Posted by
VBushmills on Wednesday, October 28, 2009 8:21:48 AM
Richmond, October 28, 2009
It's really simple and can be summed up in one term: Self-interest.
You know my feelings about needing a
Ben Franklin, a "constitutional-conscience" in Congress, in the GOP front office, Wall Street, everywhere. In 1994, when he was as much teacher as political activist, New Gingrich owned that title. he was the conscience of conservatism...
with an attitude. Even today, Gingrich would be in my top five or ten in America to fill that role, but only so long as he was quietly watching and listening rather than scheming to see how he could get that job at the head of the table.
That's the whole point. When you adopt the mantle of "true constitutional conservative" you lay aside the cloak of self-interest. I'm a consultant, and know that 99% of all analysis that comes down the pike is made with a view of the self-interest of the analyst. Consider lawyers, who are merely legal consultants. Doctor are guilty much less, but they are imbued with an ethical duty to their patient which far exceeds that which the lawyer employs. Every analyst struggles with adding new roles, new powers, more money, etc in the solutions they offer their clients. We write here on Townhall because there's nothing in it for us, which at least adds a little to our credibility.
The simple fact is, Newt Gingrich couldn't lead me out of barn. While he is known and respected as the architect of the Republican Revolution in 1994, with the takeover of the House, it is largely forgotten that he was also the architect of the GOP's fall there, beginning with his own misconduct...and I don't mean the PAC money. The GOP was on its way out when Newt departed in 1999, even though it took three more voting cycles to seal the deal. It was all because of his lack of leadership...although boning a secretary over a perfectly unsuitable oak desk did add a disgusting touch.
That said, we (the constitutional republicans, with a little "r") need Newt Gingrich, but in the role I've already laid out. Instead it seems he has allied himself against us (NY-23) for reasons that can only be based on political calculations and self-interest.
What a loss.
VB