"We will go where the science dictates that we go, not because it's close or popular. "

"ignoring popularity might be a detriment to Mars, but I'm confident science and Okeefe's other goals still point that way."

Well, I think O'Keefe has had enough time, orient himself in regards to NASA. Unfortuately, it appears that he seems to be pointed in the wrong direction.
Well, at least he isn't screaming at his employees [yet:]. Nor does he seem overly fixated on some pet goal.
I would agree that things don't look really good as far as going to the Moon in the short term.
But then again, my idea of NASA going to the Moon was never a top down approach- it would require strong leadership from lower levels of management who would lead the project from start to finish- as in any typical Faster, Cheaper, Better project.