Wait, what? : denialism blog

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Mark Hoofnagle has a MD and PhD in physiology from the University of Virginia, and is now a general surgery resident. His interest in denialism concerns the use of denialist tactics to confuse public understanding of scientific knowledge.

Chris Hoofnagle is a recovering Washington, DC lawyer and information privacy law expert at UC-Berkeley Law School. Denialism became apparent to him while working on consumer protection laws in Washington. The Denialists' Deck of Cards is essentially a how-to guide for being an industry lobbyist.

PalMD is a practicing internist in the Midwestern United States. Aside from the great joy he finds in his family and his work, he likes communicating some of that joy to others. He has a special interest in the ways patients---and we are all patients at one time or another---are deceived by charlatans. He aims to change the world, one reader at a time. Previous writings can still be found here.

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Wait, what?

Category: Politics
Posted on: August 6, 2007 12:31 AM, by MarkH

Democrats, empowered by their victories last November and in response by a nation-wide desire to hold the presidency accountable vote to expand warrantless wiretapping.

Wait, what?

Comments

In Soviet Russia, leaders are held accountable for their actions!

Posted by: Baratos | August 6, 2007 1:04 AM

I used to support them, pointing out that they don't have veto-proof majorities. But of course that defense fails if they don't blinking well send him bills he'll have to veto. Have they all drunk the Kool-Ade? Do they all really believe the reason they're becoming unpopular is because they aren't caving to the most unpopular president ever?

Geeze. Pass responsible, Constitutional legislation (maybe, gasp, progressive legislation but I don't demand that) and let him veto it. Then repeat as long as needed.

What's so hard about figuring that out?

Posted by: The Ridger | August 6, 2007 5:25 AM

But if all of the legislation you sponsor is vetoed, you're not "relevant". Better to get odious laws passed, lie about what they entail, and maintain the illusion that you have some influence than do nothing.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: democracy simply doesn't work.

Posted by: Caledonian | August 6, 2007 8:02 AM

Democracy works just fine, and if we had that, we'd be alright. The problem is that we don't - we have a highly secretive government which covers its tracks with red tape and national security.

Posted by: Brian | August 6, 2007 8:14 AM

This is democracy working like it's supposed to..mind you, this is the bad part of democracy, but whatever.

Both sides already agreed that warrentless wiretapping was ok. It's just a matter of who is going to be allowed to be wiretapped. In fact, I'm not even sure if I'm disagreeing with that statement.

The public at large supports the warrentless wiretapping of foreigners. So people agree that wiretapping is good. A law like this is unavoidable at that point.

Posted by: Karmakin | August 6, 2007 8:33 AM

Time to throw them all out

If you vote for illegal measures, then you go to jail

Posted by: Wicky | August 6, 2007 11:32 AM

A majority of Democrats voted aginst this, and all Republicans voted for it = Democrats supported it.

WTF?

Posted by: Graculus | August 6, 2007 1:19 PM

It's a failure of leadership Graculus. This is why they got voted in. If they can't hold a line against the Republicans than what's the point?

Posted by: MarkH | August 6, 2007 1:31 PM

It's a failure of leadership Graculus. This is why they got voted in. If they can't hold a line against the Republicans than what's the point?

That may be true, but that is a different thing from stating that the "Dems" (as a block) voted for it.

And it's given you a handy list of 16 DINOs to send to the duckpit, too.