# Stupid liberal idea of the day **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 20, 2011, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086 "2011-04-20T15:35:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 135
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2014, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/2681 "2014-10-26T03:46:12Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > There shouldn’t be _any_ funding for foot massages of bunny rabbits. Period. Full stop. Except that you’re being completely dishonest in your descriptions of those efforts. I don’t think anyone would say we should be massaging bunnies just for the fuck of it at the governments expense, but that’s not at all what’s happening and frankly you’re a lying sleazeball douchbag for intentionally making gross misrepresentations in a lame attempt to validate your political biases. Other than that, Welcome to the boards! ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2014, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/2682 "2014-10-26T03:49:21Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > There shouldn’t be _any_ funding for foot massages of bunny rabbits. Period. Full stop. And risk a strategic luck shortage? But in any case, the money spent on studying rabbit feet, and rabbits in general, is trivial compared to other government expenditures and may be more useful, or if nothing else adds to the collective knowledge of zoology. There are certainly worse ways to spend. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2014, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/2683 "2014-10-26T03:49:27Z")
> [@The Chicago Tribune when I try to read your link](#): > > To continue reading this PLUS story, you need to be a digital member. Same here, Sparky. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2014, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/2684 "2014-10-26T03:57:13Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > Except that you’re being completely dishonest in your descriptions of those efforts. > > I don’t think anyone would say we should be massaging bunnies just for the fuck of it at the governments expense, but that’s not at all what’s happening and frankly you’re a lying sleazeball douchbag for intentionally making gross misrepresentations in a lame attempt to validate your political biases. Not dishonest at all. What misrepresentations have I made about the study in question, or anything else? They were giving fucking Swedish massages to bunny rabbits’ feet. This is something one would expect out of The Onion, not a government grant. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2014, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/2685 "2014-10-26T04:04:30Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Not dishonest at all. What misrepresentations have I made about the study in question, or anything else? They were giving fucking Swedish massages to bunny rabbits’ feet. What misrepresentations have you made? After **mhendo** showed the inaccuracies (to use the most charitable term) in a few of your examples, your credibility is not very high right now. If you want to rant about massaging rabbits’ feet you’re gonna need to bring a few more facts to your side of the debate. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2014, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/2686 "2014-10-26T04:12:34Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > If you want to rant about massaging rabbits’ feet you’re gonna need to bring a few more facts to your side of the debate. Is U.S. News good enough? [http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/10/22/tom-coburn-slams-nih-rabbit-massage-study-amid-ebola-funding-debate](http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/10/22/tom-coburn-slams-nih-rabbit-massage-study-amid-ebola-funding-debate) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2014, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/2687 "2014-10-26T04:16:41Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Not dishonest at all. What misrepresentations have I made about the study in question, or anything else? They were giving fucking Swedish massages to bunny rabbits’ feet. > > This is something one would expect out of The Onion, not a government grant. The actual point of the study was to measure if massage improved recovery from exercise. From the asshole’s [Wastebook](http://www.coburn.senate.gov/public//index.cfm?a=Files.Serve&File_id=8027c30b-ce84-48bf-ae81-be99ac74eb12) Page 8. > [@](#): > > The massages were given after subjecting the rabbits to exercise to measure its impact on recovery. So, yes, you did misrepresent the expenditure. You did not actually state why the massages were being done or the goal of the study. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2014, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/2688 "2014-10-26T04:21:40Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Is U.S. News good enough? > > [http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/10/22/tom-coburn-slams-nih-rabbit-massage-study-amid-ebola-funding-debate](http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/10/22/tom-coburn-slams-nih-rabbit-massage-study-amid-ebola-funding-debate) Yes, and? That article explains why the study was being done. Which you don’t want to hear. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2014, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/2689 "2014-10-26T04:22:04Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Is U.S. News good enough? > > [http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/10/22/tom-coburn-slams-nih-rabbit-massage-study-amid-ebola-funding-debate](http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/10/22/tom-coburn-slams-nih-rabbit-massage-study-amid-ebola-funding-debate) The research actually sounds kind of interesting and potentially useful to me, exercising the rabbits and seeing if massage afterward promotes faster recovery. It sounds like a bad deal for the rabbits, but could be helpful to us. Did you read your own cite or just grab an item from a Google search list? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2014, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/2690 "2014-10-26T04:24:35Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Not dishonest at all. What misrepresentations have I made about the study in question, or anything else? They were giving fucking Swedish massages to bunny rabbits’ feet. They weren’t just massaging the rabbits’ feet. They were studying the effects of massage in helping muscles recover after exercise. What misrepresentations have you made? There’s another one for you right there. Now, if you’d like to debate whether that sort of study is a good use of government funds, go for it. But you don’t do your argument any favors when you say that all they were doing was massaging little bunnies’ feet. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2014, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/2691 "2014-10-26T04:24:39Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > enough? I’d prefer you first address my question in #2679. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2014, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/2692 "2014-10-26T04:26:31Z")
So basically it is a medical/exercise study where rabbits are the subjects. Yeah… not having a problem with that. Maybe I can play this game as well: \*How about an overstuffed annual **$550 million dollar program** teaching government employees how to play musical instruments? \* ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2014, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/2693 "2014-10-26T04:28:11Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > The actual point of the study was to measure if massage improved recovery from exercise. > From the asshole’s [Wastebook](http://www.coburn.senate.gov/public//index.cfm?a=Files.Serve&File_id=8027c30b-ce84-48bf-ae81-be99ac74eb12) Page 8. > > So, yes, you did misrepresent the expenditure. You did not actually state why the massages were being done or the goal of the study. So you don’t care that the government is spending other people’s money on foot massages for rabbits? My guess is that you don’t pay any federal income tax. Am I correct? ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2014, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/2694 "2014-10-26T04:29:41Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > So you don’t care that the government is spending other people’s money on foot massages for rabbits? My guess is that you don’t pay any federal income tax. Am I correct? So you’re going to continue to misrepresent the facts. That much is clear. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2014, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/2695 "2014-10-26T04:31:41Z")
> [@Mr.Miskatonic](#): > > So > \*How about an overstuffed annual **$550 million dollar program** teaching government employees how to play musical instruments? > \* Well. there’s always the “nose flutists” which at least two people in this thread claim that they exist. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2014, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/2696 "2014-10-26T04:32:56Z")
I sense a meme in its infancy. “But… but… but… rabbit massages!” ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2014, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/2697 "2014-10-26T04:33:39Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > So you’re going to continue to misrepresent the facts. > That much is clear. What fact have I misrepresented? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2014, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/2698 "2014-10-26T04:36:59Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > So you don’t care that the government is spending other people’s money on foot massages for rabbits? **My guess is that you don’t pay any federal income tax**. Am I correct? What does that have to do with it? ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2014, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/2699 "2014-10-26T04:42:19Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > What does that have to do with it? Because people who aren’t paying for things, who don’t have any skin in the game, can wish for the sky, including bunny rubs. That doesn’t make it a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2014, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086/2700 "2014-10-26T04:42:57Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > What fact have I misrepresented? Okay, I’ll try to explain this calmly, but even a brain-damaged freakin’ orangutan… Sorry. They didn’t just massage little bunny’s feet. They exercised the rabbits’ muscles, and studied how those muscles recovered in rabbits that received a massage compared to those that didn’t. You are leaving out the purpose of the study. That is what you are misrepresenting. Jeez, they’ll need to start putting instructions on toilet paper next. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086.md?page=134) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-liberal-idea-of-the-day/579086.md?page=136)