Obama Names Bolden for NASA

tna ^ | 05.27.09 | Steve DuBord

[the invisib1e hand]

Bolden would be the first African American,

I looked for it. And I found it.

Does that make me a racist, or merely someone who catches on eventually?

[narses]

You missed the part where he is a lobbyist. His skin color was a birth issue, his lobbyist background a volitional one. He should not be approved based on his conflicts of interest.

[johniegrad]

He is also a USMC brigadier general. Are you suggesting he was a political appointee?

[the invisib1e hand]

He is also a USMC brigadier general. Are you suggesting he was a political appointee?

I'm not suggesting anything. I thought my comment was crystal clear. Obama made an appointment. I checked to see if the appointee was anything other than a white male. Lo.

[kenavi]

I thought it said Obama was sending John Bolton into outer space.

[johniegrad]

Does that make me a racist, or merely someone who catches on eventually?

So did you figure it out yet?

[the invisib1e hand]

Son, why don’t you antangonize somebody else?

[RedEyeJack]

Charlie Bolden is not an affirmative action type. He did well at Annapolis (Class of 1968) in academics, leadership and athletics (he fought in the Brigade Boxing Championships with Ollie North and Jim Webb). He had a great career as a Marine aviator (I believe he flew jets - F-4’s) and has at least one master's degree. I don't know about the politics ( I believe he has always been close with Webb... as close as anyone can be with Webb, that is). But Major General Bolden has a strong resume for the job.

[Redgirl]

So is this guy a New Black Panther member? /s

[jmcenanly]

I have no qualms about Bolden, but I am a little worried about the nominee for for the Deputy Administrator, Lori Garver. She was the one who conducted the infamous exit interview with then NASA administrator, Michael Griffin. I don’t think it was intended to be an exit interview, but during the course of it, Dr. Griffin became so incensed tha he was screaming to speak directly to Obama. With the amount of international negotiation that NASA has to do, I hope that this sort of reaction isn’t common.

[eclecticEel]

“NASA Administrator Chris Scolese told a congressional subcommittee … that the agency intends to provide $150 million in stimulus-package money to private companies that design, build and service their own rockets and crew capsules. This is spacecraft that could send astronauts in orbit while NASA works to finish building the space shuttle’s replacements.”

Nonsense, there is no way any private company could build a shuttle replacement within 6 years with a budget like that. This is just the same corporate welfare that's characterized NASA for the last 30 years. I have no problem paying a company to accomplish something; but just giving them money so they can keep busy is another matter entirely.

[the invisib1e hand]

See, I think people should be smarter than this. The man's qualifications were not my curiosity. I think anyone smart enough to be an astronaut is pretty much smart enough to do almost anything.

But there are lots of astronauts, and lots of really smart people, and lots of qualified people. I just wondered if Obama could be counted upon to pick one that wasn't white and wasn't male.

I might have to start posting instructions with my posts.

[Mamzelle]

I don’t see a lot on project management, but lots of piloting. He has a compelling story, though. The last guy was an embarrassment at the end, even had his wife begging Obama to let him keep the job!

[Mamzelle]

re: I think anyone smart enough to be an astronaut is pretty much smart enough to do almost anything.)))

...lol...

[King Moonracer]

I wonder if looter guy will get a job with Zero. Secretary of Heineken.

[Norman Bates]

Ping

[Non-Sequitur]

Does that make me a racist, or merely someone who catches on eventually?

Are you saying that General Bond is unqualified and is only being named because he's black?

[the invisib1e hand]

Are you saying that General Bond is unqualified and is only being named because he's black?

Well, am I?

[Mamzelle]

He's got the nom because of his personal narrative...which includes the fact that he's black. Everything postmadern is about the "story"--and let's not mention the lobbying thing.

I would prefer an administrator with and engineering background and experience in aerospace development. But I doubt seriously that NASA will do a thing worthwhile in the next decade except the robotics exploration and communications tie-ins. Manned spaceflight since the moon landings is almost a complete joke.