I resepctfully disagree with your position on Newt. I heard him talk rings around Russert and deflect his partisan jabs deftly. This is what we need to change the subject and get on with the process of electing a Republican to continue the job. Newt can certainly contribute and I think that I would vote for him if he was to run for office.
I'm glad I'm not alone in that sentiment (was beginning to think I was); Newt is an imperfect man, but so is everyone else I've seen mentioned as potential candidates... and given a choice between Newt and McCain I'll take Newt.
Newt is many ways great.
However, I think he's gotten a free pass since being out of office because it's harder to remmber what he's been for than what, say President Bush has been for. That makes it easy for him to frame himself as the de facto conservative against President Bush, the moderate conservative who's lost his way.
But Newt has no leg to stand on as far as calling the President out for a lack of "fiscal conservatism." It was Newt who urged the President to push the Prescription benefits bill http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1025610/posts
Maybe he had a good reason for doing so, but the way he talks about how President Bush needs to get back to smaller givernment principles, you'd never know he encouraged the President's largest expansion of government and the one most controversial with the base.