In a showdown that could easily have vaulted Newt Gingrich to victory in the fast approaching Florida primary, the former Speaker of the House had what has widely been called his weakest debate performance of the campaign. He came under direct fire from Romney on multiple occasions, and spent too much time of the defensive and not nearly enough time going after his opponents.
Another huge factor in Gingrich's mediocre debate performance: the 10-15 minute focus on his "grandiose" space expansion proposals.
If you somehow missed it, Gingrich has been stumping a proposal to start a colony on the moon (and eventually have it apply for statehood) and to have space explorations to Mars by the end of his second term in the Oval Office.
At their core, I think making bold proposals and challenging the nation to aspire to greatness is a wise move for Gingrich, but by getting lost in specific – and ridiculous – proposals he has allowed his space plans to be used as yet another example of his unrealistic ideas.
Decades ago, John F. Kennedy successfully challenged the nation to make it to the moon, which prompted a generation of students of math and science and who dreamed of lunar touchdowns.
Any candidate, Gingrich included, who is able to offer a realistic challenge that motivates young Americans to succeed in STEM fields (where we pitifully trail other Western nations) could provide the catalyst for a true turnaround in education here in the U.S.
The problem with making specific space proposals (colonizing the moon, putting a man on mars, etc) is that they are subject to specific critique.
Space experts have lined up to call the Gingrich proposals "total fantasy."
The biggest hurdle to making a Kennedy-esque challenge (besides the fact that Kennedy was, afterall, a Democrat) during the 2012 race is the astronomical costs that the projects would require — which directly contradict the cost-cutting, debt-limiting narrative being pushed by the right.
As The New Scientist breaks down:
The Apollo missions to the moon cost in excess of $100 billion in current dollars. In 2005, NASA administrator Michael Griffin estimated the cost of a programme to land four astronauts on the moon by 2018 (as was then planned), at $104 billion
And don't expect Gingrich's rivals to jump to his defense. Mitt Romney accused Gingrich of using his space proposals to pander to Florida voters, Ron Paul would never sign off on the massive government spending necessary to complete the missions and Rick Santorum has yet to show he's really got any interest in the discussion of space travel.
When it comes to pushing for further space exploration, it looks like Gingrich will be burning out his fuse up there along.
So, with all due respect to Elton John, do you think the GOP is ready to nominate a Rocket Man?
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