The US Space Program was the most successful endeavor in human history. There is nothing that comes close.

The food you eat, the clothes you wear, the car you drive, the phone you use, the internet you are reading this with, the medical care you receive, the weather report you take for granted, the Biblical history revealed, the military intelligence gathered, the data we use to determine everything from global warming to broadcast interference: All this, and much much more are spinoffs and/or directly affected by the US Space Program.

Nixon shut down much of the Apollo mission because of his insane jealousy of Kennedy, but the space program continues to justify any and all money spent. We should spend more -- a lot more -- as the practical applications of pure research has justified American optimism. We aren't as rich as we were rebuilding the world after out of WW II, but we can and must lead the way in science and unexpected technology. Otherwise, we wither and cede leadership of the world to others.

I disagree with brother Joe that we have to be 1960s rich to fund such a wide ranging effort, but I agree that the greatest challenge lies in climate change and maintaining our moral leadership. What further benefits can there be from goal-oriented research? We don't know. All we know is what has worked in the past, and that's the US Space Program.

Happy New Year, everyone, in this, the start of the Year of our Moon Landing 40.

A good column, once again, where you nailed what is wrong with American Journalism: Not only are they really bad at actual reporting, they go out of their wait to do the exact opposite of real journalism. We want and need a "liberal" news media, ie one that tells the truth.

I loved your use of the Colbert quote from the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner 4/29/06: "Reality has a well-known liberal bias." -- Stephen Colbert. Since the Nixon days we had to shake our heads along with one of the writer of The Illuminatus Trilogy: "What kind of world is it where the reality is weirder than the satire?" -- Robert Anton Wilson, "Shrödinger's Cat".

But when Bush took office, claiming Jesus was his main political advisor, everything remotely Christian flew out the window. Swearing false oaths was in fashion. (Many tried to hew to the letter of the law while ripping up the spirit of the Biblical Commandment, which is why Bush refused to testify under oath to the 9/11 commission even though he had utterly lied throughout.) Conservatives don't have the values that made America great. Of course, they claim the exact opposite.

Perhaps we should require all statements made by Republicans to be made with a hand on a Bible. If they're not lying, they would do it. What are they trying to hide?

Once lying was institutionalized in both the Republican Party (with creep into the Democratic Party) and the conservative news media, some people with guts took notice. Very few. Indeed, the people with guts were the comedy shows. You cited Colbert. Here's one of my favorite quotes from The Daily Show 6/22/05: "What doesn't have credibility today is the truth." -- Bill Moyers.

Moyers, as is often the case, nailed it.

Now what?

When Bush stole the 2000 election there were protests, but didn't make the news much and they petered out. When The GOP stole the 2002 elections, hardly anyone said a word. When Bush stole the 2004 elections, the conservative news media just rolled over.

And yet, as these polls on detention without charges show, the majority of Americans are not at all happy with many of the decisions made by Bush and co... and didn't at the time.

When the farther-right-than-the-right-wing-"reformers" screwed around with the recent election in Iran -- and we don't know exactly what or how -- massive protests are in the streets and everyone is noticing. Some violence has been reported but government suppression isn't working very well.

The US electorate should take lessons from our Iranian counterparts.

Another fine job, Glenn, that really nails the issue. Bush broke the law and got away with it (so far) and Obama is continuing and building on the illegal practice.

But I have a question: Do you ever pick up a phone and call former or current members of the FBI, former or current members of Congress who voted for the expansion of the 1978 FISA or any of the former or current members of Congress who supported either Bush or Obama in this? Surely, you have clout and a phone call or e-mail would help shed light on the situation.