But I am not.
Representative Paul Broun (R) Georgia came out recently with this gem “All that stuff I was taught about evolution and embryology and Big Bang theory, all that is lies straight from the pit of Hell” he is running UNOPPOSED for re-election. Better yet he is a medical doctor and to cap it all he sits on the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.
Believe it or not Broun is joined on that committee by Todd Akin (R) Missouri, his most recent claim to fame is that he is telling people that doctors are performing abortions on women who are NOT pregnant.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/02/todd-akin-abortion-providers_n_1934305.html
Where do we find these people?
Why do others vote for them?
But most of all why are THEY put in positions of authority over science and technology?
Boadicea's Chariot 
And this Broun is a medic, an MD, a Minor Deity in America? His former university should take his degree away.
Oh my God, just occasionally, or perhaps slightly more frequently, LW, I am glad I do not live in the US.
LW, there are two possibilities here as far as I can tell.Either he believes this stuff, or he is liar. Given the fact that he is a politician, I know which alternative I would go for.
Araminta, there is a lot of weird stuff in the USA, but there is a lot of good stuff and some excellent people too. Don’t forget Britain has been harbouring Captain Hook for the past few years at vast expense and the country also has ‘The Only Way is Essex!’.
Speaking of GA, I have just this minute got off Skype with a friend of mine in Atlanta. Totally shocking. I was best man at his wedding 12 years ago. I had not seen him since 2002. He comes on Skype this evening and I can see straight away that he was undergoing chemotherapy. I had no idea he was ill. My goodness, life can be a bitch. His appearance is just awful, though he remains cheerful. But this I know, he would not endorse Broun’s statements.
Sipu.
I actually like Americans, and I have spent a fair amount of time there in the past, and I’m even related to some of them, but I really would not want to live there.
LW have you noted that there are far more stray nutters, weirdos and complete odd balls running for the republicans than the democrats. AND voting for them! It makes your average straight forward socialist look quite reasonable these days.
We had a retired Lt. Colonel from the air force round for dinner the other night, a rabid republican,we had always thought him more than sensible, but he came out with such crap as I have never heard. The final crowning glory being that Obama was a practising muslim! Unfortunately his audience was me-British, two Canadians, a German and a New Yorker who all laughed in his face!
Oh dear, rather fucked the dinner party! Most embarrassing.
Spousal unit used to be, back in the days of Regan etc, a republican but he says there is no way he could vote for such a bunch of total foaming nutters. So many others I know say the same too. Everyone is asking WHAT HAPPENED to the Republican party?
One begins to wonder if someone has put something in the water!
sipu, I really do think you are wrong on this you would be horrified how many of them actually do believe the evolutionary crap. I know some myself that actually believe the world is only 500 years old and dinosaurs were contemporaneous with cave men! The real horror is that these are educated people with good degrees! BUT they are all religious nutters, which takes precedence intellectually. You would all be horrified how many people refuse to send their children to school now and home school them because they might be contaminated by biology lessons. We have neighbours who ‘home school’, the child is beautifully spoken and obviously clever but seems to be only able to be polite and herd goats! My gardener’s child too and several in my fibre groups have 3/4 children at home. The percentage of home schoolers is going up all the time here.
CO, I think any sensible Republican knows to keep his mouth shut; it is impossible to defend some of the things their leaders say, and they certainly know not to run for office themselves. The democratic process these days requires vast levels of dishonesty, which comes more naturally to those on the left, so those with ability and integrity keep out of it. It seems to me that it is the brightest people from the left and the thickest people from the right who seek political power.
CO, re your #6, I do accept what you say its just that I think it is more likely that Broun, as a politician would lie than tell the truth, so by deduction he must believe in evolution. I have no doubt that his audience believe in the creation story.
Sipu: I am sure much of this idiocy is “playing to the audience” both quotes were made at “Tea Party” events and so was Romney’s recent 47% quote. Why the candidates would think that this stuff would not become public these days is beyond belief, it is all over the internet in minutes whatever the event.
CO: Scary ain’t it? Lucky your guest is retired, I am sure slagging off the CIC is treasonable by a serving officer whoever he may be.
For the avoidance of doubt (Copyright JM) I am still a registered Republican, how I may vote is my own business.
I’ve got the perfect let out, can’t vote still a UK citizen, yipee on this one!
Spousal unit does the cool hauteur bit and points out the the ballot box is private.
I read a comment -sorry can’t remember which US website it was- about the upcoming election that copied Kissinger’s quote about the Iraq/Iran war (I’ve given Iraq preference just to be different). Romney/Obama
“It’s a pity they both can’t lose.”
TR: I can agree with that!
Arrers, how diplomatic! I agree.
Christina, so you married a Yank. Now I’m really confused about your decision-making. 🙂
Spousal unit is terribly Ivy League and votes democrat! Everyone thinks he is British nowadays, amazing considering he spent 28 years in Texas.
CO, those Ivy-Leaguers! My US boss was a Bostonian, ‘out of Yale’ and managed to sound like a cowboy.
Janus: So did George Bush #43, he even behaved like one.
Janus: I “became one” I still consider it one of my better decisions.
Interesting that I never felt the urge! Then we were advised to stay as we were because of property and taxes each end. So I never bothered, shan’t now, too old!
The US political system has become a parody of itself. The Republican party has become infected with nutters who would feel perfectly at ease, should they get over their religious affiliation, in Cairo or Riyadh.
The Democrats have long been infested by 1960s-era rejects who were nothing then and remain unable to offer anything now. Both parties are equally bad, although the Democrats are given cover by the media as the media are largely Democrats themselves. As for the Huffington Post… It’s worse than the Guardian.
I may have mentioned this before, but one of my professor’s is recommending me for a fellowship in Korea to study the Korean language, history, and culture. I should fairly easily be able to get a long-term work/study visa there that will allow me to live indefintitely in East Asia and permit me to travel to visit friends in Japan, Taiwan, China/HK, and fly off every so often to Europe to visit friends and family there.