I don’t want Newt to be POTUS, but I sure do want him in the mix of candidates for the nomination. He is brighter and more articulate, and has a better sense of our history and the way politics works, than most of the field. He will be able to frame the upcoming debate. Primaries and debates serve a variety of purposes, not simply determining the ultimate winner.
Okay, fair point. Interestingly enough, a friend of mine says almost the same thing about Sarah Palin. My friend thinks Palin won’t ultimately run for president (and won’t get the nomination even if she does) but wants to stay in conversation as long as possible so she has the influence and visibility to shape the GOP message in the run-up to the election.
Eventually, though, we need someone who can actually win a general election - and in that it looks to me like we are seriously screwed.