News Science Debate 2008: Obama & McCain on Science Questions

[G01]

This website has asked the candidates what it thinks are the 14 most important science and policy questions for this election. Obama has responded, McCain plans on responding:

http://www.sciencedebate2008.com/www/index.php?id=40

SciAm article on the questions:

http://www.sciam.com/blog/60-second-science/post.cfm?id=obama-and-mccain-on-science-where-d-2008-09-04

 

[LowlyPion]

This website has asked the candidates what it thinks are the 14 most important science and policy questions for this election. Obama has responded, McCain plans on responding:

http://www.sciencedebate2008.com/www/index.php?id=40

SciAm article on the questions:

http://www.sciam.com/blog/60-second-science/post.cfm?id=obama-and-mccain-on-science-where-d-2008-09-04

I rather suspect that McCain would much prefer not to talk about stem cells before the election, and raise flak from the right wingers about the sanctity of life if he doesn't continue to hew to the Bush pandering with his ban on the subject. It will be interesting if he ever does respond.

 

[Gokul43201]

McCain's not sitting in a cone of silence, is he? I'm pretty sure the other folks on his campaign are not computer illiterate.

 

[Evo]

Thanks for the links G01. Interesting that McCain hasn't bothered to have anyone on his staff put together answers on this.

 

[G01]

Thanks for the links G01. Interesting that McCain hasn't bothered to have anyone on his staff put together answers on this.

Yes, it is making me wonder. I also get the feeling that the McCain camp thinks it is in there best interest to not talk about a lot of these issues. Hopefully he does respond though. I think his campaign spends too much time focusing on people and avoiding issues if you ask me.

 

[Gokul43201]

It's 2009. There's a cyberattack on vital US institutions from a bot herder in Russia, causing havoc to financial/defense/air traffic systems. A computer illiterate President who spent the last 6 months extending troop rotations says: "Who would have thought we could be attacked through this... this internets? We thought our troops and our missile defense would protect us."

Some people recall a similar statement by an earlier Presidential genius that thought oceans would protect us. Most don't.

 

[LowlyPion]

"Who would have thought we could be attacked through this... this internets? We thought our troops and our missile defense would protect us."

Phew. At least he didn't say "interwebs".

That would have cost him.

 

[G01]

An Update:

McCain has now answered the questions. Check them out if your interested:

http://www.sciencedebate2008.com/www/index.php?id=40

http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/09/15/1398744.aspx

 

[LowlyPion]

An Update:

McCain has now answered the questions. Check them out if your interested:

http://www.sciencedebate2008.com/www/index.php?id=40

This will be a welcome change from the current administration, that applies this not only to Science issues, but also to the current restrictions against reporting on deaths and burials and body bags being returned to US soil from Iraq.

Our job as elected officials is to develop the policies in response to those research results. Many times our research results have identified critical problems for our country. Denial of the facts will not solve any of these problems.

 

[Borek]

Who would have thought we could be attacked through this... this internets?

They have the Internet on computers, now?

Homer Simpson.

 

[Gokul43201]

An Update:

McCain has now answered the questions. Check them out if your interested:

http://www.sciencedebate2008.com/www/index.php?id=40

http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/09/15/1398744.aspx

Hmmm...anyone notice the rather terse answer to Q8?

Question     Length of answer (lines)
---------------------------------
Innovation        68
Climate           47
Energy            35
Education         54
National Security 16
Pandemics         44
Genetics          17
Stem Cells        09
Oceans            35
Water             17
Space             83
Integrity         17
Research          16
Health            25

 

[LowlyPion]

Hmmm...anyone notice the rather terse answer to Q8?

Question     Length of answer (lines)
---------------------------------
Innovation        68
Climate           47
Energy            35
Education         54
National Security 16
Pandemics         44
Genetics          17
Stem Cells        09
Oceans            35
Water             17
Space             83
Integrity         17
Research          16
Health            25

I read it the other day. I think as far as stem cells go he's operating on the premise that the less said the better - for him.

 

[ZapperZ]

Here's even more depressing news to read if McCain becomes president.

http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2008/919/1

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

More "presidential-science" news.

http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080925/full/news.2008.1135.html

This link is open for free only for a limited time. So read it now and the accompanying links in that article.

A very glaring piece of information in that article is this:

At the same time, 61 US Nobel science laureates endorsed Obama — the largest number ever to make their voices heard during a presidential campaign. In 2004, 48 science Nobelists threw their weight behind John Kerry, then the Democratic presidential contender.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

If Al Gore invented the Internet, then why can't McCain claim to have helped invent Wi-Fi?

In one of McCain's responses to the set of science questions sent to him, he seemed to have implicated that he was responsible for Wi-Fi and wireless technology.

http://www.sciam.com/blog/60-second-science/post.cfm?id=john-mccain-talks-science-says-hes-2008-09-15

Zz.

 

[Gokul43201]

McCain's Economic Advisor, Doug Eakin said the Blackberry wouldn't have existed if not for McCain.