“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.“
(1) Benedict XVI is no caretaker pope. Expect to see a pontificate on par with that of Bl. Pope John XXIII. This will be the age in which the fruits planted by Vatican II finally come to fruition, unobscured by the excesses of ’60s style liberalism
“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. “
(2) If conservatives do not take their seat at the table in the ongoing discussion of environmental policy, we will see the implementation of anti-growth policies: regulation, taxation, etc. Like Gingrich, I am suspicious that human activity is the cause of global warming. However, we are facing a global energy crisis of unprecedented proportions. We need to use market-based policies (like tax-credits and prizes) to promote the production of more energy to (a) lower energy price and thus improve the plight of the middle class and (b) free ourselves from dependence on foreign oil. Clean coal and nuclear are proven technologies that could easily be implemented to supplant America’s oil consumption.
“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?”
(3) With Silvio Berlusconi’s victory in Italy, the resurgence of conservatism in Europe is now a triple play. With the ascent of Berlusconi, Nicholas Sarkozy in France, and Angela Merkel in Germany, Europe appears ready to ditch the socialism that has ailed it for so long.
April 22, 2008
Gingrich Addresses Papal Visit, Environmental Policy, Berlusconi Victory
Posted by James Bailey Brislin under Commentary & Politics | Tags: Angela Merkel, Bl. Pope John XXIII, Carpet City Chronicle, Christ Our Hope, Human Events, Nancy Pelosi, Newt Gingrich, Nicholas Sarkozy, Pope Benedict XVI, Real Change, Silvio Berlusconi, Vatican II, Winning The Future |Leave a Comment
Newt Gingrich hits three home runs in his analysis of issues this week:
(1) Benedict XVI is no caretaker pope. Expect to see a pontificate on par with that of Bl. Pope John XXIII. This will be the age in which the fruits planted by Vatican II finally come to fruition, unobscured by the excesses of ’60s style liberalism
(2) If conservatives do not take their seat at the table in the ongoing discussion of environmental policy, we will see the implementation of anti-growth policies: regulation, taxation, etc. Like Gingrich, I am suspicious that human activity is the cause of global warming. However, we are facing a global energy crisis of unprecedented proportions. We need to use market-based policies (like tax-credits and prizes) to promote the production of more energy to (a) lower energy price and thus improve the plight of the middle class and (b) free ourselves from dependence on foreign oil. Clean coal and nuclear are proven technologies that could easily be implemented to supplant America’s oil consumption.
(3) With Silvio Berlusconi’s victory in Italy, the resurgence of conservatism in Europe is now a triple play. With the ascent of Berlusconi, Nicholas Sarkozy in France, and Angela Merkel in Germany, Europe appears ready to ditch the socialism that has ailed it for so long.