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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009

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Matt Taibbi

Palin: Our First WWE Politician

Pick an asshole, any asshole, and she'll rock the house

9 hours, 48 minutes ago
the big plan

Beck Will Host Conventions
to Educate America

He's shifting toward political organizer, plans big DC rally

Nov 21, 09 5:06 PM CST
Senate Democrats Clear
Health Care Hurdle, 60-39

Reid gets 60 votes to open full debate after Thanksgiving recess

Nov 21, 09 7:13 PM CST
analysis

Book Tour Shows Palin
Hitting a Nerve

'Going Rogue' phenomenon may foreshadow something bigger

5 hours, 46 minutes ago
Palin Pulls in Big Bucks
—for Democrats

'Going Rogue' boosts Dem fundraising to new high

Nov 21, 09 6:50 AM CST
who let the paranoids out?

46 Years After Kennedy, the Virus of Hate Is Back

Republican Rep. Louie Gohmert panders to dangerous paranoids

Nov 21, 09 9:08 AM CST
NO COMMUNION FOR YOU, MY SON

RI Bishop Disses
Kennedy Over
Pro-Choice
Stance

Spat over Patrick's position on abortion escalates

12 hours, 10 minutes ago
editorial

NYT to Blankfein:
Your 'Apology'
Is Bull

Editorial board schools Goldman CEO in true meaning of 'sorry'

3 hours, 39 minutes ago
Billboard Links Obama to Jihad

Colo. car dealership wants this opinion heard

Nov 20, 09 8:42 PM CST
TALK SHOW ROUNDUP

McConnell:
Dems Proceed
at 2010 Peril

Senators hit the Sunday talk shows after health vote

9 hours, 18 minutes ago
HE'S GOT A BOOK OUT, TOO

Beck to Unveil
'Big Plan' at
Saturday Rally

Righty pundit OK with destroying Dems and GOP

Nov 20, 09 8:07 PM CST
Eyes on 2010

Lincoln
Swings to
Center of
Health Debate

Dems come calling as GOP eyes her seat in 2010

7 hours, 29 minutes ago
Reid Gets 60th Vote:
Holdout Lincoln Agrees

She'll allow health care bill to move forward; vote at 8pm

Nov 21, 09 1:51 PM CST

|NEXT STORY »

OPINION

Forget Space, Fix Earth Instead

Pareene asks why bother 'getting Americans boldly from one place to another place?'

By Nick McMaster| Posted Jul 20, 09 2:45 PM CDT|

(Newser) – On today’s 40th anniversary of the moon landing, President Obama should again show bravery and determination by not indulging in more space exploration, Alex Pareene urges for Gawker. NASA has $100 billion earmarked to replace the shuttles, in order to do what? Go “back to the damn moon, where we have been.” Dubya’s plans for a Mars colony are even more expensive—and with a payoff even farther away.

Why not focus on our abundant terrestrial problems? Wouldn’t it be nice, Pareene asks, to have that $100 billion for, you know, providing coverage to the uninsured? Or finding solutions to global warming “and maybe forestall the day when we destroy our atmosphere and actually do have to flee the planet in a hurry?”

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

This photo shows the Apollo 11 astronauts on the lunar surface after landing from a new digitally refurbished version of the original moon landing video unveiled Thursday, July 16, 2009. (AP Photo/NASA TV)

This undated handout image taken by NASA's Lunar shows Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), shows the Apollo 14 landing site on the moon. (AP Photo, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center/Arizona State University)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

It was pretty awesome that we actually sent men to the moon to walk around, collect rocks, and go back home, 40 years ago. But now would be a good time to dedicate ourselves to putting jobs of some kind back in Michigan.
- Alex Pareene

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

11.20.09

The Health-Care Wars Have Just Begun

11.19.09

Sarah Palin Deserves Some More Attention

18 comments

VIEWING:

IN RESPONSE:

freethemall
Jul 20, 09 2:58 PM CDT

Any benefits, such as the gadgets you mention, are side effects of the money and effort expended for space exploration. If the money and effort were applied directly to our earthly problems, we would be much better off.

-3

IN RESPONSE:

limpl0uie
Jul 20, 09 3:07 PM CDT

That is the single most inarticulate and incoherent comment I've ever read. CK, as many people have already pointed out, "Liberal fascist" is an oxymoron. And, "short sided" liberal doesn't make any sense because, historically, liberals are people that tend to think in the long term. Repubs think short term (that's what a tax cut is. Save money now, have a deficit later). Your comments are so outlandishly dumb that I am begining to think that you don't actually believe any of what you say. You're just a troll looking to incite some anger in people.

IN RESPONSE:

Nwambe
Jul 20, 09 3:27 PM CDT

Hey, wait a sec... Wasn't Kennedy the President who gave NASA the money to put a man on the moon? What was he again? Oh, right, a DEMOCRAT. Caught'cha red-handed there, corrie. Better luck next time.

IN RESPONSE:

Jungun
Jul 20, 09 5:19 PM CDT

I see you've set aside this special time to humiliate yourself in public, again.

IN RESPONSE:

Snowleopard
Jul 20, 09 7:30 PM CDT

once again Corona King shows his complete ignorance and a total inability to make anything resembling a coherent argument. What kind of ignoramus is this guy? Is he just pretending to be this dumb? it's liberals that tend to be more in favor of government programs like this, where the conservative wing thinks that the private sector can do everything better and that we don't need government investment for anything besides the military and prison systems. the truth is that we never would have landed on the moon, or even made the progress with satellites, if it weren't for the public sector. (btw, I do agree that further spending on NASA should go on hold until we balance the budget)

IN RESPONSE:

Snarfeh
Jul 20, 09 5:03 PM CDT

Gawker sucks. I'm a fan of that liberal fascist site Newser, myself.

| 0 minutes ago

TerrifiedCitizen
Jul 20, 09 3:09 PM CDT

OMG; a voice of reason, although not fashionable, still exists. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

spdavid
Jul 20, 09 3:54 PM CDT

The 100 billion mentioned is what maybe at best 10% of the health care bill's costs and likely a lesser percentage of that in exchange for technological and scientific advances and improvements that probably include medical advances and improvements.And then there's hope and something Americans can feel good about proud of and optimisitic about all of which we need more than ever and are getting painfully little of from our glorious government. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

newsrmandan
Jul 20, 09 4:26 PM CDT

I agree with some posts here who believe it is a good idea to go back to the moon. As I said before whatever waste of money this whole carbon,cap and trade, green, global warming, eat a veggie burger, organic crap is going to waste it would be better spent sending someone to the moon. At least we will for years be entertained by whether or not they actually did it. 25 yrs from now when global warming is only remembered by the new hippies aka greenies as a missed opertunity to stop progress, some of us might actually be enjoying the technological advances that would come from sending a man to the moon. Like motors that run on carbon dioxide and spew potable water.?? who knows. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

polstroad
Jul 20, 09 4:32 PM CDT

For my friends on the right: we won. You lost. Now all this name calling simply tells us again and again that you have no ideas left but can only call names, over and over. Stop it. Study. Learn. Think. Then develop ideas and programs. Meanwhile: this is a reason that we explore space: SECRET SPACE SHUTTLES Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Timinator2K
Jul 20, 09 5:14 PM CDT

Yes, you won and in retrospect that's a GREAT THING! Why? Because you will NEVER WIN AGAIN after your false god destroys the US econony, rips up the constitution and makes us ALL SLAVES...pay back, eh? F your socialism, F your communism and F your clueless "messiah."

-4

| 0 minutes ago

polstroad
Jul 20, 09 4:33 PM CDT

sorry: here is the link I wanted. good read! but will scare you http://www.airspacemag.com/space-exploration/Secret-Space-Shuttles.html?c=y&page=1 Reply

-1

| 0 minutes ago

Timinator2K
Jul 20, 09 5:10 PM CDT

Fix Earth? Same Flat Earth stupid, backward, Me! Me! Me! thinking that has plagued the progress of mankind forever. Funny how NO ONE wants to ditch the vast array of spin-off technological benefits that came from the space program but, wants to get and keep as many people as possible addicted to government crack-like money...AND WE'RE BROKE PEOPLE...IN MORE WAYS THAN LACK OF MONEY. Reply

-2

IN RESPONSE:

Snowleopard
Jul 20, 09 7:33 PM CDT

it's so strange to hear people on the right defending government spending.

IN RESPONSE:

shonangreginpalau
Jul 20, 09 8:19 PM CDT

We can barely even afford to keep the International Space Station up. How can we seriously contemplate manned missions away from the earth *at this time*? It is pie in the sky. .............. We may always have a tight budget, but we will have better technology and knowledge of the limits of human exploration of space in the future. We cannot follow the example of Capt. Kirk and the Enterprise for another hundred years or so. Now, all we can do is to continue building the basic science needed for future missions into space. robotic missions are FFAAARRRRR cheaper and faster than manned missions. Sending better and better robots to Mars and Jupiter, etc. is the most exciting things we'll be doing in space in any of our lifetimes.

| 0 minutes ago

WallyEFunk
Jul 20, 09 6:39 PM CDT

Oh ,Yes Americans will start doing something about there own countries pollution etc. caring about spotted owls.Etc.ROGLMAO.If it doesn't spend money towards companies, or makes /saves moneies for them,with the help of the paid lobbists.NOTHING really happens. A phantom demacarcy. True democacy is the will/protection of the PPL. Not the dollars. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

numione
Jul 21, 09 7:29 AM CDT

To President Obama, Lets concentrate our efforts into making the world as we know it today into a better place. Lets stamp out war and bigotry and try to get along. Lets make sure everyone has some food to eat, a dry/warm place to sleep and someone to take care of our medical needs at no cost to us. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

vendetta
Jul 21, 09 8:06 AM CDT

Forget space? Spoken like a true moron. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

View all 18 comments »

Barack Obama • NASA • global warming • Mars • space shuttle • budget • moon landings • George W. Bush • President Obama

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Forget Space, Fix Earth Instead