Josh Marshall: Speaker Gingrich? What About FORMER Speaker Gingrich?

[Mr. Ected]

At our editorial meeting this morning we were trying to reason our way through the renewed prominence and omnipresence of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich -- something that actually seems to happen every few years when the GOP starts taking on water. Now, though, Newt's out there calling on Speaker Pelosi to resign, considering running for president and generally speaking out on every issue under the sun.

But one thing we keyed into -- especially when considering his calls for Pelosi to stand aside -- is, does Newt realize he's not Speaker any more?

He seems to insist with members of the press that he still be referred to as "Speaker Gingrich." And actually his website is speakergingrich.com. Not former Speaker Gingrich, Speaker Gingrich. And it goes beyond him. On Meet the Press this weekend, he repeatedly refers to former intel committee Chairman Peter Hoekstra as "Chairman Hoekstra."

It is almost as if the Republican party, as it moves into its own tea bagging time warp has rendezvoused with Newt in imagined past and found that they're once again made for each other.

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/

[pkdu]

1. How about "disgraced former Speaker Gingrich" n/t

[eilen]

2. Hear Hear!!!

When I heard him call for Pelosi's resignation all I could think was, "Hey Newt, she was elected by her constituents, she actually holds office. Last I checked, you left in disgrace after every friend you thought you had turned on you (boned by Boehner, DeLay, Soutder, Armey, and Graham et al) because you were such a liability, your own stupid party at least 20 of them subsequently, you singlehandedly lost 5 Republican seats and then was practically forced to resign due to ethics concerns. Loserman,You represent no one."

[Bolo Boffin]

3. How about Adulterer Gingrich?

Since he was one of those, too.

[mix]

4. a media shadow government

it was jeb's idea

[stevedeshazer]

5. Great point

I prefer The Silly Salamander, but your results may vary.

[Fovea]

6. Like a pre-historic lizard, frozen in ice.

The GOPlag archipelago.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

7. Actually it traditional that national leaders, judges etc retain their titles

though it technically honorary. Same goes for military officers.

[symbolman]

8. Sounds like a buncha Russkies..

Communists!! Chairman Mao shit..

His own mother turned him into A Newt, must have been a witch!

Yeah, him and Bennet, two classy Moralists. Newt delivers divorce papers to his destroyed wife in the hospital, and Bennet gambles away 7 Million fucking Dollars..

STFU you flaming Commie traitors!

[Enrique]

9. why isn't he Speaker anymore?

oh, yeah, that...

And why isn't any Republican speaker anymore? Oh yeah, that...

[yodoobo]

10. I think its the same reason we still him call him President Clinton

Its an Honoria thing, although I didn't realize it extended to speaker of the house.

[Mechatanketra]

11. We shouldn't even do it with Presidents (IMODO).

It just smacks of quasi-royal pretensions. Our political offices should be treated as jobs, not achievements.

But then, that's the rub — right from the beginning, as soon as America got out from under the British crown, we started missing it (the crown, not necessarily the Britishness).

And in this case, I certainly do think it feeds into an existing desire for the GOP to view themselves as a government in exile.

[yodoobo]

12. I suppose I don't mind it being treated as an achievement.

Heck getting to be President is certainly an achievement.

I agree that it is a job though and should be treated as such. A responsibility for those who have sought and achieved it.

What I don't like, which probably echoes your thoughts is when its thought of as "Title" in the same vein as the Brits did under the crown.