Phil would have done what he's always does.
Unlike Goldin I damn well would have made sure that my FBC policy was workable, was specific and that my area lab managers understood it and were implementing policies and actions that effectuated it. I would solicited any problem areas arising from its implementation so that we could troubleshoot the problems, modify the implementation and get the results intended. Or abandon the idea if it was unworkable.

I also would have made damn sure we had a handle on ISS costs. Even after that due to the nature of the endeavour thru a large beuracracy there still would have been some cost blowouts. I would take steps to get on it fast and made management changes to prevent re-occurance. I would also have personally met with Boeing top management and made certain that they understood my intent regarding cost and schedule.

Some brief details. I would have lobbied FOR stuff like commercial Transhab additions to ISS. I would have instituted a real gameplan for a lunar polar ice discovery robotic mission. Instead of talking about it, I would have funded Kepler to see if there are ANY other Earthlike bodies around other stars. Maybe deferred Mercury Messanger to fund it. Would have insisted that a Mercury mission use solar powered ion drive to make the eventual mission faster, shorter and less expensive.

What I would NOT have done was make disengenuous statements alluding to manned Mars missions early in my tenure. Nor would I have had my flacks diss commercial CATS efforts saying "Just wait untill you see what we (NASA) is going to do."

There would be little I think I could have done with regard to the Clinton policy of 7 years of NASA budget reductions while massively increasing social program spending with the rising tax revenues.

Goldin is incompetent, a liar and a lousy administrator. His results?
He has spent well over $100 Billion dollars and we're doing SkyLab II. BFD.

-philw