Randi's Politics
- Thread starter Plutarch
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Rob Lister
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Plutarch said:
Randi knows. He's somebody.
I've read a bit of his commentary and I'm going to guess he's a registered independent with reluctant republican leanings in national elections and reluctant democrat leanings in local elections.
varwoche
Penultimate Amazing
If one wanted to know James Randi's political affiliation, I can't imagine a more relevant place to pose the question than here.jj said:
Rob Lister
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varwoche said:
Oh shut-up and guess.
You've read him, what do you think?
TragicMonkey
Poisoned Waffles
Rob Lister said:Oh shut-up and guess.
You've read him, what do you think?
I'm willing to wager he wouldn't be voting Sylvia Browne for President. Especially if Uri Geller is a hot prospect for her cabinet. Secretary of Utensil Modification?
DavidJames
Penultimate Amazing
Like Jesus, Randi will reflect the political characteristics of whoever is viewing.Rob Lister said:Oh shut-up and guess.
You've read him, what do you think?
crimresearch
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Pssshaawww...
This isn't even up for discussion...clearly Randi is exactly the same politically as I am.
No true Randi could be otherwise.
This isn't even up for discussion...clearly Randi is exactly the same politically as I am.
No true Randi could be otherwise.
Segnosaur
Penultimate Amazing
To be honest, I'm rather glad Randi doesn't mention politics.
Although 'skepticism' is a useful tool in many areas (including politics), there are enough mind-readers, spoon benders and homeopaths to keep any skeptic busy. And any forays into politics by Randi may end up either:
- diverting attention from the central focus of his mission (that of debunking)
- alienating a segment of his audience... if he comes down on the 'left' wing side, he gets viewed by 'the right' as just another godless person; if he gives 'right wing' views, people on the 'left' may unfairly lump him in with some of the "extreme right" conservatives.
Although 'skepticism' is a useful tool in many areas (including politics), there are enough mind-readers, spoon benders and homeopaths to keep any skeptic busy. And any forays into politics by Randi may end up either:
- diverting attention from the central focus of his mission (that of debunking)
- alienating a segment of his audience... if he comes down on the 'left' wing side, he gets viewed by 'the right' as just another godless person; if he gives 'right wing' views, people on the 'left' may unfairly lump him in with some of the "extreme right" conservatives.
Nyarlathotep
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hgc said:
On the other hand, He has also criticized Bush for his constant Invocation of God in political speeches.
I find it very likely that Randi is one of those people who can't easily be lumped into a liberal/conservative category.
crimresearch
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Nyarlathotep said:
Hmmm...A professional skeptical debunker, who doesn't fall for either doctrine?
What are the chances of that?
EdipisReks
Custom Title
by his own words, Randi doesn't "debunk" and isn't a "debunker". i neither know nor care what his political opinions are. his core work stands on its own.
easycruise
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After reading Randi's weekly commentary for years, it's plainly clear that Randi is a hard-core liberal.
He constantly ridicules Reagan with his Asimov quote, his Tinkerbell White House cheap shot, etc.
He constantly ridicules Bush with his religious references, but never mentioned Kerry's own quotations.
He mentioned earlier this year that he was "personally dismayed" that Howard Dean wasn't doing well in the primaries.
He never corrected a letter writer about a year ago who ridiculed tax cuts for the rich wouldn't help him.
Just last week he actually quoted a Barbra Striesand web site which quoted Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson was taken out of context, I might add. If Randi frequents Striesand's web site, what does that tell you?
I must also mention that Striesand plagiarized Elizabeth Edwards (John Edwards wife, she originally came up with the Jefferson quote) in her rant against Bush. Wasn't it interesting that Randi used a Thomas Jefferson quote that mentioned witches? I bet Randi would give a million bucks to a proven witch.
He constantly ridicules Reagan with his Asimov quote, his Tinkerbell White House cheap shot, etc.
He constantly ridicules Bush with his religious references, but never mentioned Kerry's own quotations.
He mentioned earlier this year that he was "personally dismayed" that Howard Dean wasn't doing well in the primaries.
He never corrected a letter writer about a year ago who ridiculed tax cuts for the rich wouldn't help him.
Just last week he actually quoted a Barbra Striesand web site which quoted Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson was taken out of context, I might add. If Randi frequents Striesand's web site, what does that tell you?
I must also mention that Striesand plagiarized Elizabeth Edwards (John Edwards wife, she originally came up with the Jefferson quote) in her rant against Bush. Wasn't it interesting that Randi used a Thomas Jefferson quote that mentioned witches? I bet Randi would give a million bucks to a proven witch.
Without being able to come up with the actual quotes involved, I believe I've seen enough over the past couple of years to conclude Randi is a liberal.
And that's about as important to me as what the guy sitting next to me on the train this morning had for for lunch last Wednesday.
Randi's value to humanity is his skeptical eye for humbuggery, not his political opinions. I don't think it's surprising or inexcuseable that those opinions might occasionally slip out into his commentaries. I give him credit for largely limiting those commentaries to his areas of expertise, and leaving political punditry to political pundits.
As contrasted with the entertainment industry types who believe that because people want to watch them perform, it therefore follows that they want to hear the entertainers' idiot political opinions as well.
And that's about as important to me as what the guy sitting next to me on the train this morning had for for lunch last Wednesday.
Randi's value to humanity is his skeptical eye for humbuggery, not his political opinions. I don't think it's surprising or inexcuseable that those opinions might occasionally slip out into his commentaries. I give him credit for largely limiting those commentaries to his areas of expertise, and leaving political punditry to political pundits.
As contrasted with the entertainment industry types who believe that because people want to watch them perform, it therefore follows that they want to hear the entertainers' idiot political opinions as well.
Well, have you seen Babs's web site?hgc said:
www.barbrastreisand.com
The primary focus of her home page is her political "thoughts," not her music/film career.
hgc
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Yeah, yeah, I know -- making no less absurd the conclusion that having visited there (no evidence of "frequent[ing]") you can tell something about Randi's politics.BPSCG said:
Btw I'm with the don't know/don't care crowd on Randi's politics. I gave the only bit of evidence I had, and don't have any conclusion.
punchdrunk
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BPSCG said:
But if he wears briefs and boxers simultaneously, then I would join the rest of the world in asking, what is he trying to hide?
Well, Mr. Randi???
Anyway, we all know that he lumps religion in with the rest of the woo-woo world (bravo), and given that exposing the frauds of that world is his life's work, I wouldn't be suprised if, nationally, he votes against those who cow-tow to the fundies, cut funding to the sciences, and support the teaching of creationism in schools. In other words, Republicans (mostly) (<- qualifier for the non-religious conservatives here who would jump my ass otherwise.)
Hey, BPS....I just figured out why a picture of Beethoven is your avatar. You're deaf, right?......nah.....maybe because your favorite song is Beethoven's Fifth? Hmmm, that's probably not it either. Or say....maybe you are related to him somehow?
Come on, BPS....it will only take you a couple of lines...explain!
Come on, BPS....it will only take you a couple of lines...explain!
DavidJames
Penultimate Amazing
Let's not forget:Silicon said:
"Fred Thompson (film actor and U.S. senator), Fred Grandy ("The Love Boat" TV star and U.S. congressman), Sonny Bono (singer, Palm Springs mayor and U.S. congressman), Clint Eastwood (film actor/director and mayor of Carmel), Alan Autry ("In the Heat of the Night" TV actor and mayor of Fresno) and George Murphy (1930s singer/dancer and U.S. senator) were all entertainers elected to office on the Republican ticket."
Link
Be sure to look for this typical conservative hypocrisy
"I have problems with people using their so-called celebrity to persuade government or the people when we didn't elect them to do so," said Lori Bardsley, who started a grassroots group called Citizens Against Celebrity Pundits during the war in Iraq. "They have so much more money and power than the average American citizen."
Bardsley doesn't, however, have a problem with the Republican Schwarzenegger running for office — a position some have labeled hypocritical."
It is amazing what skeptics will believe...
hgc
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Not only Schwarzenegger, but who in the Hell is Lori Bardsley? She gets to speak out and "pesuade government or the people" when no one elected her. Under her theory, entertainment celebrities are 2nd class citizens who should keep their mouths shut.DavidJames said:
hgc
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And while they're at it, someone tell Jerry Falwell to shut up and preach. Who the Hell is he to think he can use his standing as a minister of the gospel to try to influence government or the people. No one elected him to anything.Silicon said:
