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White House Clamps Down On USGS Publishing

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the need-to-know-basis dept.

An anonymous reader writes "The White House has begun implementing a new policy toward the U.S. Geological Survey, in which all scientific papers and other public documents by USGS scientists must be screened for content. The USGS communications office must now be 'alerted about information products containing high-visibility topics or topics of a policy-sensitive nature.' Subjects fitting this description might include global warming, or research on the effects of oil drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Reserve."

12 of 417 comments (clear)

  1. Gotta clamp down on that truth stuff by wschalle · · Score: 3, Funny

    Who knows what could happen if enough truth got out. Gives me nightmares just thinkin about it.

  2. who needs science? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... when you have god on your side?

  3. Rock and a hard place by dotslashdot · · Score: 2, Funny

    I guess that puts the USGS between a rock and a hard place.

  4. Who study everything from caribou mating by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I happen to know this policy came from the Whitehouse and was specifically triggered by the caribou research. Someone from Georgia complained, and the administration wants the chance to add the appropriate black bars to any future caribou video.

  5. Re:How To Clamp a President by Jah-Wren+Ryel · · Score: 4, Funny

    I mean, didn't Clinton get impeached? It didn't seem to have any effect on him, did it?

    I'm pretty sure he stopped getting blowjobs for a while.

    --
    When information is power, privacy is freedom.
  6. Re:Bush is not the first to do it by budgenator · · Score: 2, Funny

    Dad Gumit, If I was president I'd want to see the things I wouldn't understand before the public who wouldn't understand sees it too! Shouldn't the boss have the right of first confusion?

    --
    Apocalypse Cancelled, Sorry, No Ticket Refunds
  7. Scientific method? by Potor · · Score: 5, Funny
    Indeed.
    Top officials at the Interior Department's scientific arm say the rules only standardize what scientists must do to ensure the quality of their work and give a heads-up to the agency's public relations staff.
    I am very curious to see how Bush and co. can improve on the scientific method.
  8. Re:-1 Flamebait? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    > I guess the ultra-liberal-"Bush-is-stoopid"-tree-huggers have mod points, today.

    Ultra-liberal or not, mod points or not, hugging trees or not... has nothing to do with Bush being stoopid.

  9. why bother? by AlgorithMan · · Score: 2, Funny

    big deal...

    Hitler did it
    Mussolini did it
    Stalin did it
    Hussein did it
    "The Party" did it (1984 by George Orwell)
    Communist Party of China DOES it
    Gates WILL DO it (TCG fka TCPA)

    sooooo since this is such a common action - why bother?

    --
    The MAFIAA is a bunch of mindless jerks who will be the first up against the wall when the revolution comes
  10. Re:Who the heck is by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Doctor Who was on the Enterprise?

  11. Re:I can't wait, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    At least he didn't lie about getting a blowjob from a consenting adult, then he'd REALLY be in trouble.

  12. Re:I can't wait, by macdaddy · · Score: 2, Funny

    Might I remind you of something of critical importance? Conjure up in your mind a quick mental image of Ms. Lewinski. Let me help you. That is why, my dear tc, President Clinton was impeached. After that unconscionable lack of judgement and/or eyesight we had to revoke his man card. He was already on probation for marrying Hillary. Lewinski was just too much. For shame Billy Boy. You could have at least tapped a nice ass.