Basketball And Politics: It's Only But A Game UPDATE: GINGRICH SAYS WILL NOT BE ON ROMNEY TEAM

UPDATE: NEWT MANS UP... SAYS HE WILL HELP COACH A ROMNEY TEAM... BUT WILL NOT PLAY SECOND-STRING OR BE RELEGATED TO A 'WATER BOY'! 

DOVER, Del. – Newt Gingrich said on Thursday he would “probably not” accept a Cabinet position under a Mitt Romney administration but would be happy to advise the former Massachusetts governor on policy.

Asked the question in an interview with local radio station WILM at the Hollywood Diner, Gingrich, one of three contenders left in the race for the GOP presidential nomination, said he wouldn’t be interested in joining likely nominee Romney’s Cabinet, but added—“not because I am opposed to Mitt.”

“Look, if the choice does end up being Romney versus [President] Obama, I can be very, very enthusiastic for Romney; that is a huge choice,” the former House speaker said. “But I had a very good life doing a lot of fun things: I’m a grandfather, I’ve got two grandchildren I want to spend time with, Callista has got me into being a really bad golfer. I would like to move up from bad to mediocre.”

That doesn’t mean Gingrich wants to disappear completely. He said he would be “very happy to be an adviser. I did a lot of that in the Bush administration, both on health care and national security, and I put in thousands of hours just offering strategic advice and looking at specific programs.”    [http://nationaljournal.com/2012-presidential-campaign/gingrich-probably-won-t-take-romney-administration-job-20120412]

NOW THAT'S A LEADER... GO NEWT!!! 

  

Once you have learned the correlation between basketball and politics you will have mastered one of life's complicated mysteries... and will be the better for it.  

Many a die-hard basketball fan believes in playing hard... and playing to win.  This same rule can also be applied to many staunch political supporters who pick their candidates early and are committed to fight to the end for a victory.

That explains why so many voters are disappointed and seething following this past weekend's semi-concession by Newt Gingrich.  

During a recent FoxNews interview, Speaker Newt Gingrich all-but conceded the GOP nomination to Governor Mitt Romney and agreed to forge an alliance with him... to let by-gones be by-gones, and call a truce from the war of words that has inundated the airwaves for the past several months.  

http://www.myfoxny.com/dpp/news/gingrich-would-rally-behind-romney-dpgonc-km-20120408

Regarded as one of the star players in the GOP field, Gingrich––who is by far the most intellectually superior of all candidates running in this year's primary–– has said to his fans repeatedly that he was in the 'game' all the way through the Convention in Tampa. 

So... needless to say it caught many by surprise when he appeared to concede, and saying he would throw his support behind the front-runner if Romney secured the required delegates for the nomination?  What?!?!? 

As mean, negative and down-right nasty as Mitt has been toward him, and the other candidates this entire primary race... how could Gingrich support Romney should he weasel and cut-throat his way to the nomination?  

Some say Newt's comments reflect him as the patriot he is and has always been. While others say he's vying for 'cool points' that could possibly be leveraged into an appointment in the new administration... or a post in the future White House. 

Whatever!  But this one thing is crystal clear in light of all that has transpired of late: in politics... just like in the game of basketball, the opposing teams are rude to each other... they verbally taunt, trash-talk, throw elbows and knock each other around on the court for the duration of the game and in front of their committed fans/voters––who often take seriously these emotional shenanigans.  

Do the players not understand that it becomes personal to many of the fans/voters who sometime remain furious-angry-vexed-irked-fire.hot.mad, vowing  NEVER to attend another basketball game and even pledging to remain on the sidelines or stay at home and not vote in the Fall because they feel betrayed?

Well...  here is some advice to the zealous fans and the young, newly active GOP stalwarts: know this about basketball and politics... both are just sports, purposely hyped-up by the opposing teams to keep the masses/fans involved. 

When it's all said and done, and at the end of regulation play... the players/the candidates are good pals.  They will   slap each other on the butts, say what a 'good game' each played, get their checks and go to the house. 

Therefore, it would behoove all of us grudge-holding fans/voters to understand the art and the fundamentals of how basketball and politics are played... for our own good and the good of the country. 

But always, always remember:  Basketball and politics: IT'S ONLY BUT A GAME... So let the games begin!

Oh NO! Gingrich Unleashes Vince Haley As New Campaign Chair

Vince Haley

As usual, the main stream media spends its time parroting presidential aspirant, Speaker Newt Gingrich's, recent announcement to reduce his campaign staff by one-third and narrow his focus on those goals which he hopes will carry him on to the GOP Convention in Tampa in August.  But because many of today's journalists are so lazy and don't know how to go a step further ... they've missed the huge story.

So, here is the big news in this whole transition: who Newt tapped as the new man in charge of the Gingrich 2012 election ship, Vince Haley––who replaces Michael Krull. 

Now believe me, Haley, is a piece of work! 

Best known for his keen ability to "think outside the Washington, D.C. beltway box" and... for not being afraid to verbalize and implement his unconventional–– often radical ideas––Haley, without a doubt was the quiet boots-on-the-ground, mastermind of Gingrich's South Carolina primary win. 

No one in America (including former community organizer, Barack H. Obama, nor Karl Rove of the Bush administration) does grassroots strategising as effectively as Vince Haley. Don't let the youth of Haley fool you... he is a prolific writer and one of the best opposition researchers in politics today.  

His uncanny ability to draft strategic plans that include layers-upon-layers of variables and options, and also his nonchalant style of incorporating matrixes of plans A's and B's within any given strategic plan... makes him a force to be reckoned with.  

Haley has long been considered one of Newt's coveted secret weapons. Cloaked in an unassuming, boy-next-door persona, Vince Haley's behind-the-scenes hardball tactics have disarmed many in the political field... often catching off-guard those who have discounted his abilities. Consequently, by the time it has been realized that he has seized control of the political debate and has forever altered the trajectory of the moment  ... it's too late! 

So... for Gingrich to unleash Haley at this stage of the political process indicates Newt has only just begun to fight.

Indeed, young Haley is one to watch... as he is sure to bring his signature "David & Goliath, hit-'em-and-kill-'em" political game plan that presents meaningful, thought-provoking issues which are sure to have Americans' tongues wagging. He has the skills to take Gingrich's flailing campaign to a whole new level, and finally, he will offer hard-hitting push backs, unlike Senator John McCain's wimpy responses back in 2008, to assure the American public that the truth gets out.  

Nope... Haley will research President Obama's talking points and policies to the 'empth' degree for accuracy and take it straight to the President in a way that won't be pretty!  

*Pop the popcorn. Game.ON!*

 

This Is A Political Civil War––Anyway You Slice it!

Governor Sarah Palin, Speaker Newt Gingrich and many Tea Party members are of the belief that a protracted GOP Presidential primary is a good vetting exercise, and that such an exercise only strengthens whoever the potential GOP nominee will be for the Fall.  

But that does not seem to be how long-time establishment Republicans, such as former Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour and D.C. pundit, Karl Rove view it. Both men recently took to the national news shows to voice their opposition to the negative tone and long, drawn out battle of this year's Republican primary.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0312/74183.html 

So... which side is right? Would Barbour, Rove and company rather wait until the Fall and allow President Obama's savvy opposition research team to present to the general public all the background information that is currently bombarding the airwaves on Mitt, Newt, Rick or Ron (whichever should win the nomination)?


Or is Sarah Palin's position the right one: encouraging the fight to continue so that all the voters in all the States get an opportunity to participate in this democratic process? 


For the record... both sides have merit in their arguments. 

But, as I see it, there is a bigger tussle going on as well... a fight for the soul and direction of the Republican Party and which of these sides will be in charge going forward.  And that battle doesn't appear as if it is going to be over anytime soon!

The GOP battle lines that are being drawn are clear to me: they are between rich, money-having, elite Republicans––that Romney represents... versus the working class, poor, grassroots Republicans––that Palin/Gingrich relate more to.

If the rich Republicans can shut down the "negative" primary wars at this juncture, then their candidate, Mitt Romney, moonwalks to the nomination.  

But... if the poor/regular Republicans can hang on and allow the primary process to continue through the Convention in Florida, there is a big chance that they will have a majority at the table and can force a brokered convention––which will open the door for a conservative-favorite such as Palin or another Tea Party candidate to be victorious.


Rich/poor... elite/grassroots... This is a political civil war anyway to slice it!!