A Taxonomy of Scientific Appointments

..at least in the United states of America.  In continental Europe, and especially in Italy, we are used to changing governments, without a lot of changing politics. This is partly related to the fact that government changes only chance a small tip of the political burocracy.  In Italy the same Director Generals in the ministries server und Prodi, Berlusconi....... so nothing changes.
The Obama transition now is selecting 1000s of professional who will shape and run the american administration of at least the next 4 years. For science as laid out in the article from Rick Weiss, this is of enormous importance. The science policy of the Bush government which was biased by the religious right and big business, might be changed into something that will help to get science back in a driver seat for the human progress.