For those who remember: Between Gingrich and Boehner, who's worse?

[vaberella]

I was aware of Gingrich's time as Speaker---but I was 15 and cared more about the latest Pearl Jam concert and Kurt Cobain killing himself than Gingrich, at the time. So I don't remember.

I did know that shutting down the Gov did happen while Gingrich was running things and Repubs lost lots of political capital and looked bad. Now Boehner's taken over and I have to say---it seems like it's worse now with Boehner's leadership than with Gingrich. And Boehner's been leader for only 4 months. I'm kind of with Tweety when he says he's in over his head and looks really unhappy with his new position.

What do you guys think? You can just list Gingrich and Boehner and expand in the message section. I just wanted to get your thoughts and your reasons why it's much worse with Gingrich or Boehner.

[willing dwarf]

1. Gingrich was and is worse.

There are a lot of republicans who qualify for the term dickhead, but Gingrich really embodies the term in a special way. Boehner is just one of those sour, creepy republican jerks.

[tledford]

2. Which is worse -- evil (Gingrich) or incompetence (Boehner)? eom

[zbdent]

3. Boehner ...

but mainly because Newt didn't have Rupert Murdoch's Faux Network (it was in its infancy) running the "news release/talking points" concession stands for the "liberally-biased media" ...

[liberal N proud]

4. I thought they were evil twins

Both of them came from the same monster.

[William769]

5. Definitely Gingrich.

[phleshdef]

6. Gingrich. Simply because he thus far was a more effective leader than Boehner.

[TheCowsCameHome]

7. Positively Gingrich

The man is evil to the core.

Boner on his worst day hasn't come close.

I hope we get a chance to see Newt run in 2012.

[leftynyc]

8. Definitely Gingrich

Boehner doesn't have the evil down like newtie did.

[Wait Wut]

9. Gingrich.

Hands down.

[GoCubsGo]

10. Six of one, a half dozen of the other.

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. I think they hate Obama more than they hated Clinton

And that figures in to the whole mess.

[MNBrewer]

12. Gingrich

[Cass]

13. Gingrich.

Boehner seems clueless but Gingrich is nasty piece of work, and one of the biggest hypocrites to walk the face of the earth.

The most notorious incident in Gingrich's marriage -- first reported by David Osborne in Mother Jones magazine in 1984 -- was when he cornered Jackie in her hospital room where she was recovering from uterine cancer surgery and insisted on discussing the terms of the divorce he was seeking.

Shortly after that infamous encounter, Gingrich refused to pay his alimony and child-support payments. The First Baptist Church in his hometown had to take up a collection to support the family Gingrich had deserted.

http://www.salon.com/news/1998/08/28news.html

A real family man. :eyes:

[PatSeg]

29. I noticed that in his recent interview

with Brody (I think), he spoke about his past indiscretions, but it still was about him, not a word about the people he hurt. I think he is incapable of empathy.

[onenote]

14. Gingrich. And he still is.

Boehner is a politician. Or more precisely a political hack. He doesn't really fancy himself as anything more.

Gingrich is a meglamaniac who thinks he is a deep thinker. In reality, he's also just a hack, albeit a far bigger, less ethical, more egotistical hack than Boehner by a country mile.

[JoePhilly]

15. Gingrich tried to stage a bloodless coup over a BJ ... he wins.

[ProudDad]

16. Which is worse a fall from a 20 story building or a fall from a 21 story building? (n/t)

[Ter]

17. Boehner is a moderate deal maker compared to Newtie

How about a poll, and why not throw in the forgotten puke House Speaker: Dennis Hassart.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

18. Gingrich IMHO

Boehner is loathsome to be sure but I think that he's more reasonable than Gingrich- or at least he would be if he didn't worry so much about offending the teabaggers/responsible for culling enough votes together to pass something.

[golfguru]

19. Gingrich

[Bluenorthwest]

20. Gingrich

More evil, more skilled. Also off the hypocrisy meter but hypocrisy is a Sacrament apparently in DC, they defend it.

[annabanana]

21. Gingrich was worse, but Boehner is more dangerous. .

. . . much less likely to stuff his foot in his mouth...

[opihimoimoi]

22. + 1 :o)

[peacefreak]

23. oh, jeez

that's like asking what's worse; hemorrhoids or herpes. Newtie, being herpes.

[Greybnk48]

24. Gingrich by a mile and a half!!

:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

He was much more effective and damaging.

[Keith Bee]

25. Bachmann

And that's a vid I don't want to see!

[yellowcanine]

26. Gingrich. Boehner is a snake but Gingrich is an evil lying SOB.

[backscatter712]

27. Boehner's not nearly as smart as Gingrich.

Yes, we made a few concessions, but at the same time, Boehner flinched in this game of Budget Chicken. He knew by the very end that a government shutdown would likely result in a backlash that would have totally fucked him, but he was too stupid to figure that out until he'd driven us to the very edge of disaster.

And now that he's flinched, his teabagger and fundie supporters are going to go apeshit because he caved on Planned Parenthood. By all means, we should be enjoying this...

[opihimoimoi]

28. NEWT is.......easy question....

[PurityOfEssence]

30. Gingrich. Boehner's sort of a Deacon in a scam Church; Gingrich is Satan most foul

Gingrich is a scheming bully without a scruple to his name, full of his own genius, greedy for power and wicked beyond mere evil.

[Auntie Bush]

31. Gingrich!!!!!!! I hated that conniving evil son-o-a-b***h!!!!

Boner is pathetic!

[genna]

32. Gingrich by far because he is a megalomaniac and has a sense of his own righteousness

Boehner might have a substance abuse problem, be prone to inexplicable emotional outbursts, and not be capable of defining his principles; however, he pales in significance to Gingrinch's delusions of grandeur.

Newt cares nothing for the common good, religious tolerance, or sensible political dialogue. He has no scruples nor does he believe in his own fallibility. There is no low he won't reach for his exalted sense of self. His intellect makes him all the more dangerous because he weaves lies into truth whenever it suits his purpose.

Boehner said something about not being capable of reasoning with his base although the Democrats gave him everything he wanted. Newt would never acknowledge a win because he felt like he could gain more. Newt was responsible for that secret room of Bill Clinton horrors even though Clinton nor the House Democrats had access during the impeaching proceedings. Newt is a nightmare none of us would ever want to encounter in a position of power.

If you were 15 when he ran Congress last time, take the time to review how self absorbed a man like Newt is. Boehner is no where as dangerous and *pious* as Newt.

[Bucky]

33. The Penguin or the Riddler

One's bizarre... you just can't figure out how he ever made it as a credible threat to Gotham City. The other is banal, an overworked, underplanned gimmick who just sort of phones in the expected villain moves. Neither is terribly interesting, except for all the mischief they end up causing.

[TheKentuckian]

34. Newt by a mile. Boner is a weak joke of a drunk and a lightweight.

[TuxedoKat]

35. I say Gingrich too (nt)

[Dulcinea]

36. Gingrich, hands down.

Boner's a political hack who's definitely in over his head. Newt Gingrich is the embodiment of an evil hypocrite. No contest.

[Bake]

37. I had a great snarky comment ready ...

Which was, "which is worse, a copperhead or a rattlesnake?"

But on about five seconds' reflection, nah. Gingrich was waaaaaay worse.

Bake

[stevenleser]

38. Gingrich, BUT... The other players in the GOP more than make up for the difference...

With Gingrich, there was no Fox News backing him up. There was no Tea Party. There was no Citizens United.