The Senate is ready to confirm the unscientific chief scientist. I was about to say an unqualified chief scientist but then I thought that he did have the one qualifier that matters in this case. That is, the support of President Trump and a Republican majority in the Senate that seems to approve the President’s nomininees, irrespective or qualifications or suitability.

The Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education, and Economics is better known as the chief scientist of the Department of Agriculture.

The law says that chief scientist nominees should be “among distinguished scientists with specialized training or significant experience in agricultural research, education or economics.”

Since Sam Clovis is not a scientist, much less a distinguished one, the Republicans would have a hard time explaining their votes but that is probably not sufficient to stop many of them from confirming President Trump’s choice.

Sam Clovis is clearly unqualified by any rational standard. His nomination is opposed by thousands of scientists. His chief “qualification” appears to be politcal loyalty and service to the President.

The “advice and consent” power of the Senate is an important one. Let us hope this time it is actually used and Senators withhold their confirmation from this unqualified nominee or at least think it through rather than just rubber-stamp the President’s choice.

Are the Senators up-to the job?