Home > Political Insider > Archives > 2007 > January > 23 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USOn the ‘08 race for president: Gingrich’s game of chance, and a bit of history
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Today’s editions of the Washington Post say that Newt Gingrich pump-primed his ideas-for-president organization with a $1 million check from a casino executive.
The “donation marks a new frontier in political fund-raising — a seven-figure check to a group associated with a single politician whose aspirations may include the White House. Gingrich has said that he will decide by the fall whether to enter the crowded race for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination,” writes the Post.
On top of his three marriages, news that the house has put its money behind Gingrich is unlikely to thrill the GOP’s Christian conservative base.
On another front, if you think the ‘08 presidential contest is already more wild and woolly than anything you’ve seen before, there’s a good reason.
Duke University political scientist John Aldrich has checked the stats for us all. The last time the U.S. had both an open presidency and a sitting vice president not interested in running was 1920.
Warren Harding was the GOP victor that year, with Calvin Coolidge as his vice president. Democrats offered up James Cox, an Ohio newspaper man whose descendants own this fine publication.
Cox’s running mate was 38-year-old Franklin D. Roosevelt, who at 38 was just a year away from contracting the polio that would put him in a wheelchair the rest of his life.
Services »
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By tired of it all
January 23, 2007 8:21 AM | Link to this
Hi Guys,
How do you think the GOP’s conservative base feels about this peach? Why does Newt get a pass on this? Why doest the GOP get a pass on this?
REPUBLICAN CONTRACT WITH AMERICA
As Republican Members of the House of Representatives and as citizens seeking to join that body we propose not just to change its policies, but even more important, to restore the bonds of trust between the people and their elected representatives. That is why, in this era of official evasion and posturing, we offer instead a detailed agenda for national renewal, a written commitment with no fine print.
This year’s election offers the chance, after four decades of one-party control, to bring to the House a new majority that will transform the way Congress works. That historic change would be the end of government that is too big, too intrusive, and too easy with the public’s money. It can be the beginning of a Congress that respects the values and shares the faith of the American family.
Like Lincoln, our first Republican president, we intend to act “with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right.” To restore accountability to Congress. To end its cycle of scandal and disgrace. To make us all proud again of the way free people govern themselves.
On the first day of the 104th Congress, the new Republican majority will immediately pass the following major reforms, aimed at restoring the faith and trust of the American people in their government:
FIRST, require all laws that apply to the rest of the country also apply equally to the Congress;
SECOND, select a major, independent auditing firm to conduct a comprehensive audit of Congress for waste, fraud or abuse;
THIRD, cut the number of House committees, and cut committee staff by one-third;
FOURTH, limit the terms of all committee chairs;
FIFTH, ban the casting of proxy votes in committee;
SIXTH, require committee meetings to be open to the public;
SEVENTH, require a three-fifths majority vote to pass a tax increase;
EIGHTH, guarantee an honest accounting of our Federal Budget by implementing zero base-line budgeting.
Thereafter, within the first 100 days of the 104th Congress, we shall bring to the House Floor the following bills, each to be given full and open debate, each to be given a clear and fair vote and each to be immediately available this day for public inspection and scrutiny.
By Michael Jablonski
January 23, 2007 5:12 PM | Link to this
Interestingly, Harding was the first (out of two) sitting senator elected president and the only sitting senator to defeat a governor when running for president. The failure of senators to win presidential elections makes me wonder how a senator can ever be considered a front runner except when the probable opponent is also a senator. In the mind of voters, apparently, executive experience trumps legislative service.
By Michael Jablonski
January 23, 2007 5:12 PM | Link to this
Interestingly, Harding was the first (out of two) sitting senator elected president and the only sitting senator to defeat a governor when running for president. The failure of senators to win presidential elections makes me wonder how a senator can ever be considered a front runner except when the probable opponent is also a senator. In the mind of voters, apparently, executive experience trumps legislative service.