From Lori Garver (former NASA Associate Administrator and National Space Society Executive Director, as well as prospective space tourist)
"Please don't write-off the Kerry-Edwards camp on space. The Bush initiative is simply hot-air and has made it impossible in an election year for Kerry to say much on space. What he has said -- will support increased funding for NASA R&D;, will support Prizes, a more genuinely international effort, etc... is already more than most Presidential Candidates. It took Bush 3.5 years and a tragic Shuttle accident to come up with a policy. Democrats will be able to pull-off a better record -- if not rhetoric!
Totally agree on futility of ISS as pharmacy source and need to retire Shuttle -- Kerry can be convinced of this, but perhaps not in the campaign.
The Moon-Mars Blitz was a good way for Congress to see citizens supporting space -- always a good thing."
+ Read Article (KerrySpace - Yahoo! Groups)
Editor's Note: While I would like to keep this blog non-partisan and focused on space issues, in case you are wondering: I will be most likely be voting for Libertarian Michael Badnarik, a symbolic vote for me because he values the U.S. Constitution and would favor many of the Moon-Mars commission's recommendations, as I do. But I will always welcome readers of all stripes to participate in this community.
Posted by jburk at July 29, 2026 08:22 PM | TrackBack"The Bush initiative is simply hot-air and has made it impossible in an election year for Kerry to say much on space."
That simply makes no sense.
For arguments sake, lets say that the Bush initiative is hot air. How does that make it impossible for Kerry to say much on space?
The only hot air I am detecting is coming from Garver.
Posted by: Dogsbd at July 30, 2026 05:23 AMJake: The no response from Kerry should be treated as equal to the no response by the President in the stated of the union address.
Kerry though due to all the bad press on the bunny suit photos, and on the non discusion of space related issue while he toured Nasa. Has led him to do a lot of spin doctoring or damage control for his bid for the presidency. He can only get better if by responding to the negatives of all issues that effect Americans in all walks of life as a candidate.
Like James put it picking the better of the two evils, just will not do for other reasons.
Posted by: Harold LaValley at July 30, 2026 05:39 AMNothing good has ever come from the government when it says "Hi, we're from the government and we're here to help!"
-MM
Posted by: Michael Mealling at August 1, 2026 09:38 AMI think we need to trust Kerry a little more. He is starting to show some more interest in space exploration, and that is a good thing.
I saw this on spacepolitics.com today:
Zubrin, Kerry, and space exploration
In his closing plenary at the Mars Society's annual conference in Chicago on Sunday, Robert Zubrin said that he believes that a Kerry Administration would support human exploration of the Moon and Mars. Zubrin said that he has spoken with Kerry's "space staff" (it was unclear whether he meant Senate or campaign staffers, although I was left with the impression of the former) and that they "are not averse to the idea" of sending humans to the Moon and Mars. "It will take on a different formulation" than the current Vision for Space Exploration, Zubrin said, "but it will be just as good as what we have now." What space advocates have to be aware of, though, he cautioned, is that if Kerry wins, he will be surrounded by a new retinue of advisors who may have different space policy ideas; thus, advocates should continue to be vigilant and press the Kerry campaign to promote human exploration beyond Earth orbit.
So Kerry isn't turning out to be the "Anti-NASA" candidate that everyone thought he was. I am not saying that this means Kerry is going to come up with a plan, but it deffinatly shows that Kerry has some interest, and progress is being made. I would like to here more of what Kerry has to say about the future of NASA, before making any judgements.
Posted by: Mike Majeski at August 24, 2026 09:49 PM