Actually, I think people are ascribing to the word "theory" what is meant by "hypothesis." A theory gives an explanation to an observed phenomena, hypothesis is an explanation for something that might be observed, or might not.

Gravity, Electricity, Evolution all have theories to explain them. Gravity, Electricity, Evolution all exist, and scientifically there is no doubt that they exist. A theory doesn't bring into question the existence of what it theorizes, it simply tries to explain how what happened did happen. So, the theory of gravity, electricity, evolution doesn't falsely pretend that maybe there is gravity, electricity or evolution, and if there is, this is what we think happened. A proper study of the theory of evolution might question some facet of the proposed explanation for the phenomena, but that in no way negates that the phenomena itself exists.

The whole idiotic mess in schools about "intelligent design" and such would go away if people generally understood those basic terms. Unfortunately, there's a whole class of obfuscators that profit from confusion, and the confusion only can exist with fallacious understanding of the terms. The right wing should never have gotten away with calling Anti-Choice "pro-life" (besides, how many of them are pro death penalty? And who is anti-life? There'd have to be an anti-life faction for there to be a valid pro-life faction). There is a pro-choice faction, and the only proper term for the people who disagree is anti-choice. The fact that they may not like being called anti-choice has no bearing on what they actually advocate. I think this FISA compromise, and other crap that goes on would not happen if people wouldn't allow so much manipulation of language. Just look at that idiotic statement of Nancy Pelosi's trying to justify the unjustifiable. If the media wanted to really perform a valid function, they'd quit enabling this crap instead of augmenting it.

--Ron

<<But I do think that gravity might be more than just a theory.>>

I don't think you know what a personal attack is. I criticized your views, which seem pretty authoritarian. And guess what, this bill won't protect us from another 9/11, all it does is give more invasion of privacy, something you apparently don't care about.

--Ron

<<And yet another personal attack. I think that is about 20 for the day so far. What is laughable is the uproar in here about your liberal leaders coming to an agreement over this bill, not the bill itself. Our 4th amendment rights are nothing without the security from those that mean us harm. While I don't like the bill, I do understand the purpose behind it and I'm willing to accept it in return for security against another 9/11. You can agree or disagree with me and that is your right. I think people here tend to over-react a bit and jump off the cliff.

-- bucks4mccain>>

Wow, you really are a compelling arguer, aren't you? I can see lots of people being persuaded by your sneers.

If you think this principle (4th amendment, telecom lawbreaking, government above the law) is worth laughing about, then you don't have any principles worth a damn.

--Ron

<<I have to laugh at all the anger in here today over your cherished Democratic party siding with the Republicans on this bill. You far left folks really are the new minority in this country. Enjoy your unhappiness, there is plenty more to come.

>>

No, I don't think that makes a good analogy. I don't think the supreme court can survive having another right-winger like McCain to nominate the next justice(s). The democrats aren't strong enough to object either. So, it's going to have to be a democrat for president to nominate them.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, this election has now been reduced to voting to save the supreme court. Voting 3rd party is voting for McCain. Withholding your vote is voting for McCain. I can understand not contributing to Obama (I'm not going to now), or campaigning actively for him, but actively helping to make things worse by allowing McCain to win is just suicide.

--Ron

<<For all those who vote for Obama (or McCain) because he meets your requirements for the Presidency, good for you. For all those who vote for one of these because he is the lesser of two evils, you're doing the same thing as happened in Congress today - basing your actions on what you think the consequences of that action will be rather than fearlessly doing what you know to be right.>>

No need to dance around the issue. Obama has nothing to gain by his weasel words, and everything to lose. Anyone who'd not vote for him because he came out strongly against this bill was definitely not going to vote for him anyway. Instead, he's done more to disillusion his supporters.

And really, the people who are making excuses for Obama should wake up. Would they be making these same excuses if Hillary had been the nominee? I think not. So, why then does Obama get a pass?

He should be ashamed, as should Pelosi. Hoyer should be removed from office for malfeasance.

There was no need for the house to do a damned thing right now, so why did they come out with this piece of crap? They could have just sat on it, and it would have been a victory, and done them no harm in the elections.

I'm just incredibly disgusted. Obama wasn't my first choice, and yet I had hoped that he would be better than this, I guess I'd even been taken in by some of the hype to think he would be better.

Sorry, I'll vote for him, but I'm not going to fake any enthusiasm for him, or campaign, or donate for him. What a jackass he's made himself out to be.

--Ron

At this point, we don't have the luxury of choice. The supreme court is too far right already, and letting McCain get elected by complicity or omission (voting for him, or voting 3rd party) will end the possibility of a supreme court check on executive power, among other horrors. I think Glenn's thing here is the best response, put money to ActBlue (which I did) to target the jackasses, and hopefully make them lose. That is punishment for bad acts. That's our best option right now, and the only realistic one.

--Ron

<<But they AREN'T ashamed. They are fat, rich, and happy because no matter what they do, you (collective you, not necessarily you specifically) vote for them again and again ANYWAY. Why NOT keep up the same old shit? They get away with it, get back into office and make the big bucks by selling their votes to the highest corporate bidder. Again and again.

But by all means, keep rewarding this behavior by voting for them because they are the "lessor of two evils". Except that they aren't. They do PRECISELY the same thing that the GOP does, but instead of being forthright about what they are going to do, they promise that they wont only to secretly go off into the dark corners to do it in secret (whenever possible).

Funny how when the GOP is in charge, the Dems can't do anything because they aren't in charge but when the Dems are in charge the GOP is STILL in charge.>>

Obama was never my choice, and now I'm reduced to voting for him for one thing only, the supreme court. Letting McCain get the next few picks would be even more disastrous that what we've got now. Remember how close we came to losing habeas corpus? Consider it gone if McCain wins. So, yes, I'm voting for someone it seems ever more likely I'll have to hold my nose for.

F'g democrats, they really should be ashamed to hold any office these days.

--Ron

<<What A Shame

lomecdutex: Why will you vote for someone who voted present 130 time's as a state Rep in Illinois? what can you expect of a loser with a record like that?We just don't have anyone running who is qualified to be president. Obama is just a big mouth with no substance and Old Man McCain is George Bush the 3rd. What a sorry state this once great country is in when the young people who have a maxed out credit card drive a car that isn't paid for and if they have a house they owe more than it's worth which shows not only bad judgment but bad management vote for an empty suit and get him nominated it doesn't get much worse than that but it will because one of these losers will be the next president. What a shame>>