Sanford Bishop actually said...

"ESA is going forward and they are going to Russia, and probably China, and asking them to step in where American has stepped away from its leadership role. And I think that is deeply tragic."

"I think that is a terrible abdication of our leadership role."

"It will not be taken by the United States. It will be taken by the Europeans now in partnership with the Russians."

"It is about what we are going to do in the future, and to rely on MSL is to rely on our past."