Newt's Out! Is Perry In?

GOP Presidential Hopeful
Newt Gingrich

The media and Republicans in general have been abuzz all day regarding Newt Gingrich's campaign implosion.  News agencies nation wide and abroad are reporting that the mass exodus of Gingrich's  chief campaign strategist, his top spokesman and top aides signals the end of Gingrich's candidacy. The former Speaker of the House has vowed to continue campaigning, but his future looks pretty grim.

Reporting for Britain's The Telegraph Tony Harnden explains.

         " Newt Gingrich’s chances of winning the right to challenge         Barack Obama for the White House were always pretty slim for many reasons – his personal life, his apostasy on global warming, his penchant for OTT rhetoric, his image as the ultimate creature of Washington and his association with 1990s battles with Bill Clinton to name but a few."

Although we were not likely to  support Mr. Gingrich's candidacy, we
have always respected his knowledge of history and his ability to articulate facts, and to debate the issues without the use of notes or teleprompters.  It was therefore a surprise to hear him publicly criticize Paul Ryan, a fellow Republican during the first week of his campaign.

Reports say that there was a vast difference of opinion between Mr. Gingrich's idea  of how the campaign should be conducted and those of the people in charge of planning strategy, fund raising events, and appearances. Leaving the campaign were Gingrich campaign manager Rob Johnson, strategist Sam Dawson, and  long time Gingrich spokesperson and trusted aide Rick Tyler. Senior adviser David Carney also left, and was soon joined by campaign staffers in South Carolina,  Iowa, New Hampshire, and Georgia.  National co-chairman  Sonny Perdue, joined the exodus and it is rumored he will support Tim Pawlenty's candidacy. 

An important factor in this political disaster was Speaker Gingrich's wife Callista's interference in the campaign. The people who left Gingrich's side are professionals whose specialty is to plan the candidates appearances and strategies.  Declinining to  follow their advice, Mr. Gingrich decided to go on a Mediterranean cruise with his wife instead of staying home and doing damage control on his abysmal first week.   It was when Gingrich announced to his top advisers that he was not going to change and conform to their expectations, that the decision was made to leave.  It seems that neither Mr. or Mrs. Gingrich realized the work and the hours that a candidate must devote to a campaign for the presidency of the United States.

Newt and Callista Gingrich

Reading the various accounts of the events leading to this political disaster, has been revealing.  It has shown a totally different side of Speaker Gingrich and qualities we'd never attributed to him.  His lack of discipline and focus, and devoting time to his personal whims are not qualities one seeks in a president.  Mrs. Gingrich who had been considered to be an asset to her husband has instead proven to be a hindrance, meddling in campaign issues better left to the professionals.   It is our opinion that for Mr. Gingrich to continue campaigning would be a waste of his, and Republican donors' money.

No sooner had Gingrich's campaign staffers resigned, that rumors began to fly that his top advisers would be heading to Texas to work for Governor Rick Perry who has been often named as a contender.  The speculations were not without foundation.  Rob Johnson managed Rick Perry's reelection campaign in 2010.  David Carney also worked for Mr. Perry, which has increased speculation that Rick Perry is leaning towards running.

Jim Geraghty of the National Review Online writes:

           "Just checked in with three GOP consultants, all of whom have been in the campaign business a while and none of whom are yet affiliated with a 2012 presidential campaign, about today’s mass exodus of staffers from Team Newt.

• GOP Consultant One: “Knew this was coming… I bet Perry is in this thing sooner rather than later – these guys aren’t jumping off without somewhere else to land.”
• GOP Consultant Two: “Knowing all those guys, they are neither impetuous not impulsive. I also have never seen a two week vacation two weeks after entering [the race]; I took that as portentous.”
• GOP Consultant Three: “Gingrich was clearly melting down, and Perry is clearly gearing up, so it was time for the switcheroo.”

Will he run?

Speculations about Governor Perry's desire to run have been heating up for weeks.  It seems that every word he uttered was carefully examined to see if one could read his intentions in them.  According to CBS News' Political Hot Sheet,  Rick Perry has been discussing the possibility of throwing his Stetson in the ring but was reluctant to do so without his trusted advisers Johnson and Carney.  Now that they have left the Gingrich camp, it might indicate that the Governor is really serious about running.

Texas Governor Rick Perry

As we've mentioned previously Sister One, (yours truly) is a Texan, while Sister Two is a "winter Texan". We both like Rick Perry.  We are not sure that this is the time for him to run for president.  Govenor Perry has kept our state afloat during this economic crisis.  He has stood up to Barack Hussein Obama, and it is quite obvious that the president does not like Perry.  Governor Perry is the longest serving governor in the state of Texas, and the longest currently serving Governor in the U.S. 

When asked if he really plans to run for office, Governor Perry stated that he would have a decision by the end of this year's legislative session.  That session has now been extended until the end of this month.  We are concerned that the Bush/Perry connection will have an effect on his campaign.  The New York Times has already published an article linking the two, Rick Perry’s Bush Problem  (who says we sisters are not fair and balanced?) Our question is this:    Is Washington D.C. Ready for another "Cowboy President"?  Although Rick Perry is also a motorcycle enthusiast.   We have to admit that we believe that he would be a much better choice for our country than the man who now occupies the White House.  

As previously stated Two Sisters From The Right will not endorse any candidate until later in the race.  We would like to present all of the GOP hopefuls througout the coming months and let our readers know a bit about each. As our favorite newscasters usually say:  We report, you decide.
Two Sisters

  Copyright June 2011 - Two Sisters From The Right