A larger breakfast at Tiffany's

As if Newt Gingrich didn't have enough problems, what with much of his presidential campaign staff quittting, two promiment finance advisers left him this week.

Now, it turns out that the former House Speaker and his third wife, Callista, had a second, larger line of credit at Tiffany's, the Washington Post reports.

The second credit line had a limit of $1 million. All bills have been paid and the account is now closed. Gingrich had to reveal the account in his personal financial disclouse forms in his run for the presidency. The first credit line was for $250,000 to $500,000.

What this means is that, yes, the Gingirches paid their bills and didn't spend more than they had.

What is also means is they spent a lot on jewelry at the home of the little blue box. (Or, in their case, big.) Stores don't extend generous credit limits unless you're routinely spending that kind of serious lettuce.

We like major hardware as much as the next person but Gingrich, a former history professor, has long preached fiscal conservatism.

In a business known for discounts and deals, Tiffany's is the diamond emporium that never, ever, ever has a sale. The word "wholesale" doesn't compute. It's for folks that are extremely label conscious and don't mind paying extra, I mean, way extra for snob appeal.

Ir's hard to run as president, espousing restraint and cutting costs when, in your home life, you never seem to cut costs when shopping for your spouse. But he has given a whole new, some might say priceless, meaning to being uxurious.

--Karen Heller