Gingrich’s speech on space
In the days ahead there is going to be a lot of talk about Newt Gingrich’s proposals for space exploration. I think it important that people actually see and listen to the entire speech before discussing it. Here is the longest clip I can find on youtube, covering the first seven and a half minutes. I think it is complete, but unfortunately, I can’t be sure. It doesn’t appear to include his remarks about awarding space prizes, and when it ends Gingrich does not appear to be finished. When I find a longer clip I will post it.
Several points immediately come to mind:
- Gingrich very clearly wants to accelerate, not replace, the policies of the Obama administration that use private companies for the U.S. space effort. He is not proposing a big government program of pork.
- Gingrich is clearly knowledgeable about the subject. He is not just saying talking points. For example, when he proposes that we have a better rocket system than what we have been using for the past fifty years, something capable of getting us to Mars in much less time, he is most certainly talking about nuclear propulsion. That he doesn’t actually say this is obviously for political reasons.
- Gingrich knows how to move a crowd. Once again, he gets standing ovations, not by promising money to Floridians, but by proposing something that touches the hearts of the audience. It is this ability that is drawing Republican voters to him.
- Finally, this speech demonstrates Gingrich’s incredible campaign skills. He is taking control of the debate, and he is doing it on his terms. Some people will at first ridicule him about this, but those that do will have obviously never heard his proposals in depth. Once they do — and they will because as a leading candidate he is going to get the air time — they will forced to consider them seriously because these are not foolish ideas. In fact, he is drawing directly on American history (the model of the aviation industry in the twentieth century and the settling of the west in the nineteenth century) with all his proposals. And that history was a success.
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Thanks for the link. I had not had time to look for it (if you find the rest of the speech that would be great).
As for your bullet points, well I think you are batting 750. I agree with the last three, but I cannot interpret what he said to be supporting the current Obama program (for one thing he is supporting very specific goals). Maybe that part comes in the rest of the speech, but not here.
Two problems I’ve seen reported. In the second event with Gingrich (invitation-only) a panel of local industry and political representatives [ http://nasawatch.com/archives/2012/01/gingrich-talks.html#comments ] the industry folks reportedly hand answers to his questions, adn really did seem to have considered any of this adn prepare for the presentation.
Also comment on blogs eveven the space cadets couldn’t conceive of a space program going as rapidly as was done in the 60’s or done commercially. They were laughing at Gingrich’s ideas.
What Newt says is far different and far less problematic than what the media is reporting. He’s not calling for a state on the Moon. He’s not making a deal of weddings and honeymoons on the Moon. He is smart and reasonable in his space program as well as ambitious. We need what he’s talking about.
Sigh. Newt (for all his sins) has always been solid for space enterprise. He was an influential friend of space issues when he was in Congress. And yet, people who claim to be gung ho about space usually don’t know this, or refuse to know it once they’ve heard it.
That was actually the beginning of my disenchantment with left and libertarian tech political activists. You can lead a thirsty horse to water, but you can’t stop him from being afraid of the hose.
Haven’t watched the whole thing, but this looks like the full speech (33min).
http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/303905-1