One is too much time at the public trough. Another is too much free association with the beltway mentality conundrum. Politicians tend to lose sight of those who sent them to Washington, coming to believe in themselves more than in their constituents. They become sanitized from public opinion, and in need of finding support for their own newly developed beliefs. And where does that come from? Why, other politicians and the media. Where else?
If you look at the GOP side of Congress, especially the Senate, you can name any number who fall into this category of RINO. That doesn't mean they started out with those beliefs, it simply means they've fallen into the beltway trap.
What do we do about it. It's called recycling. But someone like Newt, who's now out of the beltway but carries the aura, should never be part of future plans. He's shown his preferences and they're not ours.
Judging only by what I’ve seen/found thus far, I’ve not seen anything yet that convinces me that he is not still a conservative icon. I’ve googled. I’ve binged. I’m just not finding the negatives that several freepers have mentioned. And hey, it’s not like it’s my first time surfing the net (not a cyber virgin either).
He screwed up by endorsing Dede, but his endorsement would have been there for anyone the Reps picked. His enviro ad was pretty bland. It’s not like he came out in favor of carbon credits, Cap & Trade or any Al Goreish BS.
(still not convinced)