Bush to Announce Ventures to Mars and the Moon, Officials Say:

“…(An) administration official cautioned that the proposal could be broad and open-ended, more in the nature of “a mission statement” rather than a detailed road map and schedule….

(T)he announcement, combined with Mr. Bush’s call this week to revamp laws regarding immigration, would signal the second major policy initiative put forward by the White House at the beginning of an election year. Both new policy directives would allow the president to be portrayed as an inspirational leader whose vision goes beyond terrorism and tax cuts.

They also would have the added political benefit of diverting attention from the Democratic presidential candidates trudging through the retail politics of the Iowa caucuses.” —New York Times