Despite his “baggage” that has been listed and discussed ad nauseum, despite his personal failings and bad political decisions, I decided shortly before Jan. 21 that I’m with Newt. It was a late decision, but I got there, finally. I studied all of the candidates carefully —-well, I paid scant attention to Ron Paul — read every page of their web site content, watched every (and I mean every) debate. My wife likes to chide me for being slow on the uptake since she “got there”with Newt several months ago. Yes Dear, I know.
There are many things that helped me decide that Newt’s what America needs. High (but not highest) on my list is that he possesses a genuine set of Cojones. Cojones is a Spanish word that, when loosely translated to English, means courage, brazenness, “nerve”, “guts”, etc.” More literal translations abound, but we needn’t go there.
"Newt calls it as he sees it"
That’s Newt. He calls it as he sees it. He’s no fan of political correctness, willingly takes political risks to produce a desired result, and has no fear of the elite media despite the fact that they’ll try to crucify him at every opportunity. I like that. Newt’s personal challenge will be to manage his sometimes combative style, but I think he’s mature enough that he can and will do that. After all, he’s a grandpa now. I can attest that being a grandparent has a rather calming effect —- especially after the parents have taken the kids back home.
Cojones is a trait that’s been missing from too many Republican “leaders” for way too long. Cojones especially seem to shrivel up when a Republican becomes a Congressional majority or minority leader, and when one of them takes up residence in the White House. The sudden onset of CDS (Cojones Deficiency Syndrome) seems to defy the laws of medicine and physiology but that’s exactly what we’ve witnessed in the last 12 years. It’s almost predictable.
Dubya
Bush43 had Cojones when it came to responding to 9/11 and dealing with national security, but in other areas he folded under withering attacks by his political enemies in the media and the government. So much for his “new tone” he wanted to bring to Washington DC. Example: He had a good idea on “privatizing” (probably a bad choice of labels) Social Security and dropped it like a rotten tomato when he let screams from the left reset his agenda. It drove me nuts that Bush would never take these people head on, but let them criticize him mercilessly at every decision he made. And he never, ever responded. No conservative, he cozied up to Congressional liberals and got Medicare Part D and No Child Left Behind passed, and allowed government to grow at an alarming pace. He signed most every bill that hit his desk (with a handful of exceptions) and shares blame for the financial mess that emerged at the end of his second term. (Yes, Obama owns it now, but of course he’ll continue to blame Bush.)
Hastert
Consider Newt’s successor to the House Speakership in 1999, Dennis (or more affectionately, “Dennie”) Hastert. Speaker Hastert was a nice guy but that’s as far as it went. He held the office for all 8 years of the Bush 43 presidency, and stepped aside after the Democrats and Nancy took over in 2007. He never rocked the boat and never got anything useful done, certainly nothing that conservatives would cheer about.
Boehner
John Boehner is a little more effective than Hastert but leaves much to be desired, in my opinion. He needs to listen more to the Tea Party coalition of newer representatives. He prefers to play it safe and has walked away from many a confrontation with the President that he might or could have won.
Lott
It hasn’t been any better on the Senate side. Trent Lott was Republican leader from 1996 to 2003 and had a majority for most of the period. He had good hair, a nice smile and let Democrats walk all over him. Bill Frist, a fine cardiothoracic surgeon in addition to his Senate service, was Republican majority leader from 2003-2007. Nice man, telegenic, mostly ineffective, and certainly not one to call out liberal “colleagues” for what they stood for. Now, Mitch McConnell is our minority leader, and, sadly, will likely be majority leader when Republicans take back the Senate. I can hardly wait for Harry Reid, the liberal weasel majority leader to fold under pressure from this powerful man, Mitch.
McConnell
Got Cojones??
The problem with Congressional leadership, as I see it, is that the members pick their own leaders mostly —- certainly not exclusively — by seniority. “Joe’s been here a long time and he’s a good guy, so it’s his turn.” Naturally they won’t get the most effective person — one with strong conservative principles and an unwavering commitment to these ideals —- into a leadership position by behaving like they’re in a trade union.
It isn’t likely that Republican House and Senate members will ever change their archaic rules of leadership selection anytime soon. But having a President that has unique ideas, exudes confidence and optimism, will tell it like it is, isn’t afraid to lead, and won’t take crap from the left, especially the arrogant and lying media, will go a long way toward putting America back on the track to freedom and prosperity.
I’m with you Newt, you can count on my help!
I’m for ABO (Anybody but Obama); but, my choice would not be Newt for a number of reasons already displayed on a number of blog sites. Being a good debater will not endear him to the mush heads (generation Y,Z) who vote based on physical attributes such as age, weight, and physical appeal. After McCain lost, many surveys of this generation of American Idol drones found one common theme that turned them off: AGE-He is too old…………………..
I doubt their views have changed. Both Newt and Romney are RINO’s–let’s face it…..but Newt looks like he is 200 years older that Romney–in fact Newt is only 4 years older………….just my opinion….
@Terry it’s disappointing that you believe Gens Y & Z are only interested in superficials. Polling has already shown that to be untrue with regard to Newt’s supporters. Don’t underestimate those generations – their future is very much at stake and they like the guy with the cojones to lead the fight.