One of the most intriguing things about early '08 polling at both the national and state level is the strength of Newt Gingrich. It is a testament to his skill as an innovative policy leader and also an indicator of the lack of a consensus conservative candidate in the Republican field.

Last night Gingrich urged Congress to enact legislation making English the country's official language:

American civilization eventually will collapse if government doesn't do a better job assimilating immigrants into society, possible GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich said Wednesday as he urged Congress to enshrine English as the nation's official language.

The former House speaker said political correctness and multiculturalism are clouding the debate about language.

"If you are pro-immigration to America, you should be pro-assimilation into English as the common language because in fact your children and grandchildren will have a dramatically better future if they are part of the common commercial civilization," Gingrich said.

Nina Easton has an excellent piece on Gingrich in the latest issue of Fortune, in which she writes:

While Gingrich has plenty to say on national security and social issues, the core of his resurrection and unusual race for President are his ideas on health costs - a national migraine that has driven the likes of General Motors toward bankruptcy, put insurance out of reach for 46 million Americans, and now threatens to strangle the economy by ballooning entitlement costs.

John Russell has more on Gingrich's vision for transforming healthcare through information technology.

Lastly, responding to news earlier this week that Gingrich jump started his new political group American Solutions for Winning the Future with a $1 million check from a casino executive, former Gingrich associate Matt Towery pleads for Newt to give back the money.