Sunday, July 13, 2008

It's because they lie: The Twatrick Chronicles.


If it's a day that ends in "y", then Axis of Douchebaggery's Twatsy must be blogging. And lying. Let's see what Twatsy is lying about today:

To claim that Preston Manning has "absolutely no scientific background whatsoever" would require a person to overlook numerous facts about Manning. Among them:

-The fact that when Preston Manning first enrolled at the University of Alberta, he studied physics, although he would eventually change his major to economics instead.

-Manning is the chairman of the National Institute for Nanotechnology board of trustees.

-Manning also has a background in research, having worked for a San Francisco-based research firm.

-Manning was the Canadian Alliance's Research and Technology critic.

Far from "absolutely no scientific background whatsoever".

Ah, let us take this one point at a time and hoof Patsy savagely in the joy department on each one.

The fact that when Preston Manning first enrolled at the University of Alberta, he studied physics, although he would eventually change his major to economics instead.

And some undergrad courses in physics most emphatically do not make one an authority on issues of science whereupon you could give sound and considered scientific advice on a federal level. But the Twatrick-flavoured spin is just beginning.

Manning is the chairman of the National Institute for Nanotechnology board of trustees.

I'm guessing the Twatster is referring to this, where we see that not only is there absolutely no mention of a position of chairman for Manning [*] but, amusingly, his scientific qualifications are hysterically feeble compared to others on that list. Go ahead, peruse the bios of the other members, take your time, and fully appreciate their scientific backgrounds while wondering what they must think of having an illiterate like Manning in their midst, whose entire bio consists of political hackery from beginning to end:

Mr. Preston Manning
Senior Fellow, The Fraser Institute

Mr. Manning was the first leader of the Reform Party of Canada, a federal political party that disbanded under his leadership to form the Canadian Alliance party. He was first elected to the House of Commons in 1993, and served as Leader of the Official Opposition from 1997 to 2000. He retired from the House of Commons in 2002. Since retiring, Mr. Manning has written his memoirs, and continues to work in consulting, business and communications. In addition to his duties as a Senior Fellow at the Fraser Institute, Mr. Manning serves as Distinguished Visitor at the University of Toronto, Distinguished Visitor at the University of Calgary, and Senior Fellow of the Canada West Foundation.

But let's not stop now, as this is where Twatsy really shines in pure political dishonesty:

Manning also has a background in research, having worked for a San Francisco-based research firm

Curiously, Twatsy provides no link to let us verify this for ourselves, but a brief online search turns up this, which would seem to be what Twatsy is creaming himself over. And yet, if you peruse the pages of PRI, there is absolutely no mention of one Preston Manning. And if Preston is proud of his tenure at PRI, he certainly isn't showing it:

Preston Manning served as a Member of the Canadian Parliament from 1993 to 2001. He founded two new political parties—the Reform Party of Canada and the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance—both of which became the official Opposition in the Canadian Parliament. Mr. Manning served as Leader of the Opposition from 1997 to 2000 and was also his party’s critic for Science and Technology. Since retirement from Parliament in 2002, Mr. Manning has released a book entitled Think Big (published by McClelland & Stewart) describing his use of the tools and institutions of democracy to change Canada’s national agenda. He has also served as a Senior Fellow of the Canada West Foundation and as a Distinguished Visitor at the University of Calgary and University of Toronto. Mr. Manning is currently a Senior Fellow of the Fraser Institute for which he has co-authored the Canada Strong and Free series of books. He is also President and CEO of the Manning Centre for Building Democracy (http://www.manningcentre.ca/), a national not-for-profit organization supporting research, educational, and communications initiatives designed to achieve a more democratic society in Canada guided by conservative principles.

How odd ... no mention whatsoever of the Pacific Research Institute, or San Francisco, or any research in general. Apparently, this is not an accomplishment that Preston is particularly proud of. Or Twatsy just made it up. And finally:

Manning was the Canadian Alliance's Research and Technology critic

Holy shit, Twats ... what part of "political appointment" do you just not understand? What a cretin.

In short, not a one of Twatrick's claims holds up to examination. But you should not be surprised. This is Twatsy we're talking about, and the one thing you can take for granted is that, if Twatsy writes it, it's dishonest. It's just the way he operates. All the time.

P.S. Since this is Twatsy we're talking about, you can rest assured he'll be by to shift the goalposts. And misrepresent what I've written. And redefine his claims. And, in general, argue in totally bad faith. Give it time. You know it's coming.

[*] Further research does indeed show that Manning was the chair of the board of trustees at some point but, as most sentient beings realize, the board of trustees requires precious little scientific background. Quite simply, this looks like a naked political appointment and, therefore, has little value. Sort of like the rest of Patsy's uninformed screed.

16 comments:

LuLu said...

Oh my, look who's listed as Director, Scientific Policy and Communications for Presto's nifty Manning Centre for Building Democracy ... Blogging Tories founder, Stephen Taylor.

That's a little ... oh, what's the word I'm looking for ... incestuous, non?

Ti-Guy said...

Incestuous, non?

Very much so. The entire *conservative* movement is simply a wingnut welfare industry creating sinecure after sinecure to employ these raging mediocrities.

The only thing that will stop them is widespread economic collapse. And it looks like that prophecy is about to be fulfilled.

Patrick Ross said...

So first it's:

"I'm guessing the Twatster is referring to this, where we see that not only is there absolutely no mention of a position of chairman for Manning..."

Then it's:

"Further research does indeed show that Manning was the chair of the board of trustees at some point..."

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

A heh... Okay. I'm good now.

Anytime you want to... you know... admit you're wrong about this entire post, you can just go right ahead and do it.

Unless you want to persist in trying to "reinvent reality" while comically accusing others of doing the same.

Or you can hide behind your sycophants. Whatever works for you.

ROTFL

Red Tory said...

The usual nicompoopery from the Canadian blogosphere's foremost assclown.

Hard to believe that he wrote that embarrassing post based entirely on a deliberate misreading of what I wrote and the fact that I didn't make note of Manning having attended some undergraduate Physics course or that he served as a trustee at some Nanotechnology Institute (which does actually provide an interesting angle on this appointment, but it's beside the point I was making).

Heck, I thought I was being quite charitable to Manning. But no... Patsy Pantload will find absolutely any excuse to launch one of his misbegotten attacks — even if it means deliberately twisting what was written — trying to demonstrate what superior intellect he believes himself to possess. As usual however, he just ends up taking another hilarious pratfall.

What is it now 12, 15, 20 times that he's been dead wrong about something or other? Idiot.

liberal supporter said...

Wow, I was going to suggest that PR barked up the wrong tree. I was going to suggest he should have gone with "you don't need to be a scientist to lead the panel".

That was because I assumed Manning was to be chairing the panel or something. But having looked it up, it appears he will just be another panelist. In which case, yes, his scientific credentials are completely inadequate for this.

So it looks like PR barked up the only tree available, that of proving Manning sterling science credentials.

I think it is just another example of the CPC's attempting to stack all government related bodies with party hacks.

CC said...

Heh ... did I call it or what? Note how Twatsy focuses on the one claim that I openly admit I researched further and corrected myself on, and carefully avoids addressing every other issue I list. That's our Twatsy.

Who wants to bet he studiously avoids addressing my contention about that San Francisco "research" gig? Come on, someone take me up on that. I'll give you odds.

CC said...

By the way, note well how Twatrick takes a virtue and turns it into a vice. After I realized my initial claim and the chair position wasn't accurate, I publicly corrected myself -- not by quietly erasing the original claim, but by leaving it in and adding the correction as a footnote.

This would, of course, differ from your typical Blogging Tory who is more than happy to disappear entire embarrassing posts down the memory hole. It's called being "accountable" for what you write and taking responsibility -- something Twats wouldn't recognize if it hoofed him in the nads.

Red Tory said...

Look what he did at my place, even after I pointed out his mistake to him, he still claimed that I “really just can't admit it” and trotted this out:

You said "absolutely no scientific background whatsoever".

While completely ignoring the context by yet again omitting to note that in my original post I had said the following after the “no scientific background” remark:

Well that pretty much summed up my initial reaction, anyway. But perhaps before being quite so entirely dismissive of Manning, maybe his appointment deserves a little more credit than that.

After which I had set out in the post some of Manning’s “qualifications” or at least tried to establish that maybe he wasn’t the complete scientific illiterate that many might think him to be.

The guy is possibly one the most severely retarded and willfully obtuse morons I’ve ever encountered online, although there was a certain lunatic cat lady in Sacramento that came close…

E in MD said...

So does that mean I have Twatrick's permission to charge $150 an hour for counseling?

I studied psychology for 3 years before I switched majors to CIS. That makes me a scientist too right? I wonder if I can now get funding for my study on how neo-conservatism is a mental disease.

Frank Frink said...

Just another desperate cry for attention from Teh Mulletload.

It makes me angry, so very angry indeed, with raging envy that people actually like and respect Marty Rayner, CC and LuLu for what they write. Even though their blogposts are really only read and commented on by the usual minions in the Sycophantic Temple of Groupthink.

Don't they know I'm the smartest, wisest and fairest of all. Why, I'm probably the smartest man in Canada... naw, make that North America, yet no one listens to meeeeeee!

They pay me no attention now, but someday... yeah, someday I'll show them.... I'll show them good and they'll all have to pay attention to meeeee!


Which always leaves me wondering two things:

1) What sort of childhood trauma did he endure.

2) How soon until we read about him in the newspapers? And I do mean 'in the newspapers but not in a good way'.

Patrick Ross said...

Cynic, if you could possibly be any more dishonest, I fail to see how.

Now, for the fun part:

Think Big, page 18 - Manning spent three years in a honors physics program. That's a far cry from "a few undergraduate physics courses".

Think Big, page 19 - Manning spent time working for Bechtel Research & Development, performing sheilding calculations for failities storing spent nuclear fuel rods, as well as studying the economic viability of laser and maser technology.

So, let's go over this again:

-Manning is chairman of NINT - fact.

-Manning studied honors physics at the University of Alberta - fact.

-Manning has worked in applied sciences - fact.

-Manning has also served as Science and Technology critic in the Parliament - fact.

So how is it again that none of my claims stand up to scrutiny? As it turns out, they're all factual.

I suppose what I'm really trying to say is this:

Here's some crow. Eat up.

Red Tory said...

Q: Is Preston Manning a credentialed scientist?

A: No.

Case closed.

Patrick Ross said...

Ah, but Marty:

You claimed Preston Manning has "no scientific background whatsoever".

You didn't merely criticize his appointment on the basis of not being a "credentialed scientist".

Q. Did Marty just try to move the goalposts?

A. Yes.

Q. Are we surprised?

A. No.

CC said...

Twatrick writes:

"Manning spent three years in a honors physics program."

Twatrick also writes:

"Manning spent time working for Bechtel Research & Development, performing sheilding calculations for failities storing spent nuclear fuel rods, as well as studying the economic viability of laser and maser technology."

I'm sorry, Twatsy ... are you saying that Bechtel R&D hired, as a nuclear waste research analyst, someone who didn't even have an undergraduate science degree? Is that what you're saying? I really want to make sure that's what you're saying here before I make any more fun of you.

CC said...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

Oh, God:

"... while studying in his honours physics program, Manning worked during the summer for Bechtel Research and Development, where he performed shielding calculations for facilities which were to store spent nuclear fuel rods"

This was done while Manning was a summer student? That's your idea of bankable scientific credentials? Man, Twats, you're even more pathetic than I thought. And that takes some doing.

By the way, Twatsy, let me remind you of your original words:

"Manning also has a background in research, having worked for a San Francisco-based research firm."

No, Twatsy ... undergraduate students on summer work terms don't get to describe that "research" "work" for the sake of credentials for being a federal science advisor. Jesus, what a fucking buffoon.

Mike said...

I worked for a summer as a clerk in Customs at the Buewater Bridge in Sarnia. Maybe I can become the Federal Advisor on border security?

I have as many credentials as Presto...