Surgeon General Describes Censorship From Bush Administration 805
UniversalVM writes "The NY Times is reporting that the former Surgeon General in damaging testimony given to the senate describes how he was repeatedly censored by the Bush administration while speaking out about topics such as global warming, Stem cell research and so on. The effort was to 'water down' or weaken reports on important issues to suit Republican Agenda. He describes how he attended one meeting where Global Warming was being described as a 'Liberal Agenda' and being dismissed. He tried to intervene thinking that the people there did not understand the science so he set about explaining it to them, the result? He was never invited back."
If you want to help (Score:5, Informative)
If groups like that had the same sort of clout that religious groups have, America could remain the economic and philosophical leader of the world.
Of course, if we continue to elect politicians who make decisions based on theology instead of science, it may be time to start looking for jobs in western europe.
Re:Well It's About Time! (Score:5, Informative)
Say it with me: "Clinton did it too."
Look, it's for damn sure that I'd rather have Bubba back in the White House than Dubya, any day of the week, twice on Sunday. That doesn't mean that we agree with everything he did, especially where something like this is concerned.
Nevertheless, I think it's pretty obvious that you haven't read the article, because:
You know what? That's it. Messing with the Special Olympics? Screw you guys. I already thought that this administration was severely morally challenged, but I had no idea they could be so, abso-fucking-lutely small.
Re:Hmmm... (Score:1, Informative)
He Wants to Be a Politician (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Well It's About Time! (Score:3, Informative)
I agree, it's much more honorable and brave to speak out while you are still in office, rather than waiting until you have little left to lose anyway. That said, perhaps more people will do that now... for example here [denverpost.com] is an op-ed piece by a (non-retired) Department of Justice attorney speaking out about the unacceptable degradation of that department under the Bush administration. If enough people like this speak out at once, Bush can't possibly smear/fire/silence all of them. (err, can he?)
Re:Global warming? (Score:5, Informative)
Do we even need to point out how global weather is closely related to the public health of individuals?
Re:Remember the Nuremberg Trials? (Score:1, Informative)
Re:Well It's About Time! (Score:3, Informative)
Exactly, let's not forget it was the Republicans that threw that Tantrum against Elders that caused her to resign. Just like it's the Republicans now fighting off reality with every last bit of energy they have by forcing a Surgeon General to omit science from the discussion.
Re:Well It's About Time! (Score:3, Informative)
I found it odd that Dr. Carmona said such a thing. It doesn't really pass the smell test and seems to rank pretty high on my Bullshit meter. Here's why: [whitehouse.gov]
We're here to celebrate the Special Olympics, and to honor a woman who made them possible -- Eunice Kennedy Shriver. (Applause.) And we're here to celebrate her birthday. (Laughter.)
In a moment we'll hear from this woman who has made it her life's work to create opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities. She founded the Special Olympics in 1968, to get people with intellectual disabilities the chance to develop physical fitness, to create friendships, and experience the joy of sports competition and achievement. Today the Special Olympics includes more than 2.25 million athletes in 150 countries. The games have become a source -- (applause.) The games have become a source of unity and excitement for its participants. They've helped raise awareness of the challenges facing those with intellectual disabilities.
America upholds the values of every person and the possibilities of every life. And the Special Olympics are an example of America at its best. We share with the entire world the spirit of joy and kindness that the Special Olympics brings.
If you ever had any doubt about how much good one person can do, look no further than this kind and gracious lady. On this special occasion, I ask you to join me in a toast to the Special Olympics, and to Eunice Kennedy Shriver, and to her contributions to our nation -- past, present, and future. God bless.
(+5, Informative) (Score:5, Informative)
"The Advancement of Sound Science Coalition (TASSC), an organization that was covertly created by Philip Morris for the express purpose of generating scientific controversy regarding the link between secondhand smoke and cancer [prwatch.org]."
They have recently been mostly funded by the oil lobby for the express purpose of... well, you can deduce that last bit.
Re:Hmmm... (Score:2, Informative)
I'm an American. I'm proud to say that I'm American. I love my country.
I DESPISE the way my country is run, and I despise the people that run it. Democrat, Republican, it doesn't matter. Hell, the letters after a name are half the problem as it is.
More Americans hate the way things are going than you think, bucko...don't discredit all of us just because the morons have the bullhorns.
Re:Well It's About Time! (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Even slashdot is in on the act (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Story of my life (Score:5, Informative)
#1 Local weather stations aren't the only input.
#2 Very few are actually at airports - and airports (aerodromes) were tarmac based since after WW1.
#3 Being within 30 feet of an AC exhaust (especially small window based ones) means squat for the local temperature.
#4 Local encroachment does not yield a small but systematic increase in temperature - it yields spikes.
#5 Average temperature readings from a population of sensors cancel out local variations.
#6 A systematic temperature increase is a systematic temperature increase, regardless of source.
Yes, the individual sensors record the heat-island effect that is found in urban environments. Congratulations. You found out something that is 15 years old. Yes, urban environments are warmer than non-urban environments.
However, you are an idiot if you believe that you are the first to think of this. Not only that, but carefully check the trend of both graphs shown on the homepage: after 1950, they both trend upward. And that's the key part: regardless of where you are, where you look at, temperature trends are on the up tick. Steadily. Some parts see heavier up ticks than others. But the end result is the same: things are getting warmer.
Local construction does play a part, but it merely exacerbates a trend that shows up everywhere you look.
Re:We should... (Score:5, Informative)
Jim Hansen [wikipedia.org] does know a thing or two about climate, yet he also recieved similar treatment.
For the record: Gore originally attacked Hansen's assertions on climate change in the senate, Hansen and NOAA are both contributors to the IPCC reports.
"...we should question why anybody listens to Al Gore on the subject"
No we shouldn't, I listened to you and you have ZERO credibility. Science has no political or personal boundries, that is what TFA is all about.
anal sex is demonstratably natural (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Scientific vs. unscientific (Score:3, Informative)
Just for the record, the "urban heat island" is a well documented phenomena [realclimate.org] that has already been accounted for, but there is always room for improvement in the estimation of such a difficult bias to measure.