Actually from the get go Bush has shown what seems to be a thought out approach to fixing NASA. He cancelled the failed X-33 and downscaled the ISS right off the bat. He got a bean counter to fix NASA's atrocious accounting system. Auditors who were asked audit NASA when Bush came in said it was impossible because of their bizarre bookkeepping practices. O'Keefe has fixed that and brought NASA's accounting practices in line. This in turn creates more confidence in Congress that NASA knows what it's talking about in terms of costs from now on.

Sure, the Shuttle's disintegration brought the agency under sharper focus but it is also clear there was considerable attention put to this new plan. I just don't think it's realistic to believe there is some conspiracy by rightwingers to kill the American human space flight program especially in light of Chinese and Russian plans.