Sen. Claire McCaskill’s gift of Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) is a gift that simply keeps on giving. Previously Akin alienated the GOP leadership and most of the known world with comments that, in cases of legitimate rape, women often do not get pregnant because “the female body has ways to shut that whole thing down.” He also claimed that doctor routinely performed abortions on women who are not pregnant. Now, at a Tea Party meeting in Jefferson City, Missouri, Akin has said that that there is no science behind evolution. Akin sits on the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.
Akin’s remarks not only leave doubt about his knowledge — or ability to understand – science but also what he considers “the thing” that he is supposed to do in Washington:
I don’t see it as even a matter of science because I don’t know that you can prove one or the other. That’s one of those things. We can talk about theology and all of those other things but I’m basically concerned about, you’ve got a choice between Claire McCaskill and myself. My job is to make the thing there. If we want to do theoretical stuff, we can do that, but I think I better stay on topic.
Of course, such comments could be used by some to disprove any evidence that we have evolved intellectually. Frankly, whenever I hear Akin speak recently I too begin to doubt evolution in the human species.
Notably, Akin sits on the committee with Rep. Paul Broun, the chairman of the House Science Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight. Broun made headlines this month with the following statement: at the 2012 Sportsman’s Banquet at Liberty Baptist Church in Hartwell, Georgia on September 27th, he said this:
God’s word is true. I’ve come to understand that. All that stuff I was taught about evolution and embryology and the big bang theory, all that is lies straight from the pit of Hell. It’s lies to try to keep me and all the folks who were taught that from understanding that they need a savior. You see, there are a lot of scientific data that I’ve found out as a scientist that actually show that this is really a young Earth. I don’t believe that the earth’s but about 9,000 years old. I believe it was created in six days as we know them. That’s what the Bible says.
As many of you know, I have shown equal disregard for both of the main parties that hold a monopoly on power in the United States. Indeed, the low quality politicians that we see in both parties is the very danger of all monopolies — once protected from competition, the quality of a product declines. The political monopoly in this country is the ultimate example of that phenomenon. What we need is a Sherman Act for politics, starting with the eradication of the electoral college and the establishment of a new rule on general elections.
As for Republicans, I have many friends from that party who are intellectual and honest. These characters are destroying the credibility of their party which often appears anti-intellectual and anti-science.
If you take the crazies out of the party bowl….. You wouldn’t have anything left but the nuts…..
Gyges,
Nick’s been trying to sell me that bridge for weeks. 😉
Just ordered the CD/DVD … put my money where my mouth is.
Gyges,
Just the thing for bald old guys without money and girl contacts who have solitary activities.
Gene,
“Disagreement – of which there is plenty – is not groupthink simply because one does not like what the other person thinks about a given subject.”
And agreement on an issue doesn’t necessarily imply groupthink. Some people appear to believe it does. We can arrive at the same/similar conclusions, positions, and opinions on issues individually.
Blouise,
The whole 2 CD set’s like that. It’s phenomenal. Gave me a whole new level of respect for The Boss.
If you think Eric knows where is voter registration card is, let alone burned it, I’ve got this great bridge I’d love to sell you. For that matter, if you think he was all set to vote for Obama, I’ve got this great cure-all, it’ll add hair where wanted, remove it where unwanted, help with everything from diaper rash to arthritis, AND makes a darn tasty marinade for pork.
Gene,
I have just gotten my groupthink instructions to agree with your last posting defining groupthink.
Groupthink, but with a common goal—avoiding personal risk. Seen constantly in CIA meetings, often at least 4 levels hierarchically, to decide on one man’s proffered solution, based solely on the goal to minimize the risk, to share the blame at worst, and to preferably for all to avoid it if the project should fail.
Bill Maher – Easy Success
Gyges,
Wow! Holy Shite! That banjo was out of this world! Thank you so much for that clip … it’s a keeper.
Wouldn’t you have loved to have been up on that stage joining in?
(Lots of redheads for Gene 😉 )
As to poor Eric, our latest self-disenfranchised voter … he dates himself pretty well with the “since I was 18 years old” gibberish.
groupthink /ˈgruːpθɪŋk/, n.
:the practice of thinking or making decisions as a group, resulting typically in unchallenged, poor-quality decision-making
The evidence of this forum is that anyone and everyone is challenged and that the decisions (which are left to the individual) cover the quality spectrum, ergo, there is no groupthink here. Disagreement – of which there is plenty – is not groupthink simply because one does not like what the other person thinks about a given subject.
Bill Nye: Creationism Is Not Appropriate For Children
nick, Missouri votes with the rest of the south these days.
nick,
The word “groputhink” implies collective thought/agreement.
SWM, Missouri is more pink than red. I believe they went Dem for Carter and Clinton but have been red[slightly] the last 3 elections.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/oct/15/bruce-springsteen-supporting-barack-obama
“Can Bruce Springsteen do it again for Obama?”
“Just when he thought he was out, they pull him back in. Having told the New Yorker that he was going to sit this election out, Bruce Springsteen has decided to saddle up once more in support of President Barack Obama’s re-election bid. His first appearance will be alongside Bill Clinton at a rally in Parma, Ohio this Thursday. Like Clinton, whose convention speech thrilled the faithful last month, Springsteen is well-equipped to inject some emotional heat into a somewhat chilly and apologetic Obama campaign.”
“In a close race, Libertarian Gary Johnson clearly makes the GOP nervous. In Iowa, the Romney campaign “ran what was effectively a surveillance operation” to monitor Johnson’s efforts to collect ballot signatures. In Pennsylvania, GOP officials “hired a private detective to investigate his ballot drive.” In Michigan, the Johnson campaign filed the necessary paperwork three minutes late, and Republicans used this to block the former governor from the state ballot.” Maddow blog
Blouise,
“Such drama!”
Such poorly written, unconvincing drama.
The first rule of story telling: you have to make people care about the characters
You’d think that if he went to all the trouble of making a story about himself up, he’d at least make up one that puts you in a sympathetic light.
Also, I highly recommend Springsteen’s disk “Live in Dublin” man is that a hot band he has backing him up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btcWY5SMCWw
Republicans Pro-Life or Pro-Death?
Elaine, We’ve had the discussion about the Republican Party previously and we agreed. However, there are some Republicans I could still vote for. I may cast my first ever Republican presidential vote. I’ve only voted for two Dem Presidents[Carter and Obama]. There’s certainly some symmetry there. At my core I’m a libertarian, we are SOL of late.
ElaineM,
Would I be correct in guessing that Robert Taft of famed olden days is a liberal compared to today’s feeders of skit that folk want to hear?