A Refreshed Newt

First it was Tommy Thompson, then Fred Thompson, and now Newt Gingrich? What is it with these obscure dark horse candidates who are projected by some analysts to save the Republican party the same way Regan did during the early 1980's. You might suspect that the Republicans are in a heap of trouble if former Speaker of the House, exiled from congress for personal reasons, is looked upon by Conservative Republicans as a breath of fresh air.

According to MSNBC/National Journal, Newt Gingrich, thinks a run for the White House is "a great possiblity." And why shouldn't it be that way? Newt understands that at this point of time in the race no candidate on the Republican side is without major faults (at least in the eyes of the Republican base). Newt professes a "new," "successful"path for America that reaches back to values that made America "the shining beacon upon the hill."

What makes Gingrich most successful is the nostalgia he provides. Sure he's had infidelity problems and was not the must successful in confronting the Clinton White House on certain pieces of legislation, but all the base remembers about him is that he was the leader of the "Republican Revolution" of 1994. He was the man that led the charge and put the Republicans back in the driver's seat of the House for the first time since Roosevelt.

Republicans are desperate. Reading about and listening to Gingrich I am certain his "policies" are nothing but overblown rhetoric. However, this doesn't matter one bit. The base can overlook his hypocritical moments if it provides blind hope that they will be able to retain the White House. So while many don't suspect that Gingrich has a chance if he does decide to run for the Republican nomination, I would disagree.

The world of politics lacks logic and reason. Once a fall man for the party, the next minute the hero of the day. Newt could pull a Trent Lott and regain the prestige and control that was so bitterly stripped from his hands by scandal and poor performance as House Majority Leader.