Genuine query: Why would Gingrich be a disastrous choice for GOP nominee?

[denem]

This seems to be assumption here at DU,
and elsewhere.

Take Barney Frank for example:

At a news conference to announce his retirement Monday, Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) said he didn't "think he lived a good enough life to be rewarded" with Newt Gingrich being the GOP nominee.

I know most of the Newt's particulars, but do
not see how this adds up to a Presidential bid
that will not just be poor, but borders on
a disaster for the GOP at every level.

I don't get it.

Newt wouldn't be the first politician to say
that was THEN but this is NOW,
- Romney has a lock on that position.

[roseBudd]

1. Because he is an egotistical loose cannon with hare brained ideas...

He actually suggested huge orphanages for the children of poor parents in the 90s

[krispos42]

2. He's probably the least unqualified guy on the GOP ticket...

...who actually could win the primary.

He's the embodiment of the modern GOP: greedy and hypocritical, has no morals, shamelessly self-promotes him self for profit, transitions readily between Congress and lobbyists, and supports nation-destroying policies that make wealthy flow upwards in a raging torrent.

There's NO DOUBT he's be a disaster for the nation. But he'd be good as the representatives of GOP-ism.

[johnaries]

3. You mean the man who forced the longest government shut-down

in US history and later was forced to resign Congress in shame? Oh, I dunno...... :evilgrin:

[grantcart]

4. to start off

1) He is a completely amoral charachter and his record shows it and people perceive it.

2) He is so full of hubris that he will never be able to stick to message discipline and instead will engage in a diarhetic flow of mish mash nonsense that sounds profound on the inside and absolutely ridiculous when it is spoken.

3) In 30 years of being in DC he has no real 'base'. Those that served with him despise him.

4) He is completely disorganized.

5) He actually doesn't want to win (he may not even be conscious of that fact). He started his campaign with a vacation. To be President you have to love work so much that you want to cut short your vacation and get back to it. He doesn't have the work ethic and his subconscious would betray him.

6) He only looks intelligent in comparison to an extremely weak Republican field. Stop thinking of a clown car and think instead of the SNL Jeopardy parodies where a near incoherent Sean Connery charachter looks brilliant compared to the other contestants who have trouble remembering their name.

7) Gingrich next to Obama in a debate, lol.

[denem]

7. OK, but Nixon had a few of those qualities.

The personal perception of Nixon was negative for much of 'Tricky Dicky's' career, but it didn't kneecap him.

[TreasonousBastard]

15. Nixon had his faults (oh, did he ever!) but Neut doesn't have half the sense...

that Nixon had. Nixon was paranoid and vile, but he was still a brilliant politician whose first concern did seem to be for the country, not his own inflated ego. Nixon just claimed he could do a better job than the other guy.

Neut's primary vision is of his own huge head. He proved that when he was Speaker, and there is nothing to show he's changed. He's claiming the other guy is a complete disaster and our future requires nothing less than his genius.

[AndyTiedye]

12. All of This Also Applies to George W. Bush

There ain't no such thing as an unelectable Republican.
Not when they control so many voting machinez.

[denem]

13. GWB's campaign was run by Karl Rove, and

HE was highly organized.

[Chan790]

18. I like to look at it like this:

Dick Nixon never needed a philosophical political-hitman like Lee Atwater, Frank Luntz or Karl Rove, in fact he was possibly better at it himself than any of the three of them.

George W. Bush for all his other failings was smart enough to surround himself with philosophical political-hitmen.

Newt Gingrich is too egotistical and full of hubris to think he'd ever need a philosophical political-hitman. Combine that with an abrupt willingness to shoot himself in the foot repeatedly.

[Warren Stupidity]

5. other than the fact that he is dragging around a mile of stinky baggage,

and is unpleasant to look at or listen to, he would make a formidable candidate. He won't. He will die in the polls. It is mittens.

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. The only House Speaker to be reprimanded for ethics violations and fined $300,000

A man who twice cheated on his wives, visiting his first wife in hospital purely to get an agreement to divorce? Who was a lobbyist, earning millions from Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac but feels happy to say the recession was all their fault? Who has flip-flopped on nearly every issue? Who is advocating child labor? But who is also losing many Republicans because he's happy for amnesty for illegal immigrants?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/govt/leadership/stories/012297.htm

[denem]

8. He shored up illegal immigration a bit by pleading a double fence

across of the whole US/Mexico border? That is also Bachmann's policy

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. Bachmann would lose by more in the general election, it's true

I think the point is people are saying Gingrich is a lot easier for a Democrat to run against than Romney; both have the 'flip-flopper' weakness, which will eat at their Republican base; but Gingrich also seems like an appalling, dishonest human being to many independents.

[denem]

10. The thing I hear most from Republicans is 'I don't trust Romney'

but in the same breath, judge Newt by a different standard.

[BklnDem75]

11. Didn't his own staff abandon him in June?

Gingrich’s Senior Campaign Staff Resigns
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/09/gingrich-senior-campaign-staff-resigns/

Gingrich Loses Members of Finance Team
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/21/gingrich-loses-members-of-finance-team/


He's the last of the lot not to fall on his face. In a party full of racists, next in line behind Cain. Not exactly a powerhouse.

[TheCowsCameHome]

14. He'd be fertile ground for the press.

More baggage than major airport...........

[AndyTiedye]

16. Yeah, If We HAD a Free Press instead of One Beholden to the GOP

[JoePhilly]

17. Newt is runing to be Lobbyist-in-Chief ... let;s start there ...

Newt was a lobbyist ... check

Newt the adulterer can't run on family values ... check.

Newt was against Clinton going into Afghanistan to get OBL prior to 9/11 (wag the dog) ... check.

Newt kicked out of the House by republicans for ethics violations ... check.

Newt as House majority leader wants to impeach Clinton for behavior Newt is also engaged in ... check.

Newt's plan to improve the economy is to have elementary school kids replace the school janitors ... check.

Newt claimed that Barney Frank should be in jail for his relationship with Fannie and Freddy even while Newt was collecting more than one million dollars from as an "adviser" from Fannie and Freddy.

Newt did ads with Nancy supporting global warming science.

Newt is now saying that some illegal immigrants should be allowed to stay.

This is off the top of my head.