Evidently, John McCain has put out an ad saying he won the debate tonight… before the debate was held! Clearly, he’s invented time travel (as well as the BlackBerry).
And here I though he leaned toward antiscience.
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Phil Plait, the creator of Bad Astronomy, is an astronomer, lecturer, and author. After ten years working on Hubble Space Telescope and six more working on astronomy education, he struck out on his own as a writer. He's written two books, dozens of magazine articles, and 12 bazillion blog articles. He is a skeptic and fights the abuse of science, but his true love is praising the wonders of real science.
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September 26th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
John McCain = The Chinese?
They announced, and printed, the full story of the Space Walk, before it began.
September 26th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
John McCain = The Chinese?
They Announced, and published, the full story of the space walk, before it began.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1061495/China-boasted-space-walk-mission-hours-astronauts-left-launch-pad.html
(Apparently I hit ‘submit’ when I tabbed to find the article, sorry)
September 26th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Maybe he’s living time in reverse. What we see as him getting older is really his earlier life. Kinda like some versions of the Merlin legend.
September 26th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
The master did not die and took the form of McCain. Now we just have to find the real McCain, Palin must be The Rani.
September 26th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Laugh it up boys. We will have the last laugh.
September 26th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
@ Krist –
By “we”, you mean the rest of you “time travelers”? Well sure… seeing as you can travel through time I’m sure you can have the last laugh anytime you want. Duh.
September 26th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Its the LHC…we are in a micro black hole….NOOOOOOOOOO
September 26th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
[...] travel discovered! Time travel discovered! by Phil Plait, Bad Astronomy Evidently, John McCain has put out an ad saying he won the debate [...]
September 26th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Well, it’s already tomorrow in Australia. Maybe he saw an Australian news site that he won.
September 26th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Then… Maybe that’s how he knows the world is 6000 years old!!! We’re wrong! SO WRONG!
September 26th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Todd W.: “Maybe he’s living time in reverse”.
Maybe John McCain is using a Video3000
machine.
N.B. You may need to set your computer monitor to “Full Screen” to view the video.
September 26th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Wow. That takes balls. No brains, but balls.
What a maverick!
September 26th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
“Clearly, he’s invented time travel”
Hey . . . .He’s campaigning against someone whose mere nomination caused the rise of the oceans to slow and caused the planet to begin to heal. He’s got to come up with *something* miraculous & supernatural, and time travel seems like just the ticket . . . .
September 26th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
Or it could be that the website ran the ad a day early by mistake. But that wouldn’t be as much fun to consider, I guess.
September 26th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
…at least he knows how many states there are, that Illinois is closer to Kentucky than Arkansas, when he was born, and when to salute the flag.
September 26th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
I would bet money that Obama has also already bought a similar ad…the only difference being that Obama’s wasn’t accidentally run too early.
September 26th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
If Obama did this the conservative blogs would be making fun of it.
September 26th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
He does? When did he tell you that?
Has McCain been told that Czechoslovakia is no longer a country yet, or that Al Qaida isn’t a Shia sect? Wow, both candidates can make gaffes — shocking isn’t it!!
But it’s nice to see Republicans continuing to obsess over minutiae. I guess when your nominee picks a running mate who can’t even put together a coherent answer to a straight-forward question — just watch the Couric interview, it’s deadly– then there is not much else you can do.
September 26th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
WXbill: I’m confused….when did Obama lead you to believe that he didn’t know how many states there are? Or are you doing a form of push-polling.
Because if the latter, then at least Obama doesn’t eat babies.
September 26th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
In Canada we made easy for politicians we only have 13 provinces and territories, 9 of which are lined up in a row and all 3 territories are in the north (PEI is kind off to side).
September 26th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Those darn conservitives, always messin’ with the fabric of space-time.
September 26th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
The man sized safe in Cheneys office is actually a TARDIS.
September 26th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
This is obviously a photo shopped image, they couldn’t be that stupid. I’m surprised Pratt would even post this.
September 26th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Obama’s Gaffes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ap2Cg_FDRy4
September 26th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Hmmm. Nothing in the link actually indicates who put up the ad. Hmmm.
September 26th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
That campaign statements about McCain inventing the BlackBerry was just reckless.
I mean, the man has admitted that he is completely computer illiterate. Of course he hasn’t invented anything, or in fact had a creative idea in his entire life.
The Al Gore quote they were making fun of is often misquoted by people.. Gore never said he “invented the Internet” only that he helped the people who did by laying the groundwork for it to expand and thrive.
September 26th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
McCain trying to go to Washington to “solve” the economic crisis was an example of him trying to be a “leader” and force Obama to be a follower. It didn’t work.
Rich
September 26th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
Phil – Are you sure that isn’t from the evil parallel universe where the bearded Spock and wild man Kirk live?
September 26th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Here’s another of the bogus ads:
http://img297.imageshack.us/my.php?image=screencapti7.jpg
“Obama loses debate. He should have waited.”
Har de har har! There’s still 8 minutes to go till it starts!
Rich in Charlottesville
September 26th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
WHY AREN’T YOU LIVE BLOGGING THE DEBATE, PHIL! That would have rocked. We could totally be partying here.
September 26th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
XXBill: that video was childishly weak. If you like, I can show you longer, more detailed videos that demonstrate John McCain’s ‘gaffes’, which tend to be of much more alarming topics. (remember his ‘stance’ on a woman’s right to choose? awwwwwkward)
Or I can show you some of George Bush, and of how many times McCain said he agrees with Bush 90-95% percent of the time.
So please, stop this distracting nonsense.
September 26th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
All I know is that if John McCain invented the time machine I wouldn’t care how antiscience he is.
September 26th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Good Lord, of course! In fact, this should have happened sooner. Let’s be realistic: Obama could get his butt kicked and it wouldn’t matter – he’d declare himself the winner. At least McCain realized this and acted on it. I did a quick run of the channels and it was no surprise: a liberal said Obama won, a conservative said McCain won. It’s no different than having the hats declaring the World Champions in basketball ready 2 minutes after the game ends.
Anyway, last comment on this blog. The posts are less about science and more about crying and yelling on politics. I’m actually a little fearful of the JREF being too political in the future. I can’t imagine anything worse for the skeptical movement. It would be one thing if it was just about facts being laid out before ideologies and accusations were leveled, but it’s not. Largely, it’s just some random zinger or b*tch that gives no facts or supporting evidence which can fact checked to any degree. I’m seeing logical fallacies applied to politics on a blog that’s supposed to argue against fallacies.
September 26th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
McCain clearly invented the internet.
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it a thousand times. Trying to steal votes by playing off the public’s patriotism when you constantly remind them that you were a prisoner of war should automatically disqualify you for even running for president. Telling stories about your POW experiences during interviews and debates only shows how shamelessly desperate you are to exhaust every possible option to obtain every possible vote.
He forgot Poland.
September 26th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Jeremy, this isn’t JREF. This is my blog, and I even have a disclaimer about it.
And what are you talking about with random zingers? This is the only post I have made in this whole Presidential campaign that wasn’t directly related to science, and it’s labeled as humor.
September 26th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
This is a blog and it never says anywhere that Phil has to be fair to both sides.
So I don’t care about the grotesque bias in his blog entry.
If I had to go back in time and write a blog entry about Obama being able to time travel
I would post this picture: (The Obama presidential seal)
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/06/20/when-the-obama-logo-and-presidential-seal-morph/
This is not only pompous and shows how out of touch Obama is but it is also illegal.
September 26th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
Jeremy just got zinged.
September 26th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
“I win this debate.”
Argument by time-travel.
September 27th, 2008 at 3:20 am
I am totally stealing his TARDIS.
September 27th, 2008 at 6:56 am
Phil, you’re gonna love/hate this link. It’s a research study that suggests attempting to educate people with correct info AFTER they’ve been misinformed(as with Fox) leads to reinforcement of the erroneous data.
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080924-does-ideology-trump-facts-studies-say-it-often-does.html
GAry 7
September 27th, 2008 at 7:20 am
Phil, may I just say that with the Right-Wing’s hammer hold on the mainstream media, you and the “Daily Show” are among the few effective voices of loyal opposition left. Keep up the good work!
Republican rule has nearly destroyed this country…and still there are loyalists who are begging for more. “The definition of insanity: doing the same thing and expecting different results.” Lemmings at best.
September 27th, 2008 at 8:03 am
This is silly.
Firstly, Obama’s campaign also took out an ad saying he won the debate and I guarantee it was fully prepped days if not weeks in advance of the actual debate, it just didn’t get leaked out early. Regardless of what actually happens in a political debate, each side always declares victory for itself and pulls out whatever sound bites make them sound the best and whatever sound bites make their opponent sound the worst.
I am the mythical undecided voter, and both failed to persuade me to their side last night.
I’ll tell you what though, much like I roll my eyes at political blogs when they talk science, so to do I roll my eyes at science blogs when they talk politics. Its just silly.
September 27th, 2008 at 9:33 am
It’s not silly at all when one particular party takes an anti-science stance on every issue.
After 8 years of Bush I don’t see how any one could be undecided at this point.
September 27th, 2008 at 9:33 am
Thanks, Gary A.
I’ll bet the guys at SGU will chew on this one!
Rich
September 27th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Yes, Aaron, science writers, like musicians, actors, and the like, have no business talking about politics! Politics are reserved for the anointed political pundits. How could anyone outside of this authorized elite (such as Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, Bill O’Reilly, and Sean Hannity) think that their opinions are relevant when it comes to politics? It’s as if these poor deluded fools think that their votes and voices actually count!
[/withering snark]
Say, how about that “bear DNA” crack? McCain sure understands basic research, doesn’t he? And did you notice where science fit in on his list of programs he would still fund when he decided to shut everything else down?
September 27th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
A quote by Phil Plait on April 29, 2007
Second, what I am seeing in these arguments is a very dangerous practice called “cherry picking”; (talking about global warming)
If only you could apply the same principles you do to science towards politics.
I know this is filed under humor. But I never ONCE saw Obama’s presidential seal and DOZENS of other Obama pretentious presumptuous statements and pictures filed under humor.
September 27th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory. –Sun Tzu, Art of War
September 28th, 2008 at 1:55 am
Well, CBS news last evening showed a poll that showed Obama won.
The REAL winners in these debates are the American People. They not only give us a taste of the give and take of the candidates, but their demeanor -their facial expressions (and sighs, in some cases). The debates will hardly change my mind unless something VERY strange happens, but they do help the undecided voter.
ALL candidates make gaffs – we all do, especially when speaking off-the-cuff. I think Obama’s 56 states is easily explained – during the primaries, he was running 56 campaigns, when you add in all of the territories. They have votes in the conventions, but not the general election.
To bad I end up voting AGAINST someone instead of FOR someone. I don’t really trust any of them!
September 28th, 2008 at 8:40 am
I agree with whoever said that McCain plays the POW card way too much.
I mean, cmon, this is basically his stance:
“I was taken hostage in Vietnam, an illegal war which we lost, but somehow I support Iraq, an illegal war which we’re losing.
Which means either I’ve gone senile, or I’m a complete idiot.
Vote for me!”
September 28th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Tyler:
I’d go for senile. You know how debilitating those POW camps are or maybe when he crashed his fifth plane(you know, the one that led to his internment at the Hanoi Hilton) he rattled his brain.
GAry 7
September 28th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
I do not think he plays the POW card as much as he should. McCain is surprisingly humble individual. He has a son fighting in Iraq but I bet none of the Obama trolls knew that. He is not quick to take credit like Obama is. That is his style and I like it.
Make NO mistake about it if McCain were president we would NOT in Iraq only Afghanistan. McCain FOUGHT BUSH ON RUMSFELD. I know we tend to forget that but he held several meetings and really slammed Rumsfeld during his questioning of him. McCain fought for a surge AND change in strategy which is working like it or nor. McCain was against torture and gitmo.
McCain is no war monger so please give me a break Tyler.
September 28th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
@Krist
You never seen him change the subject to his time as a POW as a way to direct a conversation away from an issue he’s uncomfortable talking about?
Make NO mistake about it if McCain were president we would NOT in Iraq only Afghanistan. McCain FOUGHT BUSH ON RUMSFELD.
Yes, and like many others (Democrats and Republicans) who were opposed to the war in Iraq, he eventually rolled over and toed the Bush line.
September 28th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
Krist- if McSame is against torture then why did he vote against banning it?
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/02/16/mccain_drops_the_torture_ball/
September 29th, 2008 at 5:10 am
How do you “win” a debate? Is there some kind of scoring system?
September 29th, 2008 at 10:08 am
Come on, Phil. Have some critical thinking. This was reported by one person, and the photo of McCain is horrible. It’s clearly a hoax.
September 29th, 2008 at 10:23 am
@Pablo: if McSame is against torture then why did he vote against banning it?
It isn’t torture when you do it to other people.
@GQ: How do you “win” a debate? Is there some kind of scoring system?
Marquis of Queensbury Rules.
September 29th, 2008 at 11:17 am
Well the ad was real as this screen shot of the Wall Street Journal online shows:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/images/26Sep_Friday_WSJ.JPG
September 29th, 2008 at 11:19 am
“Wow, both candidates can make gaffes — shocking isn’t it!!”
More like both candidates can be too underinformed to effectively govern.
I’m not exactly undecided. I know who I would want to be the next President. He didn’t get the nomination. Now I’m stuck between two people who’s ideological stances are cm apart. It’s ridiculous.
September 30th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Oh no! I can’t believe you actually repeated the ‘inventing the blackberry’ story….that’s just as horribly inaccurate as the ‘Al Gore invents internet’ story.
September 30th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
It is subjective so it does not matter if he claims victory before the debate. Facts like that are ignored by Phil because it does not suit his slant.
Phil is critical of the right for being flawed.
Why not be critical of the left for being diabolical?
When my relatives overseas talk about the US president being a war criminal, they are talking about Bill Clinton, not Bush.
Did we ignore the fact that Obama talked about wiping out Pakistan during the debate?