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Jewish World Review Dec. 28, 2011/ 2 Teves, 5772 Eye of Newt: It's always on the main chance By Paul Greenberg
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
A bright spot in What possibly can be good news about this fiscal-disaster-waiting-to-happen having funneled This: Mr. Gingrich wants it known that he didn't collect that million-plus for his services as a lobbyist. Oh, no. He was paid for his services as . . . an historian! Oh, good. That's a relief. This news flash should serve as a useful corrective to the widespread assumption on college campuses that a history degree, or one in any of the liberal arts for that matter, is a financial dead end. The Newt now has demonstrated that it's really the path to fame and especially fortune. And, heaven help us, maybe to the Maybe the happily former speaker's next book could be titled: "How to Succeed in History Without Really Trying." It would make a great Doubtless the American taxpayer will be much relieved to hear Newt the Great's explanation for this latest exploit of his. He's always got a cogent explanation for any and all scandals he's involved in. And this alibi has got to be one of his all-time best. The man is nothing if not inventive. It's so brazen a story, with its cover of academic propriety, that it's almost charming, as new heights of chutzpah can be. Almost. But on closer examination, like so many of Newt's throwaway lines, one realizes this one really does deserve to be thrown away. The Newt is by trade and inclination one of those people the Brits call a chancer, so ardent a competitor for power and pelf that he may not be overly scrupulous about the methods he employs to gain either. And whenever his little games are exposed, though he may lay low for a while, even years, you can be confident this superannuated Comeback Kid will, yes, come back. Again. Indeed, bounce back. Just look at his poll numbers. He's the Silly Putty candidate -- malleable beyond belief. Literally, since this latest story of his really is beyond belief. One reason some of us can hardly wait for his next scrape with the truth, and in light of his record there's bound to be one, is to hear him talk his way out of it. Audacity could be his middle name. Despite his pretensions to an honored place in the American pantheon, the Newt is a lot closer to And who can doubt that Newt is the very image of the self-made man, not to mention the self-promoting and self-absorbed one? Now he's got to be the best-paid historian around, too, even if his own history is a bit checkered. Never mind. He can explain it all. And in the most entertaining fashion. As with any other carnival barker, it's not the truth of his pitch that mesmerizes, but his style, his pizzazz, his never-at-a-loss gift for repartee. Step right this way, folks, and lend an ear, take a gander, and fall under his spell. For one brief shining moment, like now in the polls, he's almost convincing. Almost.
Along with its twin, No entries in a medieval bestiary could have been any more destructive than these modern-day monstrosities. The monsters of mythology might swallow up only an individual; these could engulf and devour a whole country's fiscal future. At this point it's not clear which was the evil twin, Freddie or Fannie, but the overwhelming evidence suggests that both were. And, unfortunately, still are. It was only a matter of time before an irrepressible character like It'll be a great day when both these outfits are dismantled, and housing can go back to being a market instead of a plaything for hedge-fund operators, politicians, and lobbyists and spongers of every variety -- even if they prefer to call themselves historians.
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