Sheen gathers over a million Twitter followers in a day. He opened a Twitter account with the help of Hollywood product placement company Ad.ly. The company, doing this ‘pro bono’, specializes in celebrity endorsements. Sheen is open about his motive: money. After all, Kim Kardashian earns $10,000 per contractual tweet. Depending how fast he types, not a bad gig.
Meanwhile, Newt’s debut for the Big Dance 2012 is mess. For his last chance at the brass ring one would think 12 years was enough time to get basics down. So how bemusing to see Newt remains Newt — strategic trial balloons leaked and then immediately knocked down by his own people. The right hand is not talking to the righter hand. To wit, nobody coordinating tying up his financial matters before showing ankle to the press. His Fox contractual implications not considered. etc.
His big moment today? Walked back so far, it’s beyond feeble. He can only announce an intention to set up an exploratory committee.
For those who’ve spent time with him, vintage Newt. Disorder, confusion and last minute scramble to assemble an after the fact narrative. Same as it ever was. Can’t wait for the campaign. Really.
Bob Gates is a frustrated man. It’s March 2011 and he’s *again* a lonely voice warning Congress, Obama and other audiences against mounting military operations in a third Muslim nation. Both Gates (and some military, to be fair) warn that a ‘no fly’ zone is not a simple speech but a complex military operation. It can only be established after destroying Libyan radars, AAA, air field infrastructure, etc. And that’s not mentioning calls to insert American ground troops in the midst of another Muslim civil war. The Boy King? Perhaps for diplomatic maneuver room he leaves the door open to no-fly requests from a motley assortment of ‘provisional opposition leaders.’
Gates surely must know the way to jam Obama is to play on his Goldilocks Syndrome. That means manipulation of the extreme options to ensure his compulsion to compromise lands the U.S. where *you* want. A problem? Everyone else knows the game and they get a vote, too.
So any bets which will last longer? Newt’s campaign? Khadaffi’s stand? Or Sheen-mania?
DrLeoStrauss says
If Newt doesn’t step on it again, he is {drum roll} gonna announce his candidacy this Wednesday.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/apnewsbreak-spokesman-says-gingrich-to-announce-presidential-bid-wed-on-facebook-twitter/2011/05/09/AF2fJTYG_story.html
Which would put him and Khaddafi ahead of Sheen in their respective sell-by dates, as of this writing. Ball’s in your court, Mr. Sheen.
Dr Leo Strauss says
So far, Khaddafi is “winning”. Sheen’s Detroit and Radio City Hall gigs trip him to second place. Newt? He’s been lying low after his CF; perhaps dictating another alternate history outline for Forstchen.
Khaddafi *has* to be thinking if he plays his cards right, he can compromise with Obama and end up a NATO member . . .
Dr Leo Strauss says
Gingrich, 67, reiterated that he expects to make a decision by February. However, he said he is deciding how to arrange his business and public policy organizations, should he commit to a campaign. “Callista and I run a series of small businesses,” Gingrich said, referring to his wife. “To really tackle this seriously, you have to consider what are you going to do with them.”
Des Moines Register, *Nov. 17, 2010*
Comment says
Times easily could have just said Christie’s misleading statements are erroding trust or undermining McCain straight talk inheritence.
But the writer wanted to be a bit coy and says “not so fast” to Christie. So it’s meaningless – The Times does this often.