Newt 2, Electric Boogaloo

Like the herpes virus, Newt Gingrich is back - and he's making me itch (not inappropriately, mind you - just that general 'heebee jeebee' all over type of itch).

Contract with America 2 you say? Really?
It seems that Hollywood isn't the only industry that can come up with a crappy sequel.
Not that the message is bad...

1) Jobs.. yup, jobs are good (and when an administration touts the fact that at least we aren't losing them as fast these days as their #1 accomplishment, you just know we're hosed)

2) Energy... yup, energy is a good thing. Multifaceted approach combining petroleum, nuclear, gas and 'clean' renewables can only be a good thing. Becoming energy independent would free us of the hypocrisy of trying to tease out our foreign policy from our energy policy. Of course, giving the country a 'Green Enima' in the process.... not so good. Having Obama the 'candidate' promising that he would bankrupt the coal industry.... terrible.

3) Health Care fix... yup, 3 for 3. A system that would encourage competition, lower prices and bring the responsibility back to the consumer.... we have a winner (as opposed to this steaming pile of poo that is being pushed around on the floor of the senate floor... now that's a visual for you... that is wrong in so many ways that it brings up even more images of steaming poo)

4) Education...meh. Personally, I would rather see government get out of education and have the whole shooting match (literally) turned over to the private sector. Don't we have enough state run indoctrination with PBS?

You may be saying to yourself, 'self, what's his problem? 3 of 4 is pretty good, (or 4 of 4 if you think we should get deeper into the indoctrination business) what's his problem? To which I would respond, 'I have many, many problems, most of them are personal and I would ask you not to bring them up again.' And then I would say 'Newt'. Sometimes, its not the message, its just the messenger.

NY-23 anyone? Sorry Mr. Gingrich, your street cred is whack. How do you back a candidate who essentially spits in the face of EVERY conservative principle and not expect some backlash? Don't give me this 'the party has to make room for different points of view' crap. That is only true when you have at least SOME principles in common. Scozzafava apparently had none. Your glorious plans to rebuild the republican party on a foundation of cards has failed....oops. Triangulated that one wrong buddy.

And nothing gives the appearance of looking forward like looking backwards. Sounds a mite hypocritical - and I just love hypocrisy... (kind of like elective abortion being on the health coverage for GOP employees despite the constant drumbeat of anguished criticism against the practice - kind of hypocrisy).... makes me all tingly inside just thinking about it...

So, ideas = good(ish) ... delivery system = (bad) ... messenger = (laughable)

Gingrich is about the 'power' movement, not the conservative one. His concept of 'Contract 2' is equally as ludicrous as the concept that the current health care legislation is not a veiled attempt at government takeover of 1/6th of our economy....but that is another rant for another day....