Something, anything. It might help to show that they may have a touch of non-partisan in them, doncha think?

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I am an American. That's the way most of us put it, just matter of factly. They are plain words, those four: you could write them on your thumbnail, or sweep them clear across this bright autumn sky. But remember too, that they are more than just words. They are a way of life. So whenever you speak them, speak them firmly, speak them proudly, speak them gratefully. I am an American. ...a tradition

MJF hasn't come out with any statement, but this is from his foundations website -

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research - Research Programs - MJFF Viewpoints - News In Context

Here is another article I found..

Stem cell breakthrough defuses debate - USATODAY.com

I cant find anything from Nancy Regan, and as for Christopher Reeve's widow, she died two years after he did.

I'm not sure I understand why they need to say anything to show they are non-partisan...they want research done, they don't want it restricted and I'd assume they could care less about which President wants it restricted.

What should they say? "Yay for research!" How would that show they are non-partisan?

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"We are each our own devil, and we make this world our hell." - Oscar Wilde

thanks for that.

Yup, as I said, the MSN did cover it. I picked MSNBC out of my taste for their news rather tha USA Today...rarely if ever read that one.

Thanks for the correction. I certainly am not a follower of the Hollywood scene, except when obnoxious big mouths make the actual MSN about hot political issues.

There's quite a bit of diviseness in our country right now due to rabid partisanship. I'm sorry that you aren't seeing that some good can come in demonstrating non-partisanship, at least from the politicians.

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I am an American. That's the way most of us put it, just matter of factly. They are plain words, those four: you could write them on your thumbnail, or sweep them clear across this bright autumn sky. But remember too, that they are more than just words. They are a way of life. So whenever you speak them, speak them firmly, speak them proudly, speak them gratefully. I am an American. ...a tradition

Well, I never approved of Bush's decision and rationale, and I can say that this has no bearing on my opinion, whatsoever. I do think that the scientific discovery (at least when I read about it several months back) is encouraging, but I don't see that it has anything to do with Bush, or validates his decision in any way. In order for that to be the case, I would have to accept his premise that using embryos for research is somehow worse than throwing them in the trash can.

Does that count as "something"? I'm really just failing to grasp what is expected here. The only people that would have reason to say anything is supporters of the decision since they can say "look - we're no longer impeding scientific progress". Opponents of the decision would be inclined to be happy with progress and continue to oppose the decision. Personally, I don't view my take as 'partisan', since I would disapprove just as much of Bush's decision regardless of his party or politics.

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"Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have... The course of history shows that as a government grows, liberty decreases."

-Thomas Jefferson

Oh, I just read the last bit of your last post. I see now that you're talking about politicians making a statement about it. Yes, perhaps some fence-mending might be nice, but you're unlikely to get that on wedge issues. Wedge issues are the easiest to understand and thus the easiest on which to have a strident, not necessarily well-informed opinion.

I would imagine supporters of the idea of stem cell research would be leery of declaring this a solution that satisfies everyone's ends, as they might feel that it would only encourage their opponents to impede more scientific progress and use this as precedent. I don't personally know that such a thing would happen, but I imagine people being afraid of that.

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"Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have... The course of history shows that as a government grows, liberty decreases."

-Thomas Jefferson

Well, from the USA Today article linked in Miranda's post...

So, basically what I posted was pretty much correct. Not surprising you chose to ignore those "minor details", though.


What exactly is an "bioethics" expert anyway? Sounds like a religious nut with a minor backround in biology to me. Or a lawyer.

And who decides what constitutes ethical questions? Sounds to me from the article that the only people concerned with that are a bunch of fundies & religious types.

As is evidenced by the article quotes above, the jury is still out on this new skin cell technique. They don't even know yet if they can use it without it causing cancer, so 1.) there's nothing for the "Hollywood bigmouths" (as you so graciously describe people who have just as much right to express their opinion as you or anyone else) to say, and 2.) it's too soon for the right wing partisans to engage their typical premature "Mission Accomplished" cheerleading.

I put more credibility on the scientific literature and the scientific community's publications and opinions about science, than I do on a journalist. But, that's just me.
Here, you can learn something new: Center for Bioethics

Center for Bioethics and Health Law, University of Pittsburgh

Bioethics Resources on the Web - National Institutes of Health

(I've got Arethra's song, "Think", in my mind right now for some reason.)
Oh well. Maybe if you look at those links...maybe...you may think differently.

(Wow, now I'm actually humming that song.)

Yeah, USA Today is known for it's expertise in science....riiiiiight.

And, as to the rest of your post? I'll just continue to humm that song.

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I am an American. That's the way most of us put it, just matter of factly. They are plain words, those four: you could write them on your thumbnail, or sweep them clear across this bright autumn sky. But remember too, that they are more than just words. They are a way of life. So whenever you speak them, speak them firmly, speak them proudly, speak them gratefully. I am an American. ...a tradition

Well, I appreciate your "hummer" offer, but no thanks. But you just "hum" away to your heart's content. With someone else, though.

As for the "credibility" issue, the article directly quoted the same scientists you claim to put your credibility into.

So, uhhhhh..... whats yer point?

And re: the bioethics thing... I'll look into it later. I have to go discard some left over embryos. Because throwing them in the trash incinerator is so much more "ethical" than using them to try to find cures for diseases, isn't it?

No, I agree that plenty of good can come when politicians demonstrate non-partisanship. And it goes both ways.

Majority Leader Frist Breaks with Bush on Stem Cells | LiveScience

Scientific discoveries are great, but I'd bet some of the people who disagree with restrictions probably still feel a little angered that there was a rock they had to go around in the first place.

Forgive me, but my brain is completely fried right now so -


(referring to bold) He laid out my thoughts perfectly.

Thanks drgoodtrips - I owe you a drink.

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"We are each our own devil, and we make this world our hell." - Oscar Wilde

I understand. But scientific progress was not impeded really all that much. Great discoveries were made, while those impositions were in place.

As I said in the OP, I, too, disagreed with the President's mandate, but it didn't anger me, since I understood the reasons but still disagreed.

And, I think many here are aware of my thoughts about politics dirtying science...thus my disgreement with GWB from the start. But, I was not angered, in fact it spiked a bit of my current (casual) interest in bioethics because I read the reports of GWB's advisers.

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I am an American. That's the way most of us put it, just matter of factly. They are plain words, those four: you could write them on your thumbnail, or sweep them clear across this bright autumn sky. But remember too, that they are more than just words. They are a way of life. So whenever you speak them, speak them firmly, speak them proudly, speak them gratefully. I am an American. ...a tradition

Make it a double, and I'll even do a little dance

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"Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have... The course of history shows that as a government grows, liberty decreases."

-Thomas Jefferson

There are NO valid bioethical considerations as to lifesaving research in this area which were not based on religious objections, which govt has no place dealing with, and/or justified after the fact. Thousands of people will die in the future due to the five years of research time that has been lost and the numerous research facilities that have had to move to other countries, and this moving will lose the US billions over the next few years. Worst of all it's set a terribly dangerous precedent in allowing government to make scientific decisions

And a 'solution' that causes cancer is no solution at all.