Which Candidates are best for science/space exploration?
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Re: Which Candidates are best for science/space exploration
Well, judging by Ron Paul's extreme "fiscal conservativeness" I doubt he'd be one.
As a Republican myself, I can't even support Ron Paul's loony libertarianism. To combine the most extreme elements of conservatism on fiscal issues, and then take the most extreme elements of liberals on international issues is just too crazy for the average person to support, IMO.
As for which candidate would support NASA and science the most? I honestly don't know... especially after these farsicle YouTube dabtes. Why don't we get important questions like these at these debates rather than the stupid questions like "Do you believe every word in this book"?
Well, judging by Ron Paul's extreme "fiscal conservativeness" I doubt he'd be one.
As a Republican myself, I can't even support Ron Paul's loony libertarianism. To combine the most extreme elements of conservatism on fiscal issues, and then take the most extreme elements of liberals on international issues is just too crazy for the average person to support, IMO.
As for which candidate would support NASA and science the most? I honestly don't know... especially after these farsicle YouTube dabtes. Why don't we get important questions like these at these debates rather than the stupid questions like "Do you believe every word in this book"?
Re: Which Candidates are best for science/space exploration
Johnny, that includes insulting anyone who doesn't agree with your political beliefs. You know that won't wash here. Please don't do it again.
I know it's difficult to approach something like this from the standpoint this forum's used to exhibiting, but can we please try?
Johnny, that includes insulting anyone who doesn't agree with your political beliefs. You know that won't wash here. Please don't do it again.
I know it's difficult to approach something like this from the standpoint this forum's used to exhibiting, but can we please try?
Re: Which Candidates are best for science/space exploration
Who am I insulting? Ron Paul supporters? All five of them?
I've got the perfect ticket...Ron Paul/Dennis Kucinich. They're both peas in the pod.
However, my point is that we truely don't know who'd be the best for science and space exploration out of the primary candidates, because the question really hasn't been asked. And the fact that there's really too many candidates running on both sides. These debates where candidates only get 60 and 30 second answer times is not doing our political process any good.
We really need a Amendment limiting the number of candidates during the primary season. Especially in this day and media age. I'd say five on each side. Having 10+ candidates on each side doesn't give enough time for each candidate in a 90 minute debate to thoroughly answer the important questions when they do come.
Who am I insulting? Ron Paul supporters? All five of them?
I've got the perfect ticket...Ron Paul/Dennis Kucinich. They're both peas in the pod.
However, my point is that we truely don't know who'd be the best for science and space exploration out of the primary candidates, because the question really hasn't been asked. And the fact that there's really too many candidates running on both sides. These debates where candidates only get 60 and 30 second answer times is not doing our political process any good.
We really need a Amendment limiting the number of candidates during the primary season. Especially in this day and media age. I'd say five on each side. Having 10+ candidates on each side doesn't give enough time for each candidate in a 90 minute debate to thoroughly answer the important questions when they do come.
Re: Which Candidates are best for science/space exploration
Actually, the question was asked of a couple of candidates during the Rep Youtube debates the other night, and one made a joke about it, and Tom Tancredo pretty much said it was a waste of $$$.
See Squiggy's post.
But the Dems aren't much better, sadly. (Since I am a Dem, but also pro-space.)
Actually, the question was asked of a couple of candidates during the Rep Youtube debates the other night, and one made a joke about it, and Tom Tancredo pretty much said it was a waste of $$$.
See Squiggy's post.
But the Dems aren't much better, sadly. (Since I am a Dem, but also pro-space.)
Re: Which Candidates are best for science/space exploration
Let's see "loony libertarianism"? "To combine the most extreme elements of conservatism on fiscal issues, and then take the most extreme elements of liberals on international issues is just too crazy for the average person to support, IMO." While it may be your opinion, and you're certainly entitled to it, stating things in such a manner is more than a little pejorative, no?
Let's keep that out of here, please. It's not discussing political science, it's political mudslinging. This isn't the place for that.
Johnny, please keep it relevant. The structure of the debates and number of candidates is not a subject for this discussion. Where the candidates that we have stand on the issues of science and space exploration is. We live in the information age. It's not as though there aren't places on the 'Net to look this information up, and the people for whom this issue is truly meaningful will likely know about that route, and not need it handed out in a debate.
Johnny Rico said:
Who am I insulting? Ron Paul supporters? All five of them?
Let's see "loony libertarianism"? "To combine the most extreme elements of conservatism on fiscal issues, and then take the most extreme elements of liberals on international issues is just too crazy for the average person to support, IMO." While it may be your opinion, and you're certainly entitled to it, stating things in such a manner is more than a little pejorative, no?
Let's keep that out of here, please. It's not discussing political science, it's political mudslinging. This isn't the place for that.
Johnny, please keep it relevant. The structure of the debates and number of candidates is not a subject for this discussion. Where the candidates that we have stand on the issues of science and space exploration is. We live in the information age. It's not as though there aren't places on the 'Net to look this information up, and the people for whom this issue is truly meaningful will likely know about that route, and not need it handed out in a debate.
Re: Which Candidates are best for science/space exploration
A position that always amazes me whenever I hear it espoused, because it shows a staggering ignorance of exactly how little money NASA gets. This page is a bit out of date, but it compares NASA's budget eight years ago to that of other federal organizations. Given the way NASA's been going, I'm sure their budget is even more insultingly low now.
A position that always amazes me whenever I hear it espoused, because it shows a staggering ignorance of exactly how little money NASA gets. This page is a bit out of date, but it compares NASA's budget eight years ago to that of other federal organizations. Given the way NASA's been going, I'm sure their budget is even more insultingly low now.
Re: Which Candidates are best for science/space exploration
More up to date here.
For FY 2008, NASA is going to get 17.31 Billion.
More up to date here.
For FY 2008, NASA is going to get 17.31 Billion.
Re: Which Candidates are best for science/space exploration
Yes - but the politicians love to act like they are 'giving' us money (rather than taking it...).
The only way to fix these types of problems is to ween Americans from the welfare mentality and education is the starting point. Since the education system is also controlled (for the most part) by - wait for it - politicians, that's not likely to change...
Yes - but the politicians love to act like they are 'giving' us money (rather than taking it...).
The only way to fix these types of problems is to ween Americans from the welfare mentality and education is the starting point. Since the education system is also controlled (for the most part) by - wait for it - politicians, that's not likely to change...
Re: Which Candidates are best for science/space exploration
Don't know what that is when it comes to the percentage of GDP is, but the last I heard NASA only gets 0.7% of the annual GDP. Got this from the latest Michael Griffin testimony at a Congressional hearing with Kae Balley Hutchinson and Ben Nelson.
Don't know what that is when it comes to the percentage of GDP is, but the last I heard NASA only gets 0.7% of the annual GDP. Got this from the latest Michael Griffin testimony at a Congressional hearing with Kae Balley Hutchinson and Ben Nelson.
It's rare for a presidential candidate of either party to make a public stand on space exploration, but in recent weeks, four candidates have made statements relating to this issue.
Gov. Mike Huckabee seems supportive of space exploration. At Thursday's debate, he said "I would certainly want to make sure that we expand the space program, because every one of us... have had our lives dramatically improved because there was a space program." He discussed lives saved by medical advances from space-related technology, as well as the benefits of GPS navigation and computers. He also offered to send Hillary on the first rocket to Mars.
http://www.nasawatch.com/archives/2007/11/todays_video_sp_2.html#more
http://coloradoforhuckabee.blogspot.com/
Congressman Tom Tancredo was less supportive, merely indicating that he didn't think we could afford to spend more money on space exploration, especially the long-term goal of going to Mars.
Senator Hillary Clinton said she is committed to support a "robust" program of human and robotic exploration, earth sciences, and aeronautics. In particular, she indicated that she would push to "speed [up] development... of next-generation launch and crew exploration vehicles to replace the aging space shuttle."
http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=23713
Senator Barack Obama has proposed an education initiative that would be funded, in part, by big cuts to NASA that would delay Constellation (including American access to the International Space Station and the return to the moon) by five years. (It is disappointing that he does not seem to understand that both education AND the space program are vital investments in the future.)
http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/11/26/481595.aspx
Gov. Mike Huckabee seems supportive of space exploration. At Thursday's debate, he said "I would certainly want to make sure that we expand the space program, because every one of us... have had our lives dramatically improved because there was a space program." He discussed lives saved by medical advances from space-related technology, as well as the benefits of GPS navigation and computers. He also offered to send Hillary on the first rocket to Mars.
http://www.nasawatch.com/archives/2007/11/todays_video_sp_2.html#more
http://coloradoforhuckabee.blogspot.com/
Congressman Tom Tancredo was less supportive, merely indicating that he didn't think we could afford to spend more money on space exploration, especially the long-term goal of going to Mars.
Senator Hillary Clinton said she is committed to support a "robust" program of human and robotic exploration, earth sciences, and aeronautics. In particular, she indicated that she would push to "speed [up] development... of next-generation launch and crew exploration vehicles to replace the aging space shuttle."
http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=23713
Senator Barack Obama has proposed an education initiative that would be funded, in part, by big cuts to NASA that would delay Constellation (including American access to the International Space Station and the return to the moon) by five years. (It is disappointing that he does not seem to understand that both education AND the space program are vital investments in the future.)
http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/11/26/481595.aspx
David Handlin has written an interesting article on presidential candidates and space exploration.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1020/1
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1020/1
Ron Paul would slash the Nasa budget, for sure.
Obama has said so, and is part of a contigent of people that say all that money should go for more social programs; people like Kucinich.
So, when you analyze it, NASA is supported by moderates and conservatives, but not libatarians (Ron Paul) or liberals (Kucinich/Obama)
There is always the military connection; so anyone who supports strong defense would also support space exploration in some facet.
Re: Which Candidates are best for science/space exploration
As a liberal/progressive myself, I have to concur with the statement(s) that it's the conservatives & moderates that tend to be more pro-gov funded space exploration.
A fact (and a shortsightedness) that has always disappointed me deeply about my "side".
Maybe if China really makes it to the Moon with people, we'll get more serious.
Otherwise, our hopes lie with private industry like Virgin Galactic.
As a liberal/progressive myself, I have to concur with the statement(s) that it's the conservatives & moderates that tend to be more pro-gov funded space exploration.
A fact (and a shortsightedness) that has always disappointed me deeply about my "side".
Maybe if China really makes it to the Moon with people, we'll get more serious.
Otherwise, our hopes lie with private industry like Virgin Galactic.
Re: Which Candidates are best for science/space exploration
As one of the supposed 5 supporters of Ron Paul I admit it's true that he's not big on NASA. Then again there hasn't been alot of value for money in that organization for quite a while so its not like we would be losing something all that productive.
On the other hand Ron Paul is the least likely of them all to try to weaponize space and place restrictions on civilian efforts to get to space.
As one of the supposed 5 supporters of Ron Paul I admit it's true that he's not big on NASA. Then again there hasn't been alot of value for money in that organization for quite a while so its not like we would be losing something all that productive.
On the other hand Ron Paul is the least likely of them all to try to weaponize space and place restrictions on civilian efforts to get to space.
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