Newt's Nine

Newt Gingrich, who rode to power on a wave of GOP-led reform, deserves a bully pulpit in today's era of tarnished GOP ideals.

In an op/ed RCP links to in the San Diego Union Tribune (which gets credit for that nifty graphic), Gingrich writes:

At a time of great uncertainty, America can ill afford to have the majority party distracted from doing the people's business for the sake of power. No less than the survival of America's unique civilization is at stake.

To save civilization, Gingrich lays out a nine-point program he hopes will lead the GOP to reform. It may just be coincidental, but it reads like a nine-plank presidential platform. (And if we can't have Hillary/Condi in '08, what would be better than Hillary/Newt?)

The list, though, has a major disappointment. Where is the campaign reform plank? It's missing in action. Newt sounds the right trumpet calls: government is too big; there's too much GOP pork. He doesn't want McCain-Feingold II -- but what does he want? We are left not knowing.

Here's what we do know Newt stands for:

1. National Security. Newt wants a "vastly more robust military and intelligence capability." How will the Dems fight that?

2. Energy. Newt wants "a sound long-range program that minimizes American energy dependence while maximizing biodiversity, environmental health and economic prosperity." That's equal opportunity pablum -- parety with the Dems, not superiority.

3. Borders. Tough security and a guest worker program. The Dems will struggle here, as they're trying to turn the Hispanics into the new Blacks, the new subserviant base of the party. Advantage Newt.

4. American Education. Newt has a winner here, one that will rile the ACLU and the hard black racist and brown racist factions of the DNC: "We must return to teaching American history, the wisdom of the Founding Fathers and their core writings, their importance and why America is a uniquely successful civilization worth protecting. Immigrants wanting to become American citizens should pass a U.S. history test given in English."

5. Infrastructure in the post-Katrina era. Newt sees the root cause as bureacracy; slow-moving, dim-witted, ass-covering bureaucracy. Attack at will, Newt. The Dems will have no choice but to rally to the cause of the government employee units.

6. Health care. He wants to create a new system that is "consumer-centered, knowledge-rich, innovation-friendly, outcomes-based, prevention-focused and market-driven." The last point notwithstanding, it sounds expensive.

7. Social security. One more try at a social security system with choice. Go for it!

8. Math and science education. We need to get better. It won't be me. I'm a word guy.

9. Global competitiveness. Newt calls for "reforms in taxation, education, regulation, litigation, energy and health care" to accomplish this. Dealing with the pricing irregularities of Asian manufacturers would help too.