Did Mitch Daniels Give the Most Important Speech at CPAC?

WASHINGTON (AP) — Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels says the United States is facing a new "red menace" — debt, not Communism — and conservatives must be realistic in cuts.

Daniels, a potential 2012 presidential candidate, said Friday that the United States must get its finances in order or avoid slipping into a shadow of its former self. Daniels, who served as President George W. Bush's White House budget director and was an aide in the Reagan administration, says U.S. "fiscal ruin" would only benefit other nations.

Daniels says groups such as the Conservative Political Action Committee must unify behind a realistic plan to address the nation's debt. He says ending earmarks alone won't solve the problems and saying that cutting "waste, fraud and abuse" only trivializes the challenges.

The Corner's Kathryn Jean Lopez:

The Indiana governor’s speech tonight was serious, focused, important. A cut above anything heard at CPAC yet.

In his introduction of Daniels, George Will said Daniels has the “charisma of competence.” He nailed it. Both of them.

K-Lo has the full text of the speech, rhetoric both bracing and beautiful, here.  Maybe read it while you watch it. Watch the full speech here.