Newt writes off Bush, blames Rove for failures

www.insightmag.com
12/19/2006
Newt writes off Bush, blames Rove for failures, likely will not run in '08

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich speaks at the GOP Christmas dinner dance in Manchester, N.H., Friday, Dec. 15, 2006. (AP Photo/Cheryl Senter)

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has decided to break with President Bush.

Sources close to Mr. Gingrich said that, after having kept silent for more than a year, he has become openly critical of the administration, portraying the president as a weak man akin to Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter. The former House speaker has warned conservatives not to expect anything from the White House over the remaining two years and instead focus on building a base for leadership for 2008.

"Newt bit his tongue for months and now feels he has to tell his base the truth: the White House does not have the will or the power to promote any agenda," a source close to Mr. Gingrich said.

The sources said Mr. Gingrich, who refuses to commit to a presidential bid in 2008, blames White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove for Mr. Bush's mistakes, including the loss of Congress in 2006. They said Mr. Gingrich's criticism of the top Bush political adviser has been considered by the president and this could lead to Mr. Rove's early departure.

On Nov. 30, Mr. Gingrich, hosted by dozens of powerful conservatives, spoke at a private fund raiser for the Virginia Conservative Action PAC. Mr. Gingrich, lamenting the waste of the Republican Party's huge ad campaign during the 2006 election, called on Mr. Rove to either change his losing strategy or quit.

"2004 was pathetic, and 2006 was worse," Mr. Gingrich said, referring to the Rove-directed GOP campaigns.

Mr. Gingrich gave several reasons for the GOP's loss of Congress in 2006. He cited the U.S. failure to stabilize Iraq, the botched relief effort after Hurricane Katrina and the lack of an agenda that could have inspired Americans.

"If there was no FEMA, New Orleans would have recovered faster," Mr. Gingrich said.

Mr. Gingrich called on Mr. Bush to step up the war against terrorism and to crackdown on illegal immigration. Those attending the fund raiser concluded that Mr. Gingrich expected that conservatives will be forced out of the White House over the next few months.

Sources close to Mr. Gingrich said he's likely ruled out a race for 2008. They said Mr. Gingrich expects Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, New York Democrat, to become the next president and intends to position himself as the Republican presidential nominee for 2012.

"He is getting conservative money," the source said. "He has aspirations and heavy support. His mistakes as House speaker have been forgiven. He is being received tremendously from grassroots [activists]. But this won't be enough for any Republican in 2008."