Former Speaker Newt Gingrich announced his presidential candidacy yesterday and I have to admit that I am delighted. Newt has been the type of Republican that tends to roll all over the deck, eschewing discipline and firing from all angles, with little regard for prior statements or positions. We had Newt condemning President Obama for lack of action in Libya, and then condemning him for taking action in Libya. We had Newt condemning Speaker Wright for ethical lapses, and then being reprimanded himself (as Speaker)by the full House for ethical violations. His hypocrisy on the Clinton impeachment was stunning, even by Washington standards.

Newt has sold himself as an “ideas man”, making a living by talking a lot on a host of different subjects, and pushing out policy ideas that never seem to go anywhere. He has toyed with the idea of bi-partisanship, appearing with then Speaker Pelosi in a global warming ad that he has struggled to explain. You can always count on Newt to gather some headlines and to throw out things that will stir outrage and controversy. How about the doozy about Obama having a “Kenyan, anti-colonial” worldview? Newt has been somewhat eclipsed by Donald Trump, but give him time. He will step up to the plate soon enough (again).