As one old enough to remember the conventions of the 1960s, one conspicuous absence I noticed

[slackmaster]

Not a word was said about our nation's space program by any speaker in either party.

Maybe that sounds to some like somthing that doesn't deserve much of a priority given the current state of the world. Those of us who are old enough can surely remember the sharp criticism that was given the early moon landings, given the state of the world at that time.

But damn, I miss the optimism about science and technology.

We now return to the insane food fight and tabloid story festival that is GD-P.

[On the Road]

1. As Chuck Pahlaniuk Wrote:

"When did the future go from being a promise to being a threat?"

Answer: Sometime since the space program of the 60s.

[Captain Hilts]

2. Yeah....nt

[Bread and Circus]

3. Our "Apollo Mission" is energy and I was impressed how much the DNC focused on that.

[slackmaster]

6. Yes, energy should be the number one mission but why not both?

We have the resources in this country to take on two major projects and much more.

With national focus, national commitment, and organization I still think there is nothing this country cannot accomplish.

[WA98070]

8. "Energy Independence" the New Frontier, not since Lewis & Clark has exploration been more important.

[GalleryGod]

4. Me too.

Sad,isn't it?

[RichGirl]

5. I listened to a recent interview with Richard Hoagland.

He is a former astronaut who is pushing for disclosure. Meaning, apparently, contact has happened, too much proof to deny it...our governmnt has decided that they can't keep it from us anymore and will tell us in the near future.

I listen to these things for entertainment purposes. But, here's the thing. He claims that McCain, Obama, Bill and Hillary Clinton were briefed on this early this year.

Fact: Originally when asked about NASA Obama said that we shouldn't put money into space exploration because we have so many other problems that require money. He has changed his mind and now will say that we should pursue a space program. Why did he change his mind.

When Bill Maher was on Larry King he was complaining about Obama moving to the center. One of the things he sited was that Obama had been against the space program and now he's for it.

The lack of any mention of any space program at either convention may speak louder than words.

[slackmaster]

7. Referring to Richard C. Hoagland as a "former astronaut" is a symptom of the problem

Hoagland did some legitimate astronomy work once upon a time, and did work for NASA for a while, but he is mainly known for being an author and producer of fringe science books and movies.

[RichGirl]

9. Like I said...

...I listened to these things for entertainment, to get away from the real craziness that is our political system. But, there are always grains of truth that stump me. The fact is that Obama changed his mind. Why?

[slackmaster]

11. The reason he changed his mind, as a Senator, probably concerns military applications of space tech

Senators are privy to a lot of things you and I don't hear about until decades later.

[RichGirl]

12. That could very well be the reason.

[RichGirl]

10. And by the way...

...the disclosure project is made up of many astronauts and military people from all over the world.

Some have said that every astronaut has seen things but the government has strong armed them into keeping quiet. Obviously, I have no way of knowing if this is true and don't believe one way or another. But to believe that the goverment would "strong arm people" is not a huge stretch of the imagination.

[iconicgnom]

13. I miss it too. It's all WAR WAR WAR, now. 100% war. No other ideas.

I'm happy with the Mars Rover program, but imagine what could be done with just a fraction of the money the US spends on weaponry, on war. Instead, I believe even Obama wants to cut back even more on NASA.

I never could understand criticisms of the moon landing. Money spent was a drop in the bucket compared to the money wasted on the cold war "arms race".

I distinctly remember the time Reagan first began talking about weaponizing space with his dreams of "Star Wars" weapons programs -- this was a time when names like "MX Peacekeeper" were being popularized and Orwell-speak was brought explicitly and uncritically into play. I thought at the time that this is so wrong in both a human and spiritual sense, that rather than continuing to support and direct the US inventive spirit toward exploration and peaceful development of tech that'll improve lives and excite the imaginations of the young, the US was building a prison system in space with inward looking weapons and surveillance systems designed exclusively to monitor and control, and intimidate and terrorize and destroy the world's populations. IMO that was what put a clear and final end to the early dreams of the US space program, I mean the populist dreams focused on ever expanding horizons of science and tech and discovery.

[Blue_Tires]

14. k+r