There was a time, way back when, when slimeballs would dig up recent graves and sell the bodies therefrom to medical schools for their anatomical research and training.

Clearly this violates all kinds of mores. But the wrong response would be to outlaw anatomical research, or forbid surgeons to invade the sanctum of a dead body, or some such oppressive, knee-jerk reaction.

Pre-emptive law -- crafted "because somebody might dream up a new crime and commit it" is an impossible goal married to an unworkable method. It's like trying to make stupidity illegal. ("When stupidity is outlawed, only outlaws will be stupid....")

Bush's attitude about stem cells seems to be that IF they come from an abortion, THEN they are immoral in research purposes or medical applications. He's trying to manage the wrong end of the stick, like steering an elephant by the tail.

Batting at symptoms this way is just dim, IMHO. If he wants to get abortion outlawed, because he thinks of it as sacriligious or immoral ( a position I can honor but cannot agree with) he should try to craft the law of the land accordingly. If he cannot do so, then trying to make end-runs around it is just being a dodger -- something he has much practice in.

Mucking and flailing about in areas about which he knows nothing -- the pursuit of knowledge, rationality, research, learning, and the application of intelligence -- is just (to me) another sign that he is one of the wrongest men for his job ever seen in America.

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