Comments for "Bill Maher's Interview with a Low IQ Senator - Religulous" Video at VideoSift.com

By spoco2

spoco2 (http://www.videosift.com/member/spoco2) — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 17:03:57 -0700

Ladies and Gentlemen, your elected official.

*shudder*

That amount of 'meh' when it comes to things of pretty damn huge importance is scary for someone who is that far into politics. What else does he just go 'meh' on.

"Senator, education really isn't working too well in this country, it's becoming harder and harder to afford a tertiary education here, what do you say?"
"Meh"

I bet he's real concerned about anything that affects the size of his paycheque though.

By gwiz665

gwiz665 (http://gwiz665.videosift.com) — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 18:19:48 -0700

You don't have to pass an IQ test to be in the senate, though.. he he herm hmm [smile: off] ...

By kronosposeidon

kronosposeidon (http://www.videosift.com/member/kronosposeidon) — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 18:40:45 -0700

It's like these guys take pride in being ignorant.

By Majortomyorke

Majortomyorke (http://www.videosift.com/member/Majortomyorke) — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 18:59:11 -0700

I laughed... then remembered this our reality... and stopped.

By RedSky

RedSky (http://www.videosift.com/member/RedSky) — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 20:08:42 -0700

Oh SNAP did I just say that?

By poolcleaner

poolcleaner (http://www.videosift.com/member/poolcleaner) — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 20:18:02 -0700

The look of realization on his face, after Maher's smile disappears, is priceless. Watch closely as the senator acknowledges his own failure: Maintained shit-eating grin; smile fades; a quick, paniced blink of final realization -- brown lump in shorts.

By Baera

Baera (http://www.videosift.com/member/Baera) — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 20:56:27 -0700

Upvote for ending expressions alone!

By biminim

biminim (http://www.videosift.com/member/biminim) — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 21:03:45 -0700

That's right, dad gummit! Who needs Senators passing IQ tests? Ptui! Eggheads is what got us into this trouble in the first place! Eggheads like that damn Jimmy Carter with his wimpy, "Energy crisis is the moral equivalent of war" nonsense back in 1979! Who made him the nucular rocket surgeon?

By kronosposeidon

kronosposeidon (http://www.videosift.com/member/kronosposeidon) — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 21:34:34 -0700

I don't know what I believe either: The Bible, or science books; the Bible, or the Constitution; the Bible, or the law of universal gravitation. I just don't know!

By imstellar28

imstellar28 (http://www.videosift.com/member/imstellar28) — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 22:04:58 -0700

hahaha....couldn't have written a better ending than that.

i like how the senator himself associates low-iq with religion, despite being religious himself.

By Quboid

Quboid (http://www.videosift.com/member/Quboid) — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 23:02:23 -0700

Great ending, I was worried the title was flame bait.

A couple of points:
1) I don't think it's established that it's a snake. Pretty sure it's a talking animal so this is a technicality, but that it's a snake is a myth. I think QI covered this and they are actually are beyond question.

2) I don't believe in evolution. OK, I agree in general, but does it explain what it aims to accurately and completely? I very much doubt it. In fact I'd be amazed if the original work wasn't mostly discredited by now, just like much of Newton's work, Einstein's work and so on. Darwin's work was certainly a big step in the evolution of knowledge

If you think about it, it's arrogant to the point of ludicrous to presume this generation has all the big stuff figured it. I'm sure as hell* not a Christian or Creationist, I just think science is a work in progress and we're at a pretty early stage. I hope so! I quit Christianity when I grew out of invisible friends, but I didn't become an atheist just to join other zealots. Science is our friend, but keep questioning.

* Pun / Ironic choice of phrase intentional.

By StukaFox

StukaFox (http://www.videosift.com/member/StukaFox) — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 23:10:44 -0700

Democracy: the system of giving people not the government they want, but the government they deserve.

By MINK

MINK (http://www.videosift.com/member/MINK) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 00:35:26 -0700

^wow. nice.

By gwiz665

gwiz665 (http://gwiz665.videosift.com) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 04:39:28 -0700

I wish we could have a technocracy at some point.

By bamdrew

bamdrew (http://www.videosift.com/member/bamdrew) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 09:12:52 -0700

His beliefs could be perfectly representative of his constituent's.

By 12630

12630 (http://www.videosift.com/member/12630) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 10:32:32 -0700

This is a great example of the Chewbacca defense, make him look dumb, and you are automatically right.

The common Chewbacca Defense is based on the following misconceptions and/or fallacies:

* If you can prove the other side wrong, it makes you right.
* If you can word your statements and arguments in a way that is too confusing, intelligent-sounding, or nonsensical for the opponent to respond to, it makes them wrong and it makes you right.
* If you can shock or confuse your opponent and make them think you are a lost cause and not worth arguing with, you are right.
* If you can make an opponent look bad, their logic must be equally as bad, and therefore you are right.
* If you are more popular than your opponent, it makes them wrong and it makes you right.
* If you just keep arguing and shouting, even if everyone else (not just everyone else in the debate - everyone else in the world) thinks you are not just wrong, but insane, until everyone else just gets tired of listening to you spew nonsense, you're the last man standing, and, by default, you are right.

By chilaxe

chilaxe (http://www.videosift.com/member/chilaxe) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 10:46:58 -0700

It's the first time evolution has been caught in the act of making such a rare and complex new trait.

And because the species in question is a bacterium [with frozen samples every 500 generations], scientists have been able to replay [the history of the 44,000 bacteria generations] to show how this evolutionary novelty grew from the accumulation of unpredictable, chance events.

The study caused a bit of a controversy, with the folks at Conservapedia (like Wikipedia but for blowhards ) finding the study quite offensive: "Creationist critics get their comeuppance," New Scientist.

By honkeytonk73

honkeytonk73 (http://www.videosift.com/member/honkeytonk73) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 11:35:05 -0700

Gravity is a theory too... I don't believe in it.

*flies upwards*

By jimnms

jimnms (http://www.videosift.com/member/jimnms) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 11:48:51 -0700

*religion

~~What senator is this, and what state? I can't tell for sure, but the flag looks like it might be Georgia.~~

Edit: Never mind, the YouTube description says it is Arkansas Senator Mark Pryor.

By siftbot

siftbot (http://siftbot.videosift.com) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 11:48:52 -0700

Adding video to channels (Religion) - requested by jimnms.

By bigbikeman

bigbikeman (http://www.videosift.com/member/bigbikeman) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:45:40 -0700

OMG I can't believe he actually said that. Epic fail!

By Zonbie

Zonbie (http://zonbie.videosift.com) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:30:49 -0700

You don't have to pass an IQ test to have kids either it seems...
I wonder if his Dad is as "gifted"

By siftbot

siftbot (http://siftbot.videosift.com) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:29:20 -0700

Tags for this video have been changed from 'bill maher, evolution, creationism, religulous, senator' to 'bill maher, evolution, creationism, religulous, senator, mark pryor, arkansas' - edited by jimnms

By Bidouleroux

Bidouleroux (http://www.videosift.com/member/Bidouleroux) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:30:14 -0700

>> ^Quboid:
G2) I don't believe in evolution. OK, I agree in general, but does it explain what it aims to accurately and completely? I very much doubt it. In fact I'd be amazed if the original work wasn't mostly discredited by now, just like much of Newton's work, Einstein's work and so on. Darwin's work was certainly a big step in the evolution of knowledge

The reason Evolution isn't discredited yet is the same reason Gravity wasn't discredited by Einstein: both are facts of life, however you choose to explain them. Why Darwin's work isn't discredited yet is the same reason Euclides' work isn't either: they're basic algorithms for solving precise problems. Unless the problems themselves change (more precisely our understanding of the problems), the solutions don't either.

Both Euclides and Newton ignored a pretty important variable: the three dimensional nature of space (four for space-time). That is why their algorithms were updated later by, among others, Riemann and Einstein. Darwin gave an algorithm for the Evolution of Life. It has been updated since, but there hasn't been a "three-dimensional" revolution yet (it's still a young theory by any standard, and note that the Theory of relativity hasn't been discredited yet either on macroscopic levels) . Even with that kind of revolution though, we would still talk about Evolution, just as we still talk about Gravity.

By deathcow

deathcow (http://www.videosift.com/member/deathcow) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:51:40 -0700

I havent watched the video, but if I was a senator I dont think I would express any stand on religious issues, I would only say that I think the separation of church and state is one of the fundamentals I believe in.

By jonny

jonny (http://www.videosift.com/member/jonny) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:58:10 -0700

I hope his opponent in the next election uses that last bit in an attack ad.

[edit] Oh, he'll be running essentially unopposed this November - Green Party candidate Rebekah Kennedy will be the only challenger. Funny you should mention his father, Zonbie. His dad, David Pryor, had previously held that office for 3 terms.

By 12635

12635 (http://www.videosift.com/member/12635) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:01:22 -0700

>> ^Quboid:
Great ending, I was worried the title was flame bait.

A couple of points:
1) I don't think it's established that it's a snake. Pretty sure it's a talking animal so this is a technicality, but that it's a snake is a myth. I think QI covered this and they are actually are beyond question.

2) I don't believe in evolution. OK, I agree in general, but does it explain what it aims to accurately and completely? I very much doubt it. In fact I'd be amazed if the original work wasn't mostly discredited by now, just like much of Newton's work, Einstein's work and so on. Darwin's work was certainly a big step in the evolution of knowledge

If you think about it, it's arrogant to the point of ludicrous to presume this generation has all the big stuff figured it. I'm sure as hell not a Christian or Creationist, I just think science is a work in progress and we're at a pretty early stage. I hope so! I quit Christianity when I grew out of invisible friends, but I didn't become an atheist just to join other zealots. Science is our friend, but keep questioning.

Pun / Ironic choice of phrase intentional.

2) evolution doesn't have a design it works toward... there is no intelligent design inherent in it... when something evolves, the whole species doesn't just all take the same path... multiple mutations usually occur and those most suited for survival (those that are most beneficial) usually proliferate through breeding... there is no one right answer per se for mutation... multiple mutated strains may develop and evolve away from each other... or 1 mutation may be the most beneficial and while incoroporating other mutations will seem dominant...

the thing about science and theory is that it usually works like this... a huge generalization is made... this is then either proven or disproven to be true (reproduceable and the generalization holds true with a high degree of repetition).... if disprove... there was something QUITE wrong with the generalization in the first place... if proven, that doesn't mean that this generalization has everything right... it just means that it holds true for the vast majority of cases... this does leave room for further refinement and understanding... but it is very rare (though it has happened) that a false generalization holds true long enough for refinements to occur to the point where they realize the generalization was wrong...

the thing is, that science will not cling to a generalization simply because it is what has been assumed for some time... if there is proof either way... either refinements or complete rethinkings occur

see the motion of the planets/solar system and the theories involved for this overall concept

thats the problem i have with religions... the faith is supposed to be blind, but the religion shouldn't blind those that follow it... truth isn't limited to religion... that being said I'm obviously aware that there is the same range of closed mindedness on either side of the discussion... just as there is open mindedness

but if a person can hands-down believe in a talking serpent because a single book said so, you'd think they wouldn't limit themselves to being so ignorant of something like evolution when THOUSANDS of books, journals, and scientific magazines explain it

By siftbot

siftbot (http://siftbot.videosift.com) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:03:28 -0700

Tags for this video have been changed from 'bill maher, evolution, creationism, religulous, senator, mark pryor, arkansas' to 'bill maher, evolution, creationism, religulous, senator, mark pryor, arkansas, democrat' - edited by jonny

By 12448

12448 (http://www.videosift.com/member/12448) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:35:05 -0700

At once terrifying and hilareous. I suspect he may have been playing to his constituancy more than stating his beliefs--at least I hope so. He'll likely be rewarded November by the good ol' Southern Baptist boys in his district for standing up for the Truth(r).

I suspect more than a few 'religious' politicians are merely religious out of political expediency (Obama, McCain anyone?).

By imstellar28

imstellar28 (http://www.videosift.com/member/imstellar28) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:21:28 -0700

2) I don't believe in evolution. OK, I agree in general, but does it explain what it aims to accurately and completely? I very much doubt it. In fact I'd be amazed if the original work wasn't mostly discredited by now, just like much of Newton's work, Einstein's work and so on. Darwin's work was certainly a big step in the evolution of knowledge

Why wonder when you can know? I would bet dollars to donuts you don't even understand how evolution works. Reading a wikipedia article on evolution and believing you understand the theory is like.....reading a wikipedia article on quantum mechanics and believing you understand the theory. And no, high school biology does not give a sufficient explanation of the theory...

Atheist attack pack:
How evolution began: "Richard Dawkins: The Blind Watchmaker"
How evolution proceeded, in theory: "Richard Dawkins: The Selfish Gene"
How evolution proceeded, with empirical examples: "Richard Dawkins: Ancestor's Tale"
Why you don't have to be afraid of evolution: "Richard Dawkins: The God Delusion"
How religion began, and proceeded: "Daniel Dennett: Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon"
Why you shouldn't believe in religion: "Sam Harris: Letter to a Christian Nation"

If your religion/current beliefs on evolution can survive that reading list......hats off to your level of conviction/faith/denial.

By Quboid

Quboid (http://www.videosift.com/member/Quboid) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:22:08 -0700

OK, major misunderstanding here, let me clarify.

Basically, I do believe in evolution, I was being sensationalist before and I apologise, I would expect better from others frankly! I just meant that I don't believe we've got everything figured out and I'm sure evolution isn't 100% there. It may be 90% there which is about 90% closer than a certain other belief, but science will always be a work in progress and that's a good thing.

- Thanks for the link, chilaxe, that seems to be exactly what I mean. Not quite sure how a step in the evolution of evolution is proof of creationism but they've made less sense than this.

By 10396

10396 (http://www.videosift.com/member/10396) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:40:06 -0700

Oh man, his last comment is quotable gold!

By Soupskin

Soupskin (http://www.videosift.com/member/Soupskin) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 20:57:04 -0700

I'm saddened that he is willing to sell his faith out for votes.

By garmachi

garmachi (http://www.videosift.com/member/garmachi) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 05:55:26 -0700

If your religion/current beliefs on evolution can survive that reading list......hats off to your level of conviction/faith/denial.

I'd like to add one to that list if I may. "Origin of Species" by Charles Darwin.

By MycroftHomlz

MycroftHomlz (http://www.videosift.com/member/MycroftHomlz) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 10:14:17 -0700

*promote

By siftbot

siftbot (http://siftbot.videosift.com) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 10:14:17 -0700

Promoting this video back to the front page; last published Sunday, August 10th, 2008 6:30pm PDT - promote requested by MycroftHomlz.

By CaptainPlanet

CaptainPlanet (http://www.videosift.com/member/CaptainPlanet) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 11:01:12 -0700

ug! i was so loling about this, but if u scrutinize the last few seconds, it is faked.
"believe in a talking snake" then it cuts, the senators comment is not related to bill's snake comment. if u listen to the senators uneasy laugh again, u can tell its dubbed. to bad, toooo bad.

listen to :42 and on a couple times, u'll see what i meen

By shuac

shuac (http://www.videosift.com/member/shuac) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 12:24:46 -0700

^ I'm not sure about that, Captain. It just sounds (to me) like Bill started to say "I..." and then the Senator cut him off with the IQ statement. That could happen (and does all the time).

By gwiz665

gwiz665 (http://gwiz665.videosift.com) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:02:47 -0700

>> ^garmachi:
If your religion/current beliefs on evolution can survive that reading list......hats off to your level of conviction/faith/denial.

I'd like to add one to that list if I may. "Origin of Species" by Charles Darwin.

Who?

By 12650

12650 (http://www.videosift.com/member/12650) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:50:27 -0700

And what state would this United States 'Senator' be from... I checked... the answer? None! This is FICTION!

This is what happens people who are educated by their T.V. deign to concern themselves with politics.

Bill Maher is a comedy huckster, not Pliny the Elder people... I can't believe how many of you posted your 'Oh my God the right wingers are so so so dumb!' and then get the rug yanked out from under you by me...

By Raigen

Raigen (http://www.videosift.com/member/Raigen) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 19:17:15 -0700

^ *ahem* I certainly hope this is a horrific attempt at sarcasm, Aeschcaton.

http://pryor.senate.gov/ - The Senator's Government Website

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Pryor - A Wiki article about him.

By bigbikeman

bigbikeman (http://www.videosift.com/member/bigbikeman) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 19:22:45 -0700

Heh.

So if we're still standing on the rug you thought you pulled out from under us, Asshaton, what's that in your hands? Oh my! It looks like...an EPIC FAIL! Thanks for adding to the comedy, you silly twat.

By gwiz665

gwiz665 (http://gwiz665.videosift.com) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 19:25:56 -0700

Wee, I got a private trolling by Aeschcaton. Now I'm special!

By bigbikeman

bigbikeman (http://www.videosift.com/member/bigbikeman) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 19:26:49 -0700

Me too! Let's start a club!

By biminim

biminim (http://www.videosift.com/member/biminim) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 19:37:57 -0700

This IS an interview with a real life senator, Aschkabibble. Mark Pryor from Arkansas. You can check out his photos at:

http://pryor.senate.gov/photos/gallery.cfm

By spoco2

spoco2 (http://www.videosift.com/member/spoco2) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 20:17:05 -0700

No, I got one too... he's been quite generous with his private bullshit.

Hurray for others who have the tinsiest ability to research.

By kronosposeidon

kronosposeidon (http://www.videosift.com/member/kronosposeidon) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 21:29:28 -0700

^I got one too. And to think he just joined today. Wow - Insta-troll. Just add ignorance.

By imstellar28

imstellar28 (http://www.videosift.com/member/imstellar28) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 22:14:33 -0700

I would like to thank Aeschcaton for spurring the research to put a name with the face of this (soon to be up for re-election) senator--hope everyone in Arkansas is watching!

By dystopianfuturetoday

dystopianfuturetoday (http://www.videosift.com/member/dystopianfuturetoday) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 04:39:40 -0700

Hold on a sec whilst I pick my jaw up off the floor.

By poolcleaner

poolcleaner (http://www.videosift.com/member/poolcleaner) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 09:47:50 -0700

Hahaha -- what a great way to start the day. I'm invigorated!

By blankfist

blankfist (http://blankfist.videosift.com) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 23:08:56 -0700

>> ^Aeschcaton:
And what state would this United States 'Senator' be from... I checked... the answer? None! This is FICTION!

This is what happens people who are educated by their T.V. deign to concern themselves with politics.

Bill Maher is a comedy huckster, not Pliny the Elder people... I can't believe how many of you posted your 'Oh my God the right wingers are so so so dumb!' and then get the rug yanked out from under you by me...

Does this sound like anyone we already know on here? Hmmm...

By kronosposeidon

kronosposeidon (http://www.videosift.com/member/kronosposeidon) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:46:39 -0700

*promote

By siftbot

siftbot (http://siftbot.videosift.com) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:46:39 -0700

Promoting this video back to the front page; last published Tuesday, August 12th, 2008 10:14am PDT - promote requested by kronosposeidon.

By kulpims

kulpims (http://www.videosift.com/member/kulpims) — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 11:43:34 -0700

*dead

By siftbot

siftbot (http://siftbot.videosift.com) — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 11:43:34 -0700

This published video has been declared non-functional; embed code must be fixed within 2 days or it will be sent to the dead pool - declared dead by kulpims.

By siftbot

siftbot (http://siftbot.videosift.com) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:18:01 -0700

Awarding campionidelmondo with one star point for fixing this video's dead embed code.

By Grimm

Grimm (http://www.videosift.com/member/Grimm) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 22:43:52 -0800

*1stTube

By siftbot

siftbot (http://siftbot.videosift.com) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 22:43:53 -0800

Adding video to channels (1sttube) - requested by Grimm.

By graterbot

graterbot (http://graterbot.videosift.com) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 07:17:17 -0700

One placeholder vote has been reclaimed by user radx - reclaimvote declared by radx.