Last Wednesday, the Nominations Committee of the Texas State Senate conducted confirmation hearings for Don McLeroy, Governor Rick Perry's nominee for a second term as Chairman of the Texas State Board of Education.

As I pointed to last week, members of the Texas Freedom Network were there live-blogging the testimony. As I read their reports, I found myself wishing that I could see and hear the events that they were describing.

Well, my wish has been granted!

The ever reliable Tony Whitson has now captured and organized audio files from the archived video (RealPlayer) of the hearings.

Thanks, Tony!

In related news, the Discovery Institute just sent out an ominous email to its supporters claiming that the "Darwin lobby" is trying to "expel" McLeroy because he "took a stand for academic freedom" and showed "support for critical thinking on evolution." I guess the political process in Texas is just as bad as "Big Science."

Let me see if I have this right...

Apparently, showing "support for critical thinking on evolution" involves quote mining evolutionists, plagiarising from Creationist sources, redefining science to include supernatural explanations, lying about your past statements, crafting incomprehensible amendments, admittedly not reading the authoritative sources from which you quote, and consistently misunderstanding evolutionary theory.

Do I have that right?

You know, this is what I love about following the controversy surrounding the teaching of evolution.

I learn something new everyday.