Archive for February 12th, 2009
February 12th, 2009
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Yesterday, I told you here that the latest Gallup Poll on the matter shows that only 39 percent of Americans believe in evolution, a scandalously low number.
Today, I tell you that internal numbers from that poll SHOW that education is a strong indicator of which side you take in the controversy.
The less education you have, the less likely you are to believe in evolution. And, of course, if you’re schooling has been relatively advanced, you’re far more likely to take the opposite view.
Make of that what you will, but I like to think of it as a big difference between ignorance and intelligence. Putting it another way, some folks are more evolved than others.
POSTSCRIPT: A survey conducted three years ago in the United States, Japan and 32 European countries SHOWED that only Turkey, where Islamic fundamentalists hold great sway, has a lower percentage of people who believe in evolution than America does.
Let’s all cheer: USA! USA! USA!
February 12th, 2009
 
Republican Judd Gregg’s withdrawal from the Obama Cabinet is weird on several counts, not least of which is that he lobbied for the job to begin with.
He’s also denouncing the stimulus bill after having VIRTUALLY ENDORSED it last week:
“I have recused myself from voting during the pendency of my nomination,” Gregg, a New Hampshire Republican, told CNBC.
Earlier in the program he said he was “not really engaged in the stimulus bill,” but that he did believe “we need one.”
“We need a robust one,” he added. “I think the one that’s pending is in the range we need. I do believe it’s a good idea to do it at two levels, which this bill basically does, which is immediate stimulus and long-term initiatives which actually improve our competitiveness and our productivity.”
Sounds like a double-agent.
UPDATE: Upon reflection, I think this episode will redound to Obama’s benefit in the long run. It’s another example of the president reaching out to Republicans in the spirit of bipartisanship and getting rebuffed.
Frankly, I didn’t understand why Obama went with Gregg to begin with. He’s not a moderate. He’s a right-winger.
I’ll give Gregg credit for mustering at least a little grace as he headed out the door. Said he: “I greatly admire President Obama and know our country will benefit from his leadership.”
UPDATE II: Andrew Sullivan has an INTERESTING TAKE on the matter.
UPDATE III: Random thought:
If the stakes weren’t so serious, it sure would be fun to watch the extremist machinations of the party that got us into this mess.
Those people just can’t imagine their gang of plutocrats and theocrats losing power.
Another problem for them is that the unofficial leaders of their party are the notorious Rush Limbaugh and Sarah Palin. What a dilemma!
February 12th, 2009
The Republicans who vote against the stimulus bill will be voting against HUGE TAX CUTS – presumably just out of spite.
February 12th, 2009
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Merrill Lynch was grossly mismanaged, took billions in bailout funds from taxpayers — and paid 700 of its employees BONUSES of more than $1 million each.
Is it any wonder that some Americans have notions of taking up torches and pitchforks and marching on Wall Street?
February 12th, 2009
 
Which of these two 19th century giants, both of whom were born 200 years ago today, was more important?
In a piece published last summer in Newsweek, THIS GUY says it was Lincoln. I agree.
What say you?
UPDATE: In case you missed it, local attorney Tom Johnson has a NICE LITTLE PIECE in today’s Register Star about Lincoln’s connections with Rockford.
UPDATE II: THIS COLUMN in The New York Times helps humanize Darwin, whom most of us tend to regard, out of ignorance, as only a scientist.
UPDATE III: How’s THIS for nonsense? A new Gallup Poll shows that Americans rate Ronald Reagan and John Kennedy on par with Lincoln among our greatest presidents. In reality, Reagan and Kennedy were relative mediocrities compared to Lincoln. And neither of them were anywhere near the equal of George Washington or Franklin Roosevelt, either. Elementary and secondary schools aren’t teaching history very well these days.
UPDATE IV: Lincoln historian Doris Kearns Goodwin delivered an INTERESTING SPEECH the other night in observance of Abe’s 200th birthday.
