BILL CLINTON ENDORSES NEWT GINGRICH??

Many pundits, analysts, and media types are wondering how the voters of South Carolina could favor Newt Gingrich over Mitt Romney and the other candidates.

There is a lot to be said for his performance at the two debates prior to the primary and that may have had a lot to do with it. But beyond that I think that former President Bill Clinton gives us a small glimpse into why voters are ignoring all the “establishment” Republicans who have endorsed Mitt Romney. (Among those that have endorsed him are John Sununu, John McCain, Tim Pawlenty, Bob Dole, Jon Huntsman, Lisa Murkowski, and Nikki Haley).

In his interview with Bill O'Reilly, in response to a question of whether he respected Newt Gingrich as a man, Clinton responded:

"I don't disrespect anybody who works with me in good faith. He was way more political than I would have been. He defended what he calls 'scorched-earth politics' and I certainly was the beneficiary of that.”

I interpret this to mean: Newt didn't care who he angered as long as he did what was necessary to accomplish the goals that he had set, and I (Bill Clinton) got to reap the rewards by getting a second term as president.

In that one sentence Bill Clinton tells all conservatives what they need to know about Newt.

1. Newt is unapologetic about doing what is necessary to advance the Conservative cause and do what is right for the country.
2. Establishment republicans didn't like Newt's leadership because he didn't care about their individual fiefdoms.
3. Newt was honest in his dealings and negotiations with the president which is why Bill Clinton agreed to the legislation passed by the house. (Which would lead one to believe that the President would have urged the Senate to also pass the legislation).
4. He challenged republicans to cross him, but they didn't dare, because they knew they would be exposed politically.

I for one want that in my speaker and more importantly in my President. I want my President to be passionate. I want him to take members of his own party to task for abandoning conservative principles. I want him to take no prisoners when it comes to passing legislation that is right for the country, even if it isn't politically popular within his congressional caucus. Welfare reform passed with 226 of 235 Republican representatives voting in favor, with 30 Democrats. This sounds like leadership to me. 225 Republicans voted in favor the Tax cuts passed in 1997, along with 164 Democrats. Is that not leadership????? Where were all these Congressmen then? Where were their cries of explosive personality and instability?

Most of the “Republicans” complaining about how Newt is a bad leader cannot seem to explain how he persuaded them to vote with him. Most seen to imply that he was combative, confrontational and explosive. The question is never asked: If Newt had not had these traits, would republicans have been able to get welfare reform passed, cut taxes and balance the budget?? And more importantly, if Newt had not been the Speaker of the House would Republicans have even tried?

Probably not.

I CANNOT

On a dark and moonless night I look up
and can see a million miles away
as the way off stars of the Milky Way
sparkle across the expansive distance.
But, I cannot look into to your dark beautiful eyes
as they twinkle with love and mischief.

I can hear the roaring of cargo plane engines
as they land on the runway
and helicopter rotars as they lift off the ground  
But, I cannot hear our children laughing and begging me
to spin them around, one more time.

I can smell the acrid oder of fires burning
in the distance and of jet fuel exhaust
rising from the airfield.
But, I cannot smell  your perfume
that gently wafts through the air
to let me know that you have been here.

I am here and you are there.
separated by thousands of miles,
continents and oceans,
on the other side of earth.

But, I cannot escape feeling for you
the same as I did when we first met.
I cannot avoid needing you
as much as I ever did.
And, I cannot ask for a more perfect person
to call “My Love.”

To my wife Tania
From Foward Operating Base Salerno