Just when you thought the Brett Favre saga couldn’t get any weirder, Newt Gingrich entered the ring with a plea to the Packers to bring back the ol’ Gunslinger. You can watch video — where else? — on Greta Van Susteren’s web site. Deadspin has done us the kind service of finding a more substantial effort from Newt. After the jump? A point-by-point examination of how it conflicts with the 1994 Gingrich-led Republican Contract With America. But now, current Newt:

A Plea From Two Packers Fans — Paul Lubbers is my son-in-law, but we share more than family ties. He’s also a fellow shareholder in the Green Bay Packers. And as responsible shareholders, we – like many of those invested in the Green & Gold - feel compelled to speak out on the turmoil surrounding the return of Brett Favre to the NFL and whether or not he should wear Packer’s uniform.

Should Favre have taken some time (like he did the past few years) to rest, recover and reclaim some perspective? Yes. Did he make a bad decision to retire? Also Yes. Should Ted Thompson and the Packers welcome him back to Packers family? Absolutely!!

For the last 16 years, football fans have all had the opportunity to watch Favre display his many gifts as a quarterback, breaking every NFL record, and leading the Packers to the playoffs 11 times during his tenure. His performance last year proved beyond a doubt that he can still play.

I understand that the Packers have made plans to build the offense around Aaron Rodgers, but plans are made to change. And in this case the Packers should adjust their plans quickly to bring back Favre. Can you imagine Favre as a Viking or even worse a Chicago Bear?

The fact is Brett Favre made a bad decision, kind of like when he throws one of his record-setting interceptions. Now it is the Packers turn to change their mind and put the ball back in Favre’s hands, so that he can again throw some more record setting touchdowns wearing Packer Green & Gold.

And how does this wacky sentiment compare with the 10 components of the Contract With America? Oh, this should be fun.

1. THE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY ACT: A balanced budget/tax limitation amendment and a legislative line-item veto to restore fiscal responsibility to an out- of-control Congress, requiring them to live under the same budget constraints as families and businesses. We say: Is it fiscally responsible to pay two quarterbacks an absurd amount of money? Is it responsible to blow up your salary cap to appease the whims of one man? We think not, Newt.

2. THE TAKING BACK OUR STREETS ACT: An anti-crime package including stronger truth-in- sentencing, “good faith” exclusionary rule exemptions, effective death penalty provisions, and cuts in social spending from this summer’s “crime” bill to fund prison construction and additional law enforcement to keep people secure in their neighborhoods and kids safe in their schools. We say: Nobody, particularly the citizens of Wisconsin, is safe as long as Favre is allowed to carry out these shenanigans.

3. THE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY ACT: Discourage illegitimacy and teen pregnancy by prohibiting welfare to minor mothers and denying increased AFDC for additional children while on welfare, cut spending for welfare programs, and enact a tough two-years-and-out provision with work requirements to promote individual responsibility. We say: Personal responsibility. Tough love, Brett. You made your bed. Time to pull yourself up by the bootstraps, son, and move on.

4. THE FAMILY REINFORCEMENT ACT: Child support enforcement, tax incentives for adoption, strengthening rights of parents in their children’s education, stronger child pornography laws, and an elderly dependent care tax credit to reinforce the central role of families in American society. We say: Favre is tearing apart so many football-loving families.

5. THE AMERICAN DREAM RESTORATION ACT: A $500 per child tax credit, begin repeal of the marriage tax penalty, and creation of American Dream Savings Accounts to provide middle class tax relief. We say: What about Aaron Rodgers’ American Dream?

6. THE NATIONAL SECURITY RESTORATION ACT: No U.S. troops under U.N. command and restoration of the essential parts of our national security funding to strengthen our national defense and maintain our credibility around the world. We say: If the goal is maintaining credibility, we’d say the Good Ship Favre sailed a long time ago.

7. THE SENIOR CITIZENS FAIRNESS ACT: Raise the Social Security earnings limit which currently forces seniors out of the work force, repeal the 1993 tax hikes on Social Security benefits and provide tax incentives for private long-term care insurance to let Older Americans keep more of what they have earned over the years. We say: This is actually consistent with Favre’s situation.

8. THE JOB CREATION AND WAGE ENHANCEMENT ACT: Small business incentives, capital gains cut and indexation, neutral cost recovery, risk assessment/cost-benefit analysis, strengthening the Regulatory Flexibility Act and unfunded mandate reform to create jobs and raise worker wages. We say: Brett Favre takes jobs away from Americans.

9. THE COMMON SENSE LEGAL REFORM ACT: “Loser pays” laws, reasonable limits on punitive damages and reform of product liability laws to stem the endless tide of litigation. We say: Common sense is not a common thread in any of this Favre mess.

10. THE CITIZEN LEGISLATURE ACT: A first-ever vote on term limits to replace career politicians with citizen legislators. We say: Everyone’s time must come, Brett. Even Newt could see that 14 years ago.

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