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.
Newt is not only a terribly flawed man, he is also arrogant, pompous, a sniveling poltroon, but has more damned baggage, both private and public, than almost anyone but both Clintons!
He is NOT as "consesrvative" as you foolishly believe. Have you ever read the Tofflers' book THE THRID WAVE? If not, do so. It WILL make you want to throw up and throw the book across the room; however, it is one of Newt's favorite books and he HAS been touting it for many years now. I read it long before Newt ever mentioned it. It's a new agey piece of garbage, heavily overlaid with Marxist cant. And it IS part of what Newt really believes is good.
Newt and Bill Clinton are two sides of the same coin! Both are wet finger in the airers. Both have committed adultery with an underling/s in their taxpayer funded offices ( except that Newt didn't use a cigar and married the secretary ), and on the clock; as it were.
Newt was a great backbencher, but couldn't handle things, once the power was his. And he only ever had a plan A, which NEVER included what consequences might follow. Closing down the government is a great example of that.
And no matter how much credit you want to give Newt, no, he did NOT singlehandedly get the GOP both Houses. Your cultic worship of Newt is ridiculous and pathetic; you Newtbot.
Yes it was, just as the 2000, 2002 and 2004 elections were, as led by the President. But you dismiss those accomplishments to argue that the President failed to maintain and build on the momentum events provided him. Yet Newt's record after his big win, despite his obvious smarts and regardless of the merit of his critics, is not the work of a political genius or great leader.