'Negative, Newt, the pattern is full'

Stepping into yet another pile of manure, Newt Gingrich says patriotism made him cheat on his previous wives. Political journalists are spilling copious amounts of ink trying to explain his irrational rationalization. It isn't necessary. A single scene from the movie Top Gun explains it all. Maverick to Viper: "I had the shot; there was no danger, so I took it." Put another way, Newt was driven by simple lust -- and he took the shot. So why won't he cut his losses and just cop to it? Because, to paraphrase another line from the film, his ego is still writing checks his body can't cash.