Parsing the Logic of Newt Gingrich

The Creeping Fascism of American Politics

FOCUS: States Unite Against Citizens United

Dimon's Deja Vu Debacle

Cut It Out: An Open Letter to Black Bloc Anarchists

This Is What Tyranny Looks Like

Excerpt: "With a few exceptions (and there are a few), the behavior of Republican politicians and conservative pundits in this whole ghastly affair grows ever more disgusting and contemptible. And the poltroonery in certain quarters of what ought to be the other side is just sad."

File photo, Newt Gingrich, 09/22/08. (photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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+6 # Guest 2010-08-20 21:00

Why haven't people realized that a "newt" is a type of lizard? And this man's history is of just that! So why do we bother with him? ML Gulick

+13 # Timaloha 2010-08-21 07:32

"Why haven't people realized that a "newt" is a type of lizard? And this man's history is of just that!"

You're being awful hard on lizards with that comparison.

+3 # Guest 2010-08-21 10:22

Lizards are very cool. They eat annoying bugs...like Gingriches.....

-12 # Guest 2010-08-20 22:13

Note to Hendrik: Harry Reid = Jerk.

+2 # Guest 2010-08-20 22:24

No, Mr. Gingrich's conclusion is not that
the Park 51 sponsors are Nazi but that they are Japanese.

Mr. Hertzberg should check with a logician before trying to reconstruct someone's argument. Ed Erwin, Philosophy,
University of Miami

+15 # Guest 2010-08-21 01:33

Absolutely agree with you. Newt is trying to pump up his bona fides as 2012 Presidential Candidate. Should be interesting to see how much of an issue this will continue to be and whether he will reap any benefit from his rants. And he mentioned how the Muslims treat women without any thought of how he treated his ex-wives. One was in the hospital suffering from cancer, when he just had to deliver his divorce papers for her to sign. He cheated on the second for a number of years with his DC sweetie. Don't get me started!

+17 # Guest 2010-08-21 05:42

The Republican Party borders on the insane. Madness rules and the slimly lizard is taking advantage of the chaos the GOP has produced within it's own warped mentality.

Is this what the USA has become?

0 # www.democratz.org 2010-08-21 06:37

We're talking about Newt Gingrich who wanted to make his GOPranos Gangrich one of the misleaders of the RepubliKLAN Party here. The press which does not act liberal but does act LIBERTARIAN does not do anything to make these KLANservatives accountable because they create a he said she said journoworld.

As for a lot of so called progressives, they act like big pussies in that they won't take on KLANservatives by boycotting their donors and pressuring donors to KLANservatives for the legislation that KLANservatives block in congress.

If liberals pressured KLANservatives for legislation then we would not give a crap about people like Newt Gingrich or Glen Beck or FAUX news which appear distractions and actually help the poor and middle classes.

Search the net for "Help me change America" in quotes on any search engine but Google.

-1 # Guest 2010-08-21 06:54

Right wing attacks

+4 # Guest 2010-08-21 08:11

These criticisms are specious. Gingrich's audience is not made up of intellectuals interested in facts. This is nothing more or less than emotionally based rabble rousing. The types of criticism of the right exemplified by this article only fan the flames, the "elite" doesn't approve. Oh, Boo Hoo. The appeals to Hitler and Nazism are telling, too, because this was exactly their approach. All the intellectual criticism in the world will make no difference. More important is to address the emotional dynamic being fired up: "We are unfortunate victims. We must oppose our wimpy government which is victimizing us more by siding with the bad guys who hurt us in the first place". The opposite is moral righteousness, "We are strong. We are moral and valiant. So strong we can afford to be tolerant and accepting. There is nothing to be afraid of. Our courage and moral strength outshines all victimhood", etc.

+4 # Guest 2010-08-21 15:37

He should be put in a cell with Glenn Beck and let them talk until one is left standing. Rush, Beck, Sarah Palin and Gingrich are the lowest scum on the earth!!!!

+4 # Guest 2010-08-21 18:34

Republicans are shamefully trying to use this issue to gain political advantage.

We have to use arguments like the ones in this great article to stress that opponents of the proposed Muslim center are hurting US security and endangering US troops.

We should also do all we can through letters, call ins to talk shows, and debates to shift attention to the Republican record of failure and obstruction. Some questions for them include:

1. What exactly would the Republicans do if they returned to power to:
a. create jobs?
b. reduce the deficit?

2. How would Republican policies if they returned to power differ from those during the Bush years that had such disastrous effects for the US and worldwide?

3. Since the Republicans drove the country into a ditch during the two Bush terms and are now doing everything possible to prevent the Democrats from getting us out of the ditch, why should we give them the keys to power again?

-2 # Guest 2010-08-21 20:17

Newt is nothing more than a shill for Israel. He believes in the concept of the "US-Israel Empire." He also believes that in order to be a patriotic American one must offer their unconditional support to Israel. He actually thinks that Americans who are even mildly critical of Israel are supporters of terrorism. Newt is a traitor to the US because he doesn't want it to exist as a stand-alone sovereign nation rather he believes that the US must be a part of the US-Israel Empire. Unfortunately, Newt and his ilk have the upper hand and the US is totally subservient to Israel. These are very sad times indeed.

+4 # Guest 2010-08-22 03:37

thank you sir. its sad what we hear in the media about this issue, the hatred and racism. the right wing is going crazy and hateful, what do you expect when the neocons are coaching sara palin

+1 # Guest 2010-08-22 06:55

I voted for Obama, and I worked for John Kerry's campaign in 2004. I have no use for Sean Hannity or Anne Coulter or their ilk. Having lived in Istanbul, Turkey, for nearly 9 years and having married a Turkish Muslim, I have become something of an apologist for Islam since 9/11 (among friends and family). I support the concept of religious freedom guaranteed by the Constitution (although I myself am an atheist). Nonetheless, I’m bothered by the lack of sensitivity on the part of the Park51 Muslims. They have every right to build a cultural center wherever they can buy the land and get a building permit, but why do it next to Ground Zero? Would Christians even *dream* of building a church or a YMCA in Jordan or Saudi Arabia a few blocks from the site where a national landmark and hundreds of Muslims had been killed by Christian fundamentalists ?

0 # Guest 2010-08-24 15:10

Is it true that there are strip clubs closer to Ground Zero than this Muslim cultural center?

If so, then this should be a much greater outrage to our sensitivities than a prayer room.

0 # Guest 2010-08-24 18:23

I am disturbed most by the lies being promoted about a brave and admirable man and the generalization about the views of 9/11 families. America needs all the moral leadership that can be mustered with community centers, churches, temples, mosques, YMCAs, reading rooms, whatever inspiring our communities, providing positive outlets for our youth and bringing about greater understanding. I can think of no better reason to encourage such a center for spiritual growth and renewal in lower Manhattan. I hope that efforts will be bolstered to restore the Greek Orthodox church nearby as well.

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