Gingrich says Palin will not be the future GOP leader

[Amerigo Vespucci]

By Alexander Bolton
Posted: 11/16/08 01:05 PM

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/gingrich-says-palin-will-not-be-the-future-gop-leader-2008-11-16.html

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) is batting down the hype that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin heads into 2012 as the frontrunner for the GOP presidential nomination.

Palin energized the Republican base after GOP presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) tapped her as his running mate and she has tried to preserve her high public profile since Election Day.

But Gingrich, an architect of the Republican revolution of 1994, took Palin down a notch, asserting that she would not become the party’s leader, as some have predicted.

“I think that she is going to be a significant player,” said Gingrich during an interview on CBS’s “Face the Nation”. “But she’s going to be one of 20 or 30 significant players. She’s not going to be the de facto leader.”

Since the defeat of the GOP ticket, Palin has pursued an aggressive media strategy, scheduling a full slate of interviews to keep her face on television.

CNN aired a lengthy, wide-ranging interview between Wolf Blitzer and Palin on Sunday. Palin has also sat down for interviews with CNN’s Larry King, Fox New’s Greta Van Susteren, and invited Matt Lauer of the “Today Show” to Wasilla for dinner.

Palin refused to rule out a presidential bid in 2012 during her interview with Blitzer, which aired on CNN’s “Late Edition.”

Some political analysts, citing her high name identification and loyal following among the base, say that Palin will be a frontrunner for the GOP nomination in 2012.

Palin dominated media coverage at the Republican Governors Association meeting in Miami last week. She grabbed the spotlight at a Thursday press conference, answering reporters’ questions while a dozen other GOP governors stood awkwardly behind her on stage.

Crowds of reporters and cameras chased Palin in Miami while ignoring more experienced colleagues from other states.

But Gingrich on Sunday sought to divert some media attention away from Palin and to other governors such as Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) and Utah Gov. John Huntsman (R).

“She’s going to be a much bigger story in the short run,” said Gingrich, explaining Palin’s higher media profile compared to other GOP governors. “But, I think, as she goes back to being governor and as she works in Alaska, you’re going to see a group of governors emerge, not just Sarah Palin.”

[rocktivity]

1. This coming from a PAST GOP leader?

Take the hint, Sarah--it TAKES a failed GOP leader to know one!
:rofl:
rocknation

[MichiganVote]

2. Shafly II, that will be her future.

[babylonsister]

3. That's because he wants the job, again. nt

[Amerigo Vespucci]

8. He was one of the first sharks to circle as soon as the first drops of Palin blood hit the water

The word "transparent" comes to mind when reading Newt's musings.

[babylonsister]

11. He was around and being interviewed before Palin: why, I can't fathom. nt

[Ozma]

4. Newt has a brain, and can see how shallow she is... while Palin

has a newt in her head instead of a brain.

[BrklynLiberal]

5. I guess Newt and Pat Buchanan will have to arm wrestle to decide this..

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Vogon_Glory]

6. She's Got A Better Chance Than You Do, Newt

Scary Sary has a far better chance of becoming the Republican presidential nominee in 2012 than does Newt. The RR's didn't really come out for McCain this election, even with Palin on the ticket. I'll bet that they WILL come out for Palin in the 2012 primaries and that the right-wing economic conservatives will just have to accept that the Religious Right has eclipsed them in strength and numbers.

Now whether a Religious Right Republican nominee can get a majority of voters to elect him or her to the Presidency is another matter altogether.

[Raschel]

7. According to right wingers I guess this means Newt is jealous of her looks or sex life.

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. Heh. Betcha that's news to her, doggone it!

[Gold Metal Flake]

10. Ooh! CATFIGHT!

Meow.

Who will tell the Freepers?

[Juche]

12. Get back in your boxes, wingnuts

That is what he's really saying. The wingnuts are supposed to come out and vote every 2 years and then go back home and shut up while the business community actually runs the GOP. Vote because Obama 'pals around with terrorists', get a corporate tax cut. Vote small town values, get the elimination of the estate tax. etc

I assume/predict Gingrich is pushing for a business leader for the GOP with Palin there to excite the wingnut base.

[vixengrl]

13. Sarah, beware the "Eye of Newt."

I think this has to be because post-GOP Governors' Assoc. meeting, it became clear that there were a few more, shall we say, credible people in the running? Jindal I think will be somebody--and while we're at it, take a look at his health-care/Medicaid reform proposals for La. He's young, smart, Christian (if the Repubs still want to bring faith into the mix), and shows the potential for GOP diversity appeal. Not my cup of tea, but not a bad bet for the GOP.

Gov. Pawlenty made some points against the McCain "gimmickry", talking about how Joe the Plumber and "drill, baby, drill" can't take the place of actual policies. He sounded like a grown-up, and the Republican party could use more of them. I reckon he may still be sore because he, like Romney (who I anticipate we will hear from again)felt a little jerked around by the McCain VP vetting process.

The writing is on the wall for the DeMint/Pence/talk-radio airheads' idea of building the party around being even more socially conservative, because it seems that, at least going by this election, people were more inclined to vote bread'n'butter issues. Gingrich is probably taking an accurate pulse-reading in backing away from Palin--substance isn't really her strong suit. But the question being begged here is, as one might have said, ahem, 20 years ago:

"Where's the beef?"

It won't be enough for them to try to rebuild to be more inclusive of moderates (the Christie Whitman angle) and play down the more racist/religious-fundamentalist/intellectual-chicanery aspects of their party--shoot, they'd have nothing left! And also, demographics will totally beat them--look at the map--we've got more racial diversity, and the population they've been winning with is getting older. What they would need is charisma (Palin has a limited form of it, but it really doesn't "play" with smart people), brains, policies that actually respond to the voters' needs, and an historic movement they can capitalize on. They may want to go more libertarian, and follow the Paul-heads, you asked me. Not entirely a typical coalition, but they'd get a range of militia-folk and pseudo-intellectuals in the big-to-medium-sized tent they want to build.

But as it is, I think they'll be spending some time in the wilderness before they get back up. They don't need another hero to get a life beyond the Thunderdome for Chiclet-heads that their party has become. They need to get reality-based.

(I try to look at the Republican Party objectively. You know. Like an Eagles fan might look at the Cowboys' line-up. To see how the game will go.)

[camera obscura]

14. My gosh, Newt, your day was fifteen years ago...

give it up, man! What's next? Paula Jones runs for Congress? Ken Starr writes a sequel? Bob Barr attempts to run for... oh, wait.

[mollymongold]

15. Thats because Newt wants to run in 2012. But I somewhat agree with that bc she will rely only on

her being her and won't put any effort into Iowa and will lose. And she will almost certainly lose NH because Independent voters will not support her. The mormons in Nevada will vote for Mittens. Plus her debating skills are crappy as the only thing she can discuss is energy.

[Hippo_Tron]

16. The Republican primary electorate in Iowa and South Carolina is dumb as rocks

That's how Huckabee won Iowa and almost won SC.