The president is expected to use the FIRST veto of his tenure today, which is cause for a posting. And just what is he going to stop with this potent Constitutional power? Increased funding for a pointless war? The destruction of natural resources in otherwise protected geographic locales? His own misguided admistration? Nope.

Instead, the President of these very United States is going to put a stop to legistlation that would ease the limits on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.

Never mind that stem cell research is a scientifically viable method for saving lives and potentially one of the greatest boons to medical research since the discovery of the microscope. Never mind that the majority of Congress (and, thus, the people, via their representation) believes that this legislation should pass. Never mind that it is the only logical thing to do.

To W. and those on the religious right who oppose stem cell research, it is murder. Not 'akin to' or 'the moral equivalent of' but murder, per se.

And because no nation should tolerate murder, W. has his big red VETO stamp out, and he's going to set back the progress made thus far by a year or so. All for what? Votes in Congressional off term elections this fall? Surely. But I actually think for Bush it goes much deeper. It'd almost be acceptable in a very callous, sickening way if it were merely about playing poltical hardball. But what is most frightening is that Bush actually believes that it is murder, in his heart.

Let's just hope for his sake that his heart never gives out on him, since without stem cell research, finding viable cures for heart disease (not to mention cancer, Parkinson's diseaes, Alzheimers, etc. etc.) is going to be a lot harder.

Permalink | Comments (1)