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Subscribe to RSSDES MOINES, IA -- Newt Gingrich unveiled an updated version of the "Contract with America” here this afternoon, looking for a repeat of his 1994 success when the original was credited for helping give Republicans a majority in the House and propelling him to the Speakership.
“The 21st Century Contract with America is big enough, it’s complete enough, and it gives people a sense of what it would take to truly fix what’s wrong with America,” Gingrich told NBC News in an interview following the release.
While not fully detailed, Gingrich said some of the legislative proposals in the 10-point plan include ideas aimed at repealing Obama’s health care law, creating jobs, balancing the federal budget, reducing the power of federal judges and enforcing the 10th amendment.
“The scale of change I am suggesting is so enormous that I couldn’t possibly show you as a single leader all I am going to do. This is a beginning of a conversation,” Gingrich told the crowd during the town hall style meeting.
There will be 4 parts to the plan that will be finalized by Sept. 27th of 2012, the 18th anniversary of the original contract: The legislative proposals, a “first day” in office project, a training program for transition teams, and the building of a system of citizen involvement. Many of the details in his 26-page document are still evolving, Gingrich pointed out.
The former Speaker remains a second-tier candidate in polls with the second quarter fundraising deadline looming tomorrow. The candidate refused to answer questions about how much money he has raised in the past three months.
Gingrich hopes this contract, unveiled in front of more than 300 employees at the Principal Financial Group, will allow for a focus on solution-based politics. He said that his ideas have always been more like those an outsider despite being part of the Washington establishment in the 1990s and America needs someone like him to be president.
“I think you have to ask yourself do you want somebody who has the experience and the knowledge of how Washington works in order to get it done. We just tried four years of inexperience,” Gingrich told NBC News.
A reception was held for Gingrich tonight at the Republican Party of Iowa headquarters. He remains in Iowa Friday with stops in Fort Dodge and Ames.
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Newt must have one hell of a belly button.
Must be naval gazing at a whole bunch of destroyers and submarines.
I think there is a section in the DSM-IV that describes the predilection.
Next reminds me of the Munchkin Mayor in Wizard of Oz.
Newt's problem is that he's a smart, but, self-absorbed narcissist.
We've got one of those in the White House already, and it isn't working.
Plan B, if you don't mind...
Romney/Rubio 2012.
Newt is a shining example of intelligent vs. smart.
The guy is a diamond, for what that's worth.
Hey, at least he specifies the 21st Century. As with Romney's plan, all the president has to do is present Newt's ideas to Teapublicans in congress and that will take care of that.
He could strap a saturn rocket to his ass and launch himself into space and it won't get him enough attention to get the republican nomination.
While wearing a Tiffany's diamond tiera he borrowed from Calista when she wan't looking! lol
Bring on the glitter bombs...
Hey kids look in the northern sky, it's the big gypper!
Newt could supply the fuel, Forrest.
And,
Yes he could Richard if he had a rocket that is fueled by ego, hot air and inflammatory babble?
He'll be crying himself to sleep tonight, on his huge pillow. For his great big HEED.
Stuart Mackenzie: Look at the size of that boy's heed.
Tony Giardino: Shhh!
Stuart Mackenzie: I'm not kidding, it's like an orange on a toothpick.
Tony Giardino: Shhh, you're going to give the boy a complex.
Stuart Mackenzie: Well, that's a huge noggin. That's a virtual planetoid.
Tony Giardino: Shh!
Stuart Mackenzie: Has it's own weather system.
Tony Giardino: Sh, sh, shh.
Stuart Mackenzie: HEAD! MOVE!
Newt Gingrich makes me angry. He's brilliant, able- and totally undisciplined. That kind of waste Infuriates me.
So, he won't be president- despite his brilliance. He will, however, be in the cabinet, if whoever gets the nomination is smart enough to appoint him- and keep him away from the Press.
Hey, guys? Think we could have an article on Obama tomorrow? Pick anything- the billions in tax dollars flying out the door this week- with no real due diligence on the companies receiving them. Fast and Furious. LightSquared. Obama's misunderstanding of the tax code- or arithmetic- given that he thinks he pays less than a teacher? Heck, I'll settle on a story on the intercontinental railroad.
If I were you, I'd go for Fast and Furious. Could be a shiny Pulitzer attached to that one.
Well that makes two people that think he is brilliant, you and him.
Keep them coming Forrest! Still laughing....
Pick Obama?
Why would First Read do that?
Can you give them a idea for a story they could do that might make him look good?
No way no how.
Say - he was all over getting his job bill passed, yet now it only about campaigning.
Huh. Reid buried his bill, ye Obama doesn't seem to care.
Why should he care, Spanky? There was $5 billion left in the last honeypot- and he's shoveling it out the door- now- before times out.
His donors may get the dough before they donate, but, hey, a little arm twisting is to be expected, after all.
Hope nobody gets their knees broken.
Newt's problem is that he's become personified mediocrity. There's something about his personality that doesn't ignite any fire. It's not that he's stupid, he's far from that... but he lacks that Obamaesque flair... He doesn't point his finger when he speaks, he doesn't open his mouth all the way when he orates and he doesn't use the phrase "let me make this perfectly clear."
If he were to adopt those cues, maybe he'd stand a chance.... but I really doubt that he will take on the current method of winning over crowds.
I think that most people just see through Newt.
Spanky we are talking about Newt why don't you just join in on the fun for a change, Newts a hell of a funny guy come on show those people skills, I want to hear you crack a joke once Spank, it is an important people skill and Newt is not a serious candidate so no harm will be done to your brand.
Reid is taking his time because there is no political hurry now that the Waterloo strategy is working better for Obama than McConnel and friends. Horrible isn't it, when people play politics with the welfare of the nation, you know unless it's your team then it is ok. Months ago you told me there is no hope we are all screwed, I hope you are not, but you might be right.
But Spanky - they always try to look good to the left... it's those of us on the right that see right through their BS. How many stories in a day do they post about the republican candidates, all the while knowing this is a left leaning blog. I think they get a kick out of reading the left's view of the right... snickering behind the scenes... well I can't say I don't snicker behind the scenes also... at some of the far out approaches the left take on simple issues. Makes for great entertainment mostly.
[Newt's problem is that he's become personified mediocrity.]
Ummm...brian...you might want to have a talk with Spanky on this one...he's got the lock on mediocrity...
Lets face it Brianb he has the head and the body langauge of Robbie the Robot.
Danger Will Republican!, Danger!, Danger Will Republican! Ha he is lost in space, they huge space between his ears.
no joe: Brilliant?
That's the word you describe to a man who caused thousands of innocent people to die. A war that cost billions of dollars? A cost they hid?
Brilliant? Wow.
Forrest - Personally I think Newt's doing this because he's bored with life. What else can he do that he has any interest in? He's along for the ride for as far as it will go. He sees the polls and has to know his chances are really low... considering the preppy boys at the top have captured the limelight.
My question is... who the hell would want the job anyway? It's not worth the perks or the pay. Most of the time.. some of the country loves you... but more oft than not more people hate you. Take a look at the last 2 presidents... a lot of hatred at both of them... Who needs that? Not me! Not interested in the least.
Pat, you off the deep end? What the heck are you talking about? Can't be Iraq- cause, Gingrich was not even in the House then.
So, what are you talking about? The Firat Gulf War?
I could do it Brian it is a lot like being a union rep!
Half the people think you are being too easy and the other half think you are being too hard, you can seldom make every body (labor and management) as happy as you would like too. Hell you can't even make all your own guys happy all the time. The only thing you can do is work hard for them both and try to be fair and honest in your dealings with all concerned.
Even if Newt was president there are no US coins big enough for a likeness of his head.
I think Obama wants this bill passed. Why wouldn't he want to try to create jobs?
He does Bluebird, he can't control the senate or the house, they have to do the legislating, and until and unless it is passed he is going to make republicans and some democratic legislators take their rightful share of ownership of the bad economy, and unemployment. Politically he is in good shape on this, if a good bill is passed it helps him, but strangely enough if a bill is not passed it probably helps him even more. All he can do is cheer-lead a plan he can't pass it into law. If they don't pass it for him they will be left holding the bag, not him. That is why this Congress is held in the lowest esteem ever recorded, people know how it works, they know the president does not pass the laws, they will know who to blame if nothing is done. However he does have to stay out front and fight hard for it.
'
Good lord, what is it with those contract signing republicans? I can already sum up Gingrich's plan. Less taxes on the rich and less regulations. Almost forgot cut education, all social programs for the poor end medicare and medicaid while continued cutting from social security to balance the budget.
Republicans don't know how to do what is right for our country but boy can they sign themselves some pledges and contracts.
[Good lord, what is it with those contract signing republicans?]
It makes you wonder just who is running the show...our elected representatives or some "think tank"?
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/28/perry-to-sign-conservative-limited-government-pledge/#more-178113
Maybe this is the question that should be asked of the GOP/Tea Party?
Here we go with the "inexperience" talking point again. Think Gingrich.
Think.
Who got us into the mess we find ourselves in? Inexperienced politicians and journalists?
No.
It was those with the most experience who ruined our country, with you at the front of the bus. NY Times. AM Radio. Cable. Years and years of experience brought us to where we are today.
American Prospect:
But think again before you tell your friends you’ve located one of those rumored “principled conservatives.” When it comes to the Iraq War, Gingrich has a long history of flipping, flopping, and then flipping again. As Alex Koppelman reported in Salon last year, “As a close advisor to the administration over the past six years, and an intimate of both Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Gingrich was a powerful advocate both for the idea of invading Iraq and for the botched way in which it was done.” A member of the influential Defense Policy Board, Gingrich helped draw up war plans at the Central Command for the Middle East in Tampa, Fla. And his Oct. 16, 2002 USA Today column about Iraq was titled, “Strike Sooner Than Later.”
__________________________________________________
And of course when things didn't work out, Newt was against the war. Wasn't everybody?
That's what "experienced" insiders gave us time and time again. Billions lost. Thousands dead.
The inexperienced guy:
"What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war. What I am opposed to is the cynical attempt by Richard Perles and Paul Wolfowitz and other arm-chair, weekend warriors in this Administration to shove their own ideological agendas down our throats, irrespective of the costs in lives lost and in hardships borne."
___________________________________
This is why the GOP despise President Obama. The "inexperienced" one was right. 100% right.
And now he's left cleaning up their mess.
And the ones who caused this mess, the experienced ones, will continue to blame the Democrat who nailed it.
That's leadership. It's called independent thinking. That's the gift President Obama has.
I was proud when he asked those students the other day to think independently. The younger generations need to learn that most people in this country don't think independently. And it's killing us.
Newt is a disgrace. Most experienced politicians are.
You left out the billions in taxpayer dollars to Obama big dollar donors.
Can't forget about that.
He sure did not.
There isn't a candidate running in the GOP who has a brain. Definately not enough of a brain to run this country. The republicans think if you have been Governor of a state that makes you some kind of leader? These republican gov's can't balance their budgets without stimulus. They are spending most of their time trying to think of ways to cheat in the general election. I hope it works for them. They can't win without it.
Great post Pat.
I think Obama knows what he pays in taxes. You obviously don't. Cut it out.
Let's see-
25.3% -11%= 14.3% more for Obama than a teacher earning $50,000 a year. Unless, of course, said teacher had Obama's same family.
Then, 25.3%-0%= 25.3% more for Obama than a teacher earning $50,000 a year.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/story/2011-09-28/factcheck-obama-teacher-tax/50589814/1?csp=obnetwork
So, is he lying- or just ignorant?
Oh, and be careful, Amy- Clara and Dennis are really, really hard on people with multiple accounts. Well, except for themselves, of course, and their treehouse buddies- so, never mind, you're probably safe.
Go home Newt its time. Your time has come. You can't fool us anymore.
Hasn't Newter gone home yet---someone show him the door Will Ya?
Yeah Newt, Mitt, Michelle, Herman (or as Sarah Palin calls him) Herb, Rick, and all the rest of you brainless twits. Go home! If you put all their brains in one person, you would have a piece of furniture.
A lazy boy decliner!
The only people who would likely fall for this crap from the GOP is the young and dumb. No newt contracts.
His idea will cost the working family less than Reid's or Pelosi's or Obama's, or wait ..Obama never had an idea, only an agenda for reelection using your money to fund it.
Well who's money are we going to use, we are not allowed to use any of the corporations, wall street, or the bailed out banks money, that would be unfair, that may deprive them of their multi-million dollar bonus checks our money was and continues to be used for.
Is he really still pretending to run for president?
“The scale of change I am suggesting is so enormous that I couldn’t possibly show you as a single leader all I am going to do. This is a beginning of a conversation,” Gingrich told the crowd during the town hall style meeting."
That sounds vaguely familiar somehow...
Newt's first "Contract On America" didn't work out so well... yet he struggles to remain relevant. Give it up already, Grinch.
Newt -- a has been politician roiling out a has been idea.
OK..Newt, Nice Grand Plan.
With all those cuts, did you forget the government revnues will take a dive?
Of course you did....he'll pass the balanced buget ammentment first and the first programs to be cut with be all social services cause the oligarchy dioesn't like them. See they don't like them cause it gives middle America options instead of being beholden to Corporations.
Mark My Words.
Any politician that says he's for a balanced budget ammendment and proposes radical solutions is about to abolish social services in this country.
Not On MY Watch Newt.
Newt with his "Contract"...Grover with his "Pledge".
Why not "WE THE PEOPLE"?