It seems some people would rather settle for nothing than to see the purity of their vision compromised. Is the plan perfect? Hell no, but then, few things by humans ever are (and even fewer by politicians). Is it the best we're likely to get? Probably. We can carp and tear down the parts we don't like, but in the end, we're likely to end up with nothing for anyone.

You're exactly right that there are a lot of people who're so turned off by the space program that they'd love nothing better than to zero out NASA altogether. For example, here's a simple article from Opinion Journal on Bush's proposal. Now, read some of the the responses to that article. Here are a few:

More Pride on Good Earthly Government
Richard E. Langer - Minneapolis

Mr. Miniter may be right; a trip to Mars may be cunning if cynical politics. To me, however, it seems on principle like an incredibly stupid idea, and one where conservatives should be asking the tough questions, not just saluting and marching in place. How much is it going to cost, and who is going to pay for it? Tax cuts won't pay for it. If it has so many practical applications, why doesn't private enterprise do it?

If you want to study bone density loss in seniors, fund a study that focuses systematically on the earthly variables in older persons. Sending incredibly fit young people to Mars won't tell you much. And if you really need to use space, use the space station, whose main purpose at the moment seems to be running kids high school science projects.

More important, Conservatives should be asking about whether we wouldn't be stronger, more secure and more technically advanced with alternative, if less flashy, investments of this money in things like public health, transportation and care of our earth, sky and water.

It is too bad that think we need a spectacularly wasteful and inefficient program like the moon/Mars thing to inspire us, on the "parades and circuses" theory of public investment. The fault lies not in the stars but in ourselves. We would be better off if we took pride in the real accomplishments of good government here on earth.

Borders, Not Frontiers
Frank Lardino - Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

How much did we waste on the space station? $30 billion? Maybe if we spent a billion on protecting the borders, we may not have had 9/11 or bankrupt hospitals in cities bordering Mexico. Sept. 11 cost the U.S. and the global economy about $1 trillion and 3,000 innocents were murdered.

My suggestion to President Bush is consider sending illegal aliens to fight and die in Iraq. Most of my conservative friends will be staying home in November because they did not cast their vote for Vincente Fox in 2000.

Not Worth the Risk
Gene Zychowicz - Toledo, Ohio

Also small-minded is an editorial that suggests human disaster is palatable because the books balance. Earth to Mr. Miniter: Tang and Velcro are nice, but not if we lose aviators in the process.

I Can't Believe It
David Kreitman - New York

I cannot believe this guy is trying to justify such idiotic, wasteful schemes.

There are more of the same on that page, and that's just one small source. The situation isn't helped by the uninformed chattering classes who throw out numbers like $1 trillion for the price, numbers they no doubt found in their anal data store. Remember, people with opinions like those shown above are likely voters, too. Without the support of the voters, there won't be ANY program.