Leading McCain VP Candidate Bobby Jindal Supports Creationism As Part Of ‘The Very Best Science’
Leading McCain VP Candidate Bobby Jindal Supports Creationism As Part Of ‘The Very Best Science’
Yesterday on CBS’s Face the Nation, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich — who is currently advising Republican senators about how win in 2008 — praised Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) as “spectacular,” and said he would be “far and away the best candidate” to be Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) vice presidential running mate.
Just before Gingrich came on to praise him, Jindal himself spoke on Face the Nation, where he invoked conservatives’ most-hated term, “political correctness,” to assert that teachers should teach intelligent design in the classroom:
I don’t think students learn by us withholding information from them. … I want them to see the best data. I personally think human life and the world we live in wasn’t created accidentally. I do think that there’s a creator. … Now the way that he did it, I’d certainly want my kids to be exposed to the very best science. I don’t want any facts or theories or explanations to be withheld from them because of political correctness.
Jindal insisted the federal and state government should not “impose” their views on local school districts, effectively giving school boards carte blanche to teach scientifically inaccurate ideas, just like Kansas did in 2005, when it rewrote standards to cast doubt on evolution. Watch it:
Of course, if Jindal — who has written about participating in an exorcism — were truly committed to “the very best science,” he would reject intelligent design as a religious idea unsuited for the science classroom — a fact recognized by federal courts. As Bruce Alberts, president of the National Academy of Sciences, explained, “Because ‘intelligent design’ theories are based on supernatural explanations, they can have nothing to do with science.”
Jindal’s stance deserves scrutiny following last week’s action by the Louisiana House, overwhelmingly passing a bill (SB 733) that opened the door to teaching creationism in schools. Though backers denied the bill had religious intentions, the Louisiana Family Forum, the group that spearheaded the bill, describes its mission to “persuasively present biblical principles in the centers of influence on issues affecting the family through research, communication and networking.”
Last year, McCain gave a keynote address to the Discovery Institute, a religious right-wing think tank that aggressively promotes creationism.
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Oh please pick this guy, McCain! Please please please please please!!!
June 16th, 2008 at 12:50 pmYes, well, some of the seemingly most intelligent designs nevertheless end up in the dumpster.
June 16th, 2008 at 12:52 pmIt’s not just “political correctness” that right-wingers are repulsed by.
ANY kind of correctness seems to offend them, as they obviously prefer incorrectness almost exclusively.
June 16th, 2008 at 12:55 pmJindal insisted the federal and state government should not “impose” their views on local school districts, effectively giving school boards carte blanche to teach scientifically inaccurate ideas, just like Kansas did in 2005, when it rewrote standards to cast doubt on evolution.
Geography should teach Flat Earth theories. And Science, that flies can generate spontaneously!
June 16th, 2008 at 12:55 pmAnyone who has ever had back or knee problems has concrete proof that Intelligent Design is a myth.
June 16th, 2008 at 12:59 pmBobby Jindal on students:
I want them to see the best data. I personally think human life and the world we live in wasn’t created accidentally. I do think that there’s a creator
Exactly what data supports the theory of “Intelligent design”?
Can anyone help me out?
June 16th, 2008 at 1:00 pmBest comment of the past week.
June 16th, 2008 at 1:01 pmJayzus,
Why does LA have to put up with TWO major disasters in the past 5 years; First Katrina and now this whack-job as Governor.
Both will leave long lasting scars on the landscape and the people of the state.
June 16th, 2008 at 1:05 pmJindal and his fellow GOP wingnuts would say the “best science” indicates burning at the stake as the surest way to eradicate witches.
June 16th, 2008 at 1:08 pmJindal is crazy. He also said that he cured someones cancer by exorcising demons. Seriously. Its kind of sad that this person has a chance to be the next VP.
June 16th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Jindal insisted the federal and state government should not “impose” their views on local school districts, effectively giving school boards carte blanche to teach scientifically inaccurate ideas, just like Kansas did in 2005, when it rewrote standards to cast doubt on evolution.
And somewhere in the bayous, a Santeria-based school curriculum is now being formed…
June 16th, 2008 at 1:09 pmOops here the link to the article I referenced
June 16th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Although he graduated at the top of his class, Jindal is a superstitious whiz kid.
June 16th, 2008 at 1:14 pmBelief isn’t science. Jindal won’t even compromise and say that maybe God also created the mechanism of Darwinian evolution.
Exactly what data supports the theory of “Intelligent design”?
Can anyone help me out?
ID in a nutshell:
Evolutionary biologists can’t explain the complete history of life on Earth. QED God did it.
Now go get your Regent University degree.
June 16th, 2008 at 1:14 pmMatt Taibbi recently wrote a book about his experiences with McCain’s ex-pal John Hagee’s faith healing. On the Daily Show, he told about how people are exhorted to cough up their demons. Some of these people thought that they would also lose weight from the cough-ups.
June 16th, 2008 at 1:17 pmI agree, please please pick him as a vp!!!
June 16th, 2008 at 1:21 pmThe repugs are so terrible, I can’t even stand to talk to one anymore!!!
Oh as if America needs anymore dumbing down. Sheese.
June 16th, 2008 at 1:21 pmI don’t think students learn by us withholding information from them. … I want them to see the best data. I personally think human life and the world we live in wasn’t created accidentally. I do think that there’s a creator. … Now the way that he did it, I’d certainly want my kids to be exposed to the very best science. I don’t want any facts or theories or explanations to be withheld from them because of political correctness.
Aside from stating the obvious, creationism is not science, much less “the very best science,” since when are grade schools the proving grounds for controversial “scientific” theories anyway. Go to a grad school and you’re likely to hear heated debates regarding aspects of Einstein’s theory of relativity. Should grade schoolers be included in those discussions as well?
http://progressiveworldreview.com
June 16th, 2008 at 1:21 pmInteresting how so many were eager to throw Jindal into every big job as “youngest this” and “youngest that.”
You would think a person who was once appointed — at 28 years of age — a University system president would know better.
June 16th, 2008 at 1:27 pmI agree with Newt. This guy would make a great choice for McCain’s VP.
As if President Obama needed more help.
June 16th, 2008 at 1:28 pmralph, nevar threads like this are like gifts from a divine creator.
June 16th, 2008 at 1:29 pm“I want them to see the best data. I personally think human life and the world we live in wasn’t created accidentally. I do think that there’s a creator. … Now the way that he did it, I’d certainly want my kids to be exposed to the very best science. I don’t want any facts or theories or explanations to be withheld from them because of political correctness.”
_______________________________________________________
First, since when do Jindal’s personal thoughts (as in “I personally think”) qualify as data?
Second, how can Jindal claim he wants his kids exposed to “the very best science” while advocating they be taught fairy tales with no scientific basis whatsoever?
Third, if he wants students to be exposed to ALL theories of creation, no matter now off-the-wall or crackpot they may seem, can we assume that he’s OK with the Finnish egg theory? the Egyptian Ennead, where the earth came about throuth Atum’s masturbation? or the Cherokee story about the earth being formed by the water beetle? And let’s not forget the Scientologists, who believe that Xenu brought billions of people to Earth in a spacecraft.
It’s one thing to teach children science. However, teaching them that “there MUST have been an intelligent creator because we have no other way to explain things” is NOT science.
June 16th, 2008 at 1:31 pmAre you saying that Jindal will convince people to exorcise their right to vote for Republiscums?
June 16th, 2008 at 1:40 pmThe very existence of Creationists is a strong argument against the idea of “Intelligent Design”.
June 16th, 2008 at 1:40 pmI will never understand these fascists who hide behind religion:
They do their utmost to enforce their beliefs on the rest of us (by trying to change or simply ignoring existing laws), then cry foul and claim being prosecuted when anyone invokes the separation of church and state.
And you thought the Taliban were a group of hillbillies somewhere in Afghanistan…
June 16th, 2008 at 1:44 pmJindal:
I don’t think students learn by us withholding information from them.
Uh-oh… I don’t think the “abstinence-only” folks are going to be too pleased with that sentiment…
June 16th, 2008 at 1:46 pmExactly why do these folks possess such astonishing zeal to make their children ignorant? Moreover, exactly how on earth did this moron become a Governor? Progressives must have been asleep at the switch and/or we did not get our people registered.
Evolution is no longer theory; it is accepted scientific fact. The Christian Right would like people to believe that there is a controversy. There is no controversy!
I was watching Alexandra Pelosi’s “Friends of God” the other day which captured first graders being indoctrinated – down to the “saddles on dinosaurs.” On the wall was a large sign that read something to the effect “I believe in God.” “I believe that the bible is the word of God.” “That settles it.”
June 16th, 2008 at 1:48 pmNevar Says:
Yes, well, some of the seemingly most intelligent designs nevertheless end up in the dumpster.
——
Or in the GOP
June 16th, 2008 at 1:48 pmGarbage
June 16th, 2008 at 1:52 pmOn
Parade
ralph the wonder llama Says:
Uh-oh… I don’t think the “abstinence-only” folks are going to be too pleased with that sentiment…
—–
June 16th, 2008 at 1:54 pmI like this one a lot. Well done my friend…
“…“saddles on dinosaurs.”…”
whoa! Western or English?
June 16th, 2008 at 1:55 pmSure would have been fun to see them rodeos!
.
And yet Jindahl’s science can’t PROVE the existence of god…
.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:03 pmMy family still lives in Louisiana and my mother was seriously pissed when this guy won the election for governor. (Of course, LA voting laws are so different than anywhere else I’ve ever lived.) He cut major funding for all of the charity hospitals/programs across the state; even the University teaching hospitals (according to her).
Ask any repug in LA why they are voting for a repug and they will answer, “It doesn’t matter who s/he is/are or what they have done, they are a republican and therefore, I have to vote for her/him.”
June 16th, 2008 at 2:04 pmI’d certainly want my kids to be exposed to the very best science. I don’t want any facts or theories or explanations to be withheld from them because of political correctness.
Once again the Anti-science League is trying to use science to further their non-scientific beliefs. If you want a disclaimer that evolution is ‘just a theory’, then you should include one for the ‘inteligent designer’.
How does ID explain imperfection? The IDer was tired that day, or a little too much spirit in the spirit? At least no one could cheat since all the answers are, “God did it.” How do you prove that?
June 16th, 2008 at 2:07 pmJebus – where on earth do they *FIND* these whackjobs?????
Hmmmmm….maybe they’re not finding them on earth…
Just a thought. :o/
June 16th, 2008 at 2:07 pmOh, that’s an easy one. Educated people are far less likely to be easily led than ignorant people.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:08 pmDavidHart Says:
Exactly why do these folks possess such astonishing zeal to make their children ignorant? Moreover, exactly how on earth did this moron become a Governor? Progressives must have been asleep at the switch and/or we did not get our people registered.
June 16th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
______
Well, this was Louisiana. Don’t forget that one of the state’s major cities had a pretty major demographic shift in, oh, 2005 or so.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:09 pmIF WE OUTLAW EVOLUTION, ONLY OUTLAWS WILL EVOLVE!!!
June 16th, 2008 at 2:12 pmdbadass thinks the partially consumed sandwich shall be here shortly
June 16th, 2008 at 2:14 pmI.D. IS NOT SCIENCE!
Prove me otherwise. State the scientific theory behind creationism beyond God Did It without mentioning evolution or Darwin.
*crickets*
June 16th, 2008 at 2:14 pma politically correct wannabee.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:15 pmI have said it before, and I will say it again, I cannot vote for anyone who believes in “intelligent design. ” Just can’t. Too stupid.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:16 pmPrytania:
June 16th, 2008 at 2:20 pmYou may want to touch base with the Pope first as he and the catholic church believe in a higher power and in biological evolution. Last time I checked there was a hell of a lot of Catholics although I am not one of them
Get real.
One can believe in a “higher power” without buying the crap that ID is “science”.
ID is religion, pure and simple. It doesn’t belong in science class.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:21 pmPrytania Says:
Sounds like most of you don’t believe in a higher power. There’s nothing greater than yourselves? Very sad coming from some fairly smart people.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
_____
A personal belief in a higher power is not the same thing as believing that religious doctrine should be taught in science class.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:21 pmDaryll Sez….
Repent ye libs, for the Kingdom of Fossil Steeds is at hand!
June 16th, 2008 at 2:22 pmThrow off your walking shoes, your bicycles, your weary velocipedes!
Science will bring back the dinosaurs! Mount up! In another 65 million years of dino-transpo the oil fields will be replenished and we can have Hummers once again!
Hello, Prytania – what kind of ugly racist crap are you going to regale us with today?
June 16th, 2008 at 2:22 pmRegressive Republicans don’t believe in evolution because it never really took hold in their own families.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:23 pmPrytania Says:
Delivering your own child probably clarifies a lot of things about life.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
_______
Yes, like the need for comprehensive health care reform.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:25 pmPrytania Says:
What class does it belong in?
Uh, how about Sunday School class.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:26 pmPrytania Says:
What class does it belong in?
June 16th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
_____
Philosophy, comparative religious studies, etc. Not biology.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:27 pmSpeaking of the Vatican….
check this out….
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/05/14/news/vat.php
In another article on the subject, the astronomer stated there may be others who are born without original sin…
June 16th, 2008 at 2:27 pmHow is home delivery related to the topic? Evolution has allowed organisms to reproduce successfully for milenia. Is that what prytania means?
June 16th, 2008 at 2:30 pmwell, if HE, or SHE, or indeed both of THEM together did indeed create US then they must have been having a bad hair day in bed that night and no doubt should have been taking the pill . . .
June 16th, 2008 at 2:31 pmIs this what Prytania means?
June 16th, 2008 at 2:32 pmhttp://www.theprytania.com/
Nevar Says:
Speaking of the Vatican…
June 16th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Good article! This passage sums up my feelings perfectly:
There’s no reason science and religion have to be in conflict, as long as they stick to their own questions about creation.
Science answers the HOW questions: how was the universe formed, how was the Sun formed, how was our planet formed, how did life come to exist on our planet, and how did living creatures become what they are today?
Religion answers the WHY questions: why was the universe formed, why was the Sun formed, why was our planet formed, why did life come to exist on our planet, and why did living creatures become what they are today?
If both doctrines respect this fundamental separation of powers, they can peacefully and happily coexist.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:33 pmor this:
June 16th, 2008 at 2:35 pmPrytania (invincible Queen of the Dead);
Prytania Says:
There is a group of scientist who are on the verge of proving there is a higher power using math. If it is proven, should it be taught in high school? I doubt it will be proven using math, but if it is?
June 16th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
_____
God cannot be proven using math, for God does not exist in the real world, only in the metaphysical. If God could be conclusively proven via real-world methods, the entire concept of faith would be negated and all religion would be destroyed.
Is that what you want?
June 16th, 2008 at 2:36 pmdeon sez… “…they must have been having a bad hair day in bed that night and no doubt should have been taking the pill . . .”
the Big Bang explained!
June 16th, 2008 at 2:38 pmMathematics is an abstract science. It does not employ the scientific method as biology or chemistry does.
It can only be used to prove mathematical concepts, or employed as a tool to an*lyze data in other disciplines. As such, I don’t see how one can “prove” a higher power using math.
But back on topic, ID is supposed to be an alternative to evolution, which is a theory of biology. It is not subject to facets of the scientific method such as observable data collection or repeatable experimentation. All it is, is an assertion of belief poorly disguised in scientific language. It cannot be rigorously tested, and its tenets cannot be applied to the physical world.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:39 pmLet’s take over all religion classes, no matter what the denomination (actually misspelled it demonination, then corrcted, heh), and teach the empirical process. Turn about IS fair play.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:39 pmYes, and the Hindu God Shiva is the scientific solution to toxic waste.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:40 pmTo add to my last post:
if mathematicians prove the existence of a higher power using math, it absolutely should be taught in schools. In MATH CLASS.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:41 pmTP can you please lighten up on the word a knoll eyes? Thanks!
June 16th, 2008 at 2:44 pmor is that anole eyes
June 16th, 2008 at 2:44 pmralph, these regressive Republicans do not understand scientific method. They were the ones sitting in the back row, throwing spitwads, during 8th grade science class.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:45 pmdbadass Says:
or is that anole eyes
karma chameleon!
June 16th, 2008 at 2:46 pmtoasterhead: “If God could be conclusively proven via real-world methods, the entire concept of faith would be negated and all religion would be destroyed.”
Prytania: “If God is proven by any method, how would that negate faith? It would only enhance it by proving there is a God once and for all.”
It would negate, ie, eliminate, “faith”, in that now we would have direct knowledge of (god). There would be no need to depend on a concept to have a relationship with a god.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:50 pmAll religion would be destroyed because religion is a man made concept of strictures describing an unknown god.
Again, direct knowledge of (god) would replace both the notion of faith, and religion.
Perhaps you’re right, shoeless. Prytania is generally a step or two above the garden-variety troll, but maybe I should have included a link.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:52 pmPrytania Says:
If God is proven by any method, how would that negate faith? It would only enhance it by proving there is a God once and for all.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
_______
By definition, faith is based not in concrete proof of the tangible but in abstract belief of the intangible. If the existence of God is proven, faith is no longer necessary, because God simply becomes a fact.
Of course, this thought experiment rests on the assumptions that (1) the calculations are correct, (2) they actually prove what you say they prove, and (3) the results are universally accepted.
What happens if these mathematicians “prove” God, but then it turns out that they have made an error – does that mean that God has just been disproved? If other mathematicians challenge this “proof” through the process of peer review, are they now heretics? What if the “proof” of God is offered by Muslim or Hindu mathematicians – does this mean that their conception of God is correct and you will immediately embrace it?
June 16th, 2008 at 2:52 pmHmmm. The earth is – at the very least – millions of years old – and nobody has yet proved the existence of God in any form….
How much longer do you wacks need…?
June 16th, 2008 at 2:56 pmPrytania Says
June 16th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Did any of you know that Gov. Jindal delivered his baby in his home. His wife went into labor and Jindal had to deliver it before the ambulance arrived. That makes for a good story when it’s campaign time in October. It also helps those who believe in a higher power. Delivering your own child probably clarifies a lot of things about life.
________________________________________
I’m glad that Jindal was able to come through and deliver the baby in a crisis, although I doubt he planned that particular series of events just so he could have a good campaign story to tell. Furthermore, unless he had a “road to Damascus” moment, he probably believed in a higher power even before the baby was born.
However, the ability to deliver a baby in an emergency, just like the ability to administer CPR in an emergency, doesn’t necessarily qualify one to be vice president OR justify non-science “science” taught in our classrooms. This is sort of like comparing apples to xylophones.
June 16th, 2008 at 3:00 pmI find it interesting that so many of the sheeple that blindly follow and defend Dubya are the same ones that believe in Creationism. A good sign of a polluted gene pool.
June 16th, 2008 at 3:00 pm“How much longer do you wacks need…?”
A lot more time than the 217 days they have left.
June 16th, 2008 at 3:01 pmLeftside Annie Says:
Hmmm. The earth is – at the very least – millions of years old – and nobody has yet proved the existence of God in any form….
June 16th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
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If the Earth’s age could be measured in only millions of years, it would be far too hot for us to be alive on it.
June 16th, 2008 at 3:01 pmWANTING something to be true does not make it true. Sensible people tend to weigh evidence rather than dismiss it.
June 16th, 2008 at 3:02 pmIf creationism is true, then there is no choice but to believe that fossils were planted in the ground by aliens.
Well, then, Toasterhead – they’ve had BILLIONS of years to prove the existence of God.
I say that’s by far enough time – and that if they haven’t been able to prove the existence of God by now — well, then, they should STFU. ;o)
June 16th, 2008 at 3:06 pmNevar Says:
“…“saddles on dinosaurs.”…”
whoa! Western or English?
Sure would have been fun to see them rodeos!
——
Actually, they were kinda messy, the rodeo clowns usually got eaten. :)
June 16th, 2008 at 3:16 pmLeftside Annie Says:
How much longer do you wacks need…?
Maybe another 6500 years?
June 16th, 2008 at 3:16 pmLeftside Annie Says:
Hmmm. The earth is – at the very least – millions of years old – and nobody has yet proved the existence of God in any form….
Try an estimated 4.5 Billion years old. =)
June 16th, 2008 at 3:19 pmY’know, facts tend to be observable. Like certain aspects of Evolution.
Faith? not so much. Much more Touchy Feely… Like Intelligent design.
June 16th, 2008 at 3:20 pmI would say at best human beings have been trying to figure out the whys and wherefores of their existence for perhaps 100,000 years. Up to that point it was simply eat, or be eaten.
June 16th, 2008 at 3:27 pmFor about 90,000 years of that social development the greatest task was to not only survive the natural world, but also defend yourself from Og and his tribe who would steal your food if they could.
Only in the last 10,000 years have humans been able to develop agriculture, permanent habitations, and written language which made organized religion, and therefore control of larger populations possible.
This has also led to advancement of weapons and empires.
What we have witnessed in the last 1,000 years is truly scary, where humans have reached the tipping point of being able to totally destroy not only themselves, but the whole planet as well.
octamethyl Says:
WANTING something to be true does not make it true. Sensible people tend to weigh evidence rather than dismiss it.
If creationism is true, then there is no choice but to believe that fossils were planted in the ground by aliens.
June 16th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
_____
And this is, in a nutshell, the difference between creationism and science.
Science starts with a question, proposes a hypothetical answer to the question, and uses experimentation to test this hypothesis.
Creationism starts with an answer, proposes hypothetical methods to get from known facts to this answer, and uses experimentation to prove that the answer was right all along.
June 16th, 2008 at 3:28 pmNevar says:
Again, direct knowledge of (god) would replace both the notion of faith, and religion.
Yes, but you’d have to understand the math.
That rules out most trolls, and at least the 28%ers.
June 16th, 2008 at 3:31 pmNevar Says:
What we have witnessed in the last 1,000 years is truly scary, where humans have reached the tipping point of being able to totally destroy not only themselves, but the whole planet as well.
June 16th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
______
It is scary. But on the flip side, we have also reached the tipping point of being able to save ourselves and the planet from extinction. Unlike other species that preceded us, we have the capability to respond to and prevent events such as changes in climate (either natural or anthropoegenic) or asteroid/comet collisions that would in the past have caused mass extinctions.
June 16th, 2008 at 3:34 pmSo true toasterhead. Sometimes I think it is the corporate elite who believe they can survive on this planet with superior technology, and escape into space if they have to.
June 16th, 2008 at 3:39 pmIn their minds, the planet, and all its creatures, is expendable towards that end.
And that scenario is Darwinism taken to it’s full extent. Survival of the fittest. Or at least the strongest….
June 16th, 2008 at 3:42 pmNevar Says:
So true toasterhead. Sometimes I think it is the corporate elite who believe they can survive on this planet with superior technology, and escape into space if they have to.
In their minds, the planet, and all its creatures, is expendable towards that end.
June 16th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
________
Ah yes. They dream of buildng the arcologies of SimCity 3000.
June 16th, 2008 at 3:58 pmMakes we wonder if they know things we don’t know, like Roswell, etc……
June 16th, 2008 at 4:07 pmWell my faith that this would bring out some of my favorite freaks has been shot to that imagined hell…
June 16th, 2008 at 4:08 pmMaybe their creator is taking a nap.
June 16th, 2008 at 4:14 pmHow the Flying Spaghetti Monster can be left out of this
June 16th, 2008 at 8:18 pmsubject is beyond me. really, it’s all faith, Right?
The Flying Spaghetti Monster leaves a tangible trail of (cooked) tomato sauce for its followers.
June 16th, 2008 at 8:32 pmNo faith is required, simply a fork, a bib, and a container of Parmesan.
Another Bush “Mission Accomplished.”
In the last ten days, we learned that the Bush administration (Karl Rove) tried to blackmail the Democratic governor of Louisiana during Hurricane Katrina, Kathleen Blanco, into ceding control over her state’s national guard units (federalize them) by withholding federal disaster assistance from Louisiana and New Orleans during those critical days following Katrina’s landfall and the flooding of New Orleans when people were dying.
Not only did BushCo withhold this desperately-needed federal aid, but they (Karl Rove, Michael Chertoff, Donald Rumsfeld) also blocked anyone trying to help save the lives of Louisianans. Hundreds of “Good Samaritan” Louisianans with boats were turned away from New Orleans. Helicopters were ordered to stand down. Helicopter pilots flying out of Pensacola Florida must not have gotten the message. They flew dozens of rescue flights in New Orleans, but upon returning to their base in Florida, ended up getting reprimanded. Truck drivers carrying much-needed ice were routed away from New Orleans. Hundreds of buses requested by Gov. Blanco and promised by FEMA never made it into New Orleans.
And on top of this, BushCo (Karl Rove) waged a smear campaign against Gov. Blanco and the Democratic mayor of New Orleans, Nagin, while Louisianan citizens were dying in droves, because BushCo (Karl Rove) blocked any disaster (federal or otherwise) getting to them.
Get the picture? Obviously the good people in Louisiana did. They voted for this religious nut case Bobby Jindal to be their next governor, because the underlying message that BushCo (Karl Rove) sent to the good people of Louisiana was that if they voted for Democrats, then BushCo (Karl Rove) and the Republicans would do everything necessary, especially in case any further hurricanes hit Louisiana, to see that the good people in Louisiana and their children would die.
So, now Louisiana is a Red State, run by a wacky religious fundamentalist, with a slew of other wacky religious fundamentalists in the Louisiana legislature, who must believe that turning Louisiana into a hardcore religious training ground will somehow save them from the next “God-ordained” hurricane bearing down on them. Fools.
HEAVEN is a BLUE STATE, while
June 16th, 2008 at 8:48 pmHELL is a RED STATE, or hasn’t anyone noticed?
Just so you know, the rest of the world laughs at us and thinks we are a country filled with simpleton religious freaks.
I believe the same. WTF is wrong with people in this country, did all of your monms drink when they were pregnant and drop you on your collective heads?
June 16th, 2008 at 8:52 pmAllow me to be super cheap:
I want every student to read Mein Kampf and listen to Tokyo Rose while being taught about WWII.
June 17th, 2008 at 12:12 amAs a Biochemist, an Atheist and an avid fan of Darwin, I find the idea of ID intriguing. We understand how basic and heavier elements were and are being formed. Complex molecules and even amino acids are formed within laboratories simulating Earth 3.5 billion years ago as we speak. The interesting part is how did a string of roughly 100,000 amino acids bind in such a way as to create the most basic of single cell organisms? The organisms have a cellular wall in order to protect themselves from the environment which in turn gives them the ability to evolve, absorb nutrients and to learn to reproduce itself. Beyond this all is scientifically explained. From single elements to the first single cell organism is what intrigues me the most.
June 17th, 2008 at 1:47 amIf these freaks want to teach creationism in schools I say go right ahead. Teach it in a Literature class, not a Science class. Keep in mind repiggies, this would mean you would have to include other stories of creationist beliefs including Hindu, Native American, African.
June 17th, 2008 at 6:03 amThe only thing that prevents me from praying that McCain pick this idiot is that, god forbid, McCain wins/steals the election and then dies.
June 17th, 2008 at 7:08 amJindal “was a biology major in college”. Yet he believes, and wants to promote in science class, a book that says, among other things:
- that bats are birds (Lev. 11:13-19)
- that there is an entire class of 4-legged insects (Lev 11:20-23)
- that hares chew their cud (Lev. 11:6)
Sound like valid biology to you? Need a degree to verify its validity, or to debunk it?
If we’re to have students discussing the “strengths and weaknesses” of sources such as this, we might as well have them discussing the strengths and weaknesses of the position of the Flat Earth Society.
At the cost of time spent learning legitimate science, of course.
June 17th, 2008 at 5:27 pm