And I agree with Jefferson, who appears to be in league with Myers on this point. Religion shouldn't be a litmus test. Those who profess that their faith is a qualification for the political job tend most often to be those least fit for the job.

Better we should talk policy, which in most cases probably gives the fundamentalist the same sort of heebie jeebies that talking science does, and for the same reason: There's little of substance in a religion-based political rant, and what there is of substance usually tends to run counter to the rest of it.

Democrats at least pay attention to science. The Republican war on science would be funny were the victims not Americans like you and me. I don't think there's much influence possible out of the DailyKos meetings, except for the power of good ideas, which still get traction in Democratic circles.

And as for Myers' being "a junior wannabe," you shouldn't let envy bleed out on the screen so.

I came upon Melinda Barton's Whackjobbery via Telic Thoughts, where Joy has "Joy" has posted an article targeting PZ Myers. I'm not going to defend Myers, though for the life of me I can't see more depth to "Joy&#821…

Just one more run to try to get the facts straight.

Anyway, in Nutter's "strike one" he claims my problem with Myers' boast to violate his university's tenure policy doesn't count because Dembski didn't "file charges" against Dr. Myers"… to which one can only exclaim, ???!!!??? Needless to say, if I ever see PZ brag publicly that he DID violate those policies for a particular candidate, I'll be sure to file formal complaint with the proper officials. I won't wait to see what Dembski might do.

For "strike two," Nutter complains that I pointed out the illegality of discrimination under the law as it now stands on the precedent of Jones' ruling that ID = Religion. That may change if there's ever another legal case, but until it changes, that's the precedent. I am not responsible for the Kitzmiller lawsuit or Jones' ruling. But I - like anyone else - can certainly cite the precedent. Nutter is not required to like it.

Now for "strike three" Nutter doesn't like my characterization of PZ's response to members of his own targeted political machine [a.k.a. "Progressive/Democrat"] who don't want him front and center pretending to speak for the party. Because he's a hater, and because his virulent brand of extremism is… well, so very marginal.

Which is yet another situation I did not engender, since I am not responsible for the original opinion piece from Barton or for PZ's responses - either in Raw Story or on Pharyngula. Do check out PZ's second attempt though, What is their problem?, where he whines -

"Man, the comments on my guest editorial at the Raw Story are nuts. I don't know if the word "secular" brought out a flock of trolls, or if that place is always infested with these uncomprehending goons."

That certainly made me giggle, but I admit I'm easily amused. Here's a junior wannabe who managed to get himself scheduled by his acolyte "Darksyde" (a front-pager at Daily Kos) to participate on the convention science panel next month in Vegas, where the Kossack wing of the party hopes to hammer out some reasonable science planks for the '06-'08 platform (still under construction). He's made absolutely no secret of what his idea of planks in this realm would look like, but the rest of us recognize 'em as paper mache. We aren't likely to wish an instant replay of the Great White fire once the pyrotechnics start.

The Democratic Party will not immolate itself by embracing or formalizing PZ's brand of extremist whackjobbery, and he's fool if he believes it will.

…and since I am obviously not the only Kossack who has come to recognize the danger of PZ's brand of extremism (a.k.a. "religious whackjobbery"), it's too late to claim that attacking me will keep the dugout denizens on the bench - they're already on the field! PZ wasn't content to just attack Barton. Now he's called the entire rank and file - those progressives who are NOT religious whackjobs - a "flock of trolls" and "uncomprehending goons." THAT's certainly politic! …not. This guy should seek solace with the Naderites. They love nut-jobs.

I do expect some fireworks in that particular conference room though (presuming PZ's invite still stands come June), and that should by all proper description and consensus affirmation, hit him all the way Out of the Park.