Stephen Colbert had another devastating clip that ripped apart Newt Gingrich's latest excuse for that Greek cruise he took back in June.
Now, Newt's campaign got off to a bit of a rocky start. Back in June, instead of campaigning in Iowa, Newt went on a two-week luxury cruise through the Greek Isles aboard the Seabourn Odyssey. In response, his staff quit and his donors abandoned him. But yesterday, we learned that was no pleasure cruise. It was a pleasure fact-finding mission. As Newt explained to Iowa voters:
NEWT GINGRICH (11/14/2011): I visited Greece in June. I talked to people about what they were faced with in Greece. And I listened to them and I tried to understand that they face a crisis of enormous proportions.
Yes. And we have some actual footage of the economic summit where Newt got first-hand information about the Greek debt crisis aboard the luxurious Seabourn Odyssey. Rubbing elbows and white gloves with your average yorgos.
There was unrest on the lido deck. There's a protester with Molotov kabobs.
I don't know what's happening here, it looks sexy.
And Newt's explanation of his all-you-can-research booze cruise puts any of his so-called scandals in a new light.
That half a million dollar line of credit at Tiffany's? He was just studying the reckless spending that is ruining our economy. His million-plus fake Twitter followers? A daring exposé fraud. The three wives, two of whom he cheated on, one while she was battling cancer? That........... was not gay.
Video and full transcript below the fold.
Nation, it's Wednesday, and that means it's time for a new GOP frontrunner. Jim?
11/14/2011:
NEIL CAVUTO: Once given up for political roadkill, Newt Gingrich, now killing 'em all. In the latest Public Policy Polling, he is the frontrunner.
FOX NEWS WOMAN: There is a PPP poll which shows Newt Gingrich 28, Herman Cain 25, Mitt Romney 18.
It makes sense that Gingrich is rising. He is the only candidate who appears to be made of dough.
Now, Newt's campaign got off to a bit of a rocky start. Back in June, instead of campaigning in Iowa, Newt went on a two-week luxury cruise through the Greek Isles aboard the Seabourn Odyssey. In response, his staff quit and his donors abandoned him. But yesterday, we learned that was no pleasure cruise. It was a pleasure fact-finding mission. As Newt explained to Iowa voters:
NEWT GINGRICH (11/14/2011): I visited Greece in June. I talked to people about what they were faced with in Greece. And I listened to them and I tried to understand that they face a crisis of enormous proportions.
Yes. And we have some actual footage of the economic summit where Newt got first-hand information about the Greek debt crisis aboard the luxurious Seabourn Odyssey. Rubbing elbows and white gloves with your average yorgos.
On the red carpet at the all-you-can-swill mimosa buffet.
And the Roman baths.
I believe that's the Greek parliament there.
There was unrest on the lido deck. There's a protester with Molotov kabobs.
I don't know what's happening here, it looks sexy.
James Carville was on board the cruise.
And here is Newt staying hydrated, very important when you're discussing the Greek debt crisis.
And Newt's explanation of his all-you-can-research booze cruise puts any of his so-called scandals in a new light.
That half a million dollar line of credit at Tiffany's? He was just studying the reckless spending that is ruining our economy. His million-plus fake Twitter followers? A daring exposé fraud. The three wives, two of whom he cheated on, one while she was battling cancer? That........... was not gay. Newt with a bullet. Newt with a bullet.
So combined with that piece Stephen did last year on Newt's divorces, if these clips don't destroy Newt in the primary, they certainly will in a general election matchup. We just have to get every single American to see these clips.
Stephen also looked at the latest in campaign merchandise, a Ron Paul pin-up calendar (um, the pin-ups are women supporting Ron Paul, not pin-ups of Paul himself).
Stephen then covered the protests at
Occupy Seattle and the elderly woman who was pepper sprayed.
He then interviewed
Chris Matthews about his new book on JFK.
Meanwhile, Jon looked at the problems with the SuperCongress in getting a deal worked out, but that those triggers you heard about may not end up happening after all.
Then Sam Bee highlighted some
divisions among Occupy Wall Street protesters.
I couldn't publish this at the usual time this morning because I've been feeling a bit sick, and couldn't finish formatting everything in this diary last night. Sigh. But it's up now.