Vaccination ruse Nov 25, 2014
In 2003, Nigeria boycotted a polio vaccine because they were suspicious of anything that came from the West, thinking America was trying to sterilize Muslim women and spread AIDS as part of the war on terror. 

In 2011, when America finally tracked down Osama Bin Laden, it was learned that the CIA used vaccinations in Pakistan as a ruse to find Bin Laden. 

After the Nigeria thing, we were like, "What a ridiculous thing to think.  We're just trying to help.  Why don't you believe us?" 

After the Pakistan thing:  "Oh." #politics
Term limits (1) Jul 9, 2013
Everybody agrees it's good to have term limits for the president of the country.  You don't want a dictator for life.  But it's surprising how few other political offices have term limits.  Or, put another way, no other federal political offices have term limits.  That's ridiculous if you think about it for two seconds.  Especially with three branches of government, and all those checks and balances and whatnot, it's pathetic that a senator or a congressman or a *gasp* supreme court justice can stay in office until they collapse into a pile of goo.  It would be one thing if these people determined the content on the local AM radio station.  But in reality, they determine what the citizens of their country are legally able to do.  Who better to entrust with the future of a nation than a group of rich, old, out-of-touch, sexually-deviant white men? #politics
Special disinterest group Dec 12, 2011
I'm uninterested in joining this special disinterest group: 
Politicians are completely out of touch with those Americans who are completely out of touch with politics.

Who says that two people can't make an indifference?
#politics
SuperPutin Sep 15, 2011
Here is a collection of 34 pictures of former Russian president Vladimir Putin doing manly things.  Kottke explains in words: 
Watch as Vladimir Putin rides a horse, drives a race car, tags a tiger, does judo, goes on archeological dives, looks at leopards, stands on a boat, arm wrestles, attempts to bend a frying pan, rides a snowmobile, flies a plane, hugs a dog, rides a motorcycle, looks at a bear, swims the butterfly, signs autographs, shoots a whale with a crossbow, plays the piano, feeds a moose, talks with a biker gang, steers a boat, walks through brush with a gun, sits in a tank, blacksmiths, plays hockey, hugs a horse, dives almost a mile in a submersible, and adjusts sunglasses.
I like how several of his activities are done unnecessarily shirtless.  I don't know much about this guy's politics or whatever, but I have a feeling I would vote for him. #politics
Colbert on government default Aug 5, 2011
Stephen Colbert on the news that our wonderful politicians somehow managed to prevent national financial ruin:
We didn't default! I haven't been this excited about averting a voluntary disaster since the time I didn't stick my hand in a paper shredder
If he ran for president, I would vote for him.  At least you know what he's doing is meant to be a joke. #politics
On the debt ceiling Jul 21, 2011
From The Onion: 
Congress Continues Debate Over Whether Or Not Nation Should Be Economically Ruined

"It is a question that, I think, is worthy of serious consideration: Should we take steps to avoid a crippling, decades-long depression that would lead to disastrous consequences on a worldwide scale? Or should we not do that?" asked House Majority Leader Eric Cantor.

At press time, President Obama said he personally believed the country should not be economically ruined.
Certainly an issue worthy of debate. #politics
Big meaningless issues (4) Jul 13, 2011
There are two big meaningless issues in the news right now, both of which are reported on religiously, and neither of which are even remotely influence-able by the overwhelmingly vast majority of people who follow them.  One is the NFL labor negotiations and potential lockout, which is a battle between the millionaire players who want more money and the billionaire team owners who also want more money.  Secret negotiations are taking place everyday between lawyers and wizards (I guess), all in the hopes of giving the ~50 million football fans in America another chance to gaze at Tom Brady's lovely hair.  This issue is reported on as if any of these people had even the slightest say in the issue, which is obviously false.  It's not that it's not important or that people don't care; it's that we really only need to know the outcome. 

The other big meaningless issue is the raising of the debt ceiling, which actually isn't meaningless at all and in fact could cause the nation of America to stop operating, which is a bad thing.  That's serious stuff and all, but again, this is a negotiation between the president, the congress, some lawyers, and likely a few wizards, all behind closed doors and with no input from the ~300 million people who would be quite directly affected by the failure of their nation.  All the conservatives in my family would point out that, "Blah blah you have the chance to change Washington each time you vote blah blah," to which I say, "Great, tell me where I can go vote about this issue right now.  Oh wait, you mean things like this aren't voted on?  Oh and the people we voted into office in the mid-term elections or the last presidential election are a bunch of lying scumbags who said they'd do one thing but are now doing another?  Oh and certain issues like debt ceilings and financial bailouts and humanitarian bombing runs are things that couldn't possibly have been predicted when we voted these lying scumbags into office in the first place?  Oh."  Raising the debt ceiling is an important matter, but I can't think of anything that has less of an impact on my daily life than this. #politics
Obama door kick May 10, 2011
I wish Obama actually kicked a door open after a speech.  That would be newsworthy. #politics
Non-fact facts Apr 25, 2011
Arizona Senator Jon Kyl recently said the following in reference to the government funding abortion clinics: 
"If you want an abortion, you go to Planned Parenthood, and that's well over 90 percent of what Planned Parenthood does."
The problem with this statement, as one person put it, is that he's almost exactly wrong:  Over 90% of what Planned Parenthood does is perform services other than abortions.  Regardless, that's not my point.  When confronted with his misstatement, a spokesman for the Senator responded: 
"His remark was not intended to be a factual statement but rather to illustrate that Planned Parenthood, an organization that receives millions in taxpayer dollars, does subsidize abortions."
Here's the thing:  If you're trying to make a legitimate point, it's a good idea to use facts and figures.  If your "remark was not intended to be a factual statement" then it's not advisable to try to use made-up facts. #politics
Government shutdown Apr 8, 2011
On the impending federal government shutdown: 
Congress remains hard at work on the budget impasse, confident that if they roll up their sleeves and keep their noses to the grindstone in all-night discussion sessions, they’ll eventually be able to figure out who to blame for not getting anything done.
Yay politics! #politics