Pollster.com

LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME!!!

I'M NOT CAMPAINGING ANYMORE!!!

LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME!!!

I’M BEING SELFLESS AND BOYCOTTING THE DEBATE!!!

LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME!!!!

I’M NOT TRYING TO GET VOTERS ATTENTION!!!

LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME!!!

God bless you John McCain, you are the most honest, straightforward, and selfless person I know, and if you don’t show up to that debate, I’m not voting for you.

Uh Katie, I have Katie, New Palin comments from Couric interview, OK Katie:

http://www.tunc.biz/couric_fan.htm

"We all live in a climate, Katie, and it changes. If you read the Bible there are some serious climate changes going on during that busy six days. In Alaska we feel the effects of climate change everyday. It''s getting warmer for polar bears, so they won''t need such thick coats. I guess we all have to adapt."

@1magine:

Unfortunately for you, most Americans believe the Creation story and will like that comment rather than be put off by it.

Newsweek - "According to the latest NEWSWEEK poll. Nine in 10 (91 percent) of American adults say they believe in God and almost as many (87 percent) say they identify with a specific religion. Christians far outnumber members of any other faith in the country, with 82 percent of the poll ’s respondents identifying themselves as such."

Sorry, but you are in the minority here, big time.

@boomshak:

I think you are drawing a false conclusion from that data. You are equating being a Christian with believing in the literal truth of the Creation story; they are not the same.

Fundamentalist Christians believe that the Bible is literally true. However, many, if not a majority, of USA Christians are not fundamentalists and thus do not believe the Creation story is literally true.

Roman Catholic orthodoxy, for example, is that the Bible is Truth, but not historical fact. The teaching authority of the RC Church -- note that we are a quarter of Americans -- says that the two (read Genesis closely, there are two stories) Creation stories explain underlying truths about humanity, the universe, and God as the ultimate cause through metaphor not actual fact.

Thus, many Christians would disagree with Gov Palin, rather sharply in fact. And note that God has told us to take care of His creation.

@SeamlessGarment:

I am a Christian and do not believe in the literal Creation Story (I believe it is allegorical), but that doesnee the charm in Sarah's comments here.

In other words, I think a majority of people will be charmed by her commenst more than put off.

Also, "taking care of God's creation" means taking care of things we have control over and global warming ain't one of them. Carbon Dioxide on Earth is a "trace" gas as is not dense enough to have any measurable effect at all on global warming.

The Earth has warmed slightly in the past 100 years due to a natural cycle following a mini-ice age. Good thing too, unless of course you prefer a mile of ice over Manhatten.

http://www.tunc.biz/couric_fan.htm

"We all live in a climate, Katie, and it changes. If you read the Bible there are some serious climate changes going on during that busy six days. In Alaska we feel the effects of climate change everyday. It''s getting warmer for polar bears, so they won''t need such thick coats. I guess we all have to adapt."

@boom - the question was about climate change. Scary answer from a scary lady.

If every sperm is sacred - than so is every egg - so we should legislate that girls should be married at 13, so as to prevent any possible loss of the potential for human life by allowing a girl to have her period (G-d's punishment) out of wed-lock.

@ Boom
The series of polls from gallop I have seen are confusing as majorities think both evolution and creationism are true. However Pro-Evolution voters are far more likely to rule out a candidate that disagrees with them then are creationist voters are likely to support a candidate that agrees with them. So I would say it hurts Palin as creationists do not vote on the issue but pro-Evolution people do.

Jun 2007 Gallup Evolution, that is, the idea that humans developed over million from less advanced forms of life
Evolution definitely true 18%
Evolution probably true 35%
Evolution probably not true 16%
Evolution definitely not true 28%

In other words 53% of people believe in evolution compared to 40% that do not.

And

Jun 2007 Creationism, the idea, that God created humans pretty much in their present form at one time in the last 10,000 years
Creationism definitely true 39%
Creationism probably true 27%
Creationism probably false 16%
Creationism definitely false 15%

56% of Americans believe in creationism
31% do not.

Finally the gallop poll of registered voters asks "if a candidate stated (s)he did not believe in the theory of evolution that would that would make you?

Much more likely to vote for them 8%
A little more likely to vote for them 7%
A little less likely to vote for them 14%
Much less likely to vote for them 15%
Not make a difference 53%

CLASSIC POST HOC ARGUMENT:

1. Carbon levels are increasing.
2. Man causes carbon.
3. The earth is warming.
4. Therefore it must be due to carbon since both are icreasing at the same time.
5. Man causes global warming.
6. If man stops creating carbon, global warming will stop.

Well, following that logic let's see. I've been alive for 48 years. During that time I have gotten much taller. The earth has warmed during the last 48 years.

ME GETTING TALLER IS CAUSING GLOBAL WARMING! I NEED AL GORE TO SELL ME HEIGHT CREDITS!

Rediculous.

@GboroNC:

Thanks for confirming my point. BTW, these hardcore "activist" evolution believers who would never vote for someone who believes in Creationism were likely not to vote McCain/Palin anyway.

So she pisses off people she never had and solidifies her base.

Good politics to me.

Wait a second. Is that a real quote from Palin? I thought it was a joke. Seriously, is it real?

@ Boom

I would not be so sure passionate evolution would not vote for McCain if he had chosen someone else. People vote on a wide range of issues and I am sure of those 29% at least some are fiscally conservative, anti-tax, or believe in a hawkish foreign policy and now may be torn or voting for Obama. There are plenty of conservative Non Judeo-Christians in America, I know quite a few, and it does not help McCain/Palin to bring up this wedge issue on which he has the smaller piece of the pie among voters that care about the issue.

Creationism is popular so it's probably true.

400 years ago 99.94 percent of people thought the sun orbited around the earth, so that had to be true as well.

I mean there is like no evidence to support evolution right?

except:

when somebody creeps up behind you while you are on the computer and startles you and turns on your autonomic nervous system which lowers the temperature of your skin by 2 degrees because the blood was sent to your muscles so you could run away or kick some butt.

or when you start getting angry because someone is trash talking creationism because anger is an emotion that prevents the release of stress hormones but increases adrenaline in order to allow you to overcome an obstacle without feeling hurt.

or when just has enough of something and decided that you won't finish reading it because its causing you more stress and your immune system is telling you that you are vulnerable and need to change the situation.

yep, that's all NOT evidence.

Thank god the schools in this country are banned from teaching this, or how else would fundamental radical extremist Christians be able to rule this country?

and I look forward to your angry illogical remarks at how stupid and ignorant I really am.

The science of global warming is pretty clear Boom. I didn't realize there were still people denying it. Wow. I'm getting my education today for sure.

Did you hear the latest GAFFE from Biden?

He said regarding Iraq: "The surge is over and there has been no reconciliation in Iraq".

Huh? THIS is the Dem Ticket's "Foreighn Policy Expert". Does he even read the newspaper? I see an excellent commercial here.

You know, you libs love to squawk about Palin being "a heartbeat away", but this joker Biden is just a NUT.

Doesn't that trouble you at all? Can you honestly imagine a President Biden making some new incredible gaffe every day?

Evolution is only a theory. It is not a proof. Scientists willingly admit that they lack evidence of what the "strong force" is that holds atoms together. By their very nature, atoms should be exploding, not holding together.

It is possible that everyone involved is right. Meaning that the scientists have discovered most of how the universe was created. That the literal time line as given in the Bible of 6 days was correct. And that the "strong force" holding the atoms of our existence together is God.

So teach in schools the stuff that we know and then leave the unknowns up to people to decide for themselves. I personally believe in God and that God created everything, but that doesn't mean evolution didn't happen - that was just God's way of doing it.

Okay, I had to look it up since nobody answered me. That Palin quote at the top of these comments is a spoof.

@Babbit:
"The science of global warming is pretty clear Boom. I didn't realize there were still people denying it. Wow. I'm getting my education today for sure."

Good god man, you can't be serious? Man-made Global Warming has been exposed as a hoax by some of the greatest scientific minds in climatology today. Where the hell have you been?

Since you seem a bit thick on the issue, let me explain:

There is VERY LITTLE Carbon Dioxide in our atmosphere. That is why it is called a "trace gas". In order for a gas to retain enough of the sun's radiation to warm the earth, it must be VERY VERY DENSE (like Venus, for example).

Saying that Man-made Carbon Dioxide is warming earth's atmosphere is like saying a single match could warm a swimming pool of cool water.

What does cause global warming:
1. Varying Sun Activity.
2. The Earth's Orbit around the Sun.
3. Water and Water Vapor.
4. Volcanic Eruptions (actually cools the earth).

The fossil record shows that carbon dioxide levels increase from global warming, not cause it.

The earth has warmed and cooled over and over again for millenia. To attribute the .3 degree rise in the last 100 years to man just because we happen to be here is not scientific - it is idiotic.

BTW, which planet in the solar system has seen the most global warming in the last 100 years? Hint: It's not earth.

Answer: Mars.

No SUV's on Mars.

Very recently evolution was proven in a laboratory. Richard Lenski’s U. of Michigan experiment started in 1988 observed E-Coli in a controlled experiment for 40,000 generations (20 years) until in 2008 the E-Coli evolved so their colonies could transport and incorporate citric acid.

Whether or not evolution is a proven fact is not at issue because it contradicts many people’s faith in the infallibility of the Bible and trying to dispute faith with facts is very difficult.

@Babbit:

"Okay, I had to look it up since nobody answered me. That Palin quote at the top of these comments is a spoof."

Lol, ok, got me. Funny joke actually - well done :)

@GboroNC:

I believe in God and Evolution.

The question is, do you believe God is 1) a architect or 2) and gardner?

THE ARCHITECT:
The architect designs every single aspect of the house. Everything is done step by step and according to plan.

THE GARDNER:
The gardner prepares the ground, plants the seed and tends the crop. he lets the seed do what seeds do.

I think of God more as a Gardner. He planted the seed of life not knowing exactly what flowers would grow. He tends the garden, buy the seeds grow as they grow. More fun that way.

What fun would God have if he knew exactly how each creation would turn out?

To me this allows for evolution.

I tend to think of God as a gardener as well and believe personally that God guided the process of evolution though that is based on my faith rather than facts.

I rarely think a debate on faith is worth getting into because of the nature of faith and the fact that people often take an I am right you are wrong mentality about it. That is what I was implying with the apples and oranges thing I mentioned before facts can be proven and disproven faith cannot.

Gboro is right, there is no point debating something that can't be proven.

you can now add GOD to the list:

Unicorns
Leprechauns
Vampires
Santa
Werewolves
Mermaids
Voodoo
Ghosts
Zombies
Aliens

and all the other things that adults over the age of 13 should not heavily consider when voting for president, mainly because they just flat out don't matter, and can't be proven that they ever will matter.

I love that these posts happened after the announcement of an internet interruption.

For the record, I think organic evolution is absolutely established as a valid scientific theory (like gravitation--the folks who say "theory=hypothesis" are misinformed). Not "believing" in evolution is the prerogative of people who don't know much about it, but it's not an informed opinion.

God is a different matter, and his/her/its existence is beyond proof or scientific disputation. Personally, I believe that whether or not "God exists" depends on what's meant by "God". The Bible is largely nonsensical, and Jehovah is one weird deity, but if you want to believe in all that, nobody has a right to say you can't.

The God I can believe in is the one all religions point to but none can encompass.

And that's why I support Obama. Heh, heh.

Despite the absurdly self-righteous attitudes of McCain/Palin supporters, the Golden Rule doesn't seem to rate very high on their priority list. How do they work "Love thy neighbor" into foreign policy?

I love it when people of "faith" try to argue with science. They have virtually nothing to prove their points and therefore defend them like thier lives.
I know of NO ONE who is well educated and does not beleive in CO2 caused global warming. If you posit those concepts you only show your ignorance and inability to get beyond AM Radio for your intellectual discourse.
As for evolution, it is a well based theory in science, not without missing parts of the story, but well based in observable evidence. Christianity is a faith wholey absent of observable proof other than the mortal. If you prefer to beleive in improbably magic to explain everything, you should at least have some proof instead of simply saying it.
If you beleive in imaginary friends that you talk to (one way conversation) some say you are mentally unfit....

How little respect one has for a God if one can't imagine said God had evolution as part of the Plan.

Please tell me that she didn't really say something that is so lame, inarticulate, and scary all at the same time? If she did say those things about creation, climate change and polar bear coats, then she truly is nothing more (and perhaps less) than George W. (whom Paul Begala tonight on CNN aptly characterized as a "high-functioning moron") in lipstick.

Evolution is theory proven. John McCain has evolved from a reasonable person to a knuckle-dragging troglodyte. Any guesses about him showing up tomorrow in MS. I say no. All in - with the conservative GOP in Congress. Please wear a helmet tomorrow. The DOW will crash . If not on Friday then Monday.

Joalpepo

Palin is a nut job, but that story is a spoof. Interesting that the supposedly bizarre quote is so close to her actual beliefs that it fooled people. The real Couric interview was a sad enough thing anyway.

It's plain and simple.

Hey, let's face it, the media has decided that Obama is going to be our next president and they'll stop at nothing to make it happen.

And, God help this country if Obama does becomes president.

He'll tax our way from an economic downturn straight into a depression.

He'll aline our country with Hugo Chavez and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Kiss Isreal goodbye. Obama, the radical leftist, won't stand up for our only ally in the Middle East. In fact as all of our allies in Europe are moving to the right will be alienating them as well.

And, he's already said that he WILL take away conservative American's right to free speach. Yes Obama supports that so-called "fairness doctrine" bill (which, ironically, really isn't fair at all) that would limit free speach. That is, it would limit free speach for those who oppose Obama's leftist points of view. Sound like Chavez's Venezuela or Ahmadinejad's Iran to me. But, that is what Obama is going to do. And, the reality is that the leftist in this country never wanted the right to have a voice to begin with.

Just remember, in all the years that Bush was in office he never tried to limit the free speech of those who disagreed with him.

And, lets not forget all those people to whom Obama has promised a nice big fat check if they vote for him (Obama likes to call it a tax deduction - but, most American's don't realize that you will pay the same amount in taxes - except that under Obama, you'll get a rebate check at the end of the year). And, yes I'd get my check. But, my vote can't be bought.

@ Basil

When I first read the quote, I knew it had to be a joke. But others were debating the point so seriously that it made me think that maybe she actually said that! So the most telling part of this dialogue is that Boomshak and others are defending the fictionalized statements as if Palin might actually have said something akin to that. Sadly, it appears that she is more than capable of spewing such crapola, since the made-up statement resembles so closely the tone and substance of other statements she made in the Couric interview.

@boomshak

You said:
"Good god man, you can't be serious? Man-made Global Warming has been exposed as a hoax by some of the greatest scientific minds in climatology today. Where the hell have you been?

What world to you think you're in? It can't be this one.

How about supplying a link to substantiate that aburd statement.

I mean from atmospheric scientitst, not just one or two odd balls. The overwhelming majority of people with real credentials in this area think is is probably true.

(This is about as civil as I can get when dealing with posters like boomshak.)