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You are here: Home / Politics / Domestic Politics / I’d watch every debate if candidates were asked these questions

I’d watch every debate if candidates were asked these questions

by Kay|  December 8, 201112:27 pm| 141 Comments

This post is in: Domestic Politics

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I’m just going to post this entire comment, exchange btwn Kaine and Allen and analysis (via TPM) and accompanying comment (via El Cid), because it’s great:

Allen criticized Kaine for accepting the role of chairman of the Democratic National Committee, saying he should have spent his final year as governor on state priorities, “not the national partisan role of advocating for the likes of, not only President Obama’s policies, but those of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid.”

“The likes of President Obama?” Kaine responded.

“Well, the policies and agenda of President Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid,” said Allen. “Were you or were you not advocating for their agenda? And their agenda surely wasn’t consistent with what’s in the best interests of the people of Virginia.”

“Wiping out al-Qaeda?” Kaine responded “Stopping the Iraq War? Saving the auto industry? Is that not being consistent with Virginia’s interests? I just see it a different way than you do, George.”

The candidates were asked about conservative proposals to declare that life begins at conception. Kaine opposed this, explaining that it would not only outlaw abortion, but would outlaw contraception such as the birth control pill and intra-uterine devices.

Allen said that defining life as beginning at conception would not outlaw contraception, as “contraception” means stopping conception — that is, preventing fertilization from taking place.

Later on, there was this awkward exchange with a moderator:

Moderator: Could you tell us, how do you think birth control pills and intra-uterine devices work?

Allen: I’m not – I don’t profess to be a doctor. i’m just using logic of — maybe a little bit of Latin, that contraception means it stops conception – and so you do not have a fertilized egg.

Moderator: Don’t they work by preventing implantation of a fertilized egg?

Allen: Well if the egg is not fertilized, there is not conception.

When Kaine’s turn came up to speak, he explained that the common birth control pill works by a dual mechanism — both preventing fertilization, and preventing successful implantation when fertilization does occur. Also, he added, intra-uterine devices work singly by preventing implantation.

I want to see major debates on basic knowledge.

Why do things fall? What does blood do? Does everyone think in English? Do ghosts weigh a lot? Why is there light and heat here on Earth?

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Reader Interactions

141Comments

  1. 1.

    Paul in KY

    December 8, 2011 at 12:30 pm

    Great snippet. Gov. Kaine is going to have fun making Allen look like a dipshit.

  2. 2.

    different-church-lady

    December 8, 2011 at 12:30 pm

    I want to see major debates on basic knowledge. Why do things fall? What does blood do? Does everyone think in English? Do ghosts weigh a lot? Why is there light and heat here on Earth?

    MODERATOR: “Senator, which bit is your ass, and which bit is your elbow?”

  3. 3.

    Mudge

    December 8, 2011 at 12:30 pm

    The objective of the “life begins at conception” movement is to ban contraceptives. Period. Allen misundertsands everything about the science and the issue.

  4. 4.

    Mike Goetz

    December 8, 2011 at 12:31 pm

    Allen’s a walking disaster.

    Anybody else have the feeling that this 2012 election may not work out quite the way Republicans hoped? I’m even beginning to think Repubs may not take the Senate after all.
    Just a hunch.

  5. 5.

    Hunter Gathers

    December 8, 2011 at 12:32 pm

    I doubt that Allen can tie his own fucking shoes at this point. Sweet Jeebus what a fucking moron. Kaine’s not my favorite, but at least he has shown that he can fight the stupid.

  6. 6.

    KG

    December 8, 2011 at 12:32 pm

    @different-church-lady: ok, and now which is your ass and which is the hole in the ground?

  7. 7.

    Culture of Truth

    December 8, 2011 at 12:33 pm

    @Mudge:

    The objective of the “life begins at conception” movement is to ban contraceptives. Period. Allen misundertsands everything about the science and the issue.

    Or understands it all too well.

  8. 8.

    KG

    December 8, 2011 at 12:33 pm

    @Mike Goetz: my gut is that the Dems are going to win big. I actually think that they may take back the House.

  9. 9.

    different-church-lady

    December 8, 2011 at 12:33 pm

    @Mike Goetz: MA-Senate, Warren’s now up 7 points over Brown in one poll.

  10. 10.

    Culture of Truth

    December 8, 2011 at 12:36 pm

    Why do things fall? What does blood do? Does everyone think in English? Do ghosts weigh a lot? Why is there light and heat here on Earth?

    “Look, I’m not a physicist, or a doctor, or historian, or a paranormal investigator, or a heatologist – I’m just a humble caveman. Some scientists found me and thawed me out and now I’m running for President.”

  11. 11.

    Yutsano

    December 8, 2011 at 12:36 pm

    @Mike Goetz: I’m okay with this attitude as long as we don’t let up. The work is still left to be done and we still have people to convince.

  12. 12.

    David in NY

    December 8, 2011 at 12:37 pm

    I note that the GOS accompanies posts like this with an actual picture of a fertilized egg. Doesn’t say by how many times it is magnified, but certainly many. I think this is worthwhile. Puts in perspective what’s being given precedence over the life of an actual, living human being.

  13. 13.

    Culture of Truth

    December 8, 2011 at 12:39 pm

    Leggo o’ my eggo!

  14. 14.

    Schlemizel

    December 8, 2011 at 12:43 pm

    Facts? Knowledge? We don’t need no stinkin’ knowledge! We are a simple man of the people, the guy you want to have a beer with, relies more on his gut than experts – unlike you elitist, egghead types.

    While I would want to watch a debate like this I don’t think the average moderator knows enough to ask the questions or a decent follow up & HEYTHEKARDASIANSAREON!

  15. 15.

    fasteddie9318

    December 8, 2011 at 12:47 pm

    @David in NY:

    I note that the GOS accompanies posts like this with an actual picture of a fertilized egg. Doesn’t say by how many times it is magnified, but certainly many. I think this is worthwhile. Puts in perspective what’s being given precedence over the life of an actual, living human being.

    Well, to be fair it’s an actual, living subordinate female human. I mean, some of these aborted fetuses would have developed into full male members of the species so, you know, priorities.

  16. 16.

    chopper

    December 8, 2011 at 12:47 pm

    jesus Allen, that’s some cask-strength stupid right there. ooh, flashing some o that latin! that’ll be sure to impress people.

  17. 17.

    gnomedad

    December 8, 2011 at 12:47 pm

    @Schlemizel:

    We are a simple man of the people, the guy you want to have a beer with, relies more on his gut than experts

    You know — a moron.

  18. 18.

    jrg

    December 8, 2011 at 12:48 pm

    The fact that Allen doesn’t have a clue what he’s talking about means he hasn’t been indoctrinated by, like, books and stuff.

  19. 19.

    chopper

    December 8, 2011 at 12:49 pm

    why does the sun shine?

  20. 20.

    Villago Delenda Est

    December 8, 2011 at 12:50 pm

    Why do things fall? What does blood do? Does everyone think in English? Do ghosts weigh a lot? Why is there light and heat here on Earth?

    How do tides work?

    Hint: Let’s take Bill O’Reilly up in a helicopter, chuck him out, and see just how “theoretical” gravity is.

  21. 21.

    pragmatism

    December 8, 2011 at 12:51 pm

    it would be irresponsible not to speculate about:

    1. fucking magnets, how do they work?

    2. tide goes in, tide goes out. explain?

  22. 22.

    Joey Maloney

    December 8, 2011 at 12:51 pm

    From George Takei’s facebook feed, a comment on Rick Perry’s fashion choices. http://bit.ly/tg1l7h

  23. 23.

    pragmatism

    December 8, 2011 at 12:53 pm

    @Villago Delenda Est: i think i owe you a coke for the jinx.

  24. 24.

    kay

    December 8, 2011 at 12:53 pm

    @Mudge:

    The objective of the “life begins at conception” movement is to ban contraceptives.

    And they’re scared to death of talking about it (rightfully so-women will flee) which is why every Democrat should bring it up.
    All the time. Every day.

  25. 25.

    artem1s

    December 8, 2011 at 12:54 pm

    At this point I might actually PAY to see a debate where the candidates are forced to answer general knowledge questions. I think the networks would clean up if they had a pay-per-view event where the candidates were guaranteed to be completely pwned by a skillful moderator. Even better if the candidates are placed in dunking machines that trip if certain bingo-buzz words are spoken. Why not make Perry/Santorum/Bachman et al double down with a good drenching if they want to strut their Tea Party/Talibangelist creds? If its going to be a circus then by all means let’s go whole hog with it.

  26. 26.

    kd bart

    December 8, 2011 at 12:55 pm

    Why do we park on the driveway and drive on the parkway?

  27. 27.

    Yutsano

    December 8, 2011 at 12:55 pm

    @pragmatism: HOW DA MOON GET DERE? HUH? EXPLAIN THAT ONE HIPPIE!

  28. 28.

    Villago Delenda Est

    December 8, 2011 at 12:56 pm

    @Yutsano:

    Two words:

    Green Wisconsin.

  29. 29.

    g

    December 8, 2011 at 12:59 pm

    I’m still gobsmacked at someone who’d say “the likes of” about the duly elected President of the United States.

    I’m very curious, why would someone see it as a bad thing if the chair of a political party’s committee actually worked to advance the party’s priorities? does Allen have another idea about how what that job should mean?

  30. 30.

    artem1s

    December 8, 2011 at 1:00 pm

    @Joey Maloney:

    that is wicked funny!

  31. 31.

    Bulworth

    December 8, 2011 at 1:00 pm

    “Later on, there was this awkward exchange with a moderator:

    Moderator: Could you tell us, how do you think birth control pills and intra-uterine devices work?

    Allen: I’m not – I don’t profess to be a doctor. i’m just using logic of — maybe a little bit of Latin, that contraception means it stops conception – and so you do not have a fertilized egg.

    Moderator: Don’t they work by preventing implantation of a fertilized egg?

    Allen: Well if the egg is not fertilized, there is not conception.”

    Gotcha question!

  32. 32.

    Zifnab25

    December 8, 2011 at 1:01 pm

    @kay: Cheers to that. Maybe get a “Right to Contraception” amendment on the ballot as a Constitutional Amendment. I would love to see Republicans twist on that vote.

    Of course, I think Social Security and Medicare/caid should have been codified in the Constitution ages ago. You could plug it right in after the bit about the US Post Office. If nothing else, it would be fun to watch the bill pass and see the so-called strict constructionists squirm.

  33. 33.

    pragmatism

    December 8, 2011 at 1:01 pm

    its a simple question, doctor. would you eat the moon if it were made of ribs? i would. and i’d wash it down with an icy cool budweiser.

    http://sheisfilledwithsecrets.tumblr.com/post/474246300/snl-harry-carey-skit-video-its-a-simple

  34. 34.

    Bulworth

    December 8, 2011 at 1:03 pm

    “the likes of, you know, Macacca, over there…”

  35. 35.

    AuldBlackJack

    December 8, 2011 at 1:05 pm

    I want to see major debates on basic knowledge.

    And how about one where the candidates answers (at a minimum) some standard pre-employment psychological evaluation questions (as members of the military and police & fire departments must do) so the nuttier cases can be weeded out.

  36. 36.

    Villago Delenda Est

    December 8, 2011 at 1:05 pm

    The objective of the “life begins at conception” movement is to ban contraceptives.

    Because the entire “Right to Life” movement isn’t about abortion. It isn’t about “saving babies”.

    It’s about sex, and controlling women by controlling their sexuality. If women control their own sexuality, they’re not under the control of the patriarchy, and it’s support system, monotheism, and WE CAN’T HAVE THAT!

    The sluts must pay, through pregnancy, childbirth, and having rugrats around for their wicked, wanton ways.

  37. 37.

    Cheryl from Maryland

    December 8, 2011 at 1:08 pm

    Tim Kaine showing some fighting spirit in a professional manner against good old idiot boy George. I like it.

    What do we have to do to get the gravity experiment with Billo as suggested by Villago Delenda Est. I would pay money for that (as long as it went to the right cause).

  38. 38.

    Berial

    December 8, 2011 at 1:08 pm

    Magic. The whole world must be a truly magical place to these people. I mean they seem to have NO CLUE how any of the modern marvels around them actually work.

    How does a car work? You put gas in and the magic uses it to go ‘vroom!’.

    How does a cell phone work? You feed it using the magic from the wall, it then store that magic and it makes sound and pictures through this magic ‘screen’.

    How does a pill prevent pregnancy? You swallow it and it magically makes God unable to perform his magic trick in a woman’s belly. <- Preventing God from doing his magic is proof it's EVIL!

    I don't claim to understand all the technology around me but I at least have the broad understanding of the general principals behind it all.

  39. 39.

    Mike in NC

    December 8, 2011 at 1:09 pm

    For a great article on the imbecile George Allen, go look up “Dunce of the Confederacy”. Its a keeper.

  40. 40.

    Bulworth

    December 8, 2011 at 1:09 pm

    “It’s a series of tubes…”

  41. 41.

    different-church-lady

    December 8, 2011 at 1:09 pm

    @kd bart: Why are people who ride motorcycles “bikers” but people who ride bikes “cyclists”?

  42. 42.

    Villago Delenda Est

    December 8, 2011 at 1:11 pm

    @Berial:

    “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic” — Arthur C. Clarke.

    Who knew that “sufficiently advanced” would be things invented a century ago that baffle the minds of some people right this moment. It’s like “The Way Things Work” did not exist. I’m reminded of Gilderoy Lockhart commenting on the escape from the Chamber of Secrets…”It’s just like magic!”

  43. 43.

    different-church-lady

    December 8, 2011 at 1:11 pm

    @Berial: Sometimes when I get a message on my fax machine, I wonder: “Did little demons get inside and type it?” I don’t know! My primitive mind can’t grasp these concepts.

  44. 44.

    Roger Moore

    December 8, 2011 at 1:12 pm

    @artem1s:

    Even better if the candidates are placed in dunking machines that trip if certain bingo-buzz words are spoken.

    I think they should trip if the candidate refuses to answer the question being asked and instead starts repeating a memorized speech on some vaguely related topic. I’m OK with buzzwords as long as they’re part of an actual answer. It’s the way the candidates don’t actually answer the questions and instead repeat some talking point that really pisses me off.

  45. 45.

    gbear

    December 8, 2011 at 1:14 pm

    What is an occasional table the rest of the time?

  46. 46.

    Yutsano

    December 8, 2011 at 1:14 pm

    @different-church-lady: Why does Hawai’i have interstate highways?

  47. 47.

    Villago Delenda Est

    December 8, 2011 at 1:15 pm

    @Roger Moore:

    I think they should trip if the candidate refuses to answer the question being asked and instead starts repeating a memorized speech on some vaguely related topic.

    Well, if Sarah Palin is involved, the moderator will burn himself out under that concept.

  48. 48.

    General Stuck

    December 8, 2011 at 1:15 pm

    The GOP is a fucking horror show these days, that is only propped up and fluffed by a fawning press for their own purposes of preserving a viable opponent to dems in the horse race drama department. And by the clowns over at Fox News.

    The rigors of a POTUS campaign and election will likely turn the mask around for all to see the vortex of ugly reality it is. A fishbowl full of hungry Piranha looking out only for itself and rich people.

    They will still get 45 percent of the vote, at least, though a Gingrinch campaign could drive the final nail into the coffin of what was once a party very capable at winning elections, albeit not suited for governing.

  49. 49.

    rea

    December 8, 2011 at 1:15 pm

    “The likes of President Obama?” Kaine responded.

    Kaine points out Allen’s racist dogwhistle.

  50. 50.

    Bulworth

    December 8, 2011 at 1:16 pm

    Also, he added, intra-uterine devices work singly by preventing implantation.

    oh no. Just wait till the Right To Life folks hear about this…

  51. 51.

    boss bitch

    December 8, 2011 at 1:16 pm

    I love a Democrat who doesn’t run from the Three Horsesmen – Obama Pelosi and Reid.

  52. 52.

    different-church-lady

    December 8, 2011 at 1:16 pm

    @Yutsano: They were planning to build a tunnel.

  53. 53.

    Judas Escargot

    December 8, 2011 at 1:16 pm

    The next few years will determine if we get to keep the Enlightenment or not.

    Seriously.

  54. 54.

    different-church-lady

    December 8, 2011 at 1:16 pm

    @gbear: How much wood could a woodchuck chuck…

  55. 55.

    SFAW

    December 8, 2011 at 1:17 pm

    Even better if the candidates are placed in dunking machines that trip …

    … if they’re a witch!

    Or is it a duck? Or a piece of wood? I can never amember.

  56. 56.

    Roger Moore

    December 8, 2011 at 1:18 pm

    Why are they called apartments if they’re all together?

    How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

  57. 57.

    andy

    December 8, 2011 at 1:19 pm

    @Mudge: I think it’s a deliberate obtuseness. Say they did do some kind of legislation that “unintentionally” ends up making all methods of contraception illegal. Then they could throw up their hands and say “what can you do,” because you know they would never vote to make those certain methods legal again because *that* would be a slippery slope back to abortion again. Besides which, your slut daughters should consider wearing prairie gowns and going to church every morning.

  58. 58.

    Villago Delenda Est

    December 8, 2011 at 1:20 pm

    @SFAW:

    What burns aside from witches?

    Wood!

    How do we tell if she’s made of wood?

    Build a bridge out of her!

  59. 59.

    wenchacha

    December 8, 2011 at 1:20 pm

    It would be revealing to see a panel of Wahhabists and Christian fundies discuss which religion is better at keeping women in their place. I mean, the whole not letting women out of the house without a male relative as chaperone is pretty genius. Ditto with women not allowed to drive. We could oppress keep women from quite a bit of sinning that way.

    At least they both agree that women need to be protected/punished because they were born with vaginas, the most dangerous organ known to man.

  60. 60.

    SFAW

    December 8, 2011 at 1:21 pm

    Kaine points out Allen’s racist dogwhistle.

    Oh, please, get real.

    It’s not as if Allen said “uppity nigger”, now is it? You politically correct Lieberals get yer panties in a bunch over EVERYTHING.

  61. 61.

    SFAW

    December 8, 2011 at 1:23 pm

    How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

    Same as the answer to this one: What do you get if you multiply six by nine?

  62. 62.

    gbear

    December 8, 2011 at 1:23 pm

    @rea: Yes. That was a good catch by Cain and by you.

  63. 63.

    SFAW

    December 8, 2011 at 1:24 pm

    What burns aside from witches?

    The Cuyahoga?

  64. 64.

    Villago Delenda Est

    December 8, 2011 at 1:25 pm

    @SFAW:

    “What did he say?”

    “I think he said the President is near.”

  65. 65.

    Judas Escargot

    December 8, 2011 at 1:25 pm

    @andy:

    In Ken Burns’ recent documentary about Prohibition, one of the things that struck me is how many people were surprised that it affected them once it took effect. Apparently many wine and beer drinkers were under the impression that only hard liquor (ie “other people’s booze”) would be banned.

    They’re seldom honest about it, but if they ever get Roe v. Wade repealed, Griswold v. CT would be next.

    Control, control, control. With no real intent or purpose, beyond proving that they can.

  66. 66.

    Tone in DC

    December 8, 2011 at 1:25 pm

    @g:
    Amen.

  67. 67.

    Paul in KY

    December 8, 2011 at 1:25 pm

    @different-church-lady: 5 chucks.

  68. 68.

    Roger Moore

    December 8, 2011 at 1:25 pm

    @Villago Delenda Est:

    What burns aside from witches?

    More witches!

  69. 69.

    Raven

    December 8, 2011 at 1:26 pm

    @different-church-lady: I pointed out a few days ago that motorcyclists were not called “bikers” but “bikeriders” until some dopes in California got a hold to it in the 70’s.

  70. 70.

    Paul in KY

    December 8, 2011 at 1:26 pm

    @Villago Delenda Est: What’s the only wood that doesn’t float?

  71. 71.

    FlipYrWhig

    December 8, 2011 at 1:27 pm

    As I recall, Kaine is a pro-life (and anti-death penalty) Catholic.

  72. 72.

    different-church-lady

    December 8, 2011 at 1:32 pm

    @Paul in KY: Just stop.

  73. 73.

    El Cid

    December 8, 2011 at 1:32 pm

    Hello!

    To be fair, it’s cruel and unusual to expect Republican men to know how it is that ladies give them babies.

    After all, this is the 21st century. It’s a bit soon to be demanding that grown men asking the population to select them to help govern the most powerful and richest nation in Earth’s history to have a clue about how it is that babies happens, what goes on inside the lady after the manbit is withdrawn, and what sorts of things medicines do to make it so that babies don’t happen.

    This is pretty high tech, rare stuff. It’s not like many people have ladyparts and would be affected by laws or whatever related to babymaking.

  74. 74.

    Raven

    December 8, 2011 at 1:33 pm

    Another shooting at Va Tech

  75. 75.

    Roger Moore

    December 8, 2011 at 1:33 pm

    @Judas Escargot:

    They’re seldom honest about it, but if they ever get Roe v. Wade repealed, Griswold v. CT would be next.

    I’m pretty sure they’d love to overturn Loving v. Virginia and Brown v. Board of Education, too.

  76. 76.

    SFAW

    December 8, 2011 at 1:34 pm

    They’re seldom honest about it, but if they ever get Roe v. Wade repealed, Griswold v. CT would be next.

    Taking bets on whether it’s Griswold or Loving first. Or a reinstatement of Plessy.

    ETA: Damn you, Roger!

  77. 77.

    Soonergrunt

    December 8, 2011 at 1:34 pm

    Initial reports of an active shooter on Virginia Tech campus on MSNBC, Talking Points Memo.
    Reports of one campus police officer wounded, one other (possibly shooter, but unknown just now) dead.

  78. 78.

    catclub

    December 8, 2011 at 1:34 pm

    I predict Allen has already said, “no more debates!”

    It worked for Perry in Texas.

  79. 79.

    artem1s

    December 8, 2011 at 1:35 pm

    @SFAW:

    Ralph Perk’s hair
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Perk

  80. 80.

    Special Patrol Group

    December 8, 2011 at 1:35 pm

    Mr. Allen, I ain’t never seen anyone as shit-all stupid as you. Do you have manure for your brains?

  81. 81.

    Yutsano

    December 8, 2011 at 1:35 pm

    I have to say, I love the smell of desperation in the morning.

  82. 82.

    CaseyL

    December 8, 2011 at 1:36 pm

    In all fairness, legislation in these here United States has long been the province of the Deliberately Ignorant and the Defiantly Stupid. In the 1950s, George Smathers ( R) won a Florida Senate race against Claude Pepper (D) by accusing Pepper of “masticating” at the dining room table in front of his family, and having a “known thespian” for a daughter.

    That’s why it’s such a delight when intelligent people who aren’t ashamed of being intelligent have a chance to demolish the ignoramuses the GOP favors as its standard-bearers. Good for Kaine! He won’t get any GOP votes (GOP voters, esp. in the South, are proud of being imbeciles) but one can hope non-GOP voters would prefer to be represented by someone who doesn’t shame them every time he opens his mouth.

  83. 83.

    Enhanced Voting Techniques

    December 8, 2011 at 1:37 pm

    Q Why do things fall?

    Angels pull them down.

    Q What does blood do?

    Cool the body

    Q Does everyone think in English?

    Yes, but people who hate America lie and say they don’t

    Q Do ghosts weigh a lot?

    Yes, 5 grams, a movie said so.

    Q Why is there light and heat here on Earth?

    God light shines down on us (the sun) and Hell heats the earth.

  84. 84.

    lamh35

    December 8, 2011 at 1:37 pm

    Asked by the press corps about Romney and the GOP’s claim that his foreign policy is based on “appeasement”, POTUS said: “Ask Bin Laden if I’m an appeaser”.

    here’s video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iz9H6hZYoHs&feature=player_embedded

    Ask Osama bin Laden and 22 out of 30 other top al Qaeda leaders who have been taken off the field whether I engage in appeasement.”

  85. 85.

    RareSanity

    December 8, 2011 at 1:37 pm

    @Bulworth:

    “It’s a series of tubes…”

    While comical to mock, Ted Stevens was technically right.

    The best kind of right!

    He was trying to use layman’s terms to describe how the internet is not just one nondescript tube of bandwidth, it is “a series of tubes”. The “tubes” he was talking about, are network sockets, used to identify the different services that make use of the internet.

    So, in affect, he was saying that bandwidth is finite. Within this finite bandwidth, some services (tubes), consume more than others. This can have the affect of a few services, slowing down, or blocking, other services.

    Now, I’m not defending Ted Stevens, the man. He got everything that was coming to him. He was also trying to argue for ISPs to be able to unilaterally block any tube that they saw fit.

    Bad man, supporting a hideous policy, but, his description of the internet was correct.

  86. 86.

    Raven

    December 8, 2011 at 1:38 pm

    @Soonergrunt: CNN is showing a body covered in the parking lot and that the shooter is on the loose.

  87. 87.

    Snowball

    December 8, 2011 at 1:38 pm

    @Roger Moore:

    It’s the way the candidates don’t actually answer the questions and instead repeat some talking point that really pisses me off.

    I don’t understand why someone in a debate resort to this tactic. The second answer where Sarah Palin did this I just turned the TV off. Why should I as a voter waste my time on a candidate who thinks I’m dumb enough not to know that she was refusing to answer the moderator’s questions.

  88. 88.

    Yutsano

    December 8, 2011 at 1:38 pm

    Oh and speaking of Virginia…

  89. 89.

    Special Patrol Group

    December 8, 2011 at 1:38 pm

    Mr. Allen, when you called the young man an unambiguously racist slur, you said to him, “welcome to America and the real world of Virginia.” What made you think that he was not from America or unfamiliar with the “real world of Virginia” just by looking at him?

  90. 90.

    Villago Delenda Est

    December 8, 2011 at 1:38 pm

    @Paul in KY:

    Waterlogged wood. As a gentleman from the Honorable East India Company pointed out to doofus Royal Navy officer Horatio Hornblower once.

  91. 91.

    Legalize

    December 8, 2011 at 1:39 pm

    @lamh35:
    Boom goes the dynamite. I propose that Barry’s official nickname be “All Day.”

  92. 92.

    Soonergrunt

    December 8, 2011 at 1:39 pm

    @Yutsano: It does have a piquant, lemony undertone to it.

  93. 93.

    divorce attorney miami

    December 8, 2011 at 1:42 pm

    well the morning after pill did make an appearance in the news today.

  94. 94.

    Soonergrunt

    December 8, 2011 at 1:42 pm

    @RareSanity: Especially when he pointed out that it’s not a dump truck.

  95. 95.

    SFAW

    December 8, 2011 at 1:45 pm

    Waterlogged wood.

    Somehow, I don’t think that’s the answer Paul was hoping for.

    (And, I’m assuming, different-church-lady was expecting.)

  96. 96.

    catclub

    December 8, 2011 at 1:46 pm

    @Villago Delenda Est: I am not sure about ebony and lignum vitae either.

  97. 97.

    Yutsano

    December 8, 2011 at 1:46 pm

    @lamh35: He’s getting all partisany again! Someone rouse the ghost of David Broder stat!

  98. 98.

    malraux

    December 8, 2011 at 1:46 pm

    When Kaine’s turn came up to speak, he explained that the common birth control pill works by a dual mechanism — both preventing fertilization, and preventing successful implantation when fertilization does occur.

    Is it worth pointing out that its unlikely that the pill prevents implantation? It prevents ovulation and secondarily prevents sperm motility. No real evidence that it does anything about implantation.

    http://pandagon.net/index.php/site/we_can_fight_anti_choicers_and_fight_scientific_misinformation….together

  99. 99.

    RareSanity

    December 8, 2011 at 1:47 pm

    @Soonergrunt:

    You won’t get any argument from me that his analogies were…shall we say, obscure?

    I call it an olive branch to the GOP. The DFHs will stipulate that Ted Stevens was right, in his description of the internet, if the teatards will stipulate, that Al Gore never said he invented it…

  100. 100.

    Biff Longbotham

    December 8, 2011 at 1:49 pm

    Sounds to me like Allen played one too many football games at UVA without a helmet.

  101. 101.

    Brian R.

    December 8, 2011 at 1:50 pm

    @lamh35:

    BOOSH!

  102. 102.

    SenyorDave

    December 8, 2011 at 1:51 pm

    @artem1s: I assume that Trump will be asking the tough questions at his debate. After all, he was avery serious candidate who must care a lot about serious issues.

    Seriously, appearing at a debate moderated by Donald Trump should automatically disqualify you from ever running for office in the United States at any level.

  103. 103.

    pragmatism

    December 8, 2011 at 1:51 pm

    also too (excepting a famous actress): petrified wood, Kauila, Colubrina oppositifolia Brongn, ex H. Mann, Zitan (Pterocarpus) Red- Purple Sandal Wood, Lignum Vitae -from the West Indies, Saxaul trees, Jinkoh (Aloes wood), Cooktown ironwood Erythrophleum Chlorostachys, IRON WOOD – PAU LOPE, Red Gum, and Caucasian Palm.

  104. 104.

    Villago Delenda Est

    December 8, 2011 at 1:57 pm

    Natalie Wood?

    Let’s ask Bob Wagner about that one!

  105. 105.

    piratedan

    December 8, 2011 at 1:58 pm

    @Paul in KY: and a Chuck Todd, he’s certainly wooden enough, I’ve certainly damned him enough to know.

  106. 106.

    Roger Moore

    December 8, 2011 at 2:01 pm

    @Snowball:

    Why should I as a voter waste my time on a candidate who thinks I’m dumb enough not to know that she was refusing to answer the moderator’s questions.

    Well, most of them are at least a little bit more subtle than Palin was. They’ll take a brief segue from the actual question to whatever answer they’ve memorized- which may actually be a memorized segue or something they make up on the spur of the moment- so it sounds as if they’re trying to answer the question. But almost all the candidates do something like that rather than coming up with a real response. They’re even worse with their rebuttal answers, where they just blast the other guy’s position on the topic generally rather than trying to tailor an answer to anything he’s just said.

  107. 107.

    Scamp Dog

    December 8, 2011 at 2:01 pm

    @Paul in KY: Natalie, of course!

  108. 108.

    CA Doc

    December 8, 2011 at 2:13 pm

    @ malreaux Thanks, I was going to chime in with that. And IUD’s also work more by creating cervical mucous that is inhospitable to sperm than by preventing implantation. But “life begins at conception” laws would still outlaw lots of legitimate medical procedures.

  109. 109.

    Canuckistani Tom

    December 8, 2011 at 2:28 pm

    Are you smarter than a Fifth grader GOP candidate?

  110. 110.

    Dave

    December 8, 2011 at 2:33 pm

    Maybe we should have all candidates pass your basic high school exit exam. I think that would screen out a lot of these people.

  111. 111.

    Paul in KY

    December 8, 2011 at 2:36 pm

    @different-church-lady: It’s been 30 years!

  112. 112.

    Paul in KY

    December 8, 2011 at 2:39 pm

    @Villago Delenda Est: OK, that too! Haven’t read the Hornblower books in many a year. Liked them when I was a kid.

  113. 113.

    RossinDetroit

    December 8, 2011 at 2:40 pm

    @Bulworth:

    Thank you for bringing up the Macacca comment. That ought to be dangling around his neck at all times.
    I believe the man’s name is properly George “Macacca” Allen.

    And yes, he’s either completely ignorant f or intentionally distorting the details and purpose of the Right’s campaign to define life as beginning at the union of egg and sperm.

  114. 114.

    Paul in KY

    December 8, 2011 at 2:42 pm

    @pragmatism: I didn’t know there were that many species that are so heavy.

  115. 115.

    Paul in KY

    December 8, 2011 at 2:43 pm

    @piratedan: I would like to see if he floats or not (or is a witch). Maybe we could check it out from say 30,000 feet over the N. Pacific.

  116. 116.

    Paul in KY

    December 8, 2011 at 2:45 pm

    @Scamp Dog: That’s the one (except for all the real woods pragmatism mentioned).

  117. 117.

    pragmatism

    December 8, 2011 at 2:50 pm

    @Paul in KY: neither did i. the int0rw3bs are an amazing series of tubes indeed. plus i believe everything that is said within said tubes.

  118. 118.

    rikyrah

    December 8, 2011 at 2:58 pm

    this was great

  119. 119.

    Ben Cisco

    December 8, 2011 at 2:59 pm

    The (Old) Dominion War | My Ready Room
    __
    […]OK, perhaps the title “King Of Dunces” will rotate from time to time, but for now, it’s George Allen’s to lose (via TPM and Balloon Juice […]

  120. 120.

    piratedan

    December 8, 2011 at 3:00 pm

    @Paul in KY: why not go for a twofer and do it over the arctic and call it a fact finding experiment about global warming?

  121. 121.

    Paul in KY

    December 8, 2011 at 3:17 pm

    @piratedan: I like the way you think!

  122. 122.

    Special Patrol Group

    December 8, 2011 at 3:19 pm

    Mr. Allen, President Ronald Reagan took a strong, principled stand against Strapping Young Bucks purchasing t-bone steaks with food stamps, and Welfare Queens riding around in Cadillacs. Are these sorts of incidents increasing under Obama and how would you combat this sort of treachery?

  123. 123.

    catclub

    December 8, 2011 at 3:40 pm

    What is the airspeed of an unladen swallow?

  124. 124.

    Redshift

    December 8, 2011 at 3:40 pm

    @Culture of Truth:

    Or understands it all too well.

    Nope, I’ve lived in Virginia my whole life, and Allen really is dumb as a post. The people who wrote his talking points certainly understand that, but his job is just to say the words.

  125. 125.

    Kilkee

    December 8, 2011 at 3:48 pm

    @catclub: European or…oh, never mind.

  126. 126.

    pragmatism

    December 8, 2011 at 3:52 pm

    @catclub: IT COULD GRIP IT BY THE HUSK!

  127. 127.

    Nutella

    December 8, 2011 at 3:57 pm

    @Mike in NC:

    Google doesn’t find that article. Do you have a link?

  128. 128.

    Villago Delenda Est

    December 8, 2011 at 4:00 pm

    @catclub:

    The Jon Corazine answer is “I don’t kno….AAAAAAAGHHH!”

  129. 129.

    sukabi

    December 8, 2011 at 4:01 pm

    Macaca Man isn’t ageing too well… the pic on TPM is ‘ewwww’…. guess you do get the face you deserve.

  130. 130.

    Raka

    December 8, 2011 at 4:01 pm

    There’s an old PBS miniseries called “The Ring of Truth” that introduces and explains basic science concepts. It’s aimed at elementary-age kids, but it also does a fantastic job of demonstrating in a clear way how scientific understanding evolves, how we know the things we know, the methods and limitations of scientific learning. Basically, a more detailed version of the XKCD “Actual Science vs Hollywood CSI Science” strip.

    I think it should be mandatory viewing for any person in a position to make policy of any sort.

  131. 131.

    TooManyJens

    December 8, 2011 at 4:14 pm

    @malraux:

    Is it worth pointing out that its unlikely that the pill prevents implantation? It prevents ovulation and secondarily prevents sperm motility. No real evidence that it does anything about implantation.

    THANK YOU. I am so tired of people acting like it’s proven that hormonal contraceptives prevent implantation. Not only isn’t it proven, it’s not especially likely.

    It is also not remotely true that the only mechanism of action of the IUD is to prevent implantation. It primarily prevents fertilization by various methods (killing sperm, altering cervical mucus, etc.)

    Yet somehow, if you don’t “know” that these contraceptives work by preventing implantation, you’re considered an idiot by people who claim to be reality- and science-based. Drives me absolutely fucking nuts.

  132. 132.

    gelfling545

    December 8, 2011 at 4:18 pm

    @CaseyL: Was he the one who called his opponent “an admitted homo sapien”?

  133. 133.

    Three-nineteen

    December 8, 2011 at 4:21 pm

    @Paul in KY: They just now are reopening or revisiting the case, apparently based on new witness testimony.

  134. 134.

    TooManyJens

    December 8, 2011 at 4:21 pm

    And before anyone asks, no, Plan B doesn’t work by preventing implantation either. At all. I’ve been linking to that fact sheet a ton this week because NOBODY KNOWS THIS SHIT.

  135. 135.

    Nutella

    December 8, 2011 at 4:48 pm

    @Redshift:

    Nope, I’ve lived in Virginia my whole life

    And Allen hasn’t. That’s why he gets his fashion statement so wrong by wearing cowboy boots.

  136. 136.

    gene108

    December 8, 2011 at 5:27 pm

    @Judas Escargot:

    They’re seldom honest about it, but if they ever get Roe v. Wade repealed, Griswold v. CT would be next.

    Overturning Griswold? The implications baffle me. If I remember correctly Griswold was about non-married adults sharing a hotel room.

    If you go back to only married couples sharing a hotel room, I swear 75% of the right-wing base would flip-out. Sure they’re against abortion, and go to church, but a good chunk of them are divorced and have screwed around a good bit outside of marriage and don’t consider sex a dirty thing or at least, if they’re the ones, who get to do it as consenting adults.

    Not sure what the other implications for over turning Griswold would be.

  137. 137.

    SFAW

    December 8, 2011 at 7:12 pm

    If you go back to only married couples sharing a hotel room, I swear 75% of the right-wing base would flip-out.

    You’re assuming enforcement would be even-handed. However, since everyone KNOWS that DFHs and other associated trash are immoral, fuck sheep, and practice miscegenation (not to mention dogs and cats living together), then it’s only the DFHs – and maybe a few other non-right-thinking people, say 30 or 50 million darkies of various flavors – who would be scrutinized. Job Creators will be allowed to fuck (and fuck over) whomever they want, with impunity.

    If I were musically inclined, I’d consider attempting to write a national anthem for Gilead. Instant hit with the 27-percenters, and viral within a month for the remaining 50 million or so sub-morons known as the Right Wing.

    Not sure how I got here from Griswold, but it seemed to make sense at the time. Must be off my meds.

  138. 138.

    El Cid

    December 8, 2011 at 7:39 pm

    @TooManyJens: On the plus side, someone might note that it was classically claimed by early research and some manufacturers that prevention of implantation was part of the mechanism of the pill’s contraceptive actions; even if it’s wrong, that would be a fine and upstanding scientific understanding of the biology involved, unlike, ‘duh, well, if I know a little Latin, then “contra” means against’.

    In the political example above, you have one person with scientific knowledge — perhaps flawed, overgeneralized, outdated — against a hostile, feudal dumbass.

    For me that’s an important context.

    Tim Kaine would happily accept the correction; George Allen would basically resent you for thinking he needs to know all this shit at all.

  139. 139.

    TooManyJens

    December 8, 2011 at 8:34 pm

    @El Cid: That’s all well and good, and I’m not defending Allen, but people really need to quit going around trumpeting that Kaine was right and anybody who doesn’t know this is an idiot. Because he wasn’t.

  140. 140.

    AMD

    December 8, 2011 at 10:42 pm

    @gene108: No, Griswold overturned Connecticut’s ban on contraceptives. It’s the source of the right to privacy that was the basis of Roe v. Wade. So when the anti-Roe crowd insists it should be overturned because there is no such right to privacy, the logical extension of that argument is that states can go back to banning contraceptives as well.

  141. 141.

    Rome Again

    December 9, 2011 at 10:22 am

    @Villago Delenda Est:

    It’s about sex, and controlling women by controlling their sexuality. If women control their own sexuality, they’re not under the control of the patriarchy, and it’s support system, monotheism pantheism, and WE CAN’T HAVE THAT!

    More accurate, sorry!

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