Congressman Tom Feeney (R-FL) is facing a rather strong challenge in his bid for another term in the House, and what he has done—or not done—for space could play a role in the outcome, the Orlando Sentinel reported Thursday. His Democratic challenger, Suzanne Kosmas, is arguing that Feeney has not done enough to save jobs in the Space Coast region of the state that are in jeopardy when the shuttle is retired in 2010. “He hasn’t placed a focus and priority on maintaining those jobs,” she claimed, a charge that, naturally, Feeney disputes. “When she says things like that, her total lack of understanding of space is evident,” he countered.
The root of Kosmas’s charges is that Feeney has not done enough to support increased NASA budgets that would close the Shuttle-Constellation gap and improve the situation for workers on the Space Coast. It is true that it has been the House that has been the obstacle in getting things like the billion-dollar “Mikulski Miracle” passed, as was the case last year, although what more Feeney—who is in the minority and is not an appropriator—could have done isn’t mentioned. The Sentinel adds that Kosmas herself is not totally fluent on space issues, noting that “she could not answer questions on the planned use of Russian spacecraft by American astronauts”, among other NASA policy issues. However, if Kosmos is able to plant the seed in voters’ minds that Feeney somehow did not do enough to fund NASA and save jobs at KSC, it might well make a difference in a race that is currently considered a toss-up by some observers.
Now that NASA has unveiled the real (very big) size of the Orion’s tower-LAS it’s 1,000,000 OF TIMES MUCH CLEAR that MY underside-LAS concept is VERY MUCH SMALLER and LIGHTER (then BETTER and SAFER) than any tower-LAS design! And, since “one image worth 1000 words”, I’ve updated my article with a (NASA tower-LAS vs. MY underside-LAS) image comparison that clearly shows how much better it is! http://www.ghostnasa.com/posts/029eiffeltowerlas.html However, it’s still unclear WHY did NASA wants to launch so much “dead weight” (and burn so much money) with its Orion!
gm,
why are you spamming on this site. Your post is totally unrelated. Quit spreading your garbage on all these legitimate forums
a good question for US politics…
while discussing on HobbySpace about the “Space and Lunar Farming”, I’ve suddenly and quickly realized HOW INCREDIBLY POOR THE LUNAR CARGO WILL BE, then, I’ve published a ghostNASA article that shows WHY it’s so “poor” an HOW to solve this problem:
http://www.ghostnasa.com/posts/031poorcargo.html
Now the Feeney finally realizes that thousands of his constituents will lose their jobs, he claims to want to prolong Shuttle operations, although he also supports tax cuts and doesn’t support spending any more money on the shuttle.
Where was he when this train wreck started three short years ago? Supporting George W. and his decision to drop all our plans and re-enact Project Apollo. Before VSE there was a reasonable transition plan from the Shuttle to a subsequent system that would not have resulted in a gap, and would have allowed KSC personnel with years of critical experience to be retained and transition gradually to the new program.
This is pure political posturing. Feeney claims to be fighting for his constituents when he actually supports a policy that will cost them their jobs.
“Supporting George W. and his decision to drop all our plans and re-enact Project Apollo.”
VSE didn’t come from George W, it came as a result of the Columbia accident investigation board which recommended that NASA be given a mission rather than continuing the “plan” of endless half-completed canceled projects.
VSE didn’t come from George W, it came as a result of the Columbia accident investigation board
Actually, no, it didn’t, I came from George W. Bush.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/01/20040114-3.html
I guess you must of missed that. What’s your excuse?
“Actually, no, it didn’t, It came from George W. Bush.”
Announcing it is not the same as developing it. I bet you think presidents write their own speeches too.
Announcing it is not the same as developing it. I bet you think presidents write their own speeches too.
Oh, this is rich. What is George W. Bush’s position in the US government?
What exactly is your misunderstand of the role of chief executive? What exactly don’t you understand about taking responsibility (i.e. the execution of) over that which you authorize? Oh, I get it, you voted for Bush, twice.
You knew, the sooner you people start acting like adolts, the better off America will be.The buck starts in your wallet and ends up on his desk.
I’m not trying to shift responsibility away from anyone. I like VSE, so if I gave Bush credit, it would be a compliment in my view.
The point i’m trying to make is Bush didn’t sit at his desk one day and say: “hey, lets go to the moon and mars” . After the Columbia investigation report came out, VSE was drawn up by NASA officials and Industry leaders in response to the findings in the report suggesting that NASA be given a mission. The Bush administration accepted VSE, but didn’t create it.
And I don’t see how giving credit where credit is due is not being a responsible “adolt”
I’m not trying to shift responsibility away from anyone.
You certainly are, you are trying to shift responsibility for VSE and ESAS away from President Bush.
I like VSE, so if I gave Bush credit, it would be a compliment in my view.
Of course you do, and you like $4.00 per gallon gasoline, a failing economy and a10 trillion dollar national debt and a certain Mideast conflict as well. And you are perfectly willing to shift blame for those away fron you as well.
The Bush administration accepted VSE, but didn’t create it.
Delusional thinking at its greatest. Enjoy your economic meltdown.
The rest of us ‘adolts’ will just have to clean up your mess.
“You certainly are, you are trying to shift responsibility for VSE and ESAS away from President Bush.”
I guess you are right, but in my view, shifting responsibility away from VSE only discredits Bush.
I’m not seeing the link between the Iraq war and VSE, sorry. Im trying to stay on topic on a space policy forum. And no, I’m not a Bush supporter. Exact opposite, actually.
After the Columbia investigation report came out, VSE was drawn up by NASA officials and Industry leaders in response to the findings in the report suggesting that NASA be given a mission. The Bush administration accepted VSE, but didn’t create it.
This isn’t true. The VSE was developed in the White House, by White House staff. There was no input from industry (or Congress), and NASA (primarily O’Keefe) only got involved late in the game. The VSE is a Bush administration creation, for better or worse.