Newt’s new education strategy, in the big picture, is right on target. He advocates doing whatever it takes to attract and groom as many kids as possible in math and science. That’s EXACTLY what we will need to compete in a world where China and India are cranking out engineers and PHD’s in numbers that will make our head spin.

However, like typical Newt, he can’t just have some good ideas, he has to throw in some off-the-wall nutjobs in there. For example, as well as he understand the impacts of globalization and realizes that education is the key to survival, he mysteriously (and stupidly, IMO) advocates getting rid of bilingual education programs, in order to “preserve” the American culture. whatever!

I disagree with Newt on alot of stuff, but I have to admit when he’s right. And many things in his new book are right, in the big picture, even though I may disagree with *how* we get there. But hey, in this world of dissention and division, agreeing on the big picture is something. I think that progressives may be able to work with Newt as long as he doesn’t get more and more radical as his appetite for power is whetted should his book and ideas grow in popularity.

Ever read any of his books? Not the poorly written novels but the ones he’s written on policy and, more amusingly, on science?

Who can forget these gems:

“”If combat means living in a ditch, females have biological problems staying in a ditch for thirty days because they get infections and they don’t have upper body strength. I mean, some do, but they’re relatively rare. On the other hand, men are basically little piglets, you drop them in the ditch, they roll around in it, doesn’t matter, you know. These things are very real. On the other hand, if combat means being on an Aegis-class cruiser managing the computer controls for twelve ships and their rockets, a female may be again dramatically better than a male who gets very, very frustrated sitting in a chair all the time because males are biologically driven to go out and hunt giraffes.”

Of course, who could forget Nootie saying space exploration could be great for the travel industry because couples could have sex in a weightless environment. A deep thought for an adolescent boy; pure ignorance from a grown man.

Dugger