ThinkFast: July 21, 2009
ThinkFast: July 21, 2009
ThinkProgress has launched a new Twitter feed. Subscribe to it here.
President Obama has invited a small group of conservative Blue Dog Democrats to the White House today in an effort to win their support on health care reform. “We’re just not there yet,” said Rep. Baron Hill (D-IN), who was invited to the meeting. “We’re getting there.”
Liberal activists are targeting Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) “as the lawmaker whose arm is most in need of twisting over health care reform.” “The Montana Democrat was the (unfortunate) winner of a contest sponsored by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and Democracy for America, in which the groups allowed members to choose which senator to target in an ad campaign.”
Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) tweets, “I support the pub[l]ic option on healthcare reform, but must make sure private market can compete. Working on that in the Senate.” (Claire’s updated tweet here.)
“The argument over whether spending $1.75 billion on seven additional F-22 jets makes good economic sense is coming to a head between Congress and the Obama administration.” The provision is scheduled for a vote this morning in the Senate. President Obama has said he would veto the defense bill if it contains this unnecessary spending.
A group of Senate Democrats is threatening to filibuster an amendment offered by Sen. John Thune (R-SD) “that would allow gun owners to carry concealed firearms into states with similar gun regulations.” “This amendment is a bridge too far, and could endanger the safety of millions of Americans,” Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) said. “We will do everything we can to stop this poisonous amendment from being enacted.”
Yesterday, the Drudge Report claimed that millions of stimulus dollars are being wasted on pork products. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack immediately discredited the claim. “The purchases for sliced ham and other contracts — including mozzarella and other cheeses — were to provide soup kitchens and homeless shelters with food for the needy.” “This program will help reduce hunger of those hardest hit by the current economic recession,” insisted Vilsack.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) and California legislative leaders reached an agreement Monday on a compromise to close the state’s $26 billion budget shortfall. The deal would cut $15 billion in spending while also taking funds from local governments. “[O]f the $15 billion in cuts, $9 billion would come from education, $1.3 billion from state-worker furloughs and $1.2 billion from the prison system.”
Neil Barofsky, the special inspector general overseeing the Troubled Asset Relief Program, said yesterday that “he’s concerned federal officials are ignoring his proposals for preventing tax dollars from being wasted or pilfered.” In a 260-page report, Barofsky suggests moves such as having the Treasury Department “force bailout recipients to keep track of how exactly they are spending TARP funds.”
White House aides acknowledged yesterday that “the administration will miss its own Tuesday deadline to submit a report detailing its policy on detaining terror suspects.” Administration officials said that a “task force dealing with detention policy has been granted a six-month extension to flesh out its plans, while a separate task force dealing with interrogation policy has been given a two-month extension.”
And finally: This morning, President Obama responded to criticism he has received from the press for wearing “mom jeans” when he threw out the first pitch at baseball’s All-Star Game. “I’m a little frumpy,” Obama acknowledged on the Today Show. “I hate to shop.” He said that up until two years ago, he had only four suits and said “those jeans are comfortable.” And he said he would leave it up to first lady Michelle to set the fashion pace at the White House, telling NBC: “Here’s my attitude: Michelle, she looks fabulous. … For people who want a president to look great in tight jeans, I’m sorry.”
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog Roll
Screw the ‘Blue Dogs’. They don’t give a sh*t about the American people. These idiots live in Conservative districts and they are terrified they will lose there their seats, Bow-hoo. They will still get their excellant benefits regardless if they are thrown out of office or not. So, Screw You.
July 21st, 2009 at 9:05 amLiberal activists are targeting Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) “as the lawmaker whose arm is most in need of twisting over health care reform.
Good, but about 3 months too late.
Baucus wouldn’t even allow public option or single payer parties to the table.
OK, Max, if we can’t be at the table, you’ll be under the bus.
July 21st, 2009 at 9:06 amMeredith Vieira should be on Meet the Press.
she is fearless, has gumption, and can ask really good questions…
i m o.
just watched that segment of TODAY…
July 21st, 2009 at 9:10 amshe’s tenacious…
“Yesterday, the Drudge Report claimed that millions of stimulus dollars are being wasted on pork products. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack immediately discredited the claim. “The purchases for sliced ham and other contracts — including mozzarella and other cheeses — were to provide soup kitchens and homeless shelters with food for the needy.” “This program will help reduce hunger of those hardest hit by the current economic recession,” insisted Vilsack”
July 21st, 2009 at 9:11 am————————————————————–
Drudge and the rest of the RE-PUKES could care less about the poor and low income earners who are suffering the most…….
Seriously – cut the health care of every member of Congress until they fix ours.
July 21st, 2009 at 9:11 am“must make sure private market can compete.”
wow, claire…
whodduthunkit…?
riding the wave on michael j. fox and barack obama
July 21st, 2009 at 9:13 amdoes funny things to people…
It occurs to me that all 3 Abrahamic religions are being driven by zealots and extreme fundamendalists.
The Muslims have AQ.
The Jews have Bibi & his boys.
The Christians have Randall Terry, James Dobson, Glenn Beck, etc.
All of them degrade women, believe God speaks to them and would do harm unto others in the name of a ‘vengeful God’.
They all also believe they have an inherent right to interpret whatever suits their needs in their scriptures.
This is total madness. We are a Nation of laws, not a bible study group. With instant global communication, we still have a chance to move out of the religion based middle ages & see the dawning of cooperation and mutual benefit based upon resources and an honest market.
It’s way past time to eliminate religion from legislation.
July 21st, 2009 at 9:13 amkaty@3, Anyone would be better than David Gregory. That SOB treats Repugs with kid-gloves. His e-mail to Sanford was disgusting. Tim Russert is probably rolling in his grave.
July 21st, 2009 at 9:15 amLou Dobbs was also talking about the “pork” including the buying of food. To feed hungry is pork. To blow civilians to bits, not pork.
Proud to say I chose Baucus to have his arm twisted in that survey.
July 21st, 2009 at 9:16 amI was thinking the same thing Christopher wiwi, As far as repugs are concerned the poor are just a nuisance.
July 21st, 2009 at 9:18 amStory #1:
I’m tired of these BushDog Democrats being referred to as “fiscally conscious” and “fiscally conservative”.
How “fiscally conscious” or “fiscally conservative” was it for them to continue voting for spending billion upon billion on an unnecessary war built on lies each time it was requested, despite there being no plan on how to pay for it besides “Borrow it from China!”?
They’re a joke. But not as big a joke as referring to them as “fiscally conscious” and “fiscally conservative”. Now that’s a giggle getter!
Furthermore, what a shame that their biggest concern (as quoted in the piece) is “Time”.
Perhaps their biggest concern should be reforming a failed healthcare system for the American people, so as to provide them with choices to lower costs and increase care.
Because the more “Time” they spend Bluedicking around, the more “Time” millions of Americans go without coverage while millions more get buried beneath the costs…
July 21st, 2009 at 9:20 amsscncturn64 says
July 21st, 2009 at 9:18 am
As far as repugs are concerned the poor are just a nuisance.
____________________________________________________________
Which makes a reasonable person wonder why the GOP wants to create so many more of them.
July 21st, 2009 at 9:21 amI’m watching C-Span right now and Joe Barton, R-Texas, is spewing lie after lie. I feel sick. On and on these Repugs talk about socialism. But not one of these guys would ever talk about getting rid of Social Security. Jerks.
July 21st, 2009 at 9:25 ammisscoleopteramolly,
Conservatives think people choose poverty for themselves. Funny how so many more “choose” it under Repub rule than under Dem rule.
July 21st, 2009 at 9:25 amWhat Sen. Claire McCaskill is tweeting that she will only support a public health care option when it has sufficiently gutted by her and the Blue Dog Democrats (i.e., Republican who could only get elected by wearing sheep’s clothing) to be impotent to have any positive impact on health care costs and availability. The party and the country needs to jettison creeps like this who sell out the people for the lucre of the insurance lobby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 21st, 2009 at 9:27 amMichael Steele is blasting President Obama this morning for trying to get health care reform passed ‘in two weeks’.
This guy seems to be suffering from oral diarrhea.
What are you doing to benefit our Nation, Michael?
Oh yeah, the same thing Blech, Insannity & Mt. Rushblow are doing…running you mouths off while presenting no alternatives.
July 21st, 2009 at 9:29 am“Yesterday, the Drudge Report claimed that millions of stimulus dollars are being wasted on pork products.”
Ham, bacon, roast pork, pork chops…mmmm, pork chops (drool)
July 21st, 2009 at 9:31 amZimzone says:
It occurs to me that all 3 Abrahamic religions are being driven by zealots and extreme fundamendalists.
It was a religion that originally started on the premise of shedding innocent in a sacrifice to a bloodthirsty god who jealous of other gods in a pantheon. It was created by the minds of men trying to explain their world, before science was even a viable concept in their minds and as other religions hijacked by people seeking power to subjugate others, to rule over them.
When in history have they not been led by zealots and extreme fundamentalists?
July 21st, 2009 at 9:33 amCalifornia will wake up to find the living hell that cutting taxes has brought about in diminished services. What made California great besides its size and population was a non pareil education system. Ronald Reagan began gutting it with tuition increases and the Governator is cutting the heart out of its base. The Conservative dream of a return to a system of serfs and manors is one step closer! All power to the rich!!???
July 21st, 2009 at 9:33 amThis just in:
President Obama seems to be finally getting it. His numbers were slipping on health care because he appeared to be caving to Republicans. Republicans want to delay anything that isn’t tax cuts for the rich until it dies a slow, painful, and very public death. They want Obama to fail, and they’ll do everything in their power to see to it that he fails. They don’t care how many Americans die in the meantime for lack of proper health care.
Bipartisanship does not require allowing the minority party to govern through obstructionism. If, at the end of the day, the plan President Obama originally put forth is the best option on the table for the American People, then that plan is what should be adopted. We the People, not the insurance companies, deserve the best our government can give us.
We elected you, President Obama, because we believed that you could deliver. We’re counting on you. Be the change we all can believe in.
July 21st, 2009 at 9:34 amConservatives think people choose poverty for themselves. Funny how so many more “choose” it under Repub rule than under Dem rule.
It’s what they choose, when the choose to vote Republican.
July 21st, 2009 at 9:36 amcorrection : It was a religion that originally started on the premise of shedding innocent blood in a sacrifice to a bloodthirsty god who jealous of other gods in a pantheon.
July 21st, 2009 at 9:36 amJane E. Schneider says:
“Yesterday, the Drudge Report claimed that millions of stimulus dollars are being wasted on pork products.”
Ham, bacon, roast pork, pork chops…mmmm, pork chops (drool)
The C Street boys see pork in a different light, I guess. They can pork anyone at anytime, as long as they accept ‘The Families’ doctrine & vote like this cult tells them to.
C St. sound a lot like Jesus Camp for Congresscritters.
Let’s get the IRS looking at the ‘non-profit’ status of ‘The Family’, stat!
July 21st, 2009 at 9:37 amIn a 260-page report, Barofsky suggests moves such as having the Treasury Department “force bailout recipients to keep track of how exactly they are spending TARP funds.”
_______________
Huh??? What the????
You mean… they’re not ALREADY required to do that?
Let me point something out here… if you were to miscalculate the multimillion dollar “bonus” one of these friggin’ banksters gives him or herself every time s/he turns around by even a couple of thousand and accidentally short him, or her, you KNOW it’d be noticed immediately…
But… give the same clowns BILLIONS and BILLIONS of taxpayer dollars to play w/… and all they can do is scratch their heads and go, “Gee… I dunno where the money went…”
Oh… for the love of Dog…
July 21st, 2009 at 9:44 amWayne says:
correction : It was a religion that originally started on the premise of shedding innocent blood in a sacrifice to a bloodthirsty god who jealous of other gods in a pantheon.
__________________
One further refinement on that thought, if you don’t mind, Wayne..
“the premise of shedding SOMEONE ELSE’S innocent blood…”
See? Better… no?
July 21st, 2009 at 9:46 amSen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) tweets, “I support the pubic option on healthcare reform, but must make sure private market can compete. Working on that in the Senate.”
Why, Claire? Why do we need to make sure any private entity gets breaks?
Private schools compete with public schools and private universities compete with public universities. Many have waiting lists!
I thought the much-lauded Free Market was all about “may the best man win” not propping up an industry to keep it viable.
Wouldn’t doing so be, um, socialism?
PEACE
July 21st, 2009 at 9:49 amWayne, (18) Your post on religion was fully understood, even with the typo. I agree entirely.
July 21st, 2009 at 9:50 amConsidering the origins of religion, and the primitive societies to which religion provided some kind of answer, I am continually amazed at the number of otherwise intelligent people who are so superstitious yet today.
Perhaps over the millennia, humans have simply become “hard-wired” for some kind of belief in a super-being in the sky — maybe because unlike animals, we know we are going to die and the thought of ceasing to exist is incomprehensible, so we “created” heaven and hell.
All religions have a basic commonality; all espouse violence for disobedience, all are male dominated, all leaders/gods have unquestioned power.
SJerseyIndy, yes the terms “fiscally conservative” and “fiscally conscious” are a bit of a joke. It couldn’t be farther from the truth and I wish the MSM would stop labeling them as such. Unless they mean that they are trying to conserve as much fiscal largess as they can from the healthcare lobbies to fill their coffers because big business donor money is ALL these DINOs care about. Not the American people, not conservative fiscal legislation, not even the competition of an “open” market. Sell out to the highest bidder and f@ck the little people. They are worse than the Repubs IMO because at least the GOP doesn’t act as though they care about American taxpayers.
July 21st, 2009 at 9:50 amIn a 260-page report, Barofsky suggests moves such as having the Treasury Department “force bailout recipients to keep track of how exactly they are spending TARP funds.”
Two real easy solutions. 1) Give the money back and go under. (My personal choice). 2) Realize you are working with other people’s money and it is about time you learned how to account for every single penny. The money isn’t a gift.
July 21st, 2009 at 9:52 amWayne, Republic of Stupidity, Marie…thanks for your input on my religion comments.
We must find a better way to Unity than disparate, violent, ‘holier than thou’ attitudes that perpetuate male dominance and unquestioned obedience.
July 21st, 2009 at 9:58 amwatchpoodle @27,
July 21st, 2009 at 9:59 amYour source is the OPINION page of the Nasua Telegraph and some guy from the HOOVER Institute—meaning he is being paid by EXXON and similar corps to type this b.s. Noone ever said the graph of climate change would go straight up like a rocket.
watchdog says:
Liberal ideology is never about results, its only about intentions.
______________
On the other hand… or in your case, IN the other hand…
Conservative ideology is never about people, it’s only about MONEY… period… end of story…
Money money money money money money… and, ah… money.
July 21st, 2009 at 10:01 amSorry, wd, but your conservative articles are designed only to support the fallacious arguments of the right wing.
July 21st, 2009 at 10:01 amIndia rebuffed an appeal by Hillary Clinton to embrace a low-carbon future in which the two countries would work together
Aww, look. Watchdog thinks America should obey India. Why do you hate America’s freedom so much, Watchdog?
July 21st, 2009 at 10:04 amWatchpup’s bark is worse than his bite, & he’s going the same way his pathetic party is…
Down, Down, Down.
July 21st, 2009 at 10:05 amRoS
July 21st, 2009 at 10:07 amA far as Repugs are concerned, — yes, it is ALWAYS about money. Always their own wallets in mind.
They have no ability to think of their fellow man as passengers on the same ship. It’s always about them, their comfort, their finances. It’s a backward-thinking, it’s an inability to see the larger picture that fits in with their selfish philosophy.
Blue Dog and moderate Democrats are the blocks in story #1 and #2. A Rahm Emanuel led DCCC found many of these candidates. What goes around, comes around.
Corporacrats stall on behalf of for-profit health care.
July 21st, 2009 at 10:07 amhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/
071213101419.htm
Top 11 Warmest Years On Record Have All Been In Last 13 Years
enlarge
In September 2007, the Northwest Passage in the Arctic was ice-free for the first time since satellite records began. (Credit: NASA)ScienceDaily (Dec. 13, 2007) — The decade of 1998-2007 is the warmest on record, according to data sources obtained by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The global mean surface temperature for 2007 is currently estimated at 0.41°C/0.74°F above the 1961-1990 annual average of 14.00°C/57.20°F.
July 21st, 2009 at 10:08 amI’ve been posting on this board for about a month and have been able to recognize many of the regular participant’s names. For the most part, we are agreement with most topics…
Now I want to ask a favor from you! At the very least send a message to your Senator’s and Congressmen demanding that they support the Presidents Health initiative.
The Right-Wing-Nuts have done a pretty good job of smearing this program with half truths and bogus rhetoric. This may be our last chance of getting this done…Please sign on to do this, it will only take a few minutes and ask your friends and relatives to do so also.
This is no longer a sure thing for 40 million Americans who need this passed!
Thank you,
July 21st, 2009 at 10:10 amTexas Rick
Vietnam Vet.
watchpoodle
Provide evidence to show warming over the past 11 years.
Well, depending on who’s defining it, climate change is based on averages over at least 20-30 years.
July 21st, 2009 at 10:11 amStupid troll.
1. “Cooling for 11 years” is a lie. The hottest year on record was, indeed, 1998 but it has not been cooling since then. Temps have gone up compared to previous years and the long term trend is continuing.
2. The single largest producer of mercury emissions is from burning coal. Even if we didn’t recycle a single CFL the electricity savings would result in a net reduction in mercury emissions. Plus, we’ve been disposing of mercury, with varying amounts of safety, for decades.
3. We can’t force anyone else to clean up their act. We have to worry about our own. And, if we are aggressive about green technology? We can sell it to the rest of the world and become a leader in innovation and manufacturing again. It’s time to invest in R&D and look at India, and others, as potential customers. (BTW. Did you know that India is investing heavily in solar power?)
July 21st, 2009 at 10:12 amsame page as above:
“According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s 4th Assessment (Synthesis) Report, 2007, “warming of the climate system is unequivocal, as is now evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, and rising global average sea level.”
July 21st, 2009 at 10:13 amSen. McCaskill, who gives a shining shyte about the private insurance companies being able to compete? Private insurance companies have robbed us long enough.
July 21st, 2009 at 10:15 amHere’s more evidence. I’m sure the stupid troll won’t understand it if he even bothers to look but it’s a pretty good, concise, summary.
http://data.giss.nasa.gov/gistemp/2008/
July 21st, 2009 at 10:17 amMeaningful Health-care reform, in the interest of the general citizenry, is dead. The Health Insurance Parasites win, as you might have suspected…
July 21st, 2009 at 10:18 amMore news on Max Baucus and his for-profit health care $ ties. This link came from the Wonk Room:
July 21st, 2009 at 10:19 amhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/20/AR2009072003363_pf.html
hormiga brava chavez says:
Sen. McCaskill, who gives a shining shyte about the private insurance companies being able to compete? Private insurance companies have robbed us long enough.
Well said.
Insurers want it both ways; private market with very little competition.
What they’re REALLY scared of is true competition. They will fight tooth & nail to avoid scrutiny or meaningful reform.
I’d rather have a government employee between me & my Dr. than a giant corporation denying all claims to up the profit margin.
July 21st, 2009 at 10:19 amFrom the EPA:
“The eight warmest years on record (since 1880) have all occurred since 2001, with the warmest year being 2005.”
From ScienceDaily:
July 21st, 2009 at 10:19 am2008 is set to be cooler globally than recent years say Met Office and University of East Anglia climate scientists, but is still forecast to be one of the top-ten warmest years.
It’s Larry Summers bad picture day at CAP. He’s catching REM sleep on ThinkFast. Over on WonkRoom he’s bug eyed.
July 21st, 2009 at 10:21 amThis moronic tit is even denser in the morning.
July 21st, 2009 at 10:27 amWow.
watchpuppy is seriously advancing the theory that because a single month in 2008 was cooler than average, that proves that the planet is cooling?
Seriously?
Oh, wait — it’s watchpuppy. Nothing that the cute little stray posts is serious.
Carry on.
July 21st, 2009 at 10:28 amwatchdog proves that only those who don’t understand science can be Republicans. They claim they don’t believe in it because of religion and other excuses but really they cannot comprehend the basics at all.
July 21st, 2009 at 10:35 amThis is why so many of us think you’re a troll.
July 21st, 2009 at 10:36 amjimmcdosh, bite me.
July 21st, 2009 at 10:37 amwatchdog,
July 21st, 2009 at 10:39 amYou think ONE month (18 months ago) proves what you say. It does not. Even though 2008 was cooler than any other of the last nine(?) years, it was still one of the top 15 warmest since 1880. And you are limiting it to one month in the USA ONLY in order to try to prove your point.
While Rome burns the Dems are fiddling around with the rich kids from the elite school who are presently passing out free cocaine and organizing a skinny-dip after the country club closes for the evening. When the bust comes down only non-members will get jail time. Those not invited will be jailed for just thinking they could ever swim in the same pool as the elites. The Dems look like “trailer park honeys”.
July 21st, 2009 at 10:44 amKeith, I can’t believe even watchpuppy is stupid enough to think that a reading from a single month proves his point.
I think he just enjoys shitting on the carpet and then stepping in it and tracking it through the house.
Then, of course, he cleans his paws by licking them.
July 21st, 2009 at 10:48 amjimmcdosh says:
Wow, Obama bin Lyin is at it once again I see!
Get your TP and Redstate spams mixed up today spammer?
July 21st, 2009 at 10:48 amMost climate scientists who work in the field, use data starting from around the industrial revolution to present day. The trend has been a steady upward climb in temps on a global scale. To use short term data (2 years, 11 years ect, ect.) is worthless and proves nothing. Its been the overall mean global temps over a long period of time, that shows the alarming climb in global temps, and the warming oceans.
July 21st, 2009 at 10:49 amThe people that dont believe global warming is happening also believe that planet earth is 6000 years old. Also their god put fossils on the planet to test their faith. Theres evidence that the polar ice caps are melting at an alarming rate. I will believe NASA and their satellite images before I would believe the religous rightwingnuts.
July 21st, 2009 at 10:51 amThe stupid dog troll sure seems to fall into this group:
http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2008/09/backfire-effect
July 21st, 2009 at 10:54 amralph,
July 21st, 2009 at 10:56 amYeah, I saw later you said the same thing. It was one month and it was US only. Maybe the new shipping route from New York to Asia by going north of Canada will convince him. Naw, he’ll still find a source debunking it!
The poor trolls are like Winston, from 1984. They have been conditioned to actually BELIEVE that 2+2=5. Our poor puppy is probably staring at a “hockey stick” graph waiting for it to morph into an “11 year cooling trend”. And his poor warped brain will make it happen and he’ll BELIEVE the wrong answer. Again.
July 21st, 2009 at 11:09 amIt would seem to me that these cautious Blue Dogs would want to get the health care bill passed. It would allow them to go back to their districts with that achievement for their re-election campaigns. In addition, passing the bill would open up a whole group of voters that the Blue Dogs could pick up in the general elections. The budget problems can always be worked out later.
July 21st, 2009 at 11:12 amThe same dimwits who thing we should ignore global climate change are the same folks who think President Obama was born in Kenya, the planet is 6,000 years old and that dinosaurs either didn’t exist or walked with man. There is no point in being rational with that kind of crazy.
July 21st, 2009 at 11:33 amTHe biggest problem for BlueDawg Dims is that universal health care is that any such program would help the poor, brown, and black people who, according to the Dawgs’ constituents, do not “deserve’ the help.
Yeah, underneath all the rheotoric about costs and deficits and shit is the racist concern that ‘white folks’ money will contribute to the health of non-white folks…
July 21st, 2009 at 11:36 amWait!
Shayne, the dinosaurs weren’t our pets, like Dino from the Flinstones???
NOOOOOOOOO!
Tell me it ain’t so!
July 21st, 2009 at 11:36 amshayne,
July 21st, 2009 at 11:45 amyou got it wrong. according to the bible thumper’s theory on dinosaurs, god “planted” the fossils on earth as a test of our faith.
Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) tweets, “I support the pub[l]ic option on healthcare reform, but must make sure private market can compete. Working on that in the Senate.” (Claire’s updated tweet here.)
It just boggles my mind how openly currupt these politicans are. Clair….two simple words for you….fu** off!!!!
July 21st, 2009 at 11:53 amShayne, you’re remarkably incurious, but quite skilled at tossing around the troll moniker. Give it a rest.
July 21st, 2009 at 12:02 pmBozo The Neoclown says:
shayne,
you got it wrong. according to the bible thumper’s theory on dinosaurs, god “planted” the fossils on earth as a test of our faith.
That’s when they are not claiming Jesus rode a dinosaur to school, uphill both ways, in the snow.
July 21st, 2009 at 12:47 pmThe answer you get on the fossil question depends on which preacher/priest/”prophet” you ask. Its never consistent.
A note on religion:
Whatever nasty things you can say about religion, you can also say about government.
Religions do have times when they reflect the peace they espouse–and that’s when they have no social power.
When ANY organization gains social power, it will be taken over by type-A baboons who want that power.It might be a church, it might be the PTA, it might be the decorations committee for the Founders’ Day Parade. Any power at all invites them, and sooner or later there’ll be fighting.
I’m an agnostic, and my degrees are in Medieval Studies, so I’ve studied some of the worst stuff imaginable. But to blame religion itself for the universal beastliness of man towards man is neither fair nor useful.
In major religions, the peaceful and wise tend to gravitate to the monasteries and the soup kitchens, while the alphas make for the gold robes and funny hats. It’s more blatantly hypocritical when it happens in religion, but to say it occurs because of their metaphysics rather than the influx of yahoos makes for bad conclusions.
Get rid of the magical friends in the sky, and do you get peace and wisdom? No. You get the predators using Dialectical Materialism, the Dictatorship of the Proletariat, and the Furtherance of the Race as excuses for their barbarities. As we see in the most secular and most brutal of all centuries, the 20th.
The Predators will use any excuse they can find for their predation, whether it’s the divne right of kings, the survival of the fittest, the superiority of the elect, the dictatorrship of the proletariat, or the miracle of the free market. They are the problem.
July 21st, 2009 at 1:18 pmFor those of you telling Claire what she can do, please remember she was running against a very far right fundamentalist.
In no way, shape, or form did we want Talent!!!!
July 21st, 2009 at 1:36 pmI agree that people will always find reasons to fight, pbeeg, and people will fight without religion. Personally, I don’t think all religion is bad nor is it the worst evil. Xenophobia is far more dangerous and can exist without religion although the two often seem inextricable.
My disagreements with the big three religions are not in their effects but in their methods. The whole concept of Faith in a supernatural is geared against participating in, and learning from, society and the universe around us. And, in it’s worst forms, it can doom people to great misery when the cure is to simply accept new knowledge that religion forbids.
It’s that process of forming a bubble around minds that does the real damage. It’s not the one who kills in the name of God that makes me uneasy. It’s the million who can’t learn because of what they Believe.
July 21st, 2009 at 1:37 pmOh, I see. Sen. Thune thinks the most pressing issue facing America today is carrying concealed firearms across State lines. Does his law require this? I’m sure this practice is already widespread today.
July 21st, 2009 at 3:12 pmNote Larry Summer at the head of the table resting comfortably. It would be nice to see some engagement in the issues on the part of the taxpayers’ employees.
July 22nd, 2009 at 2:11 am