Ironically, this very statement disqualifies you from Communion with the Catholic faith. Time for confession Billy.
What's to explain? Were you in a coma from 1995-1998 and missed every single time Clinton got the upper hand against the GOP Congress and gloated about it? Newt had an enormous, unprecedented opportunity to change the direction of America and make Clinton a 1-term president and he screwed it up. In Jan. 1995, all eyes were on Newt and his "leadership" as the new Speaker of the House, to see how he'd implement the Contract with America. Newt's first speech as speaker was given the kind of reverence normally reserved for presidential State of the Union addresses and Newt was facing a humbled, meek Clinton with his tail between his legs after his first two years in office had resulted in the first Republican-controlled House in 40 years. Newt was in the driver's seat.
By late 1996, Newt had totally blow it and Clinton was "the comeback kid" again. Newt was totally clueless when the media used him as a punching bag and personalized him as the face of the GOP. Newt lost the PR battle and it was forever blamed on "the Republicans" for the government shutdown even though Slick Willie caused it (bet he had a good laugh over that one). Even after Bubba was caught red-headed, lying about sleazy relationship with an intern half his age and covering it up, Republicans LOST five seats. Of course Newt's "leadership" was tied up because he was having his own extra-material affair at the time when the environment was terrible for Democrats.
It speaks volumes that the man responsible for "the Republican revolution" only lasted 3 years in power whereas a mediocre nobody like Dennis Hastert was plucked from obscurity and lasted almost a decade in the same job. Newt is a terrible leader. Period. If you've forgotten the 90s, I suggest reading Tell Newt to Shut Up! How Reality Gagged the Gingrich Revolution and refresh your memory.
>> Could it be that a lot of Newt's legendary "negatives" are based on the lies opponents tell about him? <<
No more than talks about Arnold Schwarzenegger's big government socialist values and sleazy immoral life were "lies" when the Arnoldbots denounced them and told us to get on the Arnold bandwagon in 2003. Some of us just play closer attention to these guys careers and know these guys are shoveling BS when we see it. I'm against Newt precisely BECAUSE I remember exactly what kind of "leader" he was for the GOP.
>> Ironically, this very statement disqualifies you from Communion with the Catholic faith. Time for confession Billy. <<
Really? Now you're an expert on Catholicism too? Perhaps you'd like to show me where I'm required to believe Newt is a changed man because he says so. Perhaps you are confusing me with Newt's pastor.