[CutePuppy]

Summary of salient points that Gingrich spells out in his broad general economic plan:

• Reduce the federal business tax rate to 12.5%

• Eliminate the capital gains tax (a double tax on capital income)

• Eliminate the estate tax

• Immediate expensing (writing off the costs in one year) of capital equipment investment

• An optional 15% flat tax (allowing simpler alternative "postcard" tax system, with savings of close to $0.5T in annual tax-compliance costs alone)

  Newt makes the point that these reforms are not designed to be "revenue-neutral" but to maximize job creation, wages and economic growth, which will help grow revenues and, along with spending cuts, will help balance the budget.

• Break up Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into manageable, private companies with no government guarantees

• Stabilize the dollar by establishing a price rule for the Federal Reserve

• Reduce the burden and costs of business and other regulations

• "Unwavering opposition" to any cap-and-trade or any other form of taxing on energy or carbon

• Replace EPA with Environmental Solutions Agency, with cost-benefit accountability

• Repeal Dodd-Frank

• Repeal Sarbanes-Oxley

• Repeal and replace ObamaCare with Patient Power, involving no individual insurance mandate and no job-killing employer mandate

• Modernize Food and Drug Administration, remove cost barriers to rapid medicine and technology development

• Cut federal spending in half over the long run, solving the nation's entitlement and fiscal crisis

• Start and then expand personal savings, investment and insurance accounts until they can finance all the benefits now financed by the payroll tax

• Expand on the federal welfare reform of 1996, block-granting programs to the states

• American Energy Plan, freeing the energy industry to maximize production of all forms of American energy

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

Let’s wait a bit for Pat Buchanan to weigh in. He must have an axe to grind against Reagan. All of his latest books are little more than attacks on politicians who defeated him.

Yes, I started reading his Suicide of a Superpower, and I’m disgusted that in the first few pages he has quote a CFR stooge a couple of times and levels more attacks at Bush than Obammie the Commie.

Come on, Pat. We know Bush was a big government spender, but the WOT is not what is bankrupting this country.

Stop using every book as nothing more than a soap box to ream the guy who defeated you.

[TomGuy]

For someone who claimed the era of Reagan was over not long ago, Gingrich sure keeps bringing Reagan’s name up and trying to give the impression he is the new Reagan.

Sometimes Gingrich talks so much he talks himself in circles.

[Ron C.]

Yeah, it looks good on paper and here on the screen - BUT, I just don't see how Gingrich is going to land the nomination, and or, if he somehow pulls off a miracle, how he can get elected with his 'baggage.' If he's the nominee, I think Obama wins.

Why? Because far too many conservatives do not view his talk now as that of a true conservative, and suspect he will revert to his 'cuddle-up with the Dims' actions shortly after he walks into the Oval Office.

[livius]

I thought this outline showed an excellent, even exciting plan.

It is true that the Reagan Era is over. However, Gingrich is not trying to recreate Reagan or his policies, but is trying to come up with new solutions adapted to these new times but based on those principles. I thought these were all great ideas and would really revitalize the economy and our creative spirit.

[stillafreemind]

No offense to Newt..but I am totally tired of hearing people use Reagan here and Reagan there. Reagan was not perfect..but I loved him and he was the right man for that specific moment in our history. We were very blessed to have him.

Newt is not Reagan and he often comes off as a wannabe or as a creator of Reagan. Newt is running..not Reagan. I don’t like it when everyone else swears to do it the “Reagan way”.

I’d love to know what Reagan thinks about the GOP these days. I bet he wouldn’t be too happy with the cave-ins and big spenders and none too happy that they spout his name every chance they get.

[rockinqsranch]

I didn’t see anything in there about getting the numerous Clinton cronies out of Wall Street where Billy Jeff, and the Democrats “influenced” their hire, and their control, but I guess that’s not something for the campaign is it.

[Revolting cat!]

Newt, alone among the eight reindeers, offers concrete proposals and commitments. Others concentrate on telling us how good they’ve been and how bad things are. One of them, I hear, bore 47 children.

[org.whodat]

All I see is more kicking the can down the road.

[Diggity]

Newt has his chance. He needs to go away

[phillyfanatic]

I like your summnation .Too bad Newt did not just tell all the killer smear ads that he has changed and put forward these items like you did. He is obviously the smartest and best man for the job but seems now in Iowa to be out of it. Who knows? People might just rethink and wonder why they would vote for a 76 yr old foreign policy Quisling or a guy who has looked off and on like a Mass. lefty. I sort of like Mitt personally but still would rather see Newt as Prez. Hey, perhaps, Mitt would take the VP job............