The Flake Factor

Indeed.  In fact, there are "nuggets" in the Gingrich "oeuvre" that may well give voters pause -- and not just moderates or Democrats.  Jim Geraghty has set out some of Gingrich's "not-so-greatest" hits -- including his advocacy of Republican "moderation," his rave review of Charles Schumer's book, and more.  

Taken together, they raise the question of the "flake factor" when it comes to a Gingrich candidacy.  There's a problem when you combine verbal indiscipline with the desire to cultivate a reputation for thinking deep thoughts: You are bound to wander into some pretty hard-to-explain territory sometimes.