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.

Laws Bush/Cheney pushed for and signed allow the federal government to take away your guns, throw you in jail without seeing a lawyer and keep you in jail without a trial.

Try telling that to a Republican (or someone farther to the right) and you're met with anger. Not mere rejection: A complete visceral reaction. Sphincter conservatives don't think, they hear "guns" and automatically get angry at Democrats. Facts don't matter.

Well, now that Obama is continuing (and in some cases expanding on) some of Bush's policies in this matter, their sphincters clench over Obama. Even though Obama has been forthcoming about his policies and not, as Glenn points out, continuing the craven Bush/Cheney practice of hiding in the dark. What is coming to light is no surprise for many of us, but doesn't even enter into the debate from Fox/CNN/right-wing blogosphere.

We can and should bring to light all attempts to rip up the Bill of Rights. By the same token, we must frame the debate: What Obama is doing started with Bush. The goppies can't throw "pre-9/11 thinking" at those of use who tried to uphold civili rights, and suddenly flip-flop when they "discover" that those civil rights were taken away a long time ago by people they voted for.

Republicans are always soft on crime when it's theirs. Conservatives have a double standard when it comes to criticizing presidents. Glenn Greenwald has been on this subject regardless of the politics. But for the right, pointing fingers is politics as usual. We should point back. Time for conservatives to exercise some of their vaunted "personal responsibility" and accept their part of the blame.

As you can see from just the few responses here, Glenn, the subject of Israel must be broached carefully or a whole slew of insane people pop out of the woodwork. Already here, we've seen letters blaming Israel for 9/11 and connecting the settlements to the Rothchilds.

You are, as usual, completely correct that the right has an enormous double standard when it comes to criticizing the US: They can rip into our country, but no one else better even try.

As to the settlements themselves: Well, I agree that illegal settlements shouldn't happen. I'm in favor of legal settlements, where the land is owned by the settlers and they want to live in peace. This is the procedure most of the time. It's still useful to remember: There is only Israel. Inhabitants of Gaza and the West Bank have rejected any and all proposals for a separate country. Too many of them reject Israel as a country; they don't want to live in peace.

Heck, just a few days ago, Hamas stormed a mosque in a turf war with Al Queda. Until the people in Gaza and the West Bank behave like adults and want peace with their neighbors, it's not going to happen. What Israel does is less important than how they handle themselves.

But I digress. Huckabee is playing to his evangelical right "base". I'm moderately surprised that he didn't drag along a red calf. The GOP is in a fix. For the first time in a generation, the VP of the previous president is not a viable candidate. Yeah, even Quayle was mentioned as a possibility more than Cheney. They are lost in the wilderness, and must scrap for any sort of fund-raising possibilities. Fundies have money. Stomping on GOPs flip flop is always fun, but we really need to watch out for extremists who think they're in charge.