At the Center of the Storm Over Bush And Science | New York Times

[Ediacara]

At the Center of the Storm Over Bush And Science
By JAMES GLANZ

Published: March 30, 2004


Doug Mills/The New York Times
Dr. John H. Marburger III and Harriet Miers, a White House
deputy chief of staff, after meeting with the president, who
is said to like Dr. Marburger's explanatory style.

WASHINGTON — The average scientific dispute is a joust in obscurity, a clash over technical matters that few but the immediate combatants grasp or are even aware of.

Dr. John H. Marburger III, President Bush's science adviser, might relish a dose of that obscurity right now. Instead, he has become the first line of defense against accusations that the Bush administration has systematically distorted scientific fact and stacked technical advisory committees to advance favored policies on the environment, on biomedical research and on other areas like the search for unconventional weapons in Iraq.

Dr. Marburger says that pattern is illusory, a product of stringing together a few unrelated incidents within the vast canvas of government science, most of which is working just fine.

"From all the evidence I can find," he said, "it's certainly not true that science is being manipulated by this administration to suit its policy. It's simply not the case."

But to a degree not seen in previous administrations, a wide range of influential scientists — even many who say they like Dr. Marburger personally and respect him professionally — express dismay at White House science policy.

More at the New York Times

[PartyPooper]

1. Junior has a science advisor?

Gee, you coulda' fooled me!

:dunce:

[Ediacara]

3. you're not the only one :-)

[Chicago Democrat]

4. She specialises in Biblical Science and Creationism

and Jesus studies.

[fearnobush]

2. Who's his Satanic Adviser, Ohh, thats right, Karl Rove.

[DeepModem Mom]

5. OMG, it's overwhelming -- the toxic effect of the Bush cabal...

on every aspect of our national life --

[Democat]

6. The American public doesn't seem to care anymore

Who cares about science or corruption, when is the next episode of survivor on? :(

[izzie]

8. We seem to be swinging every thing around to the flat world people.

Either think like these people are you are out. The one thing they think in 2004 terms is weapons and guns and medical ways if it keeps people alive on a tube for years or produces a baby from a test tube. I do not understand their thinking but it is like the people before the time of the enlightenment. Almost Middle ages.It is sure to be the same people that were in heaven as they watched that new movie. What is happening to us in this country?

[TrueStory]

7. "Other experts have been blunter."

"In a recent interview on National Public Radio, Dr. Howard Gardner, a cognitive psychologist at Harvard, said, "I actually feel very sorry for Marburger, because I think he probably is enough of a scientist to realize that he basically has become a prostitute."

:)