Newt Gingrich Hails Obama’s Handling Of Pirate Standoff — NOT
Hmm, not really sure how to characterize Newt Gingrich’s response to Obama’s handling of the pirate standoff, which ended with three pirates killed and the Captain rescued.
Is it praise for Obama? Not really. Is it giving Obama credit? No, it’s not really that, either.
Newt had been hammering away at Obama’s handling of the crisis all weekend on Twitter. At one point he said that it was making us “look weak.” At another, he railed that “the correct answer to piracy is to destroy it” and not to “negotiate with it.”
So what’s Newt’s reaction to the successful resolution? He Tweeted:
The navy seals did exactly thr right thing in rescuing the american captain President obama did the right thing in allowing the navy to act
In other words, all Obama did was to get out of the way, and the Navy deserves all the credit.
Of course, that version of events doesn’t really take into account the far more hands-on role that Obama actually played. Nor does it take into account the fact that the pirates wouldn’t have been accessible to the SEALs if General Gingrich’s opposition to negotiating had carried the day.
Update: Military expert blasts the bejesus out of Newt and other conservatives over this.
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I believe Newtie’s response is accurately characterized as “damning with faint praise.”
Aw, c’mon, Greg. Of course you know how to characterize it. You’re just exercising the decorum necessary from a serious blogger.
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We readers, commentators, and stone-throwers are not subject to such restraints!
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My characterization? Noot is disappointed that the situation didn’t have a bad outcome.
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Jed Lewison at DailyKos TV has it all on video tape.
http://www.dailykostv.com/w/001151/
You want to know where negotiations got us? It got us with a rope tied to the lifeboat which made it much easier for the SEALS to set up their shot. Gingrich is a frikkin tool. By the way Greg, here is a clip you may not have seen yet.
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http://www.dailykostv.com/w/001151/
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Newt seems to not understand that nobody wants a bellicose fool in power anymore.
Uh, why in the world does anyone, anywhere, listen or care what Newt Gringrich has to say about anything.
It boggles the mind why national television shows continue to book right-wing hacks who continue to prove themselves degenerate partisan fools time and time again.
What a complete dolt!!! I am so sick of Newtty Bird running his newly catechism’d (and I say that as a Catholic-so “rosary beads all around”) lips about anything on our Country’s government policy. I mean the GOP can’t come up with anyone new on the scene that is credible? They seem to either recycle old ones or if they find new ones – they seem a little “off”. How about Charlie Crist??? Can Charlie Crist please stand up and start speaking for the GOP??? Please….at least it would be a respectable dialogue.
Predictable, no? A fetishization of the military role along with the suggestion of emasculated Dems. He can’t really do much else within the ideological framework he’s helped create.
Important context on the piracy issue
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http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/right-wingers-who-hit-president-pant
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Turns out Bush punted on the issue but Obama has been on it since early February.
Of course Newt is right to withhold praise. Obama should have flown to the Indian Ocean with a couple of six-shooters and an AK47 and taken out those pirates himself. It’s the least a president can do. It’s what Newt will do when he’s president.
“Noot is disappointed that the situation didn’t have a bad outcome.”
Newt, Rush, Beck – you name the rightwing nutjob and he or she is disappointed that Obama didn’t blow it. So far from blowing it, in fact, that it was a pretty sweet victory for him.
Newt really just wants to be on the right side of the news cycle, he got some punches in before the president saved the day then got to have the appearance of being reasonable by handing out backhanded congratulations afterward. I will be interested to see how the piracy issue plays out, there was a really good story about possible solutions here:http://www.newsy.com/videos/solving_the_pirate_problem/
“Newt really just wants to be on the right side of the news cycle, ”
So he gets a pass?
I don’t think so. Newt really wants to be back in power.
Now the President Obama handled the negotiation. Get real the all he did was get out of the way. Which is what a great President or leader should do make a decision and let the workers get the job done. You left wing complained about how you thought President Bush micro-managed now you want to label President Obama as a micro-manager. President Bush did not micro-managed and President Obama did not this time let’s give him credit for that an independent speaking out.
We should have sent the Three Wingnuteers in to do the job – Newt, Rushbo & Rove. They could have teabagged ‘em, stolen their drugs and then called them names. None of this chickensh*t stuff with snipers and Navy Seals.
People like TJ who call others names while complaining about others calling people names is the problem. We have the right they are wrong many times we have the left they are wrong many times. We have the ones on the middle who are correct. Let people help people without government telling everybody what to do and taking from workers to give handouts to none-workers. Plenty out there for those how work from one who was once homeless and with no special programs for my color, my *** or my sexuality so it is possible for all.
Shaun, my friend, I was being facetious. By the way, what is your “***” that there are no special programs for? Maybe we can get some stimulous money.
TJ “***” is (male/female), people how work for the best interest of the their kids, grand kids and country do not want handouts and will never be helped by stimulous packages they only further help the rich and powerful stay in power by weakening those who work by taking from them and giving to those who just want handouts.
Shaun
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Even though you are spouting right wing rhetoric let me guess, you are in the middle…But whom did you vote for Shaun? LOL gimmie a break. Stop running from your uniform hoss.
Greg – I expect you’ve seen the Politico update where Newt is allowed (thankyou jesus) to break free from the oppressive constraints of twitterhttp://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0409/Newt_offers_measured_praise_for_Obama_on_rescue.html
I thought it was great that the President was “involved” in settling the pirate conflict and was given…and, I believe accepted the accolades for it being a successful conclusion. Just so “we” remember when things don’t work out….he must also take…or at least share, the blame. I haven’t seen much of that.
A fantastic read….very literate and informative. Many thanks….where is your RSS button ?