Big Government Newt?
Update: Here is the full interview on video.
During a Glenn Beck interview (via Drudgereport) Gingrich freely exposes his big government ways. Some highlights:
GLENN: Why would we, why would we go into subsidies, though? Isn’t ‑‑ aren’t subsidies really some of the biggest problems that we have with our spending and out‑of‑control picking of winners and losers?
GINGRICH: Well, it depends on what you’re subsidizing. The idea of having economic incentives for manufacturing goes back to Alexander Hamilton’s first report of manufacturing which I believe was 1791. [...]
GLENN: Let me just ‑‑ I just want to get to a few things. You’ve supported the ‑‑ you voted for the Department of Education, you in 2007 said very cautious about changing Fannie and Freddie. On global warming, with sitting down on the couch with Nancy Pelosi, and I would agree with you that was the dumbest moment ‑‑ you know, it would have been the dumbest moment of my life. And I agree with that. But when you look at, it’s not a moment of your life. In speech after speech, in your book Contract with the Earth, even with John Kerry in a debate, you said this.
GINGRICH: Evidence is sufficient, but we should move towards the most effective possible steps to reduce carbon looting of the atmosphere.
VOICE: And do it urgently?
GINGRICH: And do it urgently, yes. [...]
Newt is Big Government all the way. He makes an interesting distinction between the government paying for something and the government doing something. Newt wants government to tamper with economic and social incentives using the tax code and subsidies. According to Gingrich, this means the government isn't doing anything.
I can't find a difference between government paying and doing, but maybe you can.
Are we ready for another big government "conservative" as President? Should we be?
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Comments :
May '10
Re: Big Government Newt?
That interview certainly dampens my view of Newt.
Mostly, he's talking about incrementalism or compromise. Voters are not willing to eliminate these programs, so politicians can either try to phase them out over a course of decades or simply surrender the goal of smaller government.
Even if we had the time for incremental changes, which we don't, Newt is diving into compromise rather than first trying to convince voters that we don't have the money (let alone interest) for such big government programs.
But Gingrich is also accepting the premise of big government: "...what I object to is subsidizing things that don’t work and things that aren’t creating a better future." Well, Democrats have different ideas of what's "better", as do legislators with constituents to buy off and favors to pay. Is there any program that can't be justified by arguments for "a better future"?
Anyway, I think you're right. This interview suggests Newt is only interested in managing America's decline, rather than stopping it.
May '11
Re: Big Government Newt?
Newt has the same problem that most Republicans have once they have spent time in Washington. They become big government Republicans. They want a different big governement than Democrats, but they want big government, nonetheless. I am afraid that Romney and Newt both suffer from this, though I think with Newt you also get an outsized ego. I think his ego rivals Bill Clinton, and that is hard to do.
Oct '11
Re: Big Government Newt?
Back in 2007 Newt launched this program called "American Solutions", which sought to replace government that didn't work with government that did. It was interesting in the same way that an American Constitution Society conference is interesting compared to a Federalist Society conference: when the solution is using government rather than ending it, you have a lot more creative juice flowing and a lot more visible action proposed. For areas like education that seem firmly annexed into our government, for right or wrong, replacement can be good, especially if the solution is more free market; when we've got to talk about serious cuts it won't be enough.
He has a lot of faith in government. I think his approach for tinkering with incentives is slightly preferable over government directly paying due to commercial efficiencies, but government not tinkering is, of course, far, far preferable to tinkering.
Edited on Dec 6, 2011 at 8:58amDec '10
Re: Big Government Newt?
QuickerBrownFox:
He has a lot of faith in government. I think his approach for tinkering with incentives is slightly preferable over government directly paying due to commercial efficiencies, but government not tinkering is, of course, far, far preferable to tinkering. · Dec 6 at 8:50am
Not when he is using the Conservative brand name to do it. If it wasn't for Obama and the Tea Party George W Bush would have single handily destroyed the Conservative movement. Any expansion of government made under Newt is going to be placed on the doorsteps of Conservatives and thrown in their face the next time around.
If Romney does expand Government it won't be under the Conservative brand and Romney's relative lack of ego makes it far more likely that he will bow to Conservative pressure from Congress. If Newt makes it in he won't bow to anyone. If Newt has to run over Paul Ryan and the other Conservative Congresspeople to get the what he wants done he will and he will do it all under the Conservative brand name.
Apr '11
Re: Big Government Newt?
Nyadnar17
If it wasn't for [...] the Tea Party George W Bush would have single handily destroyed the Conservative movement. Any expansion of government made under Newt is going to be placed on the doorsteps of Conservatives and thrown in their face the next time around.
True. Yet, huge numbers of conservatives can't see that.
Oct '11
Re: Big Government Newt?
Nyadnar17
Not when he is using the Conservative brand name to do it. If it wasn't for Obama and the Tea Party George W Bush would have single handily destroyed the Conservative movement. Any expansion of government made under Newt is going to be placed on the doorsteps of Conservatives and thrown in their face the next time around.
Yes, I think even then, though not in every case. What would you rather have; the government telling the teams what to do or the government drawing boundaries and letting the teams play accordingly? While the administrative state buries a lot of decisions, it's still more accountable when making rules than doling out money, as we've seen in the Solyndra case. It's sort of like the liability rule vs. property rule distinction; would you rather have the government telling you what you pay, or have parties negotiate for what you pay? In most cases it's the latter.
I see what you're saying though; anything new he creates will be his monster. And really, incentives are only slightly better than direct control.
Edited on Dec 6, 2011 at 11:46amRe: Big Government Newt?
Yikes, in the transcript Newt confesses to seeing himself as a Theodore Roosevelt Republican. That's...disheartening.
Dec '10
Re: Big Government Newt?
TR was Palin's favorite president, and no one accuses her of being a liberal, squish, or RINO. TR the Republican was much more palatable than TR the progressive.
Nov '10
Re: Big Government Newt?
Jeff Younger: During a Glenn Beck interview (via Drudgereport) Gingrich freely exposes his big government ways. Some highlights:
...
Thus, the government should pick winners and losers, contrary to his previous position. Ditch Gingrich!
Dec '10
Re: Big Government Newt?
This Beck interview is not the same Newt that I remember from the 1980s and 90s. It's a least disheartening, bordering on depressing. After the Cain assassination, Newt seemed like the best choice because of his past conservative accomplishments. After reading this, I'm on the fence. Seems like we are stuck in the Gene Hackman/Kevin Costner movie, "No Way Out".
Jun '10
Re: Big Government Newt?
Maybe I should run for president. I think a president with a beard could do a lot for this country.
What a bunch of losers we have to pick from.
Oct '11
Re: Big Government Newt?
jetstream
This Beck interview is not the same Newt that I remember from the 1980s and 90s. It's a least disheartening, bordering on depressing. After the Cain assassination, Newt seemed like the best choice because of his past conservative accomplishments. After reading this, I'm on the fence. Seems like we are stuck in the Gene Hackman/Kevin Costner movie, "No Way Out".
The solution? Get into a Harrison Ford/Mark Hamill movie, A New Hope.
Apr '11
Re: Big Government Newt?
The King Prawn
TR was Palin's favorite president, and no one accuses her of being a liberal, squish, or RINO. TR the Republican was much more palatable than TR the progressive. · Dec 6 at 12:24pm
You're dropping context. Newt says he's the Republican Roosevelt because on health he "believes government can lean regulatory and regulation is OK".
Newt's channeling the Progressive Teddy.
Jul '10
Re: Big Government Newt?
Today is "Beat up on Newt Day."
All according to plan: Newt's numbers drop and we're left with Romney.
It would be so clever if it weren't so pathetic.
Dec '10
Re: Big Government Newt?
QuickerBrownFox
jetstream
... After reading this, I'm on the fence. Seems like we are stuck in the Gene Hackman/Kevin Costner movie, "No Way Out".
The solution? Get into a Harrison Ford/Mark Hamill movie, A New Hope.
QBF, sorry can't make that move. I'm a free market, pro-life, live free or die, Reagan Conservative. When it comes to National Security and protecting our families and homes, I'm an unapologetic warmonger - the barbarians who want to destroy America die our family and friends don't!
Oct '11
Re: Big Government Newt?
jetstream
QuickerBrownFox
jetstream
... After reading this, I'm on the fence. Seems like we are stuck in the Gene Hackman/Kevin Costner movie, "No Way Out".
The solution? Get into a Harrison Ford/Mark Hamill movie, A New Hope.
QBF, sorry can't make that move. I'm a free market, pro-life, live free or die, Reagan Conservative. When it comes to National Security and protecting our families and homes, I'm an unapologetic warmonger - the barbarians who want to destroy America die our family and friends don't! · Dec 6 at 3:04pm
I understand. Perhaps we could go half way with a Jack Nicholson/Helen Hunt As Good As It Gets?
Edited on Dec 6, 2011 at 5:48pmDec '10
Re: Big Government Newt?
The problem with Republicans is that too few have bothered to read Steyn's 'After America'.
Newt, Mitt, same old thing. They are both progressives. We are screwed, screwed, screwed.
America R.I.P. Sigh...
Feb '11
Re: Big Government Newt?
You guys are making me feel old.
I remember when Theodore Roosevelt was a regarded as a successful president and not just an early 20th century version of Obama.
How about this: Instead of lamenting that Gingrich likes government enough that he admires Theodore Roosevelt we should instead rejoice that he has chosen that era of government to emulate. It isn't an accident that Obama is now attempting to claim the same mantle, because compared to today government then was a roaring success.
My take is that Newt is only the best of a bad lot, and the alternative- Romney- is worse. I note he won't go anywhere near the Beck show to take questions, and seems to consider conservatives so odious that he can't even bring himself to make nice with the GOP base well enough to win over the primary electorate.
May '10
Re: Big Government Newt?
There is nothing wrong, in a very large country, with government doing things that provide incentives toward good goals. I think Newt understands that- the problem is that the goals have to make sense, and any monetary-related incentives need to be short term, self-sunsetting, and aimed at a strategic goal of more freedom and cleaner open markets. Ethanol subsidies frail the test, hiring tax credits do, cash for clunkers fails.
Lists of ingredients on food packages, in the order of recipe proportion passes, so does the open Fuel Standards Act. FDA as the approver of drugs fails, but FDA as the data repository, bully pulpit watch dog and open information source passes. Copyright laws up to around 1990 pass, DMCA extensions (i.e., Bern Convention) fail, CPSC information about potentially dangerous toys passes, CPSC reguloation of toys fails.
Unfortunately, as an omniscient member of the credentialed Washington elite, Newt is too sanguine about subsidies and many financial incentives.
Oct '11
Re: Big Government Newt?
The King Prawn
TR was Palin's favorite president, and no one accuses her of being a liberal, squish, or RINO. TR the Republican was much more palatable than TR the progressive. · Dec 6 at 12:24pm
I thought she told Couric, Washington. ..McCain's favorite was TR....