Sunday, February 19, 2006

Good news/Bad news

The good news is that the president likes science fiction. I'm all for it. Crichton's Andromeda Strain was a brilliant book.

The bad news is that he's using it instead of actual science...
Mr. Crichton, whose views in "State of Fear" helped him win the American Association of Petroleum Geologists' annual journalism award this month, has been a leading doubter of global warming and last September appeared before a Senate committee to argue that the supporting science was mixed, at best.

"This shows the president is more interested in science fiction than science," Frank O'Donnell, president of Clean Air Watch, said after learning of the White House meeting. Mr. O'Donnell's group monitors environmental policy.
Yeah, you read that right: Crichton got a "journalism award" from an oil industry group for his fictional thriller work.

What's next: Anne Rice getting awards from the Red Cross? God help us if the President ever starts reading Tom Clancy....

4 comments:

Pooh said...

As a devotee, Clancy has a far more nuanced view of foreign policy than do the neocons.

Ahistoricality said...

Hmmm. I've read at least a half dozen Clancy works, and I'm not really sure that his view of policy solutions -- the bad guys have a weakness that can be shot or blown up, if your heart is in the right place -- is really any more nuanced than Crichton's science.

Pooh said...

It's the aim part that T.C. at least gets. As in Ready - aim - fire, whereas the neo-cons believe that if you're just a soul who's intentions are good, the aiming part is unneccesary.

Kimberly said...

Aw, come on. You really think GWB has the vocabulary or attention span for Clancy? Crichton is a far easier read.

Couldn't resist the cheap shot...