Morning Joe Looks To The Past To Gauge Newt Gingrich’s Eventual Collapse

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by Alex Alvarez | 10:11 am, December 6th, 2011

» 26 comments

On Tuesday morning, the Morning Joe crew discussed what the future may hold for current GOP front-runner Newt Gingrich. Co-host Mika Brzezinski read a piece by the New York Times‘ Frank Bruni declaring that “Familiarity Breeds Newt”:

Republican strategists have who were never persuaded that Michele Bachmann posed a credible threat, and who maintained similar skepticism about Cain, say that the Gingrich challenge is different, and that he could really be the one to ruin things for Romney. For Democrats, that would be a Godsend. The benefits of familiarity wouldn’t work as well for Gingrich in the general election, where he’d be a more polarizing figure than Romney, whose blandness and ideological squishiness have an upside…

Although Gingrich has gone through his own policy contortions, his image and personality are more sharply defined: petulant, truculent, arrogant. If voters supporting him in the primaries were going to be turned off by that, wouldn’t it have happened already?

Brzezinski coupled Bruni’s piece with one from The Washington Post‘s Marc Theissen, who quoted a Romney adviser as saying a Gingrich nomination would become more about his past and “tumultuous Speakership” rather than his possible future as president, or even about Obama’s own “failed presidency.”

Panelist Mark Halpernin weighed in, noting that there has been a “disconnect” between the way Gingrich is viewed by establishment DC types and real voters. Gingrich’s time at Fox News is, he added, a huge advantage for the candidate. Former U.S. Rep. Harold Ford, Jr. added his take, taking note of the quickness with which Gingrich managed to obtain a book deal.

“Can you imagine,” he continued, “if he’s President, him negotiating with the other party around issues with his propensity for bombastic statements, let alone his propensity to say grandiose things about himself? Can you imagine putting him in a room with Russia, Russian leaders, Chinese leaders, Iraqi leaders, Afghan leaders? I mean, I don’t think he wins Iowa.” Host Joe Scarborough reminded Ford that Gingrich does have his role in orchestrating an “historical legislative landslide” working in his favor.

Brzezinski remained seemingly unconvinced.

“You can shape a message and get right to your base on Fox News,” she conceded. “And that has been brilliant on his part.”

It my be worth noting that Mediaite columnist Tommy Christopher had seized on the “Will Newt Gingrich Eventually Fizzle Out Like So Many Candidate Before Him?” narrative some weeks ago. It was a question he posed and responded to with a resounding “yes” in a post titled “Top Ten Reasons Newt Gingrich Will Flame Out Like A Napalm Birthday Candle.”
Have a look, courtesy of MSNBC:

Frank Bruni, joe scarborough, Mika Brzezinski, morning joe, msnbc, newt gingrich

Anonymous

I could’ve sworn Bubbles was reading about Obama – ” …his image and personality are more sharply defined: petulant, truculent, arrogant…”

And another thing… say what you want about Gingrich, Joe’s smarmy, arrogant attitude and personal skeletons trump anything he has on Newt. Just ask Lori Klausutis’ family and friends.
Anonymous

He is persuasive and articulate as evidenced by how his ‘humane’ treatment of immigrants comment was received by the extremists versus the way Perry was received making the same comments…

he is illusive and modestly principled too and will make a dash to the middle once he becomes the nominee to win over independents… the extremists have already indicated that they will turn out no matter who the nominee is or what positions he’ll adopt in the general

add to that that he’ll destroy Obama in the debates… so Obama robots don’t be hoping for a Gingrich nomination, you might just get it
Anonymous

since newt has always imploded, overreacted and overreached—you can bank on it happening again..

hell–it has already happened numerous times this year..
he is like Sarah Palin–you are just so used to dumb shit–it is not even news…
there is just so much stupid shit out of the guys mouth–to cover it —you would have to give the guy his own channel..
http://mediamatters.org/ Leedog

Everyone knows Newt is a morally corrupt fraud!!

It’s a good thing Republicans have now class to save themselves from the embarrassment they should be feeling about their nominees!!
Anonymous

Chaz Bono’s on Morning Joke again?
Anonymous

So what… Joe isn’t running for President. Gingrich is a pompous ass. I hope all of you Republican nitwits nominate him. He will be like shooting fish in a barrel to beat in the fall.
http://www.myspace.com/susanstephenson Susan Stephenson

So Mikas chronic/constant eye rolling now transports her through time ?
Anonymous

Wow, you are delusional. This guy is a con man. A year and a half ago someone using his name or from his organization called my office wanting to know if I wanted to buy something from Newt. They were using every little trick to try and make me think how important the dough-boy is. I just laughed at them. I think what Newt needs to do is to hire some poor ghetto kids to work his phone banks. Remember all you have to do is to know that he cheated on his wife when she was dying of cancer. That is the kind of guy he is.
Anonymous

They hate the message, so they try to discredit the messenger. Let them. It just shows what an incredibly weak hand the Republicans hold right now.
Anonymous

“Can you imagine,” he continued, “if he’s President, him negotiating with the other party around issues with his propensity for bombastic statements, let alone his propensity to say grandiose things about himself?
Can you imagine the horror if he were to, lets say, give an iPod to the Queen of England of his speeches? Or if he were to travel the world on the public’s dime to meet with adoring fans so they can worship the ground he walks on? How ’bout if he were to tell the public they should demand congress pass his bills without reading them because they’ll get to find out what is in them after they pass? Or how ’bout if he just bypasses congress and uses executive order for whatever some special interest group tells him to do? Wouldn’t that just be hilariously horrible?

Yea, I thought so.
Gloves B. Donahue

“… he cheated on his wife when she was dying of cancer. …”

All of Newt’s wives are topside. Above the ground. Alive.

Moron.
Anonymous

Not disputing any of this… there comes a point though when people would want to move forward and this ineffectual drama-laden Obama presidency is fast becoming one such predicament people want to leave behind
Anonymous

Are you disappointed she didn’t die? You idiot, the point is Newt’s moral compass is about as strong Mit Romney’s position points.
The Real Royal Emperor

Hence, your name Big Petty.
Anonymous

What a crybaby Teabagger bitch you are, Chuck. I mean, really. Happy Tuesday!
WiddleBabyDanielson

No.
Newt was not on the show.
They were just talking about him.
Hout Bosques

Missy Alex appears to have restrained herself from referring to what’s hoppin’ at CERN: faster-than-light-speed decaying Newtrinos!
Gloves B. Donahue

As a young urchin, Robert was always interested in history. When the schoolmarm spoke of Ulysses S. Grant’s exploits in the war, Robert was enraptured. Later,when Grant was elected President, Robert was so joyful, he was proud of Amerika for a full week!
Hout Bosques

Here is little problem for not-so-little windbag:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/gingrich/report/part_i.htm

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

So sorry for goofaw.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

So sorry for goofaw 2.
Anonymous

Did I say something wrong Sailor?
The Real Royal Emperor

Grant is not highly regarded in Texas, so it is doubtful your scenario makes any sense. Then, when does it ever?
Anonymous

Nothing you don’t say on a daily basis, Chuck. I was just pointing out how much of a whiny bitch you are, that’s all. :-)
Anonymous

Newt Gingrich has a lot of baggage and Mitt Romney can’t stay in one place long enough to finalize an opinion…
Anonymous

Chuck, you are right on!!!!!!
Anonymous

why are you not banned?
Anonymous

The media pundits are never right about anything, yet constantly express their collective certainty about nearly everything.

In any other field (except perhaps politics), they’d all be fired.