In Memoriam: Newt Gingrich for President

How the bane of our political system made Bain Mitt’s Albatross.

With the possible exceptions of Grover Norquist, Karl Rove and Roger Ailes, no one man has done more damage to the American political system than Newt Gingrich. But that was back when he was relevant, more than a decade ago.

In the last year, Newt’s campaign for President re-imagined how low a national figure can sink in pursuit of power.

When it was Newt’s turn to be the non-Romney candidate leading the polls, Mitt’s Super PAC unleashed attack that reminded people who Newt Gingrich is. This worked but it turned out to be a tremendous tactical error. Mitt’s people wasted millions on a candidate bound to self-destruct and created an enemy bent on attacking Romney from any direction, including the LEFT.

Newt went after Mitt’s business tactics, his Swiss bank account and his tax returns. Newt was able to harness his rage at Mitt (and Juan Williams) into a victory in South Carolina.

He then told the world his historic plans for a moon base. That’s why you don’t bother attacking Newt Gingrich.

Still Newt went on, campaigning on spite and gas prices, living out his fantasy of Secret Service protection all on the taxpayers dime. Today, he finally admits the inevitable. He lost.

Let us now recall who Newt is. More than a blowhard politician, he’s a wacky scholar and a widely-dismissed author of speculative fiction in which the South wins the Civil War and the Nazis win World War II. He’s a twice-divorced serial adulterer who firmly believes marriage should only be between a man and woman who doesn’t have cancer.

But all of that is momentarily forgivable for two reasons. First, there’s KingofBain.com, his Super PAC’s mockumentary about Mitt’s time as a vulture capitalist. Watch it now before they take it down.

Second? Take it away OFA:

[CC image by awhazlett | Flickr]