Texas Senator Ted Cruz Says Exploring Space Without Help From Russia Is 'Imperative' [Truncated]

LatinPost.com ^ | Feb 25, 2015 | Claudia Balthazar

[SoConPubbie]

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz supports NASA's human space exploration program as a national priority that deserves congressional support.

USA Today reports if NASA's program goes as planned, astronauts could travel to Mars by the 2030s.

Cruz, a Tea Party Republican, said developing a rocket and capsule that could cost tens of billions of dollars is "critical" to ensuring American's leadership in space.

"It is imperative that America has the capability to get to the space station without the assistance of the Russians," Cruz said Tuesday while chairing a hearing before the Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Science, Space and Competitiveness. "The Commercial Crew Program is critical to restoring this capability."

Florida Sen. Bill Nelson, the top Democrat on the space subcommittee, also supports more funding for the space program.

"We shouldn't be relying on the Russians to ride (to the space station)," Nelson said referring to tensions between Washington and Moscow over Ukraine. "They were a reliable partner ... but we can't predict what Vladimir Putin is going to do now."

Yet, Former Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon, is not in favor of the space program.

"In the '70s, we learned how to go and land on the moon and stay and do some things there," Aldrin said. "To do that again 50 years later just does not seem to be something that would be attractive."

Former Apollo 7 astronaut Walt Cunningham said NASA's funding amounts to about one-half of one percent of the federal budget so debating about the space program is just academic at the moment.

"Unless Congress decides to put more money in it, this is just talk we're going through here," he told the senators. "The budget has to go up."

The trip to Mars could face major delays if the funding is not increased. It is not clear if Cruz's public support of NASA's human exploration may translate into more funding.

[Georgia Girl 2]

Until we can master a propulsion system that exceeds Wily E. Coyote with a match we need to stay on Earth.

[Romulus]

Russia has Russia’s best interests at heart. That is more or less the norm for a peaceful world where people mind their own business. You think we need to antagonize every country in the world that isn’t interested in being under our thumb? Is that OUR national interest?

Neocons are a curse and a menace.

[SoConPubbie]

Russia has Russia’s best interests at heart. That is more or less the norm for a peaceful world where people mind their own business. You think we need to antagonize every country in the world that isn’t interested in being under our thumb? Is that OUR national interest?

Except Russia ALWAYS has thought it has the right to invade other countries to support their "National Interest", which goes directly against your assertion that it leads to a "peaceful world".

[SoConPubbie]

Neocons are a curse and a menace.

So Romulus, who are you supporting for POTUS 2016?

[grania]

Cruz's readiness - not to say eagerness - to pick a fight with Russia...

Back when Cruz was just becoming a major presence in the national arena, he got himself in the forefront of supporting the Kiev oligarchs. At the time, I attributed it to not being up to speed about the hopelessness of Ukranian pols. I gave initially to his campaign, but I'm no longer Cruzin'.

He's one of those who wants to make America great again with smarter globalism. In my mind, that's an oxymoron. I'm looking for someone who wants to make America great again by fixing things in our own house.

[Romulus]

George Washington.

[SoConPubbie]

He's one of those who wants to make America great again with smarter globalism. In my mind, that's an oxymoron. I'm looking for someone who wants to make America great again by fixing things in our own house.

No he's not.

Quit lying about Ted Cruz.

And as far as "fixing things in our own house" that's the same view that Neville Chamberlain took and look what happened. WWII.

Rand and Ron Paul ALSO espouse this cockeyed isolationist view and it will lead to a World War.

There is a middle ground between the "Head-in-the-Sand" Foreign Policy of the Pauls and the Bush Neocons.

This is where Ted Cruz is politically.

This is the foreign policy approach the United States needs!

[SoConPubbie]

Coward!

[grania]

Why does Crz want to increase H1B Visas? It's been established that most US STEM grads aren't working in technology. I'd be much happier if pols insisted that US corporations hire STEM workers when they can instead of using H1B Visas.

You'll never convince me that globalism helps the middle class. It's one of those issues where people simply don't agree, and probably can't be convinced to support the other view.

[SoConPubbie]

Why does Crz want to increase H1B Visas?

Because he believes we need him.

It's been established that most US STEM grads aren't working in technology.

It has also been established that fewer and fewer American Students are going into STEM College degrees. So much so, that the Universities are having to supplement with foreigners. All is not what you think it is.

You'll never convince me that globalism helps the middle class.

Then why have a conversation if you have closed your mind? Why post on this thread if you are not willing to hear the reasons why Ted Cruz is supporting this?

[American Constitutionalist]

I TOTALLY DISAGREE WITH TED CRUZ !

THATS IT, I WONT SUPPORT HIM OR VOTE FOR HIM. SARCASM OF COURSE.

Ted Cruz ?

Listen up, not only do we not need to rely on the Russian for going into space, but N.A.S.A. needs to stop playing footies and interbreading with Islam, the Muslims, and until you say that Mr. Ted Cruz ?

I won’t support you or vote for you, your a sell out to the Muzzys Ted .. A hearty dose of Mega Sarcasm.

[grania]

You say why have this discussion if I’ve already made up my mind? Haven’t you already made up your mind? Don’t you like being challenged by different viewpoints? I thoughts that what we did on FR.

[American Constitutionalist]

That’s it !

Ted Cruz didn’t say anything in this article about oppossing the Global Warming freaks , he’s a sellout to the Global Warming crowd, he’s working for Obama.

Nope, Nada, won’t support him or vote for him,

SURPRIZE ! ITS SARCASM.

just showing the absurdity of the insanity of the Cruz haters.

[SoConPubbie]

You say why have this discussion if I’ve already made up my mind? Haven’t you already made up your mind?

Yes I have, but only after I had thoroughly investigated the matter.

I don't think your investigation went that deep.

If the H1-B process is really being abused, please provide proof. Not declarative statements, but actual proof that corporations are across the board, or even in a large minority sense, abusing the H1-B process.

[grania]

That situation at Disney where workers had to train their non-citizen replacements is proof enough.

[American Constitutionalist]

The US already had a more sophisticated satellite that they were working on before Sputnik that actually worked as a sattelite and had a functional purpose.

I think the problem was the rocket engines to get it in space.

But who knows, we may have had already sent things into orbit, in secret that is before Sputnik.

[SoConPubbie]

That situation at Disney where workers had to train their non-citizen replacements is proof enough.

NO, it is only one instance of a bad corporate player. It does not prove a systemic problem across all of Corporate America where the H1-B process is concerned. Should Disney be prosecuted for abusing the process, yes, but it does not prove for an instant that this problem is greater than the few corporations that abuse it. Should that hole be plugged in the process, absolutely.

Your position is week Grania.

[SoConPubbie]

That situation at Disney where workers had to train their non-citizen replacements is proof enough.

NO, it is only one instance of a bad corporate player. It does not prove a systemic problem across all of Corporate America where the H1-B process is concerned. Should Disney be prosecuted for abusing the process, yes, but it does not prove for an instant that this problem is greater than the few corporations that abuse it. Should that hole be plugged in the process, absolutely.

Your position is weak Grania.

[Isara]

Are you preparing for the ever-worsening skills gap?

[American Constitutionalist]

Ron Paul is also anti-Israel.

Down with Zionism as I have seen some of his supporters holding signs say.