Why Newt Makes My Head Spin

Gingrich's ego and bombast undermine his genuinely interesting ideas

Photo-Illustration by Hieronymus for TIME

In the hours after Newt Gingrich emerged as the latest front runner in the Republican presidential race, he began to refer to himself as "Newt Gingrich" in an interview with Sean Hannity. He also began to employ the royal we, as in "We would have about two hours after the Inaugural Address, we would stop and sign between 100 and 200 Executive Orders and presidential findings." He also referred to Barack Obama as "the most destructive President since [James] Buchanan." You could sense the Newtonian Ego filling with helium, yet again. You could imagine him as an enormous hot-air balloon, straining...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!