Within minutes after Newt said, “I think grandiose thoughts” at last night’s debate. The Romney campaign released a devastating and hilarious compendium of Newt’s grandiosities. I’d be shocked if this didn’t become a TV ad very soon:
Newt’s FullaBluster
Charleston, South Carolina
Debates, like life, just ain’t fair. Newt Gingrich “won” the debate last night with an opening 5-minute tirade against CNN’s John King, ABC News and the liberal media who–I love this part–“protect Barack Obama by attacking Republicans.” King’s crime was to raise the accusations that Newt’s ex-wife …
Likudnik Paranoia
Uh-oh, there’s another wave of attacks–both here and in Israel–on those of us who support Israel, but not in the mindless, aggressive way that neoconservatives do and not at the expense of America’s national interests. Over there, Bibi Netanyahu has proclaimed the New York Times and Haaretz the “biggest” enemies of Israel. Over here, …
Newt on Fire
Charleston, South Carolina
I have a new print column, which TIME subscribers can find here, about the most riveting four minutes of the campaign so far–the confrontation between Newt Gingrich and Juan Williams in the Myrtle Beach debate on Monday. That confrontation seems to have given Gingrich a major boost: most of the polls taken …
Not so Nimble
To follow up on yesterday’s post about the “greatest act of presidential weakness” in Newt Gingrich’s lifetime, my estimable friend and fellow Ashkenazi Goldblog asked the Pentagon why the joint Israeli-US missile-defense exercise was postponed. Answer:
Newt Be Nimble
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
You may have missed it, but the “biggest act of weakness by any American President in my lifetime” took place this morning. At least, according to Newt Gingrich, who has a bit of a problem with hyperbole. Indeed, in the ensuing moments after denouncing the wimpatheticity of Barack Obama, he proclaimed the …
Iran’s Dangerous Game
The Republicans running for President have never seemed more ridiculous than when they discuss Iran and gratuitously–and ignorantly–criticize President Obama’s handling of that issue. Obama has patiently increased the economic pressure on Iran and, acting in concert with the Israelis, worked to sabotage the Iranian nuclear program–and …
Mitt’s Bain
I have a new print column out, which TIME subscribers can find here, about the triumphs and tragedies of Mitt Romney. The triumphs are obvious: he’s won twice now. The tragedies, also obvious: he’s a prohibitively awkward candidate for President. A good part of the awkwardness stems from the core elements of his resume, all of which he …
New Hampshire: Inconsequential, but Not Boring
The New Hampshire primary was a disappointment to those of us who love the event. The crowds were minimal. The candidates’ stump performances were largely dreadful. The looming South Carolina bloodbath is likely to be a far more …
Mitt’s Having a Tough Day
Manchester, New Hampshire
Lots of people are already having fun with this Mitt Romney quote:
“I want individuals to have their own insurance. That means the insurance company will have an incentive to keep you healthy,” Romney said. “It also means that if you don’t like what they do, you could fire them. I like being able to
…
Romney Unscathed in Twin New Hampshire Debates
Well, Mitt Romney won the weekend and, most likely, the Republican nomination. No one really laid a glove on him, not even in the NBC debate on Sunday morning, which was far sharper and more substantive than the ABC debate last …
Two Candidacies, Two Planets
Concord, New Hampshire
Rick Santorum had a terrible and deeply silly day of campaigning yesterday. I watched him work at two events. He got into a foolish and unnecessary argument over gay marriage with students at a college convention–and then he wasted an evening speaking to a truly lunatic fringe assemblage of Glenn Beck viewers …
The Truth About Iran
Fareed Zakaria has an important column today in the Washington Post, an antidote to the dangerous silliness about Iran that is being peddled by the Republican presidential candidates. Iran is faltering, not gaining strength, Fareed writes. The sanctions regime that the Obama Administration patiently negotiated with Russia and China is …