Republican Governor Of Alaska Doesn’t Know How Old The Earth Is

This is really rather pathetic:

And yes, he’s going to win.

H/T: Andrew Sullivan

FILED UNDER: 2010 Election, US Politics, ,
Doug Mataconis
About Doug Mataconis
Doug Mataconis held a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University and J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He joined the staff of OTB in May 2010 and contributed a staggering 16,483 posts before his retirement in January 2020. He passed far too young in July 2021.

Comments

  1. snowed in says:

    Per https://www.outsidethebeltway.com/andrew-sullivan-dives-right-back-into-trig-trutherism/, you claim to have found it impossible to continue to read Sullivan’s blog.

    Given that he still has an unnatural obsession with Sarah Palin’s uterus, why are you going back on this statement?

  2. G.A.Phillips says:

    HOW OLD IS IT ? lol…….

  3. Yes I still read the RSS feed, your point ?

  4. G.A.

    Anyone with a high school education knows that whatever the exact age of the Earth might be, it’s closer to 6,000,000,000 than 6,000

  5. snowed in says:

    My point, apparently, is that “impossible” does not mean what you think it means.

  6. Or, it means I’ve changed my mind.

    What does it really matter ?

  7. Jeff says:

    the headline implies that he doesn’t know the exact age … I guess he thinks its alot closer to 6,000 than 6,000,000,000 …

    Al Gore thinks the earths core is millions of degrees …

    I guess some pols are just not that sharp about every subject …

    I guess we shouldn’t vote for any candidate that thinks that the Constitution actually says there should be a seperation of church and state …

  8. Michael says:

    Obviously if you can change your mind about the readability of someone’s blog, we can’t believe your estimates about the age of the earth, the two are inextricably linked.

  9. G.A.Phillips says:

    ***Anyone with a high school education knows that whatever the exact age of the Earth might be, it’s closer to 6,000,000,000 than 6,000*** lolI kinda went to high school, I don’t remember that class.

    But, God says six thousand years or so, and so does the evidence. So were is yours? Or is it just a product of your high schools education? Maybe like me your a fan of Star Trek? lol….

    Hmm seeing that you can’t find a tree over 4’000 years old (flood), no one has ever seen a star form(only die), and we keep finding dinosaur bones with meat on them (that tastes like chicken)not to mention that evolutionist dating methods are are farce(even if they were not what would you compare them to?)

    let the 100+ comment post Begin……..

  10. G.A.

    Don’t worry there won’t be a 100 post comment thread because I don’t debate with people who reject the fundamentals of geology.

    There is no evidence for 6,000 year old Earth. At least none that any legitimate scientist would accept. So, move along

  11. JLawson says:

    Two things – as governer, he’s not supposed to be a friggin’ geologist. I’ve yet to see a governer who knew enough about everything to be able to frame accurate opinions on every possible subject. And if he doesn’t have the same opinion on this as what you think – so what? Are you going to look at the REST of his record? (I believe that it’s a lot closer – possibly more – than 6 billion years. I’m also unelected and have no desiore to get into govermnet office.)

    Second – is it more important to have a governer who can GOVERN or one that’s up on the latest science? Is he balancing the Alaska budget? Is he taking care of Alaska’s business in a way that’s going to benefit the state and the people of the state? Does it matter, for instance, if he prefers Fords or Chevys? Or even nominally worships the FSM? (May all be touched by His Noodly Appendages!)

    It’s time to start looking at what really matters – can the truck haul the load required, even if the color of the upholstery isn’t what you want? Or is it better to get something that looks good, but can’t do the job?

  12. JL,

    I didn’t say it was the sole issue on which to judge someone, or even the most important one. However, I personally find the rejection of basic science troubling so the fact that Parnell would rather equivocate on this question rather than answering it for fear of offending those who think the story about two naked people in a garden is literally true tells me something about the way that the thinks.

  13. JKB says:

    Sounded like a politician to me. Why get yourself in trouble with literal Christians when there is no upside. Your logical, “educated” voters will wring their hands over this but will they really change their vote over it? The literal Christians just might not vote for the one who answers wrongly to them.

  14. mantis says:

    Hmm seeing that you can’t find a tree over 4’000 years old (flood), no one has ever seen a star form(only die), and we keep finding dinosaur bones with meat on them (that tastes like chicken)not to mention that evolutionist dating methods are are farce(even if they were not what would you compare them to?)

    Wow. So much stupid packed into that one sentence.

  15. wr says:

    JKB — Spoken like a tea party supporter. Let’s all repeat lies that make stupid people feel good, because telling the truth might carry a cost. With a philosophy like that, how can they go wrong once they have power?

  16. snowed in says:

    @Michael: That’s a ridiculous leap of logic you made. I am commenting on the Sullivan issue (and only the Sullivan issue) here only because he hat-tipped Sullivan in this entry. I’m saying nothing about the validity of anything else anyone said. Except for you and your comment, that is.

  17. LIBERAL IDIOT says:

    GOVERNOR – ALASKA (PPP-D)
    Sean Parnell (R-inc) 54%
    Ethan Berkowitz (D) 43%

    next GOP candidate bashing please!

  18. tom p says:

    for the record, the earth is generally accepted to be 4.5 billion yrs old. At least by anyone who has ever accepted scientific thought anyway.

  19. G.A.Phillips says:

    http://www.detectingdesign.com/geologiccolumn.html here Doug maybe you can see the other side without having a biased one sided wannabe popular point of view, like this****There is no evidence for 6,000 year old Earth. At least none that any legitimate scientist would accept. So, move along***

    ***for the record, the earth is generally accepted to be 4.5 billion yrs old. At least by anyone who has ever accepted scientific thought anyway.****

  20. G.A.Phillips says:

    Comment in violation of site policies deleted.

  21. G.A.Phillips says:
  22. Michael says:

    To anyone tempted to reply to G.A Phillips explaining why he is wrong, please just don’t. There isn’t anything you can say, evidence you can provide, or reasoning you can make that will change his mind.

  23. G.A.Phillips says:
  24. G.A.Phillips says:

    Comment in violation of site policies deleted.
    lol, Doug I would have figured you for a kids in the hall fan……

  25. sam says:

    Ha. GA. I went to the site, and, for kicks, looked up one of “scientists” listed, Kimberly Berrine. Pretty slim pickings in google, but I did find this:

    Links to evidences & scientific arguments
    This site may harm your computer.
    Dr Kimberly Berrine, Microbiology & Immunology Prof. Vladimir Betina, Microbiology, Biochemistry & Biology Dr Raymond G. Bohlin, Biologist …
    http://www.kingdom-gospel.com/evidence.html

    And your mind…

  26. Zelsdorf Ragshaft III says:

    G. A., he is not a fan but a member. I love the comment about legitimate scientists. Kind of like the ones involved in the scam of global warming, manipulated data (think hockey stick) and controlled peer review.
    God is eternal so time really is not relivant. This was explained in the Bible. Something about “a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day.” So Doug, what do you KNOW to be true about science which is not subject to revision? I could care less about what a person personally believes if they are capable of good governance. Barack Obama believes white people have punished and corrupted the whole world and deserves to have their ill gotten gain taken from them and given to those who were victimized. He will start with Mataconis, I hope.
    Mantis, I am going to ask Jay Tea for permission to link to all the stupid stuff you posted on Wizbang. You have no room to criticize anyone. Notice you never argue the facts you just attack the person. How mature.

  27. sam says:

    ” Notice you never argue the facts you just attack the person.”

    This from the guy who threatens people with violence.

  28. Michael says:

    When did Zelsdorf threaten somebody with violence? I mean, with prose like his, how would you even know?

  29. mantis says:

    Mantis, I am going to ask Jay Tea for permission to link to all the stupid stuff you posted on Wizbang.

    You don’t need permission, dimwit. You can just link.

    For instance, here’s a link to you betting me that Obama would lose in 2008, and telling me if he won I would have my house confiscated and be sent to a “collective.” Guess what, dipshit? He won, and I’m still at my house. So I guess this bit probably won’t come true either.

    Barack Obama believes white people have punished and corrupted the whole world and deserves to have their ill gotten gain taken from them and given to those who were victimized.

    But who knows, your crazy babble might be right this time!

    You have no room to criticize anyone. Notice you never argue the facts you just attack the person.

    You’re right, I should have rebutted the fantasy-land creationist babble above, which contained no facts whatsoever. That would really be worth the trouble. And let’s not forget all the facts you put forth, like “Obama hates whitey and he’s gonna take all yer munny and guns!”

  30. john personna says:

    I think I’ve recommended this great little book before:

    The Man Who Found Time

    It’s not long, and it’s a good read

  31. sam says:

    “When did Zelsdorf threaten somebody with violence? I mean, with prose like his, how would you even know?”

    Fair point. But in amongst the frothings, on occasion one will find references to physical resolution of differences directed at his tormentors — sometimes, even 2d Amendment remedies. And by tormentors, I mean those who, say, might point out that his revulsion against all things governmental seems to not extend to the unemployment he’s living on. Strange to say, he has no reply to this, save the forementioned.

  32. we keep finding dinosaur bones with meat on them (that tastes like chicken)

    Ooo, I hadn’t heard that one yet. Once again this blog provides a valuable service to keeping me up to date on the latest news in delusional right wing fantasies.

  33. G.A.Phillips says:

    Sam, once again there are thousands of scientists, real smart ones who believe in creation, and not science fiction.
    To argue otherwise is nonsense. atheist propaganda!

    To claim to have any evidence for a billions year old earth is pure science fiction artwork of the imagination and wishful selectism of fudge fingers book cooking.

    ***Kind of like the ones involved in the scam of global warming***

    Exactly,the new engine that powers the indoctrination framework of the religion of evolution.remember the old one ? I think they called it eugenics…..

    oh ya oh ya, God damn them, ooh, ah, I mena curses, er ah ooo, I mean Jesus Christ, they have out ruled us with the term liberal, I know lets call ourselves progressives, lol.

  34. Michael says:

    Here’s the thing, a 4.5 billion year old earth theory makes predictions we can test for. A 6,000 year old earth theory does not. Therefore, the one is science, and the other not.

  35. sam says:

    G.A.Phillips takes a science exam:

    1. State briefly the difference between the special and general theories of relativity.

    Ans. I have some relatives who are in special ed, and one of my distant relatives was a general (I think).

    2. What is the Krebs cycle?

    Ans. Maynard Krebs was Doby Gillis’s best bud and that’s what he rode around on.

    3. Explain the difference between fission and fusion.

    Ans. “Fission” is how those guys in Louisiana pronounce “fishing” and a fusion is a pretty red
    flower that grows in pots.

    4. Explain the term ‘light year’.

    Ans. A light year is the time it takes one of those neat new lightbulbs to burn out.

    5. True or False: Light bends in the presence of a strong gravitational field.

    Ans. False. The straw only looks bent is a glass of water. It’s a optikal delusion.

    6. String Theory is an important theory in what discipline?

    Ans. Yo-yo making.

    7. What is a red dwarf?

    Ans. A small indian.

    8. The moon is responsible for what periodic phenomena on the earth?

    Ans. Werewolfs

    9. Explain the term ‘geosynchronous’.

    Ans. A geosynchronous is a kind of dinosaur that humans tamed 4,000 years ago.

    10. What is plate tectonics?

    Ans. It’s like how plates are made out of all kinds of stuff, like plastic and glass and stuff.

  36. Michael says:

    In all fairness, string theory is as useful to yo-yo making as it is to any other discipline.

  37. sam says:

    No post-exam coaching.

  38. Michael says:

    Don’t worry, he’ll probably deny that too

  39. sam says:

    BTW, are you the Michael who’s a computer dude who used to comment here?

  40. Michael says:

    I am, in fact, a computer dude who used to comment here regularly. Probably the same one you’re thinking of.

  41. G.A.Phillips says:

    1. State briefly the difference between the special and general theories of relativity.

    A billion years ago your uncle was a cosmic sea monkey(that’s special), and now jackasses like you generally just pop fully formed out of steaming lumps of donkey poop?

    2. What is the Krebs cycle?

    A $hity two wheeled Hybrid?

    3. Explain the difference between fission and fusion:

    lol, I don’t speak French, ENGLISH!!!!!!! ASK ME QUESTIONS IN ENGLISH!!!!!!!

    4. Explain the term ‘light year’.

    The time it takes for you to get some fresh talking points.

    5. True or False: Light bends in the presence of a strong gravitational field.

    Trick question the answer is on neon signs.

    6. String Theory is an important theory in what discipline?

    Binding together strawmen or baskets?

    7. What is a red dwarf?

    Sam, um, how tall are you ?

    8. The moon is responsible for what periodic phenomena on the earth?

    The Tides foundation?

    9. Explain the term ‘geosynchronous’.

    The way my rusty tracker still runs like a couple of broken stop watches.

    10. What is plate tectonics?

    some crappy tasteless electronic music that is only cool when Blade is chopping up vampires to it!

  42. G.A.Phillips says:

    ***Here’s the thing, a 4.5 billion year old earth theory makes predictions we can test for. A 6,000 year old earth theory does not. Therefore, the one is science, and the other not***

    You test something that gives you vastly different ages at the same time having nothing to compare it to.

    Then you have recorded history, and alternate theory that you ignore for all the tests that you have just wasted on the non comparable. erg…..

    Therefore, the one is science, and the other science fiction or you could call it art.

  43. Nightrider says:

    So do people who know much about Parnell think he actually doesn’t know or that he just didn’t want to offend the evangelicals?

  44. JLawson says:

    I think he looked at a bullshit, irrelevant question that was designed to produce a ‘gotcha! answer, and headed for the middle.

    But that’s the way the media’s been going – focus on the trivial and ignore the major stuff.