[Jaysun]

I don't know why everyone is making such a bid deal about embryonic stem cell research. They're giving people the impression that people are needlessly dying because the government refuses to fund the research. There's a couple of problems with the whole issue.

First, why aren't private funds pouring into (investing) something that seems to hold such potential? Second, they've never had success in using the cells from babies. All of the advancements have been made in adult stem cells.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

You nailed it. Bush didn't enact a complete ban of stem-cell research, he just banned federal tax dollars from it.

There's nothing stopping private firms from using their own monies. The reason why they ain't is because stem-cell research is unproven and costly. That's why the Left wants OUR money to be used for it.

[Irish Eyes]

They are not interested in the truth, they want to have an issue and the idea the President Bush is doing nothing to save lives suits them just fine. Facts what are those??? not important and not nearly as heart wrenching.

[My2Cents]

All of the advancements have been made in adult stem cells.

Precisely. I read an article just last week (probably here on FR) about how fat cells (and there are plenty of those in our country) had been made to act as stem cells in regenerating bone. The potential of stem cell research is exciting and awesome, but this pathetic pitch by *Ron* Reagan is nothing more than part of the pro-abort agenda.

BTW, I wonder if Michael Reagan will come out swinging on any of these statements Ron is making.

[Howlin]

Precisely.

But my point is that the naysayers on FR said Bush didn't do enough.

I wonder if "the doors wide open" will offend them.

[prairiebreeze]

I thought that the controversy was because Bush won't allow more embryonic "lines" (that might not be the correct term) to be opened up other than those that already are. Maybe the word is strains but that doesn't sound right either.

Regardless, I read that the major researchers say there is very little hope for any benefit from stemcell research for Alzheimers because too many nerves in the brain are destroyed by the disease. In fact the researchers say the likelihood of that is probably pretty much nil.

Ronny the ballerina just wants to bash Bush publically and he gets on the program due to the stem cell ruse. Typical lib, not letting the truth get in the way of a good story.

Prairie

[Captain Peter Blood]

Private funds are pouring in. They have raised over $100 Million at Harvard and are creating new lines as we speak.
Private monies are being solicited.
I think the main question is and has been will that research lead to anything. It seems these cells are very unstable and they have yet to have great success in the lab.
I have been trying to get up to speed on this issue.

[ejo]

Yeah! Most advancements have been made with ADULT STEM CELLS.....

[Faith-Hope]

A young lady that cannot walk because of an accident has been given her own stem cells and has shown some improvement. Some of you may have seen her on Oprah last month.

[wattsup]

You are exactly right. Not one researcher has been able to keep a fetal sample over two weeks.

[steve-b]

First, why aren't private funds pouring into (investing) something that seems to hold such potential?

This argument doesn't really hold water. No investor in his right mind is going to buy into something that is at serious risk of being severely restricted or banned by the government.

[JTHomes]

Second, they've never had success in using the cells from babies. All of the advancements have been made in adult stem cells.

Exactly. Fetal cell research is old news. It is a red herring trotted out by the media to cause more division. All the cutting edge work is looking at stem cells harvested from adults, or even taking adult skin cells and 'turning' them back into stem cells that can differentiate into any type of body cell. It has also been shown that they can make the cells young again by lengthening the telomeres. This will be the next generation of medicine once they get the engineering worked out.