Month: March 2009

Thanks George

Via Michelle: this is why, for those of you who are still unclear, conservatives can’t get on board with saying Bush was a good president – as explained by our current Lunatic-in-Chief:

“It was hard for me to believe that you were entirely serious about that socialist question,” he told reporters, who had interviewed the president aboard Air Force One on Friday.

“I did think it might be useful to point out that it wasn’t under me that we started buying a bunch of shares of banks. It wasn’t on my watch. And it wasn’t on my watch that we passed a massive new entitlement -– the prescription drug plan — without a source of funding. And so I think it’s important just to note when you start hearing folks throw these words around that we’ve actually been operating in a way that has been entirely consistent with free-market principles and that some of the same folks who are throwing the word ’socialist’ around can’t say the same.”

So, thanks for giving him an excuse. It’s nice to know that the country’s most expensive screwup ever, which was orchestrated and passed by Democrats, will have a little R-shaped apostrophe next to it. That said, Obama sure loves pointing fingers at everyone else, doesn’t he?

The Closed Mind of America

I found this great post shared via Prester Scott, and rather than trying to summarize it will just post the opening bit and then tell you to go read it:

Someone posted this article in my comments. You should read it. It’s on how the green academy is characterizing skepticism of global warming as a neurological disorder. My evidence is anecdotal, but I do believe that academia has become by and large thin-skinned and insecure. I say it’s anecdotal, because I’m going only on my personal experience and other reports of academics generally dividing the world into “people who agree with me” and “the ignorant hordes.” I have noticed this in several areas.

1. Climatology. Now, the fact is that when you measure by any standard, climate modeling and forecasting is an infant science. The predictive ability of GCM’s (global climate models) is not well-tested or well-established. That would normally mean that there is still lots of room for debate and skepticism. A scientific theory is only “settled” after everyone’s tried their best to poke holes in it and failed. But in the case of global warming, engaging in this basic element of the scientific progress is characterized as a pathology and actually “anti-science.”

The other examples are excellent, and insightful. I suggest you take the time to go read this one – and then reflect on how sad it is that our culture, as a whole, refuses to engage in critical thinking anymore.

Return of Van Voorhees

Iowahawk is back with another brilliant piece from T. Coddington Van Voorhees VII, this time addressing the latest drama within the Conservative movement. (I hear it in my head as being read by Colin Firth, in his role as Jack Worthing.)  The money quote, in my opinion, is this:

Let us conservatives take comfort in that assurance, and in the fact that no matter what new taxes he has in mind, Mr. Obama has certain assembled a cabinet with no personal enthusiasm for paying them.

Brilliant, as always.

AIG – Keeping it Surreal

So in a fun little twist, AIG, after recieving its fourth bailout and posting a record loss quarter (and by a factor of about TEN) has decided to sue the US Government for having to pay taxes.

No, seriously.

Now, what makes this truly priceless is the comment section at Ace about this. Because without the humor provided by my fellow AoS Morons, I’d feel like reason:

I’d type something snarky and sarcastic, but right now I can’t see too well, on account of the BLOOD SHOOTING OUT OF MY EYES.

or Dang:

I can understand this. Every time my mother (83 years old) gives me a birthday present, I beat the s–t out of her. You know, to keep her in line. She keeps giving me presents. That’s where the whole “making sense” thing breaks down for me.

and then of course DrewM brings the absurdity to a whole new level:

AIG is suing us!

Technically, it’s suing itself. The US government owns and 80% or so stake in that money pit.

What a f–king world.

They’re coming to take me away, ha-ha, ho-ho, he-he, to the funny farm, where life is beautiful all the time…