Lamar Smith and That There Book Learnin’ Crap
Lamar Smith is a Texas Republican congressvarmint from San Antonio, even though he spends most of his time at his home in Hyannisport, Massachusetts. He only comes home to Texas for election purposes.
He’s so rightwing that he flies in counterclockwise circles.
His particular form of religion is Christian Science, which is neither.
The religion’s adherents, known as Christian Scientists, subscribe to a radical form of philosophical idealism, believing that spiritual reality is the only reality and that the material world is an illusion. This includes the view that sickness and death are illusions caused by mistaken beliefs, and that the sick should be treated by a special form of prayer intended to correct those beliefs, rather than by medicine.
As Chairman of the House Committee on the Judiciary, he refused to let a bill out of committee giving regulation of marijuana to the states because …
Smith stated that “Marijuana use and distribution is prohibited under federal law because it has a high potential for abuse and does not have an accepted medical use in the U.S.”
Lamar, Honey, you don’t think there’s any medical use for aspirin or penicillin so maybe you shouldn’t be speaking so sassy about marijuana.
And Now he’s gone all Mr. Science Guy on us. He has introduced a bill called The High Quality Research Act, which ain’t any of those words. Well, except maybe for the The and that’s still under suspicion.
The bill says that any research done using federal funds (which is the majority of research done in the United States) must have its results and finding approved by the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives. If the findings are not agreed to, the research is taken from the researchers and disposed of by Congress as it sees fit.
And guess who is Chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology? Lamar Smith. The committee also includes 5 other Texas Republicans, the sanest being Steve Stockman.
Now there are those who say that Smith opposed letting states decide on marijuana because one of Smith’s largest contributors is the alcohol lobby. I guess we just have to hope that the funeral home industry doesn’t start throwing money at him.
Thanks to Craig for the first heads up.
High Quality Research will only fund expeditions to find the resting place of Noah’s Ark, 6000 year old granite, and determining the most likely locations for the Second Coming, with construction money set aside for 200,000 seat stadiums, and jumbo-trons for standing room only participants in the parking lot.
1Smith actually said ““Marijuana use and distribution is prohibited under federal law because it has a high potential for abuse and does not have an accepted medical use in the U.S.””
A “high potential”?
Freud should be so proud.
2Lamar honey was flanked by a bunch of school kids in two, not one but two, photos of himself in the AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN. He is still trying to make up his mind about global climate change. I’m not puttin’ nuthin’ else on here about rumors I’ve heard about him since I live in his district. Sigh. Oh, and he DID win some kind of science award back in public school. Surely that qualifies him for his position….
3Right now federally funded scientific research grants are chosen by peer review, which means actual scientists make the decisions. Can you imagine these scientists having to try to explain their research to that bunch from Texas? This could set us back to the Mesazoic Era, where the Repugs actually live.
4The Minnesota Vikings cut their punter, not for being inefficient, but probably for being outspoken. Dallas or Houston could use his talent as well as his progressive philosophy. I agree with him 100% of the time.
5We had a jerk with similar beliefs here in Colorado a few years back, which is why Colorado ranked #50 in innoculating children. He controlled the state legislature and all those kikds got sick because of him.
6Any Republican, especially one from Texas, should have to pass a written science test before being allowed on any congressional science committee. Most of those ignorant goons wouldn’t recognize a scientific process if it bit them in the [word omitted].
What they do is child abuse and detrimental to the country’s economic future.
They’re coming into MY house and crapping on the carpet, damn it.
7Using Lamar Smith, and Science in the same sentence. Isn’t that what they call one of them oxymoron things?
Willie Nelson is proof positive that marijuana has SOME medical use.
Heck, we should all live so long and look as well as Willie.
8Just wait til Brother Smith gets cancer. He may change his tune about marywannee.
9He looks like someone who just walked out of a cave and saw daylight for the first time…………oh, wait………..
10If sickness is a manifestation of bad spiritual reality, then this guy should be leading the charge for medical marijuana. Because, according to a double blind study conducted by my cousin, Jesus Hachecristo, who holds the distinguished Willie Nelson Overstuffed Chair at the University of MyFrontPorch, nothing heals bad spiritual reality faster than high-test medical-grade ganja. He considers himself the Alexander Fleming of Weed. The Jonas Salk of Cannabis.
Heck, Lamar, Medicare should reimburse for bongs like they do for Hoverounds! Both take me where I wanna go!
Said my cousin.
11I didn’t put this in the story but since it’s common knowledge around Texas, I thought you might want to know this about Lamar Smith. Enjoy!
12daChipster: So your cousin is Jesus H. Christ and is a tenured professor at My Front Porch U. I can imagine the research which goes on 24/7, and which contributes mightily to the improvement of the human condition.
13Just one question: Are you accepting applications for graduate assistants?
I am not sure if this cartoon will show up. Click on the link if this cartoon is not shown on this board
http://legalplanet.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/republican-climate-deniers1.jpg
14Science doesn’t care what Lamar Smith believes.
Every time science and religion conflict, religion loses. Every time.
Rep. Smith can’t change that with legislation.
15JJ, I bet the reference to Steve Stockman is the first time his name has been associated with the term,”sanest.”
16Maybe I should think about moving to some other district. Sigh. Lloyd used to be my congressman.
17“Science” comes from an old Latin word meaning “knowledge.” Sigh! That’s all you need to know about the loons like Lamar. Idiocy is the flag they fly.
18Is that a comb over, sure looks like it to me.
19Anybody else notice how many of the repugnuts bear a striking resemblance to Alfred E. Neuman?
20Somebody said Repugs living in Mezazoic Era, shoot, I was gonna only place em in the Dark Ages!
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