realthog: (morans)
[personal profile] realthog

I'm not sure if this quite qualifies as science, even though clearly the methodology of science has been put to use by numbskulls on behalf of numbskulls. Jonathan Stein has posted the ghastly details on his Mother Jones blog:

Mayor of SC Town "Just Curious" if Obama is the Antichrist

When PolitiFact did a fact-check of the "Is Obama the Antichrist?" question back in April, I thought it was a touch ridiculous. They got multiple professors of religious studies to chime in and did a serious examination of the text of Revelation. They found that not only is Obama not the Antichrist (stunning!), the chain email that suggests he is has no familiarity with the Bible and is a pretty pathetic piece of work, even for a smear email.

But that's not a surprise, right? This is an email claiming a prominent American politician is the Antichrist. Of course it's insane. No one needs a fact-check to prove that. Right?

Oops. The mayor of a South Carolina town apparently does. He forwarded the email after receiving it and when called on the fact that he was perpetuating a smear, he said, "I was just curious if there was any validity to it. I was trying to get documentation if there was any scripture to back it up."

I'm going to start sending out emails claiming that this man is a half-wit. I'm just curious if there is any validity to it.

Just to remind you: this is the 21st century we live in, not the 11th. And we in the US live in a technologically advanced, information- and education-oriented society, right? Yet even here on LJ I've come across people convinced Obama is either the Antichrist or the Antichrist's precursor.

Heigh-ho. These small-town mayors -- backbone of the nation, they are.

Later: Apparently the offensive e-mail claims Revelation says the Antichrist will be of Muslim ancestry. Spot the chronological error, folks!
 


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Date: 2008-09-29 07:42 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] plattcave.livejournal.com
Or the Nabob of the Beast.

Date: 2008-09-29 07:43 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fledgist.livejournal.com
Not just self-indulgence, but the kind of self-gratification that assumes that ignorance is indeed bliss. Consider, for example, the fact that Senator Obama was being condemned this weekend -- by the truly marvellous Sean Hannity -- for possessing 'book-knowledge' as if intellectual achievement were something deeply shameful.

Date: 2008-09-29 07:44 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fledgist.livejournal.com
Especially the ones who knew that she would return a personal favour with one out of the public purse, it seems: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/28/palin-took-freebies-help_n_130020.html

Date: 2008-09-29 07:45 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fledgist.livejournal.com
For that, following Spiro and his Scribe Safire (which is a transliteration of the Hebrew word meaning, ahem, 'scribe'), one would have to be a member of the chattering classes of liberal persuasion.

Date: 2008-09-29 07:46 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fledgist.livejournal.com
Thou insultest all clowns, my dear sir. Possibly all clones as well.

Date: 2008-09-29 07:47 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] realthog.livejournal.com

"Or the Nabob of the Beast."

No, no! It's gotta be The Numbskull of the Beast!

Date: 2008-09-29 07:51 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sarcobatus.livejournal.com
I'm normal, I tell you! Normal!

It's just as I thought, post traumatic stress. Too many stress hormones wreaking havoc with my body. The doc said my results all came back normal, and that I'm actually very healthy, with the exception of my derailed hormones. Yay! She also gave me a healthy psych evaluation (remember ol' Farrow's evaluation, that I'm stable -- and my subsequent need for a second opinion? Lol). And, I'm no longer an epileptic. I'm normal. Amazing.

The MRA came back good, arteries clear, no obstructions or abnormalities. This in spite of my rather elevated cholesterol. But hey, who's perfect, eh?

Thanks for asking, Paul. ;)

Date: 2008-09-29 07:52 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] realthog.livejournal.com

"Consider, for example, the fact that Senator Obama was being condemned this weekend -- by the truly marvellous Sean Hannity -- for possessing 'book-knowledge' as if intellectual achievement were something deeply shameful"

I saw that, and was horrified.

Also struck me as a monstrously stupid line of reasoning from someone who's trying to flog his books to his viewers/listeners.

Date: 2008-09-29 07:57 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fledgist.livejournal.com
You expect coherence from an employee of what Keith Olbermann calls Fixed News?

Date: 2008-09-29 08:04 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] realthog.livejournal.com

"what Keith Olbermann calls Fixed News"

And what I call Faux News . . .

Date: 2008-09-29 08:06 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] realthog.livejournal.com

"I'm normal, I tell you! Normal!"

That's what the SC mayor says . . .

Date: 2008-09-29 08:06 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] realthog.livejournal.com

Delighted to hear the health news is all good -- congrats!

xx

Date: 2008-09-29 08:13 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fledgist.livejournal.com
Either one will do.

Date: 2008-09-29 08:13 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fledgist.livejournal.com
Does your wife know this?

Date: 2008-09-29 08:17 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] realthog.livejournal.com

"Does your wife know this?"

Yes.

Date: 2008-09-29 08:20 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fledgist.livejournal.com
Would she vote for Tina Fey?

Date: 2008-09-29 08:22 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] realthog.livejournal.com

And why not?

Date: 2008-09-29 08:24 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sarcobatus.livejournal.com
Me and mah mule are half way to yer house right now, Pa. Lace up them runnin' shoes.

Date: 2008-09-29 08:24 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fledgist.livejournal.com
Just wondered, that's all.

Date: 2008-09-29 08:24 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sarcobatus.livejournal.com
Thanks! Me too.

Date: 2008-09-29 08:25 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] louismaistros.livejournal.com
I think when people buy into this kind of nonsense it's because they are looking to rationalize some other kind of ignorance (such as racism). Which only makes it uglier, of course.

No worries about a review, it's meant as a gift primarily! Especially don't worry about a review if you don't like it ;-)

Date: 2008-09-29 08:44 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] louismaistros.livejournal.com
I call it "Fux News," but I am an uncouth person.

Frankly, I think this economic crisis may actually save the country. Too many ignorant voters see political issues in the abstract; if they aren't affected directly and severely, it's not really *about* them. It's like some big reality TV show. It's like voting for their favorite wanna-be star on American Idol.

But if the bank that holds their life savings folds, or their home is facing foreclosure, or if they can no longer afford the drive to work, suddenly it's not so abstract. In theory, they'll be forced to face reality in the voting booth, and actually vote in favor of their own best interest for a change.

Here's hoping, at least.

Date: 2008-09-29 08:56 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fledgist.livejournal.com
We'll see. It could be they'l vote for the person who promises to fix their problems with a magic wand. Or who blames their problems on evil demons/immigrants/blacks/ Jews/Satan.

Date: 2008-09-29 08:57 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sarcobatus.livejournal.com
Um, my eyes aren't very good, and I just realized morons is spelled incorrectly in your icon.

Love it.

Date: 2008-09-29 09:00 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] louismaistros.livejournal.com
I don't know. When their own homes are at stake, and not the homes of, say, a bunch of imaginary people in New Orleans, they may want something more than a fistful of pixie dust and a handy pocket bible to fall back on.

One can hope that all the right people feel the brunt of this economic meltdown, but, of course, wishing makes nothing so.
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