Newt Gingrich Reaches His 'Sell-By' Date

posted by John Nichols on 05/31/2009 @ 08:59am

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It is always difficult to pinpoint the precise moment when a politician reaches his "sell-by" date.

We have seen some remarkable comebacks in America.

Richard Nixon, defeated for president and then governor of California, returned to win the presidency -- and then when he was forced from the White House repositioned himself as something of an elder-statesman.

Joe Biden, forced out of the presidential race of 1988 and then defeated decisively in the presidential race of 2008, finally got to the White House in 2009 as the vice president.

So a lot of things are possible.

But it seems safe to say that New Gingrich has nothing left to add to the discussion.

The truth is that Gingrich may have been finished a long time ago.

Forced to resign the speakership of the House in the late 1990s after steering both his party and his personal life on disastrous courses, he has struggled to renew his franchise as the Grand Old Party's big thinker.

There's no question that the party of "no" needs a senior figure who is capable of wrestling with ideas. Unless Republicans plan to nominate Dick Cheney, Rush Limbaugh or Michael Steele for president in 2012 -- and even the craziest of the crazies are not that crazy -- they are going to need someone with a vision. And even if his vision is flawed, Gingrich's ability to grab forums and to use them for something more than mere grumbling seemed to be getting him back in the running.

But Gingrich tweeted off the deep end Wednesday when he jumped over the cliff of responsible Republicanism and into the chasm of right-wing talk-radio delusion.

Responding via Twitter to the nomination of Federal Appeals Court Judge Sonia Sotomayor to fill the vacancy that will be created by the retirement of Justice David Souter, Gingrich did not think. He took his talking points from Limbaugh, who has been trying to foster the fantasy that the nominee is some kind of "reverse racist."

At issue are comments made by Judge Sotomayor's when she delivered the Judge Mario G. Olmos Memorial Lecture in 2001 at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law.

The judge took as her topic, "Raising the Bar: Latino and Latina Presence in the Judiciary and the Struggle for Representation." And she explored the subject at great length, employing statistics, historical references, reflections on her own experiences as a lawyer and judge and a serious consideration of questions of bias and responsibility when it comes to seeking justice.

Unfortunately for her, and for rational discourse, Limbaugh -- and by extension Gingrich -- focused on one sentence fragment. The judge allowed, toward the end of her address, as how, "I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life."

Limbaugh labeled that statement "racist," suggesting that Judge Sotomayor had dismissed white men as inferior beings. That the radio host would hear such an implication says a great deal about him and very little about President Obama's first nominee to the high court.

But it was enough for Gingrich.

On Wednesday, the former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives tweeted: "Imagine a judicial nominee said 'my experience as a white man makes me better than a latina woman.' new racism is no better than old racism."

A few minutes later, he followed up with the message: "White man racist nominee would be forced to withdraw. Latina woman racist should also withdraw."

Aside from the caveman-quality of his calculus, Gingrich is wrong.

Really wrong.

Had Gingrich bothered to read Judge Sotomayor's speech, rather than simply take a talking point from Limbaugh, he would have quickly realized that the jurist was ruminating on how to assure that biases do not unfairly influence decisions or undermine justice.

"Each day on the bench I learn something new about the judicial process and about being a professional Latina woman in a world that sometimes looks at me with suspicion," Judge Sotomayor explained at the conclusion of the address. "I am reminded each day that I render decisions that affect people concretely and that I owe them constant and complete vigilance in checking my assumptions, presumptions and perspectives and ensuring that to the extent that my limited abilities and capabilities permit me, that I reevaluate them and change as circumstances and cases before me requires. I can and do aspire to be greater than the sum total of my experiences but I accept my limitations. I willingly accept that we who judge must not deny the differences resulting from experience and heritage but attempt, as the Supreme Court suggests, continuously to judge when those opinions, sympathies and prejudices are appropriate."

That's not a racist speaking. That's not some judicial outlier. That is a responsible -- and genuinely mainstream -- thinker on judicial matters.

Newt Gingrich's tweets mark him as the outlier.

Instead of calling for Judge Sotomayor to withdraw her nomination, the former speaker might want to consider whether it time for him to withdraw from the public debate he diminishes and dishonors by repeating the crude fantasies of a talk-radio ranter.

Comments (46)

Few are as adept at creating boogeymen than the right wing propaganda empire. They are really twisting up some salty pretzel logic in their opposition to the new Supreme.

I am getting such a kick out of these clowns talking points about her not being "intellectual enough", after they decry "intellectual elitism" for...decades. Shall we even discuss her academic career?

Next they whine about her decision to uphold the city council rules in the fire fighter case, after whining about "activist judges" for... decades.

then they will try to talk about her lack of experience, after worshiping at the feet of Clarence.

It is almost like the 2008 election all over again. The party of "core values" once again casts aside those alleged values in favor of volume and false outrage. This is what happens when you give "entertainers", celebrities and washed up pols the reigns to the chariot. They are not satisfied that they drove the chariot of the USA into one ditch, they want to drive the elephant into the ditch on the right side of the road too.

Next up, tax breaks for tow truck drivers. I myself am outraged at the racism white tow truck drivers face in out tax policies. Outraged, shocked and .... where is my tea bag, honey?

Posted by crabwalk at 05/31/2009 @ 09:32am
Message from the GOP.

For immediate release

5/30/09

Just a note for all appearing on liberal media outlets, subject: the American Dream

We want to continue to press on the subject of the American Dream and it's effect on minorities. Once again we have been given a wonderful opportunity to point out the downside of the American Dream for minority Americans. Much like our Marxist president, when talking about Judge Sotomayor we need to remind people that working your way up by your bootstraps is not all there is to the American Dream. We need to remind the voters about connections, associates and every word ever uttered by candidates.

We must not read her opinions, we should focus on one line from a speech. We successfully ignored the successes of a minority raised by a single parent, graduate of Ivy League colleges, his lectures on constitutional law at a preeminent university and his ability to communicate to the average American. Instead we focused on one or two America haters that the president may have associated with. We were nearly successful in placing a secessionist in the VP's office and we should follow the Old Game Plan with the Supreme Court nomination.

When appearing on political talk shows we want all GOP members to avoid speaking about the benefits of hard work and the ability of all to raise to the top of the American Government. Please use your words to focus on tiny little nothing comments, people that may have been in the same room at some point (people that are on the terrorist watch list are good opportunities), ignore the 100 opinions issued by the nomination, instead look for one sentence to pick at. If a speaker is going to being up her lack of intellect, be sure not to use the term "intellectual elite" in the same show

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Posted by crabwalk at 05/31/2009 @ 09:50am
Sorry, Johnny Nichols.....your spin gets worse by the postings!

As more background is learned of this first Puerto Rican Hispanic (and NOT the "First Hispanic" as packaged), we find that she is a hardcore "reverse racist."

That said, I have no problem with her being confirmed but I want this aired out as much as is possible.....hoping that with this process playing out, she may actually be LESS Racist once she is on the SC since she is just sooooooo `aware' of her race, she may just be motivated to be judged by history as a good SC Justice rather than The Racist Judge.

Her presence on the SC, will also serve to remind folks, the ordianry, non-Racists, tax-paying types, of the fact that elections have consequences!

Posted by Happy at 05/31/2009 @ 10:12am
Newt Gingrich typifies the individual embodying "tempered road rage in the wakeful state", interspersed with moments of palpable beatitude in church or while viewing Fox News.

Posted by Sorelish at 05/31/2009 @ 10:41am
Posted by Happy at 05/31/2009 @ 10:12am

HAPP, clarify something for me.

On Sotomayor, should I listen to guys like Rush and Newt....

or "leftists" like...

John Cornyn....

Michael Steele...

and Lindsey Graham???

Posted by Mask at 05/31/2009 @ 11:13am
HAPPY is going RIO/Ponti on us.

Up is down, blue is rice, racist is...well, actually Happy is our resident racist.

Sotomayors racism can clearly be seen in the fire fighter case, where she sided with not only the council that set the rules (showing her "activist" credentials) , she sided AGAINST the latino's. So, HAP must be spot on 'bout this "reverse racism" thingy.

Hey Happy, I heard she once met with Bill Ayers!

Rush says he has a bridge for sale, but only for those that come with their teabags intact. So far he has 50,000 offers, Palin has vouched for the clear title.

The GOP, the best comedy troop America has to offer.

Step right, step left, right, left, right, left, git your marching orders from Central Control, where we fight centralized government control of the freedoms being fought for over there before the mushroom cloud looses the homo-sexual agenda of the christian attacking Islamo Fascist baby killing activist socialist judges against Family Values that will take your guns!

Posted by crabwalk at 05/31/2009 @ 12:27pm
"We need a constitution that operates at the speed of 21st century American business."

Newt Gingrich, advocating for a constitutional convention to rewrite the constitution, one of his key issues.

Chilling.

Posted by Dwight Wall at 05/31/2009 @ 2:18pm
Posted by crabwalk at 05/31/2009 @ 12:27pm

Isn't it obvious that Sotomayor's ruling in this case is an example - a particularly egregious example - of double secret, triple spinner reverse racism?

Posted by skeletonman at 05/31/2009 @ 2:24pm
Sounds like our buddy Newt jumped the shark w/o all his landing gear tucked in.

Ouch.

Posted by schnellerheinz at 05/31/2009 @ 4:48pm
Go Red Wings.

Posted by schnellerheinz at 05/31/2009 @ 4:49pm
Love ya, though, Pens.

Posted by schnellerheinz at 05/31/2009 @ 4:49pm
Let him keep yapping. He just furthers the disintegration of the republican party.

Posted by snookie at 05/31/2009 @ 6:18pm
"Had Gingrich bothered to read Judge Sotomayor's speech, rather than simply take a talking point from Gingrich"

gingrich quotes gingrich, huh?

mr. nichols, it is ofter advisable to read one's musings before posting.

just ask HAPPY ;+]

Posted by frosty zoom at 05/31/2009 @ 8:07pm
...ask HAPPY ;+]

Posted by frosty zoom at 05/31/2009 @ 8:07pm

You ask, I shall answer.....

What will reach its Sell-By Date tomorrow? It's General Motors.....end of the road.....but wait.....Hopey and Changey turns another chapter and, swash.....

Gubber Motors will emerge, like the ugly butterfly with clipped wings.....condemned to suckle at the teats of the Gubbers whose `milk' is deficient in so many nutrients that Gubber Motors will be developmentally retarded, possibly ridden with terminal cancer!

Goodbye GM!

Posted by Happy at 05/31/2009 @ 9:53pm
What will the Chinese think is the Sell-By Date of the stuff Geithner has been drinking and trying to pass around in Beijing?

Geithner to Reassure China U.S. Will Control Deficits (Update1)

By Rebecca Christie

June 1 (Bloomberg) -- Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner arrived in Beijing with a pledge that the Obama administration will control its borrowing as he sought to reassure China its holdings of U.S. government debt are safe....

Posted by Happy at 05/31/2009 @ 9:56pm
I think our Federal Reserve's Sell-By Date has already passed......it doesn't know why the yield gap between the 2-yr and 10-yr Treasuries has reached historic highs!

(Hint to the Feds: Take a look at gold funds to see if expectation of a booming economy is a likely cause or maybe it's something less Hopey and Changey!)

===================================

Federal Reserve puzzled by yield curve steepening

Sun May 31, 2009 3:48pm EDT

By Alister Bull - Analysis

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve is studying significant moves in the U.S. government bond market last week that could have big implications for the central bank's strategy to combat the country's recession.

But the Fed is not really sure what is driving the sharp rise in long-dated bond yields, and especially a widening gap between short and long term yields....

Posted by Happy at 05/31/2009 @ 10:01pm
Happy, like I posted elsewhere;

The Obamanation administration has been successful in its attempts to reward the United Auto Workers, one of the president's strongest supporters in the last election, while trampling decades of legal precedent regarding owners of corporate debt."

Glassman, the president of World Growth, a nonprofit economic-development group, slammed the federal government's recent negotiations with GM and Chrysler, saying "the administration's actions in trying to force the deals may damage the credit markets for years to come. The treatment of the bondholders is a warning to investors that the federal government won't hesitate to push them aside in a crisis."

Thanks to the Obamanation that makes desolation and the Demoncrats they prove a failing economy and 6.5 million in job loses CAN be made worse by government! What a phenomenal job of bankruptcy after dumping $70 billion or so of our taxpayer dollars into that blackhole of regressive economics! Can't wait til they get a hold of healthcare.

Posted by BigPasture at 05/31/2009 @ 10:44pm
Gingrich passed his sell-by date nearly a decade ago. The only ones who still buy his arguments are the ideological equivalent of meth addicts.

Case in point: "BigPasture," whose drug of choice is the asinine theory that investments are the fuel of our economy. Wrong, "BP": Investments are the oil that lubricates the engine, nothing more. The fuel is natural resources, and the engine itself is the human labor force, preferably well-educated, in good health, and provided with well-functioning equipment.

Posted by JakobFabian at 05/31/2009 @ 10:56pm
. The fuel is natural resources, and the engine itself is the human labor force, preferably well-educated, in good health, and provided with well-functioning equipment.

Posted by JakobFabian at 05/31/2009 @ 10:56pm | ignore this person | warn this person

So the natural resourses you CAN'T drill, mine, or grow are the fuel, and the 6.5 million lost jobs aren't needed along with the 2.5 million new jobs promised are unimportant? Guess you will get your equipment from china since we no longer manufactor it here?

Posted by BigPasture at 05/31/2009 @ 11:21pm
Apparently all that is needed in todays world is to "Speak softly and carry a really BIG teleprompter"!?

That is what the totally unaccomplished and unvetted political infomercial elected President is doing!

Posted by BigPasture at 05/31/2009 @ 11:33pm
Case in point: "BigPasture," whose drug of choice is the asinine theory that investments are the fuel of our economy. Wrong, "BP": Posted by JakobFabian at 05/31/2009 @ 10:56pm | ignore this person | warn this person

Why didn't you tell Obamanation and the Demoncrats that before they pumped all that $787 billion in taxpayer money into the banking and financial markets blackholes? Now that was asinine!

Posted by BigPasture at 05/31/2009 @ 11:40pm
Newt Gingrich may well have gone too far in his assessment of Sotomayor based on that one infamous remark. Although her statement itself is obviously racist, it does not necessarily follow that she herself is a racist. If however a pattern of such remarks were to be revealed, for example, then Gingrich's assessment would be much more appropriate. And at this time, I don't have a strong enough command of the facts in the infamous case of the Connecticut firefighters to evaluate it; time to do more reading.

Posted by feinfein at 06/01/2009 @ 12:55am
Jumping in on another subject discussed above, the bankruptcy and takeover of GM by the federal government and the UAW is big, big news. And by no means good news. Not at all. I have long been hesitant to buy a car from GM, but now I am even more skeptical. Ditto for Chrysler. If and when I shop for a car, it would only make sense to turn to better companies such as Ford, VW, Honda, Toyota, and Nissan. The argument that I should buy a GM or Chrysler product so as to help recoup taxpayers' investment is foolish. It would be a bit like buying real estate in Iraq, which has seen so much "investment" of taxpayer money as well as of blood, sweat, toil, and tears by Americans and especially by Iraqis.

Posted by feinfein at 06/01/2009 @ 01:10am
Happy do you have anything better to post about or are you always just going to post the same off topic rants? Why not stick to the discussion at hand instead of whining.

Posted by Cccomfo1 at 06/01/2009 @ 03:13am
Since Nichols ins't accepting comment on this article about the murder of the abortion provider, I'll have to post it here.

This is appalling. I do not condone murder or threats of murder or even hints. This is not representative of "The Right", of "Conservatives", or of "Republicans". This is a criminal who's actions are not supported or even tollerated by anyone I know.

This is a guy, like Bill Ayers, who has given up on democracy and has decided murder is the only way to create progress. He is a lunitic and we need to shout it from the roof tops to make sure everyone hears.

Posted by Darin_the_Big_Fat_Troll at 06/01/2009 @ 06:47am
HAPP and apparently RIO/comanche under his new "nom de blog", Big Posture (heheh) HAVE to change the subject for exactly the reason I noted with (Posted by Mask at 05/31/2009 @ 11:13am).

You've got hard-core conservative Republicans like John Cornyn, Michael Steele, and Lindsey Graham openly defying El Rushbo and The Once and Future Speaker AND the BASE, by telling them to STFU on these attacks on Sotomayor.

It's a an honest-to-gosh civil war in the Republican Party.

Posted by Mask at 06/01/2009 @ 07:16am
Posted by Darin_the_Big_Fat_Troll at 06/01/2009 @ 06:47am

Translation- "I better get some CYA by vehemently denouncing this...and then try to shift the subject to Bill Ayers!"

Posted by Mask at 06/01/2009 @ 07:17am
To be fair, "Darin_the_Big_Fat-Troll," if Bill Ayers is a representative of the Left, then the assassin of Dr. George Tiller is a representative of the Right, whether you want him or not. It is of course decent of you NOT to want him.

On the other hand, I'm perfectly happy to accept Ayers as a leftist if you'll admit that Tiller's killer is a rightist. I've noticed that by taking responsibility in this way, we can look at the broader context in which each political murder takes place.

We can also crunch the numbers. Whose murderers have claimed more lives, those on the Left or those on the Right? I believe looking at these numbers would serve to challenge the myth of equivalency that the Right always summons at moments like this.

Posted by JakobFabian at 06/01/2009 @ 07:30am
Translation- "I better get some CYA by vehemently denouncing this...and then try to shift the subject to Bill Ayers!"

Posted by Mask at 06/01/2009 @ 07:17am

No, not changing the subject. Just loudly denouncing the indefensible. There is no excuse for allowing the people who agree with you to turn "political opponents" into "enemies". This is not war, this is the messy business of democracy. It must never draw blood.

Posted by Darin_the_Big_Fat_Troll at 06/01/2009 @ 08:03am
Speaking of democracy, I opined last week that I thought the removal of Saddam and planting the seed of democracy in Iraq was worth the extrodinary cost. Here are some heartening articles:

************************************************************ http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124381143508370179.html

Islamists Lose Ground in the Middle East

Kuwait's election is part of a positive trend.

The results of Kuwait's elections last month -- in which Islamists were rebuffed and four women were elected to parliament -- will likely reinvigorate the movement for greater democracy in the region that has stalled since the hopeful "Arab spring" of 2005. It also puts pressure on the Obama administration to end its deafening silence on democracy promotion.

************************************************************ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1189577/Muslim- extremists-anti-war-protest-driven-members-community.html

Extremists behind anti-war protest driven off the streets by moderate Muslims

The Muslim community turned on extremists in their midst yesterday, telling them they were 'sick and tired' of their behaviour.

The angry confrontation came in Luton, where anti-Islamist protesters brandished England flags last Sunday, before clashing with police.

The latest violence erupted as arguments raged between fellow Muslims shortly after Friday morning prayers in the Bury Park area of the town.

Posted by Darin_the_Big_Fat_Troll at 06/01/2009 @ 08:10am
Posted by Darin_the_Big_Fat_Troll at 06/01/2009 @ 08:03am

No, Darin. You had to "get ahead of the curve" with your denouncement of the murder of Tiller....but you had to get in your "Look at Ayers! Look at Ayers!" irrelevancy to take the sting out of a deliberate act of domestic terrorism by a person from the Hard Right.

If you were outraged and NOT seeking some political cover for your side, you would have left out the last line of that post and let it stand on its own.

The fact you dragged Bill Ayers into it, shows that it's more about politics for you than moral outrage.

Posted by Mask at 06/01/2009 @ 08:22am
The cons...too funny..

Ignore the newt behind the curtain!

Watch Bill Ayers and Paulson's bailouts instead!

Blame Paulson on the demons.

Use prophetic symbolism to change your nom-de-plume

Classic Nation neo-con behavior.

BOO!

Posted by crabwalk at 06/01/2009 @ 09:09am
If newt were a fruit he would have been thrown out years ago.

Posted by julien38 at 06/01/2009 @ 09:12am
and your associates.---Posted by snowball666 at 06/01/2009 @ 08:31am

Oh, I think you'll find a lot of our Right-wing friends have SUDDENLY...AMAZINGLY...developed a DIS-like for "guilty by association".

Posted by Mask at 06/01/2009 @ 09:20am
You know, for a guy who has reached his "Sell-By Date" - Newt Gingrich sure seems to still get lots of attention by the liberal elites. I'm sure you enlightened intellectuals would be horrified if you knew how many of us out here agree with Newt. You see, it's the hypocrisy that we tea-bagging racists can't stand. The hypocrisy.

Posted by NancyE at 06/01/2009 @ 10:31am
Nancy, are we "intellectual elites" that support a Supreme Court candidate that lacks the intellectual power to sit next to Clarence?

And I am also wondering what you think of Family Values and the horrors infidelity and divorce bring to the American family? Would 84 ethics charges fit into the realm of hypocrisy if those charges were made against a man that promised to bring cleaner govt to Washington? Do you agree that serving your wife divorce papers while she is in the hospital is acceptable behavior?

Posted by crabwalk at 06/01/2009 @ 10:49am
You see, it's the hypocrisy that we tea-bagging racists can't stand. The hypocrisy.

Posted by NancyE at 06/01/2009 @ 10:31am | ignore this person | warn this person

Dear nancyE: Keep on tea-bagging dear. That's a skill that we don't hardly have enough of and if you believe that Newty isn't a hypocrite, oh well. If Newt didn't have poor old Alvin Toffler to plagiarize, he would be speechless.

Posted by julien38 at 06/01/2009 @ 12:15pm
Oh... the entertainment value of the fringe right devouring it's own is priceless beyond description!

But, just as they cling to philosophies which have long ago outlived their usefulness, they will continue to clutch to their bosoms this disgraced "leader" who today carries all the relevance of a referee in a pro-wrestling match.

Posted by lumenpro at 06/01/2009 @ 12:44pm
Infidelity and divorce happens every day to all kinds of people. Just ask Bill Clinton. Ginned up ethics charges were later dropped. Let's talk about a truly disturbing past - associations with racist Rev GD America Wright, terrorist Bill Ayers, Dohrn, Acorn voter fraud. Do any of these matter, or is it just entertainment?

Posted by NancyE at 06/01/2009 @ 12:59pm
Nancy, do you agree with everything your pastor/priest/minister says? If not, why should Obama have Reverend Wright Wrapped around his neck?

Do you agree that Bill Clinton was allowed to have a consensual sex with another adult, or are you stuck on the fact that he did it outside his marriage? Is the state of a President's marriage grounds for impeachment, or are you just mad that he wagged his finger and lied (which is what I'm actually mad at him for - he should have just told everybody it was none of their business).

Do you believe that bombing abortion clinics is terrorism (i.e. attempting to scare women into not having abortions), or is it a righteous act condoned by god?

You are allowed to have all of those opinions, in this great country. Why would you want to stifle other people, just because they don't agree with you? Where is your forgiveness of others?

Posted by Stephen_Carver1 at 06/01/2009 @ 4:25pm
Posted by NancyE at 06/01/2009 @ 12:59pm | ignore this person | warn this person

you just spout the party line. not a word of truth. Acorn was not involved in voter fraud.

Posted by emile duBois at 06/03/2009 @ 09:06am
Posted by BigPasture at 05/31/2009 @ 11:33pm | ignore this person | warn this person

big cow pie should be your handle.

Posted by emile duBois at 06/03/2009 @ 09:09am
Guess you will get your equipment from china since we no longer manufactor it here?

manufactor? hahahahahaha

Posted by emile duBois at 06/03/2009 @ 09:11am
Newt and Rush, the voice of the GOP. the gift that keeps on giving.

Newt and Rush, the Obama re-election insurance policy.

Newt, Rush and Hannity, the three stooges.

no. not THE Three Stooges. they are unsurpassed.

Posted by emile duBois at 06/03/2009 @ 1:56pm
Excuse me while I kiss the sky.

Posted by WWW at 06/04/2009 @ 02:01am
excuse me, while I kiss this guy.

Posted by emile duBois at 06/04/2009 @ 08:02am