"Finally: Has anyone noticed that nothing really happens until AFTER Bush leaves office in 2008? If Hillary is elected in 2008 (which is probable), she could opt to flush the whole works down the toilet (do a repeat of what Nixon did in 1972)."

I would say the most important thing that NASA is doing is the Prometheus program and sending robotic missions to the Moon. There should be significant progress with these efforts by '08.

"Overall, NASA has stated it anticipated spending a total of some $1 billion over the next five years on NSI."
...
"The march to Mars by humans becomes ever more achievable given the Prometheus effort. And that's welcome news to Robert Zubrin, President of the Mars Society in Indian Hills, Colorado.

"The decision by NASA to revive its nuclear rocket development program is a tremendously positive step. It will greatly enhance the prospects for human exploration and settlement of the Solar System," he told SPACE.com . "
http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/nuclear_power_030117.html