George H.W. Bush
NASA Administrator Statement on Passing of George H.W. Bush
“From being the Navy’s youngest fighter pilot in World War II and being shot down, to his years of public service in Congress, the State Department, CIA, Vice President and President, there was nothing he wouldn’t give for our country and her people. “President Bush’s Space Exploration Initiative helped us to think big and long-term about space. His impassioned vision of ‘a journey into tomorrow – a journey to another planet – a manned mission to Mars,’ helped sustain NASA’s early work on the International Space Station, and it still can be felt in our ongoing efforts to send humans farther into the solar system to live and work for extended periods. “The President noted it was humanity’s destiny to explore, and America’s destiny to lead. We salute this great American leader, who challenged us to chart a course for the future to benefit all humanity.”
Former President George H.W. Bush discusses life in space with station crew, February 11, 2016
“Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 46 Commander Scott Kelly and Flight Engineer Tim Kopra of NASA discussed Kelly’s year-long mission and research aboard the orbital laboratory during a conversation on Feb. 5 with former President George H.W. Bush, who paid a visit to the Mission Control Center at Johnson Space Center in Houston.”
When it comes to deep space flight, I think Mr. Bush did more than the two presidents who proceeded him. He did not push for a hugely expensive NASA project to send people to Mars. But he was the first President to tell NASA that they should start thinking about sending astronauts to Mars. Presidents Nixon, Carter and Reagan were satisfied with the Shuttle, a Space station, and unmanned, national security satellites in low to geostationary orbits. Mr. Bush at least made as speech or two about going farther.
And, despite his poor phrasing and poor use of the English language, I think he made good foreign policy decisions (better than his son’s), was an excellent statesman and the sort of politician who could form a consensus. In addition to regretting Mr. Bush’s death, I also regret that we don’t have more politicians like him.
“I also regret that we don’t have more politicians like him”
Quite possibly the last Republican who would refuse to sell his soul; and an example of honorable opposition, a man with whom disagreement did not lead to disagreeable.
Yes, the last President of the G.I. generation who understood the nation comes before politics. Like others in his generation he understood politics was not about winning or losing but about finding common ground in order to work together. He will be missed, as will his entire generation.
Would you agree with the old, sports line, ”It’s not about whether you win or lose, it’s about how you play the game.”?
In hindsight, Mr. Bush made many decisions I did not like, but he did make them in a way I am comfortable with. In a democracy, there is always a chance that will happen. What is needed is to accept that you will not always get your way, and find the best solution possible. I think Mr. Bush ways quite good at that. I’m afraid I can’t say that of many current, elected officials.
Exactly! But I wouldn’t limit it to just the elected politicians of this generation.
Really, Mr. Spencer? I will not get in a debate with you but that is a hateful thing to say about a huge swath of the American public & our elected officials. Please get the log out of your eye and realize there are honorable – and surely dishonorable people on both sides. “Last Republican who would refuse to sell his soul” is a phrase that comes from a certain arrogant conceit. Shame on you.
Since I made the initial comment that it’s unfortunate “we don’t have more politicians like him,” I’ll make two points about what I wrote. Saying we need more politicians who can comprise and build a consensus doesn’t imply people like that are completely gone. They just seem to be an unfortunately small minority. I also didn’t mention anything about party affiliation. There are plenty of rude and uncompromising politicians on both sides of the aisle. (And the small, “third” parties aren’t any better.)
But, despite my disagreement with many of Mr. Bush’s policies and opinions, I think his approach to politics was a model which a very large number of modern politicians of all affiliations should learn from.
I agree. President Washington was right on target when he warned America of the dangers of political parties polarizing the nation.
I’m sorry, when I here the phrase “certain arrogant conceit” this is what pops into my mind these days:
https://tinyurl.com/y9fbcyfs
One ray of hope: the article points out that, although the leadership of the GOP has “sold their soul” (sorry, as hurtful as it may be, I just can’t think of any better way to put it) to Trumpism along with its denial of anthropogenic climate change, two thirds of Republicans at least now believe that the climate is changing. But I’d like to find out how many of them believe it’s anthropogenic change before I get too hopeful, and I’d like to see them hold their leadership accountable for not dealing with what is truly an existential threat.
You just did a very good job of illustrating President Washington’s warning on the danger of political parties.
On the other hand, as difficult as I suspect this may be, you might reflect that you could be wrong. Like many folks, I think Mr. Trump is doing a pretty good job. Vote him out in two years if you don’t like him and can raise the votes, but otherwise please stop the moaning and groaning. It’s echo chamber stuff. Try for originality and avoid Groupthink.
I’m a scientist. As such I always, and constantly, test the conclusions I draw from my work (and from my beliefs). I’m actually not one who lives in a bubble and, although I’m nowhere near a conservative, I find myself more and more drawn to the writings and arguments of those conservatives who have left the Republican party in utter disgust at what it’s become.
And with Trump’s utter disregard for the emoluments clause of the constitution (with the backing of the GOP party), his lies on every subject imaginable (and, now, it looks like in his written answers to Muller), and his utter contempt (and lack of understanding) for our three-legged system of government, I’m not sure I’ll have to wait 2 years. (And I’m not talking impeachment; my guess is he’ll resign in return for an agreement on the part of those investigating him and his family not to expose them for what they truly are.)
The Rachel Maddow series of arguments/hopes/dreams. I haven’t watched her in a long while. Thanks for the recap. 😉
I actually don’t watch Rachel Maddow (only because she’s on after I go to bed). I do watch, when I can, Nicolle Wallace and her guests, which often include Jennifer Rubin, Bill Kristol, and Steve Schmidt. I also now (occasionally, anyway) read Max Boot and Elliot Cohen, and
I find George Conway’s new group (called Checks and Balances) interesting. Funny, if you had asked me, two years ago, if I listened to or read any of these people (let alone agreed with them), I would have laughed. Politics does, indeed, make strange bedfellows.
Actually, I do think the hysteria over “climate change” is more politics than science. But pollution of the air and our seas – that’s real and very dangerous. That’s where our concern should be, not the nebulous “sky is falling” climate change thing. And, of course, if there’s ANYONE on the planet that thinks the climate isn’t changing, they’re wrong. It’s always changing. That’s why I find dinosaurs in Montana and whales in Egypt and the northern Sahara used to be a breadbasket.
The people of Florida aren’t hysterical:
https://tinyurl.com/n5ay57c
Nor are the people of El Paso:
https://tinyurl.com/ycbn3ke8
These are just two areas being affected by anthropogenic climate change now, not in the future.
Made me laugh. Both are good examples of using any uncomfortable or unpredictable change as an example of “climate change” and so it goes in an endless loop. The Florida coast has been in constant change for more or less forever. Drought is a constant threat in Texas. The difference is now people build next to a fluctuating coast (due to currents and shifting shoals and sands) expecting it to remain the same forever and people moving into an area with plenty of water are stunned and amazed when it stops raining for a good while. You see what you want to see and draw the conclusions you want to conclude. Climate change is constant but the certainty that it can be stopped by just eliminating that dang carbon stuff is pure illusion, otherwise known as nonsense.
It makes me laugh (more like grimace) when anthropogenic climate change is waved away through simplistic arguments about effects that are already taken into account by the models. What’s the old saying, “None are so blind as those who will not see.”
Mr. Hickman: It is sometimes the case, as perhaps here, that the dominion of hyperbole is exceeded.
On the other hand, and while certainly exceptions are to be found, comparing the mean of the current Republican Party and that of Mr. Bush is too instructive to omit.
Mr. Trump is brash and unlikable and has trouble with forming language to match his thoughts. Otherwise, he is a good Democrat turned Republican who is the Andrew Jackson of this age. The entrenched politicians and federal civil service needed turning upside down and that is why he was elected. Let him swing for the fences, keep the lobbyist and country club Republicans and Walls Street Democrats discombobulated and let’s stop opposing everything he does because of who he is. Give the man his chance. He earned it.
It seemed once the “price tag” was “leaked” of how much SEI will cost (Paul Spudis wrote the costs revealed was out of context), that squelched getting people beyond LEO. We see it again with his son’s VSE. I think the other Presidents didn’t mention anything grand as the financials are non-starters. So far we struggle to put a human into LEO (maybe that will change next year).
Some interesting discussions on CSPAN by authors that wrote about Mr. Bush:
Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer Jon Meacham and former President George W. Bush talked about the life of America’s 41st president
https://www.c-span.org/vide…
When the World Seemed New: George H. W. Bush and the End of the Cold War.
https://www.c-span.org/vide…
nit picking but “fighter pilot” ? He did graduate pilot school younger than 19 years old (making him, according to wiki (sigh), “one of the youngest graduates”) and went on to fly torpedo bombers (not slight implied, just not fighters).
I agree that as President, and as a politician, he belongs to an earlier age … more principled, less “me first”, more prepared to be accountable for his decisions, more able to “keep his head when all about are losing theirs, and blaming it on you”.
Missed, but not forgotten.
Someone always has to be a nit picking wet blanket. What’s your point other than to try and diminish the man’s accomplishments behind an anonymous internet name?
Grumman Avengers actually did have forward firing machine guns, and over the years some pilots did shoot back at Japanese fighters – even though the big Avenger wasn’t as agile as a Zero, so… (shrugs). I’m not aware of Mr Bush ever doing this.
A lovely piece about a long relationship that additionally reminds us that those we read about are actual people.
https://www.nytimes.com/201…