Intelligent Denials (Bush science advisor defends evolution)

[Charlie Brown]

The fundie crowd will not like this.

http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&name=ViewWeb&articleId=9216

Speaking at the annual conference of the National Association of Science Writers, Marburger fielded an audience question about "Intelligent Design" (ID), the latest supposedly scientific alternative to Charles Darwin's theory of descent with modification. The White House's chief scientist stated point blank, "Intelligent Design is not a scientific theory." And that's not all -- as if to ram the point home, Marburger soon continued, "I don't regard Intelligent Design as a scientific topic."

[Norquist Nemesis]

1. Uh-oh!

His days are numbered.

[rkc3]

8. Over-under is 9 days on his "reitrement".

[HereSince1628]

2. I guess that's ok sense the election is over

otherwise they'd be looking for a replacment for Marburger.

[aden_nak]

3. Uh oh. Sounds like he's going to "retire" soon.

Shortly there-after to have some absurd charge brought against him, to thus discredit him if he ever tries to write a book called, oh, say, "George W. Bush Is A Fundie Whack Job". Or you know, whatever he and his publisher agree on.

[DBoon]

4. Sad that this is even brought up as an issue

eom

[Hand]

5. Warm up the Cessna. This way, please, professor... nt

[UL_Approved]

6. This is a point that will get some attention

Looks like Bush couldn't weed out all of the scientists from his administration.

The "Reality-Based" community bites him in the ass again... :hurts:

[paineinthearse]

7. Signs of intelligent life in the White House?????

Marburger must have been misquoted.

[xray s]

9. The dope smokin' tapes, a kissy face dinner with Chirac and now this

Seems to me that someone in the White House is getting a makeover...

[marions ghost]

10. ha ha, yeah

now that the s'election is over, let's pander to the Center Right awhile....

all it takes is a little media makeover, like you say....doesn't take much to convince people of what they want to hear.

[Solly Mack]

11. Has he been fired yet?

he so stepped out of acceptable Bush Adm. thinking..

[wellst0nev0ter]

12. Hope He Likes Spending More Time With His Family

[maddezmom]

13. kick

to combine threads

[Sgent]

14. Intelligent Denials (Bush Science Advisor dismisses ID) - Am. Prospect

Bush's science adviser said one important thing about politicized science in a recent appearance. But only one.

By Chris Mooney
Web Exclusive: 02.22.05

When it's your job to serve as the president's in-house expert on science and technology, being constantly in the media spotlight isn't necessarily a mark of distinction. But for President Bush's stoically inclined science adviser John Marburger, immense controversy followed his blanket dismissal last year of allegations (now endorsed by 48 Nobel laureates) that the administration has systematically abused science. So it was more than a little refreshing last Wednesday to hear Marburger take a strong stance against science politicization and abuse on one issue where it really matters: evolution.

Speaking at the annual conference of the National Association of Science Writers, Marburger fielded an audience question about "Intelligent Design" (ID), the latest supposedly scientific alternative to Charles Darwin's theory of descent with modification. The White House's chief scientist stated point blank, "Intelligent Design is not a scientific theory." And that's not all -- as if to ram the point home, Marburger soon continued, "I don't regard Intelligent Design as a scientific topic."

<snip>



In comparison with these statements, Marburger minced no words about the scientific status of ID. In fact, GOP Intelligent Design boosters like Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania (where a court case over ID is now pending) may be extremely miffed by Marburger's stance. Alas, Marburger's forthrightness about ID wasn't matched by his discussion (or lack thereof) of charges that the Bush administration has systematically abused and distorted scientific information.

At the National Association of Science Writers session, Marburger shared the stage with Representative Henry Waxman, a Democrat who has relentlessly pursued and publicized allegations that the administration has interfered with the process by which scientific advice makes its way to policy-makers. Speaking prior to Marburger, Waxman slammed the Bush administration for abuses ranging from the stacking of scientific advisory panels to monkeying with research on mercury pollution. The congressman also charged that Marburger's previously published rebuttal to charges of science abuse -- delivered in response to a statement and report on the subject last year by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) -- amounted to "asserted denials with little supporting evidence."

...

Am. Prospect

[Orsino]

15. So long, John...

Don't let the doorknob hit you where Charles Darwin split you.