Gingrich: "Curb free speech + internet to fight terror.

[Hugh Manatee Wins]

Gingrich said this at an award dinner for Free Speech advocates in New Hampshire, too.
Um, who invited him?
The meme 'internet = terrorist' will keep being floated.[url]

Link

Gingrich raises alarm at event honoring those who stand up for freedom of speech

By RILEY YATES
Union Leader Staff
Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2006

MANCHESTER – Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich yesterday said the country will be forced to reexamine freedom of speech to meet the threat of terrorism.

Gingrich, speaking at a Manchester awards banquet, said a "different set of rules" may be needed to reduce terrorists' ability to use the Internet and free speech to recruit and get out their message.

"We need to get ahead of the curve before we actually lose a city, which I think could happen in the next decade," said Gingrich, a Republican who helped engineer the GOP's takeover of Congress in 1994.

Gingrich spoke to about 400 state and local power brokers last night at the annual Nackey S. Loeb First Amendment award dinner, which fetes people and organizations that stand up for freedom of speech.

Gingrich sharply criticized campaign finance laws he charged were reducing free speech and doing little to fight attack advertising. He also said court rulings over separation of church and state have hurt citizens' ability to express themselves and their faith.

(Gingrich demonstrates the proper hand position for choking democracy to death.)

Mod edit: Come on, holmes, tame the long links..

[robert d reed]

I think it's important to pay attention to Newt Gingrich. As a spokesman, he's a bellwether for where the entrenched militarist right wing of the USA is at these days.

I also find him interesting because he's too clever for his own good. Like William Burroughs once noted- "Con men make good salespeople- up to a point. " There's nearly always a point in Gingrich's public interviews and speeches where the mask comes off, and the phoniness becomes transparent.

I heard a recent speech by him, a few days before the recent midterm national elections- at Johns Hopkins U., I think it was, broadcast on C-SPAN- and during the closing Q&A session, some young college-age kid, apparently bent on playing the role of the Liberal Avenger, attempted to put him on the spot about his role in the Clinton impeachment, bringing up some fairly well-known sordid details from Gingrich's personal life in the process. The attack was so clumsy and wide of the mark, and Gingrich's response so thick with pointedly partisan counterpoint, that it practically sounded rehearsed, and it crossed my mind that the questioner could possibly have been a plant.

Some hostile questioners of speakers actually are that sincerely inept at cross-examination, so that's a tough call. But it's plain stupid for any liberal or Democrat to bring up the Clinton impeachment proceedings as partisan ammunition against Republicans. The Republicans will always have a valid defense that they were standing on principle against a miscreant who lied under oath. And that can't be gainsayed. Who knows, perhaps one day most of the Clinton defenders (don't look at me) will have the perpispacity to realize that...

Anyway, pay close attention to Newt Gingrich. He's one of the foremost fire and brimstone preacher-pimps out there for this new hard-line "Generation of War, Global Showdown" phantasm- and always associating it with a crackdown on civil liberties, a perpetual war footing, the whole nine yards. That what passes for "futurism" with the old Idea Man these days. Chicken Hawk #1...

Whenever I hear either Newt or Rush Limbaugh talking, I always imagine them playing summer stock theatre as Harold Hill, the fast-talking scammer in The Music Man. Only with the ending changed, so Hill simply absconds with the loot...

[Hugh Manatee Wins]

(Thanks for the link taming, eiAe. -Holmes.)

I agree, RDR. He's no joke or has-been.
Newt successfully killed lots of poor people and is still trying.

He weaponized campaigns with calculated use of poisonous words for framing, something the Dems are only just picking up from cognitive scientist George Lakoff.

It was Newty who brought Total Warfare doctrine to domestic politics and used Pentagon/CIA tactics against a civic-minded and naive American public and Democratic Party unprepared to be attacked viciously.

I think the guerilla operations manuals used by CIA to destroy groups in other countries were handed to the GOP to use at home.

He's been busy along with George Mitchell as co-chair of the US Institute for Peace's Task Force on the United Nations whose goal is to neutralize the UN's resistance to American hegemony.

General Wesley Clark is part of the same project along with big baddies from the Council on Foreign Relations, Heritage Foundation, Hoover Institute, and most of the rings of fascist Hell.
[url]
http://www.usip.org/un/index.html[/url]

Task Force on the United Nations

U.N. Reform How is the United Nations fulfilling its mandate? USIP's Task Force on the United Nations assesses this vital question and recommends an actionable agenda. Congress directed USIP in December 2004 to create a Task Force on the UN.

http://www.usip.org/un/members.html

MEMBERS
Newt Gingrich
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives (Co-Chair), CEO, Gingrich Group

George J. Mitchell
Former Majority Leader of the Senate (Co-Chair), Chairman, Piper Rudnick LLP

Wesley K. Clark
Gen. U.S. Army (Ret.), Chairman and CEO, Wesley K. Clark & Associates

Edwin J. Feulner
President, The Heritage Foundation

Roderick M. Hills
Partner, Hills and Stern

Donald McHenry
Ambassador (Ret.), Distinguished Professor, School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University

Thomas R. Pickering
Ambassador (Ret.), Senior Vice President, International Relations, The Boeing Company

Danielle Pletka
Vice President, Foreign and Defense Policy, American Enterprise Institute

Anne-Marie Slaughter
Dean, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University

A. Michael Spence
Partner, Oak Hills Capital Partners

Malcolm Wallop
U.S. Senator (Ret.), Senior Fellow, Asian Studies Center

R. James Woolsey
Vice President, Global Strategic Security, Booz Allen Hamilton

Senior Advisors

Charles G. Boyd, Gen. U.S. Air Force (Ret.)
President and CEO, Business Executives for National Security

J. Robinson West
Chairman, PFC Energy, Chairman of the Board of Directors, U.S. Institute of Peace

Task Force Experts

As directed by the Congress, the Institute has organized the task force with the support and participation of leading public policy organizations, including the American Enterprise Institute, the Brookings Institution, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Heritage Foundation, and the Hoover Institution. Each of these institutions is providing a number of experts to support the members of the task force. Below is a list of experts listed by task force working groups.
Group One: Preventing and Ending Conflicts and Building Stable Societies

Members:

* Wesley K. Clark (Wesley K. Clark & Associates)
* Malcolm Wallop (Asian Studies Center)

Experts

* Eric Schwartz, Coordinator (Council on Foreign Relations)
* Frederick Barton (CSIS)
* Bathsheba Crocker (CSIS)
* Michael McFaul (Hoover)
* William Nash (Council on Foreign Relations)

Group Two: Preventing and Responding to Genocide and Gross Human Rights Violations

Member

* Anne-Marie Slaughter (Princeton University)

Senior Advisor

* J. Robinson West (PFC Energy)

Experts

* Tod Lindberg, Coordinator (Hoover)
* Ivo Daalder (Brookings)
* Lee Feinstein (Council on Foreign Relations)
* Joseph Loconte (Heritage)

Group Three: Preventing Catastrophic Terrorism and the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction

Member

* Thomas R. Pickering (The Boeing Company)

Senior Advisor

* Charles G. Boyd (Business Executives for National Security)

Experts

* Robert Einhorn, Coordinator (CSIS)
* Michael O'Hanlon (Brookings)
* James Phillips (Heritage)

Group Four: Ensuring the Effectiveness, Integrity, Transparency, and Accountability of the UN System

Members

* Edwin J. Feulner (The Heritage Foundation)
* Roderick M. Hills (Hills and Stern)

Experts

* Ann Florini, Coordinator (Brookings)
* Nile Gardiner (Heritage)
* Branka Jikich (CSIS)
* James Lindsay (Council on Foreign Relations)
* Brett Schaefer (Heritage)

Group Five: Fostering Economic Development and Reducing Poverty

Members

* Donald McHenry (Georgetown University)
* A. Michael Spence (Oak Hills Capital Partners)

Experts

* Patrick Cronin, Coordinator (CSIS)
* Kenneth Anderson (Hoover)
* Steve Hansch (Georgetown University)

[robert d reed]

"I think the guerilla operations manuals used by CIA to destroy groups in other countries was handed to the GOP to use at home."

I've read those manuals, too, Hugh. As a playbook, they're derivative.

Lenin employed those methods, too. Machiavelli, Mussolini, Goebbels, Edward Bernays...there's at least enough easily comprehensible material out there on using language and symbolism to manipulate people to comprise the sylllabus of an undergraduate college course or two. Although there really isn't all that much to study, it's really more about the practice than the theory.

Agreed that Newt is a master tactician in the craft. Very, very effective. It's an undeniable fact that he organized workshops for Republicans on how to frame issues for maximum public approval, as well as demonizing political adversaries and opposition polices. And neither the truth or falsity of claims, or their honest disputation in good faith, is a priority in the "Political Warfare" game. To the contrary, it's considered a liability.

That's what I object to, of course. I don't see anything the matter with learning to communicate a message more effectively- as long as it's done ethically. But from Machiavelli to Hearst to Lenin to Mussolini to Goebbels to Bernays- to Aquino and Vallely, Dick Morris and Karl Rove- the desired ends have always been held to justify the means. It's axiomatic with those types. And "types" they are, that's what they've made out of themselves.

They'd do it to us, if they could.

[robert d reed]

Imagine being seriously involved in any organization co-chaired by Newt Gingrich...

[water]

"I've read those manuals, too, Hugh. As a playbook, they're derivative"

yeah they make em into coloringbooks for kids now too

[MinM]

.
Speaking of Speechifying and last nights SOTUS. With it's Navy Seal Team 6 Hollywood rewrite of Blackhawk Down. Brought to mind some past blatant politicizations of the State of the Union:

Space Shuttle Challenger

Jessica Lynch

Pat Tillman...

[JackRiddler]

Maybe we should retitle this Fuck Gingrich so we have a complete set of 2012 Election Fuck threads? (Only 19.99 from the Franklin Mint!)

[eyeno]

Gingrich, speaking at a Manchester awards banquet, said a "different set of rules" may be needed to reduce terrorists' ability to use the Internet and free speech to recruit and get out their message.

"We need to get ahead of the curve before we actually lose a city, which I think could happen in the next decade," said Gingrich, a Republican who helped engineer the GOP's takeover of Congress in 1994.

Hugh that was five years ago. Got to hand it to you for the observation.

[justdrew]

Gingrich said this at an award dinner for Free Speech advocates in New Hampshire, too.
Um, who invited him?

Yes, who invited him is a GREAT question, anyone have an answer yet?

Maybe we should retitle this Fuck Gingrich so we have a complete set of 2012 Election Fuck threads? (Only 19.99 from the Franklin Mint!)

That's the Franklin Fucking Mint. Hmm, handmade RI-themed plates, etsey here we come...

some dude on the internet has a collection of Horrid Clown plates...

[Nordic]

The Republican race is a farce, of course, designed to do nothing but let a bunch of rich guys bolster their speaking fees down the road, and move the Overton Window ever rightward (with the media helping them along 24/7)

But Gingrich makes me nervous. He's an evil bastard, and he really understands how to manipulate people and use propaganda.

He probably had more to do with making the word "liberal" something people thought they should run from than anybody else.

Remember this?

http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=1276

'Language: A Key Mechanism of Control'

Since winning control of Congress, Rep. Newt Gingrich (R.-Ga.) has constantly complained about "destructive" and "negative" coverage from the "liberal elite media."

For example, when asked on Nightline (11/29/94) about his reference to the Clintons as "counter-culture McGoverniks," he first insisted that he had been misquoted--"I used the term McGovernite, not McGovernik--it was one of those things that the Times picked up and therefore it's now history" (actually, at least four different newspapers--including the New York Times--quoted Gingrich in their November 10 editions as calling the Clintons "counter-culture McGoverniks")--and then blamed the media for selective reporting:

I didn't say that to attack the president, I was asked an analytic question. But because I am now the next speaker, I am learning that everything I say has to be worded carefully and thought through at a level that I've never experienced before in my life.


In fact, the new speaker of the House--who once described his goal as "reshaping the entire nation through the news media" (New York Times, 12/14/94)--has given a great deal of thought to the media and how to manipulate them. One Newtonian axiom is "fights make news" (Boston Globe, 11/20/94). Another skill he has taught to Republican candidates through his political organization, GOPAC, is how to create a "shield issue" to deflect criticism:

"A shield issue is just, you know, your opponent is going to attack you as lacking compassion," a GOPAC training tape advises. "You better find a good compassion issue where, you know, you show up in the local paper holding a baby in the neonatal center, and all you're trying to do is shield yourself from the inevitable attack."

But the clearest expression of Gingrich's philosophy of media came in a GOPAC memo entitled "Language: A Key Mechanism of Control." Distributed to GOP candidates across the country, the memo's list of words for Democrats and words for Republicans was endorsed by Gingrich in a cover letter: "The words in that paper are tested language from a recent series of focus groups where we actually tested ideas and language." Next time you hear Gingrich complain about media focusing on the negative, refer back to these lists.

As you know, one of the key points in the GOPAC tapes is that "language matters." In the video "We Are a Majority," Langauage is listed as akey mechanism of control used by a majority party, along with Agenda, Rules, Attitude and Learning. As the tapes have been used in training sessions across the country and mailed to candidates, we have heard a plaintive plea: "I wish I could speak like Newt."

That takes years of practice. But we believe that you could have a significant impact on your campaign and the way you communicate if we help a little. That is why we have created this list of words and phrases.

This list is prepared so that you might have a directory of words to use in writing literature and mail, in preparing speeches, and in producing electronic media. The words and phrases are powerful. Read them. Memorize as many as possible. And remember that, like any tool, these words will not help if they are not used....

Contrasting Words

Often we search hard for words to help us define our opponents. Sometimes we are hesitant to use contrast. Remember that creating a difference helps you. These are powerful words that can create a clear and easily understood contrast. Apply these to the opponent, their record, proposals and their party.

decay... failure (fail)... collapse(ing)... deeper... crisis... urgent(cy)... destructive... destroy... sick... pathetic... lie... liberal... they/them... unionized bureaucracy... "compassion" is not enough... betray... consequences... limit(s)... shallow... traitors... sensationalists...

endanger... coercion... hypocrisy... radical... threaten... devour... waste... corruption... incompetent... permissive attitudes... destructive... impose... self-serving... greed... ideological... insecure... anti-(issue): flag, family, child, jobs... pessimistic... excuses... intolerant...

stagnation... welfare... corrupt... selfish... insensitive... status quo... mandate(s)... taxes... spend(ing)... shame... disgrace... punish (poor...)... bizarre... cynicism... cheat... steal... abuse of power... machine... bosses... obsolete... criminal rights... red tape... patronage

Optimistic Positive Governing Words

Use the list below to help define your campaign and your vision of public service. These words can help give extra power to your message. In addition, these words help develop the positive side of the contrast you should create with your opponent, giving your community something to vote for!

share... change... opportunity... legacy... challenge... control... truth... moral... courage... reform... prosperity... crusade... movement... children... family... debate... compete... active(ly)... we/us/our... candid(ly)... humane... pristine... provide...

liberty... commitment... principle(d)... unique... duty... precious... premise... care(ing)... tough... listen... learn... help... lead... vision... success... empower(ment)... citizen... activist... mobilize... conflict... light... dream... freedom...

peace... rights... pioneer... proud/pride... building... preserve... pro-(issue): flag, children, environment... reform... workfare... eliminate good-time in prison... strength... choice/choose... fair... protect... confident... incentive... hard work... initiative... common sense... passionate

He may have gotten all this from Luntz and/or Lee Atwater, but still, he's a guy who really gets how this works.

I mean, jesus x. christ, his name is NEWT GINGRICH and he's actually in the race. Do people really see the negative connotations of both of those words? Yet there he is.

He's a scary bastard.

[justdrew]

newts come out for moon colonies


and OFFS... I see in the headlines ANOTHER in the bi-monthly parade of "invisibility cloak a step closer" stories. Seriously, there must have been 20 stories like that over the last three years, or more.

[wordspeak2]

What's "invisibility cloak a step closer"?

Newt is a hell of a hell of a lot smarter than Romney, who's a robot- that's for sure.

[82_28]

What's "invisibility cloak a step closer"?

Newt is a hell of a hell of a lot smarter than Romney, who's a robot- that's for sure.

That's sure what worries me. They're both pawns and both fools. And Obama is our only alternative? I was hanging out with a dude last night who was cheering Obama's every last word.

All I could say to myself was where could I even possibly start.

[Searcher08]

What's "invisibility cloak a step closer"?

Newt is a hell of a hell of a lot smarter than Romney, who's a robot- that's for sure.

That's sure what worries me. They're both pawns and both fools. And Obama is our only alternative? I was hanging out with a dude last night who was cheering Obama's every last word.

All I could say to myself was where could I even possibly start.

Tell me about it - the number of my Democrat friends who are appearing able to be triggered back into the cognitive states of the 2008 'Yes We can' trance... well it seems to be 100%

They were discussing his CopyPasta 'State of the Union' wordsalad as if it was the Sermon on the Mount. Curiously, Ron Paul doesn't even seem to show on their radar.