interesting comments...

...from a discussion led by (half of) a review of Chris Mooney's Republican War on Science.

I'm not going to discuss the book now (obvious criticisms of its partisanship are common, as is the fact that most of the "evidence" that the current Republican party seems anti-science comes from the fact that they just happen to be in charge and as such their actions get more easily noticed).

However, some interesting discussions came about from it, with the following excerpts among the most interesting (apologies for not citing each individual author).
( read more, please... )

ok, that's enough for now.  but 2 of the comments really struck home.  If there *are* moderate republicans not bound entirely by a party policy set by the extremists, where are they and what are they doing?  The most we've seen from them is their half of the "gang of 14" (that promptly got condemned as "traitors" by the religious right within minutes of their decision).

Even reasonable McCain, who's views on global warming (and international relations) thorougly annoy the hell of out his party leaders suddenly this week gave lip-service to the crapola that is "teach the alternatives".

So what can one do?  How can one have any assurance at all at their representatives when they represent the party line (even as after they vote, they say they didn't feel that way, like nearly a third of the schavo yes-voters)  more than their true constituants, or for that matter, themselves?

I'd have no problem living under a parlimentary government if only I'd been involved in the decision to turn this country into one.  ;)

starting a meme?

Post in your blog a specific example that you have seen (as opposed to having read or heard from someone else) of a rediculous price-jump in gasoline this week.

The most expensive station in Sterling is the Shell station on 28, which milks its price from an expensive location combined with being the nearest gas station to Dulles airport thus picking up all the rental car final fill-ups (that are company paid in most cases).

Yesterday, $2.69.  Today, $2.91.  A surprisingly moderate 0.21 jump.

I haven't had a chance to see what the "cheap" gas has done, having not been by that part of town.  I'll update this tomorrow.