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Joshua Rosenau spends his days defending the teaching of evolution at the National Center for Science Education. He is also a graduate student at the University of Kansas, completing a doctorate in the department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. When not modeling species distributions or battling creationists, he writes about developments in progressive politics and the sciences.
The opinions expressed here are his own, do not reflect the official position of the NCSE. Indeed, older posts may no longer reflect his own official position.
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October 31, 2006
Category: Policy and Politics
On All Hallows' Eve, the NRCC has decided it's time to scare Kansans with TV ads about… TAXES! Boo. In a poll of the fifty most endangered Republican districts, taxes were the 5th most important issue, behind the war in Iraq (the clear leader), jobs/economy, health care, and terrorism. But that isn't the worst part for the NRCC's tricky treat, the worst part is that Democrats are more trusted on taxes than Republicans are (43% to 41%). This isn't an appeal to Independent voters, the people who will decide the election. This is an appeal to the base, a holding...
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Posted by Josh Rosenau at 9:44 PM • 2 Comments •
Category:
The Capital Journal reports: High-ranking Republican officials said Monday the president would most likely be in Kansas on Sunday. "We would welcome him with open arms," said Jeffrey Black, campaign manager for U.S. Rep. Jim Ryun, R-Kan. "What an amazing opportunity to rally Kansans together."Unfortunately for Ryun, they'll be rallying behind Nancy Boyda. Because the President isn't so popular any more, even in Kansas. Black said a visit by Bush, if it materializes, would build momentum for the entire slate of GOP candidates. "The Republicans are not worried about Jim Ryun," Black said.No, I bet the President is coming out...
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Posted by Josh Rosenau at 9:25 AM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 30, 2006
Category: Policy and Politics
Candidates for state office in Kansas filed their reports today. In the State Board of Education races, incumbent creationist John Bacon raised $4,500, for a total of $3,146 cash on hand. Don Weiss, the TfK endorsed candidate, raised $11,738 and has $3,283 on hand. Bacon managed to win the primary while spending almost no money, thanks to his ties to the conservative churches. This is a very winnable race, but it will be tight. The other creationist up for re-election is Ken Willard. He raised $8,070, and has $5,298 on hand. His opponent, TfK endorsed Jack Wempe, raised $27,930 and...
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Posted by Josh Rosenau at 11:58 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Biology
A series of documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act: show that [deputy assistant Secretary of the Interior Julie] MacDonald has repeatedly refused to go along with staff reports concluding that species such as the white-tailed prairie dog and the Gunnison sage grouse are at risk of extinction. Career officials and scientists urged the department to identify the species as either threatened or endangered.MacDonald is a civil engineer by training, and does not have direct power to approve or reject petitions for listing a species. Instead, she applied pressure to the experts, in many cases presenting the expert judgement...
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Posted by Josh Rosenau at 3:56 PM • 20 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Biology
Since 2000, scientists have been working to identify every species occurring in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Just down the road from Dollywood, the researchers and volunteers have cataloged 12,000 species, 651 of them unknown to science. They expect to find 100,000 species in the park. This week's Ask a ScienceBlogger: What's the most underfunded scientific field that shouldn't be underfunded?Like John Wilkins, I can't ignore the importance of research in systematics and biodiversity (a field once referred to as taxonomy). The best estimates we have suggest that there are about 15 million species, although reasonable estimates go as...
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Posted by Josh Rosenau at 11:46 AM • 8 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Policy and Politics
From Insight on the World, 1997 (shortly after his first election): Insight: Has your lack of political experience been a problem? Jim Ryun: No. In the campaign that was a strength. Part of our campaign was to go door-to-door talking to people instead of spending time in forums, television or radio. And the comment we heard most often was, "You're not a typical politician. You answer our questions. We like that."From the Atchison Daily Globe: I have repeatedly contacted U.S. Rep. Jim Ryun’s office to express my opinion and ask that he consider a point as my representative. I kept...
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Posted by Josh Rosenau at 11:14 AM • 10 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 29, 2006
Category: Policy and Politics
A month ago, Jim Ryun's campaign planted a story about how Nancy Boyda wasn't a serious challenger because the DCCC wasn't putting any money into her campaign. Of course, she's been saying that she wasn't seeking DCCC involvement since she announced this campaign, but Ryun was desperate. In response to the charges, the Boyda campaign put a poll in the field. Using sound survey methodology and a Republican call-center in Utah, the poll showed that Boyda was in a statistical tie with Ryun. Two subsequent internal polls and a poll by the state party all tell the same story. That,...
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Posted by Josh Rosenau at 12:07 AM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 27, 2006
Category: Policy and Politics
A few weeks ago, Phill Kline swore to the Wichita Eagle's editorial board that he would not make a 15 year-old lawsuit, long since dismissed, an issue in his campaign. A newly released video of the event shows that he even told them specifically that he wouldn't make those unproven charges part of TV commercials. But, of course, he did. I guess we're all used to politicians – especially the lawyers – being slimy liars, but we still can hope for better. And with Paul Morrison on the ballot, we can have better. An attorney general who won't go on...
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Posted by Josh Rosenau at 3:28 PM • 11 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Biology
As you know, the name of the original and best carnival o' science comes from Charles Darwin's opus. What you may not know is that the great work in which he first presented that analogy was not meant to stand alone. Charles Darwin had two qualities that made him a great and a frustrating scientist. He was fastidious, and the On the Origin of Species demonstrates the importance he placed on gathering all the evidence. This is part (but only part) of the reason it took decades between his conception of the intellectual core of that book and when he...
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Posted by Josh Rosenau at 3:04 PM • 10 Comments •
Category: Biology
There is nothing as free as a fox cavorting with the rain. The fox chased a skunk, but recognized its mistake in time. I was taking shelter under a tent, hoping for a break in the rain. After abandoning the skunk, our vulpine friend hopped from puddle to puddle in an empty parking lot. It was good to see someone enjoying the weather. While we're at it, a better poem, by Ted Hughes. The Thought-Fox I imagine this midnight moment's forest: Something else is alive Beside the clock's loneliness And this blank page where my fingers move. Through the window...
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Posted by Josh Rosenau at 1:54 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
