Newt in self-destruct mode (LINK FIXED)
For a few moments on Iowa caucus night, it looked like no more damage could be done to Newton Leroy Gingrich. Mitt Romney and Ron Paul’s assaults had knocked him from first to fourth, made him the state’s least popular Republican and stripped him of his national frontrunner status. Those who knew Gingrich, however, never lost faith: The havoc of others was nothing compared to the ruin he could bring on himself.
Gingrich did not disappoint. With all the warmth and charm of a machete, he slashed his way to New Hampshire to carve slices, not only from Bain Capital, but also from capitalism.
Displaying a recklessness and thoughtlessness that chilled even his own admirers, he put GOP orthodoxy on trial, shocked that businesses could fail, investments could be forfeited and capitalism could have a cost. To further his political ambitions, the man who had sat on a couch with then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) now jumped into bed with President Barack Obama. He made clear that he didn’t care who would be the leader of the free world if it couldn’t be him.
Rarely has a campaign been so counterproductive. With his attack from the left, Gingrich did for Romney what he had not been able to do for himself: Distinguish Romney as the conservative.
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