It All Had So Much Promise

Are you as disappointed as I am about our lost entertainment opportunity? At the end of last week, Newt was ramping up his potential presidential campaign. It wasn't a sure thing, but if he could raise $30 million in three weeks, he wouldn't necessarily avoid entering the contest. Yes, that was an unwieldy sentence. Newt wasn't promising to run if he got $30 million, but if he didn't get it, he wouldn't waste his time. "This is like climbing Mount Everest," he told the Associated Press. So much to look forward to!

Unfortunately, on Saturday he apparently realized that he'd never been much interested in climbing Mount Everest. For reasons that aren't entirely clear, Newt canceled his presidential inquiry the day before he was going to announce it. The stated reason is that Newt wouldn't be able to muse anymore. He's starting up American Solutions, which The Washington Post described as "the latest vehicle for Gingrich's musings about politics and policy." Apparently he learned that running for president would necessitate his resignation from the chairmanship of American Solutions, so naturally he made the only decision he could: keep the gig no one's ever heard of.

"American Solutions is in the early stages, I think, of becoming a genuine national citizens movement," Gingrich told reporters. "To walk out of it just as it's getting launched struck me as absolutely irresponsible."

Well, duh. Especially for something as frivolous as running for president.

We'll miss you, Newt. You would've added some real liveliness to the Republican field.