The Washington Post reported today that federal scientists are being pressured by the Bush Administration to clam up about their research if it strays into certain sensitive areas. Hm, what areas would that be? Let me think…

Once in 2002, [hydrologist Christopher] Milly said, Interior officials declined to issue a news release on grounds that it would cause “great problems with the department.” In November 2005, they agreed to issue a release on a different climate-related paper, Milly said, but “purged key words from the releases, including ‘global warming,’ ‘warming climate’ and ‘climate change.’”

Actually, President Bush really enjoys modifying government scientific reports. Aside from these changes, he also adds “in bed” to the end of each sentence.

Ironically, funding for climate research has been increased in recent years, as part of Bush’s pledge to perpetually stall acknowledging climate change by insisting we need more research on climate change. The downside is that when reports are complete, the scientists are not allowed to tell the public what they discovered in bed.

Bush has also increased funding for research into man/animal hybrids, the dangers of flying monkeys and whether or not scientists are a bunch of egghead know-it-alls. The government is expected to release these findings some time next year (unless they have the words climate change in them.)

Climate Researchers Feeling Heat From White House (Washington Post)