Ares is under attack, proof of this from the head of the astronaut
office and his article defending the program.

ther big question is how the new obama adminstration will handle all
this?

close ares, close ISS and close shuttle program take man in space away
from nasa...... large layoffs and loss of prestige

keep shuttle flying till ares or whatever replaces shuttle is
operational

also possible to retain shuttle converting it to a shuttle C cargo
version and long term operations for heavy lifting