Me, too. The 1990s weren't so long ago. People who didn't know squat and/or couldn't care less about politics knew only that they personally hated Newt, even if they didn't know why.
I admit I fall into the first of the two categories, as I was not paying attention to politics in the 90's, though I would not say that I hated Newt.
Then I listened to Newt speak, unfiltered by the media. He was brilliant, and I became a Newt fan, as well as a Republican.
I miss the Newt of '94, I wish in many ways we could get him back instead of the Newt we have now.