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How true, Amanda. I don't think we have ever done this poorly. What should be OBVIOUS to everyone still isn't to about 30% of our country. Ray ----- Original Message ----- From: "Amanda Phillips" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Saturday, January 20, 2007 1:24 PM Subject: Re: Consequences of anti-science president > In a message dated 20/01/2007 07:05:46 GMT Standard Time, > [log in to unmask] > writes: > > From Reuters this afternoon. > > Tony Mazzaschi > AAMC > Official faults Bush stem cell funding limits > Fri Jan 19, 2007 4:24 PM ET > By Will Dunham > WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A senior U.S. National Institutes of Health > official said on Friday President George W. Bush's limits on federal > funding for human embryonic stem cell research have blocked potential > medical breakthroughs. > The comments by Story Landis, director of the NIH's National Institute > of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, came as supporters of a bill to > lift Bush's restrictions make a push for Senate passage in the coming > weeks. > Bush used the only veto of his presidency last July to reject an > identical bill and has promised another veto. > Democrats who seized control of Congress in November elections have made > its passage a high priority. It cleared the House of Representatives on > January 11 by a vote of 253-174, short of the two-thirds majority needed > to override a veto. > Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts asked Landis during a > Senate hearing to assess the impact of Bush's restrictions, imposed in > August 2001. > "We are missing out on possible breakthroughs," Landis responded. > Advocates of such research call it the best hope for potential cures for > ailments such as Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, Parkinson's disease and > spinal cord injuries. But because such research requires destruction of > days-old embryos, opponents call it immoral. > Landis said there is a "compelling need to pursue both embryonic and > non-embryonic stem cell research," and no one can predict which might > lead to cures. > "Therefore, NIH should support research on stem cells from both > embryonic and other sources," Landis said. > 'ALL AVENUES' > "Science works best when scientists can pursue all avenues of research," > Landis said. "If the cure for Parkinson's disease or juvenile diabetes > lay behind one of four doors, wouldn't you want the option to open all > four doors at once instead of one door?" > Stem cells are a kind of master cell for the body, capable of growing > into various tissue and cell types. Those taken from days-old embryos > are especially malleable but "adult" stem cells found in babies and > adults also have shown promise. > Many scientists hope to exploit the unique qualities of these cells to > repair tissue damaged by disease or injury. > Two stem cell researchers and Lauren Stanford, a diabetic 15-year-old > Massachusetts girl, pleaded with the senators to pass the bill. No > witnesses opposing it were called. > Some Republican senators against the measure emphasized their support > for "adult" stem cell research not requiring embryo destruction. > "Let's make sure we understand the dividing line," said Sen. Tom Coburn > of Oklahoma, a doctor who has delivered 4,000 babies. "Some of us very > earnestly believe life begins at conception. > "I can tell you that you're going to get a veto," Coburn told the bill's > supporters. > Kennedy said he expected the Senate to consider the bill in February and > appealed to Bush to "re-examine his conscience." > Utah Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch, who opposes abortion but supports > embryonic stem cell research, held up a pair of handcuffs from "one of > my Secret Service buddies" to make the point that Bush's policy binds > scientists' hands. > Bush's 2001 policy limited federal funding to research on the human > embryonic stem cell colonies, or lines, that existed at that time. > Scientists say many of those roughly 20 lines are deteriorating, > contaminated or obsolete. > The bill would allow federal funding for research involving additional > stem cell lines derived from leftover embryos created at fertility > clinics destined otherwise to be destroyed because they will not be used > to make babies. > > > > _______________________________________________ > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: > mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > > > > Time to change the selection procedure for politicians to include general > knowledge and intelligence tests ? > Or go on selecting on the basic of charisma and influence, the wonder > why > you got an ass ? (I'm not getting at America here, England does it > too.) > > This is done for many jobs of lesser importance > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: > mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn