If you missed Rachel Maddow’s show last night, you’ll want to catch this clip:
As usual, Maddow and her crew put together a good summary of what currently ails religious and political conservatism in the USA. To the smart political conservatives out there – and I know there are many of you – I reiterate a plea I’ve made before: please purge the Republican party of the wing-nut wing. They’re dragging you down. Tea Partiers, Creationists and their ilk are giving conservatism, which once was a respectable set of social and political ideals, a bad reputation. Tea Partiers, Creationists, etc., aren’t going to listen to people like me. Maybe, just maybe, they’ll listen to fellow conservatives. If not, then hurry up and throw out your trash. The stench is leaking outside the conservative house and it’s nauseating the neighbors.
– the chaplain
Spanish Inquisitor
August 11, 2010 at 12:12 pm
I love Rachel. It’s mainly platonic (it’s her mind I love) because she has someone else, but I do love her.
She’s kinda cute too.
PZ Myers posted about this yesterday. It’s really kind of sick for stupid people to be allowed to spread stupidity as part of an agenda for the political and religious hearts and minds of the people.
There oughta be a law against it.
Matthew Graybosch
August 11, 2010 at 2:45 pm
Spanish Inquisitor, I know it’s tempting to suggest that legislation be passed to muzzle demon-ridden idiots who insist that relativity is a liberal plot to spread atheism, but that just plays into the hands of the demon-ridden idiots. It feeds their persecution complex. You see, Christians still constitute a majority of the American population, but many of them insist that they are being persecuted for their beliefs even though they wouldn’t recognize real persecution if they were thrown to the lions at Yankee Stadium.
Also, let’s keep in mind that the First Amendment also applies to stupid people. If the ACLU can defend the KKK, then we have no business demanding that creationists by silenced by force of law.
Spanish Inquisitor
August 11, 2010 at 2:52 pm
I know, and agree. My tongue-in-cheek suggestion was merely an exclamation of unrequited frustration.
Moe
August 11, 2010 at 5:24 pm
Maybe we could have an ‘entrance exam’ for politicians and ask them things like how old is the world and why the hell is Canada up there on top of us acting all superior and everything – you know, the basics.
If they fail, they can seek work elsewhere. K Street maybe or the RNC.
PhillyChief
August 11, 2010 at 4:26 pm
There was a time when certain people, let’s call them journalists, called people on their bullshit. Also at that time, it was considered shameful to be so exposed as being a bullshitter and/or clueless. Checks and balances, that’s all that’s required. We don’t have much of them anymore.
the chaplain
August 11, 2010 at 4:33 pm
Philly:
I didn’t think you were old enough to remember those days. As for shame, I think that went out of style when the promotion of self-esteem became de rigueur.
Spanish Inquisitor
August 11, 2010 at 4:42 pm
It is frustrating. I know that the best antidote for stupidity is intelligence, and that underscores the First Amendment. Someone writes something stupid, and the exposure to the light of day should be enough to undermine it.
But in the country today, where education has been dumbed down to the least common denominator, while information has become much more widespread, sophisticated and complicated, the gap between listening and comprehending is getting wider. Into that gap rushes smart people with an agenda, like the Tea Party, or Fox News, purposely spewing lies and stupidity because they KNOW that their listeners will lap it up, and act on it. It’s a truly remarkable form of manipulation, but effective.
The usual remedies for stupidity – actual facts – are lost in the cacophony of people shouting their own version of facts at each other. In that way, the First Amendment is actually used as a tool to manipulate, rather than a foolproof insurance against an uninformed electorate it was designed to be. If the mob won’t listen to both FOX news and NPR, and then make a decision, what hope is there?
If they get enough people who think they are informed, but really aren’t, because they’ve been spoon-fed and believed lies, what good is the First Amendment?
PhillyChief
August 11, 2010 at 11:41 pm
I saw a comment after an article recently where someone said the majority of Americans are against government healthcare. He said that was a fact. The only fact apparent is the clown only watches Fox News, because that’s the only place reporting such a thing.
Patmos Pete
August 11, 2010 at 3:10 pm
Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
the chaplain
August 11, 2010 at 4:22 pm
SI:
I’m a Rachel fan too.
Matthew:
Welcome to the chapel and thanks for your comment. Are the Yankees having so much difficulty paying for yet another new stadium that they’re feeding Christians to lions now? Didn’t the Big Apple’s taxpayers cough up enough money this time around?
Patmos Pete:
Hey, thanks for the quaint quote from Revelation 14:8. It’s not often that people quote the Bible sincerely ’round these parts. Are you new at this? I ask because, frankly, I think that particular verse is better suited to either this post or this one.
Vinny
August 11, 2010 at 4:50 pm
I actually find Rachel somewhat grating, however, I think she is by far the best journalist on MSNBC.
As far as the War on Brains goes, the conservative powers that be prefer that the common folk lack the ability to think critically about what is going on in the world. That is why most of what gets passed off as news on cable is designed to produce little more than Pavlovian responses from either liberals or conservatives.
Moe
August 11, 2010 at 5:26 pm
Bread and circuses.
the chaplain
August 12, 2010 at 12:30 am
I think Maddow is more balanced than Olbermann. He gets annoyingly shrill sometimes and his incessant sniping at Bill O’Reilly bores me.
Vinny
August 12, 2010 at 12:47 am
I give Maddow a lot of credit for presenting all the relevant facts I need to understand the issues. With Olberman I usually figure that there is something he’s not telling me.
I just wish that MSNBC would give a show to Stephanie Miller. She was always my favorite Air America personality.
Larry Wallberg
August 12, 2010 at 12:05 am
I’m not convinced that Maddow’s wrap-up is relevant. Of those “tens of thousands of teachers” whose jobs were saved, it might be nice to know how many of them are (1) effective at imparting knowledge in the classroom, (2) committed not to pass on society’s superstititions, and (3) interested in encouraging critical thinking.
My guesses are: (1) maybe half, but that’s probably a gross overestimate, (2) very few, and (3) hardly any — because they don’t know how to do it themselves.
the chaplain
August 12, 2010 at 12:32 am
Good point about the wrap-up. Saving the jobs of 161,000 brainless teachers may not be a great step forward in the war. Hopefully, not all 161,000 are brainless, and, hopefully, at least a few thousand of them have some clue about thinking critically.
Spanish Inquisitor
August 12, 2010 at 10:16 am
I had the same thought at the end of that piece. I’m not sure throwing money at the teaching profession means a hell of a lot, and it’s one legitimate gripe conservatives have about liberals. It should be about quality, not quantity.
Moe
August 12, 2010 at 12:00 pm
Larry – how we do education, the quality (or lack of) of our teachers – all stuff that needs to be addressed. The teachers’ union needs to go away and we need to pay the good ones a lot of money.
But that’s a whole different subject than what’s happeing in Congress re spending is not the point of those who would drain schools of resources. I think they are the embodiment of that old American strain of anti-intellectualism.
PhillyChief
August 13, 2010 at 12:22 am
You’re always the ray of sunshine.
Larry Wallberg
August 13, 2010 at 1:00 am
Just call me Little Mary.