*facepalm*

Keep going Republicans.

Remember, it was just 2 days ago that John Boehner (R OH-08) confused methane gas with CO2 and mistakenly claimed that CO2 was a "carcinogen".

These schmucks are actually PROUD of their jaw-dropping ignorance.

That exchange was rather hilarious. I don't think Chu ever expected he would need to take on the role of high-school science teacher as well in addition to his other duties.

You know why he said that right? Because he thinks that "forcing" a scientist to say that it's been hundreds of millions of years can be used to raise money from the people who think Jesus put the oil in Alaska for Sarah Palin to find.

Isn't it obvious? God put it there. And it's a renewable resource. Obviously.

ninjakirby: That exchange was rather hilarious. I don't think Chu ever expected he would need to take on the role of high-school 5th-grade science teacher as well in addition to his other duties.

FTFY

ninjakirby: That exchange was rather hilarious. I don't think Chu ever expected he would need to take on the role of high-school science teacher as well in addition to his other duties.

Actually, my guess is that Obama warned him about this exact sort of problem when he appointed him to the position. Remember, you don't have to be even remotely intelligent to become a member of Congress--you just have to be a U.S. citizen, over 25 years old, and live in the district you're running for.

On that basis, it's not surprising that a huge percentage of politicians have, shall we say, less than stellar intellects.

BlueDjinn: On that basis, it's not surprising that a huge percentage of politicians have, shall we say, less than stellar intellects.

Promoted to where they can do the least damage. Hell, we elected John Edwards in hopes that he'd stay the hell out of the state.

the fact that the fine rep from tx labeled this video as him "stumping" a nobel laureate who can't answer a simple question (because barton keeps interrupting him to be farking stupid) and then apparently deleted all the comments on the youtube video pointing out what a farking moron barton is and then disabled comments all together makes me sick to my stomach.

fine, tx. secede. who gives a fark about you anymore?

cranberryzero: fine, tx. secede. who gives a fark about you anymore?

And take Oklahoma with you.

Okay, anyone want to tell this idiot where babies come from?

zz9: Okay, anyone want to tell this idiot where babies come from?

And if you don't say that when a boy and a girl hug and kiss, sometimes baby Jesus sends an angel to plant a baby seed in mommy-to-be, he'll post video on the internet and claim he stumped you.

Man, you have to hope that there were at least a FEW (R)s who were watching that and trying desperately to beam "shutthefarkupshutthefarkupSHUTTHEFARKUP" rays into Barton's head.

zz9: Okay, anyone want to tell this idiot where babies come from?

How is tarddy 'lected?

dahmers love zombie: Man, you have to hope that there were at least a FEW (R)s who were watching that and trying desperately to beam "shutthefarkupshutthefarkupSHUTTHEFARKUP" rays into Barton's head.

I was actually thinking that - you know at least one of the Republicans on the committee was thinking, Don't let them know how stupid you are, don't let them know, don't let them know... God DAMMIT!

dahmers love zombie: Man, you have to hope that there were at least a FEW (R)s who were watching that and trying desperately to beam "shutthefarkupshutthefarkupSHUTTHEFARKUP" rays into Barton's head.

Any Repub who is cognizant of reality at this point has long ago degraded to a broken wreck, alternating between drinking copious amounts of scotch and blubbering like a baby.

Oh my - Green.

Wait...did this United States Congressman ask if oil got to Alaska by a giant pipeline from Texas? Did that just happen?

Is he farking high? Am *I* high, and just don't know it???

*facepalm*

If you think this dumbass is bad... how stupid are the people who voted for him?

"Mr. Secretary, in 2 seconds, please explain Albert Einstein's photoelectric theory. And please don't use big words, I'm from Texas."

No one but an OT VIII uber-Creationist can possibly defend this. The less crazy Republicans will go with a standard deflection or joke about Chu paying his taxes.

what_now: Wait...did this United States Congressman ask if oil got to Alaska by a giant pipeline from Texas? Did that just happen?

It's like a series of tubes.

I just farking love my country.

haha Comments have been disabled on the YouTube page.

what_now: Wait...did this United States Congressman ask if oil got to Alaska by a giant pipeline from Texas? Did that just happen?

The GOP's explanation for everything in Alaska is "series of tubes."

what_now: Is he farking high? Am *I* high, and just don't know it???

I AM high and nearly pissed myself laughing as this boob.

I demand more asshattery from delusional politicians. MORE!

Damn you, smooshie.

Benevolent Misanthrope: dahmers love zombie: Man, you have to hope that there were at least a FEW (R)s who were watching that and trying desperately to beam "shutthefarkupshutthefarkupSHUTTHEFARKUP" rays into Barton's head.

I was actually thinking that - you know at least one of the Republicans on the committee was thinking, Don't let them know how stupid you are, don't let them know, don't let them know... God DAMMIT!

That reminds me of Homer's brain.

Brain: Don't tell him you were at a bar! Gasp! But what else is open at night?
Homer: It's a pornography store. I was buying pornography.
Brain: Heh heh heh. I would've never thought of that.

BlueDjinn: These schmucks are actually PROUD of their jaw-dropping ignorance.

This is an important fact.

I don't quite understand it, but this - prideful, defiant ignorance - can not be simply disposed of with ridicule; it's too powerful. We need to think hard, and kindly, about it.

Mentat: That reminds me of Homer's brain.

Brain: Don't tell him you were at a bar! Gasp! But what else is open at night?
Homer: It's a pornography store. I was buying pornography.
Brain: Heh heh heh. I would've never thought of that.

Semi-related:

"Don't say doing your wife, don't say doing your wife..."
"Doing your... son?"

There was a big push at my college to teach us science kids to respect every question presented, no matter how ignorant the question or person asking it.
These are the kind of questions that made me say "No, I will not. Some questions don't deserve even a baseline level of respect."

SilentStrider: how stupid are the people who voted for him?

I used to live in congressman Barton's district. Trust me, they are very stupid.

The party of ideas, indeed.

zz9: Okay, anyone want to tell this idiot where babies come from?



She's got it covered.

what_now: You know why he said that right? Because he thinks that "forcing" a scientist to say that it's been hundreds of millions of years can be used to raise money from the people who think Jesus put the oil in Alaska for Sarah Palin to find.

This. He wanted to get the guy to say that the world is more than 6000 years old.

BuckTurgidson: BlueDjinn: These schmucks are actually PROUD of their jaw-dropping ignorance.

This is an important fact.

I don't quite understand it, but this - prideful, defiant ignorance - can not be simply disposed of with ridicule; it's too powerful. We need to think hard, and kindly, about it.

Indeed. I'm not sure there is anything to be done about it, except to work around it. We'll be able to do that for a little while, at least, but I do wonder how we make real change in a country where willful ignorance is so prevalent and socially rewarded.

SilentStrider: *facepalm*

If you think this dumbass is bad... how stupid are the people who voted for him?

I'm gonna go with "average" for Texas.

Duh. Obviously, the only correct answer is "God did it."

/heathens

beve: This. He wanted to get the guy to say that the world is more than 6000 years old.

It's like the time when I "forced" my cousin to admit she had a boyfriend. I was 8 years old, and thought boys were disgusting. She was 19, and thought I was adorable.

Republicans. Just like 8 year old girls.

Benevolent Misanthrope: Indeed. I'm not sure there is anything to be done about it, except to work around it. We'll be able to do that for a little while, at least, but I do wonder how we make real change in a country where willful ignorance is so prevalent and socially rewarded.

IIRC, step one involves building a colony ship...

Can anyone tell me what was the context of that question? Why did he ask it? Seriously.

Occam's Chainsaw: zz9: Okay, anyone want to tell this idiot where babies come from?

And if you don't say that when a boy and a girl hug and kiss, sometimes baby Jesus sends an angel to plant a baby seed in mommy-to-be, he'll post video on the internet and claim he stumped you.

Puzzled? I think Chu was puzzled only in the sense he didn't really know how to answer that question without making a sitting congressperson look like a complete moron. Although he did his best. The first thing out of my mouth if asked that question would have been "You really can't be that stupid, can you?"

DamnYankees: Can anyone tell me what was the context of that question? Why did he ask it? Seriously.

It was a divine question given to him by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I find your lack of faith disturbing.

Occam's Chainsaw: Benevolent Misanthrope: Indeed. I'm not sure there is anything to be done about it, except to work around it. We'll be able to do that for a little while, at least, but I do wonder how we make real change in a country where willful ignorance is so prevalent and socially rewarded.

IIRC, step one involves building a colony ship...

Colony ship. Check.

Step two: Idiot detection. Any ideas? I mean, aside from the usual "politician, demagogue, or network executive" test...

Benevolent Misanthrope: BuckTurgidson: BlueDjinn: These schmucks are actually PROUD of their jaw-dropping ignorance.

This is an important fact.

I don't quite understand it, but this - prideful, defiant ignorance - can not be simply disposed of with ridicule; it's too powerful. We need to think hard, and kindly, about it.

Indeed. I'm not sure there is anything to be done about it, except to work around it.

I think the thing to do about it is to remember that each of us was born ignorant and not one of us has achieved perfection, so we are all still learning; and that the most fortunate of us were drawn toward knowledge, not beaten away from ignorance.