What a great cartoon by David Horsey for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Last night on the Karel show the host asked me if there really was a "Republican War on Science" or simply a bunch of bozos hijacking the good name of the Republican Party. It was a good question, and suffice it to say that if anyone does reclaim that good name, it will be moderates like Schwarzenegger.
P.S.: Finally, finally, the paperback Republican War on Science seems to have soared ahead of the hardcover on Amazon.com ratings. And now it looks as though the outdistancing will be permanent. My understanding is that the hardcover will remain in print for a while longer, but the real attention now shifts to the paperback...
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So, what was your answer to that question on air?
BTW, my paperback copy has not arrived yet....
I'm glad you liked the question. It was same one that I kept asking when I read the hardcover, as noted in my review http://www.scienceshelf.com/RepublicanWaronScience.htm
My other question was about calling it a war, which implies an overall strategy aimed at science as the enemy rather than simply science abuse in service of a particular ideology and agenda. How would you respond to that if asked on air?
I gave the paperback a boost in my latest blog entry about "updates to the Science Shelf book review and more," stating the following:
"Chris Mooney's The Republican War on Science has been reissued and updated in paperback. If you like reading about science and politics, this book should definitely be on your purchase list. My review of Mooney's hardcover original begins with skepticism but ends up with agreement."
Full blog entry:
http://www.scienceblog.com/cms/updates-to-science-shelf-book-review-and…
Well folks obviously it is a matter of definition, but last I checked, the people running the country still call themselves "Republicans"....my book fully notes how the party has evolved, but I see no reason not to call the GOP the GOP.
I agree with Chris. The fact is that, at least at the federal level, the people in charge are neanderthals like Bush, Barton, and Inhofe. If the Republican Party as a whole doesn't want to be associated with these people, it might be helpful not to put them in charge.
Yes, it is worth pointing out that there are still some sane voices in the Republican Party (and they are even in control at the state level in a few of the northeast and west coast states like California and New York State). But the fact is (to repeat it once again) that at the federal level these aren't the ones who are setting the agenda.