Comments on: Another Scientist in Congress!

By: RWA

RWA — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 18:53:44 +0000

Vern Ehlers of Michigan was the first physicist in Congress, and he had a very distinguished career as a researcher at Berkeley and instructor at Calvin College (Gerry Gabrilese was one of his grad students) before entering politics. and Robert Briscoe of Maryland is a physiologist. John E. Sununu is an engineer (not the same as a scientist, but if you’re going to count Jerry McInerey, you should count him as well) , Barbara Cubin worked as a chemist (if people count Boyda as one, they should count her as well), and Brian Gibbons, now governor of Nevada, is a geologist. Also, Lamar S Smith started out as a physics major before switching to law as an undergrad. On the state level, Mike Fortner of the Illinois House is, like Foster, a Fermilab physicist, and worked with him in finding the top quark (although they were on opposite teams-Fortner was with D0, and Foster was with CDF).

But wait a minute-they’re all Republicans! That makes them un-persons in the eyes of this and other so-called science blogs shilling for the Kos wing of the Democratic party.

By: A physicist in the Congress at Freedom of Science

A physicist in the Congress at Freedom of Science — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 11:37:36 +0000

[...] why are physicists so excited that a physicist is entering the Congress? The physicist congressman will have no effect on [...]

By: simplicio

simplicio — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:37:02 +0000

@ J.F. I can think of only one other scientist (not including medical doctors and astronauts), Rush Holt from NY has a PhD in physics.

Actually, glancing at Wiki, I also see a Chemist, Nancy Boyda from Kansas. So that’s three, unless anyone knows anymore.

By: J.F. Moore

J.F. Moore — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 05:40:44 +0000

20 points is a long way to climb. Good luck though.

No one knows… any other scientist in congress? I read through a list and didn’t see any. Well, there were several who had a religious affiliation of “Christian Scientist”.

If not, then this means Bill Foster will be the ONLY scientist in congress. I think this might hit on why funding is so inconsistent.

By: Elliot

Elliot — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 00:24:56 +0000

J. F.

Well since I live in Judy’s district, we will be doing what we can to send her home.

I don’t think she got 60% last time and that was against a pro-life democrat who got nobody that excited.

By: J.F. Moore

J.F. Moore — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 22:16:16 +0000

“Another scientist”? Are there any current ones in congress? I feel foolish for not knowing….

@Elliot: sorry to say, Scott Harper is not as formidable as Bill Foster, and he has a steeper uphill climb. Biggert knows what she has to do to get 60% of the votes every two years, and brings her A game every time. I think she’s terrible but that’s the way I see it. It would take someone really phenomenal to win her seat.

By: Elliot

Elliot — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 19:00:30 +0000

Scott,

You could move to IL and vote for him again in November

By: Scott Aaronson

Scott Aaronson — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 18:55:01 +0000

Wish I could’ve voted for him.

By: Simplicio

Simplicio — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 22:28:39 +0000

@Mike: Just FYI, “whoever the other side musters up” will be Oberweis again. He’s already won the primary to run for the seat in the ‘08 election.

By: Long Road Back « blueollie

Long Road Back « blueollie — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 21:57:17 +0000

[...] we eggheads are downright giddy that one of our own got elected; Bill Foster defeated a Republican multi-millionaire Jim Oberweis [...]