Johnson against mission to Mars

The Aberdeen American News ^ | Jan. 14, 2004 | Scott Waltman

[Sockdologer]

Now may not be the time to fund a manned mission to Mars, according to Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D. Johnson said Wednesday that there are more pressing scientific concerns in South Dakota alone. Before a mission to Mars, the federal government needs to look at locating an underground neutrino lab in the former Homestake Gold Mine in the Black Hills, he said.

For more on this story read Thursday's American News.

[Sockdologer]

It's nice to see someone reach for the stars.

[apillar]

Yes Sen. Johnson, the difference is President Bush has something that you or any of your democrat cronies will never have... Here's a hint it's that vision thing...

[Brett66]

Before a mission to Mars, the federal government needs to look at locating an underground neutrino lab in the former Homestake Gold Mine in the Black Hills, he said.

Why should we spend money on that when children are going hungry? < /dem argument >

[CasearianDaoist]

That is so stupid, that is a totaly different budget - and the DOE has a wonderful facilities paln worked out. If we cannot get these people out of power we are going to end up like Canada. It just makes me ill.

[KellyAdmirer]

Talk about a loser pandering to the home town crowd, sheesh.

[Political Junkie Too]

This is probably a pre-emptive attempt to give Tom Daschle a campaign issue for his reelection.

Daschle pushed the Homestake Mine conveyance act of 2001, which exempted the mine from liability for environmental damage in order to build a science lab at the location.

Now, it appears that Daschle (through Johnson) is ginning up an issue for November. He'll run on a platform of keeping science dollars in South Dakota instead of sending the money to Mars.

-PJ

[Sockdologer]

But Martians starve too!

[RightWhale]

a platform of keeping science dollars in South Dakota instead of sending the money to Mars.

You're going to hear this kind of thing from now on. We heard it before, we heard it 30 years ago from grubby hippies. You're going to hear this as much now as the selected not elected slogan. They want no discussion, no debate. They will chant until you drop.

[Political Junkie Too]

Charles Krauthammer made the same comment about a month ago. He said that that argument goes all the way back to Queen Isabella and Columbus, and where would we be now if she listened to the "keep the money here" crowd?

-PJ

[Russ]

Thank you! I was just going to say that!!

[luvbach1]

Now is not the time? The projection calls for trip in about 30 years. Should we wait and let it be 60 years? How can we make a "star trek" if we don't go to Mars? The lag in space travel from the 1969 moon voyage was already far too long. This is a goal for our species that transcends any revered-by-libs social programs. Anyone who has absorbed good science fiction and and has thereby already traveled in space will understand.

[st_xavier_bomber]

That rover is cuter than a pug dog.

Did you ever notice how our science policies mirror what happens at a high school science fair? Robots and fuel cells. I judged a dozen.

http://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/dysc/scienceinaction/rj_gross.html

Don't you think that the rover is just the grand champion from Robowars (or whatever that Discovery Channel show was) with a camera and some solar panels?