1. Mediaite
  2. Gossip Cop
  3. Geekosystem
  4. Styleite
  5. SportsGrid
  6. The Mary Sue
  7. The Jane Dough
  8. The Braiser
Advertisement

Limbaugh Theorizes Why ‘Niche Candidate’ Gingrich ‘Isn’t Serious About Winning’

Video
» 45 comments

Newt Gingrich is getting an earful from conservative critics everywhere, and Rush Limbaugh is certainly piling on as well, but today Rush also asked “what if [Newt] isn’t serious about winning?” Rush suggested about Newt, “we know that he’s not stupid” and instead developed a theory to explain what he believes Newt’s true intentions might be.

Rush warned that Newt’s behavior of not lining up with conservatives is not unprecedented given that “we’ve had the Newt and Hillary show – we’ve had the Newt and Pelosi show.” Instead, Rush’s grand hypothesis is that Newt is purposely making statements that are “not intended to resonate with Republican primary voters” because Newt is trying to ingratiate himself with the “ruling class.” Rush suggested:

“If Newt can provoke attack from the conservative Republican contenders and even from the rank and file voters, by trotting on their sacred cows, which is what he did . . . in some people’s eye it makes him reasonable. With this crowd that I’m talking about, it’s a resume enhancement to be criticized by me. And he rises above the field.”

The harshest blow though comes at Rush’s suggestion that Newt is not only a “niche candidate” trying to carve out the RINO (Republican In Name Only) position in the race, but that he’s trying to be the next John McCain – the mainstream media’s favorite Republican. Concluding, Rush declared “being attacked by the right is a feature when you are thinking beyond the party nomination to your post-primary job prospects.” This speculation does seem like a stretch given the fact that up until now, Newt seemed very serious about winning. Although after this week of conservative heavyweights saying his campaign is “over,” maybe Rush just offered Newt a more promising strategy to pursue.

Watch the clip from The Rush Limbaugh Show below:

Follow us on Twitter.

Sign up for Mediaite's daily newsletter.

Email Twitter Facebook Digg Reddit Stumble Upon Yahoo Buzz LinkedIn Tumblr Delicious
  • felixw

    Romeny raised $10 million in a single day, and is running well ahead of Gingrich in the polls. But that story was not covered here. Mediaite covers Republican candidates based on which ones they can score easy points against, and not on the basis of reality.

  • skyfet

    Oxycontin at work.

  • http://TheDividedStatesBlog.com Publius219

    Rush Limbaugh: the arbiter of conservatism in the 21st century.

  • justanotherconservative

    skyfet said:
    Oxycontin at work.

    illiteracy at work…. isn’t it recess time yet?

  • redleaf

    I would never vote for Gingrich, but maybe he’s just saying what he believes.
    That’s foolish behavior when you’re with a party that once considered its candidates take a Purity Test. But it’s possible, even though I don’t like him politically, that he stands by his beliefs and doesn’t give two craps what Rush Limbaugh says nor would be readjust his beliefs to appease right wing radio hosts.
    If only we lived in that world…

  • Fokker News

    Michael Steele:

    “keep in mind about the Ryan budget, a lot of the people that are sort of running around and trying to stir up a little cock fight about what Newt Gingrich said, a year a go were saying that the Ryan plan was not their plan. That it was Paul Ryan’s plan, not their plan. … What people don’t endorse today, they’ll endorse tomorrow.”

    God damn their duplicitous nature masked by the facade of piety. The chains of Hell await them.

  • http://www.perceptionasreality.blogspot.com/ skoorbekim

    Ruling class resume enhancer…

  • Girth Brick

    Why doesn’t Pig Boy talk about his predilection for Oxy/Viagra vacations in the Dominican Republic to recruit young male teen conservatives?

  • WCinWI

    felixw said:
    Romeny raised $10 million in a single day, and is running well ahead of Gingrich in the polls. But that story was not covered here. Mediaite covers Republican candidates based on which ones they can score easy points against, and not on the basis of reality.

    Romney is inconsequential to 2012. He could raise a billion and it wouldn’t help MassCare.

    Daniels over Mitt.

  • WCinWI

    felixw said:
    Romeny raised $10 million in a single day, and is running well ahead of Gingrich in the polls. But that story was not covered here. Mediaite covers Republican candidates based on which ones they can score easy points against, and not on the basis of reality.

    Plus, I think Mitt’s goal was $50 million so if that was the case, not a good ROI.

  • WCinWI

    skyfet said:
    Oxycontin at work.

    Time to take out the trash…..

  • dougx

    Newt did the Rs a favor. He let them know the Ryan Plan is a kamikaze mission. It has no chance of passing the Senate and of course Obama will not sign it. The Rs in Congress should have stuck with meat and potatoes conservatism, hold the house next year and build to a point where something like the Ryan Plan could pass. Even a President couldn’t pass such a plan if it was his main goal of his term, unless he had huge majorities in each legislature. I don’t know what the House Rs are doing but it will backfire for sure unless they regroup quickly.

  • http://www.snowspot.net Snowspot

    It’s hard to get angry when the Republican party looks so pathetic. Gingrich was right, Ryancare is worse than Obamacare.

    It’d be nice if Republicans actually respected people that stood up for their beliefs but it appears that’s now how conservatives get ahead.

    Everyone has to agree like a bunch of socialist commies, FOR THE MOTHERLAND.

    Sorry but sometimes people are Republicans and aren’t part of the hivemind. Newt disagreeing took some balls but everyone on the right is so ****ing stupid now that they just take it as a personal insult. Reminds me of some relatives I have, you try to have a normal conversation about politics or anything and they start getting upset like they are being personally attacked.

    This election is looking like a complete disaster for Republicans, Obama’s “golden week” of killing Trump/Osama has really taken the GOP by surprise and almost seems to have sealed the deal for Obama’s re-election.

  • Azarkhan

    In one week, the Wisconsin Department of Administration reported, the state capitol building took as much damage from its occupation by union protestors as it would otherwise have experienced in 3-5 years. That’s only one small part of the overall bill for the Battle of MadTown to Wisconsin taxpayers, as the MacIver Institute highlights in a video this week. The total bill runs over $8 million, thanks to the necessity of sending police from all over the state to keep unions from shutting down the legislature (via The Right Scoop):

    http://hotair.com/archives/2011/05/17/total-cost-of-madison-protests-8-million/

    Union scum.

  • WCinWI

    dougx said:
    Newt did the Rs a favor. He let them know the Ryan Plan is a kamikaze mission. It has no chance of passing the Senate and of course Obama will not sign it. The Rs in Congress should have stuck with meat and potatoes conservatism, hold the house next year and build to a point where something like the Ryan Plan could pass. Even a President couldn’t pass such a plan if it was his main goal of his term, unless he had huge majorities in each legislature. I don’t know what the House Rs are doing but it will backfire for sure unless they regroup quickly.

    Ummm dude….Obamacare passed and it’s an epic fail. Ryan is THE plan.

  • WCinWI

    Azarkhan said:
    In one week, the Wisconsin Department of Administration reported, the state capitol building took as much damage from its occupation by union protestors as it would otherwise have experienced in 3-5 years. That’s only one small part of the overall bill for the Battle of MadTown to Wisconsin taxpayers, as the MacIver Institute highlights in a video this week. The total bill runs over $8 million, thanks to the necessity of sending police from all over the state to keep unions from shutting down the legislature (via The Right Scoop):

    http://hotair.com/archives/2011/05/17/total-cost-of-madison-protests-8-million/

    Union scum.

    I wasn’t there then, but I was at the Palin rally in Madison. The union thugs were out in true form. It was like cattle. Truly despicable.

  • WCinWI

    Azarkhan said:
    In one week, the Wisconsin Department of Administration reported, the state capitol building took as much damage from its occupation by union protestors as it would otherwise have experienced in 3-5 years. That’s only one small part of the overall bill for the Battle of MadTown to Wisconsin taxpayers, as the MacIver Institute highlights in a video this week. The total bill runs over $8 million, thanks to the necessity of sending police from all over the state to keep unions from shutting down the legislature (via The Right Scoop):

    http://hotair.com/archives/2011/05/17/total-cost-of-madison-protests-8-million/

    Union scum.

    http://hotair.com/headlines/archives/2011/05/17/wisconsin-ag-releases-100-pages-of-threats-against-lawmakers-during-budget-standoff/

  • http://www.snowspot.net Snowspot

    WCinWI said:
    Ummm dude….Obamacare passed and it’s an epic fail. Ryan is THE plan.

    I would bet the older Republicans are looking at Ryan’s plan and shaking their head. Why is the ‘greatest country on earth’ getting rid of programs our grandparents had? Why should we have to settle for that? Do you really think if Medicare disappears it will ever come back?

    Vouchers will never work and Paul Ryan is someone we won’t remember in a year.

  • jim bronson 990cc

    Sunday the GOPers were all over the media for going after Newt.
    Today, those same GOPers are throwing Newt under the bus for calling Ryan’s plan radical and for pulling a Gingrich on the individual mandate.
    Too Funny!!!

  • WCinWI

    Snowspot said:
    I would bet the older Republicans are looking at Ryan’s plan and shaking their head. Why is the ‘greatest country on earth’ getting rid of programs our grandparents had? Why should we have to settle for that? Do you really think if Medicare disappears it will ever come back?

    Vouchers will never work and Paul Ryan is someone we won’t remember in a year.

    Ryan is a respected member of Congress. And if he got in the race for the Presidency, it would be over.

    Scare tactics won’t work. Which is why old people are coming around to the idea of Ryan’s plan, despite Dem. scare tactics.

    Now go back to your class warfare and corporatist hate.

  • jim bronson 990cc

    WCinWI said:
    http://hotair.com/headlines/archives/2011/05/17/wisconsin-ag-releases-100-pages-of-threats-against-lawmakers-during-budget-standoff/

    “the vast majority…’no criminal nexus or viable threat’”. OOOOHHH, showed everybody there!

  • jim bronson 990cc

    WCinWI said:
    Ryan is a respected member of Congress. And if he got in the race for the Presidency, it would be over. Scare tactics won’t work. Which is why old people are coming around to the idea of Ryan’s plan, despite Dem. scare tactics. Now go back to your class warfare and corporatist hate.

    Too funny:
    http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20056078-503544.html

  • Emma

    Why doesn’t anyone listen to this blowhard?

  • Girth Brick

    Emma said:
    Why doesn’t anyone listen to this blowhard?

    Fatty Bombo Rush is a hero to your high-school dropout rural angry male cuckold.

  • Barack Must Go

    I think the only reason Gingrich jump in was because Paul Ryan’s budget proposal as it stands today has done more damage to the prospect of a Republican presidential win over Obama than all the current batch of contenders flaws combined.

    Ryan should have, once Americans across the political spectrum revolted against it, stated he was simply attempting to get our attention, so the real discussion in Washington could begin.

    Instead, in true democrat form he’s sticking to his lame plan, Republican leaders along with rank & file are either acting like it doesn’t exist, while quietly saying he ( Ryan ) is f***ing nuts……which he is…..but only about this.

    The worst part of this entire exercise in futility / stupidity is the jackass in our White House and his true ( democrat ) party of NO are out bashing ( successfully ) the living shit out of Republicans and the GOP is letting their g damn, mother f***ing pride not allow them to respond other than a couple of press conferences to say the president hurt their feelings.

    The 2012 president and Senate are ours to lose and with leadership like Boehner, McConnell et al and nobody vetting candidates past problems ( Gingrich ) we’re handing it to the degenerate dems on a silverplate platter…..and that’s a crying shame.

    Chris Christie or better yet, the less devisive Jeb Bush need to suck it up and save the current Republican party from themselves…….before it’s too late.

  • valkyrie101

    felixw said:
    Romeny raised $10 million in a single day, and is running well ahead of Gingrich in the polls. But that story was not covered here. Mediaite covers Republican candidates based on which ones they can score easy points against, and not on the basis of reality.

    That’s silly, they could score easy points against Romney too.

    As for Newt. He looks around and realizes that he is not getting the tea party vote, so why not move to the center and see if there are enough Bush moderates to win in a split decision.

  • Azarkhan

    valkyrie101 said:
    That’s silly, they could score easy points against Romney too.

    Especially for signing off on something as idiotic and financially ruinous as Romneycare.

  • felixw

    valkyrie101 said:
    That’s silly, they could score easy points against Romney too.

    As for Newt. He looks around and realizes that he is not getting the tea party vote, so why not move to the center and see if there are enough Bush moderates to win in a split decision.

    Romney is a serious candidate, a smart man with deep experience in both the private and public sector. He is now leading many of the polls. And raising money faster than any other candidate. All those reasons disqualify him from coverage in the mainstream media.

    His only negative is the one the Democrats can’t mention….How can they attack his health care bill with a straight face?

    By the way, did you notice that the most exemptions to Obamacare are coming in the district of the politician who was most ardent in forcing it down our throats?

    http://dailycaller.com/2011/05/17/nearly-20-percent-of-new-obamacare-waivers-are-gourmet-restaurants-nightclubs-fancy-hotels-in-nancy-pelosi%E2%80%99s-district/

    I understand the next edition of the American Heritage Dictionary will put Nancy Pelosi’s picture as illustration for the definition of “hypocrisy.”

  • juan
  • valkyrie101

    felixw said:
    Romney is a serious candidate, a smart man with deep experience in both the private and public sector. He is now leading many of the polls. And raising money faster than any other candidate. All those reasons disqualify him from coverage in the mainstream media. His only negative is the one the Democrats can’t mention….How can they attack his health care bill with a straight face? By the way, did you notice that the most exemptions to Obamacare are coming in the district of the politician who was most ardent in forcing it down our throats? http://dailycaller.com/2011/05/17/nearly-20-percent-of-new-obamacare-waivers-are-gourmet-restaurants-nightclubs-fancy-hotels-in-nancy-pelosi%E2%80%99s-district/ I understand the next edition of the American Heritage Dictionary will put Nancy Pelosi’s picture as illustration for the definition of “hypocrisy.”

    The Palin/Huck Christian right will not vote for Romney, and the criticism he would get about Romneycare comes from the right, not the dems.

  • valkyrie101

    Azarkhan said:
    Especially for signing off on something as idiotic and financially ruinous as Romneycare.

    Romneycare was the plan of choice for Newt, Hatch, and a slew of other conservative heavy weights on the republican side, and Romney’s bill was praised, and seen as a major accomplishment at the time. The politics changed after the tea party became the big gorilla, and now, none of the candidates believe they can afford to offend it. I would consider Romney to be an excellent candidate, even a formidable opponent for Obama, if he were holding on to the center of the Republican Party and not particularly catering to the extreme tea party positions. He should be defending Romneycare and calling out the hypocrites who previously endorsed it.

  • Azarkhan

    valkyrie101 said:
    Romneycare was the plan of choice

    It’s not the plan of choice for Conservatives. Romney, while not as leftist as Obama, is just as stupid.

  • valkyrie101

    Azarkhan said:
    It’s not the plan of choice for Conservatives. Romney, while not as leftist as Obama, is just as stupid.

    And what is your alternative?

  • felixw

    valkyrie101 said:
    The Palin/Huck Christian right will not vote for Romney, and the criticism he would get about Romneycare comes from the right, not the dems.

    You’re right about the Dems not criticizing Romney. They are not saying anything about him, and pretending he doesn’t exist. This is called “wishful thinking.”

    Just like they pretend 10% unemployment doesn’t exist.

    Just like they pretend that the government isn’t borrowing another $58,000 per second (that’s the latest figure, updated for the Obama spending spree).

    Just like they pretended that next year’s election would be against a joke candidate in a bad toupee and decided by a piece of paper on file in Hawaii.

    But sensible people figured out long ago that the most important stuff is what the liberal news forgets to mention.

  • winning

    Snowspot said:
    Gingrich was right, Ryancare is worse than Obamacare.

    So, you’re agreeing that Obamacare doesn’t pass the smell test.

  • Azarkhan

    valkyrie101 said:
    And what is your alternative?

    Prior to Obamacare 85% of Americans had health coverage. My alternative? Help the 15% and let the 85% keep their coverage through private insurers.

    BTW, what is your alternative to the almost certain bankruptcy the US will face within the next 10-20 years?

  • jim bronson 990cc

    Azarkhan said:
    Prior to Obamacare 85% of Americans had health coverage. My alternative? Help the 15% and let the 85% keep their coverage through private insurers. BTW, what is your alternative to the almost certain bankruptcy the US will face within the next 10-20 years?

    More people every year are uninsured. 15 would become 20, would become 30, etc.
    Your “plan” would avoid the ever increasing numbers.
    I certainly would not go the Ryan route and give ever increasing tax cuts to the welathiest Americans whild eliminating Medicare and Medicaid, as we know it.

  • dougx

    WCinWI said:
    Romney is inconsequential to 2012. He could raise a billion and it wouldn’t help MassCare.

    Daniels over Mitt.

    Mitch Daniels was the Budget Director under Bush, the previous King of Deficits. What a record to run on.

  • Skippy

    Limpo, you under inflated sht bag.

    Grow a pair and NAME your nominee (R).

    Then watch it go down in flames and kindly STFU.

  • Yoda002

    Rush is so confused he doesn’t know who to carry the water for!! Rush’s ratings seem to be on the downslope. I know he is loosing radio stations, but this is ridiculous.

  • joe7

    I didn’t watch yet. Usually when Rush complains about a Republican I end up liking said Republican even more. I don’t feel like admiring Gingrich at the moment.

  • dougx

    valkyrie101 said:
    Romneycare was the plan of choice for Newt, Hatch, and a slew of other conservative heavy weights on the republican side, and Romney’s bill was praised, and seen as a major accomplishment at the time. The politics changed after the tea party became the big gorilla, and now, none of the candidates believe they can afford to offend it. I would consider Romney to be an excellent candidate, even a formidable opponent for Obama, if he were holding on to the center of the Republican Party and not particularly catering to the extreme tea party positions. He should be defending Romneycare and calling out the hypocrites who previously endorsed it.

    That’s correct Valk. There was a period of time when the individual mandate was considered a conservative idea. You don’t show up at the E-room with no insurance. But when ObamaCare sort of embraced the mandate, then of course the other side had to oppose it and the rest is history. We’ve had tons of parrots saying over and over RomneyCare is ObamaCare. I wish people would start thinking for themselves a little more. It’s not the same – the law signed by Romney was demanded by the People of Massachusetts. They wanted a universal plan and they got it. in the years ahead it will be tweaked and made better. If Romney had not been in office, it would have had a much more leftward tilt to it. I know that’s a bit nuanced but there it is.

  • dougx

    valkyrie101 said:
    The Palin/Huck Christian right will not vote for Romney, and the criticism he would get about Romneycare comes from the right, not the dems.

    What i would do if I were Romney, point at the Book of Mormon and say, “look, Jesus Christ’s name is right there on the cover”. I think in the end, that will be enough for the Southern Baptists. Remember that Romney won West Virginia and was competitive pretty much all over the South. Southerners will not vote for Obama over Romney.

  • djalkj

    Welcome to— http://www.wholesalecheapclothes.com ——
    The best sports jersey store, professional wholesale NFL NBA NHL MLB jerseys, free shipping, accept PAYPAL receipts

  • linlijunc

    welcome to it !!hi gh quali ty☆ reaso nable pric e☆
    free shi pping accept pay pal,
    if you have interest in it , take action !!!!!
    ***** {{w w w }} {{ happyshopping100 }} {{ com }} ***

© 2012 Mediaite, LLC | About Us | Advertise | Newsletter | Jobs | Privacy | User Agreement | Disclaimer | Power Grid FAQ | Contact | Archives | RSS RSS
Dan Abrams, Founder | Power Grid by Sound Strategies | Hosting by Datagram