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Newt Gingrich: GOP Primary May Turn Out To Be Newt Vs. Not Newt

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» 55 comments

There is a fine line between self-confidence and hubris, which is fairly evident in the following clip from last night’s episode of Hannity. Newly annointed GOP presidential frontrunner Newt Gingrich sat down for a lengthy interview with host Sean Hannity and bloviated about all things Newt, and his seemingly Newtastic presidential campaign. When asked if he still saw the GOP primary race as “Mitt vs not-Mitt,” as he had previously proclaimed, Gingrich corrected himself by suggesting that it may very well turn out to be “Newt and not-Newt” vying for the nod.

In discerning the difference between confidence and hubris, there is a reliable litmus test on the rhetorical flourish in question, and that is this: did the speaker refer to himself in the third person? Let’s take a look at the transcript and see what Gingrich said:

A month ago I didn’t think we would get here for another 60 days. But it’s clear the country is talking to us. And it’s clear that across the country people are saying, you know, ‘I think we need Newt Gingrich because we need somebody who can debate Obama, we need somebody who has actually done it before. We need somebody with very substantial big ideas. So I think whereas I would have thought originally it was going to be Mitt and not-Mitt, it may turn out to be Newt and not-Newt and that’s a very different formula. We’re having to re design our campaign strategy bus we are ahead of where I thought we would be.

Ding ding ding! Looks like this might be a case of early-onset hubris that comes with moving up to the top of the polls. And if we’ve learned anything in the GOP primary thus far, its that once you get to the top of the polls…wait, I don’t want to spoil it for anyone. And in Gingrich’s defense, he may have referred to himself in the third person, but at least he hasn’t called himself “The Newt.” Yet.

Watch the clip below, courtesy of Fox News:

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  • Anonymous

    You lost me at “…Newt Gingrich sat down for a lengthy interview with host Sean Hannity…”

  • http://gregingleright.weebly.com/ Greg

    Newt finds Newt to be amazing.  Newt adores Newts penetration.  Newt is dazzled that Newt has managed to make Lincoln/ Douglas hot.  Newt needs to excuse himself to have a moment with Newt.  

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_QUGVMSBBEAOYINQ5UOKMV36IQA Sanchia

    Newt Gingrich the original snake oil salesman.

  • Pablo

    Not Romnewt? Let’s do it.

  • Pablo

    And yet, here you are.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_QUGVMSBBEAOYINQ5UOKMV36IQA Sanchia

    Newt Gingrich is the original snake oil salesman .

  • Anonymous

    What’s a matter Colby ?
    Don’t you like to see Newt rising in the polls…?
    Don’t tell us you would vote for Obama…again.

  • Anonymous

    If he’s the best they’ve got we’re all in trouble.

  • Rex derWunderGott

    Newt is now approarching Miley Cyrus territory, heading towards Justin Bieber.
    Fortunately, Newt is beyond child-rearing age, or Newt could really get Newt in some serious trouble. 
    There’s really no limits to how high Newt can fly; he’s got the Icarus record in mind.

  • Anonymous

    Colby, you’re such a disingenuous fool. I’m surprised you actually posted the entire transcript. So one time he refers to himself in the third person, it’s in the context of OTHER people talking ABOUT him. Next time you tell a story and say, “And then someone said, ‘hey Colby…’” someone should call you out for being a arrogant a$$.

    Then he says it “MAY turn out to be Newt vs. not-Newt” whereas it’s been Mitt vs. not-Mitt all this time. What, did you want him to say, “Me vs. not-Me? I’m sure then you’d bloviate about how Gingrich says, “ME, ME, ME” all the time. So he’s confident because he is soaring in the polls like few candidates ever have. If this were Obama, you’d be rhetorically high-fiving him for three pages.

    BTW, anyone know if Obama has referred to himself in the third person before? Nevermind, everyone already agrees that he’s an arrogant a$$.

    Good God, you’re such a blowhard. I’m surprised at how little someone has to think in order to maintain a job on this website. How much do you get paid anyway? All you do is watch TV clips and do write-ups on them, in which you let everyone know what you think about it. Doesn’t that just make you a sort of glorified (and paid) commenter?

  • Anonymous

    Colby, you’re such a disingenuous fool. I’m surprised you actually
    posted the entire transcript. So one time he refers to himself in the
    third person, it’s in the context of OTHER people talking ABOUT him.
    Next time you tell a story and say, “And then someone said, ‘hey
    Colby…’” someone should call you out for being a arrogant a$$.

    Then
    he says it “MAY turn out to be Newt vs. not-Newt” whereas it’s been
    Mitt vs. not-Mitt all this time. What, did you want him to say, “Me vs.
    not-Me? I’m sure then you’d bloviate about how Gingrich says, “ME, ME,
    ME” all the time. So he’s confident because he is soaring in the polls
    like few candidates ever have. If this were Obama, you’d be rhetorically
    high-fiving him for three pages.

    BTW, anyone know if Obama has
    referred to himself in the third person before? Nevermind, everyone
    already agrees that he’s an arrogant a$$.

    Good God, you’re such a
    blowhard. I’m surprised at how little someone has to think in order to
    maintain a job on this website. How much do you get paid anyway? All you
    do is watch TV clips and do write-ups on them, in which you let
    everyone know what you think about it. Doesn’t that just make you a sort
    of glorified (and paid) commenter?

  • http://gregingleright.weebly.com/ Greg

    Newt’s adoration of Toffler’s Brand of futurism no doubt linked to fantasy of a perpetual multi-Newt Future where the original enjoys the benefit of company with his multiples. A Brave Old World.

  • http://gregingleright.weebly.com/ Greg

    Someone woke up with an advanced case of the grumpies!  Colby does a fine job and is compensated through the marketplace.  You may disagree with his interpretation of the quote, but no need for the personal assault. 

  • Anonymous

    We ignored your comment the first time…and yet you posted it again.  Strange.

  • Anonymous

    You took the words right out of my mouth. This is the most ridiculous thing that I have ever seen Colby write. It makes me wonder if he knows it’s BS (meaning he’s lying), or if he is just so blinded by ideology that he really believes it. Those are the only two possibilities in this case.

  • Anonymous

    Wasn’t it the French playwright Jean Genet who said that masturbation was the best kind of sex because the pleasure given is equal to the pleasure received? Just asking.

  • Anonymous

    Cast of clowns.

  • Anonymous

    cry bagger cry

  • Pablo

    We’re all in trouble, period. We need a turnaround guy and perhaps some divine intervention, stat, or we’re going to be painfully reminded of Hobbes’ observation that the natural state of human life is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.”

  • http://twitter.com/Samuel_Bun Samuel_Bun

    Ring up Scalia.

  • Anonymous

    @readers:disqus  my friend’s half-sister made $242568 so far just working on the laptop for a few hours. Read more on this site and get started by following the first step “Online income solutions” http://y.ahoo.it/OjyKK

  • Anonymous

    @readers:disqus  my friend’s half-sister made $242568 so far just working on the laptop for a few hours. Read more on this site and get started by following the first step “Online income solutions” http://y.ahoo.it/OjyKK

  • http://gregingleright.weebly.com/ Greg

    Glad that Newt stopped just short of testing that thesis on air.  

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_AOZGQUA2RXBBMT3WCUGRXXGVXQ Mike

    Newt Gingrich does NOT want to be president. He’s doing this crap on purpose trying to get his poll numbers down. He openly supported a VERY unpopular immigration policy in a debate which had caused the former front-runner Perry to lose his spot. Even used similar rhetoric (“not human”). Unfortunately for Newt he’s the last not-romney before romney-lite (Huntsman) and Santorum who speaks for himself so the base doesn’t really care at this point.

  • Anonymous

    @readers:disqus  my friend’s half-sister made $242568 so far just working on the laptop for a few hours. Read more on this site and get started by following the first step “Online income solutions” http://y.ahoo.it/OjyKK

  • Anonymous

    good

  • The Real Royal Emperor

    Pish-posh. The Newt is the most arrogant individual to seek the White House since Thomas Dewey.

  • http://gregingleright.weebly.com/ Greg

    What a horribly cynical position.  We are far from the natural state.  My guess is that you have been watching too much Walking Dead on AMC.  

  • Anonymous

    He thought tighter margins might make it more compelling.  Give it more punch.

  • Joke Scareborough

    So this is the Ezra Klein talking point of the day?

  • OSTL

    On November 18th, as the country was celebrating Thanksgiving, President
    Obama signed a law, allowing Americans to kill and eat horses.

  • Anonymous

    Newt’s snoot’s so deeply rooted in yesterday, we must remember he resigned in disgrace. Michele can do no wrong, just ask her! It’s been a cheap primary so far, but the real money will start next year. All the publicity so far has been at the expense of the trailing TEA-GOP-Republican candidacy and their continued tripping and stumbling. It’s been a hoot with the Texas Streaking Turkey realizing he cannot fly on the national scene. And we can’t forget Elvis’ birthday bumble from some one who hasn’t bumbled yet, ask her. And we have “Pizza Supreme”, whose private life, ain’t no more! There are others slowly moving up and down with one steady runner still trudging along at a steady 25! This has been one heck-ova entertaining Republican primary!

  • Anonymous

    Newt would give Newt his own blow job if he could figure out a way to get his fat head down around his fat ponch to reach his tiny d__k.

  • Anonymous

    So Romney is the new Not Newt.  Okay!  The reality show continues.

  • Anonymous

    Really…What’s everyone got against Gingrich?  It’s expected that Libs would dislike him on general principle, but he is an experienced politician with a few notable accomplishments on his resume. He’s a smart guy with some ideas that could put us on a more productive course as a nation.  You may not like his ideas,  but face it, more of the same is just gonna kill this country…

    And since when did being a self-centered egotistical maniac disqualify any of our elected officials?
     

  • Anonymous

    “What’s a matter…” ?

    wow that’s sum grit grahmer ya gotcha ther!

  • Anonymous

    god you baggers are dumb.. it’s all about the click… it’s all about the click

    figure it out nimrod

  • Anonymous

    “Everyone already agrees that [Obama's] an arrogant a$$.”  First of all, a bit of an overstatement.  Second, how many times have pundits on the right (i.e. on Fox) described him as arrogant due to the fact that he uses “I” statements?  THAT is a ridiculous basis for making such a claim.  Newt, on the other hand, makes some arrogant statements.  Find any from Obama comparable to these:
    1. “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.”
    2. “It doesn’t matter what I do. People need to hear what I have to say.
    There’s no one else who can say what I can say. It doesn’t matter what I
    live.”
    3. “Gingrich – Primary mission, Advocate of civilization, Definer of
    civilization, Teacher of the rules of civilization, Leader of the
    civilizing forces.”

  • Anonymous

    What’s the difference between Dems and Republicans?

    Dems shun politicians who cheat on their cancer stricken spouses.  Republicans elect them president.

  • Anonymous

    Touche?

  • http://gregingleright.weebly.com/ Greg

    I hope you learned your lesson.  

  • Pablo

    If you could say something dumber than that, I’d sure like to see it.

  • Pablo

    Yes, more of the same will doom us. But here’s some of Newt’s ideas: http://tinyurl.com/cpypvsm

  • Pablo

    No, I’ve been watching and reading too much news.

  • Anonymous

     You underestimate the stupidity of liberals, Pablo
    Just when you think they can’t get any dumber….they rise to the occasion.

  • http://gregingleright.weebly.com/ Greg

    Take a break Dear Pablo. I am sure the sun sets wonderfully where you live.

  • Anonymous

    You seem to have inside info on the size of Newt’s dick.
    Please elaborate.

  • Anonymous

    As it is beginning a sentence….The “W” in “Wow” should be capitalized, Porkchop.
    Glass houses/Stones

  • Anonymous

    The inpatients of the American people amaze me and their limit memories even further amaze me.  Turning this super tanker we call the economy in the direction of prosperity is going to take time no matter who is running the country.  If we continue on the road of gridlock in congress  I agree we will be in trouble. In my opinion this is not the Republican party I grew up with or my father before me.  We have grown a group of self-fulfilling puppets being contolled by lobbist puppeteers who put their own greed ahead the people of this great country.  There are multiple “Republican parties”.  Republican  in name only with multiple agendas and never shall they agree on unified agenda . 

  • 越飞

    Yup. Hobbes was a real buzz kill.
    He advocated dictatorship (then known as monarchy) lived among the aristocracy, and died at the age of 91.

  • Anonymous

    Republicans raise children to be responsible, solid, moral, productive citizens
    Dems raise their children to have sex with them

  • Anonymous

    Little Newt-ie here divorced his wife while she was in the hospital with cancer to marry his mistress.

    Facts are sort of inconvenient sometimes, aren’t they.

  • Anonymous

    Next up, Newton Leroy Gingrich!: Draft dodger, Dead-Beat Dad, House Banking Scandal: Newt Bounced 22 Checks, $2,500/month job to Newt’s wife. Newton’s Owners – Grover Norquist, Bob Vander Plaats, Edward H Crane and David Keene, and other puppeteers. Gingrich sold his soul and vote to them! Now – the real deal: The unemployment benefit extension should be passed! Extending the Social security to every worker in America should be extended! Senate Republican leaders introduced a bill that would keep the payroll tax rate at its current level for another year. The cost is roughly $120 billion. Senate Republicans would offset most of the cost by freezing the pay of federal employees through 2015 and gradually reducing the federal work force by 10 percent. What would be nice is for the Congress to forego their own pay and benefits and transfer those benefits and perks to those American who will now pay more because of their efforts. Corrections – non-efforts! In addition, Senate Republican leaders would go after “millionaires and billionaires,” not by raising their taxes but by making them ineligible for unemployment compensation and food stamps and increasing their Medicare premiums. Millionaires are already ineligible for food stamps or unemployment compensation. These TEA-GOP-Republicans will stop at nothing to protect the top 3%-ers!

  • Charleston Voice

    When a candidate’s character doesn’t matter to you:

    Newt Gingrich’s Skeleton Closet
    http://chasvoice.blogspot.com/2011/11/newt-gingrichs-skeleton-closet.html

    The Real Newt Gingrich
    http://chasvoice.blogspot.com/2011/11/real-newt-gingrich-part-1.html

  • Anonymous

    ok, whats worse…weak on illegal immigrants, taking money for political favors, or mandated healthcare??? both Gingrich and Hunstman appear weak on immigration…and even Paul isn’t sure about the fence? Romney did the healthcare mandate? I think Hunstman has the best experience both for creating jobs and making trade deals with other countries also he know best about all energy oil and others so he can get us energy indepenent. Gingrich really only knows best how congress works.

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