Mars mission is a worthy quest
Inter Lake editorial
NASA's current exploration of Mars doesn't quite rival the imagination of writer Edgar Rice Burroughs, whose Mars was famously inhabited by the naked red princess, Dejas Thoris, as well as four-armed green creatures who had a penchant for battle.
Nonetheless, we find the notion of human beings on earth controlling a spacecraft lander on Mars and digging up ice and soil samples to be inspiring and, yes, dramatic.
Of course, some of the drama is the kind that NASA would prefer to do without - such as when the orbiting vehicle, Mars Reconnaissance, lost its radio power on Tuesday. But good planning in the form of redundant orbiters meant everthing proceeded smoothly anyway as MASA switched control of the lander to the Mars Odyssey orbiter.
We know there are many skeptics and "realists" who would prefer to see the space program killed or diminished because they don't see the value of "pure science" on Mars as long as poverty remains on earth.
They make a compelling argument, but the meanness of human life has always been partly ameliorated by the grandeur of human aspirations. Whether we find evidence of life on Mars is only part of the story.
Equally important is what we find in our own dreams.
Do you need any more evidence that this is a benchmark year for Montana politics?
Consider that on Tuesday a major presidential candidate, Sen. Hillary Clinton, made a campaign stop in, of all places, Pablo.
Now that was a logical place for Clinton to expound on her Indian policy - but it's not the usual place for a national campaign to stop.
The senator's visit to Northwest Montana is an affirmation of this most unusual of election seasons when Montana voters are actually being courted by presidential hopefuls.
Hillary Clinton, Sen. Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton have been repeat visitors to the Big Sky state in recent weeks as the primary election race comes to a close.
Enjoy the limelight, Montanans. It ought to last until Tuesday's primary election.