Senator doesn't tow the line on Stem Cell Research

[MrBishop]

In a rare break with President Bush and Christian conservatives, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist on Friday endorsed legislation to expand federal funding of embryonic stem cell research.

"The federal government should fund embryonic stem cell research" that uses leftover embryos from fertility clinics, said the Tennessee Republican, a surgeon who may run for president in 2008, in backing legislation already passed by the U.S. House of Representatives that would overturn the limits imposed on the research by Bush in 2001.

Bush has threatened to veto the stem cell legislation on the grounds that it would involve the destruction of human embryos.

Frist said he will support the House bill, even though he wants to clarify in the bill the ethical framework for donating the frozen embryos for research.

"I also strongly believe, as do countless other scientists, clinicians and doctors, that embryonic stem cells uniquely hold specific promise for some therapies and potential cures that adult stem cells just cannot provide," Frist said, explaining why he believes it is time to change Bush's policies.

Embryonic stem cells can be transformed into many other types of cells. They offer the potential for regenerating damaged organs or tissues, with the possibility of treating diseases such as Parkinson's or juvenile diabetes.

The bill passed the House with a strong bipartisan majority and advocates believed it had lots of momentum going into the Senate, despite Bush's veto threat. But it got bogged down in a procedural morass and Frist put off an anticipated July vote until at least September or October.

Source

 

[HomeLAN]

Made a nice piece of money on that today.

 

[chcr]

Okay, maybe he won't be the Republican candidate in '08.

[Pedanticman]Toe the line[/Pedanticman]

 

[MrBishop]

Okay, maybe he won't be the Republican candidate in '08.

[Pedanticman]Toe the line[/Pedanticman]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, Arial Narrow]"[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, Arial Narrow]Toe[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, Arial Narrow] the Line," [/font][font=Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, Arial Narrow]NOT[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, Arial Narrow] "[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, Arial Narrow]Tow[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, Arial Narrow] the Line"[/font]​

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[font=Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, Arial Narrow]by [/font][font=Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, Arial Narrow]Tina Blue[/font]​

[font=Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, Arial Narrow]August 14, 2003[/font]​

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[font=Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, Arial Narrow] I saw it again today, this time in a comment on an article on a political website. It referred to reporters who mindlessly "tow the administration's line."[/font]​

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[font=Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, Arial Narrow] Um, that should be "toe the line."[/font]​

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[font=Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, Arial Narrow] A lot of people who don't know the origin of the phrase picture someone pulling a rope, cord, or some other "line"--"tow the line"--as a way of working for whomever the "line" belongs to. Thus, if the administration has a "line"--[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, Arial Narrow]i.e.[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, Arial Narrow], a "party line"--then those who side with the administration help to pull it ("tow" it) along.[/font]​

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[font=Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, Arial Narrow] Wrong.[/font]​

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[font=Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, Arial Narrow] The phrase "toe the line" is equivalent to "toe the mark," both of which mean to conform to a rule or a standard. [/font][font=Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, Arial Narrow]The Oxford Dictionary of Word Histories [/font][font=Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, Arial Narrow](Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press, 2002; ed. by Glynnis Chantrell) says, "The idiom [/font][font=Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, Arial Narrow]toe the line[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, Arial Narrow] from an athletics analogy originated in the early 19th century" (514). [/font]​

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[font=Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, Arial Narrow] The specific sport referred to is foot-racing, where the competitors must keep their feet behind a "line" or on a "mark" at the start of the race--as in "On your mark, get set, [/font][font=Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, Arial Narrow]
go[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, Arial Narrow]!" [/font]​

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[font=Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, Arial Narrow] So one who "toes the line" is one who does not allow his foot to stray over the line. In other words, one who does not stray beyond a rigidly defined boundary.​

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Now where did I put that Pendacticman Smilie?? ​

 

[chcr]

 

[Gonz]

Tow this toe...there is no ban on Stem Cell Research & the US government has never discovered anything. You want research? Call Pfizer.

"The federal government should fund embryonic stem cell research"

 

[chcr]

Tow this toe...there is no ban on Stem Cell Research & the US government has never discovered anything. You want research? Call Pfizer.

Agreed. It's just unpopular with the current administration (at least on the surface). Don't you think though, given the current political climate in the US, that no one who does not give the appearance of being against stem cell research could be nominated for president by the republicans? Of course, that climate is subject to change without notice.

 

[MrBishop]

FOund it

 

[MrBishop]

The Bill in question

 

[Gonz]

Agreed. It's just unpopular with the current administration (at least on the surface). Don't you think though, given the current political climate in the US, that no one who does not give the appearance of being against stem cell research could be nominated for president by the republicans? Of course, that climate is subject to change without notice.

I don't think that most Republicans give a rats ass, either way. Those who are strongly opposed to abortion are the keys here. They have to be caressed but are no means the party.

 

[chcr]

I don't think that most Republicans give a rats ass, either way. Those who are strongly opposed to abortion are the keys here. They have to be caressed but are no means the party.

Maybe. I know for certain there is some backlash against the christian right within the party, but you don't hear about it too much. We'll have to wait and see. I'm not a big Frist fan in any case, but if he's the lesser of potent evils...