American Politics Journal -- Newt Resigns!

Newt Resigns!
Loses Support of Peers in Wake of Lewinsky Scandal; Avoids Impeachment Fallout
by Dave "Doctor" Gonzo

Friday, November 6, 1998 --- New York (APJP) -- "Hello!"

"Did you see that, Doc?"

"See what, Mac?" said The Doc.

"I can't believe it, Doc. Just turn on MSNBC!"

"I just sat down to a quiet, romantic dinner with Krysztyna, Mac."

"Trust me, Doc -- this will beat her pepper-crusted salmon any day."

The Doc, media junkie and politics fan that he is, could not believe it.

He had missed the Breaking News To Top 'Em All.

Newt wasn't just stepping down as House Speaker -- MSNBC was reporting he was packing his bags and getting out of Dodge.

"Crikey, Mac. I can't believe I missed it."

"You missed the best part, Doc -- one minute, literally one minute before the news broke, that sleazebag Grover Norquist was on the phone with The Ghoul [John Gibson] telling him Gingrich was staying on as Speaker. The liar!"

The Doc laughed. "Listen, Mac, I'm getting off the line to watch the action. Take it easy!"

"Later, Doc."

Krysztyna and The Doc grabbed their plates and headed for the "media room." John was talking to Claire Shipman, who had that "deer in the headlights" look in her eyes.

"Is the White House celebrating?" asked The Ghoul, living up to those rigorously high journalistic standards he first showed in his O.J. Simpson reporting.

"Uh... well, I don't know," replied the well-known Starr-nographer.

I don't know? It was hilarious -- Shipman looked like a complete idiot!

Even Krysztyna was laughing. She'd uncorked a bottle of Ommegang which she'd just pulled from the fridge, and was pouring its contents into a pair of "yard" glasses.

Gibson and the shocked talking heads on MSNBC were in the "lightning round" segment of InterNight. Four callers in a row had been exultant at Newt's resignation. Jon interjected "Who'd have thought the first victim of Monica Lewinsky would be Newt Gingrich?"

Krysztyna let out another laugh at that one. "But look at the flip side," she said, "at least he avoids impeachment!"

We switched over to FOZ News Channel. Everyone -- Mara Liasson, Fred Barnes, Mort Kondracke and especially Tony Snow, whose conservative views The Doc disagree with but whose hip, uptempo style he digs, were trying to maintain a professional demeanor, but the shock had already set in. At one point, Tony smiled at the camera, said "We'll be right back," and a couple seconds later, as the camera panned out, he looked down, the smile looked forced, and his incredulity over the Gingrich resignation showed.

Tony knew it -- The Doc knew it -- and his friends (the answering machine has taken six messages so far) knew it: the Republican Revolution is dead. The public career of Newt Gingrich is over. He and the "investigate, don't legislate" agenda were utterly defeated in a national vote of no confidence.

And the GOP is -- at least incrementally -- the better for it.

NOTE: As our earlier commentary (below) had gone to press, reports that Newt Gingrich had been considering not running for reelection as House Speaker had begun to circulate in Washington.

Countdown to Oblivion?
It may be the end of Newt's reign of error
by Dave "Doctor" Gonzo and the Editors of APJ

Friday, November 6, 1998 --- New York (APJP) -- As Newt Gingrich was making frantic phone calls yesterday in what may turn out to be a vain effort to shore up what little power, credibility and influence he wields among House Republicans, two of his colleagues in the chamber were busy consulting aides and colleagues, reviewing poll numbers, putting final touches on public statements to be made early Friday, and arranging press coverage.

And as of late Friday afternoon in Washington, one of these prominent House Republicans has openly challenged Gingrich for the Speakership, and another is vying for House Majority Leader, the seat currently held by Dick Armey -- whose snippy, near-incoherent performance during appearances on various news shows Election Night was the last straw for many embarrassed and angered GOP loyalists.

And the Beltway gossip mill has shifted into overdrive on the eve of a weekend sure to be filled with half-hearted reflections by the crow-eating punditocracy on how wrong their election forecasts were -- and how their influence too has diminished.

Most of the talk surrounds not only the fates of Gingrich and Armey, but a number of other House leaders -- most notably Republican Conference Chairman John Boehner, Majority Whip Tom DeLay, Government Reform Committee Chairman Dan Burton, and NRCC Chairman John Linder.

Make no mistake, though -- Civil War has broken out in the GOP, and the first shot was fired this morning just after 7 AM Eastern Standard Time on NBC's Today when Rep. Matt Salmon (R-AZ) said at least seven Republican members of the House would definitely not vote to re-elect Gingrich as speaker, and "there may be as many as 30 or 40... Four years ago we won the Super Bowl. We haven't had a winning season since. We've got to change coaches or we'll lose our franchise."

Steve Largent
Less than four hours later, Rep. Steve Largent (R-OK), just elected to his third term, announced he would challenge Dick Armey for the post of Majority Leader. "It has become clear to me and a large number of members of the Republican conference that we have to have new leadership," said Largent, citing his own "fresh voice [and] new ideas to help move not just Republicans forward, but America forward... There is only one reason that anybody should ever seek a leadership post, and that's to lead."

Some within the GOP consider Largent a bit too "green" for the Majority Leader post, but his strong conservative voting record will appeal to many of his colleagues. Add to that his reputation as an ethics stickler, especially with respect to campaign cash, which may work strongly to his advantage in the wake of bad behavior by Newt Gingrich, Dan "Paki-stash" Burton and others.

Largent is also telegenic -- a factor sure to be noted in the wake of Armey's disastrous television appearances of Tuesday evening..

Bob Livingstone
And two hours later, Rep. Bob Livingstone (R-LA), Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, announced that he will challenge Gingrich for the Speakership. "I don't do so lightly, I don't do so cheerfully, but I do so resolutely." He added a swipe at Gingrich and what now look to be his dashed ambitions: "I am not running for party chairman, I am not running for President... I cannot say that I have a majority, but I do believe when the dust settles you will see that I am the next Speaker of the House.''

These two public proclamations have done little to dim speculation that others in the House may be on the ascent -- most notably John Kasich (R-OH), Jennifer Dunn (R-WA), J.C. Watts (R-OK) and George Radanovich (R-CA), all of whom have been mentioned as Republicans moving further up the food chain.

While the pundits will no doubt be paying attention to the Republican carnage in the House this Sunday, they may neglect unhappy GOP campers elsewhere -- in the Senate, Trent Lott, Don Nickles and Mitch McConnell have reportedly been making many of their own phone calls and trying to grow eyes in the back of their heads, as has Republican National Committee Chairman Jim Nicholson. And others with close GOP ties suddenly find their reputations shot, including reclusive hired-gun media consultant Andrew Finkelstein, whose negative TV ad campaigns for Alfonse D'Amato and Lauch Faircloth turned out to be the "Ishtar" of the 1998 campaign, and ex-Christian Coalition Chairman turned political consultant Ralph Reed, many of whose candidate clients unexpectedly went down to defeat.

In an interesting side note, aides to New York senior confirmed to press outlets that Senator Daniel Patrick will retire from the Senate when his term expires in 2000 -- making him the first member of the 106th Congress to announce his retirement. Moynihan's personal animosity to President Clinton has bubbled out from Beltway offices to the media on numerous recent occasions and is rumored to have severely undercut his influence within the Democratic party.

As all GOP hands scramble for battle, Democrats are reportedly working overtime in the wake of what is widely and rightfully seen as Tuesday's defeat of the GOP "investigate not legislate" agenda to build the foundation for policy and legislative initiatives for the 106th Congress, especially in areas of Social Security protection and a Patient's Bill of Rights. Do not be surprised if an emboldened Democratic Party, given the open discussion of their possibly retaking the House in 2000, puts campaign finance reform on the back burner.