Sunday, February 16, 2014

Hypocrisy: not the worst sin, but maybe the most amusing

Rand Paul on whether Hilary Clinton should be president:

“You know what’s funny about it is I tell people – they’re like, ‘Why did you bring up the Clintons? Why did you bring up Bill being such a predator and sexual harassment and what he did with an intern in the workplace?’” Paul said. “I said, ‘Well, because they asked me the question'....One of the things we have done that is a step forward, has been over the last couple of decades is women should be protected from predatory behavior of their bosses. And that’s what Bill Clinton’s affair, whatever you want to call it with an intern was, was sexual harassment.”
also here:
He added, “It’s not Hillary’s fault, but it is a factor in judging Bill Clinton in history.”
He added with Bill and Hillary Clinton, “Sometimes it’s hard to separate one from the other.”

And then there's Rand Paul on people judging him over his long relationship to big ol' racist aide Jack Hunter:
“Why don’t we talk about Rand Paul, I’m the one doing the interview. You can go ahead and beat up on an ex-employee of mine, but why don’t we talk about Rand Paul and what I’m trying to do to grow the party, and then we might have an intelligent discussion,” the Kentucky Republican said.
also here:
He added that it was “unfair” to suggest that he should be painted with a “broad brush” because of the actions of his former aide.

Bonus quote from Paul: "hypocrisy defeats their whole argument." I wouldn't beat yourself up like that, but I agree it doesn't make you  look good.

58 comments:

Anonymous said...

You sure know hypocrisy Brian. Driving a fossil fuel vehicle to an on campus climate event, when you could have used alternate transportation. Have you purged any and all investments in fossil fuel companies from you personal portfolio? No? Hmm what's the word I am looking for...?

I know I know like Michael Mann who can use Big tobacco lawyers while this site rails against "deniers" who do the same, while the Democrats say the Republicans are have a "war against women" while the history of the Democrat party is filled with killing women while drunk, sexually harassing women half their age, and paying them less than their White house male counterparts, you should know hypocrisy.

You are such a chump.

1

Thomas Lee Elifritz said...

Hmm what's the word I am looking for...?

Strawman. Illucid as well. The South American toad skins come to mind too.

Brian said...

I am indeed full of straw. Yes, the angry one had nothing to say in support of Rand Paul's actions, so he sought a change of subject.

I'm sure that someday I'll drive to an on-campus climate event and fulfill his vision.

THE CLIMATE WARS said...

As a republican afficionado of blood sports , fornication, madeira and clove cigarettes who has never owned a car, and is deeply, deeply ashamed of ever having been represented in the Senate by Ted Kennedy, I pronounce this anonymous chump to be a very tendentious anonymous chump.

John said...

I wouldn't say that Bill Clinton was a "predator", having an affair with Ms. Lewinsky. She knew what she was doing. (Trying to get a head).
Hitting on interns is a long-time Washington tradition.
True, the Republicans attempted to make a partisan issue out of Bill Clinton's affair, but they failed. Salon (online magazine) torpedoed the Republicans with a story bearing the ominous title "Sex Lives of the Republicans", and the even more ominous sub-title "Part One". After that, it was all over but the shouting. And there was a lot of shouting.

Anonymous said...

"I'm sure that someday I'll drive to an on-campus climate event and fulfill his vision."

You already have.

And sorry, no emotion in my posts. Please do not try to elevate yourself to something I would get emotional over. Project much?

1

Anonymous said...

"I'm sure that someday I'll drive to an on-campus climate event and fulfill his vision."

Think last November. You either have forgotten or are a liar. I prefer to be charitable, but with a personality such as your, not so much.

1

Brian said...

Oh angry one, my answer to your question of whether I drove or took public transport was no. Don't fret, in plenty of other ways I'm still hypocritically human.

John, I'm not aware of Clinton sexually harassing anyone, which involves a quid pro quo, so Ryan's wrong about that as well. "Predator" is a much more nebulous term though and given the power imbalance, I couldn't dismiss it automatically. Hopefully those days ended with his bypass.

Anonymous said...

Sorry Brian not angry. Keep lying, it wears well on you. And Clinton did not sexually harass anyone? Are you referring to Bill?

Wow you are delusional. Another politician trying to gain power through absurd hyperbole.

1

Anonymous said...

Anon-101a here:

If anon1 you are actively wishing to be made angry such that you request Brian continue to try to do so, then you have no redress when you are angry.

However, you do get very noticeably angry and do not seem to care that you wish this to happen (or believe you are safe from this happening, therefore able to grandstand on it).

Does this hypocrisy not gall you?

Anonymous said...

Anon-101a,

Since everything in your previous post is wrong, how am I to respond?

Hmm let me try your emotional tagging game. Since you love Brian and are obviously attracted to him, it is understandable why you come to his defense.

Just reading text I came to the above conclusions on your emotional state. You have shown me how this can be done.

Thanks.

1

garhighway said...

Remember, if you consume fossil fuels you have disproved AGW.

At least I think that's the idea.

Anonymous said...

Anon-101a here:

garhighway, it's more than that.

If you've EVER used fossil fuels, that disproves AGW (via hypocrisy).

If you've NEVER used fossil fuels, then that disproves AGW (via being a weirdo who wants everyone to wear hairshirts).

Thomas Lee Elifritz said...

Since you love Brian and are obviously attracted to him, it is understandable why you come to his defense.

So how long of a buzz do you get on those psychedelic toad skins? Can you compare its buzz to the active ingredients of peyote and psilocybin for the benefit of us non-consumers?

EliRabett said...

Bunnies, have we descended to Al Gore and your mother are still fat?

Thomas Lee Elifritz said...

No Eli, it's pretty clear to me what is happening here, at least in the United States. The severely dumbed down Generation Xers are now teaching their Generation Z zombie children in your elementary, middle and high schools. I'm sorry I have to be the person to bring this inevitable result to your attention.

It's your problem, you deal with it.

Anonymous said...

Thomas, as usual you miss the point. I was simply reading the emotion from the text.

Oh still lost? I'm sorry let me be more direct.

My posts contain as much anger as Anon101a's posts contain love messages to Brian. Get it?


Your dealer was out of toad skins and was only selling rabbit's feet for luck.

1

Anonymous said...

Most teachers are Democrats so Thomas's above comment does contain a lot of truth.

1

Thomas Lee Elifritz said...

And true to form, some anonymous guy on the internet claims he is the spokesperson for 'most' teachers.

If anyone still has any outstainding questions about this guy, I can refer you to an essay on some other guy's 14 characteristics of fascism.

Anonymous said...

Well if Thomas gets to speak for Generation X'ers and Z'ers, I thought I could certainly speak for a much smaller group which I do not think anyone would argue, that most are Democrats. Do you have any data that shows Generation Z'ers are "dumbed down" and Z'ers are zombies. No?

Perhaps the man who chews on his feet after he posts can provide some data rather than being the spokesman for two whole generations of Americans.

Thomas, I am laughing at you, for those confused bunnies who like to read emotion from text, I am helping you...

1

Thomas Lee Elifritz said...

You are confusing observation for projection. I acknowledge that US teachers have a right to their own politics, and I don't make that my business. On the other hand, I can;t help but not note in the most glaring manner the decline of the United States under the tutelage of the Baby Boomers, now permanently fixed into minds the Xs, Ys and Zs, through misappropriation of science and the misapplication of education.

You are merely my example.

Anonymous said...

And your evidence I am from one of those generations? None? Oh ok you were just projecting.

You are not half as smart as you think you are and even what seems your maximum effort at a blog. lol

Nice twist and shout Thomas, listen to Chubby Checker often?

1

EliRabett said...

ain't YouTube great:)

Thomas Lee Elifritz said...

Oh, leave us alone and go play a round of golf, lol. The tundra is great. Now back to a evidence based reality, and O'anonymous one point out where I claim he or she was a part of any specific generation? You aren't an example of any specific generation, you are an example of education and tutelage gone wrong. I'm simply pointing out the problem is multi-generational, once you lose sight of an evidence and acheivement reality based on science, you begin to educate generations of intellectual cripples who then go on to become teachers, and then the problem is greatly amplified.

You understand amplification right?

Anonymous said...

Your example of the demise of education in this country blamed generation x, y, and z and you said I was an example of the mess. Thus, you projected that I am from one of those three generations. Simple, even for you, well should have been anyway.

If you are an example of what is intellectually superior, we are in worse shape than previously thought.

Play a round of golf? What you want to lose in that challenge as well?

1

THE CLIMATE WARS said...

Definitely must be the yips ; the anonymous have no handicaps.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for speaking for me Russell, but like most Rabetts you are wrong.

1

Thomas Lee Elifritz said...

Your reading comprehension is pretty bad, I specifically blamed the baby boomers. Maybe you are from the depression era, that would explain much. You see, the baby boomers dropped the ball, except for the prosperity and progress thing. That's what happens when you spend your wealth on other things besides educating the next generation, your children. They grow up to be even worse teachers, and thus the amplification of ignorance proceeds. The golf was for Eli. The tundra is looking good out there, just hit that ball and it's gone in a blaze of whiteness all the way to the next county, lol.

You're so vain, I bet you think this post was about you. About you.

It's all about you.

Anonymous said...

Thomas sure spends a lot of effort just to spin and project.

1

Thomas Lee Elifritz said...

No, I'm just trying to explain the reasons behind the sorry state of the average American intellect and how the American decline proceeded.

Not for you. For anyone else. You are just the best example around.

Anonymous said...

Thomas, the superior intellect, has been appointed to deem who, what and how education has declined for an entire country. Funny that someone with such valuable self-proclaimed "skillz" spends his time on a blog rather than saving the world.

Such a waste of talent.

Still laughing at the oh so arrogant one.

1

Thomas Lee Elifritz said...

who, what and how

You, stupid, education. From that you should be able to deduce the solution of how to save the world from stupid uneducated Americans.

I'm so glad to be able to help you.

Anonymous said...

Your judgment lacks weight, your words lack power and your life lacks meaning.
Three strikes you're out!

I love arrogant asses on the internets, so much fun.

1

Thomas Lee Elifritz said...

It's interesting that some guy posting content free thoughts on the internet and signing with 'anonymous 1' thinks that his thoughts have so much meaning. Meanwhile the vicious cycle of generational educational decline in America continues unabated with creationism now being taught in science classrooms, in the name of fair and balanced coverage of 'both sides'. It takes all kinds. Country and Western! Or should that be Retard and Hillbilly? I prefer to think of it as Conservative and Stupid. Republican and Corruption. Anonymous and 1 come to mind too.

Anonymous said...

"It's interesting that some guy posting content free thoughts on the internet and signing with 'anonymous 1' thinks that his thoughts have so much meaning."

where did I make such a claim?

Ah Hillbilly and Retards and political bigotry, some racism and just plain old hate. Does it consume you or just burn so far?

1

Thomas Lee Elifritz said...

where did I make such a claim?

You don't have to make any claim, you demonstrate it, over and over by continuing to post substance free comments on a long dead post.

And I continue to make my point that the decline of the American intellect as demonstrated by a 20 trillion dollar debt and the infiltration of religious fundies and creationists into our government and educational institutions continues unabated.

Your continued refusal to comment on that problem reveals everything, yet you continue to defend the American corruption, retards, hillbillies and bible thumpers at every opportunity?

Here is one for you, cops, pigs, soldiers, thugs. Did you get that?

Let me reiterate, cops, militiamen.

Anonymous said...

Ah here comes some more hate from Thomas. When are you going to act out on this hate?

More tolerated hate at Rabett Run, now we see that RR supports haters of policemen and members of the military.

So Thomas you hate America, good for you. You recapped some of our problems, yes we have many. I am just glad that most people I meet are not filled with such hate. I hope it consumes you some day. Nah, I already know it will.

Have fun with your hate and for helping express some supported views of the three "editors" of RR, I know they feel the same as you.

1

Anonymous said...

Vote for Brian Schmidt, an editor at Rabett Run where policemen are called pigs and soldiers are thugs.

Let us also not forget Brian's support of commenters who equate today's young generation of Americans who choose to serve in the military, war criminals with the "blood of millions of innocents on their hands." That is my all time favorite save from RR, but it is ugly. Should make for good discussion during this election year.

Yes please pass the popcorn.

1

Thomas Lee Elifritz said...

Yes, an America so broke and in debt that homeland security has to supply the local militia (the cops) with weapons so the can play wannabe SWAT teams, and local municipalities so broke that the cops are the defacto revenue producers for those weapons.

Now what is wrong with this picture, except that America somehow thinks that their soldiers are world cops. It's so easy to push your buttons here. lol.

Good luck in the zombie apocalypse. When agriculture takes even the smallest of climate hits you will be running scared, trust me. That's what happens when you blow your wad on weapons and war and not educating your children.

Charles Darwin is laughing at you. So don't blame me O'anonymous one, blame yourself. I'm just the messenger. Look at the Ukraine.

That's the 'Republican' future.

Brian said...

Just saw that this thread was still happening, and it seems like a validation of my post. So many comments, and not one word that even attempts to refute the post.

Thanks everyone for your help.

Thomas Lee Elifritz said...

Well, Hillary is going to be the one that has to try and clean the mess that Reagan and the Bushes made of this country, so this is relevant.

She will have eight years, do you think that she can do it? I can tell you who won't be doing it - Scotty Walker and Chris Christie, lol.

Me? I'm going with Elon Musk, lol.

Anonymous said...

Refute exactly what Brian? Your claim that hypocrisy is the most amusing sin? Who cares.

Your lack of response to Thomas's comments are of interesting note. The inference is easy, you agree with his comments, just as you have in the past.

I just enjoy learning more about you and your radical beliefs, no matter how hard you try to conceal them.

1

Thomas Lee Elifritz said...

And I too am interested in exposing your quaint patriotic nationalistic war and death glorifying obsolete and failed beliefs as well. You know, the nutty God thing, the crazy guy in Rome wearing the funny costume and the belief that you won the war in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan and that is was worth the cost. Let's talk about Ronnie's Star Wars too while we're at it, and Georgie's Constellation program. And of course, Tom Delay's idea of Constitutional law as well. Let's talk about Scotty Walker's idea of honesty in the County Executive office, or Christ Christie about traffic jams. What have you got left, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio? Ok, let's talk about Jesus in the Sabine Parish schools, or about the religious believe of the Republican side of the congressional science committee?

Do you see a pattern here? I do.

So you've got Rand Paul, lol. Tell me how those wars in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan work out, you're boys did such a heckava job over there. I say, fuck em. If they're stupid enough to take their orders form Donald Rumfeld they deserve what they got, another tick in the loss column. Let me push your buttons some more, my rights are protected by the constitution. That just burns your ass, no? I guess I just don't give a fuck about your beliefs anymore.

Anonymous said...

The rage, the rage. It is amusing how many beliefs you associate with me when I have made no comments on many if not all of those topics.

Keep hating Thomas it fits you well. Burn baby, burn.

1

Thomas Lee Elifritz said...

Again, I have made no claim that you have discussed them, but you can bet they will be and are being discussed right now in the run up to the 2014 and 2016 elections. If you think nuttery and obvious demonstrable corruption among your cronies is going to solve your problems, I have a large expendable heavy lift launch vehicle NASA wants to sell you, lol. America, the has been nation.

Anonymous said...

Keep hating, Brian likes it.

1

Thomas Lee Elifritz said...

Keep being a conservative, a republican and an anti-science tea bagger. Informed voters hate it. And parents will want better for their children once they see what's happening. And they will. Soon.

Anonymous said...

More assertions that are false. What a surprise.

"And they will, soon." Oh I thought that was 2008, what happened, it got worse.

So tell me what do you think of young people who choose to serve in the military today?

Brian don't be shy, you are an editor here at Rabett Run and an active participant in this thread. Being in a position which requires some level of public trust I am rather surprised you are silent on some of these statements that represent this blog and you.

1

Thomas Lee Elifritz said...

Dude, these aren't Brian's opinions and they aren't Eli's opinions, they aren't even the blog's opinions, they are my opinions in the comments and I have signed them. You're opinions of my opinions don't mean shit here or anywhere because you are anonymous and quite frank;y you have expressed very few opinions here. No public trust is required.

My opinion of you is quite clear, you are a war and violence glorifying twit of a human bean. So get out there and fight some commies in a foreign land because in the US people have a right to be commies, via the Constitution.

North Korea awaits you! Infiltrate!

Anonymous said...

Thomas do you ever get anything right? No?

So tell me what do you think of young people who choose to serve in the military today?

Why should I express my opinions as you are doing that for me. Very entertaining.

Have you yet realized that you are making zero impact for changing the world to be a better place? With all your talents and superior understanding of all things, why is it you cannot get anything done? Are you just a talker? Drink early in the day? Alone? Do friends consider you a complainer?

And no your opinions are yours, but for the sake of consistency, the editors on RR in the past were quick to delete or comment on comments that were hateful or disparaging on groups of people. Their current silence implicitly denotes agreement, in my opinion.

Have another glass of whatever you are drinking today, I think you are going to need it.

1

Thomas Lee Elifritz said...

So tell me what do you think of young people who choose to serve in the military today?

Their lives are none of my business. They are free to choose their own fate. What is my business is the environment of the planet they live on and the government that claims they are stewards of this small surface area on one continent bounded by some imaginary borders, and the atmosphere and ocean bordering it.

Let your imagination run wild!

Anonymous said...

So they are not "thugs"? Can you please make up your mind, after all I did mention consistency...

1

Thomas Lee Elifritz said...

When they fight wars in foreign lands and claim they are protecting my freedoms at home I can call them whatever I want. In fact, I can call them whatever I want anytime I want even if they are sitting on their hands picking they're noses. That just burns your ass, doesn't it.

That's because you are an 'authoritarian'. Look it up.

Anonymous said...

Still projecting false images I see.

Thomas nothing you have said nor will say in the future touches me emotionally or provokes (has/will) an emotional response from me.

You are certainly good at inflating your impact on others, almost as much as you inflate your own superiority.

Sigh and lastly I did not say nor imply that you could not call anyone anything at any particular time. Perhaps you can go to nearby farm, find a straw man and argue with him. It seems you are now uncertain on how to respond to direct questions, I find this interesting.

1

Hank Roberts said...

Rand 1 is cartoon fodder:
http://activatecomix.com/162-1-1.comic

Rand 2, not so much yet.

Thomas Lee Elifritz said...

Maybe I can help you with the concept of 'authoritarianism'. This was just recently posted by a commenter on Judith's Curry's blog. This is the company she keeps.

probabaly just another anti-American, Constitution-bashing, individual-liberty-hating communist like many of Obama’s minions. Hopefully, people like this can be stripped of US citizenship some day. If this person even is a US citizen.

Is this you? I think not. You seem smarter than that. Hopefully your understanding of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights is more mature than that, but it does seem to me that America is reverting to McCarthyism and Jack Crow. Seaborn Roddenbery comes to mind. So get out there and amend that Constitution! Republicans, conservatives and tea baggers unite!

Anonymous said...

No that was not me and that is fringe and stupid. In fact almost as stupid as Michael Mann stating that he hopes that someday anyone who denies what he deems science as being a criminal offense.

The irony that Obama has practiced the "unitary executive" more than Bush is very revealing, just not to the sheeple.

1

Thomas Lee Elifritz said...

Anyone who denies gravity may be looking at a possible death penalty.

I would be interested in your cite or quote for the 'criminal offense'. I'm just not seeing it, surely you can provide us with a link, besides the usual 'climate criminals' from the denier crowd.

And thanks for the cartoon link, Hank, that was great! Finally something on topic to Rand Paul, the last great white hope.