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Bravo.

Newt was the single most effective and visionary Conservative leader since Ronald Reagan. All the factors that led to the GOP getting national power were due to Newt: GOPAC built up local parties state by state, the Contract with American successfully and brilliantly nationalized the 1994 elections, and Newt's budget reforms lead to the only period of fiscal sanity we have had with the Federal Government in the last 40 years.

The Democrats understood this better than the people in Newt's own camp. They trumped up psuedo-scandal after psuedo-scandal to trip Newt up and eventually some of the bogus mudslinging lowered Newt's approval rating with the public.

What very Conservative should realize is that both Newt and Reagan did something that was extremely rare in Conservative Politics: they articulated a positive vision toward which the movement could strive.

Conservatives have developed a strong reputation for good fiscal management and ability to manage National Security prudently. Both of those perceived competencies have been hurt during the last several years but but not to the point unrecoverability.

In talking with my non-Conservative acquaintances I have been struck by the degree to which these folks have s strong desire for solutions. Any positive program, that puts forward a coherent program will be well received by a solution hungry body politic. What has been missing the last several years has been any sense of of an agenda and a program.

During the post World War II period Conservatives served as liquidators of Democratic messes until Newt came on the scene (Most of Ronald Reagan's domestic program was blocked by the Democrats). The GOP is heading back toward a regionally strong Minority Party (the Sunbelt) unless the movement can once again pick of the type of broad-based agenda as Newt showed us in the 1990s.

I encourage everyone in this thread to read Newt's "Winning the Future" book with a particular attention to Newt's Health Care Proposals. Newt's proposals are bold and visionary and could be passed under the right circumstances. This proposal renders the "reform-light" proposals put forward by other politicians pale by comparison.

The good news is that the Democrats are completely devoid of any new ideas; the cupboard is bare. Once the solution hungry Public becomes aware of this they will turn off from the Democrats but the GOP will need to be ready with new good, ideas at that time. Newt has these ideas and I hope the Party becomes smart enough to take some of them up.

Newt has a lot of baggage in his past so he is not an ideal Presidential candidate nor was his performance as Majority Leader perfect. Newt is a better idea man than he is as a politician but the Party needs to realize that the idea factory needs dramatic retooling. I hope that Newt will be allowed to aid in this process.