My regular reader :) knows how I feel about the politicization of science. I feel badly about it. Very badly.

Again, the NYT confirms my worst suspicions..or at least lends them credence.

A nibble:

Scientists Say Administration Distorts Facts

By JAMES GLANZ

More than 60 influential scientists, including 20 Nobel laureates, issued a statement yesterday asserting that the Bush administration had systematically distorted scientific fact in the service of policy goals on the environment, health, biomedical research and nuclear weaponry at home and abroad.

The sweeping accusations were later discussed in a conference call organized by the Union of Concerned Scientists, an independent organization that focuses on technical issues and has often taken stands at odds with administration policy. On Wednesday, the organization also issued a 38-page report detailing its accusations.

The two documents accuse the administration of repeatedly censoring and suppressing reports by its own scientists, stacking advisory committees with unqualified political appointees, disbanding government panels that provide unwanted advice and refusing to seek any independent scientific expertise in some cases.

"Other administrations have, on occasion, engaged in such practices, but not so systematically nor on so wide a front," the statement from the scientists said, adding that they believed the administration had "misrepresented scientific knowledge and misled the public about the implications of its policies."

Dr. Kurt Gottfried, an emeritus professor of physics at Cornell University who signed the statement and spoke during the conference call, said the administration had "engaged in practices that are in conflict with spirit of science and the scientific method." Dr. Gottfried, who is also chairman of the board of directors at the Union of Concerned Scientists, said the administration had a "cavalier attitude towards science" that could place at risk the basis for the nation's long-term prosperity, health and military prowess.

Much more at link

Am I the only one struck by the irony that a president that wants to build a moon base, and send a manned vehicle to Mars is so utterly contemptuous of the very people that would make this possible?

My brain hurts.

I think that it is fabulous that this is getting some press. It deserves to be the major campaign issue.

This is another one of those issues that people that only casually follow things will remark that it's 'politics as usual', or that 'they all do it.' Sure that's true to a degree, but this administration is so unresponsive and so irresponsible that these casual observers are continually and demonstrably wrong.

Educate them. I do.

I often get a blank stare after rattling of a litany of issues that the Bush administration differs by orders of magnitude from those that came before.

I'm going to see if I get a copy of the report. The site is being overwhelmed right now. Most of my pings are timing out, and there is no way, I can open the homepage.