Gingrich is idiot, says State Dept.

[Tom Storer]

Top US State department official calls Gingrich an "idiot"

LISBON (AFP) - A top US State Department official called former congressman and current Pentagon adviser Newt Gingrich an "idiot" in an interview published here.

US Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Elizabeth Jones was asked to comment on Gingrich's recent harsh criticism of her department's Middle East diplomacy.

"Newt Gingrich does not speak in the name of the Pentagon and what he said is garbage," US Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Elizabeth Jones told the Publico daily.

"What Gingrich says does not interest me. He is an idiot and you can publish that," she added.

Gingrich called on Tuesday for dramatic change at the State Department, which he accused of backing Middle East dictators and undermining the policies of President George W. Bush.

The former House of Representatives speaker also blasted Secretary of State Colin Powell's plan to visit to Syria, which Washington has accused of harbouring fleeing Iraqi leaders and developing chemical weapons.

He said it was "ludicrous" to meet with Syrian President Bashar Assad, who Gingrich called a terrorist-supporting, secret police-wielding dictator.

Powell is expected to visit Syria during the first week of May as part of a Middle East tour.

"He is going to Syria because the president wants him to have a frank talk with President Assad about all the issues that worry us, be they terrorist training camps or the need to close the borders to Saddam Hussein's collaborators or the question of weapons of mass destruction," Jones said.

[Uli]

She's right on the money!

[RBS]

Once an idiot, always an idiot.

[Al in NYC]

The war between Defense and State is becoming ever more public.

[Tanager]

LOL. Man, so someone over at State does have balls and a spine.

[Dr Dave]

click here for a real newt orgy:


http://forum.kingsnake.com/newt/messages/33120.html

[Gordon B]

It's a testiment to George Bush's skill as a manager that he's been so successful at foreign policy, steering a middle course between State and Defense.

My brother-in-law wrote and produced a documentary that was on PBS a couple of years ago, "The Rise and Fall of Newt Gingrich." I thought it was very good and well balanced.

[Darryl G. Thomas]

Thanks Doc. That reminded me of first duty station in Thailand back in '75.

Yeah, it sounds like the State Department is getting tired of the Defense department's crap.

I'm wondering why Newt's still around and people are paying attention to him. Didn't his own party dispose of him?

It's funny, these guys love running against Washington but once they're out of office they refuse to go back to wherever they came from. They hang around, join think tanks or become lobbyists.

[Uli]

Originally posted by Gordon B
It's a testiment to George Bush's skill as a manager that he's been so successful at foreign policy, steering a middle course between State and Defense.

Gordon, what success at foreign policy?

[Tanager]

Originally posted by Gordon B
It's a testiment to George Bush's skill as a manager

Skill as a manager? You have GOT to be kidding me.

[Ron Thorne]

Skill(ed) and successful as a politician, perhaps.

[Al in NYC]

Yup, a successful foreign policy alright... semi-successful invasion of Afghanistan (Taliban out, Al Qaeda perhaps disrupted, few Al Qaeda leaders captured, ongoing chaos outside of Kabul and none of promised money to rebuild country appropriated), major diplomatic disaster at U.N. and elsewhere over U.S. insistence on attacking Iraq (alienation of long-time allies, massive public dissent around the world, marginalization of international organizations, deep disruption of post-WWII world order, trashing of decades of U.S. foreign policy, diplomatic policy, and defense policy), unprovoked "successful" invasion of Iraq (Saddam's government overthrown, thousands of Iraqis killed, significant destruction of infrastructure, chaos and disruption throughout country, looting and pillaging of vital pieces of human cultural history, much greater alienation of former allies, world public, etc., failure to capture Saddam, no WMDs found, protests against U.S. presence, world economy disrupted), not to mention major nuclear sabre-rattling with North Korea, members of the administation making public comments insulting our oldest allies, supporting Sharon while he turns up Israel's intimidation campaign against the Palestinians to a level of terrorism as yet unseen, holding prisoners in direct violation of the Geneva Convention on POWs to which we are a signatory, unilaterally abrogating treaties and international agreements to which we were also signatories, refusing to join the International Criminal Court for which generations of Americans at the U.N. fought, members of different branches of the administration battling in public over the direction of our foreign policy, holding Americans' constitutional rights hostage to the foreign policy "goals" of the administration...

Yes indeed, 2 wars, billions of dollars, thousands of dead people, and billions of pissed-off people later I'd say it's been an unqualified success.

[Jimmy Cantiello]

[RainyDay]

I wouldn't be surprised if someone in Bush's administration put Newt up to it. Bush and Co. are snakes and maybe this is a way to undermine Powell, whom I think they may have problems with.

BTW, Newt is officially a big FAT idiot.

[Tanager]

Originally posted by RainyDay
I wouldn't be surprised if someone in Bush's administration put Newt up to it. Bush and Co. are snakes and maybe this is a way to undermine Powell, whom I think they may have problems with.

BTW, Newt is officially a big FAT idiot.

According to Al Franken, Rush is the big fat idiot. You ever read that book? Pretty damned funny.

[Jazzooo]

I think Ali G said it best:

"Wot has you got such a huge head fo'?"

[RainyDay]

Originally posted by Tanager
According to Al Franken, Rush is the big fat idiot. You ever read that book? Pretty damned funny.

Another senior moment for me. But then, Rush, Newt, same big fat difference.

[GoodSpeak]

duh.



BTW, I read the book and I never laughed so hard ;-)

[shrugs]

how often y'all listen to Rush?



where's Hollywood gonna be for the Jessica Lynch movie?

[BFrank]

I love it when Republicans snipe at each other.


Melt-down soon to follow. Newt's a prime example.

In spite of all the facts from Al in NY in post 12, this clown has MAJOR public support still, and will probably get reelected.

Well, you can fool all of the people some of the time, and some of the people all of the time, ...... and still get reelected.

Know what is scary? That clique largely *believes* what they broadcast. If only they were a little more cynical a la Clinton.
Oh these righteous ideologues!

[Gary Sisco]

They have to believe their own bullshit. It's a Message From God.

I'm glad to see there's at least one person in DC who isn't afraid to tell the simple truth in plain English. Gingrich is an idiot. Always was.

[Gordon B]

Alright, Al, put your money where you mouth is. I offer you the following bet, to be decided early in 2004.

If the Iraqi mortality total for 2003, is higher than it was for 2002, you win, if lower I win. We'll have to agree on a referee from JC to make the determination as well as a bet amount but let's make it substantial.

Gary, Gingrich obviously has major character flaws and behaved recklessly compared to his brethren in the House, but no he isn't a total idiot. He rose to Speaker of the House, despite an abrasive personality and he deserves more credit than anybody for the shocking Republican majority win in the 1994 House Elections.

I don't like the guy at all but I respect his ability to think outside the box, something rare in Washington.

[walto]

I volunteer to do the body count (& and of course I'm always most willing to hold other people's $$)........but only if I receive total Blewis/Smith authorization to re-institute my "The Gordon-Monte emails" thread. Plus, I think public recantations in a manner acceptable to all parties (as well as to your humble fact-finder) ought to be required as well as cash. Would be much more meaningful, I think.

I eagerly await instructions.

[Gary Sisco]

Gordon -- But you forget to add his role in the shocking booting out of that same majority a couple of years later.

And I decided he was an idiot (and not the first or last to rise to a position of great power, I might add; I mean the Czar wasn't exactly a genius) after such a fuss was made about his list of required reading for all Americans that was being touted by his (illegal) PAC. Perhaps a forgotten thing by now, but the list was basically a list of dimestore books, without a single serious title.

I don't decide that people are idiots simply because I disagree with their political stance. I decide based upon their behavior and demonstrated thought.

Gingrich is an idiot. So what is the issue with calling him one? Stalin was an idiot as well, as any reading of any example of his writing will show. One doesn't have to be a genius to be a thug who rules absolutely. One merely needs to be ruthless beast that stomps on any and all who disagree.

[Darryl G. Thomas]

Gingrich was at his best as a "back-bencher", launching bombs at the Democratic majority (at the time) in the House. But once he had a chance to govern, to actually run things after '94 what happened?

He was good at playing political games, that's about it.

What I find interesting is the spin some are trying to place on this State vs. Defense Dept. controversy. Bush is being described as some clever puppet master allowing the controversy to be public as a way of scaring potential American foes. As if all of this is some master plan.

What in Bush's past suggests he has the brains to formulate such a plan? All the succesful businesses he ran before becoming governor of Texas? The Texas Rangers winning the World Series?

[Dr Dave]

As a lazy, complacent liberal, I just read the NY Times and believe every word. The word is that Gingrich would not have opened his mouth without Rummy knowing what was going to come out of it. Rumsfeld must really be feeling his oats these days--proved all those nay-saying generals wrong; got to show pictures of Iraqis toppling a Saddam statue; even got Tom Friedman saying Bush did the right thing and it doesn't matter if he trumped up the "weapons of mass destruction" stuff. Yessir, if I were Rummy I'd be feeling pretty damned good about myself. Good enough to have my pal air displeasure at that girly-man Powell.

I think Rumsfeld has got himself a solid gold victory here. I mean, nobody cares what's going on in Afghanistan, who in the hell is going to care about Iraq in another year? Maybe he'll even intimidate Kim Jong Il into either giving up his nukes or else doing something suicidal like attempting to bomb Seoul. Or maybe Anchorage (sorry, Ron!). Next year we'll be back to fighting about teaching Creationism in the schools, opening the ANWR to drilling, etc., etc., while we all go broke but vote for Boy George because not to do so would dishonor our Fighting Men And Women in Iraq, not to mention the memory of those who died on 9/11, and whatever else Karl Rove can pull out of his pockets. My fellow liberals, it's gonna get a whole lot worse before it gets better.

[patricia]

Dr Dave, unless the President gets caught with a hooker, he will serve a second term, for the reasons you stated in your last two sentences.
What will put him over the top, no question in my mind, is that no credible opposition has been put forward and it grows late in the day, from a campaigning standpoint.
In fact the lack of a credible alternative is, IMO, the biggest factor, even bigger than the amazing patriotism which seems to have emerged since Sept 11.
As you say though, not to give the Wartime President his second term, would seem almost treasonous.

[Ron Thorne]

Hey now, Doc, did you really have to talk about drilling in ANWR and the potential for NK nukes in Anchorage in almost the same breath? Thanks, pal.

Having said that, I agree with your overall assessment above. Gingrich didn't make those remarks completely independently. That would be proposterous to seriously consider.

Did you guys/gals know that after meeting with Dr. Billy Graham many years ago, and having a long walk and talk, Dubbya ascertained that he felt that he was "chosen" to lead us into a "new era"? It's Divine Providence. C'mon now, get on board.

[Ron Thorne]

Originally posted by walto
I volunteer to do the body count (& and of course I'm always most willing to hold other people's $$)........but only if I receive total Blewis/Smith authorization to re-institute my "The Gordon-Monte emails" thread. Plus, I think public recantations in a manner acceptable to all parties (as well as to your humble fact-finder) ought to be required as well as cash. Would be much more meaningful, I think.

I eagerly await instructions.

These aren't "instructions" (obviously), but perhaps a new starting point for a wonderfully creative concept from the "old" board.

Here's what started it all, folks!

Thread title: The Monte/Blewis emails

Random excerpts-

Posted by Walter Horn (aka walto) and others

___________________________________________________

02-13-2003 02:56 PM

Monte: Amazing. People are still talking about European dissent from America's quest as if it weren't just four pathetic countries.

Gordon: Yeah, and that includes Luxembourg!

Monte: Right, the Grand Duchy! Is Peter Sellers still the Grand Duke there?

Gordon: Tee hee.

Monte: And who's Belgium produced besides Hercule Poirot?

Gordon: Who?

Monte: The fictional detective.

Gordon: Right. They're big on French Fries there, I hear.

Monte: They would be.

Gordon: And there's some excellent beer. Not quite as full-bodied as a Hefe-Weisse, but pretty rich.

Monte: Still. It's not much of a country...though I guess I'm glad somebody stepped in during World War I.

Gordon: You think they'd remember, wouldn't you? There ought to be a certain feeling of indebtedness.

Monte: Bastards. They're no better than Iraq, really. Where'd they be if we didn't help out during their Iran war?

Gordon: I actually handicapped that one. Came within two degrees of freedom of calculating the total number of casualties within a margin of error of less than 2%

Monte: What the hell are you talking about?

___________________________________________________

02-13-2003 03:49 PM

Darryl -

Monte: Here's the peanut butter.

Gordon: Yo! Here the jelly.

Monte: This is my butt.

Gordon: Y'alls want a Mcintosh apple up it, bro?

Monte: Yeah, dude. Soon's as I can find yo' mama.

___________________________________________________

02-13-2003 04:17 PM


Gordon: I've been wondering. Do you think Hussein is among the 10 most evil men that ever lived?

Monte: I'm not even sure he's the most evil man on his block. He just happens to be in power there. Pretty much nobody in that neighborhood has the slightest scintilla of good in him --even if the occasional female there looks OK in a towel.

Gordon: No, I mean really. He's not not as bad as Hitler, but he's worse than Mussolini and Clinton, don't you think?

Monte: I suppose so. But what about Khomeini? Now there was a maniacal villain.

Gordon: I've got him at seven.

Monte: Attla?

Gordon: Darn, I forgot him. Might have to move Chief Justice Warren.

Monte: Stalin? Chris A.? Alex?

Gordon: Stalin, yeah. But I didn't put on anybody with any connection to jazz on general principles.

Monte: Not even Andropov?

Gordon: He didn't really have enough time to be bad. I think evil isn't just intent but manifestation. You have to have, if not actually killed anybody yourself, at least directly caused at least 10,000 people to be killed...and don't ask me what the hell I'm talking about.

Monte: But you had Clinton.

Gordon: It was so obvious that he was lying.

Monte: Right, or he had no idea what people mean by "sex".

Gordon: Come on, Monte. He was just lying.

Monte: I see your point.


___________________________________________________


02-15-2003 04:13 AM

Gordon: Jeez, Monte!

Monte: I take it you read the underwear on my head post.

Gordon: Yeah I read it. What's the point of gratuitous insults like that? Don't you see it just allows critics to paint everyone who supports the war as a bigot?

Monte: It didn't disappear though, did it?

Gordon: What?

Monte: My post.

Gordon: So?

Monte: Our God's obviously better than their God. Imagine not even being able to reach Lois!
__________________________________________________

Minor note of inquiry by Peppercornthorne:

Monte references a man named "Attla" in the last post, but I think he really meant (Mohamed) Atta, perhaps. However, since the name "Attla" is revered here in the Greatland for a renowned dog musher, George Attla, I want to be certain of the point of reference. Is it Atta, Attla or "other"?