Comments on: More on the House budget cuts

By: Jim Muncy

Jim Muncy — Sat, 24 Jul 2004 18:46:56 +0000

Actually, the White House, in the form of the President’s Director of the Office of Management and Budget, did issue a veto threat on the VA-HUD Appropriation bill.

By: Perry A. Noriega

Perry A. Noriega — Thu, 22 Jul 2004 23:05:25 +0000

Maybe now is the time to let President Bush know he needs to use the Bully Pulpit of his office to push for space, despite what the lying media, space ignoramuses and opponents, and indifferent people in his own party might think. In my opinion, Bush needs to lead by example, and not worry about what the great masses of people who shift with the wind think, because what they think can be changed, and they are willing to be led, despite this atomized culture.

I wish I was in the position to use President Bush’s place to be a pitchman for space development/settlement; I would give them a speech they won’t soon forget. And they would remember to see to space for a very long time too.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 22 Jul 2004 22:19:36 +0000

It is not uncommon for presidents to make video addresses to these kinds of gatherings rather than showing up themselves. That’s what might have happened at NASM.

Notice that the White House said nothing about the House Appropriations budget cut.

By: Rand Simberg

Rand Simberg — Thu, 22 Jul 2004 18:22:55 +0000

I was just being contrarian.

Actually, truth be told, I’m not a big fan of it. The original version, when the series started, was all right, but the new, more bouncy, driving one they’ve used this season (and last?) does kind of suck.

But to get back on topic, I was told this weekend by someone who claimed to be in a position to know that the President was going to make an address on space at the NASM last night.

Did it happen? If so, the administration certainly didn’t use it as an opportunity to sell the president’s new vision, at least not to the public, because I’ve heard nothing about it.

By: Dwayne A. Day

Dwayne A. Day — Thu, 22 Jul 2004 17:16:04 +0000

I wrote:
“That song sucks!”

Mr. Simberg replied:
“Them’s fightin’ wuhds.”

Rand, have you actually _listened_ to the song? It’s weepy and folksy and has no punch. Or are you the kind of guy who actually likes that music? Do you have a collection of Boston albums in your basement?

(And let’s take a moment to extend some sympathy for Dr. Foust here. He gets all this education, sets up a great website devoted to space policy, and then gets lame comments like the one I’m writing right now. Jeff, I’m sorry.)

By: John Malkin

John Malkin — Thu, 22 Jul 2004 17:03:39 +0000

Sorry expectable = acceptable.

By: John Malkin

John Malkin — Thu, 22 Jul 2004 17:00:23 +0000

I agree it’s not a great Star Trek theme but my point was the lyrics apply very much to this topic. Politics is the wind in which we must push through to make the dream of a growing space community come alive. Advocates cannot allow Politicians to bend or break their resolve. The voices of American can make this budget happen in a difficult time. FY05 budget is the first test of the vision in a very long road but if we only get $15.1, it’s not the end. However, Americans cannot allow the status quo to be expectable.

By: Dogsbd

Dogsbd — Thu, 22 Jul 2004 16:33:01 +0000

The plan is “pay as you go” but there are also practical considerations with regard to retention of highly skilled technicians in many positions throughout the aerospace industry. Most of these people once gone can not be replaced by your average temp service.

By: Harold LaValley

Harold LaValley — Thu, 22 Jul 2004 14:11:12 +0000

Personally I have enjoyed all of the star trek’s shows and there respective theme songs from the original Enterprise to the next generation, voyager and deep space 9.
There again how many of you remember space 1999 and the dream of a lunar base that it portraid we would have soon. Only a few years after our own Lunar landings from Apollo.
I know that I have waited long enough to see this dream of space exploration, colonization and to going beyound our solar system.
Lets go…. full speed ahead.

By: Harold LaValley

Harold LaValley — Thu, 22 Jul 2004 14:03:53 +0000

Another reminder of what is indicated by the commission and by the president is that the new space exploration vision is a pay as you go. Which is alot different than building by contracts something that is not needed under the stand still conditions that we are in.