What Next for Conservatives (Creationism and spending are destroying the Republican Party)

townhall.com ^ | 11/17/2005 | George Will

[curiosity]

The storm-tossed and rudderless Republican Party should particularly ponder the vote last week in Dover, Pa., where all eight members of the school board seeking re-election were defeated. This expressed the community's wholesome exasperation with the board's campaign to insinuate religion, in the guise of "intelligent design'' theory, into high school biology classes, beginning with a required proclamation that evolution "is not a fact.''

[NewLand]

Intelligent design is only provocative to liberals, atheists, leftists, and over educated elitists.

And some of those you describe are right here on FR, posing as conservatives...

[ml1954]

But independents aren't quite the same as undecideds.... The undecideds never do, and they vote emotionally, making their decision at the last possible moment. They'll do whatever makes them feel good about themselves. And if the MSM keeps telling them the republicans are idiots, they'll vote dem.

That just about sums up MTV's political strategy, just to name one the most blatant examples.

[ml1954]

Dodge, duck, and attempt to change the subject noted.

[jwalsh07]

:-}, you lose. Come back again when you have some data backing up your wishful thinking.

[185JHP]

BTTT

[ml1954]

:-}, you lose. Come back again when you have some data backing up your wishful thinking.

This wasn't a discussion about me winning or loosing. I'm not personalizing this, you are.

It's a fact that the Dover School board lost. It's also a fact that ID/Creationism wasn't an issue in the 2004 election. But it's becoming one now. The Chicago Tribune has had front page stories at least three times in the past month on this. In addition, the recent Sunday edition featured an entire front page editorial section on this issue with three separate articles. These are facts.

[little jeremiah]

Absolutely. There are definitely agent provacatuer, seminiar posters, Democrat and even Repubican agents, attempting to steer the discussion in various ways.

Then there's just the regular nutcases.

[aNYCguy]

LOL. So in your world, no one is allowed to have a viewpoint unless they are trained in that field.

I didn't hear him say that. But I did hear him ask about three times for you to provide a little evidence of your claims.

[aNYCguy]

All Christians are creationists. The most important words in the Old Testament are contained in Genesis 1:1. If you don't believe those words, you certainly can not have any belief in a Son of God.

Please explain clearly why this is true. You might want to read up on the "No True Scotsman" fallacy first.

Either way, your post has nothing to do with evolution.

[aNYCguy]

Come back again when you have some data backing up your wishful thinking.

You agree that the Dover school board incumbents lost the election, correct? Would you like supporting data for this fact?

[shuckmaster]

Good article! For a good example of what he's talking about just take a look at this thread and notice how many trolls come around trying hard to project the image that conservatism is synonymous with pig ignorance.

[little jeremiah]

I was using an illustration, figure of speech. You guys are as thick as a cement wall and have as much sense of humor as a Sunday edition of the NYT.

[Oztrich Boy]

But how will the US reach an accomodation with the Muslim world if it doesn't reject evolution?

[Oztrich Boy]

Actually, I though evos believed not that we descended from apes, but that we had a common ancestor.

Humans are apes. It's not a big deal

[ml1954]

But how will the US reach an accomodation with the Muslim world if it doesn't reject evolution?

As a delaying tactic, we send the IDers over there. That should keep somebody busy doing something for 10 or 15 years. Or vice versa. Either way, we buy time.

[Oztrich Boy]

You are waisting your time trying to reason with the evos. You have a better chance with the Taliban.

Well, duh! The Taliban are Creationists

[Oztrich Boy]

Depends upon your definition of "creationism." If it's God as fundamental creator, prime cause, first cause, originator, etc., then you're right. If it's in the vein of "a global flood formed the Grand Canyon and man lived with dinosaurs 6,000 years ago", well, there are many dissenters.

What aout "God acted just enough to make evolution false, but not so much as we can prove?"

[Torie]

Creationism will affect local school board elections, as it should. I would myself vote against any school board member getting near that topic. But that is about it. Congressmen are into totally avoiding this topic, which is wise, but I would never change my vote over this rather trivial issue. Yes, I find it trivial. There are at least about 20 isssues that interest me more. And so it goes.

Notice how I change my tone, when it comes to a policy matter, as opposed to a robes matter. I do that fairly often. I wish more folks did. :)

[little jeremiah]

I hope that you're taking advantage of the free needle exchange program.

[Oztrich Boy]

What percentage of those that 'oppose evolution' do you think are Republicans?

Creationism has most support with "poor, female, Afro-American, did not graduate High school"