Bush wants to return to the moon?

[ringmastery]

This is the headline story on Drudge.

http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/powell200312030858.asp

When President Bush delivers a speech recognizing the centenary of heavier-than-air-powered flight December 17, it is expected that he will proffer a bold vision of renewed space flight, with at its center a return to the moon, perhaps even establishment of a permanent presence there. If he does, it will mean that he has decided the United States should once again become a space-faring nation. For more than 30 years America's manned space program has limited itself to low Earth orbit; indeed, everyone under the age of 31 — more than 125 million Americans — was born since an American last set foot on the moon.

[demnan]

1. Good - let's send him up there

[joycep]

19. You took the words right out of my mouth!

Let's start countdown-10, 9, 8----

[grannylib]

21. Exactly! Didn't know he'd been, but yeah, send him back and leave him

there...Cheney and Rummy and Condi and the folks at FAUX and the whole damn lot of liars...

[MoonRiver]

37. Do you really want to do that to the moon?

It's so unpolluted and virginal now. We'd be sending it a bunch of oil obsessed maniacal world dictator wannabes, hell bent on raping and pillaging every ounce of pristine land in their path. No, no, not the moon!! :cry:

[Zan_of_Texas]

72. Great idea.

Let him pretend he is president of all the moon people. Maybe he can't mess that whole planet up in 24+ months.

[Cleita]

39. Yeah, he can wear that little flight suit he likes so much.

[boneygrey]

55. Get real

Let's have a real debate about going back to the moon.

[CMT]

2. why doesn't he resign

and join NASA and become an astronaut. Maybe he can live on the moon.

[AntiCoup2K4]

30. Does NASA still send chimps into space?

I thought they ended that in the mid 60's?

[kysrsoze]

57. Da-dum-CHING! Touche!

That was awesome.

[BigMcLargehuge]

83. ROFLOL!!!!!!!

believe me, they don't want him there either.

[Nederland]

3. Fine

So long as he stays there.

[BayCityProgressive]

6. I am all for space exploration but..

this is purely political..possibly for his re-election. Shouldn't we fix the problems down here first?

[JHB]

20. It's not so much an either/or question, both can be done...

...but not by Bush, since he's going to underfund both, except for the part about handing out fat contracts to his pals.

[Gulf Coast J]

25. It's not like we are going to ship a rocket full of $$$ into space

Unless we decide to oursource production to Maritans who don't practice free trade, we will be spending the money down here.

And if space is a waste, I'd rather we waste money going to the moon than waste money funding a floating high school science fair exhibit.

[coloradodem2005]

32. He is not going to renew the space program and go to the Moon.

I would like to see more real space missions and advancement in technology to do so. However, this is just like him talking about alternative fuels. Not going to happen while those like him are in power.

[Fescue4u]

52. yes yes and no

We'll never solve all our problems "down here". In fact some of our solutions to problems down here may very well be found up there.

But yes, his reasons are political and for re-election.

[pmbryant]

Show me the money

More meaningless drivel from Bush unless there is hard cash to back it up. True to form, there won't be, because the country can no longer afford it, thanks to the GOPork party.

:eyes:

--Peter

[Don_G]

4. And Pay For It

How?

[boneygrey]

46. How to pay?

Scuttle the shuttle. At 500 million a launch, getting rid of the shuttle could pay for it.

[Mistress Quickly]

5. On the newest Star Trek show

Enterprise, don't they launch from the moon to Jupiter, then out of our galaxy?

[janx]

7. Dean has made noises about manned trips to Mars recently.

Chimpy never says or does anything that is not politically motivated.

[politicat]

23. And China's getting busy in space. It's a Whole New Space Race!!!

NT

[kysrsoze]

58. Yeah, an arms race. The only thing we hear about lately is spy satellites

[tom_paine]

8. Well, if it's true that the Emperor is going to say this

then it is an empty and hollow lie.

Perhaps a half-truth, as I have no doubt he and his minions wish to miliatrize near-Earth orbit.

But that is the best we could hope for. Totalitarians do NOT do research for reasearch's sake.

What a grotesque lying spectacle this ought to be (if true).

[tabasco]

9. Maybe McDonnel-Douglas has a weapon they want to send up.

More corporate welfare and militarism is the only reason these criminals would support the space program.

[CityZen-X]

10. Is He Still Looking For...........

The Weapons of Mass Destruction?

[poskonig]

13. LOL!

Though I really don't mind if the Republicans decide to support things like science and the space program.

[frylock]

11. did i just see airforce 1?

(long pause)... sputnik.

[Cocoa]

12. when the shuttle crashed

it came out that Bush had never vitied NASA, even though he lived in Houston for years.

[PaDUer]

ya, so he can

go there after the rest of the people are nuked!

[Brotherjohn]

14. Another photo-op, PR stunt. Trying to appear "Kennedy-esque". But, um...

... how are we going to PAY for it? It's easy to set lofty, exciting-sounding goals that you won't even be around to finish. But just where will the money come from? You know, since your budgets have brought us record deficits with no end in sight, and all.

Maybe someone told him he was creating a national debt of "astronomical" proportions, and he thought this is what they meant.

[Classical_Liberal]

48. We could take it out the bunker buster nuke program

cut all the corporate welfare to big oil.

[Robroy]

15. Hmmm..

So that's where he's from.

[Doctor Panacea]

Sending Bush to the moon

Monkeys and dogs have been sent up ... but I am not sure about a chimpanzee.

[Buns_of_Fire]

27. Boosh can't even claim that distinction

Space-chimp "Ham" (no relation to Ham Solo) went up in 1961...
http://www.cnn.com/TECH/space/9808/07/research.chimps/

[phaseolus]

16. From anyone else...

...I'd say this would be an extremely cool thing. We're humans. Exploring, it's what we do.

Yet knowing him, knowing of his penchant for hiring people from the Reagan-era (remember the 'militarizing space' ideas from back then,) and knowing how the neocons like to consider every non-American a mortal enemy, I don't trust what *this* guy might start.

On the other hand some militarization may end up being inevitable, especially if China makes bold successful moves in that direction *and* turns into more of an overt, belligerent enemy. But I still don't trust the American Empire/Preemptive First Strike bunch in charge of space.

That being said I haven't heard anything particularly bad about Bush's appointment of Sean O'Keefe as NASA administrator. Seems able & not corrupt... kind of a novelty for a Bush appointment.

[stevedeshazer]

17. The militarization of space

A lot of contractors will want a piece of the action. Just wait and see, it will be some Rambo meets Star Wars kind of deal. All about profits...hand out huge government contracts to favored campaign contributors, then claim you are a conservative.

"Lucky me...I hit the Trifecta"

[lebkuchen]

18. He lives there on a 24 hour basis

Why bother?

[salinen]

22. Hey Karl,

What backdrop should we use this time? I dunno? Hey, we can use this one over here and just put the word "Moon" at the beginning. Great idea Newt. "Moon Mission Accomplished"

[damnraddem]

24. Hey, I'm all for it!

No need to establish a new program. NASA has one of its moon rockets on display in Houston. NASA could just refurbish it and blast Dubya up to the moon.

[Gin]

26. I'll contribute is he gets a one way ticket.

gin

[salinen]

28. What did the moon

do that was so bad to deserve * ?

[mb7588a]

29. Bushington - America's Lunar Capital...

Ugh. Worse than Ronald Reagan National Airport.

[Catherine Vincent]

31. That would be the mother of all photo ops!

LOL!

[librechik]

33. He's just lonesome

nobody every visits him on Wacky World

[Blue_Chill]

34. Starbucks immediately declares plans for lunar stores

Resistance is futile.....

[LittleDannySlowhorse]

35. I'm glad to see Bush has his priorities straight

I have always felt that the space program was probably one of the biggest wastes of money, time, resources, and so forth, that our fine government was ever involved in. Leave it to Bush to decide we're not hemmoraging enough money, and to decide that this is the way to waste even more.

Since this would be about as relevant to contemporary concerns as a pre-emptive war against an arbitrary country that never attacked us, I guess it's consistent with what the Bushies have been up to. Maybe he think Osama is hiding there?

[Beaker]

40. The space program was not a waste-

we gained A LOT of new technology from developments by the space program.
However- I'd prefer to see more extensive ocean research here on Earth before any manned missions to mars.

[boneygrey]

45. I agree

Yes on ocean exploration. And Mars, I think regaining the moon experience would help get us to Mars

[LittleDannySlowhorse]

68. With all due respect

I must disagree with you two. The money being spent on the space program could be put to much better use here on earth, dealing with hunger, poverty, education, etc. Just my two cents.

[Richardo]

36. The policy whack-a-mole game continues...

I have never seen such a scattershot of completely de-linked initiatives...

[boneygrey]

59. What

the hell do you mean?

[9215]

38. I never knew he left the "Moon"

The Reverend has been a family friend for decades.

[hatrack]

41. Gee, that's just a DANDY idea!

Considering that no manned flight has left low earth orbit since 1972;

and considering that we don't even have surviving blueprints for the old Saturn V gantry systems (which were thrown out in a routine NASA housecleaning some decades back);

and considering that (all of NASA's nifty models and prototype models notwithstanding) we have no spacecraft capable of leabing low earth orbit even on the drawing board, I'd say this is one more case of Chimpy blowing smoke out of his ass, trying to look "bold" and "visionary" while talking 24-karat bullshit.

[Kitsune]

42. "By placing this device, which I call a 'la-ser,' on the Moon...

...we can turn the Moon into a 'Death Star.' This 'la-ser' was developed by the noted physicist Dr. Alan Parsons, therefore we shall call this.... The Alan Parsons Project!"

[hatrack]

43. "Scott?"

"Would you like a hot-pocket?"

"Come and listen to a story 'bout a man named SHHHH!"

"I have a whole bag of SHHHHH! here."

[ramapo]

44. Just talk...

Like his father's short-lived plan for a mission to Mars. I'm all for either but something tells me Bush isn't motivated by the thrill of exploration and adventure.

[Scott Lee]

47. I'm sending 50 bucks to help get him there.

[Jacobin]

49. A True Reactionary in every sense of the word

NASA knows the next missions should be Europa (moon of Jupiter) or Mars.

We've been to the moon a few times and found it to be a barren rock of some limited geological interest.

Dingbat.

[tinrobot]

50. If it's anything like Iraq....

Knowing Bush, he'd send 10,000 of our top Marines to the moon...

Only after they've landed would he start working on the plan to bring them back.

[blondeatlast]

61. 'Zactly! Welcome to DU, btw.

:toast:

[Fescue4u]

51. Irrespective of Bush

We should be going to the moon.

Scatch that, we should be there already.

Its a horrible shame that Kennedys greatest legacy has been allowed to rot away. At this point most of the technology and know how to get to the moon has been lost, as will have to be relearned and re-invented.

[boneygrey]

54. I agree

Do you realize we went to the moon on 64k? Hell, I had a Commodore 64 computer a long time ago. Imagine what we could do now.

[absyntheNsugar]

53. finally something i agree with Chimpy on

I always thought space exploration is a noble goal...tho i think right now we should study robotic space missions rather than manned. The manned ones cost too much.

[camero]

56. Oh great, the space-military-industrial complex

What's he gonna do next? Put the "Alan Parson's Project" on the moon when he gets there?

[boneygrey]

73. Well

I guess you got your tinfoil hat out of the shop.:tinfoilhat:

[blondeatlast]

60. Sure, it's on the soundstage

behind the Iraq visit stage.

JOKE! I made a joke!

[IndianaGreen]

62. China is planning a Moon mission

China's space program will culminate with a Moon landing next decade. I wonder if the neocons are worried that the Chinese will take control of the Moon while we are still farting around with the obsolete space shuttle.

[Ksec]

63. too bad its just to change the subject

obviously this is an attempt to draw attention from his countless blunders. I think space exploration is a great thing but when someone like this beast starts talking about it I smell a rat. Maybe its a way of getting money to the Halliburtons when he runs low on military targets. Its awful that I dont trust this guy as far as I can spit but hes lied so many times I doubt if I can ever trust him or his motives. Space, the final frontier, but not on Bush's watch. He would abuse it somehow, no doubt

[camero]

65. Just assume he is taking SDI farther

And you could come up with a plan to launch nukes from the moon. Not as far fetched as it sounds if the technology is better.

Edit: or to mine it.

[TheZoo]

64. Just to get back on the actual topic...

I think it would be cool to go back to the moon. I saw all the Apollo missions from 1969 until 1972, and always wished we'd go back to the moon.

[boneygrey]

66. Oh Yeah

I remember Apollo 17. I was 8. My parents wanted to go visit some damn gardens. I made them wait until the launch was complete.

[mmonk]

67. Bush wants to go to the moon?

I say let him go.

[boneygrey]

69. Address the topic

It's easy to say let Bush go. The real question is should we go?

[mmonk]

84. Yes

it will further our advancement and may give us further insight on space exploration and the origins of the universe and answers concerning its expansion and/or contraction and how we can possibly use the info for our benefit.

[Fleshdancer]

70. are we 100% sure that...

...bush is even aware that we've been to the moon before?? Can he point to the moon on a map?

[boneygrey]

71. Hey

Knock Knock,

Is there a brain in there? Is a new Moon mission something we should be doing? We are not going to beat Bush by being all negative. We must set a positive agenda. I proposed a serious question and the only answer was to send the chimp to the Moon. Get a clue. The economy is off the table. We need something positive.

[Ksec]

74. WTF died and made you moderator?

79 posts and youre telling us what we should write. You should read more and talk less

[boneygrey]

76. Quality over quantity

I don't post just for the sake of increasing posts. I spend a lot of time just reading and learning. Something you should consider you arrogant......

[camero]

81. You should practice it

and not just preach.

[boneygrey]

82. I do

[GreenPartyVoter]

75. Guess

he doesn't like the idea of the Chinese having access to it.

You watch, we'll have a base and "space Marines" up there before you know it. *shaking head*

[Renew Deal]

77. This is a full front page on the NY Post

Something about a visionary plan. I almost gagged t 7am.

[LeahMira]

78. Please... no!!!

When President Bush delivers a speech recognizing the centenary of heavier-than-air-powered flight December 17...


Please don't tell me that he is going to spoil that event with his presence or his commentary like he does with everything else. This member of the Wright family may be inspired to come down there and let fly something a little different in the direction of his stupid face. Good lord. Can't he keep his chimpy self out of anything?

[JHB]

79. Arguments about space program are moot; remember, this is * talking here..

...Given his track record, if he announces a new moon program, the one thing NASA can count on is budget cuts. Every program he touts he turns around and hands out bloated contracts to a chosen few while underfunding the effort as a whole, dooming it to eventual failure.

This will be no different under his (so-called) watch.

[Capt_Nemo]

80. Moon mission has almost no military significance

The only military spin-off from a manned Moon flights is
having a production line open for a Very Heavy Expendable Booster.

Now reality check for stressed out DUers:

- There is no absolutely no advantage to station any weapon
or surveilance system at the distance of the moon orbit, on the contrary there are many disadvantages:
1. You're only able the observe targets during cycles of
12 Hours. Beam weapons can only be targgeted during
those periods. Projectiles would take days to arrive
here and by that time things could have changed
DRASTICALY, if you know what I mean...
2. Fuel expenditure required to build/maintain/operate
is unbelievably high.
3. By the time such a thing would be completed most likely
the US is not a superpower anymore.

- The only resource that I know about that could be explored in the
moon is Helium 3 for He3 - Hidrogen fusion.
By the time a mining project is achieved we'll be very happy
already using Tritium-Deuterium or Deuterium-Deuterium reactors,
thank you!

- May I remind you that
currently the US has no reliable crew transport system to get
people to Low Earth Orbit. You will need one operating before
you even think about going to the moon. that (having an operational
vehicle) won't happen before 2008-2010 in the best scenario.

So why do they come up now with this BS
This is purely for internal consumption. Their motives are the
Following:
- China's manned program success.
- Make believe that the US #1 position in this field as in many
others is still not threatened.
- Nationalist ego-boosting.
- Did I mention China's manned program success?

[Plaid Adder]

85. Great. Earth is not enough! We need more!

Quick, get the space program up and running again--we're running out of stuff to colonize!

Blarg,

The Plaid Adder

[Octafish]

86. Crazy monkey heard there's OIL there.

Lookit me, Poppy! I's an oil spaceman!