(Image Source: Disinformation)

BY ALLIE SPILLYARDS

Remember the Jetsons? Well according to GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich -- life in space may not be as far off and futuristic as TV once made it seem.

“The program I envision would probably end up being 90 percent private sector. ((FLASH)) But I’ll tell you. I don’t want to be the country that having gotten to the moon first, turned around and said, ‘it doesn’t really matter. Let the Chinese dominate space. What do we care?’” (VIDEO SOURCE: CNN)

Now just a day after the last Florida GOP debate where he made those statements, news headlines ranging from “Space Cadet Gingrich” to “Fly Me to the Moon” show most in the media are writing off Gingrich’s idea as little more than ridiculous. CNN’s David Frum takes a look. (SOURCE: WASHINGTON POST AND LA TIMES)

“Then he should’ve dismissed the moon colony question with a joke and moved on. Instead, he allowed that conversation to take over. He could not control himself in the face of something he should’ve controlled himself in.”

TIME's Jeffrey Kluger suggests -- this is just one in a series of over-the-top statements from the former Speaker of the House.

“...Gingrich often doesn’t seem to get that merely being willing to say any damn thing is not the same as being able to do any damn thing, especially when the challenges you’re taking on don’t involve just political rivals and government policy, but the hard laws of engineering and physics...”

Although plenty of snark and mockery is floating through the media in response to Newt’s space projections, not everyone’s laughing. The Washington Post’s Jennifer Rubin writes...

“Really, the Earth is too small for the self-described ‘grandiose’ candidate. At some point, however, unless you’re a supporter of the president’s reelection, this ceases to be funny. It is simply the latest indication of the three-ring circus (colony?) that would ensue if Gingrich were the nominee, or heaven forbid, the president.”

But not everyone’s making jabs. A writer for News Australia says -- Newt might just be on to something.

“The basic idea is not actually as far-fetched as it sounds. NASA in 2006 announced plans to set up a colony on the south pole of the moon, in around 2020, as a base for further manned exploration of the solar system. The problem for Gingrich... is that the 2008 financial crisis came along and turned feasible projects into pipe dreams.”

Radio-host Laura Ingraham agrees. She tells Fox’s Bill O’Reilly -- now’s just not the time, even if you are in support of space exploration.

“If you’re a conservative and you’re concerned about our fiscal standing, you could make an argument that while this is a great idea, not when you have 15 trillion dollars of debt.”

Americans will get their chance to weigh in on Newt’s space plans during the Florida primary on January 31st.