While Kevin Drum is being his usual perceptive self today when it comes to today's John Roberts/gay rights story (that how this got printed and why would likely tell us as much or more as the content of the story itself), I think he misses the mark in his comments on Newt Gingrich. Was Gingrich more willing to at least talk to the moderates than the current Republican leadership in DC? Sure. And yes, in some ways that did indeed make him preferable to the Republicans we've got today. But it remains true that Gingrich was, personally, quite the ideologue. Still, even given that, he's much better than the current leadership of his party. Why? The big thing Gingrich gave us that we lack with Bush and DeLay was honesty and a willingness to make costly choices if it would help him reach his goals (in that way he was "reality based"). While Gingrich trumpeted his desire to cut big government programs, Bush et el. cower in the bushes when they slash, say, medical services for veterans. And the current team absolutely refuses to make many tough decisions, telling Americans that you can have a war and giant government spending and tax cuts all at the same time. This is understandable given the level of outrage that Gingich's actions provoked. But it's also duplicitous and a rather slimy way to run the country, especially if you are going to always going around trumpeting your own hard work and holier than thou morality.
I agree that Newt was better than what we've got now in certain ways - but it has more to do with the fact that he was honest and took ideas about government seriously, and not so much to do with any difference between 1994 and now in terms of the dominant Republican ideology.
Posted by armand at August 4, 2005 05:20 PM | TrackBack | Posted to PoliticsYes, but isn't that what we've been arguing for? It is at least what I have been talking about when I say that ideology isn't a horrible thing. And Gingrich never pretended he wasn't an asshole when he had to be. I've heard him interviewed on talk radio where some host is fawning all over him and asking him to run for president, and he pretty much says, nah, I'm too much of a jerk and I've pissed too many people off.
On the other hand, do I think Gingrich always made the right political choices? No. The gridlock that came out of his Congress was terrible for citizen perception of the institution (among other things). It's also clear that his era let a lot of the wingers out of the nooks and crannies and shadows and emboldened them. GOPAC was the source of the delightful words-to-use-to-demonize-democrats memo (which link I have at my office, not home, or I'd put it in).
So, I suppose I agree with you that in substance maybe Gingrich was a little better, in tactics he could be just as harsh, but he was more up front. I guess the Bush administration learned from Gingrich's experience and decided to piss on our heads and tell us it's raining.
Posted by: binky at August 4, 2005 06:06 PM | PERMALINK