Lots of good points in his outline.
Sounds great to me!
I want the GOP to have a clear message and platform. All the RINO's have done is watered the party down. The GOP cannot have a clear voice until it gets rid of the RINO's either.
I think there are a few blue dogs that might sign the contract as well.
I really like the sounds of this:
I. To keep Americans safe both home and abroad, we will defend America and her allies from those who would destroy us. To achieve this, we will develop the intelligence, diplomatic, information, defense, and homeland security systems and resources necessary to defeat our enemies and defend our shores.
II. Consistent with our founding document – the Declaration of Independence, we will seek to re-center America on the Creator from Whom all our liberties come. We will insist on a judiciary that understands the centrality of God in American history and reasserts the legitimacy of recognizing the Creator in public life.
III. To strengthen our American culture, we will establish patriotic education for our children and patriotic immigration for new Americans. To achieve this, we will renew our commitment to education about American citizenship based on American history and an understanding of the Founding Fathers and the core values of American civilization. We will insist that both our children and immigrants learn the key values and key facts of American history as the foundation of their growth as citizens. And we will make English the official language of government to ensure a unified American culture.
IV. To meet the triple economic challenges of an explosion in scientific and technological knowledge, an increasingly competitive world market, and the rise of China and India we will implement:
1. A dramatically simplified tax code that favors savings, entrepreneurship, investment, and constant modernization of equipment and technology.
V. To ensure that no American retires into poverty, we will transform the Social Security system starting with younger workers who should have the right to choose a personal Social Security Savings Retirement Accounts that will enable them to accumulate the wealth needed for a prosperous retirement while preserving Social Security for today’s retirees and near-retirees.
VIII. To balance the federal budget, we will insist on the economic policies that foster a lean government, low taxes, and a low interest rate economy to maximize growth in a competitive world.
IX. To create a citizen-centered government, we will insist on congressional reform including the repeal of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance censorship law to make the legislative branch responsive to its voters and not Washington’s entrenched special interests.
...excellent, Jim! We'll see if he's willing to jump into the fray and run in September. If we lend enough support, he can go all the way, IMO.
Bump for great justice
Imagine Hillary attempting to debate with him. I doubt that she would be willing to try that, but we could really push it. We could fold her campaign up with ensuing ridicule. Hillary would be about as well off in accepting a professional wrestling challenge from Newt.
Thanks Jim, this is a great article.
Sounds good. How about in their mother's womb, Newt?
Yep.
Newt is an historian, and a reasoned logical, articulate man who is loyal to his country. It's too bad more folks don't realize that.
Mostly the only press Newt gets around here is that he has "too much baggage." It's a shame the man is not given credit for his accomplishments.
IMOHO
Yep.
1. A dramatically simplified tax code that favors savings, entrepreneurship, investment, and constant modernization of equipment and technology.
While that sure sounds good, it's mainly pap. Newt was one of the Republican leaders who sat on actual fundamental tax reform for years.
2. Investment in the scientific revolutions that are going to transform our world—particularly in energy, space, and the environment.
Newt's getting kinda big on the environmental stuff. His focus groups must be leading him by the nose. I heard him (with my own ears) talk about global warming last summer like he believes it.
3. Math and science learning equal to any in the world and educating enough young Americans to both discover the science of the future and to compete successfully in national security and the economy with other well-educated societies.
Translation: Billions and billions more to the educational establishment.
4. Transform health care into a 21st Century Intelligent Health System that improves our health while lowering costs dramatically. In the process, American health care will become our highest value export and foreign exchange earning sector.
Blah, blah, blah.
5. A new system of civil justice to reduce the burden of lawsuits.
One without lawyers? ;-)
V. To ensure that no American retires into poverty, we will transform the Social Security system starting with younger workers who should have the right to choose a personal Social Security Savings Retirement Accounts that will enable them to accumulate the wealth needed for a prosperous retirement while preserving Social Security for today’s retirees and near-retirees.
Hmmm...we've been hearing this for a very long time, but haven't seen one ounce of courage or action from our Republican leaders. Hard for me to buy it, when I consider the fact that Mr. Gingrich was one of those leaders for a very long time.
VI. In order to permit every American the opportunity to pursue happiness their entire life, we will:
1. Develop a system in which those who wish to stay economically active are encouraged and incentivized to do so because active people live longer and healthier and have a greater opportunity to pursue happiness;
2. Develop a system of independent living and assisted living that increases the years in which people can be on their own and in most cases enables people to live their entire lives with freedom and dignity;
3. Develop a new model of quality long-term care in which both the care and the quality of life are compatible with a twenty-first century American expectation of progress and innovation.
4. Use the new technologies and new scientific knowledge to turn disabilities into capabilities and change government regulations and programs to help every American achieve the fullest possible ability to pursue happiness.
Not a word about what is actually screwing up health care, and making its price perpetually skyrocket: ie government involvement. "Incentivized"? Gag...
VII. To change the mindset of big government in Washington, we will insist upon replacing bureaucratic public administration with entrepreneurial public management so government can operate with the speed, effectiveness, and efficiency of the information age.
Hmmm...he's going to have to work on translating that out of bureaucratese.
VIII. To balance the federal budget, we will insist on the economic policies that foster a lean government, low taxes, and a low interest rate economy to maximize growth in a competitive world.
Uhmmm...y'all had your chance to implement such, not "insist" on it.
IX. To create a citizen-centered government, we will insist on congressional reform including the repeal of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance censorship law to make the legislative branch responsive to its voters and not Washington’s entrenched special interests.
"Congressional reform"? Just change the stinking law to get back within the bounds of the First Amendment. Every time y'all say you're "reforming Congress" the Congress and its incumbents get more powerful, and the people get further away from controlling their own government.
X. To protect and ensure the integrity of the election process, we will insist that it is honest, accountable, accurate, and free from the threat of illegal votes or gratuitous litigation.
Right. Why didn't you go to bat for Bob Dornan, Newt? His seat was obviously stolen, and you and your buddies sat there and watched.
IV. To meet the triple economic challenges of an explosion in scientific and technological knowledge, an increasingly competitive world market, and the rise of China and India we will implement:
1. A dramatically simplified tax code that favors savings, entrepreneurship, investment, and constant modernization of equipment and technology.
This sounds ok. But the last time they 'simplified' the tax code it added over a thousand pages to it so I'll wait to see the details.
2. Investment in the scientific revolutions that are going to transform our world—particularly in energy, space, and the environment.
Sounds like more Federal spending to me. 3. Math and science learning equal to any in the world and educating enough young Americans to both discover the science of the future and to compete successfully in national security and the economy with other well-educated societies.
Sounds like increased Federal meddling in Education to me. Whatever happened to abolishing the Dept Of Education, Newt?
4. Transform health care into a 21st Century Intelligent Health System that improves our health while lowering costs dramatically. In the process, American health care will become our highest value export and foreign exchange earning sector.
Hillary is promising the same thing. What are the specifics Newt? The last thing in the world we need is more Federal involvement in the Health Care industry.
VI. In order to permit every American the opportunity to pursue happiness their entire life, we will:
1. Develop a system in which those who wish to stay economically active are encouraged and incentivized to do so because active people live longer and healthier and have a greater opportunity to pursue happiness;
Why on Earth is how long people stay 'economically active' the business of the Federal Government? Where exactly is that in the Constitution?
2. Develop a system of independent living and assisted living that increases the years in which people can be on their own and in most cases enables people to live their entire lives with freedom and dignity;
Are you talking about Federal Assisted living centers here Newt? Isn't that the job of the private sector or did you folks slip a few new paragraphs into the Constitution recently?
3. Develop a new model of quality long-term care in which both the care and the quality of life are compatible with a twenty-first century American expectation of progress and innovation.
I must have a really outdated copy of the Constitution because mine doesn't say a word about the Federal role in 'developing models' of anything.
4. Use the new technologies and new scientific knowledge to turn disabilities into capabilities and change government regulations and programs to help every American achieve the fullest possible ability to pursue happiness.
Oh goody. Yet another Federal program.
VII. To change the mindset of big government in Washington, we will insist upon replacing bureaucratic public administration with entrepreneurial public management so government can operate with the speed, effectiveness, and efficiency of the information age.
OK this sounds really purty and all, but just what the hell does it actually mean? Are you going to close down some Departments or Agencies or something?
VIII. To balance the federal budget, we will insist on the economic policies that foster a lean government, low taxes, and a low interest rate economy to maximize growth in a competitive world
Once again it sounds really purty, but what are you actually saying Newt? Which Departments, Agencies, or Bureaus will you propose eliminating in order to 'lean up' the Government?
IX. To create a citizen-centered government, we will insist on congressional reform including the repeal of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance censorship law to make the legislative branch responsive to its voters and not Washington’s entrenched special interests.
On this one Newt has my full support.
X. To protect and ensure the integrity of the election process, we will insist that it is honest, accountable, accurate, and free from the threat of illegal votes or gratuitous litigation.
Same here.
He talks pretty, but it takes him an awful long time to get around to any solid proposals.
L
Love it! I would love to see Newt as a Presidential candidate, but I am not sure if he is electable...
Newt is gifted, and has many scores to settle.
The MSM will crucify him, however, should he sniff the Prize.
He's a great #2 on any GOP ticket, however, bringing back many apolitical types he was able to drag to the polls in 1994.
A much harder sell than his '94 contract. This one is grandiose with no mention of how to implement said plans and ideas. Americans can be lazy and I'd like to see this contract simplified.
It'll take large GOP majorities and that includes moderates as well as conservatives.
I do think II needs to be emphasized, because recognition of our Creator, is the basis for our Constitution and Bill of Rights.
II. Consistent with our founding document – the Declaration of Independence, we will seek to re-center America on the Creator from Whom all our liberties come. We will insist on a judiciary that understands the centrality of God in American history and reasserts the legitimacy of recognizing the Creator in public life.
Didn't work for lack of focus.
According to the voters the Repubs have let them (America) down.
Only true conservatism will win in 2008. But not in secret like the Libs do,
the values must be ENDORSED by the Republican candidate "Vocally, and Loudly".
God Bless America
MaxMax.
By 2006, the Republicans had all but forgotten their promises to the American people and succumbed to relentless pressure and name-calling by the Dems and their cronies in the MSM. They had squandered their opportunity and yielded power to the liberals.
The Contract with America is a great idea. What's to insure that the Republicans won't go running scared the first time someone in the media criticizes their plan as "mean-spirited," "racist," "favoring the rich" or "contributing to global warming"?
Lost me at II., I have no interest in promoting a theocracy.
I also note that the original CWA included support for the second amendment RKBA, which is missing from this version.