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Lerner Called Conservatives 'Crazies,' 'Assholes'; Obama to GOP: 'Stop Hating'; Gaza Gets Uglier: P.M. Links

Zenon Evans | 7.30.2014 4:30 PM

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  • White House

    "Crazies" and "assholes" is how ex-IRS official Lois Lerner described conservatives in newly released emails.

  • To the Republicans threatening to sue him, President Obama has this to say: "Stop being mad all the time. Stop just hating all the time."
  • The Israeli-Palestinian conflict gets uglier. Israel held four-hour humanitarian ceasefire, but also bombed a U.N. school full of kids, killing at least 16 people and wounding over 100.
  • Congressional Democrats up for reelection are pleading with the president to tone down his immigration rhetoric. Republicans are infighting, too: Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is coordinating with House GOPers to undermine Rep. John Boehner (OH) costly border bill. According to a new Associated Press poll, "53 percent of Americans believe the United States has no moral obligation to offer asylum to people who escape violence or political persecution, while 44 percent believe it has that responsibility."
  • The economy unexpectedly grew at a 4 percent annual rate in the second quarter, compared to the 3 percent economists predicted. And, the private sector added 218,000 jobs this month.
  • Hillary Clinton "regrets" claiming to have been "dead broke." Sort of. "It was inartful," she said, but "it was accurate."

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NEXT: Despite Huge Increase in Marijuana Busts, Pot Smokers Seem Undeterred

Zenon Evans is a former Reason staff writer and editor.

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  1. Brandon   11 years ago

    "Crazies" and "assholes" is how ex-IRS official Lois Lerner described conservatives in newly released emails.

    So what's in the emails they're hiding?

    1. Fist of Etiquette   11 years ago

      Let's just say the recipients at the White House probably have copies of them.

    2. Longtorso, Johnny   11 years ago

      Not ratf-ckers? Weigel will be displeased.

    3. Rufus J. Firefly   11 years ago

      Late Hello.

      Lerner is a loonie.

      1. Pro Libertate   11 years ago

        It's totally absurdist art to pretend there's not some giant scandal at the IRS. It would be fascinating to watch if the situation wasn't such a dire threat to what's left of our republic.

        1. Restoras   11 years ago

          There does seem to be a 1st Century BC feel to things. I wonder who our Cato will be?

          1. Pro Libertate   11 years ago

            George Washington?

          2. Headless Body of Agnew   11 years ago

            Mr. Kaelin?

    4. Atanarjuat   11 years ago

      Pictures of Valerie Jarrett with her human mask removed.

      1. Brandon   11 years ago

        She has a human mask?

        1. Bobarian   11 years ago

          Pictures or you're lieing.

          1. Heroic Mulatto   11 years ago

            I will say her daughter is kinda cute for a human/Shape-Shifting Reptiloid from Sirius B hybrid.

            1. PH2050   11 years ago

              Mmmmm...uh, I mean, ew!

              Damn my caucasian weakness for caramel-complexioned goddesses!

              1. Heroic Mulatto   11 years ago

                She feeds on spinal fluid.

                You know this, right?

            2. Brandon   11 years ago

              I would.

    5. The Original Jason   11 years ago

      What? She didn't describe them as "hateful", "greedy", or "selfish". Those seem to be the left's preferred terms for non-leftists

  2. Fist of Etiquette   11 years ago

    "Crazies" and "assholes" is how ex-IRS official Lois Lerner described conservatives in newly released emails.

    I guess she should have pleaded the Fifth sooner.

    1. Tonio   11 years ago

      A valiant effort, Fist.

      Hmm...it looks as if Ms. Lerner is going to be hung out to dry, soon. Wonder if she has enough dirt to take others down with her.

      1. Atanarjuat   11 years ago

        A true believer like her would fall on her sword before harming the Obama administration. She'll be quietly rewarded after the election anyway.

  3. Fist of Etiquette   11 years ago

    Congressional Democrats up for reelection are pleading with the president to tone down his immigration rhetoric.

    It's not just Congressional Republicans he cares not for. It's anyone on the Hill.

  4. Warty   11 years ago

    Everyone here's crazy, right? And all of us are assholes, right? I don't see the problem. But then, I'm crazy.

    1. Zeb   11 years ago

      Yeah, but most are not conservatives.

      1. Warty   11 years ago

        Maybe not most, but the Hit&Runpublicans; sure are loud.

        1. Tonio   11 years ago

          And shrill. Don't forget shrill.

        2. Zeb   11 years ago

          Yes, particularly on certain topics they do like to be heard (in that odd, internet, text only sense).

  5. Ken Shultz   11 years ago

    "Crazies" and "assholes" is how ex-IRS official Lois Lerner described conservatives in newly released emails."

    Ironically, I once referred to Lois Lerner as a "sub-worthless piece of shit".

    1. Palin's Buttplug   11 years ago

      She was not referring to libertarians, Kenny-boy.

      1. Longtorso, Johnny   11 years ago

        Hey Weigel. Still a short, acne splotted weeble?

        1. Collegiate Inspector   11 years ago

          He's not short.

          1. Longtorso, Johnny   11 years ago

            He's big and fat and acne scarred, instead of short and fat and acne scarred? I guess the smallness he is overcompensating for is more localized.

            1. JEP   11 years ago

              He's Baron Harkonnen?

          2. Clich? Bandit   11 years ago

            Dave Weigle is short. I give him maybe 5'4". I have met and spoken with him on several occasions.

            and Donderro is about 5'2" for those that care.

      2. Ken Shultz   11 years ago

        But I was referring to her!

        I can see why you'd defend her, though.

        What's the point of being a mid-level bureaucrat at the IRS if you can't lord over people every once in a while, right?

        For all we know, you could be Lois Lerner! That would explain a lot, actually.

        Can you imagine the headlines? "Lois Lerner trolls libertarian website as 'Palin's Buttplug' for years"

        Although what's she's done is really worse than that. God, I hope she goes in front of a jury someday.

        1. Trials and Trippelations   11 years ago

          If she refers to conservatives as "peanuts" than there is no doubt that PB is Lerner

        2. Tonio   11 years ago

          I'd settle for a federal judge. Because it takes a vote of congress to hold somone in contempt, piss off the judge and it's straight to the holding cell for you.

      3. Andrew S.   11 years ago

        She was referring to anyone who doesn't fall in line and think completely like her.

        I swear you're getting dumber and dumber as time goes on. You used to be somewhat coherent, once.

        1. Rufus J. Firefly   11 years ago

          Exactly. It's not just conservatives. It's utter contempt for AMERICANS.

      4. See Double You   11 years ago

        Considering practically every liberal who comments about libertarians conflates them with conservatives, are you sure Lerner didn't lump us in?

        1. Restoras   11 years ago

          There's only a handful of us so maybe we slipped through her fingers?

      5. ant1sthenes   11 years ago

        I don't think a progzi can distinguish between ideologies other than "prog" and "not-prog" (libertarians, socialists, conservatives, etc.)

  6. Fist of Etiquette   11 years ago

    Israel held four-hour humanitarian ceasefire, but also bombed a U.N. school full of kids, killing at least 16 people and wounding over 100.

    It's kind of difficult to drink their blood then, isn't it?

    1. Ken Shultz   11 years ago

      -1

      1. Fist of Etiquette   11 years ago

        I think it deserves more points taken off than that.

        1. Jordan   11 years ago

          - Infinity percent
          /Mayor Nutter

    2. Restoras   11 years ago

      Interestingly, the McClatchy article doesn't say the school was full of kids - but Reason somehow knows that it was.

    3. Tonio   11 years ago

      Funny, I thought for sure the usual Israel-firsters would be on here do defend that because...something, something Islamism!!1!

      1. Tonio   11 years ago

        "Strange", rather. There is nothing funny or at all defensible about bombing a busload of children, no matter who you are or who the children are.

        1. Cytotoxic   11 years ago

          If it is necessary for the aggressor to be defeated, you must do it.

    4. Heroic Mulatto   11 years ago

      I don't know about you, but when my mom hosted Passover seders, she always added a dash of white phosphorus to our blood matzo feast. Added just enough spice.

      Ah, memories!

      1. Fist of Etiquette   11 years ago

        I knew it!

      2. Pro Libertate   11 years ago

        My mom, who is a Bene Gesserit witch, used to add spice essence to the meal. Those who survived the worm trip had a great time.

        1. Heroic Mulatto   11 years ago

          This could be a (short-lived) reason meme.

          My mom, who was a priestess of Kali Maa, used to add lava to the dark tantric sacrifice of heartblood. It really added power to our set of Sankara stones.

          1. Pro Libertate   11 years ago

            Did you have vortices in your dining room?

            1. Heroic Mulatto   11 years ago

              No. Just Asian kids.

              1. Mokers   11 years ago

                Gom jabbar at least?

                1. Pro Libertate   11 years ago

                  I should hope so. You don't want to be serving food to animals in human form.

    5. MegaloMonocle   11 years ago

      Is that one of the three ( and counting) UN schools being used as missile depots?

  7. Andrew S.   11 years ago

    The Libertarian candidate for FL governor is going on a state-wide tour of meet and greets at craft breweries. Which is just great.

    1. Bam!   11 years ago

      Is there anything that hasn't been turned into an excuse to drink?

      1. Andrew S.   11 years ago

        You say that like it's a bad thing.

      2. Stormy Dragon   11 years ago

        AA Meetings?

    2. Brett L   11 years ago

      I'm going out to Momo's on the 10th if I can.

      1. Andrew S.   11 years ago

        He's going to be in South Florida this weekend, when I'll of course be away. Always seems to happen that way.

    3. Pro Libertate   11 years ago

      I heard he was polling at 10%. That was portrayed as bad for Scott, but I have real trouble believing people in this state would vote for Crist. I mean, why not just set whole cities on fire?

      1. Cytotoxic   11 years ago

        Florida is that stupid. Crist is probably going to win.

        1. Pro Libertate   11 years ago

          Are we? I don't know. Generally, we're fiscally responsible at the state level, compared to other big states (though there is Texas). And no income tax.

          Crist was really despised as governor, and the whole Morgan and Morgan fuck the people business can't help.

      2. Brett L   11 years ago

        This is a guy who got married because it improved his chances of winning the Senate seat. Which is really fun to remind my female liberal friends. Where is his wife, by the way? I haven't seen her anywhere this campaign.

        1. Pro Libertate   11 years ago

          "Wife?" I bet she has quotes tattooed on her shoulders.

        2. Zeb   11 years ago

          I think the word is "beard" isn't it?

          1. Pro Libertate   11 years ago

            Like I said, quotes on her shoulders. And on the straps of her wedding gown.

  8. Palin's Buttplug   11 years ago

    4% GDP. I know many of you Peanuts are disappointed there won't be an official recession before the mid-terms.

    1. Collegiate Inspector   11 years ago

      But they're going to revise that number, right? It could go down, right?

      1. Palin's Buttplug   11 years ago

        Keep hoping and praying. Team Red believes in voodoo.

        1. Collegiate Inspector   11 years ago

          I'm not on Team Red. I'm just hoping for the dissolution of the United States in my lifetime.

    2. Longtorso, Johnny   11 years ago

      Hey Weigel. Clear up that problem acne or tubby belly fat yet? Get any taller?

      1. Old Man With Candy   11 years ago

        We milk his zits to make artisanal mayonnaise.

        1. Atanarjuat   11 years ago

          This is worse than anything Sugarfree has ever written.

    3. Longtorso, Johnny   11 years ago

      That's only half of 8% (and to be revised downward after the midterms).

    4. DesigNate   11 years ago

      Yeah and it grew .1% in the first quarter. Oh wait, that's right it actually shrank 2.9% the first quarter (final number reported in June). I'm gonna bet a shrinkage of at least .5% will be the final number in October

    5. Restoras   11 years ago

      It'll be revised down. Plus, there was likely pent up demand from the exceptionally bad winter that won't carry through to 3Q.

      If you net 1Q and 2Q together you get - an average of 0.6% growth. That's less than inflation.

      Great job on the math, Weigel. Way to analyze something. Honestly, why do you even bother to get up in the morning - besides to take a dump, which is the only activity you do that creates something worthwhile?

      1. Brandon   11 years ago

        HuffPo's headline said "Good news for Obama," therefore Shreek had to come here and gloat. Do you really expect analysis from a parrot?

        1. Restoras   11 years ago

          Nope. But since he has been outed as a progtard journalist it's infinitely easier to mock him and his stupidity, and I just had to take advantage.

          1. DesigNate   11 years ago

            Did I miss something in my intermittent posting? Did that theory actually get proven?

            1. PRX   11 years ago

              I don't know if anything is proven, but he sure doesn't take being called Weigel as an insult, which is weird.

              1. Obama's Buttplug   11 years ago

                he sure doesn't take being called Weigel as an insult

                Nor would I.

            2. a better weapon   11 years ago

              I didn't believe it, but for a troll who responds to nearly every single reply, I haven't seen him reply to any of the Weigel comments.

              Johnny L is slowly turning me into a believer.

      2. Pro Libertate   11 years ago

        Sure is boom times, yep.

    6. Cytotoxic   11 years ago

      More bubble!

    7. See Double You   11 years ago

      You know these numbers are later revised, typically downward.

      Stop making a complete ass of yourself at every opportunity.

    8. Gilbert Martin   11 years ago

      Well first off, GPD is an invalid metric of economic prosperity as the formula includes government spending - which is nothing more than forced transfer payments that can never net to any value greater than zero.

      And second, the Obama administration had nothing to do with creating any economic upturn - despite Obama's pathetic attempts to take credit for it.

  9. Fist of Etiquette   11 years ago

    ...President Obama has this to say: "Stop being mad all the time. Stop just hating all the time."

    Because policy disagreement is an expression of negative emotion. And racism.

    1. mad.casual   11 years ago

      And racism.

      Totally reminds me of, "Can we all just get along?"

      1. Bobarian   11 years ago

        ...President Obama has this to say: "Stop being mad all the time. Stop just hating all the time."

        "You Crazy Assholes!" He added, under his breath.

    2. jester   11 years ago

      I am disappoint. Obama coulda shoulda woulda: 'Don't hate the playah, hate the game!'

    3. BakedPenguin   11 years ago

      "Sure, Mr. President. Just as soon as you stop being incompetent and dictatorial all the time."

    4. FYTW   11 years ago

      It's not so much the sentiment that infuriates me as lame, pandering effort to ape hip-hop culture. It's like when Hillary affects her Southern drawl: these people are absolutely the phoniest of phonies, but their sycophantic followers lap this shit right up.

    5. Gilbert Martin   11 years ago

      "...President Obama has this to say: "Stop being mad all the time. Stop just hating all the time."

      Sure - just as soon as he stops breaking the law all the time.

  10. Collegiate Inspector   11 years ago

    The head of the American Society for Addiction Medicine says that one hit of a joint will turn you insane forever:

    http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/30/.....index.html

    One day I'mma track him down and put my ashes out on his forehead...

    1. Brett L   11 years ago

      I wonder how much he'd charge to be an expert witness in my defense?

    2. Marshall Gill   11 years ago

      In related news, giving your children prozac for years has absolutely no negative effects.

    3. Brandon   11 years ago

      The guy who benefits financially from prohibition is willing to say anything to continue prohibition?

      1. PD Scott   11 years ago

        He benefits financially For The Children!

    4. DesigNate   11 years ago

      Someone should strap him to a gurney and force him to do five or six bong hits.

  11. GILMORE   11 years ago

    ""Crazies" and "assholes" is how ex-IRS official Lois Lerner described conservatives in newly released emails."

    It aint her fault!! Its the GOP that's got to Stop Hatin'.

    Obama = You mad, bro?

    I think he makes a great point. Similarly, we'd hope that Obama would cease with his antisemitism, and his hatred of the military, and his perpetual animal abuse. Why do you hate kittens, Barack?

    1. robc   11 years ago

      Why do you hate kittens, Barack??

      Has he been masturbating?

      1. Marshall Gill   11 years ago

        This association is deeply disturbing rob. Rule 34?

  12. Brett L   11 years ago

    What GoPro was made for: Pretty girls hula-hooping

    1. Restoras   11 years ago

      Oh my god. I hope I meet the person that thought of this so I can buy him drinks for life.

      1. Trouser-Pod   11 years ago

        Find out who this "hula fantastica" person/organism is and there ya go.

    2. Clich? Bandit   11 years ago

      DEAR GOD!

    3. MegaloMonocle   11 years ago

      There is a God. Can I get a "hallelujah", my brothers?

  13. DEG   11 years ago

    Domestic violence is the next front in gun control fight.

    Warning: auto-play video.

  14. Coeus   11 years ago

    Michelle Obama Tells Men To Ask Themselves If They 'Truly View Women As Their Equals'

    Let's ask Chris Brown and Ray Rice. I think they've been appropriately taught that they shouldn't ever view women as equals.

    After all, you're allowed to hit an equal back without national excoriation.

    Whoopi Goldberg might be one of the only actual feminists (by definition) on television

    1. Heroic Mulatto   11 years ago

      "But If you make the choice as a woman, who's four-foot-three, and you decide to hit a guy who's six feet tall and you're the last thing he wants to deal with that day and he hits you back, you cannot be surprised!"

      --Guinan giving relationship advice to Deanna Troi during the time she was dating Worf.

      1. Tonio   11 years ago

        The actors do not write their own lines, generally.

        1. Brett L   11 years ago

          I'm sure Gene Rodenberry and his wife were just working some things out in that script.

          1. Heroic Mulatto   11 years ago

            "His wife"? Way to other Nurse Chapel/the original Number One, dude.

            1. Brett L   11 years ago

              Was he not married to the chick who played Troi at the time of filming TNG? Am I wrong on this?

              1. Coeus   11 years ago

                Yes, you are. She's married to some guitarist. Has been for decades.

              2. Heroic Mulatto   11 years ago

                No. There were rumors that Roddenberry and Sirtis were having an affair but the were never married.

              3. gimmeasammich   11 years ago

                I thought he was married to the lady that played Troi's mother/was the voice of Computer.

                1. Pro Libertate   11 years ago

                  Yes. Nurse Chapel/Voice of the Computer/Troi's mom. And probably something else.

              4. PRX   11 years ago

                Roxanna Troi was played by his wife.

            2. Pro Libertate   11 years ago

              And the voice of the computer.

              1. gimmeasammich   11 years ago

                Hey guys, was his wife ever involved in the show? I heard she had a role here and there.

                1. Pro Libertate   11 years ago

                  I heard he was doing Lt. Uhura.

    2. Coeus   11 years ago

      Look at that. Feministing wrote an article that's the mirror image of my comment.

      He has the right to defend himself but I am unclear as to when self-defense becomes knocking a woman unconscious. I am particularly unclear about how a professionally trained NFL football player who outsizes his partner significantly, cannot make a different choice.

      Victim blaming.

      I later share the police report that details the nature of Rihanna's injuries. When they consider the report and Holmes' essay, they begin to unpack a realization they hadn't considered before: Couldn't he have walked away without laying any hands on her? They begin to wonder how Brown could have made a different choice.

      There it is again.

      1. Coeus   11 years ago

        Also, this:

        Couldn't he have walked away without laying any hands on her?

        Is pretty fucking hard to do while driving. She could have killed them both.

    3. Rufus J. Firefly   11 years ago

      And Bobby Brown.

  15. Heroic Mulatto   11 years ago

    DON'T BE HATIN'

    1. UnCivilServant   11 years ago

      I asked this this question in the AM links, but evidently you're not a morning person, HM. It has to do with whether it's all right to actually use the Dr Rudra name in the works I plan to write.

      1. Heroic Mulatto   11 years ago

        Shady characters prefer the dark.

        Anyway, I hereby announce that I claim no rights over the name "Dr. Rudra" nor shall I claim rights over any derivative works that use the name "Dr. Rudra" for a character.

        --LSS 7/30/2014

        And good luck, I'm a huge pulp fan.

        1. UnCivilServant   11 years ago

          thanks, I'll try to make him suitable to the name.

    2. Brett L   11 years ago

      That's pretty terrible with the sound off. Not gonna test with it on.

    3. Warty   11 years ago

      Oh god, it's painful. He's the most embarrassing whitest asshole I've ever seen.

      "Yo yo yo, dawg! Dis is P-diz O-bomb in da hizzy! Don't be hatin', yo!"

  16. PD Scott   11 years ago

    ...President Obama has this to say: "Stop being mad all the time. Stop just hating all the time."

    If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention.

  17. Coeus   11 years ago

    Dawkins fires another shot off the bow.

    Nothing should be off limits to discussion. No, let me amend that. If you think some things should be off limits, let's sit down together and discuss that proposition itself. Let's not just insult each other and cut off all discussion because we rationalists have somehow wandered into a land where emotion is king.

    It is utterly deplorable that there are people, including in our atheist community, who suffer rape threats because of things they have said. And it is also deplorable that there are many people in the same atheist community who are literally afraid to think and speak freely, afraid to raise even hypothetical questions such as those I have mentioned in this article. They are afraid - and I promise you I am not exaggerating - of witch-hunts: hunts for latter day blasphemers by latter day Inquisitions and latter day incarnations of Orwell's Thought Police.

    1. Brett L   11 years ago

      No, I'm pretty sure that one hit a target.

      1. mad.casual   11 years ago

        No, I'm pretty sure that one hit a target.

        Given my continued exposure to Dawkins, there is no target, it's a continuous spray of shit. None of which stick to him.

        I'd gladly get in the ring and rationalize with the man toe-to-toe, but I suppose that would fall into one of his emotional no-go zones.

        1. Coeus   11 years ago

          would fall into one of his emotional no-go zones.

          ???

          The point is that he doesn't have any.

          1. mad.casual   11 years ago

            The point is that he doesn't have any.

            That's only true if you subscribe to his fallacies.

            Given that he promises he's not exaggerating when he equates the fear of (presumed and illegal) death threats with actual state-sanctioned murders; he's either full of shit when he makes a promise, a fake rationalist truly dominated by emotion, or a shitty rationalist knowingly ignoring facts and reality to generate an emotional response.

            Any one of the outcomes worthy of at least one good right cross, IMO.

            1. Coeus   11 years ago

              Not sure he does that.

              Would you consider McCarthy to have been conducting witch hunts?

              If not, then I see you take umbrage with the common usage of the phrase. As is your right. The change to literally pisses me off to no end. But it hardly makes you dominated by emotion to use it in the common parlance.

              1. mad.casual   11 years ago

                If not, then I see you take umbrage with the common usage of the phrase.

                For someone so perturbed about the (ab)use of the word literally you sure can't read between the lines.

                I don't take umbrage at the loose use of the language. I take umbrage at *his* *selectively* *loose* use of it.

                For someone claiming to be a rationalist devoid of emotion he rather coincidentally (often) avoids details and/or facts and traipses awful close to comparing their fear of persecution to Nazi Germany. Okay, maybe just The Inquisition. Except no one died, lost their job, got censured, committed suicide, etc.

                He compares their fear to *Orwellian fiction* *on Twitter* for Christ's sake!

                1. Coeus   11 years ago

                  Except no one died, lost their job, got censured, committed suicide, etc.

                  No one's lost their job because of oversensitive, hypocritical feminists?

                  Really?

                  No one at all? For just trying to have a rational discussion?

                  1. mad.casual   11 years ago

                    No one's lost their job because of oversensitive, hypocritical feminists?

                    The people that lost jobs 'because Twitter' was it because Twitter was monitoring their every movement inside their home and at work at all times like Big Brother? I mean George Will looks awfully well off for someone who has been burned at the stake, even if only metaphorically.

        2. Brett L   11 years ago

          Nothing should be off limits to discussion. No, let me amend that. If you think some things should be off limits, let's sit down together and discuss that proposition itself. Let's not just insult each other and cut off all discussion because we rationalists have somehow wandered into a land where emotion is king.

          I would put this down as exhibit A as to why I want nothing to do with the atheist community. So he definitely nailed that.

    2. Brandon   11 years ago

      Across the bow.

      1. gimmeasammich   11 years ago

        Actually it's "across her nose."

        /Dark Helmet

    3. Tonio   11 years ago

      Somebody is going to be purged. Suspect that Myers is just itching to be the headman of the movement atheists.

      1. Warty   11 years ago

        Are you a psychic?

        1. Coeus   11 years ago

          The butthurt

          is

          palpable.

          That last article ends with this:

          [As yesterday: reasoned discussion; no epithets, no insults.]

          Which is why the comments section is so sparse. What you do see mostly violates that first part.

          1. mad.casual   11 years ago

            He has completely lost the plot. Either his ego has gotten so large that he thinks he can say anything, or his time is past him and he needs to retire.

            Never occurs to him that scientism or pure rationalism is untenable.

            1. Coeus   11 years ago

              Please define your terms. Because a quick google search of them turns up massive amounts of philosophical sophistry used to justify expansion of the state. Because feelz.

              1. mad.casual   11 years ago

                Please define your terms.

                Summing up Dawkins stance in one sentence; "God doesn't exist because it's not rational and only rational things can exist or should be believed in."

                The poster assert that Dawkins has strayed from his inherently infallible 'one sentence', never occurs to him that any part or even the entire 'one sentence' could be wrong or even self-contradictory. It's easier just to assume Dawkins is going crazy.

                And I don't know what commie version of Google you're using, but Hayek was fond of criticizing command-style economics as scientifism.

                Logical positivism being that there are no intrinsic truths that we can know. Truth is only arrived at through empirical observation *and verification*. Scientifism being the notion that logical positivism is universally applicable. Pure rationalism being the implied goal of scientifism. Hard to get much more statist than that.

                1. Coeus   11 years ago

                  Statism leading to good outcomes is never verified by empirical observation. Deriding empirical observation and seeking to replace it with what "feels" right is their bread and butter.

                  Scientifism, as you've defined it, seems to be at odds with CAGW alarmism (indeed, it was at a site for such that I saw it derided). You have no problem with non-falsifiable theories being given the same credence as falsifiable ones?

                  As for absolute truths, there is one. It is this:

                  There is one absolute truth.

                  1. mad.casual   11 years ago

                    Statism leading to good outcomes is never verified by empirical observation.

                    The State leads to good outcomes all the time. A quick trip to your local restroom or drinking fountain as opposed to some other random body of water will convince you of such. Comparing/contrasting highly litigious societies to those with no laws can establish the notion as well. The question is typically whether the State, or just the degree observed, was *required* or was the best means to achieve that ends, to which the answer is often 'No.'.

                    CAGW alarmism is a form of scientifism, not at odds with it. Extrapolating science facts to global phenomenon and then reducing the results of those phenomenon to overridingly guide personal behavior and individual morality for yourself and others is pretty explicitly using science in ways and for purposes it is not intended. Cookie cutter logical positivism; throw enough science at the problem and we'll achieve some Climate Nirvana.

                    You have no problem with non-falsifiable theories being given the same credence as falsifiable ones?

                    This depends on the application. I have a problem with the concept that the only or intrinsically best way to function, as an organism or a thinking device (or something else entirely), is via (non-)falsifiable theories.

                    As for absolute truths, there is one.

                    That we should all be glad you and I didn't write the Founding Documents?

      2. Coeus   11 years ago

        Can you imagine what would happen if his bullshit were exposed to a wider audience than his logic sterilized comment section? He'd be a weeping, suicidal mess before the week was up. This is a man with a PHD in a STEM who doesn't understand distribution curves.

    4. AlmightyJB   11 years ago

      Yeah, Atheist hangi gs are all the rage now.

      1. AlmightyJB   11 years ago

        Hangings

    5. Mickey Rat   11 years ago

      "Let's not just insult each other and cut off all discussion because we rationalists have somehow wandered into a land where emotion is king."

      Rationalists must be rational because it says so right on the label! Not recognizing that when you put a "-ist" on a word you've created an ideology or even a dogma.

  18. Coeus   11 years ago

    We Don't Need to End "Too Big to Fail"

    knowing that the government will come to their aid in a flood, people are liable to be overly casual about the risks they face. They might build their houses too near the river and fail to take precautions like evacuating on rainy days. This risky behavior, if left unchecked, raises the costs of rescue and rebuilding should the flood occur. To discourage this risk-taking, the government issues regulations requiring people to build their houses a certain distance from the river, use reinforced walls, and take other precautions.
    Everyone understands that the rules before the financial crisis were too generous to banks.
    This familiar logic applies to financial regulation...

    It's true that the emergency-loan backstop encourages risky behavior. Just as people will build too closely to the river unless ordered not to, banks will issue risky loans unless the government blocks them. This is why regulation is necessary. But doesn't the GOP have a point that regulators have gone too far? Are 398 rules?each of which can run dozens or even hundreds of pages?really necessary?

    Probably. Bank regulation is tricky. Banks are complex institutions

    Do they even realize how moronic they sound?

    1. Brandon   11 years ago

      It's Slate, so...no?

    2. robc   11 years ago

      Especially since the easier solution in both cases is to not back them.

      Want to stop people from building in a flood plain? Dont subsidize flood insurance. Ditto for coastlines.

      Beach houses shouldnt be fancy and expensive. They should be cheap and easily replaceable.

      1. Brandon   11 years ago

        They should be buoyant.

      2. Zeb   11 years ago

        How does anyone not see that that is the entire reason why losses from floods and storms ahve gone up so much? You'd think it would be an easy sell since so many of hte properties are owned by people with plenty of disposable income.

    3. Brett L   11 years ago

      Its strange because the economists he cites all say they need to (a)hold more capital and (b)be more regulated. Wouldn't, and I'm just spitballing here, wouldn't bailing out depositors and fucking over share holders of institutions that make bad lending decisions work out pretty well? I think selling all the MBS mortgages for about $0.30 on the dollar and letting the lending institutions take it in the ass would have fixed the problem.

  19. Carl ?s his ? for ?s   11 years ago

    Dozens Killed in Deadly Attack in Western China

    But just imagine if they had been wielding ASSAULT WEAPONS!!11!!!1

  20. GILMORE   11 years ago

    Obama
    They See Him Rolling,
    They Hating
    Patrolling
    Trying to Catch Him Riding Dirty

  21. Obama's Buttplug   11 years ago

    Aloha Illegals!

    The federal government is shipping "unaccompanied minors" to the Paradise of the Pacific.

    Immigration attorneys in Hawaii tell me at least eight illegals have been dropped off in their state ? and they've been told to expect more.

    "We have lots of attorneys happy to take these cases pro bono if needed," said Clare Hanusz, chairperson of Hawaii's chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. "If they cannot afford representation, we will definitely find someone to take the case."

    The boys and girls arrived by jetliner ? and were quickly taken away by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. We don't know if the kids were flown first class or coach. ICE won't comment.

    1. Bam!   11 years ago

      "Obama's Buttplug" -- I think "Michelle's Strapon" would be better.

    2. Brandon   11 years ago

      I'm an open border advocate, but fuck this. It's a shorter flight to Guatemala than to Hawaii.

  22. See Double You   11 years ago

    To the Republicans threatening to sue him, President Obama has this to say: "Stop being mad all the time. Stop just hating all the time."

    Stop being so odious, then.

    1. Brett L   11 years ago

      You can only imagine the explosions on the Left if GWB had said the same thing in 2006. This guy is such a milquetoast.

      1. See Double You   11 years ago

        Right. Obama's advantage is that he's a Democrat, so he can legitimately channel the leftwing "hate" narrative. Petty, but effective.

    2. Cytotoxic   11 years ago

      "Stop it! Stop it right now or I'm telling!"

  23. oncogenesis   11 years ago

    OT: Opinions on The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin? I read it in college (20+ years ago) and liked it. Rereading it now and kinda hate it.

    1. Heroic Mulatto   11 years ago

      Eh, I never got into the Hainish Cycle. When I want sci-fi that stinks of the late 70's post-modernist/feminist/LGBT soft sci-fi craze I'm more of a Samuel Delany guy.

      1. MegaloMonocle   11 years ago

        Pretty much this.

      2. oncogenesis   11 years ago

        I had remembered it as a fairly believable portrayal of an anarchist society. Turns out my memory sucks. The protagonist is a dour beanpole who, while "definitely heterosexual", has a gay fling with a childhood friend out of a sense of obligation. Huh?

        1. Heroic Mulatto   11 years ago

          has a gay fling with a childhood friend out of a sense of obligation. Huh?

          I guess that's how it works in prison.

          1. Bobarian   11 years ago

            I feel obligated to Rufus, since he bought me for a pack of smokes?

        2. Coeus   11 years ago

          It's more realistic than a woman throwing a pity fuck. Almost every guy I know has thrown a chick a pity fuck. When I've asked my female friends, they say yes, then, after getting them to explain, I find out they mean in a relationship.

          Never known a woman to give a pity fuck. Which is why the comic version of kickass is more realistic than the film.

          1. Coeus   11 years ago

            Almost every attractive guy I know.

            FIFM

          2. PapayaSF   11 years ago

            A former friend of a girlfriend was known for giving pity fucks. And she was hot-looking, too. So it can happen.

            1. Coeus   11 years ago

              I stand corrected. But I'd still bet it's rarer than hermaphrodites.

      3. paranoid android   11 years ago

        No love for Octavia Butler?

        1. Heroic Mulatto   11 years ago

          Her peak was in the mid 80's though, yeah? Which is notable in itself as I don't remember Xenogenesis having been written in a cyberpunk mode.

    2. Pro Libertate   11 years ago

      I like a few of her books okay. The Left Hand of Darkness and The Lathe of Heaven are better, I think.

      1. Heroic Mulatto   11 years ago

        You know, I actually like the cheesy 1980's public tv produced movie of The Lathe of Heaven better than the written version.

        Though, there is a patina of nostalgia on that observation.

        1. Pro Libertate   11 years ago

          That production was very well done, I thought. Shockingly so.

    3. Emmerson Biggins   11 years ago

      My opinion: commie bullshit.

      1. Emmerson Biggins   11 years ago

        More verbose: even when I was 20 I remember thinking "I thought this was going to be about anarchy, not communist totalitarianism. Wtf?"

  24. Carl ?s his ? for ?s   11 years ago

    People's Daily Rails Against Symptom of Western Penetration: Dog Ownership

    In recent years, China has experienced a massive boom in the number of proud pet owners and fluffy dogs walking its cities' streets. And the Chinese Communist Party evidently isn't so pleased about it.

    On Tuesday, the party's national newspaper penned a commentary that hammered against the phenomenon of inconsiderate pet owners, describing China's current "dog infestation" as "a reality we can't ignore." In the past, the paper wrote, it was mostly people in villages and farms who kept dogs as guard animals. The more recent urban trend of keeping dogs as pets, it wrote, could be attributed to influences from the West.

    "The number of pet dogs has grown at an alarming rate in the past ten to twenty years, and no matter which city or district you're in, it has become difficult to find a place without dogs," ran the commentary, published by the People's Daily. Many dog owners are lacking in the courtesy department, said the People's Daily, in a piece was accompanied online by five letters from the public complaining about their ruff encounters with socially inept canines and their obtuse owners.

    1. PD Scott   11 years ago

      Evidently we need to send some police over there to train the locals.

    2. MegaloMonocle   11 years ago

      Gosh. I see People's Daily railing against Western Penetration, and man, am I disappoint its about too many pets.

    3. Headless Body of Agnew   11 years ago

      They are worried about the trend's effect on the nation's food supply.

      /ducks, denounces himself for lacism

    4. Zeb   11 years ago

      I have to say, unless you have a lot of time to spend with it, owning a dog in the city is kind of shitty. Not that there should be a law or government policy about it.

  25. Brett L   11 years ago

    Jesus, I don't know who to bet on in the hair-pulling catfight between Orlando Bloom and Justin Bieber.

    Trigger warning: Autoplay video

    1. Brandon   11 years ago

      Why would you click on that?

      1. Restoras   11 years ago

        Is it like a bum fight but only funnier?

  26. Cytotoxic   11 years ago

    I'd just like to say there is nothing wrong with using a microwave in food preparation.

    1. Brandon   11 years ago

      Who said there was? I love my leftover deep-dish hot out of the microwave.

      1. Cytotoxic   11 years ago

        Playing with fire!

      2. PapayaSF   11 years ago

        Yuck. Reheat pizza in an oven or on a skillet.

        I found out that a skillet really works for reheating french fries.

    2. mad.casual   11 years ago

      Unless it's New York Style "Pizza".

      1. mad.casual   11 years ago

        damn.

    3. Atanarjuat   11 years ago

      A family friend works on an offshore tug. Occasionally they will haul in a huge wahoo or dolphin (mahi). I assume everyone knows this, but if you don't, seafood is 11ty billion times better when it's fresh. The more redneck sailors will filet the fish and to my friend's dismay, throw their portion in the microwave.

    4. a better weapon   11 years ago

      Unless you're preparing anything artisinal. When it comes to artisinal foods, anyone using anything but a handmade brick over and chopped wood is just faking it.

  27. Rufus J. Firefly   11 years ago

    Ok. Fine. She feels "some in the GOP are crazies". But is it her place to go after them like this? Of course not. Would it be right if a conservative head of the IRS said something similar only directed at liberals?

    It's asinine that the head of a TAX collection agency would be so vile.

    1. Restoras   11 years ago

      Unfortunately, it isn't asinine at all. It is completely sensible, predictable, and par for the course. Which is why we should have a flat tax.

      1. Atanarjuat   11 years ago

        True, tax collectors have been known to be assholes since at least 1st century Judea.

        1. gimmeasammich   11 years ago

          +1 Zacchaeus

  28. vserve629   11 years ago

    That guy seems to know what he is doing.

    http://www.WentAnon.tk

  29. MegaloMonocle   11 years ago

    Hillary, in my book, its not accurate to say you are dead broke unless you were selling plasma to buy Ramen noodles.

    I've been there. I've done that. And I will bet actual gold coins (none of that Federal Reserve trash) that you never have.

    1. Pro Libertate   11 years ago

      Given all the financial corruption that's hovered around her and her husband since the Arkansas days, one might suspect they have some money off the books, anyway.

      Seriously, in a sane world, she'd have been investigated and prosecuted by now, if not at least ejected from politics because of her corruption. Ditto for Bill Clinton.

    2. Brandon   11 years ago

      Well, they might've sold somebody's plasma.

    3. GILMORE   11 years ago

      "Plasma for Noodles!? NOODLES!? oooohhhhh!!! Arent YOU the fancy-lad!? And you had a house?? We used to live in one room, all 26 of us..."

    4. boomslang4   11 years ago

      +1 bruises.

  30. MegaloMonocle   11 years ago

    The economy unexpectedly grew at a 4 percent annual rate in the second quarter, compared to the 3 percent economists predicted.

    Uh-huh. And they've got some prime Florida real estate they can give you a deal on. Not swampy at all!

  31. sloopyinva (previously -inca)   11 years ago

    Those of you in either of the H&R fantasy football leagues last year, please check your email and let me know of you're gonna play again. If not, I'm sure there are some waiting to get in.

    If you weren't in but want to be so, please email me and I'll get you an invite. Space is limited,,so,be sure,to let me know,if,you want,to,be,one,of the cool kids.

    1. Brandon   11 years ago

      I'm in.

  32. a better weapon   11 years ago

    On one of yesterday's threads, I got a little overzealous on a story making the rounds on some of the comicbook blogs I frequent. Turns out it was true .

    I didn't originally include a link since I didn't want to drive traffic to what I thought was a BS story, but yeah, kind of feeling like a dick now. Anyways, it seems they found the sick fuck who assaulted the 17 year old cosplayer, which is a relief.

    The original stories said SDPD was asking for help, but they didn't have an investigation open or announcement like the story said. It turns out that it was actually Harbor Police. Between that and the whole Cosplayers for Consent group getting attention all last week, I jumped the gun. Time to recalibrate my bullshit detector.

  33. Coeus   11 years ago

    Whiny little bitches

    Government scientists can speak Southern after all.

    Oak Ridge National Laboratory has announced that in response to complaints from staff, it's canceling plans to hold a six-week "Southern Accent Reduction" course, the Knoxville News Sentinel reports.

    Officials at the scientific complex in east Tennessee said they had only been responding to an employee request. They've now responded to the anger of offended workers.

    "Given the way that it came across, they decided to cancel it," lab spokesman David Keim told the News Sentinel. "It probably wasn't presented in the right way and made it look like ORNL had some problem with having a Southern accent, which of course we don't. That was not the intent at all."

    As someone who uses his natural hick accent when he wants to be underestimated and his (relatively) neutral accent when he needs people to pay attention, I would have found this course invaluable.

    1. T   11 years ago

      My redneck tends to come out more when I'm mocking people for being pretentious know-it-alls. Or when I'm drunk and pissed off.

      1. Coeus   11 years ago

        Or when I'm drunk and pissed off.

        Yeah, same here. That one's not a choice. It's like the full moon for accents.

        1. Pro Libertate   11 years ago

          My accent, which is almost totally gone, comes back a wee bit when I'm around my Deep South relatives. And when I've had alcohol, though it's pretty faint even then these days.

          1. gimmeasammich   11 years ago

            This describes me. Up here in the "Nowth" you tend to get passed off as some sort of boob if you have an accent that isn't indicative of a city with a population of at least 2.5-3 million people. When I talk to my relatives on the phone or get drunk as a skunk (or both) I apparently have a "thick Southern accent." Personally I don't see anything wrong with it. It's nowhere near like my father's where he says things like "crick," "gee-tar," and doesn't pronounce the "g" at the end of any present participles, but I'm not too far off.

            I guess rambling on is a Southern thing too.

            1. Notorious G.K.C.   11 years ago

              I am a Southerner without a Southern accent, and my ancestry is impeccably Yankee (as in, New Englander), and English and German.

              And I retch at the idea of slavery.

              Still, this kind of accent bigotry makes me *wish* I could suddenly develop a Southern accent and start belting out lyrics like this:

              https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mz_GLcumolw

  34. Rasilio   11 years ago

    Uh-huh-unh

  35. DesigNate   11 years ago

    I hadn't considered that, but now that I think about it, I'm sure he probably does more than pot. NTTAWWT

  36. Bobarian   11 years ago

    He is, obviously, 'insane forever'.

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