News just in - no Jews killed during Holocaust

The Socialist Workers Party are symptomatic of a particular malaise affecting elements of the British left; siding with the Islamic far right, blaming Israel for everything you can possible think of etc etc. Well, that's how I put it anyway. Will at the Drink Soaked Trots has a catchier summary though - "thick pack of vile evil tossers". This has come up because the SWP has managed to produce a summary of the holocaust which somehow manages to exclude Jews. Pretty impressive that. See here and here.

Science in the presidential race

Bloody hell, it's another post concerning politics! Will have to remedy this worrying trend at some point. However, following my previous grumbling about science literacy in society, I noticed ERVs post. ERV notes that Obama and McCain were unable to take part in Science Debate 2008, but were able to take time out of their valuable schedules to be quizzed at some megachurch or other.

Oh dear.

Now, I wouldn't particularly describe myself as a "new atheist". I'm also realistic enough to recognise that prospective presidents need to court the religious vote to some extent. However, to totally avoid a science based discussion is yet another worrying indicator about the marginalised nature of science in society.

A hatchet job on Obama - from the extremist wing

You might be forgiven for being confused by the title of this post. I'm referring to this book by Jerome Corsi, The Obama Nation (abomination - geddit!?!?!?!?!), which is recieving favourable (if predictable) reviews in respectable quarters. There's also talk of it rocketing to the top of the bestsellers charts. It's an attack on Barack Obama, designed to scupper his campaign for president from the guy who brought you the John Kerry hatchet job during the last election. Ok, so it sounds like it's going to be pretty partisan, but with the reviews and the anticipated sales, what could possibly be extremist about it.............

...........a couple of things is the answer. Corsi is a 9/11 troofer. Oh. Well, er, maybe we can y'know, er gloss over that, after all this is a valuable scholarly endeavour and stuff. Phew, lucky there are no more skeletons in the closet. Exxxxxxxcept, what group is more cretinous, more worthy of contempt than troofers? Shit......you don't mean Holocaust denial. Yup, that's right. Corsi recently appeared on the radio show of the far right, white-supremacist, virulently anti-semitic radio show "The Political Cesspool". Previous illustrious guests include Holocaust denier Mark Weber. Links from their website include one to the Holocaust denying Institute for Historical Review.

Still, I'm sure right wingers will be happy to ignore all of this, just so long as some shit gets flown at Obama. All for the greater good etc etc.

HT to Gene at Harrys Place.