Four Actual Paragraphs from the Preface to Window of Opportunity

The Preface to Window of Opportunity (previously discussed in this blog) is written by Jerry Pournelle, a science fiction writer with conservative leanings. Four fun paragraphs from that preface will make up today's posting. Newt was always ready for space, as if that wasn't previously established:

If Congress is ever to win back the respect and affection it held in the days of Madison, Jay, Webster, Calhoun, Clay, Douglas, and Lincoln, it will be through the efforts and examples of the tiny minority of members like Gingrich. Far from being a partner in a powerful law firm, Newt is an historian; one of the very few to sit in the Congress. He's not ashamed to be an intellectual.

He's also not ashamed to call himself a politician: a word that's not much in favor these days. I remember that I was shocked the first time he said it of himself. We were sitting in the somewhat shabby opulence the Speaker metes out to junior members of the minority party, discussing the future of the space program.

"The space program is always in trouble," Newt said, "because it has never been championed by a politician, and I'll try to take it from there."

A few weeks later, in partnership with Congressman Akaka of Hawaii, Newt Gingrich organized the Space Caucus within the House of Representatives. For that alone Newt deserves a place in the history books. I don't know the names of the members of the Cortes who advised Isabella to finance Columbus, but perhaps this generation can do better in acknowledging its farsighted statesmen.