Bill Clinton on Star Talk with Neil DeGrasse Tyson

[RussBLib]

Yet another upside to having Hillary in the White House...

Bill Clinton was the "guest" on a recent Star Talk episode. Bill demonstrated his broad grasp of things scientific and it reminded me that he would be a tremendous asset in the White House to further the interests of science. I think we know that practically any Republican would be willing to slice science budgets, along with every other budget, to give more tax cuts to the wealthy.

One idea Neil mentioned in this show was establishing a "Chief Science Advisor" to the President, and put that person in the Cabinet with the other important department heads. Many other western nations already do this. A science advisor? I can her the Repubs laughing from here.

If you can "unlock" this episode by listing your TV provider, you can view the entire episode. Bill does science proud.

Host Neil deGrasse Tyson features his interview with former president Bill Clinton, who was a strong advocate of science education and advancement during his two presidential terms.

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/startalk/videos/bill-clinton/

[Cha]

1. Thank you, Russ!

[Thinkingabout]

2. Bill Clinton is a very smart man.

[Gamecock Lefty]

3. Can you imagine a Chief Science Advisor in a Republican Administration???

Requirement #1 - Renew membership in the Flat Earth Society!

[postatomic]

4. I'm really not enamored very easily

But Bill would be one person I'd like to hang out with for an evening. See if I could get him to inhale. I remember seeing a show where he knew most of the element symbols. Shit, I'd be hard pressed to come up with 10. Okay, 5. Maybe I could come up with 5.

[oasis]

5. William Jefferson Clinton is truly one in a million.

[William769]

6. Kick & highly recommended!

[mettamega]

7. replay also on Hulu http://www.hulu.com/watch/859479

http://www.hulu.com/watch/859479

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

8. There is already an Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP)

From the White House website:

About OSTP

Congress established the Office of Science and Technology Policy in 1976 with a broad mandate to advise the President and others within the Executive Office of the President on the effects of science and technology on domestic and international affairs. The 1976 Act also authorizes OSTP to lead interagency efforts to develop and implement sound science and technology policies and budgets, and to work with the private sector, state and local governments, the science and higher education communities, and other nations toward this end.

OSTP's Mission

The mission of the Office of Science and Technology Policy is threefold; first, to provide the President and his senior staff with accurate, relevant, and timely scientific and technical advice on all matters of consequence; second, to ensure that the policies of the Executive Branch are informed by sound science; and third, to ensure that the scientific and technical work of the Executive Branch is properly coordinated so as to provide the greatest benefit to society.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ostp

Current and previous science advisors: https://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ostp/about/leadershipstaff/previous

[RussBLib]

9. I thought I remembered something like that, but I hadn't dug into it

I'm thinking that Congress itself could benefit from exposure to this office, but the GOP probably thinks it's just full of eggheads and liberals who know nothing about real life.

I get so weary of the anti-intellectual bent rampant in this country.