Bush 41's SEI was doomed from the beginning because of what happened behind the scenes. He went to NASA and asked them for a bold new space program. NASA management larded it up with every bureaucrat's wet dreams - greatly increased spending, massive new hiring, bigger budgets and promotions for all. It died a most grievous death, and good riddance.

Even NASA is capable of learning, though. They know they can't get away with the same stunt this time, so they're going to have to do better if they hope to exist much longer as a government agency. I think there's pretty widespread boredom with the ISS boldly going where every spacecraft has gone for the last 30+ years. The Shuttle is reaching the end of its useful life. If NASA wants to continue to exist, they'd better come up with something that captures the public's imagination. They know they aren't going to get a blank check, so they'd better get it right this time.