What's to be...
I know I'll offend some, but Gingrich was the guy who loudly proclaimed that Clinton was a shoe-in to win the nomination and the election. Remember that? He was also the guy who initially predicted that Rudi would win the Republican nod because of his 9/11 history and centrist views? I rate Gingrich in the same category as DICK Morris... they are both right about as often as the weatherman.
What will be a catastrophy for Republicans will be if McCain is elected. That will force the Republicans in Congress to choose between supporting a Republican president who's supporting liberal/progressive policies, or oppose him and make it look like the Republican party has completely disolved.
Vrai is right. I have no doubt that Obama is going to be a major foul-up, in fact I'm counting on it. The more Obama tries to move things to the Left, and you know he will, the more the really left types in Congress will push to support him. At that point the conservative Democrats who were elected in 2006 will have a tough choice to make: run off with the loons or side with the Republicans. That will make the Democrats look like the party that's imploding and pave the way for a Republican takeover in 2010 and 2012.
...offended by? Gingrich is the case study in what happens when conservatives get in a position to act on principle and then punt. He got the speakers chair in the same fashion that Obama is rising; perfect storm or convergence of events. Now, everyone succeeds to some degree because of events, but, in Newts case, he had made the case, over time, what conservatives would do here, there or everywhere and, when his time came, he spent more time enjoying the throne and tweaking Bill Clinton than he did following through on the promises he made.
So, in that vein, I'm not sure I'd count on Obama being some sort of flaming mess like Clinton was. Clinton had a terrible record in Arkansas to go along with his suspect personal behavior. he talked his way out of things.
In contrast, Obama has a much more limited record. He does not seem to be the micro manager that Clinton is. That means he's likely to not lard his plate up with endless details and an answer to every problem. He's an idea guy and idea guys make good presidents.
I agree he will be constrained, as any president is, by the limitations of the office. I'm not so sure he's all that hazardous to himself like Clinton is.
McCain winning won't be a catastrophe for GOP'ers; just conservatives. We couldn't make our case with W. There is no way we can with Big John.