The Widdershins

The Manchester Union Leader has endorsed Newt Gingrich for president!  If ever a time called for the questioning of our own moral integrity, this could be it.

According to the Union Leader, their assessment of Newt is based on the following:
“We are in critical need of the innovative, forward looking strategy and positive leadership that Gingrich has shown he is capable of providing,¬” The New Hampshire Union Leader said..”   Huh?

I fully recognize that the GOP field of presidential hopefuls is a miserable flop.  But come on!  Newt is one of the most corrupt politicians to have emerged from the depths of corruption that is known as the U.S. congress for pete’s sake!  His treatment of women is abominable.  His defense of “family values” is laughable.   His “self love” is enormous.

A full time lobbyist who has taken millions from the same industry that he unabashedly calls out for “bad practices”.  A battered former Speaker of the House who was censured by that body before he left in disgrace.  A man who promised, and succeeded, to close down the government.  A two faced hypocrite who led the charge to impeach a sitting president over a minor indiscretion for which he too was enjoying!

It doesn’t take a genius to discover that this GOP field of candidates are not exactly the “brightest lights” in the firmament.  Several of them are downright ignorant.   Yet to single out Newt Gingrich as the “standard bearer” is beyond comprehension.  Both his personal and professional baggage is staggering.  The man has few principles, speaks out of both sides of his mouth, and changes positions as often as Mitt.  My favorite of Newt’s taunts, delivered with a straight face, is “quote me and I will deny it”.

Here’s Mitt discussing the war on terror:

“This is one of the great tragedies of the Bush administration. The more successful they’ve been at intercepting and stopping bad guys, the less proof there is that we’re in danger…. It’s almost like they should every once in a while have allowed an attack to get through just to remind us.”
~Newt Gingrich, at a book talk in Huntington, NY, April 2008, saying that Republicans should allow terrorist attacks on American soil to remind us of the dangers in the world.

Here’s Newt defending congressional lobbyists:

“The idea that a congressman would be tainted by accepting money from private industry or private sources is essentially a socialist argument.”
~Newt Gingrich, arguing that it’s okay for politicians to be bought and paid for.

Here’s Newt discussing Medicare:

“Now, we don’t get rid of it in round one because we don’t think that that’s politically smart, and we don’t think that’s the right way to go through a transition. But we believe it’s going to wither on the vine because we think people are voluntarily going to leave it — voluntarily.”
~Newt Gingrich, admitting that while they won’t kill Medicare outright, Republicans will try to make it wither on the vine and die.

Here’s Newt on Newt:

“I have enormous personal ambition. I want to shift the entire planet. And I’m doing it. I am now a famous person. I represent real power.”
~Newt Gingrich, blowing his own horn.

It’s that “power” he speaks of that is so disconcerting.  As much of a “shape shifter” as Mitt Romney, Newt is devoid of the moral compass that would invite the inspiration to lead based on past performance.  Yet this is man has been endorsed by an editorial board of a conservative newspaper that still carries some clout.

Newt is nothing if not an “authoritarian” in his outlook. His recent embrace of the Catholic Church speaks as much.  That recent “conversion” smacks of outright opportunism: a way for Newt to “redeem” himself among voters who buy into that crap.   Yet he is the same old Newt: arrogant, belligerent, so full of himself that it is a wonder that he can still walk.

That endorsement will allow others across the nation to take another look at Newt.   I don’t need to.  It’s the same old Newt just operating from a different stand.  What you see of Newt is what you get.   A man without principle, values, or conscience.  An empty shell in search of the power he once enjoyed.  Power he abuses whenever it is within his grasp.

The nation cannot afford a “Gingrich presidency” no matter how careless the present one appears to be.  Disturbing is that there will be those who think otherwise.

Inconceivable.