Sadly true.

Gingritch talked about great visions, but with no substance to how he’ld do them, what it would cost, etc. Tried to do a JFK “put a man on the moon by the end of the decade” speech. But most of that speach was ignored and forgotten, and the moon flight was really seen as a race with the Soviets, and folks trusted the gov back then.

Now in the US, with the gov having spent decades crushing them and convincing them space is impossible, they want to hear the “how” clearly outlined. Newt was bouncing all over on imges, anecdotes etc, but not meat.

His idea for prizes (around 25min) to acheve stuff has merit – but getting the gov, or voters, to set aside $2B a year from NASA for prizes? Good luck. Further doing what he says for what he wants to putout ($10B to get to Mars, etc) how much could you get for that? Not only the question could any research team develop that much for that (launchers, life support systems, landers, etc) test them, etc for $10B or attract the difference? I mean the Xprize attracted Paul Allen to spend $25M for $1M, but billions?! 2nd, how much useful tech would you get out of those prizes? SS1 turned out to not be very comercilizable. Would the Marsprize craft be good for much?

You and I both know you are right. Its just that this not what voters heard last night from 3 of the 4 candidates. I was thinking after I posted something above, it is interesting to break down Romney’s quote:
‘I spent 25 years in business. If I had a business executive come to me and say they wanted to spend a few hundred billion dollars to put a colony on the moon, I’d say, ‘You’re fired!’.’

Here is what he told voters in one sentence:
I’m a business man, and Mr. Gingrich is not.
The Gingrich proposal will cost hundreds of billions of dollars, you will pay for it no matter what he says, and that is not worthy of business, no less government.
I would fire this guy, and you should also on Tuesday.

Individuals tinkering and inventing is the meaning of “American Exceptionalism.”

Now you can say that is a shallow understanding of the Gingrich proposal, but that does not matter. Romney just told Republicans voting in a primary that his opponent is looking to create a new government program that will cost tax payers billions.
And that, at least today, has resonance with those who will vote on Tuesday.
Not many will view the entire Gingrich speech, but many heard Romney last night.