Energy/NASA

In January of 2004 President Bush outlined a new "vision" for NASA which calls for the use of billions of tax dollars to be spent by NASA for continued outer space exploration. This is not real good timing since our national debt is now $8,663,169,896,566.13 and rising. This isn't the correct time to spend billions of tax dollars on space exploration. It can wait until later because of other priorities.

I will be changing much of that "vision" after I become president in 2008 because I think that the resources at NASA and the NASA budget money should be used in a different manner that will be more useful to the everyday needs of the American Taxpayers. Of course I'm talking about our great need for alternative fuels. Much of President Bush's planned "Vision for Space Exploration" can be put off until later. Our energy needs cannot - and should not.

I believe that our country is in great need of finding an alternative energy source - quickly. I also believe that our federal government has not gotten as serious about the problem as they should be. [Not that big oil companies and their lobbyists would have anything to do with it.] This will all change when I take over in 2008 because the problem is so serious that it automatically takes priority over outer space. We, as a nation, need to make alternative fuel sources a much higher priority than space exploration. This will be my policy.

Hydrogen appears to be the wave of the future but not any time soon (unless we want to start pouring a lot more money, research, and resources in that direction). Since it is not the right time to be concerned with cosmic mysteries, nor do I think now is the time to be contemplating the colonization of the moon, I will redirect the efforts and resources of NASA. Their space exploration mission will be (temporarily) changing to an energy exploration mission. This may include studying the oceans for potential energy sources. Your government is going to get serious about this ongoing problem because I know that everyone is tired of being raped by the oil companies.

NASA has been responsible for many unique inventions and technology changes through the years - many that have found their way into everyday life for most of us. This is how we know that they can do the job of finding the energy source that we need. Let's face it, they're good (and with the budget they have, they had better be). There is a lot of brain power employed at NASA and plenty of resources to allow them the opportunity to come up with the answers to the questions about the energy problem that we continually face as a nation.

Therefore I will ask NASA to work hand in hand with the American automobile manufacturers and any other American industries that want to take part in this effort. The more help and the more resources that can be combined will move the effort along faster. I have no doubt that this united American effort will come up with the best long term solution to our energy concerns in a very timely manner. I am assuring you, the American Taxpayers, that this will be an all out effort to come up with some answers, as quickly as possible. If hydrogen doesn't look feasible, we need to know that and move on.

Right now the auto manufacturers are stumbling their way through this problem spending millions of dollars on what they are hoping are some answers. The high quality personnel and the vast resources at NASA will help them come up with some answers much faster. As for the stars in galaxy #4 (take a right turn at comet #3678) and the argument over Pluto - they'll have to remain mysteries while the NASA people are working on priority #1 - energy.

I can already hear the pessimist club saying that I can't just change the mission of NASA. After all, these are highly trained and highly intelligent specialists in fields concerning the cosmos. You can't just tell them to find a new energy source! As the big cheese, the head honcho and "President Tony the cheapskate" I will indeed use all of this tax money that is budgeted for NASA in the way that I think is more efficient at this time in history. [Okay, not all of the budgeted money, since some of NASA will have to carry on as usual.] But be assured, these men and women can do what we are going to ask of them because they are good Americans. We all know that good Americans, when challenged, have a history of accomplishing the impossible when they put their minds to it. That's what sets America apart from the rest of the world. And that's why NASA has been so successful in the past.

This will be an easy adaptation for these highly trained, intelligent men and women. I'm sure they will agree. They will be more than happy to jump in and work with American industry to accomplish this most important of goals. It's just a temporary detour on the happy trail that is the life of a mad (rocket) scientist!

In case you care, space exploration will continue as usual - in the private sector. Even now there are brainiacs spending their own money and resources in efforts to make space exploration more fashionable for those who can afford it. They're coming up with all kinds of neat stuff. [Google "SpaceX" and "Rocketplane-Kistler" for a taste of what's to come in the private sector.]