An ethics scandal that was propoted by then Congressman Gingrich. I recall it had something to do with a book the Wright authored -- sort of -- got paid for but never really sold too much. Again if recollection serves Gingrich was brought down by some similar shenanigans plus his love life.

Bob O

Hell, where is Denny Hastert?
He was the last GOP House Speaker
and he resigned in less disgrace than Newt.

The entire purpose of cable news is to have people screaming at each other. Gingrich fills the bill, so he gets air time. STOP WATCHING THAT CRAP!!! It's bad for you.

"The entire purpose of cable news is to have people screaming at each other. Gingrich fills the bill, so he gets air time. STOP WATCHING THAT CRAP!!! It's bad for you."

AMEN! Those shows are toxic. They're designed (no matter which slant) to rile up their audience and cause as much rancor as possible. They don't deliver news, they tell you what you should think. Its not healthy. they have to fill twenty four hours a day with bile. When tv news became an entertainment bloodsport we all lost. Gingrich is a star in that sewer.

AMEN! Those shows are toxic. They're designed (no matter which slant) to rile up their audience and cause as much rancor as possible.

They also make us dumber. On the rare occasions on which I watch one, I can feel my already limited intelligence being forcibly sucked out of my head. I can't spare any more smarts, so I try hard to stay away from this kind of TV.

It's sad to see liberal bloggers, and their readers, "torture" themselves so much over this.

You can try all you want, but you can not overcome some simple truths:
1) Bush & Cheney authorized torture and claimed to do so for national security reasons, while in reality it was done as part of a cover-up.
2) The Democrats knew. You are simply deluding yourself to think otherwise.
3) They knew and said nothing -- and did nothing.
4) The Democrats, in fact, tried to be a butch as the Republicans -- after all, you know, they have that "soft on crime, soft on war" Albatross slung over their shoulders by the Republicans.
5) Liberals are in denial.
6) Liberal bloggers are in denial.
7) In the end, the people who authorized torture will never be prosecuted because Democrats are too involved.

It was not just Republicans who voted for war -- Democrats did, as well; it was not just Republicans that voted for the "Patriot Act", many Democrats did, as well; it was not just Republicans who knew about wiretaps, Democrats did, as well.

So grow up. Pelosi and Reid, and many other Democrats are as dirty as Cheney and Bush and Rove and Libby. If you think I am wrong then you have a very, very rude awakening coming.

Why do reporters treat Newt & Co. this way - because Fox News will call the "liberal" if they don't do so.

Of course, Fox will call them liberal even if they do, also.

The sad fact about our LCD/corporatist media is, the squeaky wheel gets the spotlight (and even "grease" if they need it, so to speak.)

"So grow up. Pelosi and Reid, and many other Democrats are as dirty as Cheney and Bush and Rove and Libby. If you think I am wrong then you have a very, very rude awakening coming."

Joesbrain, you are ALMOST CERTAINLY right!!

sweet patriarchal god in heaven, i sure as shit hope newt gringrich remains the ugly stupid face (and annoying arrogant voice) of the republican party for years to come...

Joesbrain, you common fallacy is to ignore who was worse to indulge in Broderesque platitudes like many other Democrats are as dirty as Cheney and Bush and Rove and Libby." People who start something and are in charge are more to blame than people who don't talk about it right away, albeit the latter have some moral issues.

REM that Pelosi was Minority Leader at first hearing (if so) about hard interrogation, and could easily think: this is not a good time, in the middle of a tight spot, to gripe about it (wouldn't many of your presumptive friends be complaining, she was traitorous to reveal it in the middle of a difficult situation in Iraq, etc.? Where's the hypocrisy check on that?)

It is often more prudent to wait until things clear, to start looking for redress over wrongdoing. It is more precarious to the nation, to go against current leaders when justice can still be served by investigations after they leave.

tyrannogenius

Joesbrain - That level of analysis won't get you through the 9th grade, but keep trying.

"just because Republicans on the Hill are foolish enough to take [the thrice-married] Gingrich's tirades seriously doesn't mean political reporters should do the same."

Hear, hear!

Responding to Joesbrain's comment, the Dems, Pelosi include, want a Truth Commission. On the other hand, the Republicans do not.

Some surprises? Possibly. A rude awakening? Highly unlikely.

I love Rachel Maddow, she is easily the best of the bunch, but lately I have been watching other shows, damn near any other show. Personally I am sick and tired of Cable "News" generally. All flashy cat fight, no substance.

The news media are more freaked out than anybody about the collapse of the Republican Party. Their entire narrative is based upon the notion that Americans are split 50/50, and it is becoming increasingly obvious that the Republicans are having serious trouble holding up their end. Without that 50/50 assumption, the media is forced to create new narratives, which would mean actual journalism, which in turn would require spending more money than their owners would wish to.

Look, the media picks up on Newt because he led the last best resurrection of the Republican party against the evil evil evil Bill Clinton. The media secretly hopes that Newt can perform the miracle again.

And I must beg most of you to stop feeding the trolls. They are like the Ouri (StarGate zombie religious fanatic folks) - they feed on our fear and loathing.

You are assuming that political reporters are something other than hot-air blowers. This is evidently not the case.

"Newt seems to be getting nuttier as time goes on." It's the only way to win in Republican presidential primaries...like, oh say, in Pennsylvania.

When you hear a Repub like Ginrich speak you can often realize that they are , in so many ways, describing themselves. How interesting for him to say "vicious, trivial,despicable and a dishonor to the Congress". Couldn't have described him better.

So grow up. Pelosi and Reid, and many other Democrats are as dirty as Cheney and Bush and Rove and Libby. If you think I am wrong then you have a very, very rude awakening coming.

I think there's some truth to this. Of course, the Democrats were foreclosed by secrecy from being able to discuss the contents of the briefings at the time. What we'd really need to know is what various Democrats said behind closed doors at the time.

Were they cheering on the torture, or did they protest it? That's the issue here. If the Democratic leadership was on board with the torture, then they are guilty along with the Bush administration. It does not reduce the Bush admin's guilt, though. It merely widens the circle of the guilty.

I am in favor of punishing the guilty regardless of who they are.

Gingrich has entertainment value, and when he tries he can be a pretty good bullshit artist. It's that simple.

It's quite simple - the news media lets the hard-right Republican gasbags spew their venom, they look ridiculous, but fire up the Republican base.

The base drives the primaries, meaning more ridiculous Republicans are nominees for President, Governor, Senator or Congressman. Independents are revolted, and more Democrats are elected.

C'mon... could there be any better outcome than to let Cheney, Palin, Rush, Gingrich, and a few other nutballs keep talking on TV before the 2010 off year elections?

Forget about a 60 vote majority. How about a 67 vote majority in the Senate, and 291 vote majority in the House. Instead of just getting legislation out the door, how about Constitutional amendments? Sure they gotta get past 3/4ths of the legislatures, but if they keep putting up these idiots, it might not be that hard.

Correction - Wright served as Speaker from January 1987 to June 1989 - two and a half years, not one and a half

So grow up. Pelosi and Reid, and many other Democrats are as dirty as Cheney and Bush and Rove and Libby.

Now that's just stupid.

Try again.

Steve - honestly, you take this bright-eyed naïf thing too far at times.

Why is Gingrich on TV all the time? Pick all of the following:

• Newt wants to be on TV. He will appear on any show that asks, at any time. It's not like he has a job or any other responsibility.
• Newt wants to be president. As you no doubt recall, he was hoping to be the "requested" GOP nominee, the man that would be brought in by popular acclaim. The massive indifference of the GOP establishment and voting public must be seen as wisdom; but regardless, Newt made his wishes very well known. This is part of a 2012 Presidential bid.
• Newt is good TV. Producers on all non-PBS channels don't want nuanced answers, they want excitement, drama, bomb throwers. Newt is on TV for the same reason that Glenn Beck, Bill O'Reilly, and Jim Cramer are on TV: they bring their own drama. You don't even need another side to start the fight, all of these guys will just start yelling on their own.
• Newt is trying to recreate the glory days of 1992-1998, when he was able to cripple the actions of an otherwise popular president by -- wait for it -- making an endless stream of irresponsible accusations.
• There is a massive GOP power vacuum at the top, and on the bottom, a bitter mob of followers who don't understand why Hussein the terrorist/socialist is in charge. No one has the power, role, or will to shut Newt up.

I love reading your posts, but it's not like there is a meritocracy involved here and someone just forgot to put Newt down on the C-list, where he belongs. Newt has some kind of personality disorder that makes him want to be famous and boss people around. TV has a insatiable need for infotainment that keeps people from switching off. It's a symbiotic relationship. Enjoy the yammering.

Jim Wright is 86 years old.