My Plea to Republicans: It's Time for Real Change to Avoid Real Disaster

The Republican loss in the special election for Louisiana's Sixth Congressional District last Saturday should be a sharp wake up call for Republicans: Either Congressional Republicans are going to chart a bold course of real change or they are going to suffer decisive losses this November.

The facts are clear and compelling.

Saturday's loss was in a district that President Bush carried by 19 percentage points in 2004 and that the Republicans have held since 1975.

This defeat follows on the loss of Speaker Hastert's seat in Illinois. That seat had been held by a Republican for 76 years with the single exception of the 1974 Watergate election when the Democrats held it for one term. That same seat had been carried by President Bush 55-44% in 2004.

Two GOP Losses That Validate a National Pattern

These two special elections validate a national polling pattern that is bad news for Republicans. According to a New York Times/CBS Poll, Americans disapprove of the President's job performance by 63 to 28 (and he has been below 40% job approval since December 2006, the longest such period for any president in the history of polling).

A separate New York Times/CBS Poll shows that a full 81 percent of Americans believe the economy is on the wrong track.

The current generic ballot for Congress according to the NY Times/CBS poll is 50 to 32 in favor of the Democrats. That is an 18-point margin, reminiscent of the depths of the Watergate disaster.

Congressional Republicans Can't Take Comfort in McCain's Poll Numbers

Senator McCain is currently running ahead of the Republican congressional ballot by about 16 percentage points. But there are two reasons that this extraordinary personal achievement should not comfort congressional Republicans.

First, McCain's lead is a sign of the gap between the McCain brand of independence and the GOP brand. No regular Republican would be tying or slightly beating the Democratic candidates in this atmosphere. It is a sign of how much McCain is a non-traditional Republican that he is sustaining his personal popularity despite his party's collapse.

Second, there is a grave danger for the McCain campaign that if the generic ballot stays at only 32 % for the GOP it will ultimately outweigh McCain's personal appeal and drag his candidacy into defeat.

The Anti-Obama, Anti-Wright, and Anti-Clinton GOP Model Has Been Tested -- And It Failed

The Republican brand has been so badly damaged that if Republicans try to run an anti-Obama, anti- Reverend Wright, or (if Senator Clinton wins), anti-Clinton campaign, they are simply going to fail.

This model has already been tested with disastrous results.

In 2006, there were six incumbent Republican Senators who had plenty of money, the advantage of incumbency, and traditionally successful consultants.

But the voters in all six states had adopted a simple position: "Not you." No matter what the GOP Senators attacked their opponents with, the voters shrugged off the attacks and returned to, "Not you."

The danger for House and Senate Republicans in 2008 is that the voters will say, "Not the Republicans."

Republicans Have Lost the Advantage on Every Single-Issue Poll

A February Washington Post poll shows that Republicans have lost the advantage to the Democrats on which party can handle an issue better -- on every single topic.

Americans now believe that Democrats can handle the deficit better (52 to 31), taxes better (48 to 40) and even terrorism better (44 to 37).

This is a catastrophic collapse of trust in Republicans built up over three generations on the deficit, two generations on taxes, and two generations on national security.

House Republicans Should Call an Emergency, Members-Only Conference

Faced with these election results, the House Republicans should hold an emergency members-only meeting. At the meeting, they should pose this stark choice: Real change or certain defeat.

If a majority of the House Republicans vote for real change, they should instruct Republican Leader John Boehner and his team to come back with a new plan by the Wednesday before the Memorial Day recess. This plan should involve real change in legislative, communications, and campaign strategy and involve immediate, real action, including a complete overhaul of the Congressional Campaign Committee. The House Republican Conference would then vote for the plan or insist on its revision.

If a majority of the House Republicans are opposed to acting then the minority who are activists should establish a parallel organization dedicated to real change. This group should focus its energies on creating the changes necessary to survive despite a conference with a minority mindset that accepts defeat rather than fights for real change (which is what we had when I entered Congress in 1978).

Nine Acts of Real Change That Could Restore the GOP Brand

Here are nine acts of real change that would begin to rebuild the American people's confidence that Republicans share their values, understand their worries, and are prepared to act instead of just talk. The Republicans in Congress could get a start on all nine this week if they had the will to do so.

Repeal the gas tax for the summer, and pay for the repeal by cutting domestic discretionary spending so that the transportation infrastructure trust fund would not be hurt. At a time when, according to The Hill newspaper, Senator Clinton is asking for $2.3billion in earmarks, it should be possible for Republicans to establish a "government spending versus your pocketbook" fight over cutting the gas tax that would resonate with most Americans. Lower taxes and less government spending should be a battle cry most taxpayers and all conservatives could rally behind.

Redirect the oil being put into the national petroleum reserve onto the open market. That oil would lower the price of gasoline an extra 5 to 6 cents per gallon, and its sale would lower the deficit.

Introduce a "more energy at lower cost with less environmental damage and greater national security bill" as a replacement for the Warner-Lieberman "tax and trade" bill which is coming to the floor of the Senate in the next few weeks (see my newsletter next week for an outline of a solid pro-economy, pro-national security, pro-environment energy bill). When the American people realize how much the current energy prices are actually a "politicians' energy crisis" they will demand real change in our policies.

Establish an earmark moratorium for one year and pledge to uphold the presidential veto of bills with earmarks through the end of 2009. The American people are fed up with politicians spending their money. They currently believe both parties are equally bad. This is a real opportunity to show the difference.

Overhaul the census and cut its budget radically. The recent announcement that the Census Bureau could not build an effective hand-held computer for $1.3 billion and is turning instead to 600,000 temporary workers to do a paper and pencil census in 2010 is an opportunity to slash its budget, shrink its bureaucracy, and turn to entrepreneurial internet-based companies to build an information-age census. This is an absurdity that cries out for bold, decisive reform (see my YouTube video "FedEx versus federal bureaucracy" for an example of what I mean).

Implement a space-based, GPS-style air traffic control system. The problems of the Federal Aviation Administration are symptoms of a union-dominated bureaucracy resisting change. If we implemented a space-based GPS-style air traffic system we would get 40% more air travel with one-half the bureaucrats. The union has stopped 200,000,000 passengers from enjoying more reliable air travel to protect 7,000 obsolete jobs. This real change would allow the millions of frustrated travelers to have champions in congress trying to help them get places better, safer, faster.

Declare English the official language of government. This real change is supported by 87% of the American people including a majority of Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and Latinos. It is an issue of national unity that brings Americans together in a red, white, and blue majority.

Protect the workers' right to a secret ballot. The vast majority (around 81%) of Americans believe that American workers have a right to have a secret ballot election before they are forced to join a union. Last year the House Democrats passed a bill that would strip American workers of the secret ballot. A new bill should be introduced reaffirming that right, and it should be brought up again and again until marginal Democrats are forced to vote with the American people against the union power structure.

Remind Americans that judges matter. Senate Republicans should mount an ongoing fight (including a filibuster of other activities if necessary) to get the American people to realize that liberals want to block all current judicial appointments in order to maximize the number of left wing radical judges they can appoint if they win the White House. This issue has three advantages. It reminds people that judges matter and that a leftwing radical Supreme Court would be bad for the values of most (70 to 90 percent, depending on the issue) Americans. It shows the Democrats are not engaged in fair play. It arouses the activism of those who have been disappointed by Republicans and have forgotten how bad a liberal Democratic Presidency would be.

What Is at Stake

No Republicans should kid themselves. It's time to face up to a stark choice.

Without change we could face a catastrophic election this fall.

Without change the Republican Party in the House could revert to the permanent minority status it had from 1930 to 1994.

Without change, the majorities of Americans who support the Republican principle of smaller, more efficient, smarter and fairer government will be in for a rude awakening.

It's time for real change to avoid a real disaster.

The "May Day Massacre": Can Liberals Govern in a Global Economy?

Despite the poor outlook for conservatives in our elections this November, there is encouraging news from across the Atlantic. The conservative wave sweeping Europe hit England last week when the liberal Labor Party suffered its worst local election results in 40 years.

Boris Johnson became the first Conservative Party member elected mayor of London when he defeated Labour candidate "Red" Ken Livingstone. In contests for more than 4,000 local seats across England, Conservatives captured 44 percent of the vote, compared to 25 percent for the Liberal Democrats and just 24 percent for Labour.

This Conservative victory in England comes on the heels of a history-making rout of the Communists and the Greens in parliamentary elections Italy two weeks ago. And the Italian results follow center-right victories in France (Sarkozy) and Germany (Merkel). The countries of so-called "old" Europe are turning away from the liberal high tax, big government policies that have crippled their economies and are turning toward pro-growth, pro-competitive center-right solutions.

All of which raises the question: Can the Left successfully govern in a modern, global economy? The voters of Europe seem to be saying no.

Your friend,

Newt Gingrich

P.S. -- Father's Day is just around the corner and there are great gift ideas available at great prices at Newt.org. Just click here to order personally signed copies of my new novel, Days of Infamy, as well as Pearl Harbor and Real Change. With the purchase of either of these three personally signed books, you can get a signed copy of Gettysburg for only $5. If you buy both a personalized copy of Pearl Harbor and Days of Infamy, you will receive a signed Gettysburg for free!

P.P.S. -- The Days of Infamy book tour took me to New York City last week where Callista took some great pictures of us on the set of Hannity and Colmes, The View, The Daily Show and others. You can view them here.

I'm continuing the tour with a signing in Marietta, GA Wednesday. Click here for details

*UPDATE* -- To clarify, I am in favor of increased exploration and agree that a gas tax holiday is only a short-term measure. Note that item 3 above mentions sound energy legislation as an alternative to Warner-Lieberman, which I will outline fully in next week's newsletter.

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Comments

By tayong @ Wednesday, May 14, 2008 2:45 AM

The Republicans have just relinguished another supposedly safe seat in Mississippi .Its looking like a total mess for the GOP this time around. I will say this and continue to say it. The party needs to campaing on issues that bother people. How in the world will Rev Wright or Anti Obama based campaign answers peoples worries about the economy, way, rising energy cost, foreclosure , high tuition, etc etc?

Secondly America wants to move forward and away from divisive politics. Anyone still race-baiting in this generation is heading for the doom. Get rid of hate campaigns.People wants to love and not hate.If you doubt me try it again this fall and call me back after the results.

By Tillie @ Tuesday, May 13, 2008 10:19 AM

McCain needs help.

By Tillie @ Tuesday, May 13, 2008 10:19 AM

The Republicans need a leader who ulnderstands democracy and capitalism?
Who will lead?

By For_The_Gipper @ Monday, May 12, 2008 6:25 AM

The reason I mention a goverment program is because even if we let people shop across state lines I am just not confident insurance companies would compete. However seeing what wal-mart recently did I am growing more confident.

By For_The_Gipper @ Sunday, May 11, 2008 1:28 PM

HAHA I just seen that. Yea it seems as America goes left the rest of the world goes right. Germany, France, Italy, South Korea, I think the conservatives are leading in polls in England as well.

By For_The_Gipper @ Sunday, May 11, 2008 1:23 PM

Wow that is pretty good stuff. I was wondering where is the good ideas from the GOP?

I agree we do need to a energy policy. Just look how England was when they had an oil tanker strike. I worry about somwthing like this in a time of war.

The GOP needs bold solutions on Health care. Maybe a goverment, private health insurer. That recives no fedral funding who sole purpose is to drive down health care costs. We all know the free market works extremly well. This will give other insurers a incinvitve to lower the price and compete. All has to be done within the Repub motto.

I am so glad Repubs took up the earmark issue. I was sad when I seen them spending like the dems in recent years.

This isn't a good year for us, however I belive we will benifit in the long term.

By tayong @ Sunday, May 11, 2008 6:49 AM

Newt
I totally agree on you especially the issue of Anti Obama, anti Wright attacks. It paints the GOP as bigoted, old fashioned and obsolete.Worse it gives an image of a party with no real solutions to the problems people face.How on earth will Rev Wright help me fill my tank, how will that help me pay my kids' education? If the GOP allow hacks to hijack the party then goodbye.

By hal_reid @ Friday, May 09, 2008 10:05 PM

I wanted to make one more comment before this thread is lost.

Calling for the Repubs to wake up is a call to a disconnected number. When you look at their lack of leadership and non-stance on key issues, there is no way they can turn themselves around by a closed door meeting. The operative phrase should be to close the door.

The current approval level of Congress at 11% and the Pres at 26% shows the obvious, that this government no longer represents anybody but themselves. As the Founders said, it is "taxation without representation". We fought a revolution to get rid of that situation, we need something as status changing today.

Even if the Repubs wanted to lead, who is there as the leader? Newt opted out, though he is still the only player with ideas and solutions, McLame certainly isn't it and the only other people trying to address the key issues are Paul and the Constitution Party, who are at the margins.

Both major parties are no longer viable, that is, in terms of solutions and real ideas. The only wake up should be to the Country at large. I think what is really the case is that the Country is still here, but the politicians and the government have left.

Hillary asked the right question here in Oregon yesterday. "Ask yourself who would you hire to do the toughest job in the world?"

Who could we hire? We haven't seen anybody real as a candidate yet. None of the proposed candidates would you hire with a straight face for any job.

Maybe an answer is to use the Ron Paul internet mechanism to raise money - enough to buy the Republican Party - these days it might be available cheap, since it can't seem to raise any money. Hire Newt as the new Party chairman and let him fire all these losers and re-hire people with a straight face.

Then you might have your closed door meeting with funding as the hammer. Get on board or fund yourself.

By rwcjr @ Thursday, May 08, 2008 4:38 PM

Thanks, Newt, for raising awareness of a lack of leadership and backbone in the GOP.

Here is what I believe is vital to the reawakening of our country and its continued freedoms.

1. Drill oil here
2. secure our borders
3. Have a workable guest workers program
4. address WHY medical/insurance costs are so high.
5. low tax rates to spur consumer spending
6. low tax rates to spur manufacturing here
7. Actually cut gov't waste
8. Find GOP members with backbone and support them
9. And I like English as official language
10. Deal with radicals on our own home turf

seems simple to me

By Countrylawyer @ Thursday, May 08, 2008 3:03 PM

I didn't leave the Republican part--the party left me.

Your message is simple--put policy over politics.

After you left the House-Newt-there was no leadership to continue down the path of smaller government. Both parties have pandered to the Mortgage lenders that started our current economic mess. Then added to it is the complacency-that the money to spend on earmarks, bad contracts, ineffecient government employees and beauracracies, and special interests--will always come from somewhere (currently China).

Your seggestion will take leadership--but there are no leaders in Washington right now---nothing will happen until it is too late.

By MedinaBill @ Wednesday, May 07, 2008 10:08 PM

The best way to deliver the message is with your political donations. Some time back I stopped contributing to the NRCC and switched my support to GOPAC. I'm sure there are other worthy recipients, including local candidates. Put your money where your mouth is.

By treadnotonme @ Wednesday, May 07, 2008 8:36 PM

I would find this proposal more serious, except we have already been down this path. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I remember something called a Contract w/ America. I also remember a Republican House, a Republican Senate, a Republican President, and a Republican appointed majority of the Supreme Court.

And pray tell, what was the result? Federal spending shot through the roof. The educational bureaucracy, and every other Federal agency mushroomed. We got into a war on a basis that is iffy at best and funded that war on an ad hoc basis. We now claim that we are a nation building state that can be the policeman of the world. Oh, and our civil liberties are respected with such actions as arresting and prosecuting individuals who had the audacity to have a sign questioning the Republican President at his campaign rallies.

In short, the GOP proved they are not interested in principles or ideas. They are only interested in power.

Sorry, but count me out. When you have a party that actually believes in limited government and following the Constitution, even when you have power, then I will listen. Until then, I say good riddance to the GOP. And maybe, just maybe, the Dems will screw stuff up so badly that the American people will wake up and demand a Constitutional government and parties. But I am not holding my breath on that.

By BobNews @ Wednesday, May 07, 2008 8:06 PM

Newt, I am afraid the Grand Old Party is over. Even if they adopted all of your suggestions and came up with some better ones, it does not matter in the Presidential election. Juan McCain will not get my vote because he has made himself crystal clear on our open border to the south. He has Dr. Juan Hernandez, McCain as Hispanic outreach director, who is a former Mexican Government official with dual citizenship who has been quoted as follows: “We must not only have a free flow of goods and services, but also start working for a free flow of people.” And if you still don't get it, Juan also said, "I want the third generation, the seventh generation, I want them all to think 'Mexico first."
For the first time in my life I will not be voting in the Presidential Election nor will many others I know. It is time for Patriots to stand up and let themselves be known. I never thought I would have to say that but as I said above the Grand Old Party is over.
Bob Connors
Bridgeport, Ohio

By Eternity @ Wednesday, May 07, 2008 7:57 PM

Newt,

It’s too late for the Republicans and I sure don’t want a president that calls himself a Republican but acts like a democrat half the time going into office.

Bush had good ideas but his lack of leadership and inept cabinet has made him a failure and damaged the party beyond any short term band-aid fix.

Between the President, the house and senate republicans, you might call them the modern Key Stone Cops.

We may be going into a depression so why not let the democrats take the rap; they set us up for it. We don’t need another decades of Hoover situation.

As far as I’m concerned McCain has betrayed the Republican Party and I can’t support him.

Today McCain said he can work with both sides of the aisle which tells me he’s some kind of political amorphodite. He certainly is not my kind of republican.

By ericrobinson @ Wednesday, May 07, 2008 5:27 PM

OK, so we see what Newt writes, and we hear what he says, and we know his past accomplishments. At the very least, Newt is a man honestly looking for solutions, and with a proven ability to bring a political party into power. Terrific! So, now, somebody please explain to me why John McCain will be the GOP presidential nominee? The Democrats are going to field an attractive, articulate candidate with the support of 99% of the mainstream media, and we are fielding Forest Gump. And I thought Liberalism was a mental illness!

By mweisser @ Wednesday, May 07, 2008 5:22 PM

So if the current leadership of the GOP doesn't come up with new ideas what are you going to do? Create a parallel organization? What's that? GOP2? The GOP lost those elections because they tried to "nationalize" the issues as a way of avoiding the two problems that sit at the top of every local, regional and national election poll: the economy & Iraq. Creating a gasoline tax holiday puts a few more bucks in everyone's pocket but it doesn't do anything to deal with the overall economy. Stopping earmarks cuts the federal budget and also creates unemployment since most earmarks end up going into projects such as roads, schools, etc. You gain and you lose.
Newt - you don't have a single idea that responds to the vulnerabilities that people seem to have about the economy and you go through an entire list of things that have to be "changed" and never even mention Iraq. Is that one off your radar screen completely? Most voters would disagree.
English the official language? That's some change coming up with an idea that was first floated back in the 50s. Boy Newt - you're really out front on that one. Next you'll be saying that the way out of the current economic problem is to put "In God We Trust" on our currency.

By Fungus @ Wednesday, May 07, 2008 4:30 PM

It's too late for Republicans. Me and a lot of my unforgiving family and friends are going to punish them by voting for their opposition, no matter their party. We'll live with the four or eight years of pain. Maybe that will teach them a lesson of politics and life.

By wolfmanabc @ Wednesday, May 07, 2008 3:07 PM

Your so called solutions are so much political rhetoric! If the Republicans want to win the presidency they need to have a republican candidate. The only REAL Repuclican is Ron Paul. With the power of the party behind him, to insure him of media coverage Ron Paul can counter any Democrats appeal to the voters. He is the only true Republican! The RINOS are the problem with the party and the American peopler know it. Give us some REAL solutions to our problems. Get rid of illegals, deny them benefits. Give us a sound monetary policy instead of game playing by monied bankers who would sell us out for their benefit. We want government that is responsive to the average citizen, not to the elite. As our country goes down in flames the Republicans and Democrats will go with us. If we want America to last ,we must put America first

By ISYairio @ Wednesday, May 07, 2008 2:36 PM

A compromise could be that it needn't count as a "pre-existing condition" in the future if you get it while you have health insurance.

By sinz52 @ Wednesday, May 07, 2008 2:12 PM

It's important to remember that America is a center-right country, not a right-wing country. The things that would appeal to staunch conservatives don't necessarily appeal to "Reagan Democrats" on Main Street USA (and vice versa).

Polls show that health care has become a really important issue to Americans. It always is, especially in times of economic distress. The GOP can't pretend the problem doesn't exist.

The GOP must commit itself to assuring that no American worker will ever lose his health insurance because he lost his job. That means total portability of coverage. I don't lose my automobile insurance if I lose my job, do I?

McCain has proposed tax credits, but they are far too small to pay for an average family's individual insurance policy.

And what's worse, they don't deal with the biggest problem of all: Individual, portable policies are allowed to disqualify you for a pre-existing condition. Fred Thompson, who had lymphoma, might have had trouble finding coverage in many states. So someone with a pre-existing condition who loses his job (or decides to quit and become self-employed) may be unable to obtain health insurance for any level of premium.

I don't see any way to fix that without a Government mandate that you can't be turned down for a pre-existing condition, and that your premiums will be capped at some reasonable level, even if you had a serious illness like lymphoma. Conservatives and free-market purists aren't going to like that. But I don't see any alternative.

By ISYairio @ Wednesday, May 07, 2008 10:49 AM

By Newt @ Tuesday, May 06, 2008 1:59 PM
To clarify, I am in favor of increased exploration and agree that a gas tax holiday is only a short-term measure. Note that item 3 above mentions sound energy legislation as an alternative to Warner-Lieberman, which I will outline fully in next week's newsletter.

It isn't even a short-term measure, Newt! Repealing the gas tax for the summer would increase demand, which would increase the price... and I doubt the gas stations and oil companies will kindly ignore the potential for higher revenues and profits as well. IT WON'T WORK.

If you want a real energy policy, you need a fusion of some of your earlier proposals and some of AEI's proposals.

I'll make a blog later this week likely that outlines my own personal opinion on what our energy policy should be. I'll also e-mail it to you.

Respectfully, Michael.

By ISYairio @ Wednesday, May 07, 2008 10:37 AM

andypier

And yet we buy enough from the people that hate us that it impacts our foreign affairs, we are drawn into the Middle East.

Repealing the gas tax for the summer is stupid. All it'll do is maximize demand during a time when increase in demand is a major contributor to higher gas prices for that part of the year. It is good politics... bad economics.

By spunky @ Wednesday, May 07, 2008 9:17 AM

The Republican Party has not produced a compelling message nor has it produced a compelling messenger. John McCain is not a credible Conservative and the message he is offering is really "Democrat Party Heavy". I believe that the Republican Party will suffer a significant defeat in November. If the Conservative ideal is to continue, Conservatives must take the helm of the Republican Party and try to raise it from the ashes that will be left.

By tomchet @ Wednesday, May 07, 2008 6:31 AM

Newt:

I applaud you for sounding the alarm. Most Republicans such as myself are thoroughly disgusted with the lack of leadership in the GOP. They don't seem to stand for anything, or care about anything, or stand up and say anything.

The biggest mistake the GOP is making is allowing the Democrats to repeat their false statements, over and over again, without the GOP ever lifting a finger in defense.

Remember what Hitler said: " A lie that is repeated enough times is believed by the public" (not an exact quote, but that is the essence of what he said).

The GOP has facst on THEIR side -- but fails to speak. Why? How can this be?

The GOP has no national position.

I like some of your ideas, but not others. We need to abandon quick fixes, like the Democrats love to do. Instead, let's focus on long term things to restore America and fix our problems.

We need to point out that China and India and other countries are creating new wealth -- and many wealthy people. But the Democrats have declared war on Americans with wealth. We will become a third world country and have no way to recover if the Democrats have their way.

By krakatoa @ Wednesday, May 07, 2008 2:04 AM

A couple energy proposals:

Issue a moratorium on boutique fuels.

Offer tax and other incentives to businesses to promote telecommuting.

By jamjus1 @ Wednesday, May 07, 2008 1:55 AM

The true axis of evil for the Am. people is the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of our own government. Long term conservative, no chance in hell I'm voting rep.
A nation without borders is not a nation. A gov that defies the will of it's people is certainly not a democracy. A judiciary that protects and promotes criminal behavior, while persecuting it's own citizens is the definition of organized crime.
A government this corrupt will NEVER all of a sudden decide one day to do the right thing.
We don't have 4 years to play with.
Revolution?... In stages.
There's a reason GW recently arranged that a sitting pres can now use the US military to carry out ops within our own nation.
This country has already been sold out. We're just having difficulty accepting the
occupation of the new owners.
Liberal half wits and desperate minorities are a lot easier to run a criminal empire over.
Conservatives think, reason, analyze and plot. They are the only danger to existing corruption. Let the reps dissolve. Don't let them diminish your intent. We can start anew. The cream will rise to the top.

By pikehugo1974 @ Tuesday, May 06, 2008 11:30 PM

Newt,
I am about 2/3 into " Real Change" and agree that we are on the brink of a disaster that may be required for we the people to realize this is our country and we are responsible for hiring our representatives and when they don't perform, it is our responsibility to fire them.

Could it be that an old fashioned " Revolution" is required?

I believe that the masses are fed up with all that you refer to in your book. The solutions you refer to, I believe would require cleaning all 535 and starting fresh.
A new compensation plan that includes:
1) 3 yr Term for The House
2) 6 yr Term for The Senate
3) 6 yr Term for The President
NO LIFETIME PENSION PLAN!I know you are tired of me gonig over the top, so to speak but I am concerned that we are losing our competitve edge and possibly our freedom and our country.
P.S. My dad, in 1966, said we ought to have a flat tax of 5-10 %. Was he ahead of his time or are we extremely slow to progress with good ideas?

By Wally @ Tuesday, May 06, 2008 11:16 PM

Newt, I'm In - Where Do You Need Me to Go - What Would You Like for Me to Do First?

The Good News in All of this from the start is That - it appears - That We - Conservative Serfs - Are Going to Let the Maverick AMNESTY RINO Wither on the McCain-Feingold Vine!

By J. Sanders @ Tuesday, May 06, 2008 10:18 PM

Mr. Gingrich, this comment forum gives me hope that a Republican leader might actually value the opinions of average Americans. Thank you sir! I believe the single most important thing our elected officials could do, is to turn away from lobbyists and special interest groups and actually listen to and represent “WE THE PEOPLE”. We have the answers, why aren’t they listening?

By Tigerman @ Tuesday, May 06, 2008 9:11 PM

Separate the wheat from the chaff.

As a JFK styled Democrat, I'd like to see the a real renaissance, not simply some stylistic change in moving forward as change.

Do we live in a Democracy or a Republic?

Quality control, process improvement in all areas.

Society has major structural flaws not recognised let alone addressed.

Process failures impact all of society and cost all Americans.

A few thoughts:

Citizen/Parent/Community minimum societal requirements.

Health care later, but important. Anyone critical can call an ambulance or enter an emergency room.

Rearing and education.

End dropouts if education is compelled.

Criminal Justice/Corrections?
Give me a break. Show me the local, state and federal program to end recidivism.

Traffic safety.
40,000 deaths a year are the acceptable norm?
Interstate signage defects and design deviations ended in a specific time frame.
Solid lines along lanes before, through and beyond all exits with enforcement for reckless/aggressive driving.

Structural design minimums re: Hurricane, flood plains, tornado areas.
Minimum standards for Safe Rooms and height above flood plain 100 year levels.

Text books. E-Books. Lighten the load on young backs and bones.

One standardized federal retirement and health care program for all federal employees and all public servants. Including the DoD.

Shine a light focused on all those who advocate hopelessly failed non-Progressive Internationalist styled answers to America's problems.

What would it take to end the need for;

Prisons/Criminal courts
Soup kitchens
Homeless shelters
Fire Fighters
Traffic police
Code enforcement
Military

Man will never go to the moon. It's a 'given'.

Real Change!

Not real Ch&#233 nge!

Change that

By RRfan @ Tuesday, May 06, 2008 8:34 PM

The best thing the GOP could do btw now and November is a reaffirmation of Reagan's market principles. Why do we need ridiculous bureaucracies like the FCC to censor and monitor Americans' freedom of choice? Getting rid of all those FCC bureaucrats would save a HUGE amount of wasteful government spending. And every libertarian would realize that the GOP has REALLY and FINALLY abandoned the idea of a nanny state as far as consumer choice goes. That's what the economy needs more than anything else: the application of free market principles. Nobel Prize winner Milton Friedman knew that, and Ronald Reagan, the best US president of all time, knew that.

By davido22 @ Tuesday, May 06, 2008 7:10 PM

Newt:

Thank you for taking the initiative on this. I believe a lot of conservative Americans are waiting for someone to exert some leadership and shape the debate. I wish President Bush would take a more active role in defending his record and engaging in the current debate, rather than seeming happy to ride out his term, as if what is happening doesn't matter. I agree, there doesn't seem to be any perceived difference between the parties. Moving to the "middle" for the sake of expediencey is a political death knell for the party and for social and fiscal conservatives in general. There needs to be a fundamental and articulated realignment, posturing, and ardent advocacy for truly conservative philosophy and policies. While this may not stem the tide for this next election, it will stand as a witness of integrity and substance when in the days ahead the winds shift again and the impact of the ultra liberal policies come home to roost. In the current climate, the answer is not to be humbly acquiescent, but be forceful in the debate for true policies and principles.

By ep3 @ Tuesday, May 06, 2008 7:01 PM

Come on Newt. Some of these items, while possibly having merit, do not matter to John Q. Moderate Voter (on both sides). A summer repeal of the gas tax (1) is seen as pandering. Playing with the strategic oil reserves (2) may have a small effect, but the concept flies right over the heads of most voters. Items 3-4 (Energy Policy and Earmarks) have teeth, and can be understood easily in a 30 second sound bite. Items 5-6 are great ideas for a State of the Union address, but are softball voter issues. English as the official language (7) is a winner. A worker’s right to a secret ballot (8) can be effectively argued while losing most of the union vote, but it would be lost anyway. Any discussion of judges (9) can win votes to our side. I think that you miss the one issue that would resonate with all voters, TERM LIMITS. All of America is upset with Congress, and that extends to BOTH sides of the aisle. Congress has operated, in my view, in the interest of its members tenure for far too long. Two terms in the House, one in the Senate should be the limits, and then members should GO HOME (no lobbying either). I would rather have inexperience galore in DC over what we have now.

By Gatorwest @ Tuesday, May 06, 2008 6:54 PM

Roosevelt had his day. The civil rights movement had it's day. WE ARE NOW FACING OUR MOMENT OF TRUTH. We have all the biggies! Education, Immigration, Energy, globalization, health care, social security, the planet, the threat of nukes in the hands of terrorist, etc.

We are writing the history of our own times! Thanks for being there Newt, to help write it!

By ericrobinson @ Tuesday, May 06, 2008 6:09 PM

1. Promote technology to diversify energy sources. Promote the creation of diversity in transportation systems. If govt. is out of the way, private investors/entrepreneurs will fill demand. Get the American people excited about what's possible, instead of penalizing them, taxing and regulating them in the name of social engineering.
2. Have independent panels honestly examine our education system. Bureaucracy and unions have created the greatest criminal organization in history, and have left generations of Americans illiterate and under trained for the jobs we need to create here.
3. Encourage Americans to buy American, and discourage American companies from outsourcing.
4. Privatize and reorganize Social Security and Medicare, and blend them with the systems that govt. employees use. If the American taxpayers pay for that system, they should benefit from it.
5. Seal the border, and institute laws and penalties that will force illegal aliens to leave the country. "Guest Workers" should be short term workers, and should not be allowed to "settle" in this country.
6. Determine which federal "Departments" could be replaced at state levels and close them.
7. Institute a national sales tax and exempt food, medicine, insurance, and education costs.
8. read: http://wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=61808

By Mral @ Tuesday, May 06, 2008 4:54 PM

Such change as you suggest would be very attractive to most Americans. Getting any politician to be it is the problem.

I believe that most politicians get into politics because they believe in doing something good. They are co-opted into the system, becoming little more than cogs in a corrupt system. There can be no 'conservative' victory unless the basic rules of governing are changed-what you are suggesting.

We need to accept members like Ron Paul, not ignore him. Ron Paul may be too libertarian, but he is moral, dedicated to doing most of the things we need. He is not our enemy. We need to entice people like Sowell into office, he is moral, intelligent, and literate. We don't need another 'moron' who can't ask how you are without injuring his tongue.

We need leadership. This primary season has been a bad joke on conservatives, indeed on America. Besides Ron Paul and a few other 'minor' candidates, was there even one candidate not selling out for votes? Hint: No, there wasn't.

Conservatives cannot win in an arena of sellouts. Because if selling out is what it's all about the Liberals are buying the votes and paying top dollar. Republicans, Democrat Party Lite, are just pikers.

We need to change the venue.

By pNoel @ Tuesday, May 06, 2008 4:28 PM

I think that the warning is right. The problem is trust, once broken is very hard to restore. America does not trust the Republicans because in the name of national security, they stole the country blind and sold us out to the kings and monarchs by color of money of the world.

The only solutions are much more basic. I would suggest that the first is to accept a simply yet true reality. No policy whatever it is can accept anything but the maximization of the wages of the working people of America. Free trade isn't free unless it is under the rule of law and what was called free trade has been open looting of America by Pirates who salute only the Skull and Crossbones flag. These people opened defense contracting to any foreign party while they looted our secret technology and at the same time cost 2 times dollar for dollar what an American would have cost. Yes Americans are cheaper at 2 times the cost because they pay taxes back of that amount before they see their paycheck.

We need to realize that a massive relocation of wealth from the super rich back to the middle class and ordinary working class must be done. This means changing the rules so that wealth doesn't become a means to steal other peoples income away.

In the past 7 years the Bush Administration has presided over the relocation of roughly 60% of the wealth of Americans away from their hands into the hands of an elite 3% of the population. It is no wonder these people don't trust the Republicans and are highly motivated to turn them out.

This economic crisis which was supposedly a surprise to the rich in the past few months wasn't a surprise to ordinary Americans who had for years borrowed more and more just to stay afloat. It wasn't a surprise to the people who had to change careers every 3 or 4 years just to have job. It wasn't a surprise to anyone except those who were living off of the relocated funds. To those these have been the best of times. Now they wonder why control is about to change hands for a very long time.

America is just 3 years from having to support 30% of its population as retired persons. In the past 7 years 100% of all saved retirement money has been stolen. There is none left. Now the people are having to sell their mortgaged houses into a crashing market to maintain liquidity. Next Grandma and Grandpa will be starving on the street corner when they earned enough to retire well.

Now the only hope for this retirement is the wages of the working Americans and the government policy and all the talk is that the problem is their wages are too high. Wake up. You cannot sabotage a man's living and expect him to be your friend.

Unless the Republican Party gets the hint and does an about face and turns back to loyalty to the American People they are going to get dumped. Just for the record, I don't think anything will fix it now. I think the die is cast. I think we are going to get wiped out as a party this election. My estimate is that we may get knocked back to 3rd party status without benefit of a 2nd party. We Republicans only have ourselves to blame for such misery. We may have to work 3 or 4 decades to recover the trust of America. This election promises to be like when the Black Americans were driven from the Republicans in the 1930's only this time everyone is being driven away.

The problem is GLOBALISM. Stop selling America!

By John Ansell @ Tuesday, May 06, 2008 4:27 PM

McCain sure didn't help his chances by rubbing Elbows with La Raza. With Juan Hernandez still on his campaign staff, he cannot receive my vote. Since none of the Republicans want to challenge McCain on this issue, they will not get my donations too. Don't take my word for it, check with the NRCC and see how hard it is for them to raise money this time around.

Why doesn't anybody want to talk about the 10 million earmark going to La Raza? Why is McCain not getting knocked over the head with this?

Because our party thinks, "They surely won't vote for Hillary or Obama, so they are stuck supporting McCain."

Maverick Politician, meet Maverick Voter.

"NOT YOU"

By Roger Russell @ Tuesday, May 06, 2008 4:04 PM

Newt, the price of oil is the 'regulator' on consumption. It's a normal thing, and a safety that the market has to keep us from using all our stocks and running out of fuel.
Eliminating the tax would be an excuse to stop all highway work, we'd use more and the price would adjust back to what the market would support anyhow.
Why not advocate more drilling, that's the solution to our problem, more supply.

Thank you for speaking up, while I don't agree with everything you're still a step above the spineless shiftless politicians currently awaiting to get voted out of office.

By kwyoung8500 @ Tuesday, May 06, 2008 4:02 PM

Newt, I think you said it before... it's time to jump ship and start a new party, the New Republican Party. The new party could be based on common sense principles, things that matter to most Americans. It would be free of special interests and century old ideas. If there's one thing we all agree on, it's that Washington is broken. We have three people promising Band-Aid's and a lollipop to "fix" what amounts to a gaping flesh wound. I don't think Washington can be fixed. It's too far gone. We need to start from scratch, employ common sense ideas with real solutions for real problems. Newt, you're just the guy to start this new party. I vote for you.

By Aggie Tom @ Tuesday, May 06, 2008 3:58 PM

Newt, we miss your leadership. I agree that the Republicans must be for positive change and quite being like the democracts. They didn't win the last election, the republicans lost it and will agin unless they do something more positive.
I also think that poster Bob Conner has some good ideas to include as well.
On communications, my Senators and Representative from Texas are pathetic. No response, pablum, or in one case at least 6 mos out of date. You would think they could hire compentent staffers.
Thanks for your good work

By dhart1949 @ Tuesday, May 06, 2008 3:55 PM

Nice start, but I believe the American public is looking for more. The real issues that no politician wants to tackle have to do with medicare and social security spending.

You are right in predicting a Democratic landslide in Congressional elections this fall. I fully expect the Republicans to lose the ability to filibuster in the Senate.

The Conservative base in the Republican party is dispirited and I for one will not be voting in a Presidential election for the first time in my life.

Washington to most Conservatives is a swamp that can not be drained. We tried by electing a Republican House, Senate and President and spending increased at a more rapid rate than under LBJ. Our children and grandchildren will be paying the bill. It's sad.

By tz @ Tuesday, May 06, 2008 3:54 PM

Why bother.

Your idea of a "contract" is something that only half gets actually passed through the house, the rest gets watered down in the senate, and much of the remainder gets vetoed.

What percentage of the Contract with America actually made it into law?

You can propose something with 3 points or 3 dozen, but I stopped all support of the GOP when YOU decided that Tom Brokaw, Dan Rather, and Peter Jennings were more important than being fiscally conservative and keeping the government shut down until a good compromise could be reached. You broke the trust. So I expected the GOP under Bush to spend like drunken sailors.

After stealing something, merely putting it back doesn't show that you are now going to be responsible. Is doing a few popular things - if you can get them through - going to show you are responsive? (And how about domestic partner benefits, embryonic research and cloning and the rest that will keep your base alienated)?

I could name four republicans I had respect for. Pat Toomey - whom Rick Santorum and Bush said to vote against in the PA senate primary, Bob Dornan, whom you and the GOP would not fight for in the face of voter fraud (if you won't fight for your own seats, why should I), Bob Barr who tried to make impeachment about real issues instead of sleaze, and Ron Paul who has never wavered, and whom I hope embarrasses the presumptive nominee into resignation at the convention.

If you and your party have rejected the real conservatives and base of your party, why should I not accept that rejection?

Ron Paul votes against taxes and earmarked bills already. I didn't compare each point, but if he agrees substantially and VOTES that way, and you treat him like a pariah, why do you expect me to take any set of such proposals seriously? If you don't have a disaster in November, why shouldn't I expect the GOP to return to its current "democrat lite" when they return?

By poetman @ Tuesday, May 06, 2008 3:50 PM

Sadly, there are almost two hundred sets of deaf ears upon which this will fall. The Republican Party is awash in timidity and foolishness, and they've nominated someone that just doesn't get it. Regardless where i agree and disagree on the points, I agree that the only way for the republican party to get anywhere is to layout a bold agenda and make a solemn vow to keep it. They won't do it. They're all politicians now and few if any are there for anything meaningful.

By BobNews @ Tuesday, May 06, 2008 3:34 PM

I am glad you used the words "catastrophic collapse of trust in Republicans.” I have stated many times recently that the Republican Party has suffered a catastrophic failure of leadership. Whoever is supposed to be in the leadership spot should be sent back to their home state to plant corn. I am in full agreement with your suggestion of an emergency meeting. I do think they could come up with some more compelling action items than most of those you suggest.

I am so sorry to see the current state of affairs with the Republican Party. I am even sorrier that the Republican establishment does not understand what a huge error in judgment they have made with John McCain and scamnesty. While no one wants to see the Democrats in power at this critical time, it appears to be inevitable because the National Republican Party has failed to lead or provide a leader.

I predict there will be huge defections of Republicans leaving the Party for Independent status. I don’t think the base is going to buy the guilt trip of owning responsibility for the Democrats taking over the Whitehouse and all of the disasters brought on by Hillary/Obama. I don’t believe the base is responsible for the miserable job the Republican Party and President Bush did in the 2006 election resulting in handing the House and Senate to the loony left without a fight.

Sadly, as I see it, the only person responsible for this power hand over is the President with the help of the Republican Party establishment. The Party nor the President understands that you can not kick your base in the face and expect to win elections. To win elections you have to have an inspirational leader who can communicate clear ideas and fight off the attacks from the left.

There has been virtually no defense of Republican values by the President or the Republican establishment for the last six years. Neither the President nor the Republican Party has stood up to the left on our vital interest in the Middle East or anywhere for that matter. The poorly written speeches the President has stumbled through over the past few years have only made things worse.

Unfortunately, when I think of inspirational leaders the name John McCain does not come to mind. Unless the Republican Party steps up with an inspirational leader with some ideas and spirit, the outcome of the next election is already cast in cement and the blame belongs to the Republican National Party and President George W. Bush. It will take decades to recover.

Here are a few ideas to kick around:

Make the tax cuts permanent
Secure the border “for real”
Acknowledge the fantastic job our military is doing and give them a raise (victories in Iraq)
Cut social spending
Save black people from the disasters in their neighborhoods brought on by the left (point it out)
School vouchers for parents
Tax breaks for retirement
Significant tax breaks for healthcare costs
Incentives for businesses to come back to American soil
Offer a real energy policy now that includes conservation and new drilling etc.
Be positive about what we can do

Thank you for your time.
Bob Connors
Bridgeport, Ohio

By bdelmonte @ Tuesday, May 06, 2008 3:31 PM

I don't agree with all of the things Newt is recommending as what one might call a "New Contract with America" plan - but the basic analysis is spot on. Newt is right that Republicans are going to suffer massive losses in the House and Senate unless we get "back to basics" and repair the damage to the Republican Brand that Congress has inflicted on itself for the past 8 years. The elections in 2006 were just the beginning - a warning sign that the electorate was angry with how Republicans had abandonded the platform in favor of nonsensical and often expensive policies.

I believe that traditional Republican values reflect the values of most Americans. As such, we are the party of the majority - even when we're not in "power" - so long as we are willing to act on those values. Newt's course attempts to get back to our key policy beliefs and core values - doing the things necessary to ensure a strong economy, a strong foreign policy, and strong US leadership in the world.

Republicans wake up - or in Novemeber you'll find Democratic majorities not seen since Tip O'Neil was speaker....

Bryan
www.rightcommentary.com

By macarter @ Tuesday, May 06, 2008 3:28 PM

Newt. have you sent this to every State GOP?
I just tried to sent to Ga GOP and got a failure delivery. I did send to our candidate for the 8th Congressional District, Rick Goddard, and to GOPAC. Unless the State Parties wake up and get the "message" we are dead in the water. I am glad to see you read the blogs.

Mary Alice
Monticello, Ga.

By JoeHol @ Tuesday, May 06, 2008 3:27 PM

Newt, I really appreciate your leadership. I am hoping that the Republicans take your advice and create a platform that is bold and good for America. I would suggest adopting the Platform of the American People.

By andypier @ Tuesday, May 06, 2008 3:05 PM

To ISYairio

Canada and Mexico are the top 2 suppliers of crude oil to the US of A. They may not like us but I'm sure they don't hate us....

Repealing the gas tax and cutting spending to compensate is an excellent idea. Tax cuts are always good for the consumer and the government.

I've seen no alternatives from the present congress to the energy policy. As a matter of fact in a press release dated April 24, 2006, Nancy Pelosi said, “Democrats have a commonsense plan to help bring down skyrocketing gas prices...."

Thanks for the commonsense Nancy....

By jjohnson47 @ Tuesday, May 06, 2008 3:03 PM

A lot of "nattering nabobs" on this site. Newt's platform may not suite everyone's preferences but its a damn good start. The clowns running the party (including the Clown in Chief) certainly haven't done squat. We are a party without content, philosophy or purpose.
On energy--its called pandering, stupid. and we better learn how to do it tactically while we have a chance. Whats more, there's no reason the GOP couldn't stand for conservation AND exploration. Both can have impact. Hillary wants to take OPEC to court--some might know that can't be done but Joe-6pack will like that tone. and I do too. A little bit of calling their bluff might be just the thing. "Give us oil or we'll conserve like hell until you are eaten by a camel."

One thing Newt doesn't emphasize here that he has elsewhere--most of these proposals poll well. Most people do want borders protected. they do favor English as the language--many Hispanic parents do as well.
There have been three people who were literate, well reasoned spokemen/philosophers for conservatism in my recall: Rush, Ronnie and Newt. The rest are political technicians.
ONe more thing, if Obama is nominated and we can't defeat an out and out Marxist, we better pack it in. We (USA) are lost.

By cpeterstx @ Tuesday, May 06, 2008 3:03 PM

Amen, Mr. Speaker. The problem is that the current Republican office-holders seem pretty apathetic to me. I don't get the sense that there is any urgence or fire in any of them. I'm waiting for an elected leader to stand up and LEAD this party and our nation.

By discouragedconservative @ Tuesday, May 06, 2008 3:00 PM

I just had to get it off my chest. I am just really upset at the party and government in general.

Here is a suggestion, although it probably will never happen because of "corporate interests"

We need an administration leader to stand up and declare another "Race to the Moon". This time it needs to be a national effort to get this country off oil for fuel.

We need to get industry, research and development and science moving on solving the problem of fuel.

This needs to be an effort that gets our economy going, puts people back to work and builds our country esteem like the original race to the moon did.

Could you imagine if this effort was delivered and pushed as a national pride issue? Corporations would get on board and this country could get rolling again.

Imagine a true leader standing up there and setting a real goal... 5 years, 10 years and get the country behind this.

It could change the history of the country.

My $.02 worth.

By Newt