Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Bush wants your grandma to die

UPDATE.

Bush did in fact veto the bill.

Not a fan of Frist, but he is right:

"Given the potential of this research and the limitations of the existing lines eligible for federally funded research, I think additional lines should be made available."

Great quote from Think Progress:

An embryo is not a boy or a girl. It’s a cluster of about 150 cells smaller than the period at the end of this sentence. The embryos funded by the bill Bush vetoed were “created for the purposes of in vitro fertilization…which are spare or in excess of clinical need and in every single case are slated for medical waste.

Only about 10 percent of embryos are adopted — the rest are disposed of. Had Bush signed the bill into law, they could instead be used to develop potentially live-saving cures for millions of people.

Never in all these years has he vetoed one thing.
Not even a spending bill to crunch those budget numbers.

The one that Bush promises to veto is the Stem Cell Research Bill which was passed by the Senate 63-37 today. There would need to be 67 votes to override.

Once again, science loses with the Bush administration.

Shocking, I know.
Grandma has alzheimer's? Suck it up! Your uncle is paralized from the neck down? Shake it off!

15 comments:

Karen said...

"i don't care about grandma only my political ass!

it's morally wrong, i tell ya, messin' with human lives but sendin' them boys to fight and die in EYE-RACK, well, that's different!! and i proved it cuz, you know we're safer now that saddam is gone!"

Tom Harper said...

This provides the perfect wedge issue for Democrats this November. I hope they'll be smart enough to use it. Almost everybody knows somebody with Alzheimers or Parkinsons or one of the other diseases that could be helped by stem cell research.

If the Dems aren't able to run with this issue and bring it to the center of the stage, they're losing on purpose.

Steve Landis said...

I hope you're right, Tom. Science loses, Americans lose, the world loses. We need to capitalize on Bush's bowing to a need to satisfy his radical base. This is not simply illogical, it is medically unsound and unsafe. My grandfather died of a combination of both Alzheimers and Parkinsons, easily 10 years before he should have. Damn Bush. Thanks, Tom, thanks, Mike.

tobymarx said...

okay, i'm trying this one last time...

check out these photos of chimpboy in action at the g-8 summit:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/7/17/212531/190

what a creep!
mark

tobymarx said...

hey mike,

here's another link for ya:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AIAx7SLFps&NR

this should be compulsory viewing for everyone!

mark

Mike V. said...

Jebus, those photos are fucking creepy.
Man.

Not that I disagree with the video, but it's a little heavy handed.

The people that should at least know about some of these things and where the Bushies come from wouldn't leave it on for more than 30 seconds.

Then again, it would be doubtful they would be receptive to even the most thoughtful presentation of the same data in any format..

Can't win for losing..

LA said...

My dad died of Alzheimer's three years ago. He also had diabetes mellitus, another disease considered to benefit from stem cell research.

God forbid Barbara or Jenna suffer a spinal cord injury or leukemia or ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease, which is a positively hideous way to die, and it is utterly fatal). You'll see a BIG change of policy. Just ask Nancy Reagan.

Mike - Agree with your comment that I hope the powers that be use this as a wedge issue. It's very powerful, and with Nancy Reagan now in favor of stem cell research (she officially is), well, this could actually change people's minds.

Diane said...

la - you make a good point - I had an uncle die of ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) - and I think our experiences are not unique - many or most people have been touched by diseases that could be eradicated with the aid of stem cell research, and are bothered by the government's stance obstructing this research.

Mike - while I am favor of both stem cell research and a woman's right to choose, and while I am glad Frist is supporting stem cell research, how does one in his position justify being in favor of one and not the other?

Mike V. said...

Because Frist is a politician.
Which means that he first weighed this one out as to where the bulk of the nation lied, what the best way to play this would be, etc..

None of these assholes give a damn about any of what they feel are wedge issues or anything.

Steve Landis said...

Deep inside, some might care but it really seems more about control and power (oh yeah, and religion) than anything. Of course we are fighting to get that control back. If and/or when that happens, I really, truly hope that we can return to a time when the governing of this country is by the people, FOR the people and strike a more moderate pose than the nuts in charge today!

Marie said...

What about stem cells not derived from embryos? Why can't we just use them?

Unknown said...

Not only did he spit in the face of grandmas and grandpas, but what about Nancy Regan? Frist? He's an idiot.

Mike V. said...

marie, here is a good place to see about your question:

http://www.healthpolitics.org/program_transcript.asp?p=prog_64

prying1 said...

There is no limit to to stem cell research in the private sector! - Anyone in this country can invest their own personal money into any company that does embryonic stem cell research. - A Google/Yahoo search will show you which ones show the most promise of breakthroughs. Remember it is for the children and the old folks so invest as much as you can.

And speaking of promise what sort of recompense will the taxpayer have if after billions and gazillions of dollars the federal program comes up empty. Just because they say it looks promising does not mean anything will come of the research. So far they have not had a single breakthrough as they have with the adult stem cells.

States can donate all they want as California (my state) has voted to do. Am I supposed to pay twice for this. Once in State Taxes and again in Federal Taxes?

What will happen if they make a federal program for this? 90% of the funds will pay for people to shovel papers from one desk to another. Polititians will have their cousins, neices and nephews get jobs shuffling papers. Very little of the fumds will go to actual research.

The private sector will be more streamlined, cost effective and more likely to get results if there are any to be had. - Shareholders will demand it. A Gummint program will only only demand & throw more money at it to find out why there are no results.

Mike V. said...

yea, well to Bush this is just another wedge issue with the religious freaks.

if this is "murder", then why are they not seeking to outlaw and punish this AND in-vitro?