The above video taken from the 2009 Congressional Dinner, keynote speaker Newt Gingrich.

Gingrich to lead the GOP? Much has been said in the media about the GOP reaching for a voice, a central figure to carry their message forward. Accordingly the press paints the picture as a bleak, messy affair with party leaders and grass roots faithful at each other’s throats – in-fighting without a cohesive message. So it seems natural for folks from main street, all the way to top echelons of power to look to party figures of the past to carry the country away from the destructive path we are on and put forth a cohesive conservative alternative.

Newt Gingrich, House speaker from 1995-1999, instrumental conservative voice for what I believe was to be the twilight of conservatism. Gingrich and the conservative surge of 1994 came into power on the heels of Bill Clinton’s radical push for socialized medicine (Hillarycare), and a public perception of not living up to his political-center, ‘New Democrat’ mantra. Gingrich and the 1994 class were successful because they had a precise voice and agenda – a ‘Contract with America’ here, based on some fairly simple conservative ideals, it was something that the public could relate to…..

So over recent years Gingrich has been a speaker, media pontificater, supposed purveyor of conservatism and the GOP. I am suspicious and suspect, to say the least. It’s not that I think that he is a 100% RINO, it’s just that I don’t trust him. While I admired the man in my youth, something happened to his persona, his credo. I think that he became so entrenched in ‘the Party’ that he lost sight of his conservative philosophical underpinnings. He simply over the years lost touch, became a pol, became one of them. And this happens in politics.

Of course I beg to differ. I’m sure you would too. Do Democrats ‘shrug off’ their liberal constituents? Of course not. Such Washington elitist nonsense. Republicans are always the first to eat their young and statements like this prove that. But I digress, did you watch the video of Gingrich’s commencement speech?

Highlights –

• “Obama received 60% of the votes in CA, clearly a blue state, but in May, stopping taxing and spending in Sacramento got 64% of the vote, what are the challenges to the Republican Party, are we prepared to be inclusive and not exclusive?”

• “I am happy that Dick Cheney is a Republican, I am also happy that Colin Powell is a Republican.”

My counter – I see the trend here, it is not that the party stands for individualism, freedom, low taxes and regulation, it is party loyalty and identification. Powell voted for the Obamanation. What does this even mean? Identity over ideas? Very muted applause on this one.

• “Some of our social planners refer to them as ‘the masses’,….they are not ‘the masses’ or ‘common man’, individuals each with his or her own hopes and dreams, plans and problems and the kind of quiet courage that makes this whole country run better…..that’s why rationing is wrong, that’s why quotas are wrong, because the eliminate the very power of the individual.”

Counter – Ah-ha! Now that is the meat and potatoes of what conservatives/libertarians believe. I would go the long distance here – rationing is wrong, quotas, excessive taxes, regulation, entitlements, group identity, poverty mentality, entitlement mentality and others are wrong simply because they eliminate the very power of the individual.

• “It is why America entrepreneurial free market capitalism will work and that European socialism will not work in terms of productivity and prosperity….”

Counter – Basic, but not heard enough from current Republicans – who in the GOP is out there extolling the evils of even a European socialism lite? Not many.

• “We do not need stimulus, we need growth….the answer is the opposite of the left, we don’t need stimulus, the idea that you can pour 787 billion dollars into Washington and have it somehow create jobs is a fantasy of the first order, their goal was power and paying off their allies….politicians dominating the economy does not work, Barney Frank is not a substitute for a sound market economy….replacing the rule of law with special interests in bankruptcy does not work….you can’t have capitalism on the way up and socialism on the way down….”

So he goes on to basically offer up a direct/stark contrast to the big-government largess of the Obamanation with a vision of an entrepreneurial/vibrant market economy. Do I think that Gingrich is the best man to hold the mantle of the GOP? No. Was the speech great? Actually I think so, especially the last half or so. Do I trust his intentions and credentials? 50/50 on this one. We need new blood in the party and a new vision, although I do hear some of this from him in the speech, I think that a vibrant, young and fresh face could really carry this message better in this day and age. What do you think?