# Jim Inhofe is a dumbass **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 1, 2010, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-inhofe-is-a-dumbass/562586 "2010-12-01T21:14:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-inhofe-is-a-dumbass/562586/41 "2010-12-02T04:33:47Z")
> [@Mach Tuck](#): > > That’s the sort of thing that, when someone other than a senator does it, the FAA calls “insufficient pre-flight action by the pilot in command”. I would have thought landing on an X-ed-out runway with trucks and people on it was the more serious source of violations, as well as the bigger act of dumbassery. If you or I did that, we’d already be down for a year minimum, easy. The War on Christmas stuff is just posturing for his base. Oklahoma, remember. That landing was sheer recklessness that easily could have killed people. You pagans can go celebrate Saturnalia, if you like. You do know why Christmas is 12/25, right? ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-inhofe-is-a-dumbass/562586/42 "2010-12-02T06:15:50Z")
Here’s how I see it: On the one hand we have Thanksgiving, Hannuka, Winter Solstice, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and New Years. Several _specific_ holidays celebrated around the same time. On the other hand, we have the presents, the lights, trees and decorations, the cookies and sweets, the colors red and green, Santa Claus and his elves and reindeer, charity to the poor, peace on Earth and goodwill, feasts and family reunions, and all the other secular, non-sectarian observances and trappings of the season. On the third hand we have the fact that many of the aforementioned traditions have their origins in Pagan Saturnalia and Yule, not the Christian tradition of the birth of Jesus. On the fourth hand we have the fact that we’re talking about a multi-week season of observances–not just Christmas Day, Dec. 25th–during which most people get multiple days off, hence “holiday_s_”. On the fifth hand we have the fact that Dec. 25th was chosen to observe “Christ Mass” during the Dark Ages in order to co-opt the popular, existing seasonal traditions. So the nomenclature is based on a scam. So given all that, you’d think that people could open up and recognize the multi-faceted quality of the Holiday Season rather than engage in all this reverse-PC humbuggery. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-inhofe-is-a-dumbass/562586/43 "2010-12-02T06:18:30Z")
It’s grossly unfair to dumbasses to compare them to Inhofe. The guy is a full on retard who makes Sarah Palin look reasonable by comparison. On a side note, it’s okay with me for him to refuse to ride in a holiday parade that does not recognize that it is a Christmas parade. Grandstanding about it is not okay, but that is too much to expect from a guy stupider and more disagreeable than a rabid skunk. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-inhofe-is-a-dumbass/562586/44 "2010-12-02T06:34:31Z")
> [@Mr.Moto](#): > > What holiday is the parade for? All the winter holidays. > [@](#): > > The word “holiday” connotes a false sense of inclusion. No, it actually connotes genuine inclusion. > [@](#): > > Certainly there are several holidays celebrated this time of year, yet “holiday” serves to obscure them all rather them bring any of them to the fore. Why should any of them be broufght to the fore. None are more important than any other. Certainly there is no reason whatsoever for a public event to specifically endore Christmas. > [@](#): > > Even the plural “holidays” is preferable to the singular “holiday” in this context. What horrible persecution. How do you stand it? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-inhofe-is-a-dumbass/562586/45 "2010-12-02T06:43:33Z")
> [@Mr.Moto](#): > > Well, there wasn’t anything inherently wrong with holiday or holidays - until a bunch of risk-averse bureaucrats started applying this term to Christmas even in places where this was inappropriate. For several years the Christmas tree in Washington DC was officially a “holiday tree” until someone with sense officially named it a Christmas tree again. This is the best you can do? > [@](#): > > Certain members of the public, by no means restricted to conservatives or Christians, found this fairly ridiculous. Many did not care for it. And this distaste has unfortunately affected the use of the word “holiday” in general. No, it’s pretty much just butthurt, conservative fundies who think they’re being persecuted if they see the word “holiday.” Holiday holiday holiday. It was a holiday season before Christianity, Christians don’t own it, and it’s inappropriate for Christians to try to decide what the winter solstice celebrations should be called or what their purpose should be. The real meaning of the holiday is to celebrate the death and resurrection three days later of the Invincible Sun. I am personally offended by the fact that Wal-Mart doesn’t have signs recognizing Sol Invictus. Such persecution is intolerable. This must be how the Jews felt under Hitler. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-inhofe-is-a-dumbass/562586/46 "2010-12-02T13:41:16Z")
Are Christians the only group that feels _ex_cluded because others are _in_cluded? What’s the word for that? It’s like a mix of arrogance, ignorance, and bigotry. I do hope the parade can somehow survive without a Senator on a horse. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-inhofe-is-a-dumbass/562586/47 "2010-12-02T14:31:42Z")
> [@Mr.Moto](#): > > Well, there wasn’t anything inherently wrong with holiday or holidays - until a bunch of risk-averse bureaucrats started applying this term to Christmas even in places where this was inappropriate. For several years the Christmas tree in Washington DC was officially a “holiday tree” until someone with sense officially named it a Christmas tree again. [No, it wasn’t](http://www.factcheck.org/2009/10/holiday-tree-hooey/). Have you been getting your news from e-mail forwards? It has always been the National Christmas Tree. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-inhofe-is-a-dumbass/562586/48 "2010-12-02T14:43:22Z")
Sorry - I was referring to the [Capitol Christmas Tree](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitol_Christmas_Tree), which was the Capitol Holiday Tree for several years. Glad to have cleared that up for you, since there are several Christmas trees of note in Washington. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-inhofe-is-a-dumbass/562586/49 "2010-12-02T14:44:55Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > It’s nice to see a politician stand on principle for a change. Except that this principle is the wrong one to stand on. Inhofe and his fellow Okie Coburn are the kinds of people for whom it is more important to be seen as the right kind of conservative than it is to do anything useful. As long as they continue that behavior, I’ll think less of Oklahoma, Oklahomans, and the people they send to the Senate. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-inhofe-is-a-dumbass/562586/50 "2010-12-02T14:49:18Z")
> [@Mr.Moto](#): > > Sorry - I was referring to the [Capitol Christmas Tree](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitol_Christmas_Tree), which was the Capitol Holiday Tree for several years. > > Glad to have cleared that up for you, since there are several Christmas trees of note in Washington. I note the awfully conspicuous [citation needed] there. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-inhofe-is-a-dumbass/562586/51 "2010-12-02T14:52:53Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > I note the awfully conspicuous [citation needed] there. [Here’s one.](http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=1356566&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312) ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-inhofe-is-a-dumbass/562586/52 "2010-12-02T14:53:28Z")
> [@Mr.Moto](#): > > Glad to have cleared that up for you, since there are several Christmas trees of note in Washington. :dubious: Most kind. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-inhofe-is-a-dumbass/562586/53 "2010-12-02T14:55:38Z")
My fault for not being more precise at the outset. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-inhofe-is-a-dumbass/562586/54 "2010-12-02T15:01:29Z")
Some Christians need a sense of proportion nailing into them. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-inhofe-is-a-dumbass/562586/55 "2010-12-02T15:04:33Z")
> [@Mr.Moto](#): > > My fault for not being more precise at the outset. Happens. Can we at least agree, though, that a parade of lights has no innate association with Christmas, unlike a fir tree covered in lights and jingly things? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-inhofe-is-a-dumbass/562586/56 "2010-12-02T15:25:42Z")
> [@Mr.Moto](#): > > What holiday is the parade for? > > The word “holiday” connotes a false sense of inclusion. Certainly there are several holidays celebrated this time of year, yet “holiday” serves to obscure them all rather them bring any of them to the fore. > > Even the plural “holidays” is preferable to the singular “holiday” in this context. Merry Christmahanukwaanzakah to you, too! 🙂 And pagans too! ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-inhofe-is-a-dumbass/562586/57 "2010-12-02T15:26:32Z")
Oh, well, even without Inhofe they’ll still have the front end of the horse. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-inhofe-is-a-dumbass/562586/58 "2010-12-02T15:29:12Z")
> [@tagos](#): > > Some Christians need a sense of proportion nailing into them. That’s easter. We’re only working with november through January holidays here. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Hamsandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4bbf92/32.png) [@Darth\_Hamsandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Hamsandwich)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-inhofe-is-a-dumbass/562586/59 "2010-12-02T15:34:37Z")
> [@Mr.Moto](#): > > [Here’s one.](http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=1356566&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312) My favorite line from a response to the article: > [@](#): > > What is next, making Jewish people refer to their Menorahs as a Candelabra? ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Hamsandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4bbf92/32.png) [@Darth\_Hamsandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Hamsandwich)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-inhofe-is-a-dumbass/562586/60 "2010-12-02T15:36:47Z")
Wait… the crescent moon offends me. It is now a half-eaten oatmeal cookie. Take THAT Islam! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-inhofe-is-a-dumbass/562586.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-inhofe-is-a-dumbass/562586.md?page=4)