The Chair Force Engineer continues to be unimpressed with the Ares program:

Of course, the problem here is that we are sticking with “shuttle derived” instead of pushing technologies that have been developed since the early 70’s when the shuttle was finalized. The EELV programs have taught the industry how to reduce the marginal costs of added launches and how to streamline the processing of the Delta & Atlas rockets. And it’s also clear that the shuttle hardware was never capable of meeting ambitious flight rates, which are the only way to make spaceflight more cost-effective.

If Congress insists that NASA retain the shuttle workforce to the maximum extent in its moon launcher planning, the “Direct Launch” proposal is the smartest way of launching human missions to the moon.

Of course, it’s that congressional insistence that’s the real problem, and what will probably prevent the president’s vision from being implemented. And don’t tell me it’s not pork, Mark.