Talk About Perfect Timing

I just posted on the subject of Bush's legacy and mentioned Nasa's climate scientist James Hansen and pow, the Kansas City Star (who's people are not bastards) has this story.

NASA Administrator Michael Griffin announced new guidelines on information Thursday that allow top agency scientists to speak out on such controversial issues as global warming.

...

Two months ago, NASA’s top climate scientist, James Hansen, said that political appointees were trying to restrict information.

When Hansen, director of NASA’s Goddard Institute of Space Studies, posted data on the NASA Web site indicating that 2005 could be the warmest year on record, agency officials ordered him to withdraw the information because it had not been screened in advance.

I'm impressed. Yeah, its posturing to deflect critisism, but it's also the right thing to do. And, for now, Hansen still has a job. It would be a shame to lose someone of his expertise and experience when we need both the most.