Caffeinated Thoughts Blog on Newt's performance Monday in SC

Another positive review:

I thought that former Speaker Newt Gingrich would do well in this type of venue, and he didn’t disappoint. He gave, in my opinion, the best answer related to the separation of powers and the proper role of the judiciary. He welcomed a challenge by Congress on Roe v. Wade utilizing the authority given to them by section 5 of the 14th Amendment which reads that “The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.” Which includes section 1 of the amendment which says that “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty or property without due process of law; nor deny any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”

Gingrich said that Thomas Jefferson warned that the Supreme Court left unchecked could become an oligarchy. Speaker Gingrich noted that the “Supreme Court is supreme in the judicial branch which is the third branch mentioned in the Constitution.” He pointed out that Alexander Hamilton in the Federalist Papers said that the judicial branch was the weakest branch. He said that Congress can limit jurisdiction of federal courts, and this topic needs to be part of the national debate.

He laid out several steps to what his job plan would be: Repeal Dodd-Frank, restructure the EPA, repeal Sarbanes-Oxley, restructure the FDA so it helps get products to market, no tax increase in 2013, zero out capital gains tax, lower corporate taxes to 12.5%, 100% expensing, abolish the death tax, and bolster domestic energy development. He gave specific points to his immigration plan, and regarding placing a limit on legal immigration he said it would depend on the economy and the ability for people to assimilate. Gingrich said, “if we are not a melting pot we can’t afford to have many people come here.”