Comparing where the candidates stand on religion.

[Whateverist]

Unless you're referring to a different video than the one I posted, which isn't likely, Jillette wasn't calling Obama stupid, and he wasn't necessarily calling him a liar.

He said very frequently that he thought both candidates in the presidential race were very very intelligent, and he merely said that he hopes Obama is lying about his 'beliefs'.

However the main point he was trying to make (unless I missed something) was that it didn't fucking matter at all what a presidential candidate calls themselves, because they all have to use that magic word "Christian" in order to even have a chance of winning at all.

Yep, that was the one. Sorry if I ripped someone you like but I can't stand this guy.

You're right he didn't say Obama -or either of them- was stupid. But to suggest that they both just have to give a nod to Christianity is more than a little disingenuous. Even if Obama is as genuine a believer as Mitt, listen to what Obama actually says is the place in of religion in a pluralist society such as the US. Surely no one thinks Mitt would say the same as forcefully as Obama does.

This is but a part of what puts the lie to the tweedle dee, tweedle dum theory of politics. The two parties are far from identical. Obama has to speak about religion in a way that appeals to our masses .. you know, the tiny brained people?

He might even believe what he says. I don't know and don't really care so long as he can spell out in such a coherent way the need to justify policy decisions in ways that do not appeal to religious authority. He is absolutely genuine in this. (Who really knows what etch-a-sketch man genuinely thinks about anything?)

Frankly, if Obama was running against Penn Jillette and this guy ran as the jerk he presents himself to be, I would rather vote for a rational and intelligent theist than a blowhard atheist any day.

[Ryantology]

See....I'll take the atheist who tells the idiots what they want to hear to get elected and doesn't waste his fucking time praying to some non-existent god or kneeling in some church.

We have real problems in this country and none of them will be solved by praying.

I would take a christian socialist, over an atheist fascist anyday

Thankfully, in America, you can usually assume your fascists are Christian. Makes the choice a bit easier.

[Minimalist]

This is but a part of what puts the lie to the tweedle dee, tweedle dum theory of politics. The two parties are far from identical.

We have a center-right party in this country...the democrats.

And then we have a group of batshit crazy motherfuckers calling themselves republicans.

What we really need is a progressive party but it is up to the progressives to seize control of the democrats the way the tea bagging morons seized control of the republicans.

[Whateverist]

We may not have the citizenry to support a better party. Sadly.

[Napoléon]

I would rather vote for a rational and intelligent theist than a blowhard atheist any day.

Maybe I'm being crazy, but I thought that was the whole point of what Penn was basically alluding to.

[TaraJo]

This is but a part of what puts the lie to the tweedle dee, tweedle dum theory of politics. The two parties are far from identical.

We have a center-right party in this country...the democrats.

And then we have a group of batshit crazy motherfuckers calling themselves republicans.

What we really need is a progressive party but it is up to the progressives to seize control of the democrats the way the tea bagging morons seized control of the republicans.

Agreed. Strongly. However, the Republicans are more concerned with their ideology than they are with forming a consensus and the Democrats are more concerned with forming a consensus than they are with ideology. Because of that, American politics are being pushed to the right; even several former Republican heroes would be criticized by today's GOP. Reagan favored closing unproductive tax loopholes and Eisenhower had the top tax rate at 90% while he was in office. I'm just hoping that the Republicans have gone so batshit crazy that the rest of the rest of the country turns against them and we start moving more towards sane politics.

[Tiberius]

...Like so many other Repulicunts...

Penn Jillette is not a Republican.

Also, you missed the entire point of his video.

[TaraJo]

...Like so many other Repulicunts...

Penn Jillette is not a Republican.

Also, you missed the entire point of his video.

No, but he certainly sounds like one, sometimes. The fact that he invited douchebag Grover Norquist onto 'Bullshit' as the reasonable voice speaks volumes to me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XMpYO7E1dQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUscsOUPe...ure=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLjRExyIB...ure=relmfu

[Tiberius]

No, but he certainly sounds like one, sometimes. The fact that he invited douchebag Grover Norquist onto 'Bullshit' as the reasonable voice speaks volumes to me.

Do you understand what a Libertarian is? If not, very (very) basically:

Social issues: Liberal.
Economic issues: Conservative.

However, one is incorrect to say that Libertarian = Conservative or Libertarian = Liberal (unless you are talking about classical liberalism). It is incorrect to say Libertarian = Republican as well. Libertarians have their own political party for a reason.

This said, it doesn't surprise me that they invited a conservative economist to support their show.

Edit: Having read through Mr Norquist's Wikipedia profile a bit more, I can see that he espouses numerous Libertarian ideas as well, so yes, it's not surprising at all that they invited him.

[TaraJo]

No, but he certainly sounds like one, sometimes. The fact that he invited douchebag Grover Norquist onto 'Bullshit' as the reasonable voice speaks volumes to me.

Do you understand what a Libertarian is? If not, very (very) basically:

Social issues: Liberal.
Economic issues: Conservative.

However, one is incorrect to say that Libertarian = Conservative or Libertarian = Liberal (unless you are talking about classical liberalism). It is incorrect to say Libertarian = Republican as well. Libertarians have their own political party for a reason.

This said, it doesn't surprise me that they invited a conservative economist to support their show.

I do understand, but I still think Norquist is a major douchebag and if Penn is in agreement with him, he's douchebag too. Making politicians promise not to raise taxes is an unreasonable policy.

For the record, I do think the tax code is a bit too complicated, but I'd suggest we balance things out: eliminate a bunch of those tax loopholes that complicate things and even things out by lowering the base tax rate.