I was going to criticize that interpretation, in that Treadwell didn’t lose because spaceflight doesn’t matter to the voters. But there is some sense there. I think the point is that while popular mythology is that astronauts deserve deification and worship, the public may be rational enough to understand that they being an astronaut doesn’t necessarily convey any credibility in politics. It’s less that spaceflight doesn’t matter to the voters, but they know that spaceflight doesn’t matter to politics. Kudos to the public for that.

What did Buzz Aldrin think he was giving Treadwell? What is it about Aldrin that would make people want to take his political recommendation seriously? Is it onetime leadership ability? Is it onetime bravery? Is it the flecks of lunar dust that remain in his lungs? Is it that he once wore a cool helmet? I dunno.

I have to say that the foot-kissing that often is applied to astronauts makes me uncomfortable. I don’t want to get in a fight about this as I think astronauts are smart and brave people who deserve a lot of respect, but there are a lot of smart and brave people who deserve a lot of respect. I know astronauts, by the way, who are often quite embarrassed by that deification. There are others who, I know, revel in it.

It may be true that endorsements from astronauts are of little value to politicians, but unfortunately that does (or should) mean something to us. It may be a measure of how much spaceflight matters to the voters. On the other hand, I know (and care) next to nothing about Alaska politicians and politics (until and unless they become national politicians), so there may be factors involved that I don’t know about.

— Donald

Maybe they help you a little in fundraising. They don’t mean a thing at the polls.