Is this a surprise?

Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii

"Don't care much about astronomy"

by

Sasha Issenberg

February 26th, 2009

boston.com

WASHINGTON -- John McCain has acknowledged that he doesn't know as much about economics as he would like, but what's his issue with astronomy?

During a debate last fall, McCain picked out an earmark backed by then-Senator Barack Obama to renovate a planetarium theatre in his state, mocking it as "$3 million for an overhead projector at a planetarium in Chicago, Illinois. My friends, do we need to spend that kind of money?"

Today, of the more than 8,000 earmarks in an omnibus bill making its way through Congress, McCain settled his considerable talents of ridicule on another project devoted to the study of space and celestial bodies: an earmark for a program at the Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii, pushed by Senator Daniel Inouye, the chairman of the Appropriations Committee.

"During these very challenging economic times facing all of our citizens, someone needs to explain why we should be funding projects such as $1.7 million for pig odor research in Iowa and $2 million for the promotion of astronomy in Hawaii," McCain said in a statement encouraging Obama to veto the bill.

McCain's distaste for zoological scholarship in Iowa predates his apparent skepticism of astronomical study: he last long ridiculed an earmark he described as "$50 million for an indoor rain forest in Iowa."

Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii

McCain & Obama on technology issues

PC World has offered a summation on the policies of technology issues between presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama. There is a lot of rhetoric and "pie in the sky" positioning but I think the bottom line for either one when he becomes president is to begin to resolve the global economic crisis and end the conflict in the Near East. Nevertheless, here is the article.

"Where the US Presidential Candidates Stand on Tech Issues"

by

Grant Gross

October 20th, 2008

PC World Communications, Inc.

The 2008 presidential election gives CIOs and other IT executives a choice of two major-party candidates who are interested in technology-related issues. While the U.S. economy and the war in Iraq have dominated the debate between Republican nominee Senator John McCain and Democratic nominee Senator Barack Obama, they have also hit on such IT hot buttons as telecommunications and tech jobs.

Both senators bring tech experience to the race, although the experience is significantly different. Obama has had relatively little legislative experience related to technology, but he's a self-described text-messaging addict who released a lengthy tech policy paper last November. McCain admits he doesn't spend much time with computing devices, saying he relies on his wife's help with computers. But he's also a long-time member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, the panel that debates and votes on much of the tech-related legislation that goes through the Senate.

Here's a look at the candidates' stances on five issues of interest to the nation's IT leaders: telecommunications, national security, privacy, IT jobs and innovation.

Telecommunications

Net neutrality: Obama has long supported the passage of Net neutrality laws or rules. "A key reason the Internet has been such a success is because it is the most open network in history," his tech paper says.

McCain opposes a Net neutrality law, saying broadband carriers need to recoup their investments. However, his tech policy paper says he would focus on allowing broadband customers access to the Web content and applications of their choice. Instead of a law, the best way to guard against unfair practices is "an open marketplace with a variety of consumer choices."

Rural broadband deployment: Obama calls for policies to encourage next-generation broadband deployment, including to rural areas and inner cities. He supports government programs to bring broadband to schools, libraries and hospitals, and called for public/private partnerships to help roll it out in areas without service.

McCain would encourage private investment in broadband service. In 2005, he split from many other Republicans by authoring legislation that would prohibit states from outlawing municipal broadband projects.

Competition in the wireless spectrum: Obama has called for a review of existing uses of the wireless spectrum, and he wants government agencies to come up with "smarter, more efficient and more imaginative use" of the spectrum they control.

McCain has long advocated and voted for putting more spectrum in the hands of mobile phone carriers and broadband providers. In recent years, he pushed for a nationwide voice and data network for public safety agencies and was a leading voice in the Senate in the effort to get television stations to give up part of their analog spectrum for use by police and fire departments.

National Security

Government surveillance: Both candidates voted for a recent bill to revamp the U.S. government's surveillance programs and bring a controversial National Security Agency program under court oversight. However, Obama opposed the bill's language that would likely give telecom carriers immunity from lawsuits. McCain wanted congressional hearings before granting telecom immunity.

Privacy

McCain has co-authored several bills, including one in 2000 requiring Web sites to post privacy policies on their use of personal information. He was co-author of the CAN-SPAM Act, a 2003 law setting the rules for sending unsolicited commercial e-mail. He also pushed for rules to set standards for business' protection of personal data. "Americans will fully embrace new technologies...when they are confident that these new advances can be used safely," his Web site says.

Obama wants to restrict how databases containing personal information are used. He'd increase the Federal Trade Commission enforcement budget to fight spam, spyware, phishing and other cybercrime. Obama would also focus on ensuring that electronic health records are secure, his position paper says.

IT Jobs

Outsourcing: Obama wants to end tax breaks for companies that ship U.S. jobs overseas. McCain opposes efforts to restrict U.S. agencies from outsourcing some services.

Math and science education: Both candidates have called for an increased focus on training U.S. students and workers for 21st-century jobs. Both have called for programs that increase the number of students studying math and science. McCain wants more money for retraining U.S. workers. Obama wants to improve U.S. schools' curricula and supply schools with computers and broadband.

H1-B visas: McCain says U.S. workers should have the first chance for high-paying tech jobs, but he has also called for an increase in the number of H-1B foreign-worker visas.

Obama questions the need for more H-1B visas, but he's also called for reform of immigration programs, including ways for immigrants to become permanent residents.

Innovation

R&D tax credit: Both candidates called for a permanent extension of a frequently expiring R&D tax credit for U.S. companies.

Renewable energy: Obama has made renewable energy a campaign centerpiece. He's called for a government investment of $150 billion over the next decade to encourage development of biofuels, hybrid cars and solar and wind energy. He would double federal science and research funding for clean-energy projects and create a $10-billion-a-year clean-tech venture capital fund.

McCain has said renewable energy sources are a part of the solution needed for U.S. independence on foreign oil, but he's largely focused on pushing for offshore oil drilling.


"Carrot and stick"...for energy alternatives?

Humorous faux pox

McCain responds to science questions

No to Yucca Mountain repository

Nuclear energy--not an option

Obama gleans many Nobel laureates' support

Obama responds to science questions

Humorous faux pox

"Science journal in doghouse after Obama and McCain upstaged by young pups"

Latest issue of Nature compares presidential candidates on science, technology - but has unfortunate advert on back cover

September 26th, 2008

Times Online

As weighty reads go, it doesn't get much more serious than the men vying to become the world's leading politician in conversation with the world's leading scientific journal.

And the latest issue of Nature has a front cover of suitable gravitas, evenly split between statesmanlike images of the US presidential contenders.

Pity no one told the advertising department. In an eerie mirror image, the magazine's back cover features two labrador pups, one black, one golden, in uncannily similar poses to Barack Obama, famously the first African American candidate for a major party, and his rival John McCain, looking bronzed by Arizona sun.

The journal swears they were not being deliberately cheeky. "We didn't know until the issue landed on our desks," Nature pleads. "It just goes to show that editorial and advertising aren't working in cahoots."

In which case it must be just the power of suggestion which makes the dog on the left look a little more hopeful, but a little less experienced. And which stirs up a strong desire to tickle John McCain behind the ears.

The journal promises to expore "how John McCain and Barack Obama developed their stances on science; who is advising them on technical issues; and where they might take the country if elected". Plus in-depth insights on the candidates' stances on evolution, stem-cell research and climate change. Nothing about cloning, though. Perhaps that's just as well.

McCain responds to science questions

Finally, a response.

McCain responds to science questions


Obama responds to science questions

"Waiting for Godot"...er, I mean McCain

Roger Ebert

Barack Obama has replied to submitted questions on science by Sciencedebate.com over two weeks ago but McCain has yet to respond and there are just fifty or so days until the election. It would be relevant to read his opinions. I suppose judgement and decision making are not solely based on science issues and one might want to consider what the popular film critic Roger Ebert [Chicago Sun Times] offers for some insight into the presidential candidates' character...like, "What is your favorite film"? You would be surprised.

Read what Roger Ebert wrote...

The candidates' favorite movies


Obama responds to science questions