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Author
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Topic: Presidential '08 candidates' space policies
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-01-2008 11:14 AM
   
Jeff Foust published a similar round-up for The Space Review: Where the candidates stand on space As a guide to prospective voters simply interested in the topic, The Space Review has researched what positions, if any, Democratic and Republican presidential candidates have taken on space policy issues... Space is highly unlikely to be a campaign issue of any significance again in 2008, but for those interested in the topic, there are a few insights to be found about what the candidates think. |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 01-07-2008 04:54 PM
From this story:"Obama challenged Clinton's claim in a weekend debate that he was raising 'false hopes' about what he could deliver for the country. Obama told his audience that hope made President Kennedy aim to put a man on the moon and Martin Luther King to imagine the end of segregation. 'If anything crystalized what this campaign is about, it was that right there," Obama said of Clinton's comment in the debate. 'Some are thinking in terms of our constraints, and some are thinking about our limitless possibilities.' " |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 01-21-2008 12:37 PM
A little tangental, but in this weekend's New York Times Magazine, in an interview with Barack Obama's sister about their upbringing:"My mother... loved the natural world. She would wake us up in the middle of the night to go look at the moon." |
KSCartist
Member Posts: 2896
From: Titusville, FL USA
Registered: Feb 2005
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posted 01-22-2008 03:52 PM
This quote was in today's issue of the Florida Today, in response to learning that unless there is increased funding for NASA, there would be a five-year gap in US manned launches:Romney wondered aloud why the spaceflight gap seemed to have crept up on the U.S. "I would have guessed that would have been something we would have anticipated," Romney said. It just goes to show that across the US the space program is not on everyones radar, especially politicians who don't have a NASA Center in their district. Tim |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-23-2008 10:59 AM
Atlanta Journal Constitution:
Space becomes primary frontier as candidates court voters in Fla. For the first time in decades, space policy is emerging as a presidential campaign issue and, political strategists say, could become a decisive factor in the race to the White House. And Florida Today: Candidates vague on space plan Weeks into a crunched primary calendar, the top candidates in both parties are mostly mum on President Bush's plan to send astronauts to the moon and later Mars. Those who are addressing the issue are not being very specific. |
Glint
Member Posts: 1040
From: New Windsor, Maryland USA
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 01-23-2008 12:48 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
For the first time in decades, space policy is emerging as a presidential campaign issue...
Well, at least for the first time since the last election four years ago. And as we've seen, others' efforts haven't always met with success.  |
Fra Mauro
Member Posts: 1586
From: Bethpage, N.Y.
Registered: Jul 2002
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posted 01-25-2008 09:08 AM
Regarding the debates: It would have been nice, esp. in the state of Florida, if any of the Republican candidates had been asked a question about the space program. Maybe I am expecting too much! |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3118
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 01-25-2008 01:45 PM
Let's cut to the chase: there's a long way to go and things can happen, but it's looking like January 2009 will see another President Clinton. What will President Hillary Clinton do for (or to) the U.S. space programme? What will she say if she invites Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins to the White House for dinner in July, 2009? Will she ignore the 40th anniversary, or might it encouage her to do something positive for NASA? Will the 40th anniversary be helpful to NASA's current plans? |
Glint
Member Posts: 1040
From: New Windsor, Maryland USA
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 01-25-2008 01:51 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Fra Mauro:
Maybe I am expecting too much!
My experience is that you shouldn't expect too much from MSNBC. It would have been more interesting, at least to us, if Tim Russert, Brian Williams, and company would have focused questions beyond the theme du jour -- i.e. the economy (although I did appreciate the leading candidates' broad support for making permanent the Bush tax cuts). |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-25-2008 03:23 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Blackarrow:
What will President Hillary Clinton do for (or to) the U.S. space programme?
Presently, Sen. Clinton is the only candidate of either party to have a dedicated space policy analyst on her campaign staff, and she has been the only one among the now leading candidates to speak out in favor of continuing the development of Ares and Orion without delay (and in fact, has suggested expediting their availability by bolstering NASA's budget). Will she stay true to those plans should she be elected? No one but she knows, but her actions to date have spoken stronger than some of her competitors' words.And while certainly less important, I believe she is the only candidate to have to witnessed a space shuttle launch and by nature of her former role as First Lady, have had interaction with numerous astronauts and has toured several NASA centers. |
space4u
Member Posts: 323
From: Cleveland, OH USA
Registered: Aug 2006
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posted 01-27-2008 04:21 PM
Check The Huntsville Times for a funny picture in pdf format of the candidates and their positions on space.  |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 01-27-2008 05:07 PM
quote:
Originally posted by space4u:
Check The Huntsville Times
Interesting that McCain gets the DoD mission patch...(Romney appears to be a rookie with no mission at all.) |
John Youskauskas
Member Posts: 126
From:
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 01-27-2008 06:31 PM
McCain also got the USAF patch on his arm. With all the Photoshop done on this spread, you'd think they could have made that a USN. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-28-2008 11:38 AM
McCain has just picked up an endorsement by former NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe. Here is McCain's campaign statement on the U.S. space program. |
Safecoat
Member Posts: 93
From: Austin, TX
Registered: Sep 2007
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posted 01-29-2008 08:20 PM
Politicians can always promise things to get our votes. Since many of these candidates are serving in the U.S. Congress I wonder what their past voting records are in supporting Space Exploration and NASA. |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 01-30-2008 08:43 AM
This story quotes part of Mitt Romney's speech after losing in Florida:"I remember when I was growing up I always knew that America was the greatest nation on Earth," he said. "First nation to the moon, our cars and movies and technology were the envy of the entire world and freedom and opportunity was just like the air. It was everywhere I went. I believed there was nothing I couldn't do and I knew there was nothing that America couldn't do because we led the world…" |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-11-2008 08:26 PM
The Columbus Dispatch: John Glenn to endorse Hillary Clinton Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York will pick up an endorsement Tuesday from a national hero and Ohio icon — John Glenn.The former Ohio senator will endorse Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination during a press conference Tuesday afternoon at the Westin Hotel Downtown. Glenn will be joined by Gov. Ted Strickland, who already has endorsed Clinton. Glenn, 86, served in the U.S. Senate from 1974-98. On Feb. 20, 1962, he became the first American to orbit Earth. On Oct. 29, 1998, Glenn returned to space, at 77, the oldest person to orbit Earth, as a senator joining six astronauts aboard the shuttle Discovery. |
RMH
Member Posts: 577
From: Ohio
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 02-12-2008 06:12 PM
In Newsweek (Feb 11, pg 12) there is a small article about how No Child Left Behind has effected field-trip business. NASA's Johnson Space Center was one of several referenced. Because No Child puts emphasis on testing many teachers seem to be keeping students in the class room instead of taking them to museums. With the discussions on this board about how to get young kids interested in space this might be an issue to think about when the presidential candidates talk about this law. |
LCDR Scott Schneeweis
New Member Posts:
From:
Registered:
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posted 02-13-2008 09:40 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York will pick up an endorsement Tuesday from a national hero and Ohio icon — John Glenn.
Even great American heroes like Glenn are entitled to make a mistake once in a while... |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-13-2008 09:48 AM
quote:
Originally posted by LCDR Scott Schneeweis:
Even great American heroes like Glenn are entitled to make a mistake once in a while...
Fortunately then, he didn't this time (at least if you have any desire to see the U.S. leave Earth orbit any time soon). |
RMH
Member Posts: 577
From: Ohio
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 02-13-2008 09:50 AM
John Glenn will appear with Hillary Clinton at the French Field House (next to St John arena) at Ohio State University in Columbus on Thursday February 14. Doors open at 4:30, the event is at 6. Hillary has other stops in Ohio but I am only aware that Glenn will be at this event. |
John Charles
Member Posts: 339
From: Houston, Texas, USA
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 02-14-2008 01:07 AM
Unable to sleep tonight, and accidently watched Tavis Smiley's show on PBS tonight. Sen. Bill Nelson (D, Florida) said that he discussed his space position with Sen. Obama just before Christmas. Obama reassured him that he was a space supporter, and Nelson asked him to make it a clear campaign position.For what it's worth... ------------------
John Charles
Houston, Texas |
LCDR Scott Schneeweis
New Member Posts:
From:
Registered:
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posted 02-14-2008 06:28 AM
All the social programs and expansion of entitlements/discretionary spending that would occur from implementation of initiatives being proposed by either democratic candidate would result in little to no money available for the space program... its a much more substantial chunk of the fiscal pie then the sub 4 percent of GDP allocated to the Defense budget.------------------
Scott Schneeweis
http://www.SPACEAHOLIC.com/ |
RMH
Member Posts: 577
From: Ohio
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 02-16-2008 03:26 AM
Hillary Clinton, with John Glenn, let it be known at her campaign stop in Columbus that she had an interest at one time to be an astronaut. Admittedly she knew she wasn't qualified. During her speech she mentioned she wrote a letter to NASA, in her young life, asking how to be an astronaut. Her response from NASA was that she wasn't qualified because they were not accepting women in the astronaut corps. She then segued that nicely to how the opportunities for women has increased from the current number of female astronauts to a women running for president, etc. Hillary made the comment that if John Glenn wanted to fly into space a third time that it would be OK with her. Glenn, at this time off stage, yelled back "You better ask Annie first." John Glenn, warmly received by the audience, gave a nice introduction speech and mentioned about Clinton's attempt at applying for an astronaut position. Clinton gave no real specifics on what space exploration would have in her presidency other than to leave the impression that space exploration was intriguing and an admiration for Glenn and his flights. |
cspg
Member Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted 02-16-2008 04:22 AM
quote:
Originally posted by LCDR Scott Schneeweis:
...would result in little to no money available for the space program.
I'm confused. Do you (not specifically you, Scott!) choose your presidential candidate with respect to his/her stand on space-related issues?Chris. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-16-2008 08:04 PM
A reminder to all members, especially as we grow nearer to the election: we invite the discussion of the candidates' space policies and decisions that directly effect NASA and/or other space activities on collectSPACE. We ask however, that other political topics be saved for the many other forums that specialize in those different subjects. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-17-2008 06:09 PM
Houston Chronicle: Clinton, Obama address Houston hot topics On space exploration, the energy industry and the Latino vote, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton dispelled any impression Friday that they are policy twins inside different outer shells.Clinton was more enthusiastic than Obama about human space travel and domestic oil production when the Democratic presidential candidates conducted separate telephone conferences with the Houston Chronicle editorial board. ... "I intend to pursue an ambitious agenda in both space exploration and earth sciences," Clinton said. "I want to support the next generation of spacecraft for a robust human spaceflight program." Obama agreed that NASA, which employs thousands of Houston-area voters who work at or with the Johnson Space Center, should be a tool for inspiring the nation. But, he said, the next president needs to have "a practical sense of what investments deliver the most scientific and technological spinoffs — and not just assume that human space exploration, actually sending bodies into space, is always the best investment." |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 02-20-2008 12:15 AM
A little space quip in this Newsweek story:"For Obama's supporters at a Tuesday night rally in Houston, the Wisconsin victory only added to their enthusiasm. The 20,000-strong crowd in the Toyota arena would barely allow Obama to speak when he emerged on stage. 'Houston,' he said, 'I think we have achieved lift off.' " |
cspg
Member Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted 02-20-2008 10:36 AM
Obama's campaign may have lifted-off but what about the space program?Chris. |
Wehaveliftoff
Member Posts: 2343
From:
Registered: Aug 2001
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posted 03-01-2008 11:19 AM
John Glenn is out in full force supporting Hillary Clinton. He was at the Cleveland debate and after party. Expect more appearances.
Clearly Glenn helped as Hillary won Ohio. Thanks John Glenn... |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 03-02-2008 07:11 PM
From Hillary Clinton's Statement in Support of U.S. Aerospace and Aviation Hillary will double NASA’s and FAA's aeronautics R&D budgets as part of her plan to reverse the Bush administration’s war on science. She will pursue a balanced strategy of robust human spaceflight, expanded robotic spaceflight, and enhanced space and Earth science activities. She will speed development, testing, and deployment of next-generation launch and crew exploration vehicles to replace the aging Space Shuttle program. At the same time, Hillary’s innovation agenda calls for stimulating in-house research and commercial development by making the R&D tax credit permanent. She will also double federal investment in basic research, which is critical for ensuring that America is at the forefront of new ideas. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 03-03-2008 12:13 PM
Houston Chronicle: NASA's popularity rises as vote nears In the countdown to Tuesday's Texas primary, the candidates still in the race are positioning themselves as astronauts' best friends — but what they would actually do for manned space travel once elected remains up in the air.Under President Bush's current plan, the space shuttle will be retired in 2010. The new Orion moonship, developed under what is called the Constellation program, won't be ready until 2015, leaving a gap of five years. And with every candidate coming to Texas and professing devotion to NASA, space-watchers are trying to determine what the candidates actually will do when faced with a reeling economy and a record federal debt. |
KC Stoever
Member Posts: 1012
From: Denver, CO USA
Registered: Oct 2002
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posted 03-04-2008 09:55 AM
This nice writeup ("Obama Talks Sense on NASA") from what looks like a lovely group blog of physicists called Cosmic Variance.It was linked approvingly today on the Atlantic Monthly blog of Andrew Sullivan. |
Glint
Member Posts: 1040
From: New Windsor, Maryland USA
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 03-04-2008 10:56 AM
quote:
Originally posted by KC Stoever:
This nice writeup ("Obama Talks Sense on NASA") from what looks like a lovely group blog of physicists called Cosmic Variance.
KC, Obama believes in "the process of space exploration," thinks "that our program has been stuck for a while" and that "a combination of both unmanned satellites" and "potential manned flights" (potential?!) would be good and "could be part of a broader strategy for science and technology investment," and wants "to do a thorough review" -- whatever that means. In other words all talk and no ideas. It would be nice to really see some specifics and not just this high level fluff. His simply wanting to do something different doesn't sound all that promising. For instance will he support project Orion, would he keep the shuttle fleet running? Maybe he'll just continue talking about what he thinks and not what he actually plans to do other than only a promise to study it later. |
KC Stoever
Member Posts: 1012
From: Denver, CO USA
Registered: Oct 2002
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posted 03-04-2008 12:04 PM
Glint,Thanks for that. This story is rooted in an Obama sitdown with a local Cleveland station (video here) and was pretty wide-ranging from what I can tell, addressing the dustup over the NAFTA story, the future of the Glenn Research Center, and his of course his views on "the process of space exploration." All talk and no ideas? I dunno. One generally expresses ideas by using speech (talk) and the written word. Perhaps you meant "all talk and no action." But I grant you that the interview shows Obama's general ideas only, articulated during a primary campaign. I was impressed with the Cosmic Variance blog, and thought to share their political take on a NASA story. Policy detail is for the General. My bet is that he'll have a nice brain trust for space in place by then. |
jimsz
Member Posts: 616
From:
Registered: Aug 2006
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posted 03-04-2008 02:58 PM
What a candidate of any party says they support and what they actually spend money on if elected are two different topics.If Obama, Clinton or McCain are asked about a non-threatening issue such as NASA/Space Exploration they will of course state they support it as they have nothing to lose by saying so. One of the candidates is my Senator (it does not matter which one) and when they ran for election they "promised" very specifically to bring 200,000 jobs to the region. Not 2,000 or 20,000 but 200,000. They stated all the usual gibberish that goes along with outlandish claims and reiterated 200,000 new jobs. Well, they are now running for President and you know how many jobs they have brought to the region? None. That's 200,000 less than they promised. when asked about it recently they stated that the 200,000 jobs did not happen because the opposing party won a major election 2 years later and they had not planned on that happening. They are politicians and what they state now as a "space policy" means nothing. |
Glint
Member Posts: 1040
From: New Windsor, Maryland USA
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 03-04-2008 04:27 PM
One good thing about the three front running candidates is that they are all U.S. Senators. What that means is that their voting records can lend credibility to their talk.KC, by "all talk and no ideas" I meant that the nearest thing Obama had to an idea, as posted on that link, was that the space program needed to be reviewed. Watching that Cleveland video I had the impression that the research center had been given a new lease on life due to the Bush Administration's Moon-Mars initiative but that Obama wasn't very gung ho for it. Sounds like the reporter tried to pin him down specifically but Obama just kept on talking so the reporter backed off and didn't pursue the subject once Obama had finished filibustering. |
cspg
Member Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted 03-05-2008 12:27 AM
quote:
Originally posted by jimsz:
What a candidate of any party says they support and what they actually spend money on if elected are two different topics.
"I never lied to you, I've always been cool,
I wanna be elected,
I gotta get the vote, and I told you 'bout school,
I wanna be elected, elected, elected" Alice Cooper in title track "Elected" (album: Billion Dollar Babies, 1973).  Chris. P.S. For a more cynical (if that's possible) view and slightly (but only) off-topic: "I twist the truth
I rule the world
my crown is called deceit
I am the emperor of lies
you grovel at my feet
I rob you and I slaughter you
your downfall is my gain
and still you play the sycophant
and rebel in your pain
and all my promises are lies
all my love is hate
I am the politician
and I decide your fate" Motorhead, title track and album, Orgasmatron, 1987 (original recording).
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Aztecdoug
Member Posts: 1405
From: Huntington Beach
Registered: Feb 2000
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posted 03-10-2008 04:42 PM
You know, I think a re-vote for the Democrats in Florida would be interesting from the perspective of Spaceflight.In Ohio the hot topic was NAFTA. Clinton and Obama were getting out of the way on that issue in light of jobs in Ohio. Now think of jobs in Florida related to launching people into space. It just looks like a great opportunity for the Democrats to promise some more money spent on manned space flight. I hope that came off as politically even keeled. I am just trying to be objective here in light of our common interest in space flight. ------------------
Kind Regards Douglas Henry Enjoy yourself and have fun.... it is only a hobby!
http://home.earthlink.net/~aztecdoug/ |
capoetc
Member Posts: 2169
From: McKinney TX (USA)
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 03-11-2008 02:05 AM
Yikes... re-vote has potential for a flame war...------------------
John Capobianco
Camden DE |
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