NASA has become a transition problem for Obama

orlandosentinel.com ^ | December 11, 2008 | Robert Block

[Free ThinkerNY]

CAPE CANAVERAL – NASA administrator Mike Griffin is not cooperating with President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team, is obstructing its efforts to get information and has told its leader that she is “not qualified” to judge his rocket program, the Orlando Sentinel has learned.

In a heated 40-minute conversation last week with Lori Garver, a former NASA associate administrator who heads the space transition team, a red-faced Griffin demanded to speak directly to Obama, according to witnesses.

In addition, Griffin is scripting NASA employees and civilian contractors on what they can tell the transition team and has warned aerospace executives not to criticize the agency’s moon program, sources said.

Griffin’s resistance is part of a no-holds-barred effort to preserve the Constellation program, the delayed and over-budget moon rocket that is his signature project.

Chris Shank, NASA’s Chief of Strategic Communications, denied that Griffin is trying to keep information from the team, or that he is seeking a meeting with Obama. He also insisted that Griffin never argued with Garver.

“We are working extremely well with the transition team,” he said.

However, Shank acknowledged Griffin was concerned that the six-member team – all with space policy backgrounds – lack the engineering expertise to properly assess some of the information they have been given.

Garver refused comment about her conversation with Griffin -- and his remark that she is “not qualified” -- during a book-publication party at NASA headquarters last week. Obama’s Chicago office – which has sent similar transition teams to every federal agency – also had no comment.

[Constitutionalist Conservative]

James Hansen's whining and insubordination under the Bush administration drew media praise. Let's see how they treat Griffin. Griffin was already in trouble with the Church of Global Warming for stating the obvious in a May 30, 2007 interview: "To assume that [climate change] is a problem is to assume that the state of earth's climate today is the optimal climate, the best climate that we could have or ever have had and that we need to take steps to make sure that it doesn't change."

[Tallguy]

Lori Garver appears to have been an astronaut-candidate.

She has a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Economics from Colorado College in 1983; Masters degree in science, technology, and public policy from the George Washington University in 1989.

Somewhere along the line she got into NASA Administration & advised several Dem candidates on “Space Policy”.

Just looking at those degrees I’d have to say that she doesn’t carry enough technical weight to be arguing with the Head NASA Administrator on these matters. I suspect those degrees were heavy on the “public policy” while being little more than science survey courses.

[Oratam]

Who's the O's new head of NASA? Gil Scott-Heron?

[SERKIT]

Here's a conspiracy theory on Barry's reluctance to go back to the moon:

The Great Satan sent evil astronauts to the crescent moon and 'stepped' on it, meaning, it defiled the surface of the moon with footwear - a great insult to the icon of Islam. So, to stay in good stead with the Muslims, Barry will never again allow infidels to step on the moon.

Makes about as much sense as anything else I've heard....

Going back to the moon means JOBS and new technology.

[PapaBear3625]

I hope he has something else lined up after Jan. 20.

He knows that he's going, regardless. That sets him free.