More Newt: Until He Recants the UnAmerican Talk, He Hasn't 'Converted'

So let's get back to Newt.  Let me never doubt the wisdom of MyDDers again; you guys came up with great Newt quotes.  


ChgoSteve is the hands down winner.  

New York Times (10/12/01):
On September 19-20 the Defense Policy Board met for 19 hours to discuss the ramifications of the attacks of September 11. The group agreed on the need to turn on Iraq as soon as the initial phase of the war against Afghanistan was over. The group included deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, and former high-ranking officials such as William Bennett, Jeanne Kirkpatrick, Newt Gingrich, and Richard Perle. Gingrich declared that the U. S. needed a major geopolitical victory in response to the attacks. "Bombing a few caves in Afghanistan" wasn't going to do it, he said, but overthrowing Iraq's government would.

"If we don't use this as the moment to replace Saddam after we replace the Taliban, we are setting the stage for disaster," Gingrich said in an interview.

Washington Post (3/9/03):
"I think history will record that a remarkably strong president happened to be in office at a juncture where weapons of mass destruction and terrorism rewrote all the rules of engagement in international relations," Gingrich said. "It will record that the president moved beyond old institutions and developed a new set of alliances."

NPR, Tavis Smiley interview (September 2004):
"If you think Saddam Hussein having killed 300,000 Iraqis is in fact a dangerous guy and it's better to have him in jail, then whether we do it brilliantly or just do it, George W. Bush essentially was right."

Redstar66 had a nice catch:

My favorite? Back when he was giving speeches to the AIE during the drumbeat, saying there were people in Colin Powell's State Department we were "appeasing dictators and propping up corrupt regimes."

ChcgoSteve:

AFP (4/21/2003):

In a speech to the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute, Gingrich slammed the State Department for "ineffective and incoherent" diplomacy in the lead up to the war and turning the world, including allies in Europe, Turkey and South Korea, against US efforts to topple Saddam Hussein.

Arianna thinks we should let bygones be bygones.  

Think Progress gathered a "gotcha!" collection of Gingrich's greatest pro-war quotes. And Jane Hamsher opened up with both barrels:

"Newt should not be allowed to assume the status of visionary hero for seeing the light. Newt is a guilty fucker with blood on his hands and no amount of apostasy is going to wash that off... No. Fucking. Prisoners. We had to live through this war because nobody put a stake through the heart of Cheney, Rumsfeld, Gingrich, etc. the first time around...Every one of those bastards must be made to wear this war, the war of their own making, around their necks..."

But while I absolutely understand and share their anger, and adore the passion (indeed, I called Jane this morning and told her so), I have to ask if this is really the way we want to respond to pro-war people who change their position?

Isn't the whole goal of those of us fighting to put an end to this immoral, outrageous, and tragic war to get as many war supporters as possible to join the chorus of voices calling for a pull out from Iraq?

Well, no.  From the brilliant JSW in the comments: "The Gingrichs and all the other hawks were busy calling the rest of us objectively pro-Saddam and objectively pro-terror, and have never recanted any of that.  They've just changed their tune as it becomes clear that wishful thinking and lies was not a strategy.

And they'll still call us un-American traitors if we disagree on anything else.  So I see no reason to be kind or welcoming.  This is pure calculating cowardice on the part of the people who built the modern Republican Party (complete with its utter disdain for truth or accountability) and were complicit in an extraordinary crime against the American and Iraqi people.

Giving them a pass now just allows them to stuff all of their past behavior down the Memory Hole, as they move on to the next crime.  Sorry, but no -- I've had my fill of recycled Team B members and Nixon/Reagan criminals."

Update: Jane has more.


Display:


Can we be getting on with something worthwhile? (none / 0)

The Gingrichs and all the other hawks were busy calling the rest of us objectively pro-Saddam and objectively pro-terror, and have never recanted any of that.  They've just changed their tune as it becomes clear that wishful thinking and lies was not a strategy.

And they'll still call us un-American traitors if we disagree on anything else.  So I see no reason to be kind or welcoming.  This is pure calculating cowardice on the part of the people who built the modern Republican Party (complete with its utter disdain for truth or accountability) and were complicit in an extraordinary crime against the American and Iraqi people.

Giving them a pass now just allows them to stuff all of their past behavior down the Memory Hole, as they move on to the next crime.  Sorry, but no -- I've had my fill of recycled Team B members and Nixon/Reagan criminals.


I don't follow.

What does the guy expect from recycled Team B members and Nixon/Reagan criminals - the Marquess of Queensbury's rules?

These are not folks who vie for the respect of lefty bloggers - not in the invasion buildup, not now.

Why huff about it?

(And, as for I see no reason to be kind or welcoming - I must have missed the memo suggesting we should be. What did it suggest: a make-up weenie roast or something?)

I think we identified a long while ago that Gingrich, Bush  - the whole lot of them - are devoted to by any means necessary - being snippy with lefties is hardly of any significance compared with other blights which they've inflicted on the world!

If this is intended as a glorified circle jerk - well, that can be fun. (I've read somewhere.)

But aren't there more pressing matters to concern us?

Like the sheaf of awful bills that Frist and Boehner are going to be trying to shove through come April 24, for instance?


by skeptic06 on Wed Apr 12, 2006 at 07:55:58 PM EST

Examples of those awful bills... (none / 0)

Take S 1955, for instance - a giveaway to the insurance boys at the expense of patients (another one); and HR 8, the 'death tax' repeal bill, also up.


by skeptic06 on Wed Apr 12, 2006 at 08:07:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Examples of those awful bills... (none / 0)

Don't forget, also the anti-lobbying bill. Its provision that anonymous riders  - the bane of our entire american institution - was to be removed - a provision that holds the promise of making all legislation and bills simple enough to read on a web  site - the "no more 10,000 page " provision -

A republican from Harry Reid's own state of Nevada - used an anonymous rider - to weaken  and remove that provision inthe anti lobbying bill.

The way that we're dealing with the real issues is pitiful. There is alot of bufoonery about the war, but the truth of it all is, even if Newt is pure evil incarnate it won't matter if your focus is to have him 'fess up. He won't do it.

To win against Newt, you have to completely destroy him - give him a mirror image of the attack he would launch on anyone else. Make the party stand for something so completely compelling and recruit someone who wants to really take newt down, then trap him on the Lehrer news hour and just cut him down to size. Do this over and over again, and Newt will finally play ball. As it stands, Newt simply ignores the democrats. He is flip-flopping worse than anyone here you've ever seen  - and the distraction serves everyone who would continue to destroy america.


by turnerbroadcasting on Thu Apr 13, 2006 at 07:42:17 AM EST
[ Parent ]

It's pure politics (none / 0)

After my posting of those Gingrich quotes, I learned more about Newt's new position on Iraq and I don't think anything in the quotes contradicts it.
He hasn't said overthrowing Hussein was the wrong decision, but that the occupation was.  But this is full of logical problems.
He apparently thinks we had accomplished the task of overthrowing the Iraqi government by June 2003 and should have gotten out then.  Well, that's no way to create a democracy, and he's betraying what was, supposedly, his primary concern.
Saddam wasn't captured until 6 months later.

So his current position is as illogical as his old one was wrong.  And new Newt is, unfortunately, same old Newt.  It's all about politics:

8/5/2005: "There is more energy today on the anti-Iraq, anti-gas price, anti-changing Social Security, and I think anti-Washington (side of the debate). I think the combination of those four are all redounding to weaken Republicans and help Democrats... I don't think this is time to panic, but I think it's time to think." http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat?p id=10532

Newt has few principles and an uncanny knack for sensing the political winds.  If he thinks continued occupation is a mistake, no Democrat anywhere should hesitate to say the exact same thing.


by ChgoSteve on Wed Apr 12, 2006 at 08:18:26 PM EST

Re: It's pure politics (none / 0)

I recall that former speaker of the House, Gingrich - said that Paul Bremmer was the problem in Iraq. During the election cycle of 2004, on Tavis Smiley - he said that Paul Bremmer (sp?) made serious errors in the reconstruction and rule of Iraq.

He was very clearly stating on this program as well , a clear path of support for Bush.

Bush's position about the war, and Gingrich's - are now completely opposed. Unless bush is going to flip-flop as bad as  Gingrich - in the near term. Gingrich hangs out alot with people who pay Bush's bills - who knows..


by turnerbroadcasting on Thu Apr 13, 2006 at 07:45:03 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Arianna's not an unbiased source (none / 0)

in re Newt Gingrich.

She may be blogging on the side of the angels now, but back when she was married to her congressional candidate, she cultivated him to a farethewell.


Before you win, you have to fight. Come fight along with us at TexasKaos.
by boadicea on Wed Apr 12, 2006 at 11:36:48 PM EST


You are not logged in.

In order to post a comment, you must be logged in. If you have a member account, please log in to comment.

If not, you can make an account right here. It's quick and free.