Newsweek's "Gladiator" Cover: Awful

This is actually Newsweek's cover:























Obviously Newsweek is continuing its strategy of hoping controversial / ridiculous / Mad Magazinesque covers will sell magazines. But as you soak this one in, realize that something along the lines of this conversation took place last week:

Newsweek Editor: We need to do a GOP primary cover, and we're thinking - let's paint Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich dressed like gladiators on the White House lawn.

More Senior Newsweek Editor: Yes. That's a good idea. Do that.

I honestly don't see how you can think that's a smart move and be qualified to run a national news magazine.