Why Creationism/Intelligent Design Lost

Dr. Babara Forrest goes into great detail to explain how the creationists own words helped to defeat, in court, the Dover (Pa.) school board’s attempt to introduce intelligent design (ID) (a disguised form of creationism) into their school curriculum. She points out the lies and evasions of those who testified on behalf of the school board. Her summary (italics mine):

These tactics by DeWolf and Dembski highlight the bankruptcy of ID and the blustering cowardice of its leaders, who must capture support with brazen deceit and sarcastic punditry. The trial was Dembski’s moment to shine, to explain on the legal record why ID is a “full scale scientific revolution,” as he wrote in The Design Revolution (InterVarsity Press, 2004, p. 19). Instead, plaintiffs’ witness Robert Pennock read to Judge Jones Dembski’s statement regarding ID’s revolutionary status — and then dismantled it. Ironically, Dembski had his arch-critics right where he wanted us — on the witness stand and under oath. He could have been there, implementing his strategy, helping to “squeeze the truth” out of us, “as it were.” In November 2005, after the trial ended, Dembski posted on his “Design Inference” website a pdf made from his May 11 and 16, 2005, “vise strategy” blog pages, labeled as a “Document prepared to assist the Thomas More Law Center in interrogating the ACLU’s expert witnesses in the Dover case.” He appended a list of “Suggested Questions,” which, he wrote, “will constitute a steel trap that leave the Darwinists no room to escape.” But when he had an opportunity to witness firsthand how his trap would operate, he was nowhere to be found. He “escaped critical scrutiny” by quitting rather than face cross-examination. He is apparently $20,000 richer for it, however, marking yet another difference between us: whereas I served pro bono, Dembski charged $200 per hour and threatened to sue TMLC for payment for 100 hours of work he claims to have done prior to quitting.

Medicare Disaster Continues

The Republican’s fraudulently-passed, special interest favoring Medicare Part D plan has continued to create intolerable situations for members who are now in the so-called “donut hole”. The Washington Post reports the problems many seniors have in paying for their drugs now that they are in the “donut hole” — a portion of the plan that requires members to pay $2,850 of their own money on prescription drugs with no help at all from Medicare. Some seniors, on a fixed income, find their prescription drug expenses increased eight-fold, while others have to choose between life-saving drugs and food.

All of this was predicted months ago, when the plans were first rolled out. Let’s make sure everyone knows who designed this disaster of a plan, and who voted for it in Congress. The Republicans are the responsible party, caving in to special interests, enriching special interests (pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies) at the expense of America’s senior citizens.

Bartman

Kudos to ESPN Classic. The show You Can’t Blame ... gives five compelling reasons why you can’t blame Steve Bartman for the Cubs loss in game 6 of the 2003 National League Championship series. The most compelling to me: Cubs shortstop Alex Gonzalez dropping a sure double-play ball two batters after the Bartman play, extending the inning and eventually allowing the Florida Marlins to take the lead.

To all you Cubs fans out there — drop your hatred already. Show a little common sense. It wasn’t Bartman’s fault.

Tax Cuts Don’t Pay For Themselves

Despite what you might hear from conservatives, a recent study shows (again) that tax cuts do not pay for themselves. (via)

More Than 60% of America in Drought

More than 60% of America is in drought conditions this summer. Better increase your veggie budget.

And write your Congressman to take action on global warming.

Uncompassionate Conservatives

Conservatives and Republicans in general have fought a raise in the minimum wage for ten years, and as a result, the minimum wage remains at $5.15 an hour. Note: if you are working at minimum wage, that’s about $10,000 a year, well below the poverty line.

Today, we learn that Republicans in Congress have placed a poisoned pill in a bill that would raise the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour. The poison pill would cut inheritance taxes for the rich, costing the United States Treasury about $310 billion. As a result of this poison pill, the bill has almost no chance of passage.

Note the priorities here. Republicans are saying they can’t do the slightest little thing to help working Americans without giving humungous amounts of money to the richest Americans. They really do care about Paris Hilton, but not the vast number of Americans working at minimum wage. Bastards. These are the same Republicans who raised their own Congressional salaries by over $31,000 a year recently with no strings attached. And according to a New York Times/CBS News poll, 85% of Americans favor a raise in the minimum wage.

Right-wingers always contend that raising the minimum wage will reduce employment, because small business owners won’t be able to afford it. But simple studies show that in states that have raised the minimum wage above the federal minimum, the employment levels in small businesses and retail establishments had more job growth than other states.

Finding Amelia

Coming out in September, a new book Finding Amelia: The True Story Of The Earhart Disappearnace. From author Ric Gillespie’s comments on his motivation to write the book:

By early 2003 it was apparent that, not only was there reason to believe that Earhart and [her navigator Fred] Noonan had been alive and calling for help days after they disappeared, but the true story of the 1937 search was significantly different and far more dramatic than the traditionally accepted version.

Gas Companies Continue To Get Rich

Today, Exxon Mobil reports $10 billion profits. Yesterday, Shell reported $7.32 billion in profits. And earlier in the week Conoco Phillips reported $5 billion profits, and British Petroleum reported $7.3 billion in profits.

Meanwhile, our gasoline prices are over $3 per gallon, up from $2.14 a year ago, and the White House holds a celebration of a tax bill that was passed one year ago which gave $14.5 billion to energy companies in tax breaks.

Tell me again why we are paying $3 per gallon for gasoline? Tell me again who the government is working for… I know the government isn’t working to help me.

What Did You Expect, America?

SusanG makes a very good point (or two or three…) in her post “What Did You Expect, America?”

In electing Republicans, America, you put people in charge of institutions they overtly, caustically loathe and proudly proclaim should not exist. Good thinking, USA, and stellar results: Katrina, Iraq, Medicare D, trade and budget deficits, mine disasters and on and on and on and ...

Conservatives have declared officially for decades that they hate public programs and love private business. Why then, do Americans profess shock when these same people run the public credit card up to bunker-busting levels to line the pockets of friendly corporations, leaving taxpayers — current and the as-yet unborn — the bill?

Fake Pregnancy “clinics”

From Cecile Richards, Planned Parenthood:

This week, a congressional report proved that anti-choice “crisis pregnancy centers” have received $30 million of our tax dollars to tell patients that, among other things, suicide, breast cancer, and infertility are much more likely to occur following an abortion. None of these claims is true, of course.

Take action to stop these clinics from deceiving women at their most vulnerable moments:
http://www.ppaction.org/campaign/crisis_clinics2

These centers use neutral-sounding names and ads, falsely promising full reproductive health services. And now, thanks to an investigation by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), we know exactly what they’re telling women, because female investigators called, saying they were pregnant, and recorded their conversations.

What kinds of sage advice are our tax dollars funding? Here are some direct quotes:

The research shows: Psychological stress after an abortion is NO MORE COMMON than after childbirth. But they said: Abortions cause “guilt ... sexual problems ... suicidal ideas ... drug use, eating disorders” and “a downward spiral.”

The research shows: Abortion does NOT cause an increased risk of breast cancer. But they said: "All abortion causes an increased risk of breast cancer in later years."

The research shows: Abortions in the first trimester, using the most common abortion procedure, create NO risks for future fertility. But they said: It’s “common” for abortion to lead to “many miscarriages” or “permanent damage,” such that “you wouldn’t be able to carry.”

Our government should not be funding anti-choice propaganda. Take action right now:
http://www.ppaction.org/campaign/crisis_clinics2

These examples don’t represent just a few bad apples. The vast majority (87 percent) of centers called in this study provided false or misleading information about the health effects of abortion.

Please help spread the word by forwarding this message far and wide.

On Hiatus

This blog will be quiet for a while as I recover from back surgery (which the doctor says went very well).