NationStates Jolt Archive

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070411/ap_on_go_co/stem_cells

The 63-34 vote was shy of the margin that would be needed to enact the measure over presidential opposition, despite gains made by supporters in last fall's elections.

The bill would permit funding for research on embryonic stem cells regardless of the date of their creation, so long as they were donated from in-vitro fertilization clinics, they would "otherwise be discarded" and donors gave their approval.

Personally I see this as a great advancement, provided this isn't just a power play on the part of the Dems that's designed to provoke another veto from Dubya and then just fail quietly.

Edit: If you want a more legitimate source, I'm currently in the process of locating one. Sorry!

Edit2: http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/04/11/stem.cells/index.html

It's a lose-lose situation for Dear Leader. He lets it pass, the Fundies that helped him in both elections ride his ass, and if he vetoes it he looks more like the Fundie troglodytes who voted for him in the first place.

It's a step forward no matter what happens, because it gives the Dems one more wedge issue for 2008. The only way the anti-stem cell position is rational in this case is if you're also against in vitro fertilization, and the general public has no problem with that. It's just a matter of time before this passes--I just hope the US isn't so far behind in the research race that we can't catch up.

With a margin that big...I wouldn't be too surprised if it any veto got overridden. I've heard today (from a professor, so I don't have the source) that enough of the "no" voters would vote for an override to make it happen. That'd be great. But yeah, Bush is royally screwed on this one. If I were him, I'd just sign it and kiss the fundies goodbye. After all, he doesn't need to get re-elected, but he does need to avoid pissing of the vast majority of Americans (and antagonizing Congress) to such a degree that he can't accomplish anything in the remainder of his term.

It's a step forward. The regressive idiots who oppose this research, having already lost all credibility are now losing actual political ground because there is clear scientific evidence for embryonic stem cell research, and as Bush becomes more and more irrelevant the damage he has inflicted will be reversed, albeit slowly.

Maybe America can regain the technological edge it had before W allowed it to decay with his war on science; I have a feeling this is a clear sign that things have changed, and we will finally be able to resume our position as the forefront of biomedical research.

2008 couldn't come fast enough. Time to put the last nail in to the tomb of bioconservatives and end their idiocy once and for all.

Here's a crazy solution that I think would let everyone go home pleased:

Not only make it so that only donated stem cells can be used in these experiments to fight diseases but also add a check mark on tax forms so that people can choose whether or not to fund it with their tax dollars. That way those opposed to federal funding no longer have an argument to hold back medical research and those that want it get exactly what they need for their research (samples and money).

I know, I know, I really should stop thinking up ways to kill multiple birds with a single stone.

Not only make it so that only donated stem cells can be used in these experiments to fight diseases but also add a check mark on tax forms so that people can choose whether or not to fund it with their tax dollars. That way those opposed to federal funding no longer have an argument to hold back medical research and those that want it get exactly what they need for their research (samples and money).

It's a good idea, but you also have to remember that the die-hard opponents of embryonic stem cell research don't care what others want; their morality and their decisions are divine truth, and they're going to force them on everyone regardless of whether they like it or not. The bioconservative stance that Bush champions does not take the will of the people in to account; it is inherently totalitarian and opposes scientific freedom in the name of ideology.

Now, for most people this will work, but when we're talking Bush and co. it doesn't matter. No facts, no evidence, not even the will of the American people matter when it comes to his decisionmaking.