Comments on: The Nation, DeLay, and space policy

By: Greg Kuperberg

Greg Kuperberg — Tue, 26 Apr 2005 13:48:42 +0000

(1) The idea that Tom DeLay is too big of a fish for a $16 billion per year pond is absurd. Very few people in the world directly control as much as $16 billion per year. When thinking about the influence that someone like Tom Delay might have over that amount of money, you have to multiply by the degree of control. It is true that the NASA budget is less than 1% of the entire federal budget; but most of the budget is (a) very difficult to change by anyone, and (b) not in DeLay’s district. A highly negotiable $16 billion, much of it in-district spending, is indeed a fat political prize, even for someone as big as Tom DeLay.

(2) Although I don’t doubt that Tom DeLay is actually “interested” in space, he is a man who freely commingles the national interest with his own personal interest. So you have to ask whether he will measure success by launches and missions, or by patronage and campaign contributions.

(3) John Pike’s comment about “measuring” results was poorly phrased but valid. Of course NASA, like many government agencies, has a colossal appetite for paperwork. The question is whether they will use this paperwork to demand real results, or whether they will be content with paper results. Especially if, as Pike says, money goes to companies whose only track record is on paper.

By: Sam Dinkin

Sam Dinkin — Mon, 25 Apr 2005 15:09:43 +0000

Money to NASA is mostly a political loser. Bush and Delay have reaped mostly criticism for it. I am with Jeff that there are more direct ways to use pork to achieve popularity. I hope to drum up some enthusiasm to give people like Bush and Delay more cover to take controversial stances in favor of space development.

By: Jack S.

Jack S. — Sat, 23 Apr 2005 22:08:48 +0000

Johnson Space Center represents the biggest and most influential piece of the NASA pie. It represents one of the largest employers in DeLay’s district. “Jeff” is being naive and narrow-minded when he says that NASA’s nationwide budget isn’t big enough to provide DeLay with power. DeLay needs a strong constituency, and his fair-weather friendship with NASA has significantly strengthened his position in his district, and support for the repubs in general.

The money argument is even less convincing when you consider DeLay’s relationship with Indian gambling. This is a far smaller money pot, yet DeLay put himself squarely in the middle of it.

The title of this web site is “space politics”, not “space money”. Think bigger, and you’ll understand DeLay better.

By: Rand Simberg

Rand Simberg — Sat, 23 Apr 2005 14:03:26 +0000

A “left-leaning” magazine? That’s kind of understating it, I would think.