I love when non-scientists try to impart their wisdom upon the scientific community. The scientists sit there and giggle at the sheer stupidity of it all.

This Republican ignorance shtick is wearing thin.

Without their Ignoramus in Chief covering their backs Senators like Inhofe will look sillier and sillier and become more and more isolated.

To compete in the future Republicans will simply have to do a better job recruiting qualified national leaders.

The scientists have stopped giggling. If there's one thing that the Bush Administration has taught them is that if you laugh at the anti-scientists, not only don't they go away, but they pass laws that defy known scientific facts.

This new crop of no-nothings has no shame. They can't be embarassed into being quiet. In fact, they will pay big money to shout down any voice of reason, with the view that if they are the only ones left in the debate they win. They've had so many defeats to learn from, and they believe so they never give up, even in the face of overwhelming evidence. The only time they change their tune, is one at a time, when their personal life suddenly requires modern science.

I used to, Katie. But I haven't been giggling at their expense for a few years now.

Using publications without first reading them looks like stupidity, but it is actually typical of blind, and rabid, ideaology. One is tempted to laugh, indeed, but it isn't funny at all, it is dangerous. It produced such things as the Salem witch trials.

This new crop of no-nothings has no shame.

True, but it's know-nothings. Sorry, pet language peeve.

Except for providing y'all with Mr. Barack Obama, we've been pretty lachrymose lately about our elected officials here in Illinois, but Oklahoma always comes along to make us feel a little better. Man, do I feel for progressive Okies.

It is know-nothings indeed, thanks. Next I'll be typing loose when I meant lose. Arghhhh ;)

"...he's a United States Senator" - Mr. Benen

As a benchmark of inherent intelligence and competence I don't think that one carries all that much weight.

Where do you draw the line between an extreme liberal and a socialist?

This seems like a fair question, sort of. The liberal wing of the Democratic Party is indeed not too far from most European social democratic or socialist parties. Now, social democracy today is not what it used to be, but the basic issue here is not that Inhofe is conflating the Democrats with moderate European socialist parties. It's that he's conflating moderate European socialist parties with Stalinism.

These ying yangs have been lying so long now that they actually believe their own lies. Case in point Inhofe.

Oklahoma and Inhofe go together like "explosive" and "diarrhea". The Senate "chamber" has an entirely different purpose for Inhofe.

Inhofe is proof that every ethnic slur has its basis in at least one realistic example. Watching him demonstrates where "Dumb Frakking Okie" comes from.

Inhofe is elected, and reelected, for one reason and one reason only - his rabid allegiance to big oil. His global warming shtick is just to give cover to the industry that has bought and paid for his blackened, shriveled soul; the sad part is just how bad he is at his argument. The guy is an embarrassment to Oklahoma, but then again, most of Oklahoma is an embarrassment to Oklahoma.

Incidentally, several of my Oklahoma friends and I have bets about the nature of the future scandal that will end his career. I have goats and a dead male hooker.

I have goats and a dead male hooker.

Nonsense. It's gonna be a live male hooker, dead goats, a gas-mask, and an exotically shaped piece of topiary.

Senator James Inhofe is a clown. And not a nice friendly clown but one of those mean clowns.

It is so hard to live in this state! But, one third of this state is progressive. One third of this state knows Inhofe is an IDIOT. One third of this state is not the majority.

I'm not sure its fair for people to bash the entire state. So, for the sake of my one third, please, when referring to the Okies in a negative light, refer say that two thirds of the state is full of "Damn Frakking Okies."

Some of us are educated. Oh, and I'm even an educated scientist!

Inhofe topped it off by asking, "Where do you draw the line between an extreme liberal and a socialist?"
*****************

More to the point, Where do you draw the line between lying sack of shit and a republican?

Man, do I feel for progressive Okies.

Hey, I'm stuck with John Cornyn aka "Big Bad John". Where's the love?

He argued that we're experiencing "global cooling."

Inhofe was chilly in his jammies when he awoke this morning. Proof positive there's no global warming.

Maybe in addition to age and residency requirements, we need to add a requirement for an IQ above 60.

Actually, he's conflating Democrats, moderate European socialists, and Stalinists - basically, the Rush Limbaugh/Sarah Palin/Joe The Plumber wing of American conservatism believes anybody to the left of Arlen Specter to be a Communist. This has been going on since at least the time of Joe McCarthy, if not earlier.

Steve Benen wrote: "Remember, this isn't just some drunk shouting at the end of a bar ..."

No, this is a bought-and-paid-for shill for the fossil fuel industry. Inhofe lies because he is paid to lie.

What is actually of greater concern to me than Inhofe's ExxonMobil-scripted BS is the statement by Obama's nominee for Secretary of Energy, Steven Chu, at his confirmation hearing this week that he supports the construction of more conventional coal-fired power plants, without carbon capture & sequestration technology. Of course, coal-fired power plants with CCS cannot be built, since the technology does not exist and will not exist for decades, if ever.

That is worse than disappointing, and very ominous for what it suggests about the Obama administration's energy policies, as opposed to the green rhetoric of Obama and Chu.

How do you draw the line between being a far right asshole and a nazi?

Where do you draw the line between a grotesque lying asshole and an idiot?

Whether Inhofe is the biggest embarassment to the Senate is up for debate, as there is some stiff competition (like from his own fellow OK Senator Tom Coburn). But as for the title of dumbest member of the Senate, well, Inhofe wins that one going away. There's not one cogent thought in that man's head.

Hey, I'm stuck with John Cornyn aka "Big Bad John". Where's the love?

Sorry I forgot you, ck--you know I got teh love for you from way back--but right now we're a little busy up here trying to get our governor convicted and Bobby Rush to shut up.

And, hey, Tejas may get a blue senator if Kay steps down, as evidenced by the GOP begging her to stay, so there is hope on the horizon of the brazos for y'all. I can't see OK sending a Dem to the Senate under any circumstances. I would love to be wrong about that!

basically, the Rush Limbaugh/Sarah Palin/Joe The Plumber wing of American conservatism believes anybody to the left of Arlen Specter to be a Communist.

No, I'm fairly certain this isn't right. I'm sure they think Specter is a communist too.

Okies who believed in the Dust Bowl moved to California. Others beieved, but stayed and toughed it out because they trusted that the New Deal would their lives and farms. And some disbelieved the sandy, gritty wind, and stayed because they were clinically insane.

Hee, Sparko.

Tony Blair was head of the Labour Party.
The Labour Party is part of the Socialist International.
George W. Bush presented Tony Blair with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
QED, George W. Bush is a socialist.

If only Kristin Chenoweth would move back to Okalhoma and run for the Senate. Perhaps some of Imhofe's supporters would mix up fiction and reality and recall her days on "The West Wing"!

If only Kristin Chenoweth would move back to Okalhoma... -Vincent

Well, she'll be free now since Pushing Daisys didn't get picked up.

A real shame, too.

"basically, the Rush Limbaugh/Sarah Palin/Joe The Plumber wing of American conservatism believes anybody to the left of Arlen Specter to be a Communist"

And they're not too sure about Arlen. He's a Jew and he DID used to be a Democrat also.

"Remember, this isn't just some drunk shouting at the end of a bar ..."

Yes he is, its just that we're buying.

Obviously Inhofe will now be invited to dinner at the White House. I mean, Captain Hopey Changey needs to hear every argument doesn't he? Can't let those wonderful Republicans think that their ridiculous policy positions and arguments are truly ridiculous.

Maybe they can eat some fish together.

You left Orrin Hatch off the list of contenders. An accidental oversight, I'm sure.

Inhofe, has Palin and Coulter as his brain trust.

No, he's a drunk Senator shouting at the end of the bar. Combine that with the Tomnibus (Coburn's obstruction of 160 bills )that passed last Sunday, I'm embarrassed to let anyone know I'm from the state.

Please don't let these asshats color your opinion of Oklahomans, we're not all frothing, raving lunatics.

Inhofe topped it off by asking, "Where do you draw the line between an extreme liberal and a socialist?"

I've been hearing Republicans stupidly conflate and equate Liberalism with Socialism. The fact that there are two words should in itself indicate there are two things -- two separate things which they refer to. But, Republicans don't get that. It's too simple. I have tried to explain to them the difference, but it's tiring and they are very slow. So, these days I just refer them to the internet. I say, "It's not my job to educate you. Go look it up on the Internet."

I don't think they ever do. Certainly Inhofe could if he wanted and hasn't.

When there are two words it usually indicates there are two things which are, at least in some ways, not the same. To think they are one and the same indicates a basic stupidity and willful ignorance which should disqualify someone from being a member of government.

These days there appears to be more in common between Republicans and Socialists. They believe in more government domination of Society than any Liberal does and they both believe in taking from the many to redistribute as they see fit.

Liberals, like most all Dems, believe in a limited government...perhaps activist, but limited.

Precisely what limits has the Republican Bush administration recognized?

Once you've drawn the line between liberal and socialist..

What do you DO with this information?

Perhaps it might be useful to have FOUR classes clearly identified:

Socialist - Liberal - Conservative - Fascist.

You get to draw the S - L line, we get to draw the C-F line. Or we can draw our own sides, if you prefer.

It could be very educational.