Friday morning

Saw that Tony had his own Friday Morning Stuff that includes a suggestion that an Obama presidency could actually resurrect actual and genuine conservatism by removing the hold that neo-cons have over the movement through the Iraq war. Interesting idea. I would welcome a return of real conservatives. Watching McCain pander to the neo-cons and religious right doesn't make me hopeful, but...

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I took some grief offline for my comments on race and Jeremiah Wright. I still believe that the disparity in response to Wright v. Hagee and Parsley reflects some racial issues. But I also believe that there is much legitimate criticism of Wright.

The Daily Dish | By Andrew Sullivan: "Even the pastor's defenders think he's lost it in the last week. For Marty's previous assessment of Wright, see here. Wright is doubtless a complex figure: you cannot deny his theological depth, his intellectual gifts, his service in the Marines, his contribution to his community. But he is also clearly an ego-maniac, as some preachers often are. And he has succumbed to bitterness, envy, paranoia and racial polarization. One thing cable news cannot convey: human beings can contain a great deal of good and bad at the same time."

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Obsidian Wings notes that Antonin Scalia seems to think that torture during interrogations is not prohibited by the "cruel and unusual punishment" portion of the Constitution because it isn't punishment.

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Daily Show noted the other night, that many American ministers have a history of saying radical and stupid stuff. That includes Billy Graham who was caught on tape telling Nixon that he resented the stranglehold the Jews had on our country. Graham first denied those allegations, but when the tapes came out, he apologized profusely, to his credit.

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Speaking of religious idiocy (religion isn't always idiotic, mind you), Boing Boing notes Ben Stein going on Trinity Broadcasting Network and speaking to one of the Crouch family.

Stein: When we just saw that man, I think it was Mr. Myers [biologist P.Z. Myers], talking about how great scientists were, I was thinking to myself the last time any of my relatives saw scientists telling them what to do they were telling them to go to the showers to get gassed … that was horrifying beyond words, and that’s where science — in my opinion, this is just an opinion — that’s where science leads you.

Crouch: That’s right.

Stein: …Love of God and compassion and empathy leads you to a very glorious place, and science leads you to killing people.

Crouch: Good word, good word.

Not only does this ignore the vast amount of atrocities that occurred well before Darwin's writings, but it also nicely ignores all the benefits from science that I am positive Stein's family has benefited from. Unless they have sworn off doctors because of the doctors used by the Nazis?

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And Bush is finally back into the 70s. Unfortunately for him, that is not an approval rating:

'No president has ever had a higher disapproval rating in any CNN or Gallup poll; in fact, this is the first time that any president's disapproval rating has cracked the 70 percent mark,' said CNN Polling Director Keating Holland.

Nixon wasn't even this unpopular after impeachment.

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Ok, a little music diversion. Earlier this week, Feist dropped by the Colbert Report. I first disliked her album until I gave it a few listens. Here, she performs "I feel it all" and I am so impressed with her voice and how good that guitar sounds. Very nice.

Enjoy.