String theorists, will the LHC see SUSY and if not, will this be a huge blow?

[BenTheMan]

I'm talking about the type of people who decided to fund a manned mission to Mars for no apparent reason whatsoever other than essentially technological welfare and pie in the sky wishful thinking. I guess that's as good a reason as any, and better than most, but yea that type of mentality fortunately still exists in some sectors of politics (in the US and even in the rest of the world).

Fair enough---I really hope you're right. Nothing would be better for science in the US than an multi-national, multi-billion dollar high energy science lab. I really hope to see ILC data before I die.