Are you a Shuttle-hugger or something? How is what follows, when posted in this Shuttle-discontinuation thread, "spam"? No wonder you wouldn't sign off on your post, which is not only spam, it's unethical. Not as unethical as bilking us taxpayers for 25 times more than what launching Americans into space SHOULD cost though...

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Will the pathetic Shuttle survive Kerry or Edwards, who BOTH enjoy double digit leads over Bush now?

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-02-17-campaign-money_x.htm

Granted, both Kerry & Edwards are cozying up to unions, and I suppose that the Shuttle is quite unionized. Nevertheless, neither is particularly fond of space from what I can gather. And in light of our federal deficit, why wouldn't either candidate rush to continue outsourcing from the much more affordable private industry (initially from the Soyuz providers until Rutan or Musk or Bezos or Carmack or somebody can fill in)? It's not like either candidate is particularly eager to waste more money on Jeb's Florida, either. Perhaps it's curtains for the Shuttle? And isn't it about time?