Sputnik Moment? What is Obama smoking in those cigarettes he sneaks into the Oval Office Bathroom? Here is a "five minute university" gathered from here and there from media sources on the internet. Here is your real Sputnik moment:
Ann Coulter has compared Obama to Nero in her signature cheeky style. Nero burned Rome so as to rebuild it for himself. Obama is destroying NASA Program Visions in order to remake NASA in his own image.
No more Space Exploration ... we can't afford it! ... We have Universal Healthcare instead. We must also observe Earth Climate Change and study green technologies from space instead ... Oh my!
The race to the Moon cost well over $175 Billion in 2011 dollars; there no more dreams to return until 2030 or later ... two decades.
The Bush Era Constellation Program for return to the Moon and points beyond has been scrubbed.
The aging US Shuttle Fleet was canceled after Columbia disaster with no replacement yet available.
Over 130 Shuttle missions ... the last four to finish International Space Station ... with no more after that. Look at the International Space Station, a "time-share" the USA overwhelmingly invested in and built over 13 years. Look at this place that we can no longer access on our own.
We will reportedly now pay Russians $55.8 Million for each American Astronaut seat to ride to the International Space Station that we built. Aroused yet?
According to CNN, the Space Shuttle replacement won't fly until 2014. Sense of urgency anyone? [Meanwhile are the Russians and Chinese weaponizing space?]
No more plans to explore and colonize the Moon ... the Chinese will do that [and presumably begin mining operations for resources when they get a foot hold there].
No plans to go to Mars ... Russia will do that [ditto above].
Our once mighty NASA Space Program is reduced to begging for its budget. The NASA budget request is near $19 Billion. Space exploration aspects of NASA are no more. So what tangible benefits will we get for that $19 Billion? After $700 Billion wasted on Stimulus who cares ... mere crumbs ... right?
The entire Aerospace Industry is spinning trying to adjust and re-tool to this 180 degree shift in priorities; prospective benefits are presently pie-in-the-sky at best. Anyone smell crony capitalism afoot here?
What exactly does Obama mean by a "Sputnik Moment" anyway? This is his code for shying away from challenges in favor of his Welfare State. I am tired of this timid, European Socialist, metrosexual vision and style over substance. Come 2012 Election. Come soon.
"Sputnik Moment," he says? I say, "Humbug."
We Americans used to "boldly go where no man has gone before" ... because we could!
William R. Mann, is a retired Lt. Colonel, US Army. He is a now a political observer, analyst, activist and writer for Conservative causes. He was educated at West Point [Bachelor of Science, 1971 ]and the Naval Postgraduate School [Masters, National Security Affairs, 1982].
