Even though in recent decades almost everyone elected to or even ran for the presidency has been wealthy, it’s still an issue. People don’t like it if a candidate is seen as flaunting his wealth. It makes them seem out of touch with mainstream, middle-class Americans. John McCain was criticized for being unable to answer the question of how many houses he owns. John Edwards was criticized for a $400 haircut. Sarah Palin for an expensive wardrobe paid for by the Republican Party. Etc.
Guess I’m out of touch then.
I thought there was something more to the Tiffany credit line story than was immediately evident, because the fervor seemed so, er, fervent, but apparently it’s as shallow a non story as it seems. And no, I don’t care that the other guys do it, or did it first.
Look, I think Gingrich is a buffoon. He never had a chance at the nomination in the first place, and he made himself look more foolish by attempting a run, especially with all his ‘real’ personal baggage. I also, however, believe all the hullabaloo about his personal finances is ridiculous, the interest in which probably says more about us than him.
Fine, you don’t mind losing elections; we get it. The rest of us know that, given an opportunity to step on the other guys throat, you take it. Politics ain’t for the faint heart, nor fair minded.
He’d better hurry then… Now his campaign finance team is jumping ship:
He’s gonna have to use more duct tape than Dexter… 
The implications are more than “oh look, Newt is gluttonous and rich!”
During the time of the debt, was Tiffany lobbying a congressional committee that Callista was serving on as Chief Clerk? Are Tiffany’s and Gingrich’s claims that the no-interest loans were standard practice (the Washington Post gives those claims three Pinocchios)?
While there is political hay to be maid of Gingrich’s spending habits, there are actual, significant issues.
Note: I make no claims as to the veracity of the charges or implications, only that there may be more afoot than merely gross consumption.
Criswell predicts, Newt Gingrich will buy a dog . . . name it Checkers and buy his wife a respectable Republican cloth coat.
CMC fnord!
Where is Gingrich? Where is the GOP!?! [And, is anyone really looking for Palin’s disappearing bus tour? 
]
Startup PeekYou verifies Gawker claims:
It’s like getting a lady’s shirt off and discovering that instead of a couple of pineapples, there’s only a lot of newspaper stuffing and a pair of bing cherries.
http://mediamatters.org/blog/201110310003?frontpage This is the Republican brain.
That link is to a story about Pat Buchanan, not Newt, for those who Need More Newt.
I just need some more Eye of Newt.
And where’s the link to the Republican Brain on Drugs?
It appearsthat Gingrich is well placed to benefit from a potential Cain collapse. The wheel of bufoonery has turned full circle!
A zombie thread is a good match for a zombie candidate.
Interesting. It’s just an argument that it’s Newt’s turn to be the front runner. Everybody else has already had their chance at it.
I saw an interview with Gingrich . You could have a drinking game around how often he says “profound”. You will have to have several bottles if you try it.
I am increasingly warming to the idea of a Gingrich resurgence. The fundamental fact of this primary is that Romney’s support seems to tops out at 25% which means that 75% of the primary electorate is searching for someone else. Most of them want someone more conservative than Romney. They also want someone who is at least plausibly a Presidential candidate. For the last few months Perry seemed to fill that role but he has blown it. Cain and Bachmann are still as ridiculous as ever. If you proceed to rank the conservative candidates from highest to lowest levels of bufoonery you end up with Gingrich. Yeah the guy is still a bufoon but he has at least held high-level public office and he passes for an intellectual in conservative circles. He will the last desperate hope that conservatives will flock to though they will probably have to resign themselves to a Romney candidacy.
Newt will flame out before the primaries. He is too easy to bait to provoke rash statements that he then has to spend time walking back. His temper is his fatal flaw.
Huntsman is the dark horse. He is Romney without the flip-flops.