I think more and more blue-state Republicans are going to slowly back away from Ryan's fix for Medicare and talk about other alternatives once the poll numbers start solidifying. If Democrats have their shit together they'll do everything they can to drive that wedge through the party.
He's not a rightwingloon, but he has shown IMO that he's a lot more in the pocket of big business than I previously surmised. I like him a lot less than I did a few months ago, but I still might vote for him again. Depends on who the dems put up against him.
And neither will Pawlenty, Romney, Bachmann, or even Palin. But the wingnuts will only get pizzed off at Newt about it.
He lost a lot of credibility with me when he voted no (for cloture) last week to end the filibuster against the bill to eliminate billions in oil company subsidies. I mean really, companies generating record, multi-billion dollar profits don't need government handouts.
I'm thinking maybe TPTB in the GOP don't want Newt running, he's old blood and has a lot of baggage... so that was a convenient way to put cement boots on his campaign.