Like it or not, Newt's back

Newt Gingrich is back in the public eye. Actually, he's been working his way up there for a while now, starting with a book release that has lead to speaking tours, talk show appearances, and more. Many consider him to be a contender for president in 2008.

I have a problem with his inability to keep his personal life in order, but I think America still respects his success with the 1994 Contract with America that gave Republicans control of the House, and in a time of corruption in Washington, I think a lot of people actually believe Newt when he talks about change. Even I think he'd do a better job than the current House leadership. He's talked the game of change before. He's delivered results. People respond to that. Besides, Bill Clinton's continued popularity following his own personal scandal(s) shows that - like it or not - Americans look past that. We seem to have an increasing tendency to say "you do your thing, I'll do mine" in politics, unprecedented in American politics until sometime within the last ten years.

Here's a bit from Newt's latest stop at CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference).

Newt Gingrich, who led the Republican Party to power a dozen years ago, told cheering conservatives Saturday it is time to overhaul a balky, slow-moving government locked in the last century.

Citing multiple government failures after Hurricane Katrina, the former House speaker said the government meltdown at all levels illustrated how badly government needs to be updated in all of its operations.
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Gingrich's appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference was scripted like a presidential campaign stop, with young supporters in red T-shirts passing out buttons and pamphlets.

"We clearly need the Republican Party to reacquire a movement that designs a 21st century Contract with America," Gingrich said, recalling the set of proposals at the heart of his successful 1994 strategy to win congressional races.

Gingrich, who has been on a promotional book tour, said he isn't currently running for president, though he hasn't ruled it out.
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The former lawmaker from Georgia was accorded "rock star" treatment by those in the crowded hotel ballroom. He was interrupted frequently by standing ovations, hailed with cries of "Newt, Newt, Newt and besieged by young fans eager for a photo with Gingrich.

Conservatives at this conference expressed mounting frustration with the expansion of government and increased spending [I'm frustrated too!] in the last five years, even with Republicans in control of the White House and Congress.

The Republican Party has not been conservative over the last six years. Oh, they've held the line on moral conservatism. But their fiscal policies have run amuck. Newt's been out of the game for a while, and went out pretty disgraced. But if he could prove to me that he's serious about fiscal discipline, there's a small chance he could get my vote.