Palin vs Gingrich

We have an interesting race that has developed in the state of Georgia, where the Republican race for Governor is heading for a runoff, pitting Sarah Palin versus Newt Gingrich.

Of course, Palin and Gingrich aren’t running against each other, but their candidates are.

Palin threw her sharp elbows into the Peach State by endorsing Karen Handel, who had the most votes in Tuesday’s GOP primary for Governor.

In second place in the Georgia Republican primary was Gingrich’s candidate, former Congressman Nathan Deal.  The runoff is just around the corner on August 10.

Rest assured, my colleagues in the political press corps in Washington, D.C. will be more than happy to make this into a battle that might be a preview of the 2012 Presidential race on the Republican side.

Palin v Gingrich.  Sarah versus Newt.  What more could you ask for than that?

Nothing against Handel or Deal, but the national press corps doesn’t want to see them debate.

How about Gov. Palin against Speaker Gingrich?  Maybe at the 50 yard line in the Georgia Dome?  Or maybe at the stop light to get on Georgia 400?  Suggestions are welcome.

Palin did a robo-call for Handel before the primary.  Will the former Alaska Governor go down South before the August 10 runoff to do any events in person?  Or do you just stay off stage, and let Newt see if he can drag his candidate over the finish line?

Stay tuned on this one.  2012 is closer than you think.

51 comments Add your comment

Brian

July 21st, 2010
2:06 am

New study shows that each Sarah Palin Tweet causes decrease in reader’s IQ.

Read this article, it is HYSTERICAL.

http://www.dailygoat.com/?p=1821

Mike

July 21st, 2010
5:11 am

This was hardly a Palin vs. Newt contest, in my opinion. I’d vote for Newt in a heartbeat over Palin, but I didn’t vote for Deal. Newt endorsed a candidate who resigned from office because of a potential ethics investigation, the reason I did not vote for him. I didn’t vote for Palin’s candidate, either, because of her endorsement.

Rick Patel

July 21st, 2010
5:44 am

Sarah Palin is a fresh, fair, new-age feminist who is feared by the left. Newt is an irrelevant old geezer, a cheater in marriage, and an ineffective Speaker who was ridden-over roughshod by Bill Clinton. Newt is boring, Sarah is exciting. But the point is, let’s don’t give Roy Barnes the key to the Governor’s mansion again.

John Davis

July 21st, 2010
9:45 am

Newt authored the Contract with America and led the Republicans to passing 9 out of 10 resolutions. Dick Morris dragged Clinton, the pragmatist to the middle to save his Presidency. Newt was demonized for shutting down the government twice when Dems pushed for deficient spending. Newt’s plan worked…he left us with a balanced budget and surplus. The last time that has happened. This is not an economy that we can ride out, this is a paradigm shift from credit-to-cash. We need solutions and actions right now. Slick Willy demonized Newt and got away with it and is still living off of it. History is not so difficult if you actually study it. We need solutions right now and Newt is the only one giving them every time he speaks. All of the others give us “talking-point-candidate-brush-strokes.” I agree that Palin is remarkably fresh, a quick-study and would make a great VP, as would Romney or Pawlenty; however, Newt is our only “Reagan” for now, and is the only one who has actually done what has to be done right now. This will become apparent when you see Newt debate any of the above, including King Obama.

Pedro

July 21st, 2010
10:08 am

I did not vote for Deal or Handel and I’m disappointed that the runoff came down to those two. Ethics is in issue for me in regard to Deal and, unfortunately, I think that the only thing fresh about Sarah Palin of late is a fresh coat of extremism. Her endorsement of Handel sent me packing.

Steve

July 21st, 2010
11:18 am

“Sarah Palin is a fresh, fair, new-age feminist”…….who is stupid.
The left doesn’t fear her, the left welcomes her. Would love to see her run for President, ensuring a loss by the Republic party.

curt

July 21st, 2010
12:40 pm

Great. Now we have an ex governor with delusions of competence competing with an ex congressman with delusions of grandeur to convince us that their candidate is best. How about none of the above

Hell-bent

July 21st, 2010
12:41 pm

Wow, talk about a lose-lose situation! I’ll be voting for Barnes…I wouldn’t want anyone to think that I was stupid enough to vote for the people supported by these two Phenomenal IDIOTS! Sarah Palin is an EMBARRASSMENT to all humans. Also, let’s not forget that the Republican’ts who represent our state voted AGAINST extending Unemployment Benefits to their unemployed supporters…..You heard me Chambliss & Isaakson!!!

Sammy

July 21st, 2010
12:45 pm

AMEN, John Davis!!! I would give anything to see Newt debate Obama! Axelrod would have to throw in the towel!

Newt is the smartest political mind in America and he is going to be our best bet not only to win in November 2012 but more importantly, to get us headed in the right direction again. He will be the first to admit that poor judgement cost him a couple of marriages. But what is Obama’s poor judgement costing us???

Hugh

July 21st, 2010
12:47 pm

Oxindine was way up in the polls and then a robo call from Palin puts Handel on top. She was in striking distance of the Ox the whole time…seems Palin’s endorsement was it. All of the top 4 were very good, the outcome doesn’t bother me even though I didn’t vote for her.

The idea that Sarah Palin is a fresh coat of extremism is nonsense. There is nothing extreme about her positions, and the fact that she’s having such an impact on primaries around the country says she is more mainstream then extreme. Extreme by definition means far from the norm. A lot of people seem to agree with her.

East Cobb Independent, Female Voter

July 21st, 2010
12:48 pm

Palin will be Handel’s kiss of death. Handel has to keep an arm’s length from that train wreck. I will seriously consider Dean or Barnes if Handel relies on her endorsement.

Republicans for Roy Barnes

July 21st, 2010
12:50 pm

I am switching my vote to Roy Barnes

SHC

July 21st, 2010
12:50 pm

Prediction: If Palin throws her weight behind Handel, and Gingrich does or doesn’t throw his weight behind Deal, Handel will destroy Deal. If Palin and Gringrich stay our of the fray, Deal wins.

That is the power of Sarah Palin, and for good reason !!

Middle America

July 21st, 2010
12:57 pm

Hmmm…Nathan Deal has ethics issues and was endorsed by Newt Gingrich who resigned as Speaker of the House because he was the loudest critic of Clinton’s infidelity despite cheating on his own wife at the same time as well as using political contributions unethically.

Hmmm…Karen Handel quit her elected job to focus on running for a bigger office and was endorsed by Sarah Palin who quit as Governor of Alaska to run for President.

If I were a Republican voter I’d have serious qualms about voting for either of these candidates. One is likely to do something unethical and the other is likely to quit when a better opportunity comes along.

SHC

July 21st, 2010
1:04 pm

East Cobb and Repubs for Roy Barnes, you are not true conservatives. RINO’s more likely, if even that. What you fail to realize is that conservatives, true conservatives are angry, and we’re taking this country back, with or most likely, without you. The most conservative president in the 20th century, won 49 of 50 states in 1984 because he energized conservatives.

DollarDawg43

July 21st, 2010
1:04 pm

Middle America I am a Republican voter and I do have serious qualms about voting for either of these candidates. I honestly don’t believe either is qualified. I hope I am wrong but I believe I have a pretty good idea who our next Governor will be: Roy Barnes.

Wow….just wow.

This is hard to believe but I saw it coming. This was by far the most lackluster slate of Republican gubernatorial candidates I can remember.

ROY BARNES

July 21st, 2010
1:09 pm

People both have ethics issues, no unlike roy (485 land deal for my buds) barnes. All 3 suck.

Robert

July 21st, 2010
1:18 pm

Karen Handel just lost my vote. Anybody who would want Sarah Palin’s endorsement is not fit to serve in any state office. Be careful who you look fo support from.

Refuse to be Conned

July 21st, 2010
1:24 pm

SHC wrote, “What you fail to realize is that conservatives, true conservatives are angry, and we’re taking this country back, with or most likely, without you.

There’s nothing conservative about “true conservatives.” They took a federal surplus, turned it into growing deficits, and doubled the national debt while lining their own pockets and those of their cronies (Nathan Deal included).

Conservatives (so-called)—who lied about the cost of Medicare Part D in order to get it passed without paying for it, ran deficits during times of economic growth, gave welfare to millionaires (e.g., oil subsidies, nuclear subsidies, agricultural subsidies, spending on obsolete cold war weaponry, special interest tax brakes), continue to argue for renewing Republican tax cuts for the wealthy without paying for them despite their multitrillion dollar cost, argue to take away people’s freedoms if they don’t like their religion or sexual orientation, and are continually looking for ways to amend or repeal amendments of the US Constitution—are conservative in name only.

CON-servative would be more fitting.

Democrat4life

July 21st, 2010
1:24 pm

Sarah Palin is the biggest threat to our National Security that I can think of. She puts on a cutsie show, winks her eye, bobs her head and says “you betcha” and “gosh darnit” and that makes people think she’s qualified to have any in politics, let alone run for president?!

I haven’t heard anything come out of Palin’s mouth that would be any different from how a Miss America Pageant contestant would answer to one of those “thought provoking” questions they’re asked so they appear to have some sort of intelligence. Hell, I could say half the crap Palin says, but that doesn’t make me qualified to hold a government position. “Taxes should be lowered”, “We need to drill more to get America less dependent on those terrorists’ oil wells”, “Maverick”. Uh-oh, put me in the running to be president.

The fact is, Palin is a trained beauty queen that knows exactly what to do to win people over and get them to like her – A hypnotist, if you will – so I understand why so many are dumb-founded by her. She puts on a grin, does a cutsie-tootsie wink and says exactly what people in this economy want to hear. But if people keep buying into that we’re all going to be in trouble one day.

Me personally, I think she’s the anti-christ. Who said it would be a man? It would actually be a brilliant cover…

KM

July 21st, 2010
1:25 pm

I am a registered Democrat and while I did not support Roy Barnes in yesterday, I will be supporting him in November. In my opinion, I hope Karen Handel wins because hers views at this level seems to be the least likely of the two to gather enough votes statewide to win. And as far as Palin vs Gingrich issue, democrats don’t fear Palin or anything that comes out of her mouth but Newt is someone that we may not agree with but we do pay attention to what he say because he do give ideas that has a sense of logic behind it.

Blasephmy

July 21st, 2010
1:32 pm

Newt Gengrich would absolutely destroy Palin in a debate. His intelligence level is so far beyond Palin it’s not even funny. If the 2 were to debate, Comedy Central should host it as a roast.

David

July 21st, 2010
1:35 pm

All the hostility towards Palin just shows you who the liberals and Dems fear the most. Best of all worlds: a Palin / Gingrich ticket, and Republican control of both houses of Congress. We’re taking back America from the liberal, bed-wetting Dems come November – and that’s just the start.

Deal Supporter

July 21st, 2010
1:36 pm

I’ve known him for nearly 50 years. We were friends and associates at Mercer and he remains one of the finest people I’ve ever met. I hope that the spotlight is on him and his opponent instead of Ms. Palin and Mr. Gingrich.

Leigh

July 21st, 2010
1:42 pm

If it is Palin versus Newt “KKK” Gingrich, I will support Handel all day long. Enough said.

Peachtree John

July 21st, 2010
1:51 pm

I’ll admit that age is beginning to crawl into my mind and that I don’t really bother to read all the published reports that are in print. I have been around for a number of elections and realize that politicians are very good at speaking—-most only speaking. Predicited that after our current president (small p on purpose) made a speech during the previous Presidential elections that he would be a force to recon with. Unfortunately, that prediction was correct. Why? Because he could make a speech. Face it. Most of America is not up on what goes on.
Anyway. Newt can make a speech and he knows the system—not to mention he has the intellect to bring issues to the surface that matter. Have followed him since he was a professor at West Georgia.
Yes, Sarah is a fresh face. Her fresh face is far easier to look upon than Obama’s.
Roy Barns? Surely “good ole boy” politics leaves a bad taste in the voters’ mouths. Apparently not. Karen is the new fresh voice in GA politics. Use some logic people. You think that Capital in Atlanta does not reek with “good ole boy?” With Roy at the helm again, we will be back in the past and of no relevance nationwide. Roy blew it once,don’t let him blow it again.

Donna

July 21st, 2010
1:54 pm

I will never vote for Handel…especially with Palin backing her. Why do we want to put in office a person who did not even have the gumption to finish college? If Deal does not win the run-off, I will switch and vote for Barnes in the General Election.

BOYCOTT BP

July 21st, 2010
1:55 pm

We need to come together with new visionary leaders. I vote Democratic and the thought of Roy Barnes makes me sick. Between us, can’t we put someone new and visionary in?

[...] endorsing Handel, and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich endorsing Deal. Jamie Dupree of the AJC [...]

Grandpa Right, formerly of Cochran

July 21st, 2010
1:58 pm

If Palin was just a “barbie-doll” and an idiot, people would disregard her; instead the left despises her and feels compelled to demonize her and call her names. If they REALLY think she is as dumb as they say, they must be hoorified that the American public is also stupid. They truly fear her.

Newt Gingrich would make a great subject for a Greek tragedy. I have no doubt that he is the most intelligent, knowledgeable, qualified candidate for POTUS since Ronald Reagan- however, his personal weaknesses and hypocricies would destroy him in the electoral process. I, for one, regret that because his conservative mind is brilliant- but his philandering and accompanying hypocrisy has destroed his political potential. A shame.

Alabama Communist

July 21st, 2010
2:00 pm

No doubt this is a choice between the worst and more worst for all parties involved!

Black Female Republican

July 21st, 2010
2:03 pm

I am voting for Deal! Handle lost my vote with the Sarah Palin endorsement.

And yes Black female Republicans do exist :)

Artatlarge

July 21st, 2010
2:06 pm

If Sarah Palin is ANY kind of feminist, it is the kind bent on taking women’s rights back to the 1920’s. Allowed to vote, maybe, but only as your Lord and Master Husband tells you to.
Between Handel and Gingrich, it is a choice of which kind of bigotry do you prefer? Newt is one of the scariest politicians out there, and he isn’t satisfied, since his Contract With America hasn’t finished destroying the middle class while making the rich even wealthier at the expense of everyone else.
Neither of these fascists deserves to be elected, but this is Georgia and the voters will elect one of these thugs who will ignore their needs and wishes while kissing corporate behind.

Chuck

July 21st, 2010
2:08 pm

Such big talk for so few that actually voted – only one in five could be bothered to show up, but of course blogging is convenient.

Grandpa Right, formerly of Cochran

July 21st, 2010
2:14 pm

DONNA-

I assume that you are well-educated, and you may have been required to support yourself and pay for your own education. I have an underdraduate degree and MBA, but my parents strained and sacrificed to allow me to make that happen. From my experience, I believe the majority of students are just like me- supported financially and/or emotionally by family while we obtained our educations. And to be honest, I feel quite sure that the UGA degrees that I obtained really gave me only two significant advantages- they opened doors of opportunity, and they kept me in school long enough to mature just enough to avoid making an ass of myself when I began to work.

Handel did not have the advantage that I and so many of my classmates had, so I am reluctant to criticize her lack of formal education. To the contrary, I admire the fact that she has accomplished so much while earning a degree only from the school of hard knocks. Without determination and drive, she couldn’t have done it.

She has been the head of a large county government, was elected Secretary of State of the largest state east of the Mississippi River, and may be two weeks from becoming the Republican candidate for Governor.

Donna, what have YOU done with your “education”?

I voted for Handel yesterday as the lesser of several evils; the more I listen to her critics, however, the more enthused I become about her candidacy.

Mic

July 21st, 2010
2:18 pm

Only a liberal would criticize the Republicans for wanting to find a way to pay for additional unemployment benefits instead of throwing out money they don’t have. I’m old enough to remember what a sorry state Georgia was in with Roy Barnes!

carl

July 21st, 2010
2:20 pm

Palin is a money-grubbing clown. If you want to choose a conservative for prez in 2012, fine. But her? Really? She is not qualified. And she won’t defeat Obama. I bet there are some Republicans that could.

carl

July 21st, 2010
2:23 pm

Only a conservative would actually believe that the Republicans in the Senate care about finding a way to pay for things such as unemployment benefits. Throwing away money we don’t have? Iraq? Hello? Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans? Hello? But I will grant you that Barnes stunk. But so does Purdue. And so will Deal or Handel.

Gary

July 21st, 2010
2:24 pm

God I miss Newt. The last of the intellectual politicians. This new breed of representative dissappoints me regularly. I don’t know if they are just trying to appeal to the masses, but I miss having a brilliant thinker who could give a speech that you could learn from and never look at a teleprompter. Speeches filled with history and facts, not false promises and constant partisan attacks. People want MSNBC and Fox news I guess. Really does take the fun out of our political system and makes it a poison you just want to avoid….. Come back Newt. I am ready to learn from my policians again.

Gary

July 21st, 2010
2:29 pm

Hey liberals, You don’t have to pay for tax cuts…. You just spend less. All we are asking is that you don’t take more of my money and spend it. The government does not PAY for that. It is the programs they fund that they have to PAY for. We are in a huge economic down turn. Letting the Bush tax cuts lapse will mean giving unemployment extensions for 10 years to about 14% of our citizens. Cut Taxes… Cut Spending… Cut the deficit… = Creates Job and prosperity.

russell myers

July 21st, 2010
2:39 pm

Whoa, Hell-Bent, just a minute now. You’re wrong about the Republican position of not wanting to extend unemployment benefits. They agreed to the extension of unemployment provided that the money to fund the extension came from the pool of UNSPENT STIMULUS DOLLARS. Yes, unspent! The stimulus money is just sitting there waiting to be spent. What, may I ask, could be more “stimulating” than using that money to help unemployed Americans! Stick to the facts!

carl

July 21st, 2010
2:40 pm

Yes, we do pay for tax cuts. By “we” I refer to those of us who aren’t rich as the richest. The Bush tax cuts and war and greed started our economic downturn. Now, we pay and pay and pay.

williebkind

July 21st, 2010
2:41 pm

Newt is a very intelligent communicator. Communicating was Sarah’s shortcoming in the beginning but she has vastly improved that. However, her beliefs in American values and traditions has always been keen and sound. She is a common sense rugged American that makes liguids run down the legs of progressive liberals. Sarah is bashed almost as much as Bush by the communist marxist lame stream media. They are not journalists. They shape the news to fit their agenda even if it requires a planned blackout of information. November will change the politics but it wont change the media. You must listen to Fox and radio to get a real picture of the world around you. The journalists today are not journalists remember that! Maybe when the conservatives or should I say rugged Americans take back congress, we should visit the FCC and highlight the duties of free broadcast stations. We are a representative republic.

russell myers

July 21st, 2010
2:41 pm

Sorry, David. I’m a lifelong Republican but even I cannot imagine that a team like Palin/Gingrich would snag the White house. She’s not experienced enough by far and he . . . well, let’s just say he had his chance in D.C. and didn’t do as much as he could have by far. I’m unimpressed.

Will

July 21st, 2010
2:42 pm

This is a bad year to run as a democrat. If you don’t believe me go to Rory Reid’s website and no where on there will you find his last name. All is says is vote for Rory. Which should be an embarrassment to his father Harry. Barnes is in big trouble no matter what you read in this publication.

dave

July 21st, 2010
2:48 pm

Those of you on here who really are “conservatives” and would consider voting for Roy Barnes (aka Bobby Kahn), certainly need to think about what you would be doing. If you want to turn this state over to the teacher’s union (don’t give me the line that it’s not.. walks like a duck, quacks like at duck) and continue to see Georgia’s schools and our children’s future go down the drain, then go to it. Deal has used his “public service” to enrich himself and I can not support him and aka Bobby Kahn will eat his lunch using it against him.
The rest of you Palin haters keep on making yourself look small and petty which is exactly what you are.

kaipo

July 21st, 2010
2:48 pm

Enter your comments here

williebkind

July 21st, 2010
2:49 pm

russell myers

July 21st, 2010
2:41 pm
I am sick of experienced politicians. It is like eating all my vegetables. I want something American and that is all the experience most of the world craves.

kimmie2shoes

July 21st, 2010
2:51 pm

Reading these posts from people who say they didn’t vote for a candidate strictly because of the person who endorsed him/her is mind-blowing. How stupid can you be? This is what is wrong with our system and quite frankly, it is an extremely immature thought process. So you don’t like Karen Handel because you don’t like Sarah Palin and Palin gave her a two thumbs up? And you’ll vote for Roy “raise my taxes” Barnes and give us more of the crap he handed us prior to 2000 because you don’t like Newt and Newt supports Nathan Deal? Seriously, if some of you people posting comments here are the best that GA has to offer in intelligent investigation of the two Republican candidates we have, then we are doomed to go back to the Tax and Spend Democrats. Thanks for nothing.

mike

July 21st, 2010
3:33 pm

You now have two good nitwits handling the state of Georgia now. One who will have the citizens skinning bears in north Georgia and the other will have all the men who look like him out womanizing.