That the question asked by an Orlando Sentinel article Sunday that compiles a considerable amount in evidence to suggest the answer is “yes”. In addition to the recent controversy involving media access to climate researcher James Hansen, Michael Cabbage identifies a number of other events, from campaign appearances by former administrator Sean O’Keefe to the ongoing investigation of inspector general Robert Cobb to the selection of Shana Dale, a lawyer and former House staffer, to the post of deputy administrator. The Bush administration has “taken it [politicization] to a new level,” Howard McCurdy of American University said in the article. But, he added, “they are continuing a trend.” As the article notes, expect this issue to come up during a House Science Committee hearing Thursday morning featuring administrator Michael Griffin.
I’d be surprized if someone could name 1 thing this administration hasn’t tried (and most of the time succeeded) in politicizing.
Why is it that only during a Republican administration things become “politicized?” Everything is politicized all the time. Bush has done no more politicizing than Clinton, or any other administration for that matter.
Why is it that anything other than following a liberal agenda all of the sudden “politicizing?”
When hasn’t NASA been politicized?
“I’d be surprized if someone could name 1 thing this administration hasn’t tried (and most of the time succeeded) in politicizing.”
I’m suprised that there are people on this board who do not or will not recognize that NASA has been politicized for nearly five decades or since 1958.
Im not claiming nasa hasn’t always had some politicisation – Its just this administration has a penchent for requireing a political test for any program and anyone in their government.
And, yes, Brent, Bush has done more politicizing. A lot more. Its not a Republician thing, its a GWB thing. It’s like the Doonsebary cartoon this weekend – Bush Sr did a certain amount of politicizing, but I would agree that it wasn’t any more so than what Clinton did. Regean did a little more so, but not that much more
GWB is just really special.
Freeluna does make a valid point. As a Democrat myself, I have to ask how it was different when Mr. Johnson pushed Apollo for what were basically social and political reasons. Yes, they were “my” social and political reasons, but any reasonable reading of history has to conclude NASA was heavily politicized during the Apollo years. It was probably less so during the Shuttle years.
This observation in no way is intended to defend or justify the Bush Administration’s recent actions.
— Donald