Tim writes:

> <snip>
>  Can't Bush find any scientists that believe in his scientific theories to
>  appoint to these grant approving positions.
>  <snip>
>
>  He could nominate them, but then the obstructionist democrats would block
>  their appointments just like they do the judges GW nominates.

Lordy.

Scientists aren't "nominated" by anyone. They *earn* their status through a
process of education and research that lasts a lifetime, but begins with a
doctorate earned in a university. It's an extremely competitive process. Only a
fraction of the people who begin finish, and an even smaller percentage actually
obtain employment.

Although a few scientists do work for corporations and government labs, the
overwhelming majority of them exist within the university system, and they're
the driving force behind the research conducted here in the United States and
in the remainder of the developed world.

No one checks anyone with regards to their political stripes; indeed that's
the essence of academic freedom. You're free to work on whatever you deem is
important and say whatever you believe to be true. But you are constantly judged
by your peers on the accuracy of your findings and the logic of your
conclusions. Your promotion, tenure and respect rest wholly on those two qualities,
not who you vote for.

Nonetheless, these people as a group are trained to sniff out charlatans and
misrepresentors, and you wil find very few who would vote for the current
administration for anything.

Wirt Atmar

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