 “I will rise into the air and you will see God embrace me…” |
When Rick Perry officially launches his presidential campaign this weekend, he will not be the only Republican candidate to carry the banner of Christian piety…Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty discovered his inner Honest Abe at the Faith and Freedom Conference in June. Heedless of the risks to his campaign, Honest Tim read from the Bible and thundered to the mostly evangelical audience, “We need to be a nation that turns toward God, not away from God!”
Another presidential candidate, Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, refers to God so frequently in the context of her political ambitions that you would think He was her running mate. At the Faith and Freedom Conference, she treated the audience to a prayer of her own design: “Lord, we know there are things we have done in our nation that have not been pleasing in your sight,” she sorrowfully intoned, “Lord, we ask your forgiveness for that…”
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich may not be able to boast about Christian values in his personal life, but he has vowed to defend his grandchildren from the imminent threat of “a secular atheist country” or, somewhat inconsistently, political domination by radical Islamists. Gingrich has also promised to resist the fearsome “homosexual agenda” on the grounds that he supports “pro-classical Christianity,” a hitherto-undiscovered Christian sect that may be imaginary.
Donald Trump, whose campaign ended before it began, still found time to gallantly sputter, “I believe in God. I am Christian. I think the Bible is certainly, it is THE book.” In case people missed the point, he added, “I’m a Protestant. I’m a Presbyterian. And you know I’ve had a good relationship with the church over the years. I think religion is a wonderful thing. I think my religion is a wonderful religion.”
Even libertarian Ron Paul, who long resisted injecting faith into politics, has waxed Lincolnesque this season. “We have had the Constitution stolen right before our eyes,” he drawled urgently, “This is now about whether or not we have the right to worship freely.” He later explained, “Congress should never prohibit the expression of your Christian faith in a public place…”
On Saturday, August 13, Republican insiders in Iowa will vote in the Ames Straw Poll. Although the poll is non-binding, it hints at the candidates most likely to do well in the Iowa caucus…
Indeed, the political compensation for public displays of faith is so precious that it makes me wonder whether the candidates’ zealous efforts to to prove their piety as they race for the Republican nomination might be called calculating or opportunistic. Some might even suggest unchristian.
When will the members of this holy crusade change the name of their wholly-owned political party? The Republican Christian Party? Or – better yet – the American Christian Party since they claim to speak for all Christians, all Americans?
#80–Mickey==thats funneee. At first I thought Oh thats a bunch of BS. But on reflection its TRUE!!! Dumber than Bush. Yes, its true. And you know, thats what the primary system is all about: bringing forth the most pukish of all possible puke candidates. Looks like the Pukes are going to have a tough choice this year: will they choose the male or female version of a brain dead but still functioning religious loon?
Speaking of Rome Burning, is that fiddle music I hear?
#80 Hitting the buzzer. Calling timeout. Bullshit.
I second the nomination of the taxed enough dude as the scariest person on here.
One creepy bastard.
# 63 bobbo said:
“I’m a liberal. Here’s my morality: leave other people the fuck alone.”
Hmmm…
Must be the phase of the moon. But while it lasts:
Welcome to the land of the sane and decent!
# 62 Guyver said, “a dysphemism for morality”
Outstanding! I love learning new words. Thank you.
# 75 Dallas said,”Bachman stated on the debate she will not be submissive to her husband.”
Shame on you Dallas. Making things up like that. She did not say she would not be submissive she merely redefined the words to mean “show respect” Bill Clinton: “That depends on what the definition of ‘is’ is.”
#Many – Alfie: Is it your intention to reprint the entire bible on the pages of this blog? I don;t mind a brief quote, now and then – done it myself! – but you just seem to really get off on posting whole damned chapters. Please stop. I have to limit my fiction reading time.
#80 So would that make him bush the turd er I mean third?
#85 Animby
Isn’t it odd how Alfie, and the hard right in general, never quote the Beatitudes?
If we want to be a nation that turns toward and not away from God, maybe we should vote for someone OTHER than Tim Pawlenty. And I have doubt about Michele Bachmann’s sincerity in her prayer of forgiveness.
taxed enough (alfie) isn’t scary, he’s pathetic as are all believers in a god that creates and destroys with whimsy. sorry to say it’s all bullshit.
#84–Somebody==I don’t want to pop any of your soapbubbles but YES, I’m Liberal. I am “for” many social programs you might find objectionable even when you do read the fine print: as much as possible, the government should “offer” help and guidance but refrain from requiring compliance. That makes a huge difference in some programs like Family Planning but no difference at all in others like paying taxes.
Pragmatic: what works? No reason to be for something if it doesn’t work.
Libertarian: Leave other people alone.
Existential: There is no right and wrong in the Universe other than what the majority agree to.
Anti-Theist: Even if God did exist, I would be against him. From everything I can see, he just a tyrant.
I post very consistently with these values. Not always. I have blind spots too.
I’m not afraid to admit that I believe in the Christian faith. But I do not allied myself with most of the whack jobs that equate Christianity with politics. Especially Republican politics! To me it’s a deal with the devil, at best. And most that I know, are too blind to see this. They think they can lend their support to a party and its causes. And then back out later if it gets a little too crazy. And not have lost anything. Like their souls. Well the Parties (either) might not be powerful enough to steal souls. It doesn’t work that way. They’ll just steal hearts and minds, and the souls will follow. And what lead to things like the American Civil War, can also lead to some new 21th century civil war. Over God knows what lies and confusion, the parties create to get elected. We don’t need protection from cyber terrorists, or Islamic terrorists. We need protection from our own, home grown, taxpayer funded, political party terrorists. The Anti-Truth Squad, as they ought to be known. They’ve all gone well passed the “negative ad” campaigning, which was somewhat forgivable. Into this “God and I are buddies” campaigning. Trying to turn the next election into a Holy War. Which is a tragic joke, because most of the candidates have violated their oaths of office (sworn to God) in representing wealthy special interests, over the rest of us. And not even knowing (or caring) about parts of the Constitution that they are stepping on. Like the “separation of church and state” clause, that is very real and does exist. And not open to their convenient interpretations.
You can identify the best Christian candidate by his/her care for the poor, prisoners, immigrants, etc.
BTW, remember that you read it here first. Rick Perry got an invite to the Bilderberg meeting in St. Moritz, Switzerland, this past June. So surprise, surprise, he’s finally following orders and throwing his hat into the ring. Not a surprise at all. And no surprise that the main stream press never mentions this meeting. Maybe they’re saving it for later, so they can kill his nomination, if it suits the robber barons of the world.
“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for any of these rich republicans to enter into the kingdom of God”
just paraphrasing my son
#68 Somebody
Oh no, I wouldn’t presume to take your turn. The rebuttal is yours.
I was told to never talk about politics and religion because you will always get an argument.
Michelle Bachmann doing some field research at the Iowa State Fair.
I don’t remember that in the bible.
#91 Your politics is inconsistent with the image of God in man, a fundamental precept of Christianity.
God doesn’t force us to do what He wills, He grants free will because in His image made He man.
Statism is from the pit of hell, its controlling the people (not the leaders) to do what it demands. Tyranny in all forms, is against Christianity.
The founders of this country were mostly Christian, and consistent with Christianity they codified freedom as an inalienable right we have by reason of our creation.
Not by Government.
Conservative and Libertarian belief is to return to the “near anarchy” of our founding, that its the way to pursue happiness rather than progressively controlling the people until all decisions are made by the state.
Then the people are miserable.
So you may choose statist control over the people, that’s your right.
But you should begin your ditty with “i believe in the Christian religion,” for you don’t if you advocate government control over others.
Then you are simply a liberal.
Not a classic liberal, they were libertarians, I mean a modern progressive statist who would return eugenics etc if they could, to control every detail of our lives.
#98 Me fail English? That’s unpossible!
#99 U think yourself a wit. You are half right.
Jesus may love you, but everyone else thinks you’re an ass.
Your inferiority complex is fully justified.