To my conservative colleagues

As a registered fellow Republican, I feel obligated to address the compatriots in my party. This address is in regards to an alarming amount of reconcilable differences that are permeating our culture and being galvanized and exacerbated on mainstream media rather than rectified.

In the past twelve months, I have witnessed some ridiculous interpretations of what is fact, faith and fiction from several conservative journalists, pundits and politicians.

My diatribe is not so much a song about highlighting the severe academic deficiencies of an entire party as it is an exclamation of dismay at the direction of objective knowledge.

On Aug. 19, 2012, Todd Akin ushered in a tsunami of public scathing with his comments about “legitimate rape”, touting his blatant illiteracy at how a female’s body works. His misogynistic statements came with no medical validity. He lost the election due primarily to overwhelming backlash from female voters.

Paul Broun, U.S. Representative for Georgia’s 10^th congressional district, has been publicly saying stupid things since 2008.  In Nov., he compared Obama’s call for a civilian national service corps to that of Hitler and the Soviet Union. Although President Bush had endorsed a similar idea in 2006, Broun was unapologetic for invoking Godwin’s Law without fully understanding what it was he was criticizing. Rather, he is so embittered due to his preconceptions that he is entirely incapable of humility.

Fast-forward to Sept. 27, 2012 - where Broun stated that the sciences of evolution, embryology and the Big Bang were “lies straight from the pit of Hell.” Mr. Broun is also a young-Earth creationist, who believes the Earth “is about 9,000 years old” and was literally created in six, 24-hour days. Did I mention that Mr. Broun was serving on the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology!?

 

Upon hearing that, I had the same reaction I heard when I read this story from April, 2010.

Game over: UN elects Iran to its commission on … women’s rights

Yes, that really happened. Facepalm.

Fortunately, someone smarter than I was listening to Broun’s comments. International smart-man Bill Nye the Science Guy commented on Broun’s speech, and questioned Broun’s ability to serve on the Science Committee.

“Broun’s views are not in the national interest,” Nye said. “He is, by any measure, unqualified to make decisions about science, space and technology.”

The next chairman of the House Sciences Committee, Republican Lamar Smith - a climate change antagonist - openly criticized the media in 2009 for not airing enough “dissenting opinions” about man-made global warming.

Just to be clear; there is an overwhelming amount of evidence within the scientific community supporting man-made global warming. It really isn’t much harder than using Google Scholar to find one of the thousands and thousands of peer-reviewed papers (as if the independent lines of evidence from every branch of natural sciences converging on the same, irrefutable logic wasn’t convincing enough). It also takes a little bit of historical and geological knowledge; not just temperature comparisons.

There is no more a controversy over the validity to global warming than there is about the Earth being flat, or revolving around the sun. (Or evolution. Yes, evolution is both a fact and a theory. The theory explains the facts)

Former House science panel chairman, Rep. Ralph Hall, ridiculously said about global warming that he is “really more fearful of freezing,” but admittedly had ZERO science to prove that scenario was eminent. Was this a joke? It certainly wasn’t science.

Mainstream media: can we please stop pitting the ignorant against the educated, then framing it as though it were a debate?

The frontier of scientific knowledge would truly appreciate it.

Thanks,
Justin Chandler Porter

Gingrich-Cain 2012?

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and prominent business mogul Herman Cain took part in a one-on-one debate Saturday night, discussing important topics like health reform, fraud and Social Security.

Gingrich and Cain were given 90 minutes to contest issues in greater detail than any previous debate. The difference in format allowed for deeper conversations that, rather than subjugating important topics, gave the candidates ample time to enlighten the public and take the focus off party infighting.

Political commentators have analyzed every aspect of syntax and mannerism to determine a champion. However, there was no bad blood between contenders as in previous Republican debates. The majority of the time was spent discussing legitimate topics and meaningful propositions with a clear level of respect between the two potential GOP nominees. The two assure their party that one can win without tearing the other down.

In all actuality, it seemed less like a debate and more like friendly banter. This time, there were no human punching bags or rehearsed attacks. There were no "gotcha" moments, and the civility kept a cultured and gracious climate. The two agreed on a myriad of subjects, highlighting their shared outlook and quite possibly strengthening the idea of a Gingrich/Cain 2012 ticket.

In the end, the idea that Gingrich is the smartest of the candidates persisted.

Republican pollster Frank Luntz affirmed the GOP tactic, saying "Gingrich will demonstrate why he's brilliant, and Cain will demonstrate why he's likable. And they won't try to score points off each other. They will score points off the president, which is what Republicans want them to do anyway."

The two took a moment to bash the media for their unjournalistic approach to partisanship, sabotage and misappropriation of priorities. This was, no doubt, a stab at how Hermain Cain's alleged sexual harrassment ordeal has been treated by the media.

With more important stories like Operation Fast and Furious, scandals like Solyndra, and all-time high deficits and unemplyment rates, the media is losing focus as to why Americans are scared.


 

Call of the Wyly

Charles Wyly, a Texas billionaire, megadoner, and philanthropist, died after a car accident in Colorado this weekend.  He and his brother Sam were fondly remembered as "the Wyly brothers", a wealthy duo that has donated millions to Republican causes and cultural projects around Texas.



Charles Wyly (left) and his brother Sam (right)



The Wyly brothers helped Dallas build their performing arts center with a massive $20 million contribution.  They have also prominently (but discreetly) donated to Republican causes, included millions to GOP candidates and causes for over four decades.

Charles, along with his brother, has founded several companies, including University Computing and the retail chain Michael's Stores, Inc.  Charles was also a former member of the White House Advisory Council for Management Improvement.

Charles, and his wife Dee

William Brewer III, Wyly's attorney, said in a statement to the Associated Press, "He is among the finest people I have ever known.  His contributions in civic leadership will forever be remembered."  Charles was 77.

Kinzinger on Obama

Illinois Congressman Adam Kinzinger spoke today in the weekly GOP address, calling for a more job-focused government.   He is adamant about doing something different to encourage job growth in America.

Kinzinger reminded the Obama administration's promise that unemployment would go no higher than 8%.  However, America saw 9.1% earlier this month.  Kinzinger says that the goverment needs to reduce debt, simplify the tax code, and limit regulations.

He sees that private sector business are like revolving doors, and that small business receive too high taxes and too many government regulations.

He also says that Washington needs to pass free-trade agreements with Columbia, Panama and South Korea, while boosting domestic energy production.

Former National Guard and current Illinois Congressman Adam Kinzinger

Kinzinger seems like a straight arrow, and a bit of a bad-ass.  He saved a woman's life from getting stabbed to death, and was selected the Red Cross Hero of the Year.

Watch how he became a hero!