Further evidence that Newt Gingrich is a bit too fond of his internal idea factory?
“We’ll basically have a national, electronic convention.
I can imagine a circumstance, for example, where they suspended the keynote address on the first night and actually had a presidential debate in front of the delegates of the candidates.”
Video at the link. This is an idea that can only serve Newt Gingrich, at the likely expense of every other candidate and the GOP itself.
Imagine, if you will, a debate at the convention that results in a “win” for the man who is currently running in third or fourth place in most of the actual votes, because he is a fabulous debater but a terrible campaign manager and has no path to victory via the route already established. Further imagine, that the debate produces a crate full of unhelpful soundbites, as the moment is such a last-gasp chance for all the candidates that three of them take risks to score a win at the campaign’s buzzer while the man in the delegate lead does the sensible thing and tries to run out the clock . The image left would be of three Republicans candidates ganging up on the Republican nominee and pointing out all of his flaws, as he heads out of the convention and into the general. The convention that was supposed to unify the party, instead deeply divides it.
It’s a stupid idea, is what I’m saying. Very stupid. It’s time for Newt to hang it up and go back to being a Beltway bandit.
Not just no, hell no. What purpose would it serve? Even with a brokered convention Newt is not going to get the nomination. This is just an opportunity for him to grandstand.
I always picture Newt standing in front of the bathroom mirror practicing his speechifying to see exactly what exaggerated hand movements look best.
I used to have a mynah bird that talked. Of course, that doesnt mean he had anything to say when he talked but he sure could make a lot of noise that sure sounded like words when he did. The first time you heard it talk, you were amazed to hear a bird talk but after awhile, it was just a noisy bird.
Because we’d be better off just listening to the tv ads that the candidates run?
If this goes to a contested convention, would you rather just hear the candidates give their standard stump speeches, or would you rather them challenge each other in a debate?
If your candidate can’t handle Gingrich in a debate at the convention, how’s he going to handle debating Obama?
True that, but first we need Mitt to get to Tampa with 1143 or fewer delegates.
My candidate has debated Gingrich, several times and the verdict by the voters has been made, Romney won. All that pretty speechifying doesn’t seem to have helped Gingrich at all since Romney has gathered more votes and delegates than all the other folks running – combined.
If Gingrich cant beat Romney(and even Gingrich says that he cant win), how cant he beat Obama?
It was a nice race kids, but you lost. Move on.
Uh, no, actually its not over till its over …. I think this is a fine idea.
One of the candidates needs to close the deal with a majority of the voters or
all the campaigning will go nowhere. And by the way, what’s wrong with ideas anyway.
I’d rather have someone who is not afraid to speak his mind.
Conformity is for insects. Ideological purity or disgrace is the credo of our opponents.
Full disclosure: I am not a Newt partisan either, of the remaining cadidates standing
my favorite is None of the Above, though I will vote for the eventual nominee regardless.
As an official Honkey for Herman I’ll hold my nose and vote for the GOP candidate this time around. But, ya know? My nose is getting mighty %($$!&^ sore.
I’m about ready for the my turn party to go the way of the Whigs if Dole, McCain and Romney are the best they’re able to do.
The Marxo-Fascist party appears to know no limits in what they’re willing to do or say to win and it’s an open secret that the alphabet media is nothing more than their propaganda arm. Fourth estate my dying @$$.
All the GOP candidates need to have a come to Jesus moment at the convention and do whatever they can to ensure that whoever is nominated gets their best efforts to help the nominee’s election. This election is too important to get in a snit and leave the nominee to go it alone.
If it isn’t close, they can’t cheat. And you can bet your @$$ they’re gonna cheat, and cheat big.