How can anyone say Newt is all talk and no walk? Did everyone simply forget that he was the primary architect of the true fiscal conservatism in the 90’s when he managed to get a Democratic president to go along with his agenda?
Welfare reform brought down government spending and forced millions of able bodied Americans to get off their duffs and go get jobs. This resulted in lower unemployment and a wider tax base and contributed to balanced budgets.
Remember federal spending limits? This was Newt’s biggest accomplishment (though Clinton seems to get credit for signing it) making sure our goverment wouldn’t spend our country into debt. Along with trade agreements and other fiscally responsible policies the United States was immensely prosperous because of the government staying out of the way and letting free markets work the way they should.
And then the GOP tossed him overboard. The Democrats made him a target and threw so many mudballs at him that the establishment Republicans abandoned him to prove to the media that they weren’t a bunch of meanies who want to starve children and kick old people out to the curb. The reason he has a reputation as “damaged goods” is because the GOP put that label on him themselves. It’s a shame so many grassroots conservatives went along with this.
I’ve been saying for months that he is not just electable, but that he’s a terrific candidate. He’s also one of the few candidates who is taking care to NOT criticize other Republican candidates because there is a higher priority - criticizing Obama and the Democrats. If you’ve noticed, he has been consistent in explaining exactly what is wrong with Democratic policies and telling us what Republican policies will replace them.
I will certainly be voting for whomever the Republican nominee is from among this field in order to get Obama out of the White House. But my most enthusiastic vote would be for Newt.
Most excellent post!