I think Newt has grown up a bit since his tantrum days. I do think he does have a role to play in Washington as he is one of the few republican politicians who has sucessfully navigated these treacherous political waters. Electing Someone who is an “Outsider” may spell disaster if we throw them in with liberal sharks. They will have a difficult time trying to survive much less accomplish something. Maybe we should concentrate not on a candidates shortcomings and instead judge them on what they have achieved and what they will be able to achieve if elected.
If you're referring to Gov. Perry, he's a D.C. outsider but he is no political neophyte. He's fought the LIBERAL machine here in Texas for over 20 years and as has been pointed out, he served as a conservative Democrat "pit bull" fighting spending in the Texas legislature prior to moving with Phil Gramm and many others across the aisle where their political ideology matched up. As a long time Texas governor, Rick Perry has had to deal with the federal government - fighting them in the courts (winning and losing) and he well knows where the problems lie and what a state can do with it off their backs.