Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Err, What Does That Plank Say Again?

The Republican Party platform adopted 3 weeks ago explicitly opposes government bailouts of private companies. Here is the pertinent language (from the section titled "Rebuilding Homeownership"):

We do not support government bailouts of private institutions. Government interference in the markets exacerbates problems in the marketplace and causes the free market to take longer to correct itself. We believe in the free market as the best tool to sustained prosperity and opportunity for all.

But true to their elephantine ways, many Republicans (including head honcho W) are not beyond completely abandoning their supposed "principles" to grab more power.

Satire from Roger Ebert

I enjoyed Ebert's piece titled Creationism: Your Questions Answered. He uses creationist's own beliefs to satirically swat them upside the head. Really, it is funny... click over there and read it.

And yes, I know it is satire. Of course, I'm sure the drooling ID fools will try to use it as proof that another intelligent person embraces their stupidity. But one only needs to look briefly at Ebert's writings to understand his intelligence (that is, of a non-designed nature).

The Latest "Nigerian" e-Mail Scam

Dear American:

I need to ask you to support an urgent secret business relationship with a transfer of funds of great magnitude.

I am Ministry of the Treasury of the Republic of America. My country has had crisis that has caused the need for large transfer of funds of 800 billion dollars US. If you would assist me in this transfer, it would be most profitable to you.

I am working with Mr. Phil Gram, lobbyist for UBS, who will be my replacement as Ministry of the Treasury in January. As a Senator, you may know him as the leader of the American banking deregulation movement in the 1990s. This transactin is 100% safe.

This is a matter of great urgency. We need a blank check. We need the funds as quickly as possible. We cannot directly transfer these funds in the names of our close friends because we are constantly under surveillance. My family lawyer advised me that I should look for a reliable and trustworthy person who will act as a next of kin so the funds can be transferred.

Please reply with all of your bank account, IRA and college fund account numbers and those of your children and grandchildren to wallstreetbailout@treasury.gov so that we may transfer your commission for this transaction. After I receive that information, I will respond with detailed information about safeguards that will be used to protect the funds.

Yours Faithfully Minister of Treasury Paulson