The National Review thinks that President Bush wants to start a space race with China. I’m big fan of “space” — I majored in Physics and Astronomy for one particularly nonproductive year of college — but I’m sure that Bush is not the president we want leading the charge into orbit. He doesn’t mean it. Whenever he creates a giant program that’s supposed to make the world a better place, he’s lying. It’s all done for image; it’s a campaign stunt a year early.
Considering Bush programs like No Child Left Behind and the Healthy Forest Initiative, there are only two ways a Bush Space Race can end: he’ll create a massive program and underfund it, or he’ll turn it into a handout for private industry.
I’m betting on the latter — probably by handing out huge “consulting contracts” to companies that won’t be held to producing results. In fact, if I had any money, I’d start buying stock in any aerospace companies on Bush’s campaign donor list. Unfortunately, I don’t have any money, because the Bush Economy is particulary unkind to men with ponytails.