Throwing NASA Under the Bus

In direct contradiction to his many claims to make objective decisions based on sound science, and in particular, space science, President Obama intends to deliver a budget request to Congress that eliminates public funding of manned space missions, and that limits manned space flight to a mere 'taxi service' to the International Space Station. The Ares rocket is to be cancelled with no replacement program, essentially throwing the money already spent on R&D down the drain. Given the current economy and deficit, one might expect to the have the program delayed or curtailed to some degree, but to completely cancel it with no plan except private funding it ludicrous. Given his earlier stated aversion to using private contractors, and insistence that replacing them would save money, this seems an odd way for him to change his mind.