Looks like the article points to some good arguments.
But what about help from Russia? They have skilled engineers, the same interest in Mars and a mothballed giant rocket; they don't need that many dollars.
I remember a time when the President was respected, when government agencies could achieve the job (like in the movie 2001, made way back in 1965-1968).
It all has changed to the "wrong" direction, but it could shift back to the 60's way of thinking. Well, if it doesn't, at least, there were Moon landings in my lifetime. This cannot be taken away. A manned Mars mission is in a way, victim of the successful Apollo flights.
Raoul