Political Cortex: Brain Food for the Body Politic

The anti-science Republicans have done what few people could: they have pissed off scientists. So some top scientists. Scientists are sick of Republicans attacking evolution, global warming science, stem cell research and a whole bunch of censorship and lies. I have previously written about the right wing Intelligent Deception campaign against the teaching of Evolution, and the right wing Denial Lobby that falsely claims that global warming science is "junk science" and that scientists don't agree about whether global warming is real. The head of GISS, Jim Hansen, went public on 60 Minutes describing the censorship he faces in his scientific reports and lectures from the Bush Administration. Republican Joe Barton (TX-6) threatens global warming scientists with loss of funding and Congressional investigations if they don't toe the Republican denial line on global warming. Hell, the Bush Administration has even quietly removed study of "the Home Planet" from the NASA mission statement, thus potentially hampering more research into climate change.

And by now scientists are pissed.

So they have formed Scientists and Engineers for America (SEA). This is a brand new organization, still in its formative stages. They are preparing a list of key races to focus on and I have contacted them regarding one in Illinois as well as the Missouri Senate race. They asked me more info on the Illinois race...but not about Missouri. I take this as a sign that they are already eyeing it.

I suggest joining SEA and sending them suggestions (with backing information...these are scientists, after all!) of what races they can cover.

Read the Progressive Democrat

Mr. Fox is well within his Constitutional rights to campaign for those willing to help individuals who suffer from his tragic illness. But, rightwing extremists would deny him that right.

As with Ann Coulter's meanspirited attack on 9/11 families, this attack on a man with a very serious progressive and incurable disease is unconscionable and no less worthy of denounciation than a similar attack based on race or gender.

America needs to have meaningful debate on important issues like stem cell research - not to have it drowned in the poisonous slime produced by bullies like Limbaugh and Coulter. Vicious personal attacks have the same effect as throwing a fire bomb into the middle of a crowd gathered at a public rally.  They are not expressions of free speech but attempts to frighten others into silence.

The time has come for responsible citizens to cry "foul" and to use every means  at their disposal - letters to the editor, radio open lines, the courts and the ballot box - to condemn vicious attacks on individuals that, in the process, deprive all Americans of the right to be informed on issues critical to their welfare and the nation's.

I remember being surprised last night when I saw the second ad immediately following the Talent ad, and being confused for a minute, but... The most effective ad I've seen in this race so far (and honestly, I haven't seen many of them, as I only recently bought a TV antenna to watch the Series...) is the "rubber stamp" ad. It's very, very slick, and it makes Talent look terrible.

Of course, some of Talent ads caught by Factcheck.org are unfortunately quite well done too. They were very quickly debunked online, but that won't have any effect on the main targets of those ads.

Why?  Jim Talent votes for Bush-sponsored legislation 94% of the time including support for the repeal of the estate tax, massive increases in defense spending (including continuing "star wars" research)and decreased involvement in health care at the federal level.  And he's certainly no stranger when it comes time to support Dubya's repressive anti-terrorist legislation and to continue expanding the Patriot Act.

Some of the aging pro-life -- and anti-stem cell initiative -- Catholics in South St. Louis don't seem to be concerned about Talent's miserable record of voting against increased Medicare Part D funding, fixed costs to seniors of brand-name drugs, as well as for legislation that will eliminate Medicaid in all but name only.  He's also been one of the biggest proponents of workfare in the Senate -- which doesn't mix well with some of his other stances --  like allowing states to come up with their own way of "paying" workfare recipients while supporting increased payroll taxes for FICA and cutting COLA increases for recipients of social security benefits.  His support earlier this year for increasing the minimum wage was very likely an election year ploy.  

Apparently, working till you drop dead is Jim's idea of retirement and worker re-training programs.  Federal income tax should become Federal salary tax.  While Talent votes more often for pro-environmental legislation than the Busheviks in Congress, he also continues to support bills that would open up Federal lands to private logging and further oil drilling in the eastern part of the Alaskan NWR.

Supporting Bush, pro-life, and anti-same sex marriage issues have been Talent's "bread and butter" reputation in Missouri politics.  He's certainly not alone in this -- especially when one looks at races for Congress in outstate districts.  But these other candidates can afford to stay the Bush course.  Talent can't.

By the way, as for as the Stem Cell Iniative, with friends like Jack Danforth -- who needs enemies?  This is the man that brought you Clarence Thomas, for Pete's sake!  And his support for SC research does pose a conflict of interest.  The Danforth family rose to power with their Ralson-Purina empire, and hold service over Washington University in St. Louis.  Just another small college, right?  Guess Again.  The unversity staffs the aforementioned St. Louis Children's Hospital as well as Barnes Hospital (in the top ten among US medical centers.) No doubt the family will profit handsomely from stem cell research.  Jack's brother -- Dr. William Danforth is the scion emeritus of Wash U's Medical School.