I have officially been rendered quaint. Quaintified.
Lo, but a few measly weeks ago, I was left mouth slightly agape at the fact that the GOP was citing the opinions of TV meteorologists as to the science of global warming. We can certainly quibble as to whether any GOP anti-intellectual ass-hattery should shock anyone at this point, but that one got to me.
Was it any worse than Jesus riding dinosaurs? No, but then, it seemed more dangerous in a way, because of its delivery and packaging. I mean, these are people that appear regularly on the TV, which in America means people of wisdom to be respected. Harder to dismiss than religious zealotry.
Yet asking TV personalities - whose job it is to recite daily weather patterns, and offer a guess as to the coming week’s highs and lows - what they think about global climate science is just jam-a-spike-through-your-temple levels of stupid. It crossed a new frontier in terms of mainstreaming Teh Dumb.
Or so I thought.
But we are living in a world that is outpacing me in its back-assward march to nowhere in particular, fast. Just today I learn that the GOP is turning to Joe the Plumber Reporter Douchebag Economist for advice on what form of economic stimulus would be most efficacious at this most dire of junctures.
A fucking mediocre, unlicensed plumber has become the GOP’s go-to guy on all matters journalistic and economic – not to mention that little Middle East peace doohickey. Surely we can expect him to pontificate on climate science to a rapt audience in the near future:
When GOP congressional aides gather Tuesday morning for a meeting of the Conservative Working Group, Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher – more commonly known as Joe the Plumber — will be their featured guest. This group is an organization of conservative Capitol Hill staffers who meet regularly to chart GOP strategy for the week.
Wurzelbacher, who became a household name during the presidential election, will be focusing his talk on the proposed stimulus package. He’s apparently not a fan of the economic rescue package, according to members of the group.
To all my friends/acquaintances/random passers by: you have my express written permission to kill me. I only ask that you make it quick. And in that vein, that you attempt the feat without consulting the Dalai Lama for his expert opinion on the deadly arts.
February 3, 2009 at 10:15 am
But ‘ball, if someone kills you, the Plumbers win.
February 3, 2009 at 10:24 am
Come on, Joe is just the right man for the job. After all, he’s a plumber (even if an unlicensed one).
Think of it this way. The Economy, as we all know, is a series of pipes tubes. The dynamics of the Free Market are like the flow of crap through various tubes: people produce crap which they sell to other people in exchange for some other crap. When the flow of crap is in perfect balance, we achieve Catallaxy.
February 3, 2009 at 10:33 am
Joe would be a great economist to have a beer with.
So he gets my vote.
February 3, 2009 at 10:35 am
I’d vote for Joe before I’d spend five minutes with him even after 5 beers.
February 3, 2009 at 12:36 pm
Hold the Coprophagia
February 3, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Awesome Grandaddy ref. I miss them.
February 3, 2009 at 4:07 pm
Wurzelbacher, who became a household name during the presidential election
Except that the name which became a household name was a different name, so it would be more accurate to write “Wurzelbacher, who didn’t become a household name…”
February 3, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Yeah, they find one guy who buys the bullshit, and immediately, he’s their leader. Talk about a chicken with no head.
February 3, 2009 at 4:50 pm
Uh, Reuters?
February 3, 2009 at 5:50 pm
I think Republicans and everyone else agree that Joe the Plumber is the perfect choice to show the commitment the GOP has to important matters. For exactly opposite reasons.
February 3, 2009 at 6:02 pm
This is just good ol’ god damn’d ‘merican know how, fella. Stopp going to your bong parties with Michael Phelps and rationalizd tat we all need teh plumbers to make the laws?1?! You are the nrew!11
and that’s just the way I feel!
February 3, 2009 at 6:03 pm
I settled this shit. Next?
February 4, 2009 at 4:13 pm
I can’t wait to read about how he better understands the situation and the remedy than those professionals like Larry Summers and Paul Krugman. It’s coming, you know. From Powerline first, I predict.