Will the Real Newt Gingrich Please Shut Up?

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In the flash of an eye, Newt Gingrich has gone from a dead-as-a-doornail has-been to anointed candidate of the Republican Party. He even tells us so himself, in case there is any doubt. Romney’s fumblings do nothing to dissuade us. This “Eye of Newt” phenomenon has had the TV pundits practically drooling and babbling to themselves in recent days. Apparently the former Speaker of the House is widely known as a nasty piece of goods, not loved by many who worked with him.

Fellow Republican Joe Scarborough can barely contain himself from bashing Newt at 6AM. Ironically the Georgian’s ascendancy may have been egged on by the 24-hour news cycle in search of fresh developments. But adding insult to injury, the candidate himself seems to behave as if he is right where he deserved to be all along. Make no mistake about it — it’s time for Republicans to dial 9-1-1.

There is our Newt, is in all his aging glory, round-the-clock, regaling us with opinions on just about anything. No question is beneath him. He will not be taken for granted. He generates wisdom on the fly. And some of his thoughts are frankly thought-provoking. They do vary, it should be noted. If I read correctly, the one time proponent of public solutions of the health care crisis, is now dead set against Obamacare, whatever that may be, and a defender of Ayn Rand accolyte Paul Ryan, whom he once called a right wing provocateur.

Even the Republicans appear mildly apoplectic about this recent development. Democrats on the other hand seem rather buoyed.

The problem for this observer is that twelve months of hearing Newt Gingrich pontificate on everything under the sun is more than anyone should be ask to bear. Do we really need to know his opinions about the Don Berwick, plunging necklines, the Boer War, the Kim Kardashian marriage,  Fabian Socialism, Barney Frank and the fate of Lindsay Lohan? No, but we will likely get them all. Newt will be unable to resist.

And if all goes as we have seen before, they will change depending on who is crossing his palm at any given moment. I suppose that is what really galls most veteran observers — erudite opinions up for auction.

I am all for an open primary process, but this year’s Republican process has had many observers reaching for anti-emetics. The prospect of non-stop Newt opinions will call for healthy doses. Is this really what the founding fathers had in mind in 1776? Where is Thomas Jefferson when you really need him?

Tom Godfrey

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