I urge you to watch the video linked below. Civics sounds boring - but it is not:
The Largest Minority » Real Time: Richard Dreyfuss’ Civics Lesson Part 1
Referring to the fact that politics and news have been hijacked as mere sources of entertainment, he says “we confuse the melodrama of incivility with how public issues are discussed”.
Hmm. The Republicans will really need to adress the hijacking of the party by religious conservatives (values voters - or the new term they are using ‘integrity voters”) if they want to play in the big leagues again anytime soon.
American Prospect Online - The Right’s Denial
A liberal backs abortion rights and gun regulations; a conservative wants to ban abortions and legalize all guns. By that measure, what has defined conservatism in the popular mind over the past couple of years has been its willingness to enlist government to block stem cell research, stop the teaching of evolution, and supersede the duties of Terri Schiavo’s husband.
This may be a conservatism that makes libertarians cringe, but it is the conservatism that dominates the Republican Party we have. Republicans generally and conservatives particularly have profited mightily from the rise and politicization of fundamentalism over the past few decades. The decimation of Republican moderates from the Northeast and Midwest in last week’s elections came at the hands of centrist and independent voters who’d had it with the Southernized religious conservatism of the Republicans’ base — and with its moderate Republican enablers.
Think Again: So Who’s “The Decider?”
For once in my life I’m going to have to say that it was President Bush who had things right. When asked by a Washington Post reporter on Air Force One about various screw-ups in Iraq, Bush responded, “We had an accountability moment, and that’s called the 2004 election.”Well, we just had another one, buster…and it wasn’t about Donald Rumsfeld.
Well there -are- sane people who are conservative. I’ve seen him a couple times on TV and obviously have misjudged his politics. I could totally vote for this brand of Republican.
Michael Smerconish: A Suburban GOP Manifesto | The Huffington Post
So, when the GOP leadership is decidedly pro-life, against Plan B dissemination and for federal intervention a la Schiavo, or opposes gay rights on the grounds that it has an effect on heterosexual marriage, we are turning off 50 percent of the suburban base.
And therein lies the future for the GOP. It’s time for moderation on social issues in order to advance a suburban agenda for the GOP. There seem to be many of us who want a party ready to kill bin Laden, willing to profile at airports, desirous of closing the borders, looking for an Iraq endgame, tolerant of homosexuals, willing to entertain multiple views on abortion and stem cells.
In short, a party that’s tough on the bad guys and not too preachy, and no longer willing to allow fringe elements to take over their platform. We’re not monolithic and should not be treated as such.
Avoiding anything to do with Ann Coulter or her books for ever so long, still it was impossible not to read this review of her book, Godless.
This is a good point. I think I agree:
One major line of attack she uses against Liberals is their fear of expressing their personal religious beliefs. That is her strongest point, in my view, because she is right. I think that deep down, Liberals do not want to (1) appear ‘holier than thou’ as so many Conservatives seem to relish and (2) they genuinely do not want to offend the religious beliefs of others. Recent attempts by Liberals to ‘look’ religious have been much clumsier than what the Conservatives have been able to do. Many years ago, the Conservatives cornered the market on strutting tough while acting religious. You have got to give them their due, they play good in Church.
Then Mustard makes another very good point:
It is fortunate that I do not know too many liberals; they are a powerful and controlling group of ideologues who control every aspect of our government and our lives. It is so insidiously clever that these liberals can control so much of our lives without the need for holding governmental office. There must be some kind of mind control at play here.
Tony Perkins on Election 2006 on National Review Online
How could social conservatives lose the House for Republicans if social conservatives won the House for Democrats?
Well Tony, you answered your own question. Social Conservatives didn’t bring the Democrats to power. It really isn’t all about you and your “agenda” after all.
Repackaging your “values voters” into “integrity voters” may be your new marketing approach (who doesn’t want to believe they have an abundance of integrity), but really Tony, does calling Nancy Pelosi names really show integrity on your part? Does flying the false flag of elected officials of any party wanting to deprive Christians of religious freedom really pass the integrity test?
Integrity as Self-Integration:
Imagine a person who sells used-cars for a living and is wholeheartedly dedicated to selling cars for as much money as possible. Such a person will be prepared to blatantly lie in order to set up a deal. The person may well be perfectly integrated in Frankfurt’s sense, but we should feel no temptation at all to describe them as having exemplary integrity.
More on integrity here. Interesting read. Anyone? Anyone?
Democrats Win Bigger Share of Religious Vote - washingtonpost.com
Even before the election, former House majority leader Richard K. Armey (R-Tex.) called Dobson a “bully” who diverted the GOP from its core mission as the party of small government. On Wednesday, Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) said the GOP needs to become “a lot more progressive and a lot less ideological.”Despite the GOP’s losses, conservative religious leaders gave no indication they plan to engage in the kind of introspection and repositioning that religious liberals did two years ago. And despite their anger at congressional Republicans, they did not suggest that they were about to abandon the GOP.
It’s Iraq. People seem to think they can handle their own morality issues. Think about it.
NEWSWEEK Poll: Bush Hits New Low - Newsweek Politics - MSNBC.com
Presented with a list of factors that may have contributed to the Democrats’ success, 85 percent of Americans said the “major reason” was disapproval of the administration’s handling of the war in Iraq, 71 percent said disapproval of Bush’s overall job performance, 67 percent cited dissatisfaction with how Republicans have handled government spending and the deficit, 63 percent said disapproval of the overall performance of Republicans in Congress, 61 percent said Democrats’ ideas and proposals for changing course in Iraq. Tellingly, just 27 percent said a major reason the Democrats won was because they had better candidates.
The GOP and the Democrats are both being given an opportunity to cooperate and get something done.
Iraq. Iraq. Iraq.
A friend of a friend just lost a nephew in the war. The meaningless, senseless, irrational war in Iraq. What a waste. What a fricken shame.
National Debunker: GOP Can’t Get Any War Right: Losing The Culture War
Pluralism won out over the “battle of civilizations” this time around. Democrats won because the nation turned away from conservative ideas of cultural supremacy and turned toward progressive ideas of pluralism. The war on Latinos and Asians (the anti-immigration message), the war on non-Christians (which they called the war on Christmas), the war Muslims (which they call the war on terror), the war on the GLBT community, the war on poor African-Americans in New Orleans–this all failed for the conservative Republican base. Their general war on pluralism did not produce any sustainable backlash for them, but instead turned key, growing demographics towards Democrats. That not only played a key role in how Democrats won the 2006 elections, but in giving us momentum for many elections to come. If conservatives persist on running on a message that denounces the key demographic changes in this country, they can expect to quickly become reduced to a near-permanent minority in our national politics….
I have been waiting for someone to bring this up:
Republican County Chair Blasts “Christian Fascists” - Liberal Values - Defending Liberty and Enlightened Thought
I’m not surprised that the GOP thumpin’ this week is leading some Republicans to question their association with the religions right. You cannot simultaneously claim to be the party of small government and individual liberty while promoting the use of government to intervene in intimate details of individual’s lives.
Tony “homosexual agenda” Perkins rants wildly today - this is not a nice man. Could it be possible Tony is miffed that he and his agenda lost some steam this week.
Tony Attacks:
In the days following the election, Secretary Donald Rumsfeld’s resignation has all but eclipsed the mainstream political analysis. Perhaps the media, like our new Democratic powerhouse, prefer it that way.
He Threatens:
After all, when pundits delve deeper they are likely to find evidence of two things: that the electorate is still driven by values and that those who hope to retain their jobs are beholden to act on them.
He Accuses:
This will certainly serve as an unpleasant reminder for Democrats who successfully peddled principle, but have no proven record of legislating on its behalf.
The GOP has virtue and God help us if we are “progressive” rather than regressive. Is it possible this guy can think about the war or the GOP corruption or the incompetence for a couple days at least. Does he really think moderate Republicans were voted out because they are moderate? Tony needs to read some exit polling. It was and is about Iraq silly boy.
On the GOP side, many whose virtue withstood Tuesday’s test are speaking forthrightly about returning the party to its core beliefs. The defeat of a number of the GOP’s veteran moderates and moderate names - including Nancy Johnson (CT), Jim Leach (IA) and Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ) - takes the steam out of arguments by liberal GOP interest groups that the party needs to become “progressive.” Their way proved to be the highway.
All of this so he can push for Bolten to be nominated and confirmed. And for maybe the first time in writing (that I have read) we find the potential true agenda for Iraq - international reform. Is this what the religious lobbyists are talking to the Administration about weekly?
…America also needs a steady hand abroad. As Ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton has upheld our values in an increasingly hostile environment. As our global envoy for international reform, freedom, life, and democracy, he has improved our credibility and visibility on the issues we hold dear. Since 2005, his bold approach has been criticized by liberals, who would rather seek global approval than reform. His nomination is now up for Senate renewal. We urge Congress to end the vacillation and give Bolton the affirmation he has earned.
The best advise the GOP can use is to run the hell away from Tony, Ted, Pat and their ‘ilk’s” pressure tactics. Two thirds of the country would like these holy rolling wingers out of our lives. Think small government - please.
Boy, it sure wasn’t expected that Tony Perkins would claim that “integrity voters” (didn’t they used to be “values voters - Monday?) swung the election for the Democrats. Looks like someone is trying to take credit for the Democrats big win.
Tony, wake up and smell the coffee, the election was not about your voters - whatever you are calling yourselves today. It was about Iraq. It was about power abused. It was about the GOP trying to stuff “Christian Values” down everyone’s throats. Realize that you and your “values voters” are part of the GOP problem.
From our inbox:
Tony Perkins
America Cleans House
But at a closer glance, this “new direction” isn’t new at all. Democrats won mainly because they seized on a platform largely forsaken by the GOP–social values. When “integrity voters” saw that Republicans had abandoned their principles, they ultimately abandoned the GOP.
By the end of The Washington Update from the FRC and Tony - it is obvious that Tony is threatening and again claiming credit for Democratic gains:
As Pelosi prepares to lead the House, it will be painfully obvious that the values of her hometown, San Francisco are not the values of Middle America. Make no mistake. The battle in which we are set to engage will be the biggest one we have faced for our core beliefs. The assault against abstinence, marriage, life, good judges, and cloning may be the fiercest yet. As speaker, Rep. Pelosi and the old guard of extremists will pounce on the opportunities that their new committee chairmanships will afford them. Although pro-family Democrats may have tipped the election, watch for them to be marginalized in positions where they have little influence. We must work to peel off this new Congress from their radical leadership and hold them accountable to the standards that elected them. [Emphasis Mine]
Nothing from Tony in our inbox regarding Ted Haggard speeding during a homosexual massage. Hmmm. If a court had acted to give homosexuals equal rights we would have expected an imediate Washington Update from the FRC. Strangly, Tony “homosexual agenda” Perkins has been (at least in our inbox) silent so far on the news of Ted, nothing on the front page (breaking news) of the FRC site, but he does want you to vote your Christian responsibility.
Where in the Bible exactly does it say it is the responsibility of Christians to vote? Not that they shouldn’t, I just want to know when it was written (and by whom) that it was a requirement.
Family Research Council: Saturday, November 4, 2006
Get Out The Vote!
On the ballot this year in many states are issues dealing with marriage, abortion, cloning and gambling. In states with these amendments — in fact in all states — it is important that your voice is heard. Every single vote counts. As an American it is your right; as a Christian it is your responsibility.
Doing a search at FRC we find the press release. They eat their own.
It’s not just throw the bums out - throw all the religious hypocrits out with them - as in none of these religious ministers should be believed or have sway over who we elect, what we believe or how we should live.
We are sure Tony “homosexual agenda” Perkins already has sent us an email…we are off to our inbox to see how he spins this story.
Andrew Sullivan | The Daily Dish
Heres what you are being asked to believe: Haggard never had sex and never used crystal meth. Bush never ordered torture. The insurgency is in its last throes. Michael Brown did a “heckuva job.” And Rummy is doing a “fantastic job.”These people cannot self-correct. Theyll lie and lie and lie to protect their psychic order. So they have to be corrected.
The election intervention is next Tuesday. Do them a favor, will you? More
Best Blog Comment and Post Today
November 22, 2006 · Filed under Best Blog Comments, Salvation Show
After reading a really serious (and very interesting) article about homosexuality, by a man who obviously knows a thing or two about his bible, I read through the discussion thread which is fascinating and illuminating. The comment below cracked me up. Funny? Yea. Although if you actually think about it…
I didn’t find this on my own. Andrew Sullivan linked to the article on his blog. Andrew Sullivan by the way is fast becomming one of my favorite writers and thinkers.
Raised as a farm child in the midwest, these biblical laws were part of my childhood. As a kid I thought it weird, even though we lived it. As an adult I have the same feeling, though my days of believing this stuff is way over.
Anyway, it is a really good article
and the comment section is long and engaging. Go ahead click that link below.
USATODAY.com - OPINION
Comments (2) »