Thanks for sharing that piece - I had not seen it since about 1996 (at the Convention that year). Newt Gingrich is one of those people whose influence will be felt long after he has passed from the scene. He was treated viciously by the news media - and I do mean
viciously. A brilliant and thoughtful man, Gingrich was widely reviled by the popular media (then largely unchallenged) as a monster, an act for which I have never forgiven - and will never forgive the national news media. What they did to Reagan was bad enough - but the man was so much larger than life that he overcame it by simply smiling and maintaining his infectious, cheery optimism. Newt is more of a scholar, and given to a scholars' temperament - he does not suffer fools gladly.
A new Contract with America, or something akin to it would be great place to start. Republicans generally, and Conservatives specifically need to convene for the purpose of drafting a course of action. Given the usual time it takes for such a movement to coalesce, and given the stakes in this dangerous world, I say: the sooner, the better.