The Republican War on Science Rages On
Former Surgeon General Richard Carmona's testimony has once again highlighted the extent to which the Bush administration suppresses and manipulates science to fit their narrow ideological view. Whether it's stem cell research, global warming, the Plan B contraceptive, or abstinence-only education, they consistently put appeasing their extremist, fringe base over the interests of the country at large. CNN's Christine Romans details the many battles in Bush's War on Science.
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TONY SNOW: But nobody, as far as I could tell, was, "muzzling" him. But on the other hand, there is certainly nothing scandalous about saying to somebody who was a presidential appointee, you should advocate the President's policies.
That about says it all: If appointed by the Bush administration, you are required to advocate their policies, even if that means suppressing and distorting facts at the expense of the well-being of those you are in office to serve.
The American Prospect's Chris Mooney has written the definitive book on the GOP's War on Science. You can see his keynote address to Planned Parenthood here.
Science, we don ned no stinkin' science
In horsing around w/my developmentally disabled sister, I will cringe and act like she hurt me. This is her cue to say "I didn't hit you that hard."
The prez doesn't hit his appointees *that* hard.
Back when everyone was saying Bush didn't have idea - that he was for all practical purposes vapid. Then one day he announced a mission to mars just out of the blue. It wasn't even being discussed and in context of what was happening at the time didn't make any sense at all. His sole purpose wasn't that he gave a shit about going to Mars. It was that he wanted to pretend like he has "big" ideas. And what makes it even funnier is that nobody remembers it, it isn't going anywhere and it wasn't even his "big" idea. It came from one of his handlers.
That's Bush science.
TONY SNOW: But nobody, as far as I could tell, was, “muzzling” him. But on the other hand, there is certainly nothing scandalous about saying to somebody who was a presidential appointee, you should advocate the President’s policies...
...even if they're hypocritical, out right lies, distortions, misinformation and just plain out wingnuttery.
If he were muzzled, he couldn't advocate the PResident's anti-science policies, now could he?
Wow. It's like CNN is almost somehow beginning to detect a creeping, possibly not so good pattern of behavior emerging at the White House. Hmmm... maybe they're on to something.
Christofascist Science, like military intelligence, are classic oxymorons of our time.
HHmmm, what's that you say?......... Planet is only 6000 years old, eh?
Looks to me like the people in the rubber room are running the asylum.
Bogus vaccine mercury studies to protect Eli Lilly, neglegant FDA/CDC officals and vaccine manufacturers
Actually Mr. Tony Snow, there is a whole lot wrong with pretending that science doesn't exist. Without science your cancer meds would have never been available to you.
Like Michael Moore asked, "Who are we"
We're a nation that allowed itself to be run by the fringe. And it's time that stops.
--WKW
The Bush administration is a cancer to this country...Let's remove the tumor now. Impeach Bush and Cheney.
Facts versus dogma and reich-wingers will ALWAYS pick dogma.
The Bush-mobile with the fringe on top...
i'm sorry, but the bush administration has now officially gone bonkers. no, seriously. they are living in a SEPARATE TIME-SPACE CONTINUUM. i mean, WTF?! the guy said UNDER OATH that his work was censored and/or manipulated to fit their agenda, and still, STILL, tony snow denies it.
and this douche bag from the heritage foundation? hOLY SHIT! what a fuck head! oh yeah, sure, i believe you. the bush administration isn't more political than previous administrations. not at all. what a DOUCHE BAG. i hate this country, man. idiots everywhere.....
Perhaps all this global warming is coming from all those books they're burning at the White House.
i'm just surprised this issue hasn't gotten more attention.
he told his surgeon general to knowingly put lives at risk so that he and republicans could win elections. to me, this is the end for him.
Bush is an awful human being, and those who still support him aren't much better.
The bush asministration is anti anything that might hurt the bit money guys. What a miserable shame!
Dr. Matt @ 12:
yes, because to them the bible is fact. and god put dinosaur bones on earth to test our faith.
>Wow. It’s like CNN is almost somehow beginning to detect a creeping, possibly not so good pattern of behavior emerging at the White House. Hmmm… maybe they’re on to something.
"The Most Trusted Name in Disinfotainment"
also, i agree on the mars thing. total fabrication to give dittoheads some talking points.
"... there is certainly nothing scandalous about saying to somebody who was a presidential appointee, you should advocate the President’s policies."
If those policies were built around demonstrable facts, then it wouldn't be scandalous. It most certainly *is* scandalous to disregard science, form policy on faith, then expect others to blindly adhere to it.
You'd think cancer might have made Tony pause to consider his final legacy on this plane.
Well, come to think of it maybe being a slimy, shameless, sarcastic liar was his life goal. Who can tell with these people anyway.
Neo-Republicans.
:::shrug:::
Apparently, Mr. Snow thinks we are a Soviet state. Certainly Bush's America operates as one. Policy decisions are made on a pre-determined ideology not based on facts as they filter up to the Executive Branch. So let's see, conservatives waged a war against the USSR only to adopt their form of government. This would be comical if the results weren't so tragic.
Jocelyn Elders.
Another Surgeon General whose boss was displeased by a position on science and public policy. Only she didn't stick to the script, she said what she thought and was told to resign by Bill Clinton.
This sounds like someone saying, You must never speak ill of the party. Scary fu*king stuff.
So are we to take away from this that you must "advocate the President’s policies" even if they fly in the face of fact and reason, medicine and science? If so, that's going way way too far. Just what exactly are the "president's policies" if they don't allow good science?
Quicktime image is wrong.
Look, can you really blame them? Science raped their mothers or something.
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http://www.nientepeaches.com
In my opinion, they themselves don't believe their horseshit! They say these things they don't believe themselves, to get stupid hicks to vote for them! And religious people! They don't give a SHIT about stem cells! Think about it...do you REALLY think Bush, Cheney, and Snow give a SHIT about stem cells? OR abortion? THEY DON'T GIVE A SHIT!
BUT...ask yourself, "Then why do they do this?"
You'd think.. afterall, you know he's a devout christian since it is a job requirement.
(Clearing throat) If anyone thinks this Lysenkoism is anything new, well, I've got as news bulletin: the government has been playing fast and loose with the facts about cannabis - a.k.a. 'Marijuana' - for the last 30 years. Study after study has been done on its' effects proving it does not warrant prohibition...and the government just ignores them and trumpets its' long-discredited lies about it all the louder. Even in the face of it having medicinal uses, the government keeps on lying and saying it doesn't. It's obvious that it's politically motivated, just like the Bible-thumpers using the system to keep stem-cell research from receiving the funding it deserves.
Politics has been trumping science for decades, people. Smell the coffee yet?
Tony Snow BELIEVES in science...THEY'RE LYING! Does anybody GET THIS?
Does anyone here believe that Tony Snow doesn't believe in science??? He's just SAYING that! He's LYING!
Funny, I was listening to a show on local KUOW npr affiliate this morning, topic being the surgeon general appointment and generally "science and politics..." and they had on a right wing talking head who said nearly exactly the same thing... I'm sure this isn't exactly right, but the statement was something like:
"When you are appointed to a position that serves at the pleasure of the president, you should speak the views that the president holds, or you shouldn't be in the administration, period."
Never mind that the entire point of the surgeon general is to communicate new and valuable health information to the people, you must parrot the dictator in chief.
Reminds me very very much of the phrase uttered gruntingly by the rednecks in a number of south park episodes:
"this is uhmerika, if yew don' like it, then you can GIDDOUT!"
Da Spyda @ 7:
Yeah, and what is equally as frightening is that bush's appointee to replace Mr. Carnona
as the Surgeon General is one James Holsinger, and individual who has written a paper
(as I understand) being highly critical and judgemental as to Gay and Lesbians. But maybe
equally as concernin is that Holsinger is from and has lived in Kentucky most of his life...I
fear that he was at the opening ceromonies of the "Creation Museum" in Kentucky and
concurred that man and the dinasours co-existed, as exhibited on Noah's Ark at the
Creation Museum..
Tony Snow got scientific medical treatment for his cancer, right?
THEREFORE............................................
And let's not forget that Carmona must have been the SG candidate whose views were most in line with those of the admin. But they still had to muzzle him. Talk about a thankless job.
Big Dan @ 30:
Tony Snow only believes what he's told. He supports the President. Please refer to recent Congressional Judiciary questioning of White House personnel.
Mr. Snow's logic is beyond belief. The Surgeon-General wasn't muzzled, no physical muzzle was ever placed on Mr. Carmona. Instead he was marionetted. He was given lines that he had to speak and his actions were hampered by the strings attached. But no, he wasn't muzzled. Mr. Snow is moronic. I hope the next lawsuit involving second-hand smoke names Bush and cohorts as co-defendants. They are liable for this breach of public health. And I am tempted to start a campaign to have people mail muzzles to the White House. Maybe they can still appreciate contempt and sarcasm.
"they consistently put appeasing their extremist, fringe base over the interests of the country at large."
Sounds just like the democratic party to me.
darrelplant @ 24:
true, but, IMHO, slightly misleading.
the issue with elders, if memory serves, was that she recommended "teaching" masturbation in school, as a way to reduce teen preggers, abortions, etc. And, obvisoulsy with the religious right still on the rise (before their inglorious fall), clinton didn't want anymore sex stories from his admin, so he nixed her.
but, this is different from what is happening under the bushies. from the human-exacerbated climate crisis, to stem cell research, to abstinence-only education, the bushies spurn science for ideological purity--which, in science and public health, could prove to be detrimental. for an admin that claims to look at the world from a biblical perspective, little things like science, data and research can prove to be annoying hurdles...
Weaseldog @ 5:
I take the fact that he is a FORMER surgeon general and that he WAS muzzled during his tenure are both past time indicators flew right over your hairline.
I don't know why you all expect the republicans to understand global warming or any other scienctific fact. There is not one, not even one who has the sense of a earthworm. Just look at the statements they make every day....The ten year study that said that republicans were psychotic that they stumble and bumble along behind a leader, even to the point of walking over a cliff, because they have absolutely no leadership qualities. Why in the hell do you think they steal elections. None of them could get elected to clean toilets if they didn't.
Only complete morons would believe any Dumbya bullshit and lies anymore.
[...] The Republican war on science. [...]
Jocely Elders: "Condoms will break, but I can assure you that vows of abstinence will break more easily than condoms"
Yep- much too outspoken for the times. She was, in my view, correct.
What did science ever do to the Repugs?
MeMyselfAndI @ 39:
Curious....am wondering why bush-lite did not use his "executive privilege" and order
Carmona NOT to talk about being muzzled/censored as he is presently doing with Harriett
Miers? Both are 'ex-employees", so seems discreminatory of bush-lite to order one of
them not to speak, and yet lets another...Is there some inconsistency??
StirFry @ 28:
Dick Cheney has had what 3 heart attacks? You'd think that after the first one he would have stopped to smell the roses and enjoy life. God knows every person I have known in my life who has suffered even a mild heart attack, 100% of these people have gone through a life changing experience... in all cases for the better. Contemplating one's own mortality does a fanny number on normal human beings, and by funny I mean good funny. Like, try to be a better human being, work less, take better care of yourself, spend time with the family, pick up on the guitar lessons you ever wanted.
Cheney and Snow are both void of the basic human moral tenets. Holding them to a moral standard of a human being is ludicrous and counter productive in my humble opinion. It is only when you put them all in their correct context as subhumans that things make sense.
I must admit that I first felt pithy for Mr. Snow when I first found out that he had cancer. After all, that is a common response from my part as a human being. The problem that I had was that I was misled into believing I was dealing with another human race member that triggered my response of support for Mr. Snow. Now that it is fully clear to me that Mr. Snow is no more evolved than a primate, and a mean primate at that... I feel absolutely no pithy for his cancer. In fact, I suggest they stop wasting precious medical time on his treatment and refer him to the nearest veterinarian clinic, where they will be better suited to address his condition.
I guess he was out of the loop while she knows where the bodies are buried.
nemo @ 29:
Oh, come now, nemo. Give them a little credit. The Lysenkoism vis-a-vis marijuana has been going on for far longer than 30 years. ;)
Stirfry,
#15 is the absolute best explanation I've heard to date.
Must be part of that oath to the president Sara Taylor said they had to take.
....."you should advocate the President’s policies. "
In other words surround himself with yes men.
We don't elect a "King" we elect an administrator called Predisent.
Shocking stupidity in my opinion.
So Tony when you were in for surgery did they accidentally (or on purpose) also remove your brain?
So Tony when you were in for surgery did they accidentally (or on purpose) remove your brain?
Yes, if you work for Bush, integrity be damned.
ysbaddaden @ 44:
I'm hoping that's a rhetorical question. Science takes away their main fear device - God. Science means they aren't in control - physics, nature, et al, are. Anything that wingers don't understand frightens them. That's why they think all blacks are criminals who will rape their women, mug and murder them, etc.
Science is VERY frightening to wingers so they try to destroy it like everything else they don't understand. Except when it serves them like creating gasoline for their cars or printing machines that make money, or tech devices that make money, or anything that makes money and of course, anything that saves their lives while denying the science the whole way.
Freepers are pathetic scared people. They're cavemen who think might makes right. And money buys might.
mark @ 53:
You give tony snow-job tooooo much credit. He never had a brain, as evidenced
by his past, long ago, preformances on Faux Noise.
Not to mention the fact that he was told to stay away from the Special Olympics because, gulp, the Kennedy's were involved.
Nice touch for the Bushies to declare war on Hanicapped Kids too, don't you think?
I'm surprised they just passed that law where they have to stamp the country of origin on food. I guess that's so overwhelmingly bi-partisan, they can't divide us on that one, so they just passed it through.
Bush Bites @ 57:
They're smart enough not to say it out loud, but covertly they are just like the Nazis. Anyone who isn't white, able bodied and in agreement needs to be exterminated.
Sakmineo @ 51:
Remember, bush-lite was "appointed" by the Supreme Court in 2000, so our votes did
not count and again in 2004, with the Ohio fiasco of "giving" bush the election,therefore WE THE PEOPLE did not "elect" him
THE PEOPLE did not elect him.
Facts are not the same as opinions. This administration thinks it can dictate both. To Bush, for example, stating that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west is just one person's scientific "opinion" which Bush is free to disagree with, for political reasons.
Did Dubya even graduate from high school?
"I do not believe in the creed professed by the Jewish church, by the Roman church, by the Greek church, by the Protestant church, nor by any church that I know of. My own mind is my church."--from Paine's book, "The Age of Reason"
"there is certainly nothing scandalous about saying to somebody who was a presidential appointee, you should advocate the President’s policies."
there is when the president's policies contradict fact and common sense...
One of the most disturbing things about this video is once again some clown from the Heritage Foundation or American Enterprise Institute is offering up their bias opinion and are given air time just because they belong to one of these subversive think tanks.
I'm not one who wants to see people denied basic health care and such, but a friend of mine said we should make a "no-science land" where people can live if they don't want to have any science in their lives. He described as such: "There's no computers, phones, cars, or houses...but there's some nice caves over there." If you were sick, you could do some voodoo, or eat some branches. Or something.
I guarantee you anyone who lived in "no-science land" would come crying back to the rest of the world within a few hours.
The surgeon general has much to say to Wolf Blitzer in this interview:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLl4eRwj4Gk
On the same day that former Surgeon General Richard Carmona told Congress about the politicization of his office by the White House, a bizarre story from China served as a reminder of other past Bush wrong-doing at the FDA. The Beijing government punished the former head of the Chinese Food and Drug Administration for approving bogus medicine in exchange for cash. Which sounds like President Bush's former FDA chief, Dr. Lester Crawford.
For the details, see:
"Politics and Crime at the FDA."
According to the reichwing the old expression is supposed to go, "I like Roids."
Richard Carmona is obviously a partisan liberal. The Bush administration has done nothing wrong
I've heard recent counts that buschco has committed at least 700 crimes, just under their illegal spying programs.
Well then Tony, how is anyone supposed to inform the president about something he doesn't already know? How are his advisors supposed to correct him when he's wrong?
I wonder if Tony Snow realizes that he stood in front of America and said, "ladies and gentleman, I am a sniveling "yes-man." As a presidential appointee, I tell the president what he wants to hear and only what he wants to hear.
Gosh, is there any wonder the country is headed in the direction it is?
Unbeleivable----because the prez gives you the job, you gotta tell him what he wants to hear, whether its right or not? Don't you appoint experts so that they can tell you whats right or wrong and so you look smarter then what you really are? I thought all those smart MBA types preached that ad nauseum. What about Peters and Covey and all of those business gurus who said The business model was going to save us from all evil. Isn't that what Bush said?
Muzzling scientists? Say it ain't so! To clarify the issue, CNN asks the opinion of a propagandist from the Heritage Foundation, located at the rotten heart of the problem.
He says it ain't so!
Kyle @ 70:
(followed by the laugh track from "Half Hour News Hour")
Once again ,
So when Lou Dobbs says something you like hes credible. but when he talks about the North American Union hes a racist! C&L make up your minds.
also, some of the Scientist , you know the ones we heard testifying for a millasec, some of them actually say that global warming is caused by our SUN! the ice caps on mars are melting as well as many once ice moons of other distant planets like Jupiter, in fact, according to NASA the entire solar system is heating up rapidly and our SUN is now Brighter and more UV / and Heat radiant then it has ever been in recorded history.( look it up)but the cnn piece conviently left that out.
if you would like to watch a very good movie about this entire subject,
google video" The Great Global Warming Swindle"
MIKE @ 76:
But Mike - does it really matter if humans are causing global warming or not? Isn't it a mute point? Don't we all want clean air to breath and clean water to drink? Even if human pollution isn't causing global warming we should all do our best to not pollute. And if the planet IS getting warmer shouldn't we and our fucking government at least acknowledge it and plan ahead?
the oil industry lobbiest is a seal?
see 1:22 to 1:26 in clip...
we can certianly expect some changes if that is true.
It must burn the creationists that here we have the most anti-science, pro-christian president in yahweh knows how long and they still arent getting anywhere. With all the bones Bush throws to the pro-life camp, the anti-global warming camp, the abstience camp, on and on, youd think he might try and feed the down-on-their-luck creationists....
No such luck. Suckers.
Presidential appointees serve at the pleasure of the president, but they work for the American people, who pay their salaries. That includes the president.
Looks like Flat Earth Society is alive and well.
Wouldn't ya just love to piss in their gene pool.
Lou Dobbs, I wonder who pulls more of an audience, you or
Glenn Beck? I know who your audience is. I have two relatives
in their seventies who grew up during the depression and the War.
Who can blame them for disliking liberals who make there choice of
voting for Bush seem like a senior moment of foolishness.
Mr. Dobbs has such a comforting face, a nice man who takes
on icky fat men like Mr. Moore. Mr. Beck makes them feel upbeat and
positive as he takes on bad people, defends President Cheney
and that nice man and fellow Mormon, Mr. Romney.
Remember what Buster Brown used to say?
'Hi, my name is Mitt, I live in a shoe. Thats my son Tag
he lives in there too. So long now boys and girls.'
Of course Lou "immigrants bring leprosy" Dobbs has some gall talking about political persuasions trumping good science!
Paraphrasing Tony Snow: "There is certainly nothing scandolous about saying a presidential appointee should advocate a president's policies"
No, Mr. Snowjob, the president should not be forcing political policy and these folks, since he does not pay for the presidential appointees. We do. So for someone like a surgeon general, we demand (yes demand) him/her to do his job consistent with medical knowledge, not some halfwit's ideology. Otherwise, we would call him the Halfwit's Gopher, rather than the Surgeon General.
Ali @ 77:
Yes it Fucking Matters,
look, let me make it real simple, there going to use you and your blind support of a GLOBAL CARBON TAX, to set up one world government, and not use one cent to help the enviroment. keep in mind hippie, it is the very same gigantic oil companies that pollute and destroy and HOLD BACK THE WATER CAR. ( look it up) these same companies came up with the scam of peak oil in the 70's. (look it up) and they are the ones funding Al Gore and this whole movement.(look it up)
if you truly believe giving even more of your money to David Rockerfella is going to save the EARTH, i got a bridge i want to sell you.
I just can't believe that our government officials would do something to appeal to the brain dead non think for yourself masses. I mean what do they have to gain except money and political power, and jeez why would they care about that.
Hello friends,
It's all very simple. These superstitious persons came into power in 1980. Now it's time to bid them goodbye.
They have locked millions of people in prison, and taken us backwards in time by about 300 years. The responsible parties should certainly be exposed and prosecuted.
We threw out the Puritans in about 1750, and we did it for a reason. They were murdering people in the name of God. We just had to put a stop to that sort of thing.
Now they are back again, and there is no sane reason why.
So my submission is this: "Think".
So long and be well,
Michael
Hello friends,
It's all very simple. These superstitious persons came into power in 1980. Now it's time to bid them goodbye.
They have locked millions of people in prison, and taken us backwards in time by about 300 years. The responsible parties should certainly be exposed and prosecuted.
We threw out th
Democrats cave to moralistic forces and ignore the scientific evidence on the issue of marijuana legalization.
2,000 people arrested a day for using a drug less harmful than tobacco or alcohol.
Let's not forget this sad fact.
The Republican War on Science Rages On
[...]Former Surgeon General Richard Carmona?s testimony has once again highlighted the extent to which the Bush administration suppresses and manipulates science to fit their narrow ideological view.[...]
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