Another accomplishment for Bush: I'm rooting against the space program.

[Pale Blue Dot]

I actually believe in the Space Program, both as a practical way to discover new and innovative ways of solving our domestic problems, and as a metaphysical way to try to get answers to some of out deepest questions about the meanings of our existance. I have been hoping for years that we would try to get back to the moon, and then someday to Mars.

Now Bush supposedly is going to propose that we do these very things. So why am I so upset? Well, for starters, where is the money coming from? I have a dream to own a mansion, but if I am $10,000 in debt, and make $30,000 a year, is now really the time to do it? THAT is the position the federal Government is in. Also, NASA's current track record, for manned and unmanned flights, is spotty at best. This again goes back to serious underfunding of the Space Program over the past decade, and a lack of funds currently.

For the life of me, I cannot figure out why Bush is about to propose the programs he is rumored to be about to propose. What is the gain for him politically? I don't see anyone, even the most fervant Fox viewer, failing to see that this will cost money that we don't have.

Congratulations, Bush, for taking a boyhood dream and stomping all over it.

[Webster Green]

1. Ditto!....I have been fanatical for the space projects, but......

If he's for it I'm against it. That simple!

[StClone]

2. It's like the Illegals for jobs thing

Neither will happen. Bush says the biggest and best lies that make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. (Except cutting taxes, he was all over that one.)

[rocketdem]

3. the space program is very personal to me

Very personal. I say that upfront so that you know where I'm coming from.

I support the proposal (based on the little released so far). The question of how we pay for it is answered quite simply by electing a Democratic president and a Democratic majority in both houses of Congress.

Once we are on the path towards fiscal responsibility again and once we stop wasting money on a bloated and montrous defense budget the money for a viable and ambitious space program will be available.

The plan (again, based on the limited details released so far) is based upon a gradual increase in the overall NASA budget. They claim 5%, my calculations suggest perhaps 8% will be necessary, but either way it's not as if we'd be dumping hundreds of billions of new money into the program next year. The number that I saw for next year is less than $1 billion, or in other words less that 1/150th of what we will have spent in Iraq by the end of the fiscal year.

So, I say support the new initiative because it is the right thing to do. If Bush gets some credit, so be it. Just make sure that he gets the credit as a private citizen. And remember also that the program will take something like 20 years to complete so there will be plenty of credit and glory to dole out to everyone, including several Democratic administrations in the interim.

[Pale Blue Dot]

4. I hope you're right, rocketdem

NASA has been seriously underfunded for years. I hope this works out the best for you.

[alcuno]

5. Please change "routing" to "rooting."

And I agree that now is a terrible time to be proposing this.

[Pale Blue Dot]

6. I'm going to need more funding to change that. nt

[KG]

7. manned space expolration is a waste anyway

robotics is the most efficient way to go.

[oostevo]

8. You know,

If we internationalize the effort, it wouldn't cost as much.

Besides, a trip to Mars shouldn't cost nearly as much as people have quoted Bush's idea as costing.

[Deja Q]

10. The $87 bil Bush* wanted for Iraq was debunked as well...

By Time who looked at $20 bil destined for Iraq and found lots of fuzzy math.

When Bush* asks for money. About half of it is for legitmacy. The other half goes to his corporate whores.

[Deja Q]

9. He wants to be remembered like how Kennedy was

Disgusting, isn't it?

Kennedy tried to improve things and got assassinated by a US conspiracy. He was optimistic.

Bush has never been an optimist, uniter, or anything else he claims to be and put lip service too. He's a phony and a fraud. This is his latest episode of fraudulent blab; hanging on Kennedy's coattails so, assuming we survive the oil crisis in 10 years and get to Mars in 50-100, it'll be all because of wretched little W*. :eyes:

For monetary concerns, human concerns, infrastructure concerns and I don't mean corporate america who gets plenty of $$$ as it is, and this charade, Bush* is just plain wrong. And stupid.

[whirlygigspin]

11. space cadet wants $1 Trillion

for the space program is in Houston,Texas
and Cape Canaveral, Florida

what do these two states have in common?

--this stinker is so transparent even Stevie Wonder can see right through it--

[rocketdem]

12. not just Texas and Florida

There are also NASA centers or facilities in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Virginia, Maryland, California, New Mexico, and Ohio.

The contractors and subcontractors are spread out across the country probably covering thrity or forty different states.

Just FYI.