Scientists Invite Kerry And Bush To Chat Online

Buzz Skyline writes "Several groups representing the nation's scientists, engineers, and doctors are inviting presidential candidates Kerry and Bush to participate in a "Virtual Town Hall" meeting, according to an Associated Press article that appeared in USA Today. Planned topics include stem cell research policy and technical research funding. More information is available at HiTechTownHall.org. Kerry's people say he is eager to take part, but Bush has yet to respond."

Comments

Likely outcome

[Oriumpor]

If it does happen, which I doubt, I would take the entire conversation with a grain of salt. Hopefully the entire thing is videotaped on both ends. Otherwise, that wonderful anonymity we all enjoy could let Professor DNC or Doctor GOP do the talking for either candidate.

disingenuous

[BigChigger]

It's not quite fair to say Kerry's "people" have agreed, but Bush himself has not. You've already displayed that this apparently is not a discourse about issues, but an ambush (pardon the pun ;-) to attack GWB. If I were GWB, I would not participate either. Besides, unlike most of the yahoos reading this board, GWB has a job.

BC

Re:disingenuous

[gantzm]

And if GWB didn't have the job, most of the yahoos reading this board would be employeed by now.

This crap is really amazing. I don't particulary like Bush or Kerry, but to put the entire blame of your misfortunes on a sitting president is stupid. It's takes more than one person to create the situation we have, including, but not limited to: Senators, Congressmen, Mayors, Counsel Members, Governors, etc.

Many problems can be blamed on individual states ramping up their budgets when "times were good", and living the high life. When things started going south nobody wanted to give up the gravy train.

So, next time you're farting around without a job, spend some time at the local library and actually learn how the country works. You might be surprised to learn how little power the president really has.

Maybe IHBT, but sometimes it's hard to tell with AC's. You have to wonder if they can really be that poorly informed.

Re:disingenuous

[GOD_ALMIGHTY]

Many problems can be blamed on individual states ramping up their budgets when "times were good", and living the high life.

Living the high life? I'm sorry I thought that was investment in infrastructure that had been ignored since the 60's. Tax cuts for the rich seems to be much more aligned with "living the high life" than fixing crumbling schools and environments.

As for entire blame on a President, you are correct. However, it wasn't Madeline Albright in India this spring telling the Indian business community that the President wouldn't do anything about outsourcing of jobs, it was Colin Powell. Even if you ignore the economic problems we've had since the good days, Bush has consistently supported policies that have exacerbated the situation for middle class Americans. The original poster's comment, while heavily oversimplified, was not without basis.

The President is also expected to lead the nation, to a degree. The President's complete lack of leadership, not to be confused with his arrogant stubbornness, is another reason people don't have jobs. How many people voted for Bush very cynically, believing he could get something done because of his connections and the people around him? What has he accomplished in the last 3.5 years? Higher levels of mercury in our nation's fresh water. Worst job creation record since Hoover. An economy that, at best, has some of the characteristics back that were lost during his Administration. Over extending our military, leaving us exposed to new dangers and old. No leadership on intelligence reform, even after report after report urging solutions. A record-breaking Federal budget deficit. Support for pork-barrel projects like Star Wars. Rolling back of environmental and labor protections.

W may not be personally responsible for a lot of the despair people are feeling these days, but he sure ain't doin shit to help.

Re:disingenuous

[orthogonal]

And if GWB didn't have the job, most of the yahoos reading this board would be employed by now.

Typical liberal crap. I'll have you know that all the top executives of Halliburton are doing quite well. And trickle-down economics works: by outsourcing the jobs of lazy Americans, the execs are able to hire lots of illegal immigrants as servants at sub-minimum wage market rates.

True, some of the guys actually doing the Halliburton's work in Iraq are getting killed, but, they should be proud to be allowed to make sacrifices for their company^W country so that the richest one percent's tax cuts are ensured.

Obviously, you're some sort of commie.

Bush won't be the one online, in any case

[js7a]

The whitehouse.gov webbaster has stated that the only person who has ever typed his own replies to "Ask The White House" questions is Treasury Secretary Snow. (Remember, the guy who "staked his reputation on job growth by Christmas" a year ago?) Everyone else has dictated answers to an assistant.

Re:Bush won't be the one online, in any case

[arrow]

Neither will Kerry.

99.99% of all online chat sessions with stars, canidates, axe murderers, etc. are done with transcriptionists (people who get paid to type faster than most people can speak) present.

No one wants to wait around 6 minutes for person XYZ to type out a response to a question. Believe it or not, a lot of people don't spend their days in front of keyboards.

Re:Bush won't be the one online, in any case

[4of12]

Yeah, it's too good to be true.

Besides, you know how it will all go ahead of time anyway.

Questioner: "Precisely what are your plans to restore fiscal solvency to the operations of the federal government?"

Kerry: Good sounding populist rhetoric about giving Americans jobs, vague on cost details, delivered with hound dog face, slighting the current administration for screwing up even if the current administration isn't sufficiently competent to orchestrate such a screwup.

Bush:Random, disconnected homilies about American values, tax cuts magically stimulating voodoo economics that Daddy know won't work, delivered with a deer in the headlights trying not to get run over, tying things into how bad a character that Saddam was anyhow.

Next question? Answer: see above.

[It's the Veep debate between Dick "Grand Vizier" Cheney and John "Aw Shuck's I'm Jes A Country Boy" Edwards that is going to be fun to watch - certainly not the Prez debates.]

Badnarik??? Nader???

[mshiltonj]

Did they invite Libertarian presidential candidate Michael Badnarik? Why not? He will be on the ballot in 49 or 50 states, plus DC. He's polling 4-5% in some states.

Re:Badnarik??? Nader???

[Hard_Code]

Calm down. All third parties need to do to gain access to the electoral system is:

1) petition each state with a simple signature count of 300% of the state population
2) to include the recently formed state of Atlantis
3) provide a simple proof that your great^4 grandfather was a citizen of the united states, ate only the chocolate portion of neopolitan ice cream, and owned exactly 2 dogs.
4) lift 3 times your body [politic] weight over your head
5) demonstrate faster than light travel

That's 6 [1] easy steps! Come on, stop whining.

[1] 6th step omitted, file a simple FOIA request to obtain it

bush?

[kevin lyda]

why invite bush? what would he have to say at a discussion on science?

Re:bush?

[daeley]

Something like: "I'm a firm supporter of science and science funding for science. I mean, how else are we going to find the oil and build better weapons?" ;)

Re:bush?

[linzeal]

I hardly think he is capable of that level of abstraction after hearing his state of the union addresses and comparing them to more off the cuff interviews the man is obviously of substandard intelligence. He has granted what 3 whole interviews since taking office? I believe all of them having to have their answers pre-screened.

Re:bush?

[Experiment 626]

Certainly a lot more than Kerry. Look for science related articles on both of their campaign sites. Kerry's says nothing at all of substance. The first point he talks about is how he would use tax breaks to "create a business environment that encourages investment". Imagine how wild the anti-business trolls would go if Bush lead off that way. Kerry's science and technology platforms highlight how he would bring broadband to "every corner of America". Like I use my 1.5mbps for conducting scientific experiments. Then you have the total fluff like "invest in the breakthroughs of tomorrow" and "create the industries and jobs of the future" without providing any ideas about what Kerry thinks those might be.

Then look at Bush's site. He actually talks about his record, with facts and numbers. Contrast this to how quiet Kerry is about his record in the Senate. Bush's site points out how the administration has raised federal funding for research and development by 44 percent to the highest percentage of discretionary spending since Apollo. And unlike Kerry, Bush mentions specific areas: space exploration, nanotechnology, hydrogen power, fusion, etc.

Please correct me if you have counterexamples, but it seems to me Kerry's entire science platform is insubstantial fluff, plus the "I'm going to support stem cell research to win points with the pro-abortion crowd" plank.

Re:bush?

[toddt]

Looking at the campaign web pages is hardly the best way to evaluate the Bush science record.

Bush has a reliable record of squelching good science in favor of his chosen industries/religious beliefs.

For example, his administration has overruled his own EPA on recommended arsenic levels/clean air regulations, et cetera. His administration has intentionally suppressed independent expert research on global warming. Why? Occam's razor might suggest it has something to do with the MASSIVE CAMPAIGN DONATIONS made by the polluting industries.

Complicated subjects? Sure. But the subversion of science to political goals is what has many independent scientists irritated with the administration. Science is supposed to be intellectually free research, not dictated from the president.

Finally, your line about stem cell research is just asinine. People who want embryonic (NOT FETAL, thus no abortion, you asshat) stem cell lines aren't advocating abortion, they're advocating the pursuit of lines of research that could lead to some of the most significant advances on critical illness that we've ever seen. Ever.

Suppressing that simply to cater to the Christian Right, most of whom wouldn't know science if it bit them in the ass, is simply wrong. Intellectually and morally.

Look, I'm not pleased with Kerry. But I'll be voting Anyone But Bush on election day, simply because I'd like to see independent science back in action.

Re:bush?

[write_with_numbers]

Try reading the book of platform ideas Kerry had published. Then remember that Bush's highest level technology advisor has a B.S. in Biology and zero days in a tech sector job. Try reading the facts and figures from the Union of Concerned Scientists. This non-partisan group, whose report has been signed by 48 Nobel laureates, 62 National Medal of Science recipients, and 127 members of the National Academy of Sciences, has determined that the Bush administration has made more decisions in opposition to good scientific data than any other administration in history.

When looking for facts and figures to back up your argument, I suggest you go to a source that is controlled by neither party.

"And unlike Kerry, Bush mentions specific areas: space exploration, nanotechnology, hydrogen power, fusion, etc."

With no shuttles launching, how is he putting money into space exploration? With our access to new oil reserves in Iraq, it has been at least a year and a half since Bush has even mentioned hydrogen power (although he did once proclaim that his administration would focus on hydrogen to make us energy independant). All Slashdot readers should know that recently the U.S. fusion program was cancelled. Besides, when you deny the No Child Left Behind Act nearly 40% of the funding you promised, how can you expect there to be future scientists to work on these breakthroughs?

Read the Kerry/Edwards platform book. There are some very interesting ideas on how to find funding for the important scientific and environmental projects that this administration has routinely ignored.

Or just go to http://www.ucsusa.org/ and look for the report on the Bush administration published in Febuary of this year and updated to include more troubling facts recently.

Re:Fun afterwards

[escher]

Yeah, he's too busy on his Iraq map trying to figure out how to build his own Town Hall, Barracks, Blacksmith, and just where the hell to find trees to up his lumber.

Re:Fun afterwards

[BigDogCH]

LOL

And, all his citizens are standing around without a JOB!!!!

Is this thing on?

[Wylfing]

I clicked on this topic because I was absolutely positively sure I would see some +5 Funnies. I mean, come on. George W. Bush and science. There's gotta be a joke there.

This could get interesting!

[FlyingOrca]

Given GWB's known propensity for junk science (most on Slashdot are familiar with the two "letters of concern" his administration has received from a coalition of top US scientists, right?), I wouldn't be surprised if he ducks this.

If he agrees to take part, though, I expect there will be some pretty tough questions... and although I don't live in the States anymore, I'd sure like to follow the exchange. The sad thing about such a Q&A, though, is that most people are so science-illiterate that (a) they won't care, recognise its significance, or follow it; and (b) they probably wouldn't understand most of it anyway.

Which is a pity, because the whole election mess could use some more rationality - at least from my perspective across the border. Cheers!

(Disclaimer: I'm a US citizen by birth, Canadian by naturalisation, and thinking seriously of voting in this US election - which would be a first.)

How it might go

[Henry V .009]

I'm a Conservative, but here goes:

Kerry2004 is online...
[Kerry2004]Guess I'm here a bit early.
[Kerry2004]....
[Kerry2004]Sure is quiet. Reminds me of Nam. I fought there, you know. Won 3 Pur--
Bush2004 is online...
[Bush2004]whoa! so this is the internet huh
[Kerry2004]Hello, Mr. President.
[Bush2004]howdy howdy
[Kerry2004]I was just telling everybody about the 4 med--
[Bush2004]hey john, how do you spell 'seneter'?
[Bush2004]never mind johns all right isnt it?
[Bush2004]you went to Veitnam didnt you john? were you in the shit?
[Kerry2004]Senator Kerry. Yes I was "in the shit." In fact, I won 5--
[Bush2004]bet that stunk! lololol
[Bush2004]so n-e-way lets get sireis about forein policy for a bit. what do you think about nuking Canada?
[Kerry2004]That's insane! You're joking, right? I would like to assure everyone that if you elect me instead of this nutcase, we will get America back on the track of a rational foreign policy. I think that my character has been proven by the 6--
[Bush2004]uh...i got to go make a phone call
[Bush2004]damn it, the neos said that it would impress everyone with my leadership.
Bush2004 has quit (Abort! Abort!)

Re:How it might go

[ravenspear]

I'm a Conservative

I'm a Conservative also. Unfortunately, Mr. Bush is not. He stands for expanded government regulation, fiscal irresponsibility, nation building, and special interests. All non-conservative positions.

Re:Fun afterwards

[magefile]

Not true. Private folks are going for adult/placental stems cells 'cuz embryonic stem cells are hard to get. And *no* *one* (mainstream, at least) wants fetal stem cells - these are *embryonic* stem cells. The ones that the in vitro docs flush down the toilet 'cuz they've got no other use for 'em. Read up on it sometime.

Re:Fun afterwards

[0x0d0a]

Just like the hemp advocates are a front for the drug legalization crowd, fetal stem cell advocates are a front for pro-abortionists.

Isn't this just a slippery slope fallacy on your part?

Re:Bush still to respond

[buswolley]

Two things are really stupid.

1. Bush won't do it because he is afraid of typing and mispelling a word. He doesn't want to make Potatoe a republican thing.

2.Bush is probably stupid enough to think that he couldn't have someone actually type for him.

Strangely astute...

[wikdwarlock]

For those who don't get it, this is in reference to War Craft. The strange thing is the Call to Arms feature of the game. When you get scared about defending your town, you click your base and all the peasants stop everything, pick up weapons, and fight whatever is nearby. Sounds a bit like the terror alert level system, huh? Are Dubbya and Rumsfeld really WC3 junkies?