Now I’m even more confused.

Did Michelle mishear too?

My biggest regret in this interview is that I didn’t immediately respond to Newt’s dissing of the Swift Boat Vets. If he thinks he can win conservative hearts and minds by trashing their honor, he isn’t as smart as so many think he is.

Michelle on March 6, 2007 at 8:01 AM

Newt… Can you get back to us on this? Inquiring minds want clarification/expansion of that thought.

Yes, I agree that he was way off base on the Swifties.
LegendHasIt on March 6, 2007 at 10:48 PM

Which vets was he really referring to?

He said

“…I think frankly if conservatives are going to defeat the clinton machine there not going to do it with swift boat veterans against the war type of negativity….”

The swift boat vets were not against the war.

I hope someone will step up and explain his remark.

Yes, other things happened at CPAC. Michelle Malkin interviewed Newt Gingrich. Good stuff. Big ideas and innovative solutions came out of Newt’s mouth.
He thinks the current Presidential talk is “stupid,” and he wants candidates to e…

Yes, I agree that he was way off base on the Swifties. For a moment I took it the same way as 1328 on that, but I sense from his tone that he ALSO just doesn’t like the Swifties or any other group that ‘interferes with the political process’. (I hope I’m wrong on that.)

Most of the rest, he was spot on.

Brilliant man, who understands REAL history. Not sure he is electable, but I’d like to see him in the the Cabinet or as Chief of Staff for whoever is elected.

For my $0.02………

Newt is “the Professor”, he is the elder statesman that is rooted in history, law, and what made America great. I think he has the right idea not to jump into the media orgy right now, and continue to tour the country asking the right questions, followed by thought provoking answers.

He may not be on the ballot in ‘08, but what ever “Rock Star” the public gets behind, I have no doubt (or at least hope) that Newt is part of the cabinet, if not the ticket.

A interview  with the best candidate for President in 2008. He is a leader with solutions. He is a politician that speaks solutions not just list what is wrong and calls it a solution like the Dems do.
If you care about improving AMERICA for years to …

I hope he raises the bar on the debates, 90 minute-style or any other, though I don’t think that Mrs. Clinton would ever accept such a challenge. One can’t shrillarize for 90 min. and still have energy left. I also hope he’d accept the VP post.

I like Newt, always have. But to me the best man is not in the race, Jeb Bush.

He might be a terrific VP with Giuliani. He’s a great educator and resource for conservatives.

Webutante

- The Cat

They didn’t simply campaign on attacking the Clintons or the Democratic congress, they offered a positive agenda in the Contract for America, and the election day results that ensued vindicated his approach 1000x over.

I’d be the last one to say you shouldn’t attack your opponents in a political campaign, but I would wholeheartedly agree with Newt’s idea that you need more than just negativity about your opponent to win.

Man, I wish Newt would run. He is orders of magnitude better than any of the currently declared candidates.

He didn’t seem overly excited about talking to Michelle, sorta like “Yeah, whatever”.

amerpundit on March 6, 2007 at 9:15 AM

I think that’s just the way he talks. Of course, it could just be that he didn’t care about being on whatever show he was on last time I saw him speak, either.

Anyway, my only worry is that by the time he finally declares, the others (Guliani and maybe Romney) might be too far ahead for him to catch up.

No worries about catching up to McCain, of course. To my delight, he seems to be pulling a PS3.

Newts nuanced answer about a nasty woman candidate was very spineless of him.

I don’t see it that way. If Newt would have gone and called Hillary out like a lot of people wanted him to, it would have been yet another Coulter moment coming out of CPAC, and that’s something we do not need. He took his own advice and steered clear of the negativity, which I found refreshing. Once you start playing the mudslinging game it just spirals out of control. Smart move on his part.

As for the Swift Boat thing, we do need to get away from style of politics. I mean, look at it this way. Bush was still popular back in 2004, and John Kerry was John Kerry. And even then Bush only beat Kerry by one state. Hillary and Obama are both far more dynamic than any of the GOP hopefuls, and the current national mood is distinctly anti-Republican. If we’re going to win in 2008, we really have to take it to another level.

Michelle, great vent and great questions well presented. Yes, Newt is the man hiding in the wings. As he said, things will shake out over the next several months and the choices will be stark, not muddled. So far, I am impressed, as I was 12 yr. ago with Newt. Maybe it was good that he’s been behind the scenes these few years. Maybe his time is now…

The above comments, especially IrishEi and Sharinlite, are right on the money. We need to approach this election with clear thinking and reasoning! Hello?!

Would someone provide a link to info that recaps what happened to Newt after the ‘94 Contract that got him booted? I can’t remember what happened and I’d really like to know. A link that, hopefully, isn’t tainted by left thinking…?

How about a Gingrich/Bolton ticket as Tammy Bruce suggests? Now, with Rudy G. as Dir. of Homeland Security?

Quick unrelated suggestions for Hot Vent: How about a button choice to double the screen size much like RealPlayer does? Would help greatly when there is text on the screen like with Jihad Watch. The standard screen is too small. Also, is there provision to download a vent if you don’t have an Ipod? Would like to download and save particular Vents, like today’s, and save them.

I’ve had this discussion with me myself and I many times.
It’s great to see, no hear, someone grasping the issues so succinctly.

Meanwhile, while you are above the fray, millions are being influenced by the one-sided MSM propaganda. Therefore, the MSM and the Democrats win as they did in the last election.
januarius on March 6, 2007 at 12:34 PM

Excellent point! It’s true and has evidence, even if anecdotal in it’s nature.

We really need someone like that as a presidential candidate. A Giuliani/Gingrich ticket would be awesome.

However, I have to completely disagree with his being above negativity. I bet Democrats are thrilled with those comments. The Swift Boat Veterans for Truth were about giving Kerry’s true character and nullifying the infallibility the MSM conferred upon Kerry…and combatting the incessant propaganda.

Bush has been so above politics, debating Democrats, and combatting the propaganda of the MSM for the last seven years. You have night after night on the news of global warming, putting down our military, etc. and if you follow the George Washington rules of engagement Michelle Malkin posted, you stay above the fray, as George Bush has done. Meanwhile, while you are above the fray, millions are being influenced by the one-sided MSM propaganda. Therefore, the MSM and the Democrats win as they did in the last election.

You have to talk about the issues and play dirty with the Democrats. Ann Coulter has demonstrated she knows how to do that, yet she gets criticized for it.

It is also important to note that Kerry was a very weak, effeminate candidate and that he nearly won is very sobering. Hillary will not be weak. She has been in training for this election for the past thirty plus years. She is smart, sharp and one of the meanest females on the planet. She will make Pelosi look like an angel when she lets loose her hate machine. For now, Hillary is lobbing small bombs against her opponents but the nukes will come out against anyone serious, thoughtful and smart on any side. It is a sad, sad day in this country that we have come to this pass.
Were I a candidate, I would let the chips fall where they may and answer truthfully, forcibly and also incessantly. I think the people will hear? No?