Thursday, June 09, 2011

Newt The First Casualty Of Campaign 2012

Newt Gingrich, we hardly knew thee.
Yes, you say that you are committed to "running the substantive, solutions-oriented campaign I set out to run earlier this spring".
However, that is a tall order considering that much of your campaign staff has left the reservation.
Now the speculation is beginning as to why this has happened. Why from the campaign manager, Ron Johnson, to a consultant that ran for Republican party chair, Katon Dawson, all quit on one day.
The story for consumption is that the campaign and the staff are going in "different directions". Meaning, these folks do not think that Newt has any chance to even get to a primary.
Another tea leaf to swing through is that many are blaming the latest Mrs. Gingrich, Calista, and her insistence of being hands on in campaign operations.
Or is that hands off?
Same sources say that the insiders that bailed the Newt ship did not like the fact that the Gingrich's went on a Mediterranean cruise just after his announcement of running for president.
Yeah, when all else fails, blame the wife.
But the reality is that while Mr. Gingrich is one of the smartest people in the room, he is also one of the least disciplined at the same time.
Sure, Mr. Gingrich got the House Republicans to the promised land in 1994. The first time in over 40 years of control of the people's House. But his erratic leadership lead to his leaving in 1998 at the height of the Bill Clinton scandal. And his exit from elected politics.
To run for president, one needs to be focused. Like it or not, it is pretty much 24/7 from the time of announcement to either winning the nomination and the general election. Or when one realizes the folly and drops out.
I really think that Newt is a great leader and conservative. But his lack of leadership discipline has shown, tragically, in this episode. And no matter what he says, he will not recover.
Thus, Newt Gingrich may not realize it, but he is the first casualty of the 2012 presidential Death March.

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