I'll give Newt a 'C'

by Smitty (via Hot Air)

Allah Pundit links Newt eating some crow on Hannity. Allah throws on an interesting spin:

His endorsement was always strategic, to support Republican leaders at the local level and dissuade third-party challenges next year.

Well, that's all very tactical. I appreciate that Newt feels himself a sports coach, looking to score the points required to win the game.

However, if the game itself is more of a problem than the other team, then I wonder if Newt's approach has much strategic value.

Keep drifting to starboard, Newt: you'll get there. Also, that dream coalition will materialize. Attempts to dissuade third-party challenges are likely to hurt more than they help.

'She turned me into a jackass,' he said.

by Smitty (h/t Pundette)

'I got better,' continued Newt. No, that's apocryphal. Newt:

He told The Associated Press he was disappointed, and "deeply upset" that Scozzafava endorsed Owens.

"How could she have accepted all that support?" he said, adding later: "I'm very, very let down because she told everybody she was a Republican, and she said she was a loyal Republican."

Pundette is having none of this:

But Newt's been around long enough to judge on the basis of actions, not protestations of loyalty, or labels. By that standard we gave up on the RNC a long, long time ago. We've given up on Newt, too.

Actions, indeed. Once the votes are all counted, it will be interesting to see if Newt makes any effort to rehabilitate himself. Sure, he's got a long way to go before anybody trusts him, but he is a sharp fellow, has connections and could make valuable contributions, if he justs recalls and adheres to his purported principles.

As Stogie puts it:

the Newt Gingrichs of the Party have been sent packing, and that's a good thing.