To somehow think that it is hypocritical now that the Reps didn't say anything to Newt 10 years ago is mental masturbation at its finest. OF COURSE THEY didn't. He was on their side. Its politics. DUH!
Occasionally politicians rise above partisan politics to criticize members of their own party, esp about foreign policy. They weren't just silent about it, they back him up because of what they felt was Clinton's diplomatic failings. The only reason they are taking the approach they are using now is because they don't want Bush's utterly massive failings with this fiasco that he wrought upon us to be criticized. To point out that the current criticism is hypocritical using reminders from the past is more than mere mental masturbation because of the seriousness of the mess Bush has put us in. It maybe naive to think it will work, but it is facile to think that this is mere politics.