A Mixture of Religion and Politics

I find it heartening to see religious people of different denominations in this country lay down sectarian sniping to make common cause on important social and moral issues.  

Mike Potemra plumbs a little-explored area of the Scott Brown phenomenon:  His ecumenism.  Brown is a Protestant but enjoys hearty Catholic support.  They don't agree on every issue, but he doesn't pander and they don't stomp their feed insisting that he toe the line.  Refreshing.

Embedded in his interesting and short article, I  found this gem that reminds us that we are in no danger of a theocratic takeover:

As my friend Paul Mankowski, S.J., once remarked, the Catholic Church’s moral agenda would be much advanced if every Catholic in Congress was replaced with a Mormon or a Muslim. (First Things - Joseph Bottums)

Catholic Politicians can't even get it right on Social Programs

What about individual almsgiving and acts of personal charity—concepts that greatly predate the existence of the modern welfare state? Indeed, the seven corporal works of mercy, which are included in the Catechism, are directed toward individuals, not governments.

We’re not saying that there shouldn’t be any government programs, but, at the same time, we recognize that the Church is open to different means on how to achieve important goals for alleviating human suffering.

As Doctor Tom Coburn, Republican Senator from Oklahoma has observed, "spending other people's money is not compassionate."

ITS THE POLITICS STUPID

Or why can't a white man disagree with a black man without being a racist?

It seems to be all over the press these days, one can not dissent politically without being a racist. It seems to be the Lefts only answer to dissent.... RACIST!

Talia Whyte in her column said "Replace the word "Socialist" with "N****R" and it reads the same".

http://www.thegrio.com/2009/09/kanye-wests-latest-outburst-at.php

Maureen Dowd was forced to translate for those liberals who didn't understand conservative-speak, what Joe Wilson actually yelled was "YOU LIE, BOY!" In her racist fantasy bubble she has convinced herself that "Some people can't believe a black man is president and will never accept it". Of course, some people do believe that, they are not however confined to being conservatives.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/opinion/13dowd.html

Even former President Jimmy Carter has gotten into the act, and he is extremely worried. In the MSNBC video it was stated that "A certain number of signs and images have featured racist and other violent themes"... these were the signs that appeared in the video supporting their position, if I missed something racist please let me know (there was a woman in a T-shirt I couldn't read):

No to socialized medicine

Change we don't believe in

Hitler gave good speeches too

Throw all the bums out

A picture equating Obama with the Joker in Batman

Close the Border

Bury Obamacare with Kennedy

Re-Elect Nobody

The truth will set the US free

Obama's change - Change we don't need.

President Carter went on to say "An overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity towards Barack Obama is based on the fact he is a black man, on his being an African-American. I live in the south and I've seen the south come a long way, and I've seen the rest of the country that shared the south's attitude towards minority groups at that time, particularly African-Americans... that racism in connection still exists and I think it has bubbled up to the surface because of a belief by many white people, not just in the south but around the country, that African-Americans are not qualified to lead this great country. It's an abominable circumstance and grieves me and concerns me very deeply".

What grieves me and concerns me very deeply is the fact that it appears that I can no longer disagree with anyone who is not white without fears of being branded a racist, by people who can not defend their politics rationally.

Truth be told, I am proud that America has elected an African-American President... truth also be told I would much rather have Condoleeza Rice, or Colin Powell in the Chief Executives chair than Barack Obama. It has nothing to do with race, everything to do with politics.

Former President Carter closed with "Obama's personal qualities will enable him to triumph over the racist attitude that is the basis of the negative environment that we see so vividly demonstrated in public affairs in recent days".

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/32867107#32867107

No, we couldn't possibly disagree with you on your obviously extremely sane, rational, and well thought out policy proposals... we all must be racists! No one could think that more government programs, more governments spending, more government expansion, and more government meddling in affairs constitutionally outside of its purview could possibly be wrong.

Lydia Depillis CBS: A report from the ground characterized the 9/12 protest as "America threw a gigantic temper tantrum in Washington D.C", as a "Anti-government fit", and as "anti-government events collectively known as the 9/12 project".

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/09/14/opinion/main5310007.shtml

First of all, in order to be anti-government (and don't get me wrong...we are!), the protest would have to be about government as it is, not as it may become if you deluded socialists get your way. We are protesting not government, but your deluded visions of what government should become. We don't care where you came from, what color your skin is, what your religion or sexual preference is... we think you are WRONG! Lily-White or not! You use the term "racist" as McCarthy used the term "communist", to advance your own argument not on merit, but by demeaning and devaluing your opponent, by labeling him... you really ought to look up the term "bigot" before labelling others:

Bigot: A person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices. One who regards members of a group with hatred or intolerance.

Cause quite frankly we aren't racists but you certainly appear to be bigots.

~Finntann~

The Face of 21st Century America: Can the GOP Capitalize?

The Obama Jokerizer has been fingered!

This is the face of 21st century America. He laughs at the Obama hype but wasn't much of a Bush fan, either, disagreeing with our adventurous foreign policy under the last president. He also seems socially conservative, but would vote for Dennis Kucinich.

"After Obama was elected, you had all of these people who basically saw him as the second coming of Christ," Alkhateeb said. "From my perspective, there wasn't much substance to him."

Alkhateeb's assessment of Obama: "In terms of domestic policy, I don't think he's really doing much good for the country right now," he said. "We don't have to 'hero worship' the guy."

The GOP should be seeking this young man's vote
True conservatism is chary of foreign entanglements as well as bloated government schemes at home. True conservatives also view cults of personality, even conservative ones, with skepticism.

This young man represents a generation that isn't hung up on 20th century terms. Socialism is not fraught with cold war baggage for them. After all, social networking is all the rage.

This is a generation with a keen sense of right and wrong. A generation with morals that largely (with exceptions) concord with our traditional Judeo-Christian heritage, although their morality may not be derived from Christianity.

How can the GOP attract young voters?
Stand for freedom. Let The Constitution be your guide. Stop preaching religion, but stand up for the rights of the religious and irreligious alike to peacefully practice their beliefs in the public square.

The GOP should stand for freedom to demand our politicians write bills that ordinary people can understand, not catalogs of legalese that benefit only state-favored corporate entities.

Freedom to be a freak, a garishly painted transvestite, a global warming denier with a gigantic carbon footprint, a global warming hypocrite with a gigantic carbon footprint, an atheist, a tree worshiper... People gotta be free, and as long as your freedom does not impede anyone else's, we're all good.

Could such a freedom message alienate religious folk? Consider this typically clueless twaddle from the El Lay Times:

A series of sex-related scandals over the last few years has undercut the party's assertions of moral authority and, worse, may serve to reinforce the doubts that many evangelical voters have traditionally harbored about the unholiness of the political realm

The unholiness of the political realm? I am not an evangelical, but I doubt many are looking to a political party for holiness and "moral authority." That would be like looking to Hollywood for patriotism. There is a natural affinity between the GOP and Christians--preaching freedom instead of morality won't imperil that.

Conservative Reconquista
Our morbidly obese feral government is on the verge of massive myocardial infarction. It has stuck its snout into every corner of society, and people are fed up. Including tuned in young people who see oldsters siphoning off their future. If this isn't a golden opportunity for conservative revanchists, I don't know what is.

Freedom Message Can Win It For Republicans
A Republican party that stands for liberty, as envisioned by our founders, could regain its mojo. A Republican party that vows to roll back government regulation could actually find itself in power again.

Jim DeMint, as quoted in a Cato article, has a pitch perfect campaign message based on freedom and states rights:

... the organizing principle and the crucial alternative to the Democrats — must be freedom. The federal government is too big, takes too much of our money, and makes too many of our decisions….

We can argue about how to rein in the federal Leviathan; but we should agree that centralized government infringes on individual liberty and that problems are best solved by the people or the government closest to them.

Moderate and liberal Republicans who think a South Carolina conservative like me has too much influence are right! I don’t want to make decisions for them. That’s why I’m working to reduce Washington’s grip on our lives and devolve power to the states, communities and individuals...

It’s the Democrats who want to impose a rigid, uniform agenda on all Americans. Freedom Republicanism is about choice — in education, health care, energy and more. It’s OK if those choices look different in South Carolina, Maine and California.

CATO rightly asks how DeMint can square this federalist philosophy with his support for an anti-gay marriage amendment to the US Constitution. Can states decide for themselves or not?

Issues like these are not easily resolved, but they provide much more productive debate than arguing over how to out-Democrat the Democrats. And intelligently addressing these issues may just attract a few voters who haven't yet sprouted gray hair.

Cato - DeMint
El Lay Times - Evangelicals
El Lay Times - Joker Unmasked
WSJ - Demint

Disenchanted

I for one am sick and tired of American politics, the bloat, corruption, malfeasance on both sides of the aisle.

I haven't been particularly enamoured or excited by any of their Presidential nominations, but I was reading the Libertarian political platform and find I agree with pretty much the majority of it... with a few exceptions here and there.

If they had anywhere near 30% of registered voters, I might even consider them more seriously than I have in the past.

Thoughts? http://www.lp.org/platform

~Finntann~

A Lesson in Civility

The Obama inauguration can teach us a valuable lesson in civility; it was unmarred by right-wing protests. With the exception of that notorious group from Kansas, the transfer of power was graceful and more importantly civil, at least from the right. Of course people in the crowd booed when Bush's image was flashed on jumbo-trons and one contingent near the Capitol sang "Na-na-na-na, hey, hey, goodbye" in a jeering farewell. President George W. Bush was booed lustily by the crowd in front of the platform. Fortunately, they at least appeared to be a minority.

Is this the way your mother taught you to behave? Would she be proud of you? If there is anything worse than a sore loser, it is a sore winner; it speaks volumes when you can’t even win graciously. A brief glance over an assortment of Dick Cheney wheelchair stories reveals such a plethora of vitriolic comments that it sickens me to read. Ranging from “Doctor Strangelove” to “Well maybe we’ll get lucky and he’ll roll off the stage” and those are some of the more decent ones. Listen to your President:

“We come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics,” he declared.

Perhaps he wasn’t just talking about the Republicans; perhaps our new President is just better and more decent than some of those of his party he was elected to represent. Heed the words of our first President:

“Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally. This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism.

Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind (which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight), the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it. It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which finds a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another.

There is an opinion that parties in free countries are useful checks upon the administration of the government and serve to keep alive the spirit of liberty. This within certain limits is probably true; and in governments of a monarchical cast, patriotism may look with indulgence, if not with favor, upon the spirit of party. But in those of the popular character, in governments purely elective, it is a spirit not to be encouraged. From their natural tendency, it is certain there will always be enough of that spirit for every salutary purpose. And there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be by force of public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it. A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should consume."

~George Washington~

I, a Conservative, Republican, American, wish our (my) new President well; for after all, our fates are intertwined, are they not? To wish the President well is to wish America well. To the nasty, gleeful, jeering children that taunt and scoff at our outgoing President, I urge you... Grow Up! To the petulant and bitter who claim he is not "My President"... Leave. For in your bitterness you deny the basic democratic principles upon which our great nation is founded. If he's not your President... then you must not be an American... for, like it or not,Barrack Hussein Obama is President of the United States of America.

Undoubtedly there will be issues upon which we disagree, and just as undoubtedly there will issues we will agree upon. I will, when in disagreement, oppose in defense of my principles, but rationally, civilly, and with respect. When in agreement, I will be man enough to admit it and not oppose simply out of spite, and will give credit where credit is due. When defeated I will give you the benefit of the doubt, and give your policies a chance to work, when victorious, I will not gloat. For those of my party and political persuasion who find fault with the opposition, lead by example. Partisanship must end!

I call to those members of all parties who believe that rational, civil, and intellectual discourse is the foundation of democracy to shun those who resort to childish behavior, rebuke them, do not allow them to be 'the voice' of your party. It demeans the parties, the principles, the positions, and this great nation.

Long Live the Republic and the President of these great United States of America.

~Finntann~

Welcome to the Political Soup Kitchen

Everyone is lining up with a case of the 'Gimmies' and the Governors David Paterson, Deval Patrick, Jon Corzine, Jim Doyle, and Ted Strickland are at the front of the line. The governors from New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Wisconsin, and Ohio are asking the federal government for a $1 trillion bailout package, including $250 billion for education and $150 billion in middle class tax cuts.

Paterson of New York said his state's budget deficit has surged to $15.4 billion currently from $5 billion in April 2008. "The assistance would be manna for us," Paterson said. As I am sure it would, but unlike manna...this would not be paid for by God...it will be paid for by the American people, only some of whom live in New York.

Doyle of Wisconsin said the plan would allow states to maintain essential services at about the current level until 2010. Without federal aid, Wisconsin faces a record $5.4 billion shortfall.

"We aren't crying wolf," Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland said. "These are real circumstances, unprecedented situations we are facing." Ohio's budget deficit could grow to $7.3 billion even after $1.9 billion was cut from its current budget.

The governors said that level of federal aid is needed to deal with unprecedented state budget shortfalls in 41 states and Washington, D.C.

In reality, there is little linking the current economic crisis to the problems in these states, the states are not losing billions on bad mortgage loans, nor a depressed auto market. The problem was present in these states prior to the economic downturn and will be there well after it is gone. The root of the problem lies in the fact that American politics has become a simple popularity contest, a duel between spin-doctors and media backers. The problem is it seems, while most American politicians are quite adept at politicking...they seem to be quite inept at governing and handing them billions is little more than slapping a band aid on a hemorrhaging artery.

Not to be cruel, but if the people of New York are dissatisfied with their 15 billion dollar deficit, and the people of Ohio are upset that they find themselves 7 billion in the hole, well the people need to elect governors, not politicians. The requisite skill set for effective governance is not a pretty face, a smooth voice, and a bevy of monied backers... it is a demonstrable skill set of management of budget and personnel with a little good old fashioned leadership thrown in.

What we have, and need to break away from, is an unending circle of bribery... Politicians spend more than they take in in order to fund projects that appeal to their constituencies in order to to get reelected. It was summed up brilliantly almost 2000 years ago by the Roman poet and satirist Juvenal: Already long ago, from when we sold our vote to no man, the People have abdicated our duties; for the People who once upon a time handed out military command, high civil office, legions — everything, now restrains itself and anxiously hopes for just two things: bread and circuses.

We need to stop selling our vote in exchange for bread and circuses... we need to get back to the basics of governing and that simplest rule of basic economics, spend no more than you make. Deficit spending is like savings... you can't spend it forever and expect it to last. The problem is the mindset that you can defer the cost forever... without change, sooner or later we will all be like the grim gentlemen in photo above. As bitter a medicine that the truth is, we need to stop governing beyond our means.

~Finntann~

Your Politician: Drive It Like You Stole It!

I don't see a hero when I see a politician, I see a vehicle. Like Wall Street, The Big Three, and every other welfare queen standing in line, I see a politician as a vehicle to get us where we want to go. The difference is, I want it to go down Constitution Freeway, they want to steer it down Handout Highway.

We need to stop worshiping our politicians and start riding them like a stolen motorcycle. And when it don't go no more, ditch it and grab another one. That's how the hijackers who are looting our treasury see things.

It's time we grow up and drop the hero worship of our politicians, Republican or Democrat. We are not here to serve our government, our government serves us. Not by giving us things but by ensuring domestic tranquility, providing for the common defense and otherwise staying the hell out of the way.

Consider this quote by George Washington:

Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.

This dangerous servant has plundered our treasure, made off with the silver and good china, and flings a few pennies at us as it leaves our house in flames.

This fearful master squeezes more and more out of us and gives less and less in return. Our country is in debt and the government just keeps creating more. The candyman just can't stop doling out sweets to the overweight trick-or-treaters. And it all goes on your tab.

Time to grab the handlebars and drive it like you stole it.

Evangelicals, Catholics Agree with 80% of What Obama Says

That didn't take long. Catholic Bishops are popping up all over to slap down Nancy Pelosi's ignorant comments regarding abortion and the Catholic Church. In no uncertain terms, the Bishops have stated that willful procurement of an abortion is a sin, and it always has been, going all the way back to the beginnings of Christian practice. I guess Madam Speaker has been too busy scheming against the president to read her catechism.

What really caught my eye though was this provocative statement in the WashingtonTimes article:

"The push for the Democratic Party is to have a new position on abortion," said Steve Waldman, editor of the religious Web site beliefnet.com. "When you look at Catholics and Evangelicals, you see that they agree with 80 percent of what [Mr. Obama] says, but there's this stumbling block with abortion."

I couldn't believe my eyes. How could this man, Steve Waldman, of a web site called beliefnet.com, say such an ignorant thing?!

Answer: He's ignorant. And his web site is a squishy, perfumed bog of it's-all-good spirituality that does harm to every religion it features. Do you love your God and your faith? Then stay away from this empty, flowery, New Age wisp of nothingness. There might be a few feel-good prayers there, but if you need serious spiritual guidance, go see your pastor or rabbi.

Now, back to this absurd statement that Catholics and Evangelicals agree with 80% of what Mr. Obama says:

Do Catholics and Evangelicals support Mother Earth worship proposals like cutting carbon emissions 80% by 2050, effectively rewinding our economy back to the frontier days?

How about Obama's belief in socialistic government solutions over free market ones to cure every perceived ill?

Do Christians want a nanny state instilling values in their kids, or would they rather do it themselves and tell the bureaucrats to butt out?

Do Catholics oppose school vouchers and school choice, as Mr. Obama does?

Do Evangelicals support President Obama reaching out to anti-semitic wackjobs like Ahmedinejad of Iran?

No! The answer to all of the above is No. I don't know what Steve Waldman's religion is, but I suspect it's feel-good progressivism with some Gaia worship thrown in. Seems he's recently found a new messiah as well.

He sure loves preaching the Democratic Gospel, calling all Christians to abandon their evil conservative ways and join with the gay marriage, pro-abortion, Hollywood values Democratic party. It's a natural fit, right? Nancy Pelosi thinks so.