It takes conflict among colleges to make education interesting to the media

If the media really wanted to know about the kind of education offered by America's colleges, they could visit any of hundreds of fine colleges hundreds of days each year. It's a rare day, however, when any corporate media outlet takes interest in education of any sort. Unless, of course,…

Continue ReadingIt takes conflict among colleges to make education interesting to the media

Almost 70 harsh questions for John McCain. An easy-to-use press kit for spineless news media reporters and their editors

Why should we ask John McCain harsh questions? Because we need to even the playing field. You see, if Barack Obama had McCain’s background, ignorance and bad character, the election would have been over months ago. The news media is holding back, though. Those media barbecues appear to be paying off.

So it’s time to even the playing field. Since the media keeps asking these sorts of disparaging and insulting questions to Barack Obama, it’s time to ask these same sorts of questions to John McCain. I admit that a few of these are outrageously unfair, just like many of the questions repeatedly posed to Obama.

Most of these questions are fair, though, and the news media has refused to dig deep and really get the answers Americans need. If you have additional questions that the media needs to ask John McCain, please submit them in the comments. I’d like to make this post a place where reporters are free to visit for ideas. As you can see, I’ve attached explanatory links to most of the proposed questions.

Unlike Barack Obama, McCain has a lot of explaining to do about what kind of person he has shown himself to be and portrayed himself to be. Let’s get started:

Generally Puzzling
Isn’t it true that you personally now oppose several bills that you yourself co-sponsored?

Why is your smile so creepy and fake?

Do you really believe that the President of the U.S. virtually functions as a dictator?

General Character Deficits

Share

Continue ReadingAlmost 70 harsh questions for John McCain. An easy-to-use press kit for spineless news media reporters and their editors

Should the Democratic Convention Exclude the Irreligious?

I was reading Friendly Atheist this morning, and found out that the DNC is preparing to start their convention (coronation ceremony?) with an interfaith religious service. (Link to the post) They invited representatives of several religions to speak, but explicitly denied access to any atheists, agnostics, pagans, spiritualists, or humanists.…

Continue ReadingShould the Democratic Convention Exclude the Irreligious?

Atheism Doesn’t Preclude Woo

As with many rationalists, I've always assumed that Atheism and Rationalism were intertwined. But recently I conversed with an ardent atheist who believes in reincarnation. Suddenly I realized that Atheism is not commutative: Rationalism generally leads to atheism, but not vice-versa. One can deeply believe that there is no sky-daddy,…

Continue ReadingAtheism Doesn’t Preclude Woo

John McCain: The dazed and confused candidate for President

The TPM video that appears below introduces John McCain, admittedly not at his public-speaking best. The main question is not whether McCain misspeaks, however. Many highly competent people lack polished public speaking skills. Even though they often stumble while speaking, though, highly competent people ultimately display their high degree of…

Continue ReadingJohn McCain: The dazed and confused candidate for President