Rubio and Roberston on Young Earth

[derspiess]

The problem is that he is willing to pander to special interests by giving credit to pseudoscience and conspiracy theory. Is this the kind of man you want with the nuclear trigger?

As I've stated, it doesn't bother me.  Not any more than Obama's answer to a similar question in 2008: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCmBgWdoOoE&feature=player_embedded#!  starts at 2:20

[garbon]

The problem is that he is willing to pander to special interests by giving credit to pseudoscience and conspiracy theory. Is this the kind of man you want with the nuclear trigger?

As I've stated, it doesn't bother me.  Not any more than Obama's answer to a similar question in 2008: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCmBgWdoOoE&feature=player_embedded#!  starts at 2:20

Obama's answer is a lot better. No claims of "I'm not a scientist!" Instead, Obama firmly placed biblical literalism as a discussion for Christian theology.

[derspiess]

The problem is that he is willing to pander to special interests by giving credit to pseudoscience and conspiracy theory. Is this the kind of man you want with the nuclear trigger?

As I've stated, it doesn't bother me.  Not any more than Obama's answer to a similar question in 2008: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCmBgWdoOoE&feature=player_embedded#!  starts at 2:20

Obama's answer is a lot better. No claims of "I'm not a scientist!" Instead, Obama firmly placed biblical literalism as a discussion for Christian theology.

It's equally vague.

[The Minsky Moment]

Rubio is a United States Senator serving on Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, including the subcomittees covering science and space, and communciations, technology and the internet among others.  He is one of a very small, select group of people who determine the science policy of the United States.  Thus, his apparent willingness to give credit to theories utterly at odds with basic facts known through science is a matter of general public concern.  Kind of like Ford's line about there being no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe casting doubt on his competence to manage foreign policy.

[garbon]

The problem is that he is willing to pander to special interests by giving credit to pseudoscience and conspiracy theory. Is this the kind of man you want with the nuclear trigger?

As I've stated, it doesn't bother me.  Not any more than Obama's answer to a similar question in 2008: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCmBgWdoOoE&feature=player_embedded#!  starts at 2:20

Obama's answer is a lot better. No claims of "I'm not a scientist!" Instead, Obama firmly placed biblical literalism as a discussion for Christian theology.

It's equally vague.

Sorry but it isn't. Much clearer what Obama's actual feeling is.

[derspiess]

Sorry but it isn't. Much clearer what Obama's actual feeling is.

So anything else you don't like about Rubio beyond this?

[garbon]

Rubio isn't really even on my radar yet, why do you ask?

[CountDeMoney]

Rubio is a United States Senator serving on Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, including the subcomittees covering science and space, and communciations, technology and the internet among others.  He is one of a very small, select group of people who determine the science policy of the United States.  Thus, his apparent willingness to give credit to theories utterly at odds with basic facts known through science is a matter of general public concern.

Lucky for us he's not as goofy as the rest of the Republicans on the Space, Science and Technology Subcommittee.

[sbr]

I think that becomes a relevant question considering he for a on that committee.

[Jacob]

Is Public Polling Policy a partisan outfit?

Some interesting numbers: http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/main/2012/12/republicans-not-handling-election-results-well.html

[derspiess]

Rubio isn't really even on my radar yet, why do you ask?

Just a little hunch back at the office.

[derspiess]

Is Public Polling Policy a partisan outfit?

Some interesting numbers: http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/main/2012/12/republicans-not-handling-election-results-well.html

They lean Democrat, but don't let that stop you.

[garbon]

Rubio isn't really even on my radar yet, why do you ask?

Just a little hunch back at the office.

[Barrister]

Rubio is a United States Senator serving on Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, including the subcomittees covering science and space, and communciations, technology and the internet among others.  He is one of a very small, select group of people who determine the science policy of the United States.  Thus, his apparent willingness to give credit to theories utterly at odds with basic facts known through science is a matter of general public concern.  Kind of like Ford's line about there being no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe casting doubt on his competence to manage foreign policy.

Well, no.  Ford's statement wasn't a matter of religious conviction.

Lots of religious faiths believe in lots of things that are at odds with our scientific understanding of things.  Catholics believe that the Eucharist transforms into the body of Christ.  Mormons believe that the Native Indians are the descendents of the 13th tribe of Israel.  But those beliefs, on their own, don't or shouldn't disqualify a Catholic from helping to decide food policy, or a Mormon trying to decide on archaeological issues.

Don't get me wrong - I have my undergrad in geology.  I well appreciate that the earth is 4.5 billion years old.  But let's not get too carried away in insulting the faith of others.



As an aside - I friend of mine in undergrad was a fundamentalist, and liked to argue about evolution with people.  I tried to take a different tact one night, and was trying to argue zircon dating.  He refused to discuss it, because he didn't "know very much about" that stuff, and couldn't therefore rebut my argument before I even started.

Still a nice guy though.  He just liked to be contrary.

[Jacob]

They lean Democrat, but don't let that stop you.

"They lean Democrat and are thoroughly biased and thus should be ignored" or "they lean Democrat but are a reputable source of numbers"?