“Those who sign here petition the United States government to secure funding and resources, and begin construction on a Death Star by 2016. By focusing our defense resources into a space-superiority platform and weapon system such as a Death Star, the government can spur job creation in the fields of construction, engineering, space exploration, and more, and strengthen our national defense.”
That, fellow citizens, is a petition on the White House's "We The People" website encouraging the United States of America to build a Death Star. And right away. The Hill website points out the petition could attract an official White House response if it gets 25,000 signatures by mid-December.
Don't get me wrong: I'm as excited about America building a moon-sized doom dispenser as anyone. And no question, the Death Star will be a bonanza for construction, engineering, and the companies who make white stormtrooper helmets. But remember this: No matter how powerful, a Death Star can still be vulnerable to attack from small maneuverable fighters, especially if it reminds pilots of "Beggar's Canyon back home."
Debate this important national defense project amongst yourselves.
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Just remember young Skywalker the power of the force is strong.
And may the force be with US!
Follow Luke.
Force or farce?
Odds are there will be a cheap Chinese knock-off of it shortly thereafter using stolen plans.
...made of foam
"We've already got one!"
"What?"
"We've already got one, now go away!"
Isn't that God standing in the corner?
You guys are an administration too late.
Darth Vader was in the last administration.
May I suggest a project a bit closer to "home"?
Dig a deep moat around our "HomeLand". Benefits are several, including a breathable atmosphere and most of the "moat" is already there. (If Canada joins us, and the arctic ice continues to melt, only the Messican border will need some work.)
You got to leave a path or at least 1 tunnel open for Jorge. If you can remember where the burning bush was.
Oh, Kent, you do make me chuckle :)
Can't we change the name from Deathstar to let's say, Wilson. I would be more willing to comment. Deathstar sounds so dark. Or how about Twinkie, that sounds nice.
screw that. lets build an O'Neill cylinder and go asteroid mining.
Then maybe you could make a real name for yourself.
Let us instead plan on space colonization, so we can send forth the finest GOP minds to once again go into the desert. ( a joke on Mormons)
We'll need a lot of those burlap water bags they sell, where the baby rattler snake eggs are also sold. That bag needs to be tied somewhere on the red space helicopter. The mirages are real this time. I know how to make cactus jelly. Do you think cactus can grow on Mars?
Why not build the Starship Enterprise instead? Phasers do more damage than lasers. While we're at it let's adopt the Prime Directive of non-interference with other cultures. We don't exactly have a stellar record getting along with one another's culture on this planet. What gives us the audacity to think that we could get along with an alien species?? The Vulcan's are watching and they're still shaking their heads with disbelief.
Well said, Scott!
As Captain Kirk sowed his seed across the galaxy with all the blue, green, and other alien space babes.. ( and Lt Uhura, too) i wonder what MRS Kirk had to say about his affair? art imitating life? or life imitating art? or reality vs fiction? patraeus -broadwell....
and is interplanetary isolationism a good thing? or should the federation be engaged, and involved and leading in the affairs of the other galactic membership? should the USA be more like the Klingons? or the Romulans? or Vulcans?
gene roddenberry was truly a visionary genius wasnt he? and George Lucas- and his Star wars sequels/prequels/ etc?
We may be getting there sooner than you might think...
Did you catch any of this in the news recently?
NASA Starts Work on Real Life Star Trek Warp Drive
Warp Drives Might Be More Realistic Than Thought
NASA: ‘warp drive is plausible’ – experiments under way
NASA Actually Working on Faster-than-Light Warp Drive
Warp drive looks more promising than ever in recent NASA studies
Also, too:
If we are eventually going to travel to the stars, we'll need some sort of practical technology for communications, as well (like what Star Trek referred to as "subspace channels"). Not to worry - those experiments are also underway already:
Breakthrough in Quantum Communication
'Quantum Teleportation' Beams Information Farther Than Ever Before
Even though transmitting information between individual sub-atomic particles is still a long way from those big-screen trans-Galactic video-calls that the Captains enjoyed on Star Trek, it's real and it's underway. Information has already been successfully transmitted by these means across a distance of 89 miles (I believe that's still the current record). In principle, this same process should work, essentially instantaneously, across hundreds of miles, or even light years. Proof of concept, accomplished! The rest is engineering (not by any means to diminish the complexity and difficulty in designing a system that would translate from the submicroscopic scale presently under experimentation to the big-screen macroscopic scale envisioned by Star Trek, but the basic principle actually works).
Although it remains to be shown possible for sure, this basic approach would presumably also underlie the eventual development of "transporter" tech (assuming that is possible, which is actually still unclear), replicators, who knows... someday, maybe our super-lucky descendants will even spend recreation time in actual "holodecks". Star Wars is huge fun, but Star Trek was always real science fiction.
When are they going to start handing out the Starship uniforms. We're gonna need a fashion designer. I don't look good in gold, how about pink and beige for girls and dark blue and sky blue for boys. Just think about all the money it will save us on Clothes shopping. We can still dress up on Holiday.
I thought that with the end of the shuttle program that the possibility of a death star would be almost impossible. I am just glad I am not Obama's Son.
Of course you are right. To sustain the attention span needed for such a project, it would take a Sith Lord elected as leader of the Republic.
Unfortunately the last Sith Lord who attempted this was wildly incompetent at hiding his lies and the Republic did not vote him into office. Investigations by the other Sith revealed that they had been duped, and the one they assumed to be a "Sith Lord" was actually a droid.
So it's back to the drawing board for them. Some conspiracy theorists speculate that the Sith are involved in the creation of a Clone army- apparently using a massive news network to brainwash millions of viewers.
This is so wildly implausible that no further comment is necessary.
But the Sith always come in pairs...the master and the apprentice. Which one did we vote out?
The master, the actual apprentice is pretty funny to watch especially when he gets the ingredients mixed up. We'll need some sort of entertainment. I've got the original book, from 1933. I'm not ordering anymore books because they keep stealing the names of customers who are ordering books. A used bookstore is your safest bet.
One would hope the current administration, or SOMEONE in the Corps of Engineers would be smart enough to include in the RFP: "No thermal exhaust port shall be positioned right below the main port, and any and all such ports shall not lead directly to the main reactor". I mean, jeez....
What about those multiplying weebles( I forgot their name). Did we really ever get a handle on those things, or do they now have a planet of their own? You know who we really need is the crew from "Lost in Space".
Obami Wan Kanobi?
AMAZING folks. The Senate just past a nearly 700bn dollar defense budget without a public outcry. Now this! There are still people without heat and electricity after Sandy ravaged New Jersey and New York, and the next Snowstorm will probably bring more power outages. Rather than spending money on a dependable and modern electrical infrastructure, fixing pot holes and unsafe bridges, you are drooling over the almighty war machinery. Where are your priorities??? Where do you think the National Debt comes from if not wars and outrages defense budgets.
The most brilliant parody trolls are the ones who leave you wondering whether they're serious. The worst commenters are the ones who leave you wondering whether they're a brilliant parody troll.
Steve, love that optimism. Either way, my typing quips on a blog about the Death Star is not adding to the National Deficit any more than silgin's chastising me for doing so is fixing it.
Maybe Corruption in itself is performing a positive self-destructive combustion naturally. I think there's going to be more cases of self-combusting. I just pray there are no innocent bystanders in the way.
@silgin - isn't the Senate controlled by Democrats ? I guess the senate leaders did not want to cut out the use of free military flights.
The House is controlled by Republicans (at least that's what they call themselves) and Representatives also get "free military flights".
Thanks for participating!
I'm not getting on any military airplane, they're a one way ticket to Afghanistan or Tarzitan( I know that's spelled wrong). Now, is not the time for go-go girls in boots to be walking all over the Afghanistans. The time for degrading a womens' body is over. Men are just going to have to get used to the crying game. It's either that or fix up the planet Venus, I'm not sure how they destroyed that one, I think it was a testing planet on global warming and what happens to your planet when...you poke it with a million little holes and tunnels. Maybe there's oil on Uranus.
This is ridiculous. Surely the administration realizes that all of its technological terrors are insignificant when compared to the power of the Force.
Brute force does have its place. If it doesn't fit get a bigger hammer.
Darth
CheneyVader only had to squeeze his fingers together, zero defense budget dollars required.All I have to do is fold my arms and pout, just kidding. I still need to nod my head, blink and say yes. It's tough always being the brunette, you always get casted as the evil twin sister. It's not fair. I have my own bottle though.
Better to send 25000 or 100000 signatures to congress to pass the tax rich package or to recall the Speaker of the house or to avoid the fiscal cliff disaster. Star Wars, Death Stars, Space Superiority and any other such nonsense, don't do anything to improve your lot on this planet. This is all bogus stuff, to divert your attention from the urgent legislation that needs to happen now!
Diversion is not always bad. It keeps us "in sanity."
Besides with petitions this easy to sign maybe we old get attracted to this one because its fun then do the redeeming ones while we are there. Why don't you start one?
Oh by the way, as much as I love SciFi becoming current, space superiority does matter, as does committing it to peace. If a war occurs with both sides using space assets, the debris could quite easily make orbit impossible to use (billions of shrapnel pieces creating a shell of destruction) thus removing communication and navigation and weather tech from our lives. We use all of that far more than most think. Assuming they do. P.S. I would assume that this petition is mainly fan expression with only a few nut jobs for flavour. Do not expect anything to come of it.
Agree with "Scotty" that starships are more functional than stations (which could just as easily be parked in orbit). They are far more versatile from exploring to humanitarian missions or even species continuance assurance. But if a battle station needs a name, instead of Wilson I would vote for Twinkle Twinkle (little Death Star). That might also keep the size down. But wait wouldn't that make it the Regan era Star Wars program. Oh the convergent ironies.
I think it's a really bad idea to start invading space right now. We need all the space we can get. We have too much on our plates right now. Let's fix this planet first. We need to knock down old buildings and start cultivating the Earth. We'll again make the United States one big garden, one that will help nourish the entire planet. We can even strike up an import/export business with Iran, we need Saffron at a decent price. real saffron and real spices, no more naturally flavored or chemically enhanced flavor crap! Quality is better than quantity. They have the most beautifully grown Saffron and it's real. Which means our bodies tolerate it and the rate of cancer will go down in the U.S. if we have nutritious food. It will rain more if we stop building for awhile. There is no humidity born of cement.
CAPTION- "Speaker Boehner; Senator McConnell- I find your lack of faith disturbing.." ( choking sound- awk awk awwwkkkk)) from President Obamas fingers pinching together...
but seriously- ( mostly- )
IS THIS WHAT RONALD REAGAN MEANT WHEN HE TALKED OF "STAR WARS"? I served in the Navy, on an aircraft Carrier- and on 3rd shift bridge watch- we would play "star wars"- ON THE BRIDGE OF THE HELM OF THE DEATH STAR- watching the gas flame blue, and orange afterburner exhaust of the jets launching and landing- and it was pretty much accurate0- given the firepower a typical aircraft Carrier carries . also- late at night, when things got quiet- you could hear, and feel the power plants- a low barely audible hum/roar; and low pitch low frequency vibration, and muffled roar- just like in the STAR WARS MOVIE -the movie scenes on the DEATH STAR- the Lucas/spielberg/ ILM special sound effects.. so it was kinda cool- real life death stars- 90,00 tons of well- could really screw up the planet; if not destroy it as depicted..
but seriously- PRESIDENT OBAMA-SENATOR NUNN/ SENATOR LUGAR ( whos campaign i worked on back in the 90's( when i was root root for the home team- local GOP)( before my DEMOCRATIC DEFECTION..) ; and who my fellow stupid hoosiers/tea party nutjobs primaried out with that gods willing rape victims dude.. . RICHARD LUGAR FOR SECRETARY OF STATE? http://www.c-span.org/Events/President-Obama-Delivers-Remarks-on-Securing-Nuclear-Weapons/10737436272/
this is the speech where the President told some interesting/ humorous anecdotes of traveling with senator Lugar.
and heres some additional SERIOUS stuff- seems the BLACK HELICOPTER CROWD- fearing james Bond villiains, and Organizations- SMERSH/ SPECTRE; DR EVIL; AL QAEDA, ETC- non- state organizations bent on obtaining a nuclear weapon, and holding the world hostage for "100 bajillion, gadillion dollars"
and when the USA exits Afghanistan- will the Iranians invade , and over run and march into Pakistan- to obtain nukes? or also- march into Iraqas wel- negating the trillions of dollars the USA( and 1.4 million soldiers deployed over the years, the 600+ KIA, and the 60,000 or so PTSD?TBI?maimed/wounded, or otherwise messed up- ?
http://www.c-span.org/Events/Nunn-Lugar-20-Years-Later/10737426200/
heres the report on the successes of the program- making the world a safer place ONE NUKE AT A TIME? - as long as MAD MEN IRANIANS, AL QAEDA EXTREMISTS, ORGANIZED CRIMINALS, MEGA WEALTHY GLOBAL BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS 9 kochs/ tea party /birchers, mccarthyites, etc- are out for global domination, and nuclear WMD blackmail- well- the price of freedom is eternal vigilance( THOMAS JEFFERSON)
ED SHOW - ED SHULTZ- LAST WORD- LAWRENCE O'DONNELL- quoted an estimate of the cost to build a DEATH STAR AT 825 QUADRILLION DOLLARS!!
USA national debt- 16 trillion dollars-
16,000,000,000,000.44 cents( rounded off)
825, 000,000,000,000, 000. 69 cents- STIMULUS!!!
no- the USA isnt destined to do great things, only small stuff( rachel maddow)
THATS A GIANT STIMULUS/JOBS PROGRAM. they scoffed at President Kennedy when he said " we chose to go to the moon"- so maybe this can be part of President Obamas legacy- think of all the METH- oops- STEM educated minds that would be working overtime.. ? heck- I m working overtime trying to figure out how TONY STARKS IRONMAN SUIT IS FEASIBLE..
That's the President's butt, and Congressional Rape-Public-CONs can kiss it!
:D
The trouble with ignorance is that it picks up confidence as it goes along.
- Arnold H. Glasow
;-)
If this petition manages to make it to the comment stage by the White House (and I'm sure there are plenty of Star Wars fans who can get the job done), does the possibility exist that our great National Anthem could be changed to the Imperial March? That would be cool. And we could blare it at embasies around the world and maybe reduce the number of terrorist attacks. I'm mean, who wants to mess with the country that has a "Death Star" in orbit. Alas, I'm sure this is just another "Bridge to Nowhere" that will get "killed" before the "Imperial Senate." Man this idea is full of good lines. Would it be a monumental waste of money? Yes. Would it go down in the history of awesomness as the most awesome use of money? Damn straight. Of course, the only planet that would be in need of blowing up is Earth (that we know of anyway) and most of us live there. So the Republicans should actually love this idea. Jobs, bipartisan support (Dems get to spend on "something" that creates job), and just pure awesome, excellent idea. Now, when will work on the Improbability Drive get underway? If we start on that, Republicans might actually start to make sense and I don't think I can handle that.
Let see what other crazy things we can do, how about a water canal from Cananda to California to solve the water crisis in the West, or a canal across Florida to cut off about 1000 miles from commercial trips. An oil pipeline from Alaska to the lower 49 to stop exporting oil to Asia. Installation of 10,000 3 Mwh wind mills in the midwest, and the electric super highway. That should solve our electrical problem!Fix all 75 thousand bridges about to collapse. Create a flood gate in front of the Hudson river like the one in London.
The Oil pipeline is a scam for Big Oil to hoard and be greedy, that's all it is. When gas goes back down to .54 cents a gallon, then you can have your space station. No more drilling until they bring down the price. That means no more speculating, if we go down, we go down with the ship, not by way of the many holes in our Earths' surface. How can we have done this to ourselves, Wall st. needs to start investing in the healing of our planet. They had their fun, now that it's over let's really enjoy life on our healthy planet. Amen and Amen.
Why not? The Department of Defense already has every other conceivable weapon system.
Throw down your weapons! Surrender to the New Earth, free from religion, hate and war. Take care of yourselves first, just like put on the oxygen mask first before you can help others. Let's clean our houses today and our yards. Let's be thankful for what we have and move forward taking care of it. Family and friends are on our top priority list. The spirit of Christmas can be year round, it really can if we would just stop and smell the roses, the real ones not the perfumed kind. Let's keep it real.
This idea will self deport.
Also, I found my new desktop. :D
Is this real.....
It's hard to tell the difference isn't it? We are all real, each one of us has a part in the play. Which do you choose villain or hero? Dorothy is in heaven, so I will fulfill my role as The Good witch. I can always bleach my hair.
Yes Dorothy is gone but Toto made a few hits as Kansas reached the point of know return?
So with a click of my ruby mouse I fly away to meet those cowardly lyin' heartless tin men building straw arguments to sell in munchkinland where yellowed brick roads stained from squatting dogs....
I prefer we build a VW micro-bus capable of sending pot to Venus .
Put alongside such wonderful ideas like secession this little ditty almost seems like a good idea.
Silly proposals may come and go but the charm of the Obama is here to stay!
Venutians don't need pot, they drop acid.
President Obama is our good luck charm, our Prince Charming. Michelle is of course the Queen, and they have 2 beautiful princesses. What a perfect family. I always wanted 4 children. Now I pray that my wish comes true. Which reminds me....gotta run.