The Elephantine EGO of Newt Gingrich (2008)

[AnnInLa]

Gingrich '08: The stealth candidate

The controversial former House Speaker seems to throw his hat in the ring as a GOP presidential candidate, and promises that health care reform will be the big issue. An exclusive Fortune interview.
By Nina Easton, Fortune Washington bureau chief
November 21 2006: 3:26 PM EST

WASHINGTON (Fortune) -- Even a crisp Guinness stout can't chill the note of exasperation coming out of Newt Gingrich's mouth. "You still don't get it, do you?" he asks. The subject is the 2008 presidential race and whether the former speaker of the House will run. The news is that Gingrich is running, but not on any official campaign trail.

snip


The radical realist who defied conventional wisdom 12 years ago by stealing the House out from under the noses of entrenched Democrats now plans a surprise attack for the presidency. "I'm going to tell you something, and whether or not it's plausible given the world you come out of is your problem," he tells Fortune. "I am not 'running' for president. I am seeking to create a movement to win the future by offering a series of solutions so compelling that if the American people say I have to be president, it will happen." So he's running, only without yet formally saying so. (Gingrich spokesperson Rick Taylor responds.)

While other potential competitors like Arizona Senator John McCain, former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney build staff and hire consultants, Gingrich revealed to Fortune that he plans to create a draft-Newt "wave" by building grassroots support for his health care, national security and energy independence ideas - all of which he has been peddling to corporate audiences over the past six years. "Nice people," Gingrich says of his GOP competitors. "But we're not in the same business. They're running for president. I'm running to change the country."

In December, Gingrich will launch a 527 group, called "American Solutions for Winning the Future," that will enable him to raise and spend unlimited money on behalf of this effort. In January, he will conduct a strategy meeting with advisers. By next fall, he'll decide whether to make a bid official - a late start by any recent historical standard.

It's a strategy that would be considered far-fetched if this were any other candidate. But Gingrich has to be taken seriously. Polls place him third in the GOP presidential nomination race, behind Giuliani and McCain. And a recent internal GOP poll recently put him second, and ahead of McCain.

much more (including comparing himself to Lincoln) at:

http://money.cnn.com/2006/11/20/magazines/fortune/newt.fortune/index.htm?cnn=yes

[FVZA_Colonel]

1. "radical realist,"

Umm, I'd hardly call Newt Gingrich a realist by any means.

[Dora]

2. Oh, he's going to win a lot of followers with that attitude. Not.

"Whether or not it's plausible given the world you come out of is your problem."

[jackster]

3. Let me guess...

health care reform means you get quality of service according to your ability to pay, are required to buy into insurance-super-friendly health plans, and are forced to maintain those silly health care accounts in investmemnt-super-friendly accounts.

Whenever a Republican says REFORM, it's best to run the other way unless you're wealthy.

[Bitwit1234]

4. He wants to change America

Isn't that what he told the country in 1994. He was going to change America and bring back honor to the white house. As it the white house was unethical. Crooks upon crooks upon crooks, in and around the whitehouse.

[cally]

5. It's not a bad strategy for him

I wouldn't count him out. It may work.

[TheCowsCameHome]

6. His head is the size of the Goodyear blimp.

What an egomaniac.

[napi21]

7. Idon't want him around either, but WATCH HIM!

He's a snake and easily gets people to believe him!

[Warren DeMontague]

8. Lets stick his ego in a cage with Biden's & let em duke it out.

There's your wind power source for the 21st century!

[Blackhatjack]

9. He needs to pick 'Little Ricky Santorum' and the ticket will be complete!

I for one am disappointed that Little Ricky won't be running for President as the Republican nominee in 2008. Just think of all the background and video footage that is just going to be dormant if he does not run.

Newt/Little Ricky - the best that the Republicans could offer. (THey can use that if they like!).

[Pharaoh]

10. Remember his Contract with America?

Yeah, how did that work out Newt?

What a fucking moron!

He is a bigger liar than Bush, if that's even possible...........

[PADemD]

11. Not another Contract on America!

[ms liberty]

12. And he's sooo trustworthy...just ask his 2 ex-wives...n/t