WHATEVER HAPPENED TO MERITOCRACY AND INTELLECTUAL PURSUIT IN AMERICA?

What makes a country such as America have in it people who reject meritocracy and intellectual endeavor?

I hear them speak, one by one deride, belittle and ridicule academic excellence, knowledge, facts and scientific research. One after another comes out celebrating their ignorance. This is the sad truth about what the Republican Party has become: a refuge for high school dropouts and intellectually challenged leaders. 

Now candidate Santorum is saying that a college education is “elitist” and if you go to college they will force upon you a liberal-leftist ideology…brainwash you to be a progressive secular traitor.

It started with George W. Bush lack of interest in anything intellectual and his opposition to science. It was alarming to see our President discarding scientific research and embrace a folksy negative attitude towards any scientific endeavors. 

When I heard candidate Cain utter that stupid “Ubeki-beki-beki-beki-beki-stan-stan” crap it made me realize that blissful ignorance can be dangerous, especially on the foreign front.

When Cain insisted that it’s not important to know who the leader of Uzbekistan is (or, as he mockingly pronounces it, “Ubeki-beki-beki-beki-stan-stan”), he came off as clueless about the strategic importance of that nation. Even intellectually challenged George W. Bush wanted to use an air base in Uzbekistan to resupply U.S. troops in Afghanistan; Barack Obama has sought to curry favor with Uzbekistan so that America will have a better regional ally than Pakistan. Does Cain know any of that? 

Did Cain even gave it a second thought that preposterous “9-9-9” economic plan that may have very well have been drawn on a napkin in a pizza place by some idiot accountant from the Midwest would totally bankrupt the country?.

For crying out loud Herman, there are 196 countries in the world. Would it be too much to ask that you memorized the names of those countries and their leaders if you expected to be the leader of the free world? His insane economic 9-9-9 crap gave all of us a glimpse of what Republicans think about the economy and that failed Reagan "TRICKLE DOWN" theory.

I found Sarah Palin’s rejection of intellectual prowess terribly alarming when she played the victim of a “got you” question when asked what books she read…obviously she didn’t read any. Just like I find Rick Perry’s boasting of what a bad student he was in college. We all saw a video of Governor Perry making a disparate and erratic speech in New Hampshire…it was painful to watch.

Between you and me, I find it hard to vote for anybody who believes the world is only 6,000 years old and rejects evolution. I know that a person’s religious faith should not be a factor in determining whether that person is qualified to be President or not, but the way these right wing religious fanatics have put it, it is now imperative that not only a President be a Christian but a specific type of Christian: Fundamentalist-Evangelical-Christianist-Dominionist and science denier. It doesn’t hurt if that President in waiting is also opposed to learning and intellectual pursuit…If he/she is against public education, so much the better.

But the one reason I think should disqualify any of these religious fanatics from even running for dog catcher is that they believe that Armageddon is coming the day after tomorrow so there is no need to educate our children, build roads and bridges and make America a better place for future generations. Why would we want to worry about building or repairing a bridge if the world is coming to an end in a few months? Why would that President worry about unemployment, the sick, the poor and the prosperity of our nation if in their minds it is all in vain?

CELEBRATING IGNORANCE IS IN VOGUE

The alarming trend we have seen in the past few years is but an indication of the right wing proclivity to celebrate ignorance and academic achievement. When you have a Texas Governor seriously suggesting that he wasn’t the best of students or that he went to a higher institution of learning that does not have the academic standing and standards that you see for example in the Ivy Leagues, you know that because he says that kind of thing and it is cheered that those listening and cheering are simpletons, ignoramuses and underachievers who can’t even speak, read or write the English language.. 

It wouldn’t be so serious if this was the only indication of their prideful ignorance…we have an incompetent Governor like Sarah Palin rise to get the Vice Presidential nomination and one wonders if McCain had been elected and somehow incapacitated that she would be able to carry on the heavy burden of the Presidency. The woman is an idiot…and a greedy one who is only interested in making money by her outlandish statements and her display of ignorance.

Then you are facing another type: a Michelle Bachmann who not only has the facts of history mangled and misinterpreted in her mind but who thinks that by having been a mom to two dozen kids is enough of a qualification to run the country.

Throughout the Republican Party there are climate change deniers, Creationists, homophobes who are guided by some erroneous interpretation of the Scriptures…which by the way tell them that Armageddon is upon us and we have to prepare for the end of the world…and that disturbing ideology one would think makes them incapacitated to be at the helm of a government that is supposed to look out for all of America and keep us safe. I hardly think that someone who welcomes the Apocalypse should be running for the highest office in the land. Just think about it… How do we deal effectively and repudiate these extremist right wing simpletons?

“Here's the problem dealing with these simpletons; We can all argue about how things might turn out if we do this or that now, because this situation or that situation has not played itself out fully. It's much more difficult to argue with what actually happened when our ancestors did this or that back then. Those situations played out, for better or for worse.

Of course simpletons don't care much for all that. They are profoundly nearsighted.(ie. Myopic eye doctor Rand Paul) Besides, a knowledge of history requires a modicum of curiosity, and simpletons are also a profoundly un-curious lot. If mankind only produced simpletons we'd all still be sitting around in caves reinventing wheels and rediscovering fire.

Which is precisely what separates the enlightened from the simpleton. The simpleton seeks .... well.. simplicity. But hitching one's wagon to the simplest solutions at times of exploding complexity is like trying to navigate a maze with ones eyes closed. No, not a maze.. that's too benign a metaphor for these perilous times. It's more like navigating a mine field with eyes closed -- wearing logging boots while singing God Bless America.” The Smirking Chimp / By Stephen Pizzo

 

 

At a time when our country faces some of its most serious economic and divisive crisis we have to also deal with people who could not possibly fight their way out of a paper bag if they are given the power. If any of these Tea Baggers actually gets the Presidency there is very little hope for America ever being a great nation and even less hopes for the rest of that 98% of middle class and working people to regain the American dream.

LISTEN UP FROTHY MIX RICK: YOU MIGHT AS WELL KISS GOODBYE ALL THE VOTES FROM AMERICAN WOMEN AND ALL OF US WHO VALUE A COLLEGE EDUCATION.

(Image Credit: Andrew Goodman/Getty Images)

Rick Santorum backer suggests Bayer aspirin as a birth control method for women

Foster Friess caught MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell off-guard with colorful comment

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/us-election/9069434/US-elections-2012-Rick-Santorums-triple-win-gives-yet-another-twist-in-Republican-race.html

Just recently, a chief backer of Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorumstunned viewers when he made an off-the-wall comment about birth control Thursday.

Foster Friess, the primary supporter of a pro-Santorum super political action committee, suggested on MSNBC that women use Bayer aspirin as a contraceptive.

“This contraceptive thing, my gosh, it’s so expensive,” he told host Andrea Mitchell.

“Back in my days, they used Bayer aspirin for contraceptives. The gals put it between their knees and it wasn’t that costly.”

Friess’ inference that women can place a pill between their legs to keep from spreading them understandably sent some heads spinning.

Even Mitchell was visibly taken aback, saying she needed to catch her breath after the comment.

I think that what might do this asshole Santorum is his total rejection of our Constitutional values and what our Founding Fathers had intended with the separation of church and state. No, there wasn’t even a shadow of a doubt, any misunderstanding or misinterpreting what they meant because they expressed clearly in the FIRST AMENDMENT: 

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/rick-santorum-backer-suggests-bayer-aspirin-a-birth-control-method-women-article-1.1024101#ixzz1maxDNBgPRead more: http://www.timescolonist.com/news/Column+Herman+Cain+know+nothing+presidential+candidate/5634851/story.html#ixzz1cUpYddl5SOURCE: http://www.prunejuicemedia.com/2011/herman-cain-says-obama-is-not-a-real-black-man/

Labels: WHATEVER HAPPENED TO MERITOCRACY AND INTELLECTUAL PURSUIT IN AMERICA? SOURCE: http://www.alternet.org/story/152520/the_rise_of_the_pro-ignorance_right_wing_puts_us_all_in_dangerThe Smirking Chimp / By Stephen Pizzo

THE CHURCH OF LATTER DAYS PROPHETS

Year: 3512AD: Excavations unearthed ancient “videos” of early modern era prophets

The discovery came after excavations were made for a new LDP temple in what was once the ancient capital of the American nation. The unearthing took place when a piece of machinery struck what seemed to be a very old concrete wall. It took very potent laser shooters to disintegrate the wall and when the debris cleared there was a room that seemed to be some kind of depository. 

The supervisors and high deacons of the church were called and they entered the chamber and upon examination they determined these to be a rudimentary form of imaging that was known by the name of video tapes. The titles were written in what is thought to be the official language of that nation called America and the hunt was on to find an instrument that could play these back. 

Throughout the holy Latter Day Prophets Empire museums were searched and ancient rudimentary audio visual equipment was examined and finally one turned up that was thought to be in working order in a remote province of what used to be the Chinese Consortium. They brought the instrument over in the high ultrasonic speed tubes and they began to play the thousands of “video tapes”.

Earthshaking revelations were found: These were actual recordings of the voices and images of many of the prominent LDP prophets; among them were Saint Michelle Bachmann, St. Pat Robertson, St. Gingrich and St.Santorum who became one of the most quoted and beloved prophets of his day after an election was held in ancient America and he became the spokesperson for God himself; instituting many of the traditions and tenets that we so blissfully enjoy today in our Christian Brotherhood of Latter Day Prophets worldwide empire.

Decoding and translating the ancient language of English was no easy task since it has been extinct for more than 1500 years. But translators were able to break through when they found a redording of an old film with subtitles in Chinese. 

As we all know, St. Santorum perished along with all the other Christianist martyrs in the first of many nuclear attacks by the forces of Secular Atheist Russia and China.

Human remains were also found alongside the vault and these couple of dozen skeletons are believed to be the corpses of those forces that fought against the evil atheist secular liberal oppressors right on the grounds of an institution of higher learning that also bore the name of the city: George Washington University.

Petrified male body almost intact is believed to be of a homosexual, a much despised and common practice in those days. The pyroplastic dust engulfed the body the instant the nuclear detonation took place therefore preventing combustion and evaporation and preserving it much like those found in Pompei. The series of nuclear conflagrations is what we now know to be “Armageddon or Judgment Day”

PHOTO SOURCES: http://www.greek-thesaurus.gr/the-acropolis-station-excavations.html

http://archaeologyexcavations.blogspot.com/2010/12/skeleton-found-with-arrow-tip-on-spine.html

http://archaeologyexcavations.blogspot.com/2010/07/archaeological-excavations-in-israel.html

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/EarthAllAlong

SAINT SANTORUM: “SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE MAKES ME WANT TO THROW UP”

But to most of us a theocracy would not just make us throw up and have the shits but many of us would be driven to suicide or madness.

It is unthinkable that a Presidential candidate would even suggest erasing the line that separates church from the state; but we have gone full circle now and it has drifted even out of what is a reasonable cycle from left to right where we are now regressing as a society into the 16^thcentury; a society more like the old feudal system...a corporate-sponsored theocracy if you will..

What is it about these asshole Evangelical-Christianists they don’t understand about what the Founding Fathers laid out for us with a very emphatic and clear division of those things that are religious and those that are government?

Hell, even the Bible tells us “that which is Caesar and that which is God’s” should be separate functions. You even question whether this asshole has read the Scriptures…or if he has he has chosen a couple of passages…rejected most and clung to those he liked because they justified his hatreds, fears, insecurities and plain stupidity…as is the case of most people who are fanatical about their faith.

"I don't believe in an America where the separation of church and state are absolute. The idea that the church can have no influence or no involvement in the operation of the state is absolutely antithetical to the objectives and vision of our country. To say that people of faith have no role in the public square? You bet that makes me want to throw up." - Rick Santorum, speaking today on ABC's This Week.

 

If these Christianist-Dominionists ever get their way we would be living in a theocratic America sprinkled with generous portions of plutocracy. I would then ask any of these assholes if they like that kind of shit so much, why then don’t they seek to live in a country that has such an arrangement…say, Iran” It is not likely then that Saint Santorum or those who think like him would have the urge to vomit. But please, leave the rest out of that equation, we like our freedom of religion and our freedom from religion just fine, we love America and we stand by what our Founding Fathers laid out for us.. 

SOURCES: http://joemygod.blogspot.com/

AT TIMES I WISH THAT FAIRY TALE OF THE ARMAGEDDON WAS REAL

“Where will you be, oh, sinner, when the moon will turn to dripping blood, the stars will fall like cinders from the sky and the sun will go out like a candle in the wind; I’m, gonna tell you about the coming of the judgment, fare ye well, fare ye well” (from an old Negro Spiritual)

The hypocrites, the oppressors, the bigots, the idolaters, and the adulterers who condemn same sex love…they will be heading for the nearest cave or hiding under a rock, unable to withstand the scrutiny of a very pissed off God.

I am talking specifically about those Evangelicals and a great many of the other religions that have made the Bible the centerpiece of their worship. You see, they are actually worshiping a book; a set of writings attributed to “prophets” and believed to be the direct word of God.  And therein lies the fallacy of their religions, it is that they are worshiping an object and it figures more important in their lives than God itself…hell, surely those who boast of being CHRISTIANS don’t even have an inkling what Jesus Christ said and they definitely don’t follow his teachings.

I SAY: LET’S BUILD THE FUCKING TEMPLE

DOMA (DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT) NOT ONLY REPUGNANT BUT UNCONSTITUTIONAL

Yet another court ruling that affirms what most of us have known all along: that denying one group of people their rights is discriminatory.

It is not surprising to find that when something is based on an abstract idea that is askew to begin with, when a law that is perceived to be unjust and one that is the reflection of moral values based on a narrow and often erroneous interpretation of the Scriptures is then knocked down and those who had made it their business to push their religious views on the rest of us are going to be pissed off.

Federal Judge Rules
Section 3 Of DOMA Unconstitutional

Chris Geidner reports at Metro Weekly:

Today, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued its order finding that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act -- the federal definition of marriage -- is unconstitutional in Golinski v. Office of Personnel Management, Karen Golinski's challenge to the denial of her request for equal health insurance benefits for her wife. Golinski, a federal court employee, brought suit after her request was denied. She is represented by Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund. Because President Obama and the Department of Justice have stopped defending Section 3 of DOMA in court challenges, the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group -- led by House Republican leadership -- had opposed Golinski's request in court.

Via press release from Lambda Legal:

"This ruling, the first to come after the Justice Department announced it would no longer defend this discriminatory statute in court, spells doom for DOMA," said Tara Borelli, staff attorney in Lambda Legal's Western Regional Office in Los Angeles. "The Court recognized the clear fact that a law that denies one class of individuals the rights and benefits available to all others because of their sexual orientation violates the constitutional guarantee of equality embodied in the Fifth Amendment. The Court agreed with us that sexual orientation discrimination by the government should receive heightened scrutiny under the constitution. It then concluded that DOMA could not meet that standard, and that there was not even a rational justification to deny Karen Golinski the same spousal health care benefits that her heterosexual co-workers receive." 

View the ruling.

Politico has more.

White's 43-page decision is similar to a ruling from a federal judge in Massachusetts in 2010, who also struck down an aspect of DOMA. In White's ruling, he also gave an unusual back of the hand to the Chief Judge of the Ninth Circuit, Alex Kozinski, who ruled at an earlier administrative stage of the dispute that federal personnel managers had authority to cover Golinski's spouse as a non-spousal member of her family. White called that reasoning "unpersuasive."

BEWARE YOU FUCKING EVANGELICALS: WE’RE NOT CONSENTING TO BE HUMILIATED ANY MORE.

SOURCES: http://joemygod.blogspot.com/

PREDICTIONS ARE ALWAYS RISKY – BUT HERE IS MY TAKE ON THE GOP IMPENDING DEFEAT IN 2012

Republicans, be careful what you wish for (Credit: AP/Jae C. Hong)

I am not one to boast of having accuracy in making predictions but this one hits you in the face like a 2 X 4.

There are many factors still to be developed, many scenarios in which the GOP could salvage the mess they are in and pull a victory. I’m not saying it will not be a hollow one, it will probably be plagued with voting irregularities, voter disenfranchising and a lot of undemocratic tactics.

The economy as well is a major factor that could contribute to muddle the waters and from the looks of it the oil companies seem to be poised to bring about a substantial increase in the price of gasoline. This of course is a fabricated, deliberate attempt at sabotaging the economy with the unwavering support and consent of the Republican Party.

How all these factors will influence the way it will turn out is anybody’s guess, but should things continue on this path of self destruction by Republicans, clinging to failed ideology and economic theories that are disastrous; coupled with the extremist, social issues platform…will most likely bring about one of the biggest defeats in American political history.

Brokering a GOP disaster

“Republicans hoping for a deadlocked convention overlook the perils to the party

Some Republicans, dissatisfied with their candidates for president, have taken to openly pining for a deadlocked convention to solve their problem. Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol wants a “deliberative”conclave in Tampa, Fla., this summer. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin says if it happens, she wants to “help.”
They should be careful what they wish for.
In the modern era since the nomination process was reformed before 1972, we’ve never had a real contested convention, and the institution that we have today isn’t built for deliberation and decision making; it’s built to formally ratify a decision made months before, and then serve as props and extras for the nominee’s multiday TV extravaganza. If the delegates were suddenly forced to make a decision, it’s not hard to imagine some of the nightmare scenarios that might develop.
How ugly could it get? What if Paul and Gingrich go off by themselves, and declare that their rump group is the real, authorized Republican National Convention and those RINOs down the street are the imposters – and the Paul/Gingrich nominee is the one who is entitled to Republican ballot slots in the fall. Hmmm … I can think of one former governor of Alaska who might be willing to head that ticket.
The truth is that Republicans are living in a fantasyif they assume that someone could just snap their fingers and 2,000-plus Republican delegates would automatically switch their loyalties to Jeb Bush or Mitch Daniels and that everything would run smoothly from that point. A sensible party would do anything possible to avoid the possibility of a true deadlocked convention.”*

Now, here comes the scary part: If all this happens and it looks like there is that possibility; then the Republicans will go on to wage one of the dirtiest, costliest and most vicious campaigns in history. The social-values issue will dominate the narrative as they can’t afford o talk about their old standard “foreign policy” and if the economic recovery continues they will not be able to rely on blaming Obama for the recovery that never happened and, by the way, they were instrumental in preventing from happening.

Then what will happen? Do you think that these assholes will be willing to go gently into the night? Do you think that those deranged followers of an askew ideology and a discredited economic theory will be honorable and accept their defeat? I should think not considering that most of those in the base are already unstable, unreasonable, radical and rabid reactionaries, racists and homophobic.

The months and years following the re-election of President Obama will see a surge in “GOING POSTAL” wingnuts throughout the country. Tragedies of the same kind as the one in Arizona or even worse like the one Timothy McVey executed in Oklahoma City.

I am hoping that I am wrong in this last outcome and that even if they don’t win the elections they are civil enough to accept an overwhelming mandate by the American people to reject their askew ideology and radical Christianist-Dominionist endeavor.

I know, I know, the argument the Republicans will give you will be: first, they are going to win and 2^nd, if they are defeated they will not resort to violence. I for one find that hard to believe since there are plenty of Republicans running for office who have indicated they would favor “A SECOND AMENDMENT OPTION” if the elections don’t go their way. And lastly, the obstructionist Congress, sabotaging any and all efforts to revitalize the economy and fix the legacy of the failed Bush presidency also makes me think that they put ideology before country, their GOP party before the American people and those others in the base who are Evangelicals we know for a fact that their religion is often more important to them than family or country.

*Jonathan Bernstein writes at a Plain Blog About Politics. Follow him at @jbplainblog  More Jonathan Bernstein

SOURCES: http://politics.salon.com/2012/02/21/brokering_a_gop_disaster/

OK CITY PHOTO: http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/mcveigh/mcveighhearing.html

DOES ANYBODY TAKE THE TIME TO READ THE CONSTITUTION?

Read the Constitution…if you know how to read

New Jersey Governor Christie vetoed legislation that would have given full rights to LGBT Americans. My question to this obese human phlegm is this: What part of “ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL” don’t you understand?

My message to Evangelicals remains: You claim to have some exclusive and privileged relationship with the Creator and thus you think that he/she/it will look upon you favorably because you insert a penis into a vagina…you don’t know shit, you have any idea what Jesus would say? I am sure he would be utterly pissed off at you.

“I read the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution loud and clear: “No state shall … deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” To do otherwise would be to spit in the face of the values Americans hold dear: We are all equal. We all have dignity. We all have worth. We all are free. We all have equal rights under the law.”

“No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”

I don’t think that even those very hard-right, radical Republicans could possibly deny the intent and the meaning of what is our Constitution and what has guided our country for more than 200 years…they would like to change all that and turn America into a theocratic plutocracy.

SOURCES:

http://davefactor.blogspot.com/2011/08/signs-signs-everywhere-teabagger-sign.html

http://www.cfnews13.com/article/news/2010/december/188160/New-Jersey-governor-under-fire-for-staying-at-Disney-World-during-blizzard