Can stem cells cure rabies? I only ask because Cragg Hines is especially frothy-mouthed today. Here’s his headline:
Please keep your religion away from my stem cells
Cute attempt, but absolutely stupid. Hines apparently means one of two things:
- He wants to sell his stem cells for research, so that science can figure out why a man would wear a fur coat, or
- He thinks the world’s frozen embryos are his personal property.
Either one is a terrifying thought. Back to Cragg:
Instead, potentially transforming medical breakthroughs are being held hostage to the narrow, sometimes hypocritical, religious views of a distinct minority, which unfortunately includes President Bush. He has vowed to veto legislation loosening research funding restrictions he set almost five years ago, and, if it’s logistically possible, will this week.Karl Rove has said Bush will do so "emphatically." I thought Rove said "ecstatically," which also could be the case, given the issue’s appeal to the hard-right Republican base.
What will history think if Bush’s first — and perhaps only — veto is exercised in trampling a measure that holds promise in fighting diabetes, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, spinal-cord injuries and other debilitating or deadly conditions.
That "promise" is pretty remote, especially considering a 2005 discovery that embryonic stem cells mutate uncontrollably:
We’re talking about whole chromosomes being deleted, chromosomal arms being amplified," and big chunks of DNA mutating, he said, adding that many of the changes appeared cancerous.
While potentially cancerous embryonic stem cells are creating horrific mishaps, adult stem cells are actively being used to treat diseases from leukemia to heart failure. But Cragg Hines doesn’t notice things like that, because he’s busy aborting his column in typical Chron fashion — with an error:
So at the end, the real question had become clear: How many right-wing theocrats can dance on the head of a pin?
It’s "on the point of a very fine needle," you knucklehead. Sheesh, if you’re going to quote Isaac D’Israeli in mocking one of the greatest philosophers in history, you at least ought to get it right.
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Poor Cragg himself seems to be the epitome of science gone terribly wrong. However, I don’t know enough about this subject to form an opinion one way or another. But I also think that there are far more important issues for GWB to take a stand on.
I love the lib argument that “the invitro embroes are going to be incenerated anyway, so why shouldn’t we be able to use um?”
Cragg’s column was more idiotic and vitriolic than usual. The title alone has several problems (”Please keep your religion away from my stem cells”).
First, no one is after your stem cells, Cragg.
Second, he repeats the absurdity that American citizens shouldn’t allow their religious beliefs to inform their political views.
Third, he ignores that the “Federal” funding he is after comes from our pockets. If he thinks destroying human embryos is so swell, he can invest his own money in it. Why raise the deficit (we’ve still got a deficit, right?) to fund this questionable research?
Trying to figure out why anyone would waste their time reading this ingrates column?
# 4 - you stolemy comment - I was gonna say - Quit reading the commie - cal and you’ll feel better about the world
I have to admit that I pretty confused on this issue.
It seems to me that if the embryos are to be destroyed, then to use them as stem cell material would be something like organ donation. I will likely get flamed by a number of folks who feel very strongly on this issue and have a different viewpoint, Please do not! I have a number of misgivings about this issue.
I would like someone, who actually knows something about this subject to educate me on a single point.
If I understand the bill, it would allow public funding to be used to add additional stem cell lines. Is there any current prohibition of private corporate money being used for this purpose?
Simple
Cragghead doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Embrynic stem cells are not mature cells. I have never heard of them curing anyone. I know that there is wonderful progress with adult stem cells. Why can’t we focus on them? I suppose it’s because we are living in a culture of “death” given the love affair that’s going on with the abortion industry.
That’s all folks!
If history has taught us nothing, it should have at least taught us that human progress (”science”) cannot be stopped. We live in an age where science has trumped religion and issues like stem cell research and cloning are a matter of “when”, not “if”.
Mr. Bush vetoed the bill today, but I predict that in three or four years a bill like it will be approved by Congress ans signed by the next president.
Stem cells “may” provide the solution to _______(fill in the blank with your favorite dread disease.)
I’m reminded of the arguments on global warming: our climate “might” warm, it “may” be caused by human activity, etc. etc.
Liberals holler loudest about possible scientific solutions to problems for 2 reasons: 1) they aren’t smart enough to understand the science, 2) they’d like to use the science to bludgeon the rest of us into behaving as they want.
Notice the total absence of logic: if “a scientist” says so, it must be true. We’re to take it on faith. And those of us educated in the sciences who dare question the credentials or methodology of the liberal’s annointed scientists are guilty of heresy.
#6:Is there any current prohibition of private corporate money being used for this purpose?
As far as I know, no, there is no prohibition of private funding for embryonic stem cell research. The prohibition is only for federal funding.
You would think that if embryonic stem cells showed that much promise, there would be private money going into it. Instead, there is very little if any, and the money is going into other kinds of stem cells.
Normac
#7
You are exactly right about adult stem cells. Lots of good stuff has come out of adult stem cells and nothing has come out of embryonic stem cells. Course, the libs don’t want the public to know that.
Do you support using the data Dr. Mengele collected from Nazi death camp inmates? It might be very useful stuff, but scientists have steadfastly (and rightly) refused to use it. It’s fruit from the poisoned tree.
#10 Astrosmith and everyone else,
If what you say is true and logically I believe it is, then President Bush did the right thing because the funding would amount to corporate welfare for bio-tech corporations.
He probably cannot use the argument, since both parties have no real objection to corporate welfare.
On these grounds, I would oppose funding. It may not be the “higher moral” stand that some would prefer, but it makes sense to me.
If using stem cells has so much potential, then let the bio-tech entrepreneurs go dumpster-diving and reclaim those discarded embryos. (Figuratively speaking of course)
Simple
#12) Quite a leap there, huh?
Pretty weak.
They may not use Mengele’s “data”, but have you seen the “Body Worlds” exhibit? It’s been here in Denver for the last few months, and it just freaks me out. People gave this guy their bodies after they died and he cut them up and turned them in to plastic museum exhibits. Just disgusting.
Willie, it’s not a leap at all. Mengele’s research was appallingly violent and disgusting, and yet the data could very well prove useful to modern researchers.
Yet, we don’t use it, and we’re right to avoid it. It’s fruit from the poisoned tree.