How Newt Gingrich Swiftboated Jim Wright

[Beet]

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http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/05/the-house-of-jim-wright-117718_Page3.html#.VUv673R0z7Y

The whole thing is worth a great read. Reminds me of some things that are used against certain presidential candidates today. This - not the supposed martyrdom of Gary Hart (sorry Matt Bai) is the great lesson of the late 1980s.

[KingSweden]

Read this earlier. Fascinating story, and really shines light on how Gingrich more than anyone forged the modern GOP.

[Zioneer]

It really goes to show how nasty and partisan the rhetoric (fueled by Gingrich) became in the post 80s House.

[AggregateDemand]

Wright didn't need to be swiftboated. He was already unpopular because, fairly or unfairly, he's seen as the man who stunted the growth of Texas' own upstart airline (in their home market no less) to appease the supermajor airlines who wanted to force everyone out to DFW.

The Wright amendment expired and Jim Wright passed away. Poetic justice in the minds of many Texans. Gingrich was just ahead of the curve. He was kicking Wright long before the other major airlines were bailed out following 9-11, and long before Southwest became the institution it is today.

Personally, I think the Wright Amendment is misunderstood because people don't understand the context, but it was annoying and embarrassing for DFW residents, who had less access to their own local airline than people living in other states. Plus, letting DC intervene in local Texas political scuffles is an unforgivable offense in any era.

Wright swiftboated himself by doing someone a favor, only to find that the favor was actually a huge limitation to their potential. Classic liberal fallacy, especially in the state of Texas. Look what LBJ did to this country by trying to do people a favor. Institutionalized poverty.

[DrScholl]

If only Democrats would get the guts to go this aggressive against Boehner. You've got to fight fire with fire. Playing nice hasn't worked so far.