Realizing that Obama called upon advisers to help write that, it still is well thought out and meaningful. I assume he did "approve of this message." I wonder if McCain will take the same amount of time and thought to answer it. I also wonder if he understands the questions.

over educated elitist... real Amurkans don't go in for that fancy book learnin' or scientifical mumbo jumbo.

Wait a minute. I thought Obama had no plans and was just an empty suit? I'VE BEEN LED ASTRAY!

Yesterday my brother asked me if I was offended McCain had chosen Palin just because she's a woman. He joked about whether or not I needed her to help me break that glass ceiling. I told him that as a scientist, I was offended he chose a creatonist and that she would never accomplish anything to help me in my field.
I don't expect my president to be an expert in the sciences, but I appreciate the consideration and recognition of how important they are.

summon bevets?

b-b-but... Obama's an empty suit with no details...


/seriously, why is that still a talking point after his speech?

FeedTheCollapse: b-b-but... Obama's an empty suit with no details...


/seriously, why is that still a talking point after his speech?

Did ya hear that he's a secret Muslim plotting to overthrow the Constitution with Rezko as his right hand man?

Two screenwriters, a physicist, a philosopher and a science journalist walk into a bar and ask "Is anyone here a marine biologist?"

Okay, my thoughts on a couple of the answers:

Question 2: Cap-and-trade or carbon tax?

Well, he gave the political answer, because the cost of cap-and-trade can be hidden from the public. Carbon taxes are a better solution, though.

Question 3: Energy?

He should have pushed more aggressively for nuclear power. These two answers:

• Technologies for capturing and sequestering greenhouse gases produced by coal plants; and

• A new generation of nuclear electric technologies that address cost, safety, waste disposal, and proliferation risks.

First, nuclear is cleaner at present than the "clean coal" he is touting for the future. Capturing and sequestering from coal plants doesn't just have to do with greenhouse gasses, but poisons like arsenic, and radioactive elements like uranium and thorium -- either you dispose of these safely, or you are like a nuclear plant that burns its radioactive waste and then scatters the ashes everywhere. Sequestering is just the equivalent of taking the smoke and ashes and burying them on site. For some reason, people think that waste concentrated at one location is more dangerous than waste spread through the atmosphere and water.

oldernell: Realizing that Obama called upon advisers to help write that, it still is well thought out and meaningful. I assume he did "approve of this message." I wonder if McCain will take the same amount of time and thought to answer it. I also wonder if he understands the questions.

C'mon, use your head..you're talking about McCain. You think he'll be able to answer all these before November? He's not that smart when it comes to science.

/Unless it's the science of pancakes

Only thing I noticed from that Q&A is absence of evolution discussion. He talks about science and math education in schools but if he touched on evolution anywhere in there he would show he's in smart group..not the dumb (creationist) group. But I expect he did the political sidestep and avoided it to reduce the fundie outrage.

oldernell: Realizing that Obama called upon advisers to help write that, it still is well thought out and meaningful. I assume he did "approve of this message." I wonder if McCain will take the same amount of time and thought to answer it. I also wonder if he understands the questions.

FTA: Barack Obama's answers appear below. John McCain has said he will also answer the questions.

It just takes him a little longer to get consensus from his advisers. Either that or they're all out for PANCAKES!!!

As a side note, this is a better way to find out the views of the various candidates than watching a debate. I'd expect a President to think over an issue and consult with advisors before coming to a decision a bit more often than arguing with an opponent two minutes, having a snappy soundbite, then turning his attention to the next item on the agenda.

Science and technology have been responsible for half of the growth of the American economy since WWII.

I'd expect a group of scientists to know better than to simply pull statistics out of their ass.



Science is awesome. That's why politicians and the government should have absolutely nothing to do with it.

Farked after 148 hits!

Mordant: over educated elitist... real Amurkans don't go in for that fancy book learnin' or scientifical mumbo jumbo.

He talks like a fag.

Nevermind.

The only science you need to know is from the Bible! How do I know that? The Bible told me so!

/FTW.
//No one can argue against this. The Bible told me so!

Science is for fags.

I assume McCain will accuse the scientists of being witches and try to burn them at the stake.

Churchill2004: Science is awesome. That's why politicians and the government should have absolutely nothing to do with it.

And yet, as long as there are countries in this world that provide public subsidies for it, it would be the dumbest farking thing ever to drop our subsidies for science research and education.

I'd be really surprise if McCain answers those questions. And if he does, it'll probably be full of short sound-bites and talking points, like the Saddleback interview.

canyoneer: Science transcends mere politics. As recent history demonstrates, scientists are as willing to work for a Tojo, a Hitler, or a Stalin as for the free nations of the West...Science is the whore of industry and the handmaiden of war.

It amazes me that you're allowed to post here.

canyoneer: Science transcends mere politics. As recent history demonstrates, scientists are as willing to work for a Tojo, a Hitler, or a Stalin as for the free nations of the West...Science is the whore of industry and the handmaiden of war.

You're - well, wrong. Sound science dictates the free pursuit of facts, no matter how ideologically inconvenient. Biologists under Stalin were saddled with Lysenkoism, the Nazis had to fit everything into a race-based ideology.

canyoneer Quote 2008-08-31 02:29:24 PM
Science is the whore of industry and the handmaiden of war.


Prosperity and self defense.
Up with Science! ;)

Churchill2004:

Science is awesome. That's why politicians and the government should have absolutely nothing to do with it.

If we can put a man on the moon, surely we can keep government out of science.

canyoneer: Science transcends mere politics. As recent history demonstrates, scientists are as willing to work for a Tojo, a Hitler, or a Stalin as for the free nations of the West...Science is the whore of industry and the handmaiden of war.

Wow, you are one serious farked up individual.

SherKhan: Churchill2004:

Science is awesome. That's why politicians and the government should have absolutely nothing to do with it.

If we can put a man on the moon, surely we can keep government out of science.

I see what you did there.

/cue Fry pic

Churchill2004: Science is awesome. That's why politicians and the government should have absolutely nothing to do with it.



SHOULD HAVE BEEN A MCDONALD'S FLAG!

Where are Sarah Palin's answers about these questions?

Surely, as someone with lots of executive experience, she has in-depth policy analysis on these issues.

We don't want a hockey mom. We want someone who has a plan.

Relatively Obscure: Churchill2004: Science is awesome. That's why politicians and the government should have absolutely nothing to do with it.

SHOULD HAVE BEEN A MCDONALD'S FLAG!

If McDonald's had a moon program, you can bet Wendy's and Burger King would follow suit.

LocalCynic: Where are Sarah Palin's answers about these questions?

Surely, as someone with lots of executive experience, she has in-depth policy analysis on these issues.

We don't want a hockey mom. We want someone who has a plan.

Where is Joe Biden's answers about these questions? I'd sure like to know where he differs from Obama.

Snarfangel: If McDonald's had a moon program, you can bet Wendy's and Burger King would follow suit.

We'd already be selling hamburgers on Mars if there was that much competition to succeed.

Remove all Republicans: Third Day Mark:
It amazes me that you're allowed to post here.

It amazes me that you don't simply use the ignore list and keep him away from those of us who do.

Know what, didn't even think about that. My bad.

His position on stem cell research tips me strongly in favor for Obama.

That is all.

captainktainer: Churchill2004: Science is awesome. That's why politicians and the government should have absolutely nothing to do with it.

And yet, as long as there are countries in this world that provide public subsidies for it, it would be the dumbest farking thing ever to drop our subsidies for science research and education.

Agreed. Otherwise we'd fall back to a third world country where we are all dumb. Hasn't history taught anybody anything abou the value of science and technology on developement of socieities?

Oh that's right, the people who say "science is for fags" dont' read history

Oh big whoopty freakin deal. Mccain answered the same questions:

1. Innovation

"Thank you for the question my friend. I thought a lot about innovation back when I was a POW."

2. Climate Change

"Thank you for the question my friend. I thought a lot about climate change back when I was a POW."

3. Energy

"Thank you for the question my friend. I thought a lot about energy back when I was a POW."

4. Education

"Thank you for the question my friend. I thought a lot about education back when I was a POW."

5. National Security

"Thank you for the question my friend. I thought a lot about national security back when I was a POW."


and such and such...

canyoneer: Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could that they didn't stop to think if they should. Science can create pesticides, but it can't tell us not to use them. Science can make a nuclear reactor, but it can't tell us not to build it!

Thank you, Dr. Malcolm.

canyoneer: Science transcends mere politics. As recent history demonstrates, scientists are as willing to work for a Tojo, a Hitler, or a Stalin as for the free nations of the West...Science is the whore of industry and the handmaiden of war.

Science is the engine of free market capitalism. So I guess that begs the question, why do you hate America?

Sarah Palin is a creationist and clearly is not an advocated of science.

I hope that America is able to see through her gender tokenism and realize that she is Rush Limbaugh with a Hooha.

Tr0mBoNe: Where is Joe Biden's answers about these questions? I'd sure like to know where he differs from Obama.

See here for Joe Biden's policies on science and technology.

We should expect great things from Sarah Palin. I'd really like to know where she stands on the issues, not that she eats mooseburgers. So far, Sarah Palin is really selling women short.

LocalCynic: We should expect great things from Sarah Palin.

We should? Based on...

moralpanic: I'd be really surprise if McCain answers those questions. And if he does, it'll probably be full of short sound-bites and talking points, like the Saddleback interview.

I wonder how Palin would handle questions on science . . .

Keep in mind:

The Republican Party of Alaska platform says, in its section on education: "We support giving Creation Science equal representation with other theories of the origin of life. If evolution is taught, it should be presented as only a theory."

Dang..link's farked ALREADY. Anyone got it?

Relatively Obscure:

We should? Based on...

The price of comedy gold.

Relatively Obscure: We should? Based on...

Her word. I'm willing to take her up on her word. We should hold her to a high standard. I'm sick and tired of the Republicans trying to set low standards and then barely surprise people. You don't crack the glass ceiling by being "just good enough." You do it by being astoundingly competent.

Erik_Emune: You're - well, wrong. Sound science dictates the free pursuit of facts, no matter how ideologically inconvenient. Biologists under Stalin were saddled with Lysenkoism, the Nazis had to fit everything into a race-based ideology.

Yup. Most of the best scientists fled the European totalitarian states in droves. We won WWII thanks to refugees like Bohr, Teller and Fermi.