Newt Gingrich: Not a joke and yet so hilarious

It's been a bad week for Newt, but I'm not convinced that this was the way it had to be. The GOP hopeful's messaging was all over the map in the last six days -- a bad start for any campaign, let alone that of a powerhouse like Gingrich.

First he denied slamming the Paul Ryan budget plan. Then he apologized to Paul Ryan. Then he claimed he wasn't even talking about Paul Ryan. Seriously, who is managing Gingrich's messaging? Instead of any decent press coverage, your campaign is getting slammed with mockery and questions about whether anyone in the campaign has the slightest idea what they're doing.

If you're actually trying to win in 2012, my recommendation would be to seek new help immediately.

BONUS: Vanity Fair challenges readers to discern select quotes from Newt's press release and the 1929 war novel "All Quiet on the Western Front."