re: TB's Point
I don't know what Post Sputnik's response was, since it was deleted before I saw it, but I read his "never seen it this good" as referring to the private space industry's recent developments, which does not contradict his opinion of the VSE and Constellation (not sure how they became "Bush's" though.)
I'm just as happy about the broad range of private companies going into the manned space transportation business (although only one of them is orbital--so far.) But I'm also realistic enough to know they still have a long road ahead of them.