It’s nearly a year since the election, and Trump hasn’t yet appointed a science advisor. Here’s a comparative graph from the Washington Post:
There could be many reasons the appointment is taking so long, said Zuoyue Wang, a historian of science at California State Polytechnic University in Pomona.
“I believe that several factors are at work,” he said in an email. “The deep divide between the American scientific community and the Trump campaign/administration over key issues, including climate change and nuclear arms control; President Trump’s transactional style of leadership and policy-making, which tends to devalue long-term planning which is an important function of science advising; and probably the unwillingness of many prominent American scientific and technological leaders to serve under the current administration.”
At least one person opines that this delay is good since “to do it properly takes time” (my characterization). My view: Trump just doesn’t care since science deals in real truths rather than “alternative truths.”
So much for the efficacy of the Science March.
h/t: Loren
Why would a man who takes no advice name advisors? Just askin’.
My first thought. He’d ignore any advice, but at least perhaps a sciency person would get a six-figure salary out of it.
Since Draft Dodger Donald proclaimed the he “knows more about ISIS than the generals”, it makes perfect sense that he knows more about science than the scientists – no need for another loser-Washington-swamp-dweller getting in the way of the alternative facts.
Based on who Trump has previously appointed, Ken Ham will probably become his official Science Advisor.
Yeah, exactly. I think we will be better off if Trump never appoints a science adviser.
Exactly my thoughts, you beat me to it.
Mr Pruitt heading the EPA, Ms De Vos in Education, Mr Sessions as AG, etc, etc.
I also noted that there are dozens and dozens of posts not filled. We may tremble at the prospects…
To be fair, not all of his nominations have been unmitigated disasters, Mr McMaster or Mr Mattis come to mind, both of them military, btw., or even Mr Tillerson*, not really unmitigated…😆
*[speaking truth by calling Mr Trump a ‘f..king moron’ gives him some kudos here, not very diplomatc though].
yes.
Since Hambo proclaimed that it was his god who put Trump in the White House, don’t count him out!!
One reason may be that it’s impossible to find someone even remotely qualified willing to risk his or her reputation.
Likely.
I’m sure he could find someone at good ‘ole Liberty U if he really wanted to. It doesn’t appear that Trump has the same concept of what “qualified” means as you and I do. Many of his appointees are not even remotely qualified.
Their qualifications lie in being totally dedicated to doing what Trump tells them to do. This is the only qualification that counts to Trump.
He’s never shied away from appointing unqualified people in the past.
If he does appoint a science advisor you can bet it will be someone who is profoundly anti-science. I’d put money on Ken Ham before any accomplished scientist.
Jinx!
Paging Michael Behe
Not surprising as he has not submitted people to fill many many positions in government. Hell, he has no ambassador to South Korea. One would think that might be important as well. Very likely he has no intention of appointing a science adviser along with many other unfilled positions – his way of cutting cost. Have to do something to pay for all those golf outings.
Of course he has no ambassador to South Korea, he doesn’t plan on there being a South Korea much longer.
I should also have mentioned one more thing and this is right from the news and the facts, not “fake news”. Once, Trump was asked whom he went to for advice. With a straight face, he said, Myself. Trumps most trusted adviser is Trump.
Isn’t appointment of Ambassadors a function of the Diplomatic Service, as a branch of the Civil Service, not a political appointee?
He has not appointed an ambassador to Australia either.
I’m guessing that Australia is quietly not drawing attention to that oversight while collectively sighing in relief.
I’m trying to think of the worst person Trump could nominate as ambassador to Australia and coming up short. I’d pick Margaret Court, but she’s Australian.
I expect he thinks there is no rush because:
“it’s just a little country in the middle of Europe that’s more like an annex of Germany. In fast, didn’t they annex it once?”
How about Kent Hovind?
It raises the question of whether his having no science adviser is better than his having a bovine manure one.
In this department it is harder to have a bad choice in which the badness is just wayyyy too obvious!!
While Trump’s record is the worst there does appear to be a pattern of tardiness in appointing science advisors by the Republicans – the notable exception being Nixon.
Maybe America needs another space race.
He’s lookin’ for a deaf, dumb, and blind boy, like the one who played a mean pinball.
Since it’s clear Trump knows nothing about science (among many other things, such as history, maths, economics), it’s a pretty safe bet that if he ever gets around to appointing a science advisor, it will be someone who didn’t pay attention in high school physics or biology.
But not humility. No on can hold a candle to Trump when it comes to humility.
[By the seven meaty balls of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, Sauce Be Upon Them, does the guy even understand the English language.? Even EN_US?
We could spend from now until the heat-death of the universe listing all the things Donald Trump knows fuck-all about.
With the exception of Nixon, the pattern is pretty clear. Then again Nixon started the EPA so he probably should be considered the last Republican president of the old era and not really comparative to the new era of GOP politicos.
It never occurred to me until now that I miss Nixon.
He keeps conflating science advisor with a compliance advisor, 342 days, he probably thinks is a job well done.