[jve]

> Congress would be dumb to pick a new horse now

I don't think SpaceX would be as strong if not that early NASA funding. "SpaceX contracted with the US government for a portion of the development funding for the Falcon 9 launch vehicle, which uses a modified version of the Merlin rocket engine." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_SpaceX

So by your thinking, they could have only invested in old-school-reliable-expensive rocket companies, because less risk is involved...

So funding a space company that doesn't yet have required capability but can be helped to get there - is not dumb.

[cycrutchfield]

Or maybe they (correctly) assessed that SpaceX was actually able to deliver on its promises and Blue Origin is not.