I think you’re right about the zipper reasons.
Most republicans are hiding shit that the deep state knows about and are completely compromised rendering them WORTHLESS creeps just in congress and scotus to collect what bribes they can and live high on the hog.
Gingrich & Slick shared a lot of the same immaturities. Slick instinctively could see that, Gingrich couldn’t or wouldn’t. That’s why Slick out maneuvered him. Gingrich has great ideas, political instincts & insight. He had the potential to be president and probably would have been a very good one. Like Slick he couldn’t control his “appetites” or “need for approval”. However unlike Slick he was operating in a hostile environment which would take such flaws and make them politically fatal not politically endearing like with Slick. (Note: Endearing to the “greater populace” not to me !)