Newt Gingrich was arguably one of the most powerful Republicans at one time.  He created the Contract With America and help lead the Republican Revolution of 1994.  But somewhere between his retirement and now, he has left many of us scratching our heads wondering what he is doing.

First, he admits defeat on global warming and even stated that the debate was "past the tipping point".  Now, with the leaked CRU emails, we see the debate is FAR from over and if anything, the "tipping point" either was never, or should have never been on Al Gore, John Kerry, and Barbara Boxer's side.  I find it odd the Don of the 1990s Conservatism would abandon the conservative base's insistence that there is no such thing as man-made global warming. 

A few months ago, Gingrich comes out and supports Dede Scozzafava in the NY-23 election.  Meanwhile, conservative PACs, Sarah Palin and Fred Thompson endorsed the conservative candidate Doug Hoffman.  Scozzafava dropped out of the race a week or so before the election and then she endorses Bill Owens - the Democrat.  Gingrich went against the conservatives and supported Scozzafava?  Hmmm.  I believe I remember Gingrich going on Hannity after the Scozzafava fallout and basically throwing himself at Sean's feet for mercy for not supporting Hoffman.

Now, Gingrich praised Obama's increase in troops in Afghanistan (which I like), but Gingrich raised questions about being able to withdraw troops within the time line Obama drew out.  Ok, that's sort of a criticism, but where are the hard hitting words like "why did you tell the enemy exactly when and how long we were going to stay committed'?  Or "Obama talked about the cost of the war sitting at $1 trillion but he ignores the fact that he's spent more than that in 1 year to the sum of $1.4 trillion plus more on the way."? Or "Obama looks at our troops as dollar signs but yet he used them again at West Point because 'they make a good photo op'.".  Hmm.

Then there's Gingrich's "job summit".  Gingrich holding his own job summit is about effective as the Southern Illinois Secessionists trying to create their own South Illinois state.   Ok, let's have a talk about the real ways to create jobs in America, I get it.  But what's his angle?  Is this a photo op because he's got his eyes on 2012?  His other shots at grabbing the political bull by the horns since his retirement have not exactly panned out the way he had planned.  Is this an attempt to try to shore up his damaged conservative credentials from NY-23, global warming surrender, and other semi-gaffs?

I worry that Newt Gingrich has "gone rogue" and not in the good way.  Gingrich seems to have abandoned his conservative roots and joined forces with the John McCains and Lindsey Grahams of the Republican Party.  Meanwhile, the number of people identifying as conservatives are on the increase, Dick Armey - who was one Gingrich's GOP Revolution's generals - has embraced the Tea Party conservative movement with his FreedomWorks organization, and conservatives are set to make inroads in the 2010 election cycle.  Gingrich once led the Republicans to success and he seems to have lost his way.  We conservatives will welcome him back into the family as long as he turns his back on his RINO ways.  2010 is going to be something great and Gingrich is currently poised to be sitting on the bench as the conservatives fight off Obama, Pelosi, Reid, and their allies - including some of their allies in the GOP.  In the end, Gingrich is in danger of coming down on the wrong side of history this time around.