There’s realistic and effective lobbying strategies that are built around carefully scrubbed budget numbers and that involve a lot of shoe-pounding and one-on-one time with decisionmakers. And then there’s unrealistic and empty-handed gestures that grab round numbers out of thin air and make calls for a White House space summit that no one thinks will get answered. I’d argue that the $1 billion sideshow has been more of the latter, than the former. Although it’s something to put in the Senator’s mailings to JSC voters back home, it’s not much a of “try”.

My 2 cents… FWIW.

A more telling critique, I think, is the fact that she is quitting the Senate, where she can have an influence on national space policy, for a local position where she can advance her political career but where she will have little influence on spaceflight. It may not be fair, but I can’t help thinking that’s the measure of her interest and dedication . . .

— Donald

I wouldn’t bet on it, based on her 0 for 2 record in securing an additional $1 billion in Constellation funding two years running.

“(like closing the Shuttle-Constellation gap)”

A nit, but the $2 billion that Hutchison vowed in the last hearing to go after next year won’t close the gap. At best, that money will shrink the gap from five to three years. And per Griffin’s testimony, that $2 billion is only through 2010. Additional billions are likely needed in 2011, 2012, and 2013 just to maintain the three-year gap.

FWIW…