Dear Mike: Think Before You Gossip

What's the matter Keith? You only like rumours you start?

As it's generally recognized that Griffin's ego and refusal to see reality were a major cause of Constellation's difficulties, any forum he opens his mouth in instantly loses credibility. He would do better to keep his yap shut; however, that isn't how politics is done today.

Griffin is proving himself a disgrace. I don't believe that Webb or Paine put up such a fuss at a new administration's change in NASA direction, even though they had more cause than Griffin to do so.

Keith, whether Mike Griffin did this or not I can't say. But I can say that your reply is pregnant with anxiety, irritability and righteous indignation. Is it possible that you're getting a little nervous about the possibility that the flames you have been faning for the past 2 years are about to burn the entire forrest down?

The spectacle of this disgraced former administrator that can't stand no longer being in the limelight continues.The idea that senior NASA leadership is seeking to influence public perceptions by deliberately leaking certain details of management decisions doesn't hold up, since as many of Keith's postings are critical of NASA as they are supportive.
The question really is: why is Griffin deliberately saying these things he knows aren't true? I can only conclude it's Mikey's attempt at undermining the Office of Administrator while professing support for Bolden and Garver. First he argued with the transition team -the only Bush appointee to do so, and had his wife make a public attempt to keep him on as Administrator while at the same time stating he'd stoop to serving under Obama only if certain elements of Constellation were supported by the new President. Now he's gossiping like a High School senior?
Give me a break.

Sorry, Frank, but I don't find your comments to show much more maturity than Griffin's (if Cowing's assertions are true).

Editor's note "If" they are true? of course they are.

"disgraced former administrator"

Really? "Disgraced?" Statements like this are more properly prefaced with "IMHO"

"The idea that senior NASA leadership is seeking to influence public perceptions by deliberately leaking certain details of management decisions doesn't hold up, since as many of Keith's postings are critical of NASA as they are supportive".

Just because Cowing is showing some objectivity dosen't mean the assertion is not true. We sure know that leaking to the press is a technique employed by the OSTP/OMB puppet masters.

"First he argued with the transition team -the only Bush appointee to do so...while at the same time stating he'd stoop to serving under Obama only if certain elements of Constellation were supported by the new President."

Gasp. You mean he stood up for what he believed in instead of cow-towing to try keep his job? The gall!

"and had his wife make a public attempt to keep him on as Administrator"

Do you know this for a fact? Griffin has publicly stated that she did this on her own.

I really don't understand the purpose of your post and it is contrary to your usual more thoughtful offerings. Personal attacks seem petty and wasted effort in critical times like these.

Is there no law here? In all administrations that I know it is customary to state that basically you will keep mum after your time. Even in companies and commercial deals, you are in general bound to not talk around like that (to speak nothing of decency, as Frank already remarked earlier). This is shocking!

Is it the case that people in the space business use too much their brains when designing rockets and satellites, and so they have none of it left when engaging in public debate? That can only be the explanation for the

Politicans involved of scientific matters, recipe for failure. No need to say more.

Wouarnud:

Is there no law here?

Certainly there is a law. It is codified in the 1st Amendment of the US Constitution. It is more coloquially known by its informal title of "the right to free speech." Our Democracy used to be based upon this fundamental right. But I am not so sure anymore...

"Is it possible that you're getting a little nervous about the possibility that the flames you have been fanning for the past 2 years are about to burn the entire forest down?"

Sorry, but you are wrong here.

If more people had seen the technical and political problems associated with the direction Constellation moved in from the outset, and particularly, if NASA management had taken significant corrective action when they saw that the program was chasing their tail and on a path to nowhere, then there was a chance to save that program and define a workable Griffin exploration plan.

That few with a voice spoke up 3 to 5 years ago, and that NASA management was pretending we were on a successful path to implement anything, is what started this forest fire. Not only Griffin, but many of the NASA human space flight leaders need to shoulder that responsibility. What they really were demonstrating was their leadership ability.

Your comment is aiming at the messengers who were trying to tell the emperor he had no clothes.

There is one possible salvation now and that is to continue the Shuttle program at a reduced flight level, with a shift from Orbiter missions to a Heavy Lift unmanned capability. If that is not done, then whether there is any future for US human spaceflight becomes seriously questionable. It is a decision which needs to be made very soon. By the time of the next Presidential election, it will be too late.

Although my remarks may be uncharacteristically emotional in tone, it is because I find it galling that Griffin is allowed to act as if the mess he left behind wasn't his-and is not accountable for same. Yes everyone knew about his wife's campaign -am i to suppose Griffin was the only one that didn't?-because she was emailing his employees at their NASA email addresses. Arguing with the transition team in public is a classless act to say the least. Keep your differences out of the newspapers is a better approach. And now he is sending out gossip? He should be grateful he hasn't been called to explain, if he was so smart, why Constellation was in the state the Augustine panel found it. Can't have it both ways.

Dear Oh Dear,
the people we put into important positions that time after time prove themselves unfit to hold that office.
Add this little ding dong to the smell of putrefying corruption viz-a-viz ATK along with Horowitz who kept the odor down to acceptable levels - and then joined that very company- and if the consequences weren't so grave for America in Manned Space, I'd be glad this happened. A lot less than he deserved. He & "Doc" should be facing corruption charges in a court of law, but some people have a way of...

Seems a bit ironic to gossip over alleged gossip. Let me understand this, Griffin is accused of claiming that the 9th floor at NASA has been leaking info to this site. Where is this info coming from the 9th floor of NASA? If so then it sounds legit. Griffin's wife's email campaign? Did he put her up to this? or was this a wifely act that she did on her own. Who really cares, is this such a slow news day. Mike commenting on new ideas, taboo? Wake up it's 2010, the IT age, the whole reason this site exists is because of comments, no reason to live by some old rule that holds back info.

Maybe you should consider running a poll on whether or not people think NASAWatch is being fed by NASA HQ. The idea that NASAWatch has been working for the new admin has been running around the NASA 'water coolers' for almost a year and a half.

Editor's note: and with the exception of Mike Griffin the people making such accusations are afraid to use their real names.

PRM, you seem to be clueless as to what is expected of those that receive Presidential appointments that require Senate confirmation. You dance with the one that brung you. You do not try and publically force the incoming administration to reappoint you (consider how far this tactic got former CIA chief Stansfield Turner, who tried to convince the incoming Reagan administration to reappoint him CIA Director. He was shown the door). There is also an unspoken rule (which I admit has occasionally been broken)that requires you to leave your successors undisturbed as they go about their own policies, even if they vary greatly from your own.

Dear Keith: Think Before You Gossip

"One of the oddest things I have learned in the past week or two is that Mike Griffin has been telling people..."

Thanks for making my night, Keith... I can't help but laugh at the irony of your little article here. The journalistic integrity is an inspiration to us all.

Editor's note: ah, and yet you still read NASA Watch. No self control (or taste) eh?