Second Look at Newt?

I mention this because several emailers and commenters in the live-blog are ready to flip from Perry to Newt.

Here's something to keep in mind: What is causing the desire to flip? Perry said something that runs strongly counter to the conservative orthodoxy.

But these things pass. You hear these awful things, you react badly, eventually you halfway forget about them. Not completely, but they don't drive the train any longer.

Proof? The very fact that people are jumping on the Gingrich Express, apparently forgetting completely that three months ago Gingrich completely screwed the pooch by calling the Ryan Plan -- a thoughtful, realistic tough-love solution to a problem that absolutely requires a solution -- "right-wing social engineering."

Remember? Or has everyone forgotten?

My point here is simply that, three months later, people have almost completely forgotten this statement -- which once produced cries of outrage and condemnation -- and they're thinking of flipping to Newt from Perry over a statement Perry's just made which has produced cries of outrage and condemnation.

What will Perry's line look like in three months? I don't know. I know right now it looks bad.

But I know three months ago people announced that Newt had jumped the shark and should abandon his presidential campaign in disgrace, and spend the next year attempting to atone for taking a cheap shot at a brave plan, just to move the needle a little in polls.

And now...? Well now Newt Gingrich is on fire and may be the best hope we have.

Maybe we're all reacting very badly to the most recent bullshit we heard.

Which may be why Romney continues to do well -- his bullshit is the oldest.

posted by Ace at 12:21 PM

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