Is Newt Clinically Nuts?

Talk about #slatepitches. The compulsively counterintuitive online magazine Slate has a column by Jacob Weisberg arguing that Newt Gingrich may be “nuts”—as in clinically. “One observes in the former House Speaker certain symptoms—bouts of grandiosity, megalomania, irritability, racing thoughts, spending sprees—that go beyond the ordinary politician’s narcissism.” Of course, no one can be formally diagnosed without a proper sit-down with a trained psychologist, but Weisberg says that if he had to guess, he would peg him as hypomanic, or perhaps even manic-depressive. On the other hand, the U.S. has a rich history of effective “crazy” leaders.