Guest Thinkers — August 16, 2010

WHERE DOES “AMERICA’S MAYOR” STAND ON SCIENCE? Facing Pressure from Conservatives, Among Social Issues, It Would Be Easiest for Giuliani to Move to the Right on Stem Cell Research

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The Washington Postprofiles Rudy Giuliani’s prospects

for the GOP nomination. If “America’s Mayor” has to bolster his support from conservatives, on which social issues is it easiest for Giuliani to move to the right?

Given his past record as mayor of NYC , it will be difficult for him to shift position on gay rights or on sex ed.Yet it is still possible for him to carve out a position on embryonic stem cell research that would be in line with President Bush’s policy of restricted funding.” Not only would evangelicals support the move, but adopting Bush’s position would also appease conservative Catholic leaders.

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Guest Thinkers

Obama and Dems Share Blame for Continued Politicization of Stem Cell Research

In the wake of the Aug. 23 court decision that halted Federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, Democrats are gearing up to use stem cell research as a wedge […]

Guest Thinkers

ROMNEY’S WAR ON SCIENCE, PART 2? Boston Globe Chronicles How Stem Cell Debate Became Catalyst for Romney to Redefine Himself as Social Conservative

For those closely watching Gov. Mitt Romney’s presidential prospects, and what a Romney presidency might look like in terms of science-related policy questions such as stem cell research, abstinence education, […]

Guest Thinkers

CAN INTELLIGENT DESIGN GO GLOBAL? Pope’s Continued Mixed Messages Allow Conservatives to Frame Appeals that Resonate with Catholic Audiences Internationally

Following Pope Benedict’s late August seminar on evolution, the consensus view from Science magazine and intelligent design watchdogs appeared to be that the Vatican was not yet ready to endorse […]

Guest Thinkers

NEWSPAPER EDITORIAL BOARDS REJECT BUSH VETO DECISION: NY Times Argues that Senate Bill Didn’t Go Far Enough in Funding TC Research; Seattle Times Says This is the One Issue Worth Voting for Dems

Below I provide an overview of the Editorials printed at the national and major regional newspapers. Without exception, the newspapers denounce Bush’s decision. Most go with the “moral inconsistency” angle: […]

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Guest Thinkers

DEBATING THE INTERNET AND COMMUNITY, PART B: American University Students Examine ‘Virtual’ Society

This semester in the sophomore-level course I teach on “Communication and Society,” we spent several weeks examining the many ways that Americans are using the Internet to alter the nature […]