Trump’s Nominee For NASA Chief Could Remake The Agency, Five Thirty Eight “[Phil] Larson, a veteran of both the Obama administration’s Office of Science and Technology Policy and SpaceX, said the confirmation hearing this week will be the true test of where Bridenstine stands. “For an Obama administration official, I am fairly bullish on his appointment, mainly because (a) I think it could be a lot worse, and (b) he does seem to have a passion for these issues,” Larson said. “But his confirmation hearing will be important for getting him on the record on climate change.” Statement By Rep. James Bridenstine Before The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation “NASA is at a crucial time in its history, preparing to explore Deep Space again for the first time in forty-five years. To do this sustainably, we must develop a consensus-driven agenda, based on national interests. Should I be confirmed, it will be my intention to build off the work done by the great people at NASA during the last administration, and to move forward by following the guidance of the NASA Transition Authorization Act, appropriations legislation, and science decadal surveys. We must all do this together.” Contentious Bridenstine Nomination Hearing Splits Along Party Lines, Space Policy Online “In the past, Bridenstine had indicated that he did not accept the scientific consensus that the climate is changing because of human activity. Today he said that he accepts that humans are a cause of climate change, but would not go as far as to say that it is the primary cause. He went on to say that NASA is the only agency in the world that can do the kind of science needed to answer questions like that.”
IMHO @RepJBridenstine did a good job. @SenBillNelson made a partisan fool of himself and negated any points he was trying to make.
Well, maybe. The fact that he has been such a tea party loyalist supporting attacks on Senator Rubio working to develop a bipartisan compromise on immigration or supporting John McCain’s unsuccessful primary challenger who crassly has encouraged him to resign because of his brain cancer so she can be appointed to his seat makes me wonder – its not like the Republicans have a big majority in the Senate.
Perhaps nothing but maybe everything. Taking divisive political positions is not something we’ve seen with NASA Administrators -which is partly why it has enjoyed bipartisan support. This is something the next NASA Administrator will need, especially if the Democrats retake the Congress as seems likely. More specifically, in the case of Keith’s title for this posting, that he has “survived” his confirmation hearing, we won’t really know until the vote but if the Dems line up against him, he can only lose four Republican senators before he’d lose the position and he’s already attacked or supported attacks on two of them.
I think the Democrats need to work out why people don’t vote for them before they can retake anything and I don’t even live in the USA. I suspect a large underlying group of people are sick of political correctness and leftist ideology. In the real world real people get hurt daily by poor policy.
While it’s certainly true that the Democrats need to expand beyond just being anti Trump in their messaging, it’s also a fact of political life that the party of the President almost always loses seats in an off year election and with this President polling at 58 percent disapproval with the public and the “pass nothing” Republican Congress at 19 points below the Dems in a generic Congressional preference poll, this has all the makings of a House takeover. It is a year out and so things could change but for point of reference, at this point in 2005, prior to the House takeover by the Dems, they were up by 15 points. As for being “tired of political correctness”, you may be but polling shows a majority of voters are ashamed of this President and see this as one of the worst times in US history; most people are tired of Trump!
So I guess now that he is on public record as acknowledging acceptance of the Climate Change Trinty they won’t turn him over to the Inquisition for blasphemy 🙂
He still sounds like a weaselly politician in this video. IMHO, his answers weren’t as straight forward and unambiguous as I would like in a NASA Administrator.
I want people who are running our country (i.e., politicians, etc.) to NEVER answer questions ambiguously, incoherently or not strait forward, but then I live in a fantasy world.
I did not see the entire hearing but from what I saw and heard in the clip that is attached to this blog post, Bridenstine did NOT say that climate change is caused by humans. That might be something someone wanted to hear but it was not what I heard him say. What I heard him say is: the climate is changing; humans breathe and they breathe out CO2; humans contribute to the atmosphere and to climate. He also said that NASA ought to study the climate. I don’t take issue with anything Bridenstine said about climate.
The questions were most definitely political in nature demanding political responses, and he answered honestly and apolitically: the climate is changing and humans contribute to it. He did not consent to the democrat leftist view that “everyone agrees”, that “its been decided” – no, science is not done by taking a vote. There is no ONE who can decide, certainly not Obama who was famous for this line-because not everyone does agree; There are plenty of world class climatologists who do not agree. I never heard Bridenstine say that humans are the primary cause. That is a political perspective, not scientific, and he answered that NASA ought to study and get the data.
I am happy with his responses about equal opportunity and treatment, the dignity and worth of personnel, zero tolerance for harassment, and that personnel should be free to speak up and express opinions. While these were probably stock answers and to be expected, there are plenty at NASA in some in pretty high places, who need to be taught these lessons. Much of the problem with the space program today goes back to Goldin and some others who did not share those viewpoints.
The working people at NASA are amazing and love what they do:, taking on the ‘impossible’ and making it happen. Whats been impossible for decades is a target/goal, for human exploration, and finding politicians and senior NASA leadership with the talent, skill, and courage, to make that happen. I do not believe Bridenstine will ‘make it happen’ as the forces of reality surrounding the Agency will leave it’s future looking much like the past…both good and bad.
In the end, and after watching it again (My wife being on the other side of the planet I have some free time, ok:-)…), the guy just seems like…like milk toast.
With Rep. Lamar Smith not running for re-election the vice chair of the committee, Rep. Frank Lucas could become chair in the next Congress, which could work out well for NASA with fellow Oklahoman Rep. Bridenstine running it.
With one exception , all 13 previous NASA administators have come from either aerospace or engineering fields. The exception was James Webb, the North Carolina lawyer who as it turned out was exceptional.
Bridenstine… we knew James Webb . We named the largest most expensive space telescope after him . You , sir, are no James Webb…
BS. With no evidence to prove a negative, I suspect NASA would be far more harmed by an ideological political appointee with an agenda wearing a leash and collar than the aerospace professionals that came before. Basing your argument on budgets is ridiculous , unless you care to disqualify the Joint Chiefs for the Pentagon’s fatuous bureaucracy , schedule busts and exponential cost overruns as well. Or most any other federal agency for that matter. Your argument is hollow rhetoric. Honestly , are you not positively impressed by any of NASA’s achievments to date ?
Well, maybe. The fact that he has been such a tea party loyalist supporting attacks on Senator Rubio working to develop a bipartisan compromise on immigration or supporting John McCain’s unsuccessful primary challenger who crassly has encouraged him to resign because of his brain cancer so she can be appointed to his seat makes me wonder – its not like the Republicans have a big majority in the Senate.
And what does that have to do with a NASA administrator?
Perhaps nothing but maybe everything. Taking divisive political positions is not something we’ve seen with NASA Administrators -which is partly why it has enjoyed bipartisan support. This is something the next NASA Administrator will need, especially if the Democrats retake the Congress as seems likely. More specifically, in the case of Keith’s title for this posting, that he has “survived” his confirmation hearing, we won’t really know until the vote but if the Dems line up against him, he can only lose four Republican senators before he’d lose the position and he’s already attacked or supported attacks on two of them.
“especially if the Democrats retake the Congress as seems likely”. LOL. And maybe Hillary will win in 2020!
Still laughing after yesterday’s election?
Hopefully, the House will save some money if they kept the Speaker Palosi signs from 2009 😉
I think the Democrats need to work out why people don’t vote for them before they can retake anything and I don’t even live in the USA. I suspect a large underlying group of people are sick of political correctness and leftist ideology. In the real world real people get hurt daily by poor policy.
While it’s certainly true that the Democrats need to expand beyond just being anti Trump in their messaging, it’s also a fact of political life that the party of the President almost always loses seats in an off year election and with this President polling at 58 percent disapproval with the public and the “pass nothing” Republican Congress at 19 points below the Dems in a generic Congressional preference poll, this has all the makings of a House takeover. It is a year out and so things could change but for point of reference, at this point in 2005, prior to the House takeover by the Dems, they were up by 15 points.
As for being “tired of political correctness”, you may be but polling shows a majority of voters are ashamed of this President and see this as one of the worst times in US history; most people are tired of Trump!
Nothing. This progressive understands that other Americans have different views.
I wondered though while watching if they were talking obliquely about something they both understood but we don’t. Sort of like code.
“Bridenstine agrees w/ 97% of scientists that climate change is real, its caused by humans, and is already causing devastating consequences.”
That must mean he is done with elective Oklahoma politics.
So I guess now that he is on public record as acknowledging acceptance of the Climate Change Trinty they won’t turn him over to the Inquisition for blasphemy 🙂
oh he can always do the opposite once in .. but his home state may not like his agreeing.
Don’t count on it, they know how the Swamp works.
https://www.youtube.com/wat…
He still sounds like a weaselly politician in this video. IMHO, his answers weren’t as straight forward and unambiguous as I would like in a NASA Administrator.
I want people who are running our country (i.e., politicians, etc.) to NEVER answer questions ambiguously, incoherently or not strait forward, but then I live in a fantasy world.
I did not see the entire hearing but from what I saw and heard in the clip that is attached to this blog post, Bridenstine did NOT say that climate change is caused by humans. That might be something someone wanted to hear but it was not what I heard him say. What I heard him say is: the climate is changing; humans breathe and they breathe out CO2; humans contribute to the atmosphere and to climate. He also said that NASA ought to study the climate. I don’t take issue with anything Bridenstine said about climate.
The questions were most definitely political in nature demanding political responses, and he answered honestly and apolitically: the climate is changing and humans contribute to it. He did not consent to the democrat leftist view that “everyone agrees”, that “its been decided” – no, science is not done by taking a vote. There is no ONE who can decide, certainly not Obama who was famous for this line-because not everyone does agree; There are plenty of world class climatologists who do not agree. I never heard Bridenstine say that humans are the primary cause. That is a political perspective, not scientific, and he answered that NASA ought to study and get the data.
I am happy with his responses about equal opportunity and treatment, the dignity and worth of personnel, zero tolerance for harassment, and that personnel should be free to speak up and express opinions. While these were probably stock answers and to be expected, there are plenty at NASA in some in pretty high places, who need to be taught these lessons. Much of the problem with the space program today goes back to Goldin and some others who did not share those viewpoints.
You’d benefit from watching the entire hearing.
The working people at NASA are amazing and love what they do:, taking on the ‘impossible’ and making it happen. Whats been impossible for decades is a target/goal, for human exploration, and finding politicians and senior NASA leadership with the talent, skill, and courage, to make that happen. I do not believe Bridenstine will ‘make it happen’ as the forces of reality surrounding the Agency will leave it’s future looking much like the past…both good and bad.
That is the price that NASA pays for being a highly visible government agency.
In the end, and after watching it again (My wife being on the other side of the planet I have some free time, ok:-)…), the guy just seems like…like milk toast.
He doesn’t seem personally mature. And odd thing to say, I guess, given his resumé. And it’s a characterization that borders on unfair, I guess; but I can’t help think that he needs another 10 or 15 years’ experience.
Life experience, I mean.
With Rep. Lamar Smith not running for re-election the vice chair of the committee, Rep. Frank Lucas could become chair in the next Congress, which could work out well for NASA with fellow Oklahoman Rep. Bridenstine running it.
With one exception , all 13 previous NASA administators have come from either aerospace or engineering fields. The exception was James Webb, the North Carolina lawyer who as it turned out was exceptional.
Bridenstine… we knew James Webb . We named the largest most expensive space telescope after him . You , sir, are no James Webb…
And exactly how well did NASA do under those other “professional aerospace” Administrators? The Shuttle? The ISS? Both years behind and over budget.
NASA probably couldn’t survive another aerospace professional.
BS.
With no evidence to prove a negative, I suspect NASA would be far more harmed by an ideological political appointee with an agenda wearing a leash and collar than the aerospace professionals that came before. Basing your argument on budgets is ridiculous , unless you care to disqualify the Joint Chiefs for the Pentagon’s fatuous bureaucracy , schedule busts and exponential cost overruns as well. Or most any other federal agency for that matter. Your argument is hollow rhetoric. Honestly , are you not positively impressed by any of NASA’s achievments to date ?