause , not Shortage of Supply overall , and this is how they will use the debate to push emotions of some voters to rally for Government Control OVER EVERY FREEDOM and FREE MARKET we the People have , watch Out !!!!!
We need to sustain the level of Equality in the Developed nations AND at the SAME TIME Raise the Level of Equality for the Undeveloped nations , thats How peace is Found . But to raise the Equality up to where it is in Developed Nations is where the Environmentalists are Saying NO WAY that EARTH cannot sustain the Level of Human Needs and Equality at developed nations levels of Consumerism , and this is where the debate needs to be forced into the Public Light , because people need it understand what it is that these Globalists and Internationalists elites are really wanting to see happen with the Rise of the New World Order and how that Controlling arm of World Societies will Take the level of Quality of Life in the developed nations and Redistribute it to the Undeveloped nations and this is Nothing but a Ploy to gain emotional Political Control over everything essential in Sustaining the level of Quality we have in the Life we have today !!! This is NOT an Advancement in Quality of life , but only a Bolshevism era of Equality that in the END only the elite have the privilege of the real Quality of Life we all try to provide in EXPANDING the SUPPLY of RESOURCES that MAKE LIFE GOOD and PLENTY !!!! But those Environmentalists are Marxists today and are standing in the way of Equality being advanced in Expanding the Supply that drives down inflation costs on Food and Vital Human Needs , so Hey Chuck Todd Can you do a Show with Guest Who will talk about advancing Supply of Food and other resources that can then be enjoyed by those in Undeveloped nations and lift their lack of quality of Life up by their own self reliant efforts of advancing their way of Life so they can Join the ranks of the DEVELOPED NATIONS and show those Environmentalists that they Can take care of themselves and that they don't need to Take from the developed nations quality of Life Adequate supply as the ONLY way to raise their lack of Quality ?? Chuck Todd you need to be fair in your Show and how you display the idea about how we work to Accomplish Peace through prosperity in supplying our NEEDS Sir , don't play the Communist card here it never works only in Controlling Peoples Life , so is that what you Subscribe too Sir ???
THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET. IF YOU WHO ARE "UP" THERE CAN GET IT PUBLICIZED, YOU COULD DO A LOT OF GOOD FOR OUR COUNTRY. cpc.grijalva.house.gov/files/The_CPC_FY2012_Budget.pdf Need to type http:// in front of link. I needed to type the http;// last, so that this connection won't get stopped. Please see the budget.