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Jewish World Review May 7, 2012/ 15 Iyar, 5772 A few words for Newt Gingrich By Paul Greenberg
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | "All newspaper editorial writers ever do is come down from the hills after the battle is over and shoot the wounded."
--Attributed to
If character really is fate, the Newt should have been done as a presidential candidate as soon as his dubious connections with Once it became clear that the Newt's formal concession was only a matter of time, the commentariat began carving him up with the greatest delight. There's nothing pundits love more than hitting a politician when he's down and about to be out. Where, one wonders, were all these people when the Newt was wowing 'em in
First, as has been noted before, he's not so much a man with an ego as an ego with a man. Ex-wife problems. Multiplied. No filter between brain and mouth. Moon colony? But today I come not to bury Mr. Gingrich but to praise him. Sort of. Because now that he's safely out of the race, and therefore stands no chance of becoming president of Because, yes, Mr. Gingrich did have a couple of good ideas over the course of his entirely too quest for the presidency. You just had to find them amidst all his random musing and public brainstorming. For example: He said that on his first day in office in a now only theoretical Gingrich administration, he'd eliminate the That idea deserves five stars. Because whenever a problem arises, this administration has developed the unwholesome habit of appointing a czar to handle it, complete with as much untrammeled power as this
Then the problem is left to fester, producing only a whole new layer of bureaucracy. This isn't problem solving, it isn't even delegation. It's the most expensive form of procrastination. It's denial wrapped in red tape. Cabinet secretaries may have to be approved by In the happy event a Republican is elected president in November -- Do away with these unaccountable czars/bosses/little dictators. Without delay or ceremony or further ado. They're a plague.
Mr. Gingrich is also for the good kind of pro-choice. In education. Why do we force parents to keep sending their kids to failing schools? The Newt is now headed back on tour, and is sure to make the news now and then with a new idea or eight. And the occasional outrage thrown in at no additional cost. If only he had as much judgment as he does imagination. In the end, the Gingrich candidacy, along with Thank you, too, Mr. Gingrich, for telling off the media-ocracy a thrilling time or two. The whole New York Times-National Public Radio-MSNBC axis of gliberaldom deserved every word. But most of all, sir, thank you for dropping out at last. Now the country can have a serious debate between a couple of serious candidates.
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