All Things Newt

I got a message from Newt Gingrich (not him personally, of course) that had several interesting topics in it that I've been wanting to cover.  First, he addresses the recent visit by Pope Benedictine:

I witnessed firsthand this week that Pope Benedict loves America and Americans.

The first great moment of connection came at the end of the White House welcoming ceremony when Pope Benedict XVI said simply, "God Bless America."  The people on the White House lawn were electrified by this simple three-word closing.

They had all been shocked in recent weeks to see a different kind of religious figure saying vicious things about America. The stark and compelling contrast had enormous impact -- both for the immediate crowd and for the millions watching on television.

Gingrich talks briefly about the White House welcome ceremony (the largest in history), where over 13,000 people were in attendance.  He also offers his three biggest impressions from the six-day visit:
 

First, the Pope seemed to gain energy and strength from the enthusiasm and love of his American audiences. The very strength of the reception became his strength. I am certain he returned to Italy a stronger and more dedicated evangelist for his belief that Christ is Hope.

Second, many -- probably most -- Americans were eager to have a religious leader who appreciated their country, liked them, and clearly wished them well in a positive message of love, salvation, and hope.

Third, my impression of the Pope has grown far beyond the original reports of his intellectual strength and his dedication to rebuilding faith and reason (in contrast to the secular dictatorship of rationality which he had experienced in Nazi Germany and had seen in the Soviet tyranny). The leader we saw was the embodiment of leadership and conviction whose presence made an enormous impact on those who experienced it. The pope is clearly not going to be simply an interim leader between Pope John Paul II and some future younger leader. Pope Benedict XVI is going to be an historic force for the reassertion of faith and reason in the lives of Catholics and people of all faiths.

Fittingly, Benedict XVI's last official words in the U.S. were "God Bless America." After personally experiencing the Pope's visit last week, I can say with confidence that America returns the love.

For more reading on the Pope's visit:
Being 'out of step' with the modern times is a good thing.
Pope working to clean up clergy sex abuse.

Next, Gingrich addresses the recent television commercial he did with current Speaker Nancy Pelosi:

Many of you have written to me to ask why I recently taped an advertisement with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for The Alliance for Climate Protection, a group founded by former Vice President Al Gore.

I completely understand why many of you would have questions about this, so I want to take this opportunity to explain my reasons. First of all, I want to be clear: I don't think that we have conclusive proof of global warming. And I don't think we have conclusive proof that humans are at the center of it.

But here's what we do know. There is an important debate going on right now over the right energy policy, the right environmental policy, and making sure we do the right things for our future and the future of our children and grandchildren. Conservatives are missing from this debate, and I think that's a mistake. When it comes to preserving our environment for future generations, we can't have a slogan of "Just yell no!"

I have a different view. I think it's important to be on the stage, to engage in the debate, and to communicate our position clearly. There is a big difference between left-wing environmentalism that wants higher taxes, bigger government., more bureaucracy, more regulation, more red tape, and more litigation and a Green Conservatism that wants to use science, technology, innovation, entrepreneurs, and prizes to find a way to creatively invent the kind of environmental future we all want to live in. Unless we start making the case for the latter, we're going to get the former. That's why I took part in the ad.

Speaking for myself, I respectfully disagree with Gingrich.  Whereas he may be right on the best course of action to take, he of all people should know that participating with Pelosi in this ad automatically grants his conservative Republican authority to what she's doing in Congress.  He may think he's presenting a different method from Pelosi, but anyone who sees the commercial does not get that alternate message.  Instead, they see him agreeing with her.  Period.  I yelled "Sell-out!" at the TV when I saw the commercial, and I stand by the comment.  By appearing in this ad with Pelosi, he's accepting the liberal premise of global warming, whether he admits it or not.

Finally, we come to something that has been huge in Europe:

[I]n news studiously ignored by the mainstream media, parliamentary elections in Italy last week routed the Communists and the Greens and marked the third big victory for the Right in Europe after the elections of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

The elections were a history-making win for the party of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. For the first time since the end of World War II, no one will represent the Communist Party in the Italian parliament. The Greens were also voted out.

Michael Ledeen, my colleague at the America Enterprise Institute, points out another significant feature of the elections: "Berlusconi is an outspoken, even passionate admirer of George W. Bush and the United States of America. Reminds one of the elections that brought Sarkozy to the Elysee, doesn't it? Best to keep that quiet, or somebody might notice that hatred of America doesn't seem to affect the voters in Italy, France or Germany."

The scale of Berlusconi and the center-right's victory in Italy opens the door to significant reform for the first time in decades. Could real change be coming to Europe?

For more reading on Berlusconi's victory:
Italian landslide.
Berlusconi welcomed by Sarkozy.

This is truly historic, and could be a sign of a global shift.  If Europe's old powers return to conservatism, they will inevitably rise in global prosperity, morality, and influence.  If that rise is accompanied by an inverse decline into American liberalism (which is basically just Europe's failed system), this could mark a watershed moment in world history.  Rather than let that happen, we need to acknowledge that the resurgence of European nations based on conservative principles reflects our own principles and heritage, and work with them to encourage conservatism around the world.  We can see in Europe's history how badly liberalism destroys nations, and equally how well conservatism builds them up.  We need to stop the liberalization of America NOW, extending the hand of even greater friendship to those nations around us who embrace the same values.  Together, the world truly can be changed for the better.

There's my two cents.