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COLUMNISTS
TODAY'S STORIES
07.10.2008
Window of Opportunity?

Newt Gingrich, never shy about offering unsolicited advice, explains how John McCain can win the election:

The Paulson bailout was initially bad and made worse by the Congressional Democrats.... 

Senator McCain now faces the crisis of his career. He is behind. He will not catch up on a state-by-state basis..

If Senator McCain is not prepared to separate himself from the Bush-Paulson economic program, he has no opportunity to win. The country is deeply fed up with the Bush presidency and angry about the Paulson bailout. If McCain is confused or uncertain about how bad this economic performance is, he will never get the country to listen to him.

Because nothing would put to rest concerns that McCain is impetuous and erratic like turning on the bill he said was necessary to avert economic catastrophe and which he "suspended" his campaign to help pass. And, anyway, if that doesn't work, he'll still have three weeks to come up with another idea and Newt, as usual, has a million. (Maybe shut down the government?)

The whole piece is worth reading as example number eleven thousand of Newt's giddy brainstorming and magnificent self-regard. He humbly concludes:

 As for myself, I know of no other path that will work.

I'm confident he'll come up with one.

--Christopher Orr

Posted: Tuesday, October 07, 2008 4:27 PM with 7 comment(s)

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WoodyBombay said:

Given that McCain gamed the campaign finance system after making his name on campaign finance reform, and then completely flipped on his very own immigration legislation, I could completely see him, straight-faced, campaign against the bailout he voted for and Heroically Pushed Through Congress Despite Being Beset On All Sides By Pork and Partisanship.

October 7, 2008 4:41 PM

Wasatcher said:

Or they could start a registration drive among republican leaning elves in Ohio and mermaids in Florida.

October 7, 2008 4:58 PM

ramboorider said:

Newt fancies himself the Republican nominee in 2012. He wants McCain to win about as much as Hillary wants Obama to win.

October 7, 2008 5:04 PM

GSpinks said:

"campaign against the bailout he voted for and Heroically Pushed Through Congress Despite Being Beset On All Sides By Pork and Partisanship."

didn't that bill already get voted down, anyway? McCain, economic maven that he is, will answer every economic question by explaining how people's problems were actually caused by Obama eating children, and that we need to vote for him to put a stop to this practice.

October 7, 2008 5:11 PM

propositionjoe said:

Why does anyone listen to this guy? He co-writes some interesting fantasy books-- and I include the Contract with America in this literary category--but is a terrible leader. In power, he was such a disaster that his own party--including the people he had assiduously cultivated--rejected him. Good luck painting that as a positive, and I wish him well in his coming forum with Rick Warren, because this guy has more sins to account for than any imaginable Republican candidate. If he were to receive the Republican nomination in 2012 (which is not even fathomable), it would the grandest gift the manitous ever gave a Democrat. This guy thinks hubris is a virtue; moreover, you want to talk about erratic? It's Newt.

October 7, 2008 5:20 PM

Rhubarbs said:

McCain, prior to mid-September: What are you talking about? The economy is just fine. In fact, what we need is even less regulation.

McCain, mid-September: Good God, the economy is about to collapse! Stop everything and pass the bailout bill! More regulation now! [Votes for bailout bill.]

McCain, under the Newt plan for October: Holy hell, that bailout bill was a disaster that must be stopped, and as your president I will stop it.

I'm just not convinced that coming out against a bill you just voted for after saying that the survival of the republic depended on its passage will be, um, reassuring to voters. But hey, I'd be perfectly happy if I tune in tonight to hear McCain dissing the bailout bill just days after voting for it.

October 7, 2008 6:02 PM

blackton said:

I remember Newt swearing on Fox that there was no way whatsoever that McCain would show for the first debate, that Obama would look the fool standing there.

I have to admit, as terrible as it sounds, I will be happy when Newt departs this world, doubtless on top of some teengage hooker.

October 7, 2008 6:20 PM