Are Charles Bolden's Days as NASA Administrator Numbered?
Gaffes, Conflict of Interest Scandal, and Outrage Over Obamaspace Raise Concerns
First, Congressional anger over the somewhat tortured explanations by Bolden about the Obama space plan seems only to be rising. This is coupled by the outrage over the creative use of the Anti Deficiency Act to shut down parts of the Constellation space exploration program, potentially throwing thousands of aerospace contractors out of work even before Congress has voted on the Obama proposal to cancel the Constellation program.
Second, questions of a conflict of interest have arisen over Administrator Bolden's attempt to shut down a NASA project involving an experimental biofuel project involving algae. Bolden had come to this decision while consulting with one of his previous employers, Marathon Oil, a company in which he still owns stock and which has its own rival biofuel project.
Finally, Charles Bolden opined on the Arabic television network Al Jazeera that the primary mission of NASA was to help Muslim nations "-feel good about their historic contribution to science, math, and engineering." This has caused some Internet wags to suggest that all that space exploration stuff that NASA used to be able to do is now replaced by promoting self esteem.
Almost as controversial was Bolden's statement that America, which went to the Moon from a standing start in eight years during the 1960s, can now do almost nothing without international assistance.
Two things seem to be saving Charles Bolden from the inevitable calls for resignation.
First, the country is focused on other Obama administration scandals. These include the BP oil leak disaster, the continuing economic malaise, the gathering train wreck that is health care reform, and the slamming of allies and the appeasement of enemies abroad. Compared to all that, petty corruption and annoying appeasement at NASA seems like small cheese at present.
Second, there is the fear that, if Bolden were to go, President Obama might choose someone worse to take his place, like Deputy Administrator Lori Garver. Garver is known for her politically correct approach to all things space, and for her slavish support for anything her political masters say, as long as she gets to keep her office at NASA headquarters.
Bolden was out of the loop when the Obama space proposal was concocted in secret. Garver, rumor has it, was in the room and was an active participant in the formulation of the plan that tossed a hand grenade into the Constellation space exploration program which had gotten wide, bi-partisan support with the public and with Congress.
Still, one thing can be said for Charles Bolden. He has at least not allowed a Rolling Stone reporter to follow him around. While what would result would likely be very revealing, it would necessarily be career limiting.
Sources:
NASA's spaced-out mission no longer includes ... space, Ed Morrissey, Hot Air, July 5th, 2010
Published by Mark Whittington
Mark R. Whittington is a writer residing in Houston, Texas. He is the author of The Last Moonwalker, Children of Apollo, Dark Sanction, and Nocturne. He has written numerous articles, some for the Washington... View profile
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4 Comments
Post a CommentI still work at KSC.. and only hope bolden and garver go away.. they have been a disaster for NASA.
The bigger question is under the Obama administration (and the influece of Lori Garver) are NASA's own days numbered? Maj. Gen Bolden stood strong as a combat pilot and astronaut, but seems to have been neutered as NASA Administator by the President and the closer to the throne power of his deputy Lori Garver, whose sole history was vested in the promotion of commercially-based space operations; which are often in conflict with the premise of manned space flight - the domain of NASA.
Finally, Charles Bolden opined on the Arabic television network Al Jazeera that the primary mission of NASA was to help Muslim nations "feel good about their historic contribution to science, math, and engineering." This has caused some Internet wags to suggest that all that space exploration stuff that NASA used to be able to do is now replaced by promoting self esteem.
ANd thanks to the Musilms for perserving that hard won knowledge through the "Dark Ages" since they had to slaughter millons of Persians and Indians to get it in the first place.
You have sunk to a new low Mark.