Then, as fast as it arose, the whisper ceased. The new president has clearly had a full plate finding, interviewing and shepherding his cabinet picks through the Senate nomination process on a very tight timetable. There are scores of underpaid scientists in academia who would welcome a high-profile tour outside the ivory tower.
Technology policy is far down the list of priorities for the new administration.
There are some things I don't miss about the Clinton years, but with tech policy, I fear the old days will start looking better and better. But don't expect much more in the near term. Whereas Al Gore actively led tech policymaking, Bush appears more comfortable lying back and leaving the difficult stuff to others. That's a problem. With such crucial issues as Internet taxation and privacy at the fore, the vacuum will be filled with self-interested industry lobbyists and a few powerful Capitol Hill staffers.