To the Point

Back to the Moon?

China recently put its first man in orbit, and announced plans to go to the Moon. Late last week, it was reported that the Bush White House is about to announced a -bold vision of renewed space flight,- including another trip to Earth-s only satellite. Is it time for Americans to go back to the Moon? If there were another such expedition, would China be a competitor or a partner? Would the next step be Mars? Would announcing a new vision of space travel be a good way to begin the first presidential re-election campaign of the 21st Century? We hear from space physicists, an independent lobbyist and the freelance writer who broke the story about reported White House plans for renewed space exploration. Making News, Segment #1: Al Gore Endorses Howard Dean Former Vice President Al Gore didn-t beat George Bush in the year 2000. Now, he says Howard Dean is the only Democrat who can do it 2004. That endorsement came today in New York-s Harlem. Karen Tumulty, national political correspondent for Time magazine who is covering Gore and Dean today, says Gore's is the latest in a growing series of crucial endorsements. Making News, Segment #2: China and Taiwan President Bush welcomed Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to the White House today. The two leaders talked about trade and North Korea-s nuclear weapons program, and the President issued what-s described as an -unusually strong warning- to Taiwan not to hold a referendum that could fuel Taiwan-s independence movement. We get a report on today's meeting from former ambassador James Lilley and Minxin Pei, who heads the China Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.