Obama backs Science, McCain talks Beaver

Picture a tale of two men who engaged in an epic contest mere months ago. One of them, President Barack Obama, signs an order to allow government funding for stem cell research, saying the following:

"Promoting science isn't just about providing resources, it is also about protecting free and open inquiry," Obama said. "It is about letting scientists like those here today do their jobs, free from manipulation or coercion, and listening to what they tell us, even when it's inconvenient especially when it's inconvenient. It is about ensuring that scientific data is never distorted or concealed to serve a political agenda and that we make scientific decisions based on facts, not ideology."

He said his memorandum is meant to restore "scientific integrity to government decision-making." He called it the beginning of a process of ensuring his administration bases its decision on sound science; appoints scientific advisers based on their credentials, not their politics; and is honest about the science behind its decisions.

The other's most notable act of late was Twittering about earmarks, including one involving beaver management, quipping, "How does one manage a beaver?"

Except beaver management turns out to be a real issue.

State and federal wildlife officials claim to have saved nearly $5 million last year in potential flood damage to farms, timber lands, roadways and other infrastructure through its Beaver Management Assistance Program – the same one McCain was making fun of in Washington.

"Maybe you should ask (McCain) how much he knows about this and why he picked it out for ridicule," said U.S. Rep. David Price, a Chapel Hill Democrat. "We know why he chose this — because it sounds funny."

Exactly. Beaver (tee hee) management. Do you know it took me forever to figure out the McCampaign's fascination with fruit flies? Which he himself repeated not that long ago? It was too obvious.

Fruit. Flies. Fruit. Flies. In Paris, France. In wingnut world, Paris would be the international headquarters of thing fruity. (If you're not hip to the game, San Fran is the the US HQ.) It's kinda childish.

But it's catchy, and that's the point. And he's not the only person concerned about earmarks--Sen. Feingold joins him in his concern about the process. But if he really wanted to say something significant about the earmark issue, he could have turned on his battle cry:

I've fought the big spenders in both parties, who waste your money on

things you neither need nor want, and the first big-spending

pork-barrel earmark bill that comes across my desk, I will veto it. I

will make them famous, and you will know their names. You will know

their names.

Call out the abusers! Like...um....Shelby, Bond, Cochrane, and Murkowski? Inhofe? McConnell?

THere's a reason some senators keep getting sent back to Washington by their constituents. (Take note, Arizonians. You sent that man to Washington for all these years and where's the pork?)

The difference between the two? One is president. One is not. That is all.


(Yeah. I hit McCain a few times during the election. I know the election's over. But he's not.)