At the Intersection of Space and Politics
June 3, 2008 by Gee Carol · 7 Comments
Monday the space shuttle Discovery docked at the International Space Station to complete the very challenging STS-124 mission. Crew members will attach the Japanese science module, “Kibo” (meaning hope) to the ISS. The NASA space program is an area of continuing interest with me, as my Making Good Mondays blog readers know. Today’s post explores what politics and the space program have in common. The first item is that U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona is newly married to Mission Commander Mark Kelly. The space program competes with my other area of vital interest, the 2008 presidential campaign. What happens in the presidential race will inevitable have deep impact upon the future of the United States in space. NASA, like every other agency in the federal government must compete for presidential attention as well as for funds in the budget. Space Politics — Watching three representatives of the current Presidential candidates talk about space policy a few days ago was deeply dissatisfying to me. The 27th Annual International Space Development Conference, “The New Pace of Space,” was held in Washington, D.C., May 29 - June 1, 2008. Friday afternoon the featured event, “Election 2008 Space Panel.” To quote from the Space Politics story: Read more
one of those days
January 22, 2008 by Betmo · Leave a Comment
so- i made the mistake of tooling around the news and blogs- and good lord! if there’s good news out there, please, give me a link or two. or more if you have them. as dusty would say- ’sweet jesus in a speedo!’ i think the question on everyone’s mind- including at least the sentient of the presidential hopefuls- is- how the hell are we going to get through the next year? will there even be a planet by the end of this year? is another good question. we have a tanking world economy; war crimes up the ying yang, and both poles are melting faster than you can say- global warming. so what pray tell iare the msm and candidates focusing on? how churchy the candidates are. yes. i took a deeeeeep breath. and i took a nice warm shower. and here i am. ok- here it is folks- the entire world is looking at us like we have lost our damned minds. the rest of the world DOES NOT CARE which church these yahoos speak at or if they hear voices- i mean god- speaking to them. frankly- i could care less too, but all of the candidates but kucinich are sidling up in the pews looking all pious and like they really go to church every single sunday- and wednesdays too for good measure (baptist church i used to go to had 3 services weekly).
here’s what i don’t understand- and please- help me if you can (and i don’t mean this rhetorically because i genuinely don’t get it)- i don’t understand how folks can believe wholeheartedly that creationism should be taught as fact and that there is genuinely a divine being somewhere up in the firmament looking down on us but these same folks will not believe that our man made, man designed government is infallible. these same folks who believe that a nice but somewhat radical man was killed and then rose from the dead in 3 days will not believe hard evidence coming out that our government was involved in the attacks of 9/11. belief that lepers were healed and lame folks walked and dead folks brought to life- but will not believe…. you get the point. why are we still having a discussion about religion in the 21st century and why are so many people interested in the candidate’s religion? i mean especially since this last go round with the georgie and pickles show has been nothing but a god damned disaster.
Sphere: Related Contentpeople aren’t ready for change
January 7, 2008 by Betmo · 5 Comments
i was accused of being in a state of “narrow minded negativity” recently because apparently, i refuse to see change.
it’s only partially true. i do see change- and i do appreciate it but i am one who doesn’t shy away from raising the bar higher. i am someone who believes adults should act like adults and not overgrown adolescents- so, i guess i do tend to come out more on the pessimistic side of life.
i continue to be amazed by the number of people who would love to vote for dennis kucinich- but he has no chance of winning the nomination. thankfully though- he is part of the process and is necessary to ‘further the conversation’ for the more viable candidates (snark). divajood gave us all a snicker with her onion video recently, but i think we probably were chuckling more because it’s really true. love that satire.
we love to talk about change- and i have a feeling that’s why obama is doing so well- that’s his platform- his message. change. i don’t doubt his heart is in the right place and i don’t doubt he will try if elected.
there are those who see hard work as more important than the showier rhetoric- and i fall into that category- but i would also throw in integrity- and i have a feeling mrs. clinton is a wee lacking there. she assured us new yorkers she was running for re-election to be there as our senator. well, see where that got us.
how many interviews and how much proof do we need that kucinich would be someone who could start the process of leading us out of this nightmare? he believes in separation of church and state- he most definitely believes in restoring the constitution- he believes in ending the middle east invasion- if you don’t believe me- check out his own words. just google the man. he has a beautiful, compassionate, brilliant wife sans botox injections- and he puts his money where his mouth is.
yes, iowa is over and new hampshire is looming, but don’t let that sway your decision- take a look at the issues. take a look at the candidate’s stands- they all have websites- it only takes a moment. don’t buy what the pundits and corporate owned msm is telling you. take a hard look at the issues that are important to you- and where the candidates stand. then vote.
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