My personal favorite way to remember how far to the right the Republican party has move in only a few years is this 2008 Al Gore-funded commercial in which Newt Gingrich and Nancy Pelosi urge the country to address climate change.

Can you imagine a Republican presidential candidate even shaking hands with the diabolical communist Nancy Pelosi, now? Not that Newt Gingrich is really a presidential candidate anymore, despite what he says. But it would be even worse than, say, coming out of the closet at a press conference and banging everyone of the same gender in the room. While eating arugula. You know, whatever stupid culture war thing comes to mind. None of it would be as bad for a Republican candidate than to be seen sitting on a couch with Nancy Pelosi, talking about trees and shit.

So it is not surprising that Newt Gingrich said today he probably would not make this ad again:

I was trying to make a point that we shouldn't be afraid to debate the left, even on the environment, but obviously it was misconstrued, and it's probably one of those things I wouldn't do again.

He'll probably go back on this once his campaign is technically over, and he reverts to more traditional means of grifting. Just wave $50 in T.G.I. Friday's gift certificates in his face, and he'll go right back to being Al Gore's jumpoff.