By Paul Goldberg

What were Texas politicians and CPRIT officials thinking as they were pounded by blistering letters of resignation?

Condemnation seemed to be rolling off their backs as they marched toward what they thought was their great triumph.

Jimmy Mansour, chairman of CPRIT’s oversight committee, mistakenly hit Reply All, sending an especially contemptuous email to a scientist who was announcing his resignation from CPRIT. In the email that came into public view because of his sloppiness, Mansour, a telecommunications entrepreneur, belittles scientists and the peer review process.