Top Scientist Rails Against Hirings: Bush Appointees Land Career Jobs Without Technical Backgrounds

[Swamp Rat]

The president of the nation's largest general science organization yesterday sharply criticized recent cases of Bush administration political appointees gaining permanent federal jobs with responsibility for making or administering scientific policies, saying the result would be "to leave wreckage behind."

"It's ludicrous to have people who do not have a scientific background, who are not trained and skilled in the ways of science, make decisions that involve resources, that involve facilities in the scientific infrastructure," said James McCarthy, a Harvard University oceanographer who is president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. "You'd just like to think people have more respect for the institution of government than to leave wreckage behind with these appointments."

(snip)

In one recent example, Todd Harding -- a 30-year-old political appointee at the Energy Department -- applied for and won a post this month at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. There, he told colleagues in a Nov. 12 e-mail, he will work on "space-based science using satellites for geostationary and meteorological data." Harding earned a bachelor's degree in government from Kentucky's Centre College, where he also chaired the Kentucky Federation of College Republicans.

(snip)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/21/AR2008112103359.html?hpid=moreheadlines

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Heck of a job, asshole.

[anonymous171]

1. But according to DU, hiring solely on the basis of ideology is good for government.

[Swamp Rat]

2. What are you talking about?

[ElboRuum]

3. A hale and hearty...

...:wtf:

[truedelphi]

4. American Chemical Association has been railing against Bush and his negative

Effects for at least three years.

Generally speaking, scientific organizations keep their mouths shut when they disagree with a President.

After all, they still might possibly be appointed to a position - but under Bush, your religious beliefs and willingness to toe the line counted for a lot more than your scientific credentials and education. So I guess the ACS felt that there was not much to lose, and a great deal to be gained by speaking out.

BUsh has lawyers in high places that had no comprehension of the most basic of legal tenets, and scientists heading agencies who think that Jesus commuted to work in his busy downtown Nazarene high rise on the back of a dinosaur.

Evolution - don't knock it if you haven't tried it yet!

[Swamp Rat]

5. How do we remove them?

Todd Harding has no place heading up an agency like NOAA.

Like Heckaofajob Brownie, he will be a menace, a danger to us all.

[truedelphi]

6. Here's hoping someof these people will be raptured out of here

The sooner the better.

[opihimoimoi]

7. We should be looking for ways to stop this SHIT...this is forced CRONYISM

This is a Republican Idea Gone Nuts....This ain't good....on our Dime no less...

And they wonder why people voted Dem.....What is it they reveal??? ARROGANCE???

[Swamp Rat]

8. And it's just plain dangerous.

We in New Orleans already experienced what happens when you appoint idiots with no qualifications.

Todd Harding is qualified to be a College Republican. He's no scientist, nor is he qualified to manage an institution like NOAA.

This is scary shit. He must be barred/removed from this position.

[opihimoimoi]

9. Peterism, Cronyism, and Nepotism Gone Wild in Pub Camp #43

Dispicable and Dastardly UnPatriotic....Asshole Level....#21