You’ve no doubt seen this article in the Politico. The article, which originally erred by naming Tom Price instead of properly citing Phil Gingrey, quotes Gingrey as follows:
“I think that our leadership, Mitch McConnell and John Boehner, are taking the right approach,” Gingrey said. “I mean, it’s easy if you’re Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh or even sometimes Newt Gingrich to stand back and throw bricks. You don’t have to try to do what’s best for your people and your party. You know you’re just on these talk shows and you’re living well and plus you stir up a bit of controversy and gin the base and that sort of that thing. But when it comes to true leadership, not that these people couldn’t be or wouldn’t be good leaders, they’re not in that position of John Boehner or Mitch McConnell.”
I ran a primary campaign against Phil Gingrey in 2002. Sadly, we lost in the runoff. Back then we accurately characterized him as an unimaginative whore to leadership. Of course then in a Democrat controlled Georgia state legislature, Phil was always the first Republican in line to kowtow to Democrat Governor Roy Barnes. Everybody knew Phil would be the first Republican to sell out the caucus to the Governor in the state legislature.
Nothing has changed. You should not extrapolate from Gingrey’s comments that the average Republican member of the House of Representatives feels that way. I hear from dozens of them daily and they all think Rush is right. That’s exactly why Boehner has shifted to full opposition against the stimulus package.
During the farm bill debate in 2007, the Georgia Republicans in the House made a pact to stick together and vote against the bill. Going into it, they intended to. But then someone pointed out to them that if they had state wide ambitions, they needed to support the farm bill. It was, of course, fatuous nonsense. But Gingrey promptly marched down to the floor and voted for the farm bill, betraying the rest of his colleagues (Kingston voted for it too, but everyone knew he would given the massive amount of farmers in his district lobbying him. Gingrey had zero farmers).
So don’t be surprised by this. Just note that should Gingrey ever run state wide in Georgia we’ll actively oppose him.
Daniel Horowitz
Neil Stevens
Moe Lane
Steve Maley
Jake Walker
Stupid is as stupid does...
texas214 (Diary) Tuesday, January 27th at 9:53PM EST (link)why would this, back benching, fool (that being nice to him) take on Limbaugh, Hannity,Levin… with their listenership (Republican Voters) ready to to defend the positions taken by the leadership in response to the so called Stimulus Bill.
I hope he gets a challenger in the next election cycle just on the grounds of stupidity. What a fool.
Gingrey
LawSchoolRed Wednesday, January 28th at 12:55AM EST (link)[Not cool, man. Let's not be accusing people of stuff like this on here. — Erick]
And the 90% of scott garrett that is conservative is great….there is another 10% of him that is batsh%t insane though.
very well done
victor_cocchia (Diary) Tuesday, January 27th at 9:57PM EST (link)Erik
As usual a well written piece which sheds light on our “leaders” in Congress. While I understand his claim that actually being a member of the House being more difficult than it appears on the surface, isn’t the sign of a true leader the ability to traverse difficult situations without abandoning ones principles.
While we understand that it is the responsibility of the members I Congress to keep America running, and that one needs to pick their battles since reality dictates that you will not triumph all the time, this esteemed member of congress needs to realze that now is the time to fight that battle. He should save the vitrol for those looking to rob Americans of their hard earned tax dollars in order to create another permanent voting block.
All Rush is calling for is true conservative values to trump the natural instinct to survive the next election, and for that I applaud him
“It’s not tyranny we desire; it’s a just, limited, federal government.” -
Alexander Hamilton
Who is behind his meteoric rise?
AHALgal Tuesday, January 27th at 9:58PM EST (link)n/t
Perhaps he needs a challenger…
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He's a do nothing back bencher
Erick Erickson (Diary) Tuesday, January 27th at 10:02PM EST (link)They identified him as a leader because the original article misidentified the congressman in question as the Leader of the RSC, which was not true.
Who will stand on either hand and keep this bridge with me?Follow @EWErickson
MSM wish fulfillment (n/t)
Kyle-MI (Diary) Tuesday, January 27th at 10:13PM EST (link)n/t
forgot the /sarc on my original post
AHALgal Tuesday, January 27th at 11:06PM EST (link)There’s no doubt that Gingrey is a back-bencher. It’s surprising to see him getting any coverage because he has the reputation of phone-ing it in.
As for challengers, I can’t think of any possible candidates currently elected in his district that aren’t as stayed as Gingrey himself.
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1 new job = 1 hour/week according to Obama/liberals/democrats!!!
Elizabeth Christian (Diary) Tuesday, January 27th at 10:10PM EST (link)Wow – I did not know he was like that – he is on Cspan right now with a Cong. from New Jersey – Cong. Scott Garrett – they are making some great points about this new stupid stimulus (spending) bill. I can’t believe he tried to take on Limbaugh???
My title is speaking about what this Cong. Garrett just said on Cspan – according to this new idiot spending bill and Obama his 2-4 million jobs created or saved – the criteria is if 1 person works 1 hour per week a job was created!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? Who the heck works 1 hour per week – oh yeah Congress and Obama – guess that is where they got that foolishness from.
Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.
~Benjamin Franklin
Scott Garrett
Erick Erickson (Diary) Tuesday, January 27th at 10:15PM EST (link)He is a total rock star.
Who will stand on either hand and keep this bridge with me?Follow @EWErickson
Yes, I was quite impressed with the coverage tonight on Cspan
Elizabeth Christian (Diary) Tuesday, January 27th at 10:30PM EST (link)He and in all fairness Gingrey were both spelling out where all of this money is supposed to be going which is not towards creating jobs.
Gingrey did go on and on about a lot of the $ going to Alaska??? I did not know if that was a jab at Palin but the bridge to nowhere was mentioned – maybe it was more towards their Senators and Congressmen?
Scott Garrett really made the case on why this spending (stimulus) bill was such a horrible idea. I was very impressed in his presentation, the #’s he quoted, etc… If only all Americans could have heard this perhaps they could really see Obama’s change for what it is.
Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.
~Benjamin Franklin
How everybody wants to opine
antisocial (Diary) Tuesday, January 27th at 10:26PM EST (link).. on Rush and imply there are smarter. I can’t stop laughing… Here is something from Rush’s Radio show…
“Greetings my friends, welcome back, Rush Limbaugh, the cutting edge of societal evolution and half my brain tied behind my back still in order to make it fair.”
Hello Rush – even half is not fair. How about tying 3/4 th?
Obama Doctrine – Boot On The Throat
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What is to be done?
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No. You can’t – Moe Lane
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The Emperor has no clothes!!!
Mark Levin replies to Gingrey
katesmith (Diary) Tuesday, January 27th at 10:39PM EST (link)Mark suggested on his radio show that if Gingrey finds the job so difficult, he should quit.
"That's right I said it!"
Erick Brockway (Diary) Tuesday, January 27th at 11:27PM EST (link)Levin cracks me up.
I knew when I saw Ga. mentioned in Politico all I had to do was check in here for the straight scoop.
Given what I learned from E., sounds like this guy and Kent Williams should compare notes.
Note to lefties;
“Don’t be afraid to see what you see.” -Ronald Reagan
Activists taking Action
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Sent Rush a Thank You note...
Erick Brockway (Diary) Tuesday, January 27th at 11:32PM EST (link)It seems there is a form on the DCCC.org website inviting its members to send notes admonishing Rush to “be nice”.
“Stand strong against Rush Limbaugh’s Attacks — sign our petition, telling Rush what you think of his attacks on President Obama. We’ll send Limbaugh your comments.”
http://www.dccc.org/page/petition/rush
So I sent Rush a Thank You note via their site.
Note to lefties;
“Don’t be afraid to see what you see.” -Ronald Reagan
Activists taking Action
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This is good info...
Darvin_Dowdy (Diary) Wednesday, January 28th at 8:27AM EST (link)…we need to put a spotlight on these Rino/Transnationalist who have a death grip on “our” GOP. We need names and extreme finger pointing like this. These people must be purged if the GOP is ever to get back in the winners circle again. And we need to be there in 2010 to stop this Obama machine.
Erick, I’d truly love to see “OPERATION LEPER” expanded. Great work on this guy and on Nicole Wallace. But there is, as you know an army of these scoundrels and they have control. And winning elections is “not” a priority for them. These individuals can operate very nicely in an Obama administration. And, hey, the pressure is off! They’re no longer the majority party. They can kick back. Spend more time on the golf course. Life is good for them. “These” should have zero influence on the Repuplican Party! Its an unpleasant task but we must begin the process of pushing them out. Darvin Dowdy