I have a report and analysis of Tuesday’s press conference with Paul Allen and Burt Rutan over at PJMedia.
A Hitchens Roundup
Thoughts from Nick Gillespie, Michelle Malkin, Wretchard, Rob Long, Lileks, Peter Robinson, Melissa Clouthier, John Podhoretz, James Fenton, Joy McCann, Jason Cowley, Doug Wilson, Simon Jenkins, and last but by no means least, his brother Peter.
I first recall being impressed with him in the nineties, in his fearless willingness to take on the lies of the Clintons. He was devastating, to anyone who paid attention.
[Update a while later]
The Atlantic remembers Hitchens, as does Michael Totten.
[Update late morning]
Here’s another from Pete Wehner.
[Almost noon]
And Ron Radosh weighs in.
[Early afternoon update]
David Corn: sharing an office with Hitch.
The California Train To Nowhere
The White House remains committed to the corrupt and wasteful boondoggle.
The Light Bulb Ban
…has been suspended? Maybe a light bulb finally turned on above their heads.
[Update a while later]
Did Obama punt on the ban?
Christopher Hitchens
Rest in peace. It’s late, but more thoughts anon.
Is This Hell?
No, worse: it’s Iowa. By you-know-who, and thus, prepare to split a gut or two.
The Next Issue Of National Review
I love the cover: Newt as Marvin.
More On NASA’s Reprieve
I have the story up over at Open Market.
[Late morning update]
Here’s Alan Boyle’s take.
[Early afternoon update]
Joe Pappalardo has the story at Popular Mechanics.
This really is a rare bit of good news in space policy.
[Update a few minutes later]
The Commercial Space Federation weighs in with a press release from Alex Saltman, the new executive director:
Washington, DC, Thursday, December 15, 2011 – The Commercial Spaceflight Federation congratulates NASA on the space agency’s important decision, announced today, to continue to use Space Act Agreements for the Commercial Crew Development Program. This decision will shorten the gap in U.S. access to space, help spur additional private investment, reduce America’s dependence on Russia, save taxpayer money, ensure the future of the International Space Station, and increase industry competition. Now that the Space Shuttle has retired, the Commercial Crew Program is the fastest way for America to regain our domestic access to space.
“Space Act Agreements are a proven way to get rapid, cost-effective results and will help ensure that the Commercial Crew Program is a success,” said CSF Executive Director Alex Saltman. “Space Act Agreements were used in the previous rounds of the Commercial Crew program, as well as the COTS Cargo Program. A NASA cost study has shown that the COTS Cargo development program, using Space Act Agreements, has been successful for a fraction of what a traditionally run program would have cost.”
“Competition is the key to the Commercial Crew Program, and we are pleased to see that NASA is continuing to promote competition, as recommended by the Government Accountability Office in a report released today.”
“This decision maximizes NASA’s bang-for-the-buck and brings America one big step closer to replacing the Space Shuttle with safe, reliable, and affordable commercial transportation to low-Earth orbit. The commercial crew program is an exciting partnership between commercial companies and NASA to combine innovative ideas and new investment from the private sector with NASA’s deep experience in human spaceflight.”
Today’s decision by NASA to continue using Space Act Agreements is supported by the results of previous programs. All recent NASA and Air Force launch vehicle development programs that have resulted in flights to orbit have used similar milestone-based agreements, rather than traditional contracts, for system development.
In June 2011, the CSF released a public white paper titled, “Commercial Spaceflight Federation Supports Use of Space Act Agreements (SAAs) for Next Phase of NASA’s Commercial Crew Development Program,” stating, “SAAs are the best means for NASA to support commercial development of systems to transport crew and cargo to the Space Station.”
Yes. Though if Ralph Hall has his way, the battle will continue next year.
[Mid-afternoon update]
Marcia Smith has a story up now.
[Bumped]
Competition To Siri?
The Android team seems to be working on it. It should be noted that Majel Barrett was Gene Roddenberry’s wife.
Willful Blindness
Thoughts on the idiocy at the Obama Defense department:
It reflects the Obama philosophy that we cannot even hint that an interpretation of Islam — drawn literally from Islamic scriptures — is the force motivating our enemies. Even though this is unquestionably true, to say so, to acknowledge it in any way, would mean, according to administration thinking, that we are at war with Islam itself — with all 1.4 billion Muslims, including the hundreds of millions who do not subscribe to this interpretation. Unwilling to entertain the possibility that the enemy has a coherent, knowable doctrine — which is a powerful catalyst precisely because it draws credibly (not inarguably but credibly) on scripture — we have forfeited the natural right to defend ourselves and the troops who make it possible for us to live freely.
This is criminal recklessness. It is idiocy beyond description, so I should just stop trying to describe it. Watch it in all its jaw-dropping ignominy.
You can’t win a war when you pretend that you’re not in one.