When Atheists Attack

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  • Posted By: Tabi @ 09/21/2008 10:16:41 PM

    Oil and money are essential parts of life now. Raise the price of oil and you raise the price of bread, butter and milk--and then more people go hungry. As to Palin's experience, she has a good head on her shoulders but a few problems here and there--but she is only looking to be Vice-President. The job traditionally has little importance outside of the death of the president, which is why when John Kerry offered McCain the position he suggested combining it with one of the other cabinet posts. On the other hand, I am worried about the experience of the president; Obama's unbroken liberal voting record and protectionist stance on trade worries me there. Whatever, elections distort the voters as much as the candidates.

    • Posted By: tpowers63 @ 09/21/2008 10:20:39 PM

      I guess I shouldn't be surprise that those who find Palin an acceptable choice are also oblivious to the Constitutional provision that would automatically hand the presidency to her if McCain were to die or become incapactitated.

      This isn't some NFL scenario where a head coach quits and his assistant has to interview for the job.

      For chrissakes, people, WAKE THE HELL UP. This woman is a freakin' neophyte, hyper-ambitious control freak who's too stupid to know where the capital of Afghanistan is -- and ADMITS THAT.

  • Posted By: JuliNoon @ 09/21/2008 10:20:03 PM

    Hey Tabi, every other major superpower has somewhat protectionist policies. It's how they maintain a strong manufacturing base that benefits their own economy and well being. The "free trade" experiment we're being subjected already reached its tragic conclusion - look at Pinochet's Chile. That's what we're going to be if we don't change course NOW.

  • Posted By: abakarDiouf @ 09/21/2008 10:18:08 PM

    Laughed myself out... Unfortunately, or not, I'm not American. I can even consider the funny side of having Palin-McCain at the head of the US... At last, the Big Laughing Time Hath Cometh. Lets add to that a majority Conservative government in Ottawa, and the joke comes real 3D Surround and superlative. To some extent, were I not reasonnable to some extent, I'd really like to see that thing happen.

  • Posted By: ronnie8365 @ 09/21/2008 10:12:12 PM

    tuscanny ,
    If I can get gas to $1.50 a gallon again and all it will take is a 2000 acre stretch out of a 20 million squaer mile area I say lay a sacrifical caribou down and drill through his head til something better is created.

    • Posted By: Dr Rick @ 09/21/2008 10:17:26 PM

      If you actually believe that all it will take is a 2000 acre stretch out of a 20 million "squaer" mile area for you to get gas to $1.50 a gallon again, you probably already have a hole drilled through your head.

  • Posted By: James Mabry @ 09/21/2008 4:52:46 PM

    Thanks, Sam Harris, for helping Palin's support grow. People like you are exactly why she is doing so well. Americans are sick of the BS that comes from the godless left. The simple truth is this: When Sam Harris is "unnerved" bazillions of regular, real people are absolutely delighted. Go to hell Sam Harris, you are everything that is wrong with America.

    • Posted By: dreamweaver39 @ 09/21/2008 10:12:50 PM

      In America we have the right to practice our own religion and to be free from it. We all have the right to our own opinions and atheists have the right to theirs. Wether you like it or not the exposition of Harris is quite convingcing to the people that do not live in a christian cult like yourself. You perhaps have never picked up a science book about evolution, geological timelines and DNA, neuro psychology, social biology. You view your biblical dogma as the only truths that everyone should adhere to,and therefore you will never understand his arguments with any type of objectivity. I know this because like yourself I was a Christian who had no desire to know any other truths about the world around me. But, I have changed since I discovered science and I got to tell you I am more free now than ever I was in the Christian Baptist religion. I am a more understanding of human nature than I ever thought possible during my religious life. I see that your reaction is full of fear. Fears that have been embeded in your head through the fictitious stories of demons, angels, hell, and all types of myths that have been going arounds for thousands of years. A book on the evolution of religion will illuminate you on how those fears got there. These fears are being utilized right now by the GOP strategist to pit liberals against conservatives, dehumanizing one side while exhalting the superior moral virtues of the other. You, sir, are a prosuct of this environment and of your own decision to deny entry of any other knowledge that does not have your ideology tagged into it. Close minded people make wrong decisions, even to their own detriment, many times unwillingly. McCain is the real elitist, son of priviledge, multi millionaire wife, 26 career as a Washington insider, he is for the very rich and oil companies and unless you are making over 250,000 a year voting for him will only hurt you economically. Roe vs. wade is not McCain's agenda, his agenda is to protect the special interest that he surroumds himself with. He is using the evangelical collective hysteria against their so perceived enemy "liberals" to get his agenda moving when elected. Divide and conquer is his style. He is not a uniter by any extension of the word. His campaign is a far cry from it. Watch out Sir, you social security, pension, medicare, education of your children, etc is what he is coming to shrink. The rich will be laughing all the way to the bank when you vote for MCCAin. The middle class and working Americans will pay the price, wether they live in Red or Blue states. Choose carefully.Be informed. It might cost you dearly.

  • Posted By: Tabi @ 09/21/2008 10:03:49 PM

    There is a difference between elitism and a preference for merit. Daniel Dennett may be an atheist and take his position very strongly, but he tends to show a degree of respect to the religious. I would in fact be quite disturbed had Sarah Palin and George Bush not prayed before going to war or entering a presidential race: it would have indicated a whimsical attitude or glibness.

    • Posted By: tpowers63 @ 09/21/2008 10:12:19 PM

      No, you're not getting it.

      They didn't pray before going in.

      Their claim is that they were instructed to go in, by god.

  • Posted By: ronnie8365 @ 09/21/2008 9:57:02 PM

    OH probably because they aren't frogmarching Chris Dodd for his involvement in freddie and fannie or Barbra Boxer giving contracts to her husband company or Bill Clinton giving secrets to China for campaign funds or the 2 guys that made millions off freddie and fannie that are now on the Obamba team (you know the guy who claims he is the "new" politician.....You want me to go on. But lets argur over a trooper who tazered an 11 year old and was drinking on the job and who threatened Palins dad. That will win you the election.....idiot

    • Posted By: sabretruth @ 09/21/2008 10:09:55 PM

      man, some people have an incredible talent for believing any BS that protects them from the cold, cruel reality that their frame of reference is completely WRONG

    • Posted By: tpowers63 @ 09/21/2008 10:01:41 PM

      1. Those people were never subpoenaed. False premise.

      2. Did she fire Monegan for not firing her brother-in-law? Is that what you're saying? If so, it makes even a more colossal liar out of her, and would constitute yet her THIRD explanation of that incident.

      Man, you wingnuts must be terribly confused.

  • Posted By: tuscany @ 09/21/2008 10:03:06 PM

    Sarah Palin is an unknowledagable, inexperienced right wing extremist. She???s also a cruel and selfish woman that cares more about oil and money than wildlife and the environment.

    The Republicans don't care whether McCain's V.P. has any experience or substance. They only care that Republicans are in the White House. If McCain had picked Paris Hilton as V.P. the Republicans would find reasons as to why she would be a good Vice President.

    The Republicans are making what could be a great country into a backwards, war mongering and most hated country in the world. They need to be out of power now.

  • Posted By: Kboogie @ 09/21/2008 6:54:10 PM

    Hey guys, this was emailed to me a few days ago. It's lengthy, so I'll continue it in the following posts. WARNING: It's racialy provocative, but very interesting. Since this election has evolved into "black man vs white woman", I thought, being the mature bloggers that we are, we'll be able to respectfully dialogue about the content.

    White Privilege
    by Tim Wise
    15/09/08

    For those who still can't grasp the concept of white privilege, or who
    are constantly looking for some easy-to-understand examples of it,
    perhaps this list will help.

    White privilege is when you can get pregnant at seventeen like Bristol
    Palin, and everyone is quick to insist that your life and that of your
    family is a personal matter, and that no one has a right to judge you
    or your parents, because "every family has challenges," - even as
    black and Latino families with similar "challenges" are regularly typified
    as irresponsible, pathological and arbiters of social decay.

    White privilege is when you can call yourself a "*** '
    redneck," like Bristol Palin's boyfriend does, and talk about how if anyone messes with
    you, you'll "kick their ***' ass," and talk about how you
    like to "shoot ***" for fun, and still be viewed as a responsible,
    all-American boy (and a great son-in-law to be) rather than a thug.

    White privilege is when you can attend four different colleges
    in six years like Sarah Palin did (one of which you basically failed out
    of, then returned to after making up some coursework at a community
    college), and no one questions your intelligence or commitment to
    achievement, whereas a person of color who did this would be viewed as
    unfit for college, and probably someone who only got in in the first
    place because of affirmative action.

    Very interesting......to be continued.....

    • Posted By: marksgershenson @ 09/21/2008 6:59:06 PM

      You can also substitute the word Republican for White Privilege...I got in email too, and I passed it along. Accolades to you for posting.

      • Posted By: rwrican @ 09/21/2008 7:05:30 PM

        HAHAHA thinking only white people can fail out of college and then return and graduate....how freaking otu of touch are you? its not unusual for working people to attend two or 3 or 5 different colleges in fact most of my friends who graduated with degrees attended minimum of 2-3. LIBERALS so hypochritical attacking Palin for getting her degree the way most lower middle class and middle class people do. By attending community college then attending 2 or more colleges as life allows.. If a kid comes out of high school goes to local community college for a semester 1. collegege, then decides to join military..takes clases offerred on base 2nd college. gets out attends 3rd on his vet benefits 3rd college. Gets married has a family has to take some time off. goes back to college at night to finish up 4th college........LIBERALS so worried about the little guy MOCKING the way most little guys get their degree..

        • Posted By: Kboogie @ 09/21/2008 7:12:50 PM

          I don't think you read my post clearly. AND, "MOST" folks who get there college degrees don't attend 4 or 5 schools to do it. A very small minority obtain their degrees in this fashion, AND EVEN FEWER who join the military go back to school.

          Congrats for receiving your degree, but you are a very small minority. But, don't take my word for it....Google is a few keystrokes away.

          More importantly, you're response had nothing to do with, nor did it address the original basis of my post. Thanks for responding, though.

          • Posted By: LynnPA @ 09/21/2008 8:47:48 PM

            I attended 4 colleges, have 2 Bachelors degrees and one Masters degree. My father was in the military, a Vietnam Veteran, he attended 4 colleges just to receive one Bachelors.

            My point: There are various different reasons why someone would attend multiple colleges and no one can purport to know them all. You have no idea what the reasons were, you are speculating. Speculation is not fact and has no bearing on her qualifications.

            • Posted By: Kboogie @ 09/21/2008 9:17:32 PM

              Another response that does NOT address the original point of my post. I did not say that there weren't folks who obtained their degrees in this fashion. I said it was a SMALL minority that do.

              Second, If you read the original post, you'll comprehend that the point was regarding the perceptions between whites and blacks who earn their degrees by attending various schools.

              Oh yeah, btw, she transferred from one of the schools b/c she failed out. But, don't take my word for it.....GOOGLE it. If you're going to respond to a post, please understand the point, premise, and intent before you do. When you don't, you apper to be an over-anxious individual, so eager to make your point, even if it doesn't apply. Thanks.

              • Posted By: LynnPA @ 09/21/2008 9:59:20 PM


                I know exactly what is being said, everyone is making a big deal about how many schools she attended to get her degree, picking on little things instead of discussing the real issues. Being passive agressive is very obvious.

                As far as the other subject, I did not want to dignify it with an answer.

        • Posted By: marksgershenson @ 09/21/2008 7:24:08 PM

          excuse me, I graduated college,, and have you read the whole posting? It takes three postings because the essay does not fit. Until you do, then your remarks are meaningless to me. I have the complete essay and it is thought prevoking regardless of your party affiliation. And yes, it is kind of weird that she went to five schools to finally get her degree give or take one school.

        • Posted By: tpowers63 @ 09/21/2008 7:08:23 PM

          Is it unusual for people to attend four colleges, five times, graduate from I-dee-ho, and then be named as a vice presidential nominee?

  • Posted By: tpowers63 @ 09/21/2008 9:51:04 PM

    Okay, so far, so good. Successful navigation away from Palin's refusal to cooperate with an investigation she said she 'welcomed,' and her husband's refusal to honor a subpoena.

    Why do GOPnesses think that subpoenas don't apply to them?

  • Posted By: tpowers63 @ 09/21/2008 9:33:35 PM

    Poor tpowers63, having Comcastical issues with her stupid server.

  • Posted By: Geministorm @ 09/21/2008 7:45:16 PM

    Biden is no genius, that's for sure (I think he graduated 76/85). With his Foot-in-mouth disease and Palin's inexperience, the VP debate will be much more entertaining than the Presidential debate, too bad so much is at stake...

    • Posted By: Cazador1972 @ 09/21/2008 7:56:12 PM


      Do you have a source on his class rank?

      • Posted By: Geministorm @ 09/21/2008 9:04:23 PM

        I think that after his brush up with that guy challenging his IQ it was researched by the WaPo that he graduated 76/85 from law school and something like 500/700 in college. I'll look around a bit and see what I can find. This was just off the top of my head, but it stuck with me since I thought it was pertinent at the time.

        • Posted By: Cazador1972 @ 09/21/2008 9:30:55 PM


          I read the source that you posted on this thread, thanks. I still love Biden. This reminds me of how after the '04 elections it became known that Kerry had had a lower class ranking in Yale than bush did; I thought "You could have used that to fight the 'elitist' attacks!'"

  • Posted By: tpowers63 @ 09/21/2008 9:28:55 PM

    Poor Caribou Barbie.

    Her running mate has less than glowing expectations of her ability to get through a debate without being gonged, so he insisted the VP debate be cut down in length, structured tightly and guaranteed not to feature a free-flow of discussion between the candidates.

    See, that's how to prove you have faith in women and believe they're capable running mates! You make sure they get the functional equivalent of a mondo golf handicap.

    Crap, why don't they just give her a lifeline, a "phone-a-friend" call and a 50/50 question.

    Or better yet, send her packing with a take-home, multiple choice quiz, which Karl Rove can fill out.

    Freakin' cheaters and morons.

  • Posted By: tpowers63 @ 09/21/2008 9:27:21 PM

    Poor Caribou Barbie.

    Her running mate has less than glowing expectations of her ability to get through a debate without being gonged, so he insisted the VP debate be cut down in length, structured tightly and guaranteed not to feature a free-flow of discussion between the candidates.

    See, that's how to prove you have faith in women and believe they're capable running mates! You make sure they get the functional equivalent of a mondo golf handicap.

    Crap, why don't they just give her a lifeline, a "phone-a-friend" call and a 50/50 question.

    Or better yet, send her packing with a take-home, multiple choice quiz, which Karl Rove can fill out.

    Freakin' cheaters and morons.

  • Posted By: Publicola @ 09/21/2008 9:23:31 PM

    Sarah Palin for vice-president of the United States - that's an insult to the intelligence of American people.

  • Posted By: markfrpees @ 09/21/2008 9:11:49 PM

    Just another "amen" to this article. It's time for us to give up our superstitions and our traditions and embrace rational thought before it's too late.

  • Posted By: Geministorm @ 09/21/2008 9:09:21 PM

    From a Time piece on Joe Biden's book;

    http://www.time.com/time/2007/candidates_books/biden/

    "But his academic laziness, which plagued him at the University of Delaware and nearly cost him admission into law school, troubled him at the Syracuse University College of Law: "The work didn't seem so hard, just boring; and I was a dangerous combination of arrogant and sloppy." With Neilia's help ??? along with cramming and caffeine ??? Biden made up for his many absences from class and graduated in 1968, ranked 76 out of 85 students. Later, reporters would dig up a stain on his academic record involving inadequate citations that bordered on plagiarism."

    He graduated 508/688 from the University of Delaware I found from a separate source.

  • Posted By: bradfox123 @ 09/21/2008 7:16:56 PM

    When Morons Edit
    I'm furious that Newsweek would title this thoughtful think piece "When Atheists Attack"

    • Posted By: Simpleton @ 09/21/2008 9:06:25 PM

      I am not. It simply illustrates the point that Palin lovers are blind, and irrational.

    • Posted By: Vladmac @ 09/21/2008 7:59:03 PM

      That's exactly what I thought when I read this. What does the author's atheism have to do with the content of the article? It could easily have been written by a well educated mainstream Christian. Indeed I know quite a few such Christians who agree with the sentiments expressed in this article. Why deflect valid criticism of a political candidate by alluding to the irrelevant issue of the author's atheism?

    • Posted By: Kaviaq @ 09/21/2008 7:44:53 PM

      Yes, I noticed that lovely bit of prejudice...but it's still OK to be mean to atheists, since we are all obviously evil.

  • Posted By: tpowers63 @ 09/21/2008 7:14:48 PM

    So Caribou Barbie is afraid to debate Biden, eh?

    Next thing you know the McCain camp will insist on giving her a lifeline, a 50/50 and a "phone-a-friend" option.

  • Posted By: fastwriter @ 09/21/2008 9:02:39 PM

    Amen, A very intelligent and realy article. This the Media shoud be putting out. WELL DONE.

    People need to get serious. This is no joke nor time for abused women to get revenge.

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