Ladies and Gentlemen, your elected official.

*shudder*

That amount of 'meh' when it comes to things of pretty damn huge importance is scary for someone who is that far into politics. What else does he just go 'meh' on.

"Senator, education really isn't working too well in this country, it's becoming harder and harder to afford a tertiary education here, what do you say?"
"Meh"

I bet he's real concerned about anything that affects the size of his paycheque though.

You don't have to pass an IQ test to be in the senate, though.. he he herm hmm [smile: off] ...

It's like these guys take pride in being ignorant.

I laughed... then remembered this our reality... and stopped.

Oh SNAP did I just say that?

The look of realization on his face, after Maher's smile disappears, is priceless. Watch closely as the senator acknowledges his own failure: Maintained shit-eating grin; smile fades; a quick, paniced blink of final realization -- brown lump in shorts.

Upvote for ending expressions alone!

That's right, dad gummit! Who needs Senators passing IQ tests? Ptui! Eggheads is what got us into this trouble in the first place! Eggheads like that damn Jimmy Carter with his wimpy, "Energy crisis is the moral equivalent of war" nonsense back in 1979! Who made him the nucular rocket surgeon?

I don't know what I believe either: The Bible, or science books; the Bible, or the Constitution; the Bible, or the law of universal gravitation. I just don't know!

hahaha....couldn't have written a better ending than that.

i like how the senator himself associates low-iq with religion, despite being religious himself.

Great ending, I was worried the title was flame bait.

A couple of points:
1) I don't think it's established that it's a snake. Pretty sure it's a talking animal so this is a technicality, but that it's a snake is a myth. I think QI covered this and they are actually are beyond question.

2) I don't believe in evolution. OK, I agree in general, but does it explain what it aims to accurately and completely? I very much doubt it. In fact I'd be amazed if the original work wasn't mostly discredited by now, just like much of Newton's work, Einstein's work and so on. Darwin's work was certainly a big step in the evolution of knowledge

If you think about it, it's arrogant to the point of ludicrous to presume this generation has all the big stuff figured it. I'm sure as hell* not a Christian or Creationist, I just think science is a work in progress and we're at a pretty early stage. I hope so! I quit Christianity when I grew out of invisible friends, but I didn't become an atheist just to join other zealots. Science is our friend, but keep questioning.


* Pun / Ironic choice of phrase intentional.

Democracy: the system of giving people not the government they want, but the government they deserve.

^wow. nice.

I wish we could have a technocracy at some point.

His beliefs could be perfectly representative of his constituent's.

This is a great example of the Chewbacca defense, make him look dumb, and you are automatically right.


The common Chewbacca Defense is based on the following misconceptions and/or fallacies:

* If you can prove the other side wrong, it makes you right.
* If you can word your statements and arguments in a way that is too confusing, intelligent-sounding, or nonsensical for the opponent to respond to, it makes them wrong and it makes you right.
* If you can shock or confuse your opponent and make them think you are a lost cause and not worth arguing with, you are right.
* If you can make an opponent look bad, their logic must be equally as bad, and therefore you are right.
* If you are more popular than your opponent, it makes them wrong and it makes you right.
* If you just keep arguing and shouting, even if everyone else (not just everyone else in the debate - everyone else in the world) thinks you are not just wrong, but insane, until everyone else just gets tired of listening to you spew nonsense, you're the last man standing, and, by default, you are right.

>> ^Quboid:
Great ending, I was worried the title was flame bait.
A couple of points:
1) I don't think it's established that it's a snake. Pretty sure it's a talking animal so this is a technicality, but that it's a snake is a myth. I think QI covered this and they are actually are beyond question.
2) I don't believe in evolution. OK, I agree in general, but does it explain what it aims to accurately and completely? I very much doubt it. In fact I'd be amazed if the original work wasn't mostly discredited by now, just like much of Newton's work, Einstein's work and so on. Darwin's work was certainly a big step in the evolution of knowledge
If you think about it, it's arrogant to the point of ludicrous to presume this generation has all the big stuff figured it. I'm sure as hell not a Christian or Creationist, I just think science is a work in progress and we're at a pretty early stage. I hope so! I quit Christianity when I grew out of invisible friends, but I didn't become an atheist just to join other zealots. Science is our friend, but keep questioning.

Pun / Ironic choice of phrase intentional.


You might find interesting this fascinating study this summer of unexpected evolution in bacteria cultures in the lab.

It's the first time evolution has been caught in the act of making such a rare and complex new trait.

And because the species in question is a bacterium [with frozen samples every 500 generations], scientists have been able to replay [the history of the 44,000 bacteria generations] to show how this evolutionary novelty grew from the accumulation of unpredictable, chance events.

Gravity is a theory too... I don't believe in it.

*flies upwards*

*religion

What senator is this, and what state? I can't tell for sure, but the flag looks like it might be Georgia.

Edit: Never mind, the YouTube description says it is Arkansas Senator Mark Pryor.

Adding video to channels (Religion) - requested by jimnms.

OMG I can't believe he actually said that. Epic fail!

You don't have to pass an IQ test to have kids either it seems...
I wonder if his Dad is as "gifted"

Tags for this video have been changed from 'bill maher, evolution, creationism, religulous, senator' to 'bill maher, evolution, creationism, religulous, senator, mark pryor, arkansas' - edited by jimnms

>> ^Quboid:
G2) I don't believe in evolution. OK, I agree in general, but does it explain what it aims to accurately and completely? I very much doubt it. In fact I'd be amazed if the original work wasn't mostly discredited by now, just like much of Newton's work, Einstein's work and so on. Darwin's work was certainly a big step in the evolution of knowledge

The reason Evolution isn't discredited yet is the same reason Gravity wasn't discredited by Einstein: both are facts of life, however you choose to explain them. Why Darwin's work isn't discredited yet is the same reason Euclides' work isn't either: they're basic algorithms for solving precise problems. Unless the problems themselves change (more precisely our understanding of the problems), the solutions don't either.

Both Euclides and Newton ignored a pretty important variable: the three dimensional nature of space (four for space-time). That is why their algorithms were updated later by, among others, Riemann and Einstein. Darwin gave an algorithm for the Evolution of Life. It has been updated since, but there hasn't been a "three-dimensional" revolution yet (it's still a young theory by any standard, and note that the Theory of relativity hasn't been discredited yet either on macroscopic levels) . Even with that kind of revolution though, we would still talk about Evolution, just as we still talk about Gravity.

I havent watched the video, but if I was a senator I dont think I would express any stand on religious issues, I would only say that I think the separation of church and state is one of the fundamentals I believe in.

I hope his opponent in the next election uses that last bit in an attack ad.

[edit] Oh, he'll be running essentially unopposed this November - Green Party candidate Rebekah Kennedy will be the only challenger. Funny you should mention his father, Zonbie. His dad, David Pryor, had previously held that office for 3 terms.

>> ^Quboid:
Great ending, I was worried the title was flame bait.
A couple of points:
1) I don't think it's established that it's a snake. Pretty sure it's a talking animal so this is a technicality, but that it's a snake is a myth. I think QI covered this and they are actually are beyond question.
2) I don't believe in evolution. OK, I agree in general, but does it explain what it aims to accurately and completely? I very much doubt it. In fact I'd be amazed if the original work wasn't mostly discredited by now, just like much of Newton's work, Einstein's work and so on. Darwin's work was certainly a big step in the evolution of knowledge
If you think about it, it's arrogant to the point of ludicrous to presume this generation has all the big stuff figured it. I'm sure as hell not a Christian or Creationist, I just think science is a work in progress and we're at a pretty early stage. I hope so! I quit Christianity when I grew out of invisible friends, but I didn't become an atheist just to join other zealots. Science is our friend, but keep questioning.

Pun / Ironic choice of phrase intentional.


2) evolution doesn't have a design it works toward... there is no intelligent design inherent in it... when something evolves, the whole species doesn't just all take the same path... multiple mutations usually occur and those most suited for survival (those that are most beneficial) usually proliferate through breeding... there is no one right answer per se for mutation... multiple mutated strains may develop and evolve away from each other... or 1 mutation may be the most beneficial and while incoroporating other mutations will seem dominant...

the thing about science and theory is that it usually works like this... a huge generalization is made... this is then either proven or disproven to be true (reproduceable and the generalization holds true with a high degree of repetition).... if disprove... there was something QUITE wrong with the generalization in the first place... if proven, that doesn't mean that this generalization has everything right... it just means that it holds true for the vast majority of cases... this does leave room for further refinement and understanding... but it is very rare (though it has happened) that a false generalization holds true long enough for refinements to occur to the point where they realize the generalization was wrong...

the thing is, that science will not cling to a generalization simply because it is what has been assumed for some time... if there is proof either way... either refinements or complete rethinkings occur

see the motion of the planets/solar system and the theories involved for this overall concept

thats the problem i have with religions... the faith is supposed to be blind, but the religion shouldn't blind those that follow it... truth isn't limited to religion... that being said I'm obviously aware that there is the same range of closed mindedness on either side of the discussion... just as there is open mindedness

but if a person can hands-down believe in a talking serpent because a single book said so, you'd think they wouldn't limit themselves to being so ignorant of something like evolution when THOUSANDS of books, journals, and scientific magazines explain it

Tags for this video have been changed from 'bill maher, evolution, creationism, religulous, senator, mark pryor, arkansas' to 'bill maher, evolution, creationism, religulous, senator, mark pryor, arkansas, democrat' - edited by jonny

At once terrifying and hilareous. I suspect he may have been playing to his constituancy more than stating his beliefs--at least I hope so. He'll likely be rewarded November by the good ol' Southern Baptist boys in his district for standing up for the Truth(r).

I suspect more than a few 'religious' politicians are merely religious out of political expediency (Obama, McCain anyone?).

2) I don't believe in evolution. OK, I agree in general, but does it explain what it aims to accurately and completely? I very much doubt it. In fact I'd be amazed if the original work wasn't mostly discredited by now, just like much of Newton's work, Einstein's work and so on. Darwin's work was certainly a big step in the evolution of knowledge

Why wonder when you can know? I would bet dollars to donuts you don't even understand how evolution works. Reading a wikipedia article on evolution and believing you understand the theory is like.....reading a wikipedia article on quantum mechanics and believing you understand the theory. And no, high school biology does not give a sufficient explanation of the theory...

Atheist attack pack:
How evolution began: "Richard Dawkins: The Blind Watchmaker"
How evolution proceeded, in theory: "Richard Dawkins: The Selfish Gene"
How evolution proceeded, with empirical examples: "Richard Dawkins: Ancestor's Tale"
Why you don't have to be afraid of evolution: "Richard Dawkins: The God Delusion"
How religion began, and proceeded: "Daniel Dennett: Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon"
Why you shouldn't believe in religion: "Sam Harris: Letter to a Christian Nation"

If your religion/current beliefs on evolution can survive that reading list......hats off to your level of conviction/faith/denial.

OK, major misunderstanding here, let me clarify.

Basically, I do believe in evolution, I was being sensationalist before and I apologise, I would expect better from others frankly! I just meant that I don't believe we've got everything figured out and I'm sure evolution isn't 100% there. It may be 90% there which is about 90% closer than a certain other belief, but science will always be a work in progress and that's a good thing.

- Thanks for the link, chilaxe, that seems to be exactly what I mean. Not quite sure how a step in the evolution of evolution is proof of creationism but they've made less sense than this.

Oh man, his last comment is quotable gold!

I'm saddened that he is willing to sell his faith out for votes.

If your religion/current beliefs on evolution can survive that reading list......hats off to your level of conviction/faith/denial.


I'd like to add one to that list if I may. "Origin of Species" by Charles Darwin.

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ug! i was so loling about this, but if u scrutinize the last few seconds, it is faked.
"believe in a talking snake" then it cuts, the senators comment is not related to bill's snake comment. if u listen to the senators uneasy laugh again, u can tell its dubbed. to bad, toooo bad.

listen to :42 and on a couple times, u'll see what i meen

^ I'm not sure about that, Captain. It just sounds (to me) like Bill started to say "I..." and then the Senator cut him off with the IQ statement. That could happen (and does all the time).

>> ^garmachi:
If your religion/current beliefs on evolution can survive that reading list......hats off to your level of conviction/faith/denial.

I'd like to add one to that list if I may. "Origin of Species" by Charles Darwin.


Who?

And what state would this United States 'Senator' be from... I checked... the answer? None! This is FICTION!

This is what happens people who are educated by their T.V. deign to concern themselves with politics.

Bill Maher is a comedy huckster, not Pliny the Elder people... I can't believe how many of you posted your 'Oh my God the right wingers are so so so dumb!' and then get the rug yanked out from under you by me...

^ *ahem* I certainly hope this is a horrific attempt at sarcasm, Aeschcaton.

http://pryor.senate.gov/ - The Senator's Government Website

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Pryor - A Wiki article about him.

Heh.

So if we're still standing on the rug you thought you pulled out from under us, Asshaton, what's that in your hands? Oh my! It looks like...an EPIC FAIL! Thanks for adding to the comedy, you silly twat.

Wee, I got a private trolling by Aeschcaton. Now I'm special!

Me too! Let's start a club!

This IS an interview with a real life senator, Aschkabibble. Mark Pryor from Arkansas. You can check out his photos at:

http://pryor.senate.gov/photos/gallery.cfm

No, I got one too... he's been quite generous with his private bullshit.

Hurray for others who have the tinsiest ability to research.

^I got one too. And to think he just joined today. Wow - Insta-troll. Just add ignorance.

I would like to thank Aeschcaton for spurring the research to put a name with the face of this (soon to be up for re-election) senator--hope everyone in Arkansas is watching!

Hold on a sec whilst I pick my jaw up off the floor.

Hahaha -- what a great way to start the day. I'm invigorated!

>> ^Aeschcaton:
And what state would this United States 'Senator' be from... I checked... the answer? None! This is FICTION!
This is what happens people who are educated by their T.V. deign to concern themselves with politics.
Bill Maher is a comedy huckster, not Pliny the Elder people... I can't believe how many of you posted your 'Oh my God the right wingers are so so so dumb!' and then get the rug yanked out from under you by me...


Does this sound like anyone we already know on here? Hmmm...

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