No, Robert, I hadn't forgotten. Neither have I lost hindsight about the Kennedy years, and that it wasn't just The Speech, but the national cultural context in which that speech was made - partially because it was Kennedy and not Nixon; mostly because it was 1961, Vietnam was some jungle we sent a handful of "advisors" to, and there was plenty of money to throw at the Moon.

Seems too obvious to even type, but I will anyway: The worst frustration we space enthusaists have is the idea that only a leader with sufficient charisma can inspire this country to engage in an endeavor we believe has sufficient charisma of its own. We long for the 1961 setup of culture-plus-leadership to come again, because we can't figure out how to sell it any other way.

Hopeless? No - people who know me intimately will tell you I'm too optimistic for that. Postponed? Yeah - in the strict meaning of the word "indefinitely."

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Regarding the current leadership, and its potential replacement: I've remarked out loud (but not in print until now) that "at least I can stand to listen to Kerry's voice!" I'm willing to bet that in a contest where he and GWB both read the same speech (say, something historical), Kerry would make it sound like it meant something, and Bush would just read it.