Bulletin: Republican Discovers Science!

In a shameless move today, Senator Bill Frist (R-Expediency) announced that he is abandoning his kowtowing to the Religious Right on one issue and will support limited stem cell research. Republicans as a group have been following the Bush "compromise" policy of limiting research to existing cell lines. Now, maybe many Republicans can claim ignorance that this policy will squelch potential breakthroughs for a host of debilitating diseases, but Frist had no such defense. The man is actually a trained physician. To have waited as long as he did to change his position is indefensible. While a shocking rebuke to the Bush administration policy that "science is evil", Frist's move is in keeping with past Republicans who desperately want to be president some day. Many of us remember the Republican primaries in 1979 in which Bush the Adult articulated very sound and supposedly deeply held beliefs on a woman's right to choose that were somewhat progressive, at least for a Republican. When it became apparent that Reagan would win the nomination and was considering Bush for veep, old HW instantly became the most rabid anti-choice politician around. And in the biggest flip flop of all time, after 40 years as a confirmed hedonist, Georgie Jr dried out, became born again, and let Daddy's circle of friends dress him up like a responsible candidate.
Frist went on today to say that he will continue to closely review the potential of a scientific breakthrough against the likelihood that it may gain him some votes in key primaries. "I have directed my staff to talk with my friends in Kansas to see if this evolution theory can be squared with the science of creation as detailed in a 2,000 year old book written by a religious organization. And while I have great doubts about the motives of this Newton fellow and his apple, I am keeping an open mind about the existence of gravity."