Gingrich Calls White House Dysfunctional

WASHINGTON — Newt Gingrich described the Bush administration as dysfunctional and its unpopularity as hazardous to those in the Republican Party.

"The government is not functioning. It's not getting the job done," the former House speaker, who is considering a run for the Republican presidential nomination, said. "Republicans need to confront this reality."

Mr. Gingrich said in a broadcast interview he believes Mr. Bush "means very, very well" but falls short when it comes to putting his goals in place and running the government.

"All you have to do is look at the examples I've given you today where the government simply fails," said Mr. Gingrich, citing the administration's handling of the war in Iraq, its immigration policies and response to Hurricane Katrina. "We have to have very relentless, dramatic change in American government," he said.

Mr. Gingrich added, "The key question is: Is somebody prepared to stand up and say that the American people deserve fundamental change in Washington?"