Wingnut posts some specific counter examples in an attempt to dispell the "anti-science" label that has been slapped on the GOP.

WN is counting trees but missing the forest. John McCain turned a paltry million dollars set aside for legitimate research on grizzly bears into a punchline and shining example of earmarks and pork in the federal budget. Conservatives continue to act as though there is an ongoing debate in the scientific community about global warming and greenhouse gases when there clearly is not. And so on. And don't get me started on the countless number of conservatives who think Intelligent Design should be taught in public schools as though it is an actual theory. These people do not even understand the definition of a "theory" as it is used in science!

Conservatives continue to attack academia as breeding grounds for terrorist sympathizing america hating hippies, they attack public teachers and teachers unions, they sneer at refined and sophisticated city folk in the presence of their base (Obama and his FANCY BURGER WITH DIJON MUSTARD!) while they themselves fly around in private jets and dine in 5 star establishments, and in general foster an attitude of anti-intellectualism in this country. All of which offends the hell out of the scientific and academic community, which depends on a steady supply of well educated youngsters to enter advanced degree programs and conduct research that is to the benefit of all of us.

And, for George W. Bush to allow his religious "morals" to block research on embryonic stem cells is similarly unscientific . . . there is no practical difference between using these stem cells for research and letting them sit indefinitely in cold storage, never to be used for fertility treatment.

Bush even championed the ridiculous "embryo adoption" program by having eight (or something like that) "Snowflake" babies at a white house press conference. . . frozen embryos who are adopted out to infertile couples and brought to term. As if this was a realistic solution for the hundreds of thousands of frozen embryos currently in storage . . . and a pretty wicked slap in the face to all of those kids unfortunate enough to be ALREADY BORN and stuck in the perpetual cycle of foster homes, longing for a real family.

Conservatives are stuck with the "anti-science" label, and the subsequent contempt they receive from those who work in science and academia, because of an overall attitude they display towards the same. And for their willingness to put politics and base pandering ahead of facts 100% of the time.

Bringing up the SDI project as a defense of the right's appreciation of "science" only goes to show that science is valuable to conservatives when there are endless billions of military defense pork to be had in the pursuit of it. Similarly, creationists and IDers are more than happy to consider scientific data when it could be interpreted to support their fantasy of a world created in 7 days and a race of people carved out of mud in God's image, but discard as insignificant the mountains of data that show this is an impossibility. For example, young earth creationists believe fossilized sea creatures can be found in the Andes Mountains not because of the movement of tectonic plates, but because God flooded the earth for 40 days and 40 nights!

I fully realize that this is not the view held by the majority of conservative politicians. The point is, these same politicians will pander endlessly to the ignorant people who hold these views, and in doing so, doing a disservice to their children by allowing public sentiment to sabotage a proper education in basic sciences.

And on and on. I'm honestly surprised that WN does not see any of this.

Stephanie Zackareck is the #1 reason why I don't have a Salon Premium account.

The worst god damned taste in movies I've ever seen.

"Historical characters come back to hysterical life in this sequel to the charming megahit starring Ben Still"

You have to be shitting me.

Let's all watch the republicans marginalize themselves further by trampling all over hispanics and educated women in their rush to smear and discredit a SC judge that they don't have a snowball's chance in hell of blocking anyways.

Why oh why are the minority and female demographics so elusive for the GOP? It just doesn't make any sense. . . must be because they are so STUPID!

Here's a tip, do some god damned research and find definitive proof of widespread, institutionalized "oppression" of white men in the United States.

Because that is what the pro-AA lobbyists did, their god damned homework.

All this anecdotal crap amounts to little more than whitey pissing and moaning because the little guy is getting a fair shake and the good old boy network is falling by the wayside.

Stephanie gushes all over Night at the Museum 2, which was a complete turd, but dings this film for being "surgical" and "cold".

I really hope Salon does not actually pay this chick for her work.

This is precisely what mainstream journalism has been like in this country for at least a decade.

Journalistic integrity is all but gone from the mainstream press. Nothing new there, Fox News has made it SOP toss legitimate sources in the pot with lunatics, anonymous sources and plain old false information, in order to present a "fair and balanced" report on a subject which really only has one reasonable side (like global warming).

It strikes me as odd that someone would use the word "hysterical" to describe the non-stop assault of banality that is Night at theMuseum 2, but would be completely unmoved by the humanitistic elements of this film.

Not "odd" really, just sad. Perhaps Dance Flick is more of Stephanie's cup of tea.

Is usually a Doctor joke.

. . . merely for the sake of appointing an affirmative action candidate?