When your standard of political genius is Newt, a man with more baggage, shame and political fumbles in far less treacherous territory than the President has faced, you are not the expert or judge you believe.
Newt Gingrich and his Contract with American gained control of Congress for the first time in genertions for the Republicans - that's quite an accomplishment.
As for his "baggage" - its a tempest in a teapot and typical of what the Democrat left employs to discredit effective Republican opponents. They prefer more amiable lapdogs like John McCain and Rudy Giuliani.