Newt writes off Bush, blames Rove for failures, likely will not run in '08

I wish this guy would crawl back under a rock. He's very full of himself. Although I agree with much of what he says, I part ways with him when he blames Rove for Bush's mistakes. Bottom line is that through failure after failure Bush kept him on. Bush could have fired him and for whatever weird psychological reasons that he can't admit mistakes and take corrective action - he didn't. That Rove stayed in place all these years is no ones fault but Bush's. Even after calling the president weak - Gingrich still blames Rove. Why does no one hold Bush responsible for anything?

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has decided to break with President Bush.

Sources close to Mr. Gingrich said that, after having kept silent for more than a year, he has become openly critical of the administration, portraying the president as a weak man akin to Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter. The former House speaker has warned conservatives not to expect anything from the White House over the remaining two years and instead focus on building a base for leadership for 2008.

"Newt bit his tongue for months and now feels he has to tell his base the truth: the White House does not have the will or the power to promote any agenda," a source close to Mr. Gingrich said.

The sources said Mr. Gingrich, who refuses to commit to a presidential bid in 2008, blames White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove for Mr. Bush's mistakes, including the loss of Congress in 2006. They said Mr. Gingrich's criticism of the top Bush political adviser has been considered by the president and this could lead to Mr. Rove's early departure.