Space Pork in the Treetops

Space Pork for FL & TX

President Bush plans to announce a plan to set up a human base on the moon
and work towards a manned mission to Mars. Let's see who benefits from space
pork. According to the NY Times (01/10/04), 14,000 people work at NASA
centers in Florida which is worth $1.4B/yr to that state's economy. Last
time I looked President Bush's brother facing relection is governor of
Florida. Similarly, Houston, TX, is the home to NASA's Mission Control
complex. While I don't have the economic figures handy, I'm sure the impact
of a new space initiative on the President's home state of Texas will be
significant.

The New York Times has waxed eloquently on the theme of "Space Glory, Reach
for the Stars" which is part of the headline in today's edition (01/10/04).
Perhaps if the NYT came down to earth and relied more on its gut instincts
for politics we might see some news coverage of why the benefits of space
exploration are so keenly focused on places that matter most to Mr. Bush.
The space initiative is being billed as a reach for the stars. I submit it
is much more about down to earth political benefits. Men may walk on the
moon, but the eagle will land in Florida and Texas, and every week in the
form of Uncle Sam's paychecks for space contractors.

"Ohadi Langis" wrote in message
...

Similarly, Houston, TX, is the home to NASA's Mission Control
complex.

well, it's home to the Johnson Space Center (JSC), of which "mission
control" is just one part.

While I don't have the economic figures handy, I'm sure the impact
of a new space initiative on the President's home state of Texas will be
significant.

You do realize that in his entire term as Governor of Texas, Dubya never
even set foot on JSC soil, yes? He's not a huge proponent of NASA,
regardless of where the centers are or are not located.

I'm a little worried because the proposal, if accurately described, sounds a
lot like a classic bureaucratic maneuver to get rid of someone: get them to
sign on for a totally new project, reassign their current duties to someone
else (or simply stop doing them)...and then cancel the new project. In
essence that's what the new moon project would involve.

So I think this may be the beginning of the end for NASA. Which is a very
good thing on one level, but a hell of a shame on a lot of other levels.

--
Terrell Miller


"It's one thing to burn down the **** house and another thing entirely to
install plumbing"
-PJ O'Rourke

Ohadi Langis wrote:
Space Pork for FL & TX

President Bush plans to announce a plan to set up a human base on the moon
and work towards a manned mission to Mars. Let's see who benefits from space
pork. According to the NY Times (01/10/04), 14,000 people work at NASA
centers in Florida which is worth $1.4B/yr to that state's economy. Last
time I looked President Bush's brother facing relection is governor of
Florida.

Jeb Bush already won re-election in November 2002. He's all set till 2006.


-- Steven L.

On Sat, 10 Jan 2004 12:59:02 -0500, in a place far, far away, "Terrell
Miller" made the phosphor on my monitor glow
in such a way as to indicate that:

You do realize that in his entire term as Governor of Texas, Dubya never
even set foot on JSC soil, yes?

Why would a governor go to a federal facility?

"Rand Simberg" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 10 Jan 2004 12:59:02 -0500, in a place far, far away, "Terrell
Miller" made the phosphor on my monitor glow
in such a way as to indicate that:

You do realize that in his entire term as Governor of Texas, Dubya never
even set foot on JSC soil, yes?

Why would a governor go to a federal facility?

Ask Arnold.

On Sun, 25 Jan 2004 19:45:09 -0800, in a place far, far away, "Chosp"
made the phosphor on my monitor glow in such a way as
to indicate that:

You do realize that in his entire term as Governor of Texas, Dubya never
even set foot on JSC soil, yes?

Why would a governor go to a federal facility?

Ask Arnold.

I'm not in a position to do that.

Rand Simberg wrote:
On Sat, 10 Jan 2004 12:59:02 -0500, in a place far, far away, "Terrell
Miller" made the phosphor on my monitor glow
in such a way as to indicate that:

You do realize that in his entire term as Governor of Texas, Dubya never
even set foot on JSC soil, yes?

Why would a governor go to a federal facility?

Same reason he might visit other prominent large employers in his state?

--
Sander

+++ Out of cheese error +++

On Mon, 26 Jan 2004 13:25:26 +0000 (UTC), in a place far, far away,
Sander Vesik made the phosphor on my
monitor glow in such a way as to indicate that:

You do realize that in his entire term as Governor of Texas, Dubya never
even set foot on JSC soil, yes?

Why would a governor go to a federal facility?

Same reason he might visit other prominent large employers in his state?

Which would be what?

h (Rand Simberg) wrote in
:

You do realize that in his entire term as Governor of Texas, Dubya
never even set foot on JSC soil, yes?

Why would a governor go to a federal facility?

Ask Arnold.

I'm not in a position to do that.

Try standing up.

--
Greetings. I bring napalm.

Coridon Henshaw ) wrote in message ...
h (Rand Simberg) wrote in
:

You do realize that in his entire term as Governor of Texas, Dubya
never even set foot on JSC soil, yes?

Why would a governor go to a federal facility?

Ask Arnold.

I'm not in a position to do that.

Try standing up.

This woldbe verybad idea f him, as "Rand Simberg" is a well-known
perpetrator of hoaxes, see:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/satire/quagmire.asp
http://www.snopes.com/politics/satire/split.asp

It think, this urban legends stuff would be too revealing, even for
the Fox News propaganda network.

Karl M. Syring