Yesterday I argued that the wingnuts will find a way to forgive Rudy Giuliani for his lapse on abortion since Rudy is the strongest candidate the GOP has at the moment and the 30 percenters do not like to lose. Pam Spaulding writes about the recent CNN special, "What Would Jesus Really Do?" that features this exchange between CNN's Roland Martin and Jerry Falwell:
MARTIN: Let me deal with presidential politics.
James Dobson, Focus on the Family, made some comments to "U.S. News & World Report" where he was highly critical of former Senator Fred Thompson, saying evangelicals are wary of him, because they don't know whether or not he is really a strong Christian. Yet, he gave great praise to Newt Gingrich, a guy who has been married three times, you know, who admitted to an affair.
It sounded to me a little weird there, that you would criticize a guy, saying, I don't really know where he stands on his faith, but I'm going to praise a guy who has been married three times and cheated on his wife.
FALWELL: Well, I — I researched that, by the way. I was, when I first saw it in the press, taken aback.
Dr. Dobson is a great man of God, and I thought there had to be two sides to it. That was taken out of context. And he did not question the realness of Fred Thompson's faith. I happen to know Fred Thompson. And I have met him. And I do believe he's a man of faith.
And, as far as Newt Gingrich and Rudy Giuliani, both of whom have been through two divorces, we certainly preach for and reach out for the — that which is the ideal. But this is not an ideal world, and we're not going to elect a Sunday school teacher to run the presidency.
(CROSSTALK)
MARTIN: Well, actually, we did. We did at one time, Jimmy Carter.
FALWELL: Well, yes, and he was the worst we have had in 40 years. But…
(LAUGHTER)
Yes I remember this kind, generous spirit coming from the likes of Falwell and Dobson during Monicagate, and all of the charitable, forgiving things they had to say about Bill Clinton and his transgressions. Well okay not.
There is a very serious money train from the taxpayer trough to the pulpit that has been established under the Bush regime in the guise of "faith based initiatives" and other boondoggles that has meant millions in the pockets of preachers who deliver votes. They are no more interested in backing a candidate based on principle than they were in backing Sunday school teacher Jimmy Carter because he is a good Christian. There may be quite a bit of jockeying for power but in the end they will come down on the side of cold, brutal cash and find a way to give a pass to whoever makes them the best deal — and stands the best chance of being in a position to make good on that deal. He can be the biggest father raping sonofabitch on the planet and they will find a way to make him okay with the snake handlers and keep that money train a-runnin', because that's what it's all about.
It really isn't an ideal world, is it?
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first!
It’s OK if You’re A Republican.
But then again, this is the Peter Pan Party we’re talking about here where men can have “youthful indescretions” well into their 40s and no one ever has to take responsibility or be called on for their failings and lapses, either moral or character as long as they have the “R” after their name on the ballot.
What kind of a**hole thinks *Carter* is the worst president in years?
The evangelists may not care about their indescretions, but their voters do.
“What Would Jesus Really Do?”
We already know what he would do.
He overturned the tables of the moneychangers in the Temple saying, “You have turned my father’s house into a den of thieves.”
cathy @ 4
I’m not sure their voters do. They have been lied to for years yet have continued to vote as ordered.
Great post Jane. I have not been around the Lake, much lately with a new job, wife, and family. But it is nice to see you posting so often. Your voice is what really attracted me to FDL originally. Hope you are doing well. Keep up the good work.
He can be the biggest father raping sonofabitch on the planet and they will find a way to make him okay with the snake handlers and keep that money train a-runnin’, because that’s what it’s all about.
Reminds me of the Pharisees at the time of Christ.
Except more corrupt.
There’s not much evidence that Jesus was active in politics- but he didn’t have a chance to build a christian prison and make billions. Things change.
Really, just like Pelosi’s trip to Syria.
If a Republican does it. It is O.K.
If a Democrat does it. Stone ‘em.
Badwater @ 5
Yes, but they can’t hide the truth about multiple divorces and affairs.
Carter was probably the best president in 40 years. What a predictable A**hole Falwell always is.
Jane, you’ve been hitting ‘em out of the park. Thank you for all you do.
The hypocrisies of Falwell and his ilk are at such an advanced state that I think they could be called hyperpocrisies, to coin a term as it were.
I would sooner be blessed by a beggar than praised as a “man of God” or a “man of faith” by the likes of Falwell or Dobson. Unctuous charlatans.
Rudy looks like he’s about to give him the shaft…
Thing that slays me is the hypocrites won’t ever come clean on their BS.
You can literally rub their nose in it and they’ll tell you it doesn’t stink.
Memo to Dems,
Separation of Church and State,
It’s a good thing.
I knew someone was going to use that photo…
tpres2000 @ 14
The terms “Pharisees” and “moneylenders in the temple” both come to mind.
Renee in Ohio @
3
Since that was Falwell being quoted, “asshole” is kinda redundant. :)
Beel @
12
My take on Carter is that he was probably an average president at best, thrust into an untenable situation which the Republicans exploited. But I think he might have been the best *person* to hold the office in many many years.
Renee in Ohio @ 3
one who can’t tell a bush from a whole in the ground.
Eli @ 17
I could get in a LOT of trouble with some of the captions I’m thinking about for that pic. :})
You got it, Jane. There are no Christians among the Christianists.
Renee in Ohio @ 2
Someone who thinks Bush is a great one.
This whole thing started in my lifetime with Billy Graham and his relationship to Republican politicians. Trouble is, there are an awful lot of Democrats who are very evangelical too.
Rudy and Kerik look so, ahem…., gay in that pic. NOTD
Great post, as always.
Perhaps you could run a contest to put a caption on the photo:
1. “OK, Bernie. You f**ked up the NYPD. Now f**k up the Iraqi police.”
Carter has integrity and ethics and a heart the likes of which have not been seen in the WH since.
He was lost in a pit of snakes
What a horrible possible choice. Hillary or Rudy in Nov. 2008.
Carter was a good person stuck in an incredibly bad situation. The bottomline that all the Republics seem to always forget is that we lost fewer servicemen in anger during Carter’s administration than anyone of probably the last dozen or so administrations, if not even further back.
Looks as if the dems and Clusterfuck are about to get involved in several world class pissing contests over who has to come testify- what records can be subpoened- etc. It’s probably gonna bore the hell out of the general public and piss em off- but it’s comin.
Rudy and Kerik have organized crime connections.
Great case of IOKIYAR.
Workin’ up an appropriate Limerick, I yam… :)
Scarecrow @ 23
Seems appropriate to remind people that my son, at about age 15, said, “What’s Christianty got to do with Christ anyhow?” Pretty succinct and fits a lot of situations.
Todays Democratic Party is scared of President Carter. Why? He speaks the truth.
Mrs. K8 @
5
Amen.
Jane –
As I said in an EPU’d remark below, you certainly are firing on all cylinders today!
It is a thing of beauty to behold!
I would say something like “I’m glad you’re on our side,” but then they couldn’t possibly have someone like you on their side and still BE what their side IS.
You need a love of truth and a deep sense of (in)justice to do what you do. Funny thing, the New Testament is all about that, isn’t it?
Of course, the snark which wraps it all up in a neat bow is your very own trademarked styling, all your own.
cathy @ 24
Carter *is* the anti-Bush, after all.
And if you think Bush is Jesus, well, you know what that makes Jimmy…
Good to see you up and running too, Mrs. K8
I’ve seen this “tribal over moral” meme guiding the Republicant vote elsewhere, namely Glenn Greenwald and Digby. Certainly those receiving huge sums of taxpayer money fron “faith based initiatives” will dutifully try to sell the snake-oil of political endorsements from their benefactors. I feel they will have some success, but I cannot see a major fundamentalist voting bloc supporting any current GOP candidate.
Wow, speaking of what is truly a Christian (versus Christianist) message:
Harry Reid is loudly proclaiming the Pope’s Easter message on Iraq — right into Little Boots’ face.
And it looks like Harry isn’t backing down. He hits all the right notes.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyo…..17480/3325
I’ve always gotten a creepy vibe off that Rudi&Berni foto. Makes me wonder about W’s push to get Berni on board.
Probably just me….
Fred Thompson is a great man of faith who likes really enormous boobs. Hey, there’s no law against it! Even in the Bible!
That is a very stylish fisherman’s sweater Kerik has on. I bet Judith Regan slipped that on on chilly mornings at the Ground Zero lovepad.
I should be good and give y’all a taste of Harry’s dish cooked up for Georgie, for those who don’t have time to follow the link and read it all –
Keep in mind that the true believers of the Robertson-Falwell-Dobson type are predisposed to an authoritarian leader. They follow Paul’s view of the life of a believer should be modeled on a “chain of command” society with children quiet, women subservient to men (not speaking up in church), and slaves obeying their masters. Supporting the Constitution is not high on their list of important items unless it supports their position of the moment. Their desire is to have an absolute ruler to tell them what is the correct way to think.
The business and political leaders know that they can count on this blind support for their positions no matter how contradictory. Their twin goals are to keep power and maintain the money flow. All that these leaders have to do is keep spouting the “Christian” words.
They are aided and abetted by the SCLM. The SCLM continually parrot the RNC line or even make up false stories about those that do not toe the “Christian” line. w’s line is by definition the “Christian” line.
There are religious or political or media people who do not give in, but they are generally ignored or viciously attacked. Stay strong FDL and Firepups.
Here’s Falwell talking about specific candidates on a CNN special. He’s a televangelist and a minister with a tax-exempt church. Now, I know that he’s not supposed to endorse a candidate, but this is exceedingly close to the line.
Now, if Falwell were actually restricted to the issues, and not permitted to speak the name of any candidate publicly, would the issues suddenly change because every one of the Republican candidates were hypocritical on Falwell’s espoused point of view on the issues?
Is it just me, or is it creepy to see blatantly insincere folk like Newt go to carny hacks like Dobson for forgiveness? Shouldn’t he be talking ,say, to any one of the wives to whom he was unfaithful, and doing it in private?
The world was turned on its head when the Clintons were pilloried for staying together after an infifelity and everyone else receives a “get out of Jail free” card from these loathsome toads.
Falwell, Dobson and Robertson are truly creeping crawling things upon this earth…
TeddySanFran @
42
Here’s a creepy vibe for ya…
TeddySanFran @ 42
Oh no, not just you.
Bernie’s bald head framed in a turtleneck? How could Georgie resist? Just like James Guckert. The bald head. So very special.
Mrs. K8 @ 49
I think I just threw up a bit in my mouth…
makes you long for the good ol’ days of jim and tammy faye
I voted for Jimmy Carter twice. This man sure has the Palestinian-Israeli problem right.
Mutant Poodle –
And it killed me to type it.
(Hope you saw my belated salute to your writing skills down in EPU territory below. You are amazingly talented — please keep putting it to more good use for the American resistance!)
johnnywheaker @ 51
Back to the days of Raygun and when people like Jim Bakker stole money the old-fashioned way–from scared little old ladies…?
Mrs. K8 @ 41:
Little Boots? I really don’t like that nickname for Dubya.
It’s so unfair to Caligula.
Jimmy Carter:
Brought peace to the Middle East
Most sweeping environmental reforms before or since
Placed human rights into the forefront of our foreign policy
Four budgets with relatively manageable deficits
Sounds good to me.
Mrs K8 @ 49 says:
Please be careful now. Some of us resemble that. Although at least I’ve got a luxurious handlebar (John L. Sullivan style – not Snidely Whiplash) mustache rather than the porn star type Bernie’s wearing. :})
Mrs. K8 @ 53
It’s so much more satisfying to do so in this venue than to, say, take on lousy customer service, although that does have its special pleasures as well…
That sweater would be better looking if the cables were mirrored across the centerline, but nothing will improve those two personalities.
(Knitters can be perfectionists, too. When we aren’t doing algebra with the instructions!)
re: neokneme’s 48:
imo, BushCo has lost any credibility in the “fix FISA” fight. They must simply limp along, violating the NSLetter and other statutes willy-nilly, scoping on American citizens illegally. We will “fix FISA” when they are out of office. Congress — specifically Jay Rockefeller as Chair of SSCI — must take FISA reform off the table.
Oilfieldguy @ 56
Carter’s biggest problem was attempting to force us as a people to live up to our professed ideals, and conduct a foreign policy based on those ideals. Ray-guns came in and made everybody feel good about their hates and prejudices.
Oilfieldguy @ 56
Hi ofg!
Don’t forget: Began a rational US energy policy. Got his re-election short-circuited by James Baker’s October Surprise.
The differences between two Democrats, Carter and Hillary are astounding.
Renee in Ohio @
3
Republican 30%’ers…
The same people who would vote for Hitler if Falwell, Robertson, Dobson et al told them he was a good man of Christian faith.
Carter was, and is, a man of principle. Perhaps the last actual statesman president.
Carter likes Gore.
Oklahoma kiddo @
35
What did Jimmy Carter promise the American people if elected?
Who knew!
OT
S.O.S in MA –
BB&N early ’70’s? The 18 1/2 min gap? Good for you.
Didja happen to have any acquaintance w/ IMP’s, RFC’s or the gestation of TCP/IP?
Oilfieldguy @ 56
Don’t forget one other factor about Jimmy Carter.
The ONLY President in the past 70 YEARS to NOT drop bombs on another country.
EPU’d from last evening: Bluetoe asked
… and HotFlash answered
Norquist’s politics make liberals mope;
They vanquish the USA’s hope.
But one frabjus day
He departed, they say;
He slipped on a wet cake of soap.
And now, something EPU’d from this AM’s interminable topic:
Don Imus makes me so unhappy;
His show is incredibly crappy.
They should send him away,
And force him to play
with a basketball covered with nappy.
EPU’ed from our last topic…
Dick Cohen’s quite pitiful persiflage,
As stilted as writs from the British Raj:
“Do you think we are daft?
When you wrote it, we laffed!
There’s more loose-lipped leakers than Armitage!”
And now — on topic finally — with thanks for your indulgence…
When Rudy embraced Bernie Kerik
Not e’n the most powerful cleric
Could save his election, or
Raise an erection;
To pull it out, they’ll need a derrick.
Dan Whitworth @
55
heh – you funny!
JANE!
Did the little package arrive ok?
Oh.
and S.O.S could ya cook up a few lines about Fenway and a 14-3 home opener win?
I’ve met religious conservatives who had glowing praise for Bush, largely because they believed he would overturn the decades of ’slow genocide’, as they termed the ‘reproductive rights’ movement. I was chagrined to point out that Bush was not very likely to actually break any new ground in this respect, since his family has a strong history of playing both sides of that issue.
The irrationality of the conservative perspective is deeply ingrained, in the face of what they see as an evil and violent social engineering project aimed at women and families, a genocidal attempt to play at demographics and economics, claiming the high moral ground of individual rights and freedoms, all for the sake of corporate pharmaceutical profits, and insane economic social engineering.
However I would argue that this issue is one about which there is a great deal of irrational invective, and name calling. The same kind of media spin, and political prevarication that occurs routinely in support of the NeoCon war agenda, also takes place surrounding this issue.
If its reasonable to examine and dissect media spin, political agenda, and corporate profiteering in the context of the Wingnut/Neo-Con war-crazy pursuits, it should also be possible to examine the reproductive debate for these same influences, without resorting to ‘mouth-breather’ ad hominems. However, like the conservatives, there are many progressives too close to this issue to be rational about it either.
You would think that women having long term medical and reproductive problems from badly vetted pharmaceuticals, and abuse of emergency medical procedures, would raise the ire of women truly committed to ‘women’s rights’, but somehow this is not the case with every champion of ‘reproductive freedom’.
Yes Falwell is an odious hypocrite, and Guiliani a shallow opportunist, but this issue isn’t solved by resorting to Rush Limbaugh tactics and referring to social conservatives as ‘lizard brains’.
montag @ 54
they were keystone cops compared with this crew
somewhere along way the Elmer Gantrys of the world have acquired serious firepower
As far as I’m concerned, the Christian faith should lose 100 percent of its tax-exempt status. there are christians on the left and right who engage in a great deal of political and none of that should be happening. What they do on their own time is their own business, but the whole idea of Falwell and that ASSHOLE Dobson being political power brokers is anathema to the idea of idea of the separation of Church and state.
Furthermore, left-wing preachers, whom I admit, are generally poor as a churchmouse compared to the likes of Dobson and Falwell, should also refrain from political activity when wearing the cloth or standing at the pulpit.
If you want a secular society, which is certainly the only one *I* want to live in, you have to enforce that secularism in politics. I’d cheerfully vote for any candidate who said “I’m an Atheist, what’s it to ya?”
dakine01 @
18
Yeah, and there’s another one I seem to recall: “It is easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to attain the kingdom of heaven.”
dakine01 @ 57
Actually, I think it’s YOU who should be careful, love. The predeliction Our Dear Leader has for male bald heads has been well documented. Just stay out of head-rubbing range, OK?
And I find bald men very attractive, even though I don’t walk up to complete strangers, get them in a head lock, and rub their scalps.
It’s a little unnerving. Like when I heard that Dear Leader liked to listen to Joni Mitchell on his iPod. I felt a profound sense of the Earth dislocating. (Although I’ll bet it’s nothing compared to Joni Mitchell’s reaction.)
The Republicans characterized Carter as a dumb hick farmer from the deep south. How many Republicans were command officers on a nuclear sub?
Good gawd Nate. That about says it all..about us as well as J.Earl.C.
How embarrasing for us.
PLovering @ 67 asks:
IIRC, he promised to NOT lie to the American people. Which he pretty much achieved within the constraints of the office. Unlike the Chimpy in Charge.
Dan Whitworth –
My apologies to Caligula!
You know, we really are getting in a linguistic bind.
I find myself having to apologize to: pigs, weasels, snakes, harridans, sandpaper, scumbags, slime, skunks, etc. etc.
What to do?
Just came in and read Jane’s piece on Cohen, zing, zang, zung. Cohen is a columnist who is not going to fade away. It will be more like a slow dissolve. It just keeps me wondering how these guys ever got these jobs. Or is it that the corporate media want their people that vacuous? Offend no one, say nothing.
Eureka Springs @ 80
I’m not sure how many were on the C130 that went down in the Iranian desert during the hostage rescue attempt, but I believe those were all the troops that died in “anger” during his term. I know it was fewer than died in The Mayueguez (sp?) “rescue” attempt.
Blank Kludge @ 68
TYVM. Lotsa fun there.
Saw ‘em born, used ‘em all, kibitzed from the periph, gave “human factors” aka “usability” perspective. Encouraged email’s invent@r to persist though his boss hated it; had the world’s ~12th email addy, “SOS”@BBN (that was before .COM, .ORG, and suchlike). Good times. “Cambridge’s 3rd University,” we liked to say. Except you didn’t HAVE to teach :)
For the last quarter of a century the social conservatives you refer to, in their attempt to weild unfettered power, have financed and constructed the mighty rightwing wurlitzer, (Faux News, Limpbaugh, Hannity, Coulter, Savage et al) to couch everything in terms of simplistic cultural warfare. They cater to low information voters. These are the lizard brains. They are not social conservatives.
Gore comes closest to Carter when I envision honesty, brains and compassion.
OK, since we’re having our bible lesson of the day, let’s go to Matthew Chapter 6:
2 ‘So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.
3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4 so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
5 ‘And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.
6 But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
…and this, just for the less-than-impoverished American Taliban:
20 but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Thus endeth the lesson.
Mrs K8,
Fortunately, I have absolutely no desire to get anywhere in spitting distance of der Chimpy, much less close enough for him to touch me. :})
Hugh @ 82
I’m currently re-reading a 30-some year-old copy of “All the President’s Men.” (Original edition.)
In the intro & acknowledgements section in the very front there is a little “thank you” to RICHARD COHEN.
It made me gag. Interesting how times change, eh?
I love it if they run Rudy. But Rudy v. Hillary?
Fionnbarr @ 74
Would you prefer iguana brains? And so what precisely do you propose as a solution? A plague on both your houses doesn’t count. Nor do I accept the equation between one side that is willing to listen to reason and another that is not.
CNN spending a lot of time on the IMUS issue, but hasn’t mentioned their own Glen Beck. They’re more comfortable linking this to rappers.
Eureka Springs @
80
Hi Eureka…
Yeah, I read that stat about a year ago and it put many things in perspective for me. I used to jump on the bandwagon of Carter bashing in the late 80’s early 90’s while in the military. Then I followed his deeds throughout the 90’s and 00’s and had to acknowledge his massive achievements as an ex-president. Then I read that stat, researched it myself to make sure it was in fact the case and I had to re-think my entire (and mostly incorrect) impression of his actual presidency.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 91
I was officially living in CT and working in Manhattan for most of Y2K. I lived in a furnished studio two blocks south of the South Tower during the week. Rudy used his prostate cancer as an excuse to drop out of the senate race against Hillary as she was going to mop the floor with him.
Lee Smith wrote an impressive novel about a snake-handling preacher. Can’t think of the name off the top of my head, but I highly recommend. Shortly after GWB was elected for the first time in 2004 I went back and read Elmer Gantry. It was every thus with these guys.
Mrs. K8 @ 90
Wow. Was it that it was never that way or is it that they just became too comfortable and too lazy? Or is this what your brain looks like on Kool Aid.
Scarecrow @ 92
There was a protest outside on the sidewalk in front of (MS)NBC the other day, directed at Imus.
A protest outside on the sidewalk in front of CNN HQ, with signs about “Fire the Racist Glenn Beck” would be a good thing, no?
Mutant Poodle @ 88
I think we ought to ditch the OT, NT & Koran, and stick with the Golden Rule. Oh, add Book of Mormon to the ditched list.
Nate @ 94:
I was in USAF from 12/76 – 9/82. I just googled it and there were 8 servicemen killed when the helicopter crashed during a rescue attempt. Those were the only servicemen killed in anger during the Carter admin.
eCAHNomics @ 99
If we have to expand anythingl, add the Beatitudes. Fully compatible with the Golden Rule.
Mrs. K8 @ 98
Yep. Wonder if CNN is telling Beck to watch his mouth for a few weeks to avoid putting them under the same “pressure” as CBS/MSNBC.
Hugh @ 96
Those are very, very good questions.
Considering all the rumors about Watergate being an intelligence operation takedown of Nixon, utilizing the neophyte reporter Woodward (who had been a Naval Intelligence officer who actually reported to the Nixon White House previously), it really really makes you wonder.
Beth @ 96
Saving Grace?
Nate, Funny, but you remind me of 1979 (I was 14 yrs old) and my grandmother switched from a lifetime D to voting for Ronnie… I begged her not to. She sure regrets that vote now…never voted thuglikin’ again, after No MoRon.
dakine01 @ 101
’s OK with me.
Off to do swimming therapy now before I lose the daylight and get too chilly.
See you all later, my dear Firepups!
Remember: Aux armes, citoyens! Formez vos bataillons!
Mrs K8 and Hugh,
Having lived through Watergate, one of my memories is that the then punditocracy in Washington was behaving quite similar as those today. Watergate was a “third rate burglary” and how dare anyone question the trickster’s propriety and truthyness. Woodward and Bernstein were not national reporters at the time, but on the local/metro beat which allowed them to bypass all the National political reporters who continually denigrated the effort.
Oilfieldguy @ 56
And they hate Clinton even more for being the only president since WWII bomb white people – Serbs. That’s if you look at it from the Christofascist point of view that Arabs aren’t white.
Mutant Poodle @ 88
You could start a religion with that kind of thinking. Of course, they’d probably kill you for it. And then, a few centuries later, someone would have to do it all over again.
S.O.S. from MA @ 85
Wow! Spoken in the most complimentary way possibe. Honored to be using part of your contribution as we type and ‘refresh comments’.
Gregory subbing on Hardball is spending the whole time so far on Imus…a ten minute topic at best.
re Cohen: Has he changed, or was he always this way? I remember reading him years ago and mostly agreeing with him – would have called him liberal then.
See the post earlier today, 2 threads back? w/ the former journalist’s suggestion of sending DC insiders out of town every few mos. to get them out of the mindset. I think maybe he’s just too comfy being one of the in-crowd for too many years.
re: lizard brain = the amygdala. (honest-it came upon in response to a search for lizard brain).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L…..References
“lizard brain” isn’t just a mindless insult – it’s actually based on [some] science!
New PW upstairs.
Here are some videos of some bizarre and colorful religious right activists who spoke against marriage equality at a Connecticut public hearing.
dakine01 @
100
8 service members killed in none other than a RESCUE mission on Carter’s watch. Phenomenal!
Are you in HI dakine? If so, what part? I moved from Oahu to CA last Oct to join up with BlueAmerica’s own Charlie Brown campaign for the CA-04th. I sure do miss it sometimes.
Morris Sheppard @ 109
Nah…it’d never stick.
Nate @
116
I was stationed at Hickam from 9/78 – 9/82, lived in barracks, Salt Lake then Aiea. Currently in San Anonio, TX.
Guest on NewsHour–student loan scandal goes into U.S. Dept of Ed., which is why there is no federal investigation, only NYS AG.
Oh boyoboyoboy.
Another can of worms.
David Gregory is ticked off and not concealing his contempt for Al Sharpton……such unplesantness I turned if off and cranked up Ricki Lee’s It Hurts – from her Sermon on Expo Blvd. Where is Matthews these days – oh never mind – if it weren’t for Keith I’d never watch MSNBC.
PJ Evans @ 59: “(Knitters can be perfectionists, too. When we aren’t doing algebra with the instructions!)”
Thanks for the chuckle. I was never all that great in algebra, so I have a real love/hate relationship with knitting pattern writers.
Every time I see that picture, I’m jealous that Kerik has that nice piece of Aran work, and I childishly hope that it’s really machine knit.
If churches want to be involved in politics then they should be taxed. Even issue ads like Catholic ads against abortion should be taxed. After all Catholics are free to spread their religon and I think they should be free to convert the heathens, but they should have to pay taxes. Why because political contributions should not be tax free. We should recognise that any group even if they do charity work, that also works to change peoples beliefs is a political group. The supposed wall between the church’s normal work and their political work is imaginary. After all why are right wing Catholics always if not offically sanctioned never stopped by the church the current Catholic League, Fr Coughlin are good examples of this. Liberation theology on the other hand was declared by the last pope to be uncatholic? Organized religon of a certain size goes from being the prosectuted protecter of the poor to supporters of the right wing oppressers in a sense they are political parties and should be taxed!
I get goose pimples when I think of America’s Mayor springing into action on 9/11.
Everythingseemssoneat @ 123
And the shadow behimd him was Kerik. Who was running the police dept.
道 可 道, 非 常 道。
名 可 名, 非 常 名 。
dao ke dao, fei chang dao.
ming ke ming, fei chang ming．
Literally in English:
Dao can be dao, not eternal dao.
Name can be name, not eternal name.
In actual English:
The Dao that can be understood as Dao, is not the true, eternal Dao.
The name that can be named, is not the true eternal name.
(first verse of the Dao De Jing)
End of lesson.
“okay, since we’re having our bible lesson of the day, …”
In preparing the message for my once-a-month turn leading a service at my Methodist church, I was checking out the lectionary for 4/15/07..check this one out!
ACTS 5: “We must obey God rather than any human authority.”
And the people said “Amen”.
Mrs. K8 @ 107
Tnx Mrs. K8. I always think of that great bar scene in “Casablanca” when I hear or read the Marsellaise. Sniff.
But very appropriate in these parlous times.
“There may be quite a bit of jockeying for power but in the end they will come down on the side of cold, brutal cash and find a way to give a pass to whoever makes them the best deal — and stands the best chance of being in a position to make good on that deal. “
Hypocrites and parasites – Swaggert, Falwell, Robertson, Dobson, et sickening cetera. This has nothing to do with Christ, and never will. These narcissistic frauds wrap themselves in the flag, and in the Bible, but mostly in Caesar’s filthy lucre.
Great post, Jane.
What would Jim and Tammy Faye do?
things come undone @ 122
I agree. Tax the megachurches, tax any Church whose leader steps foot in a politcal arena, including the White House, tax any Church that prints up any thing that has a political view or wants to change a law. They are selling books, jewelry, vitamins, DVD’s, health foods, lotions, etc… No more free rides. It seems more and more like over half the businesses now a days name themselves non profit businesses. Tax all churches that are not small home town churches.
I always seem to end up in EPU, but I was breaking bread with my friends who just celebrated Easter and observed lent, so there was much catching up to do (and much wine to share). The rest of the world view Jimmy Carter as a true representation of the kind of leader your founding fathers envisioned for America. That is, we saw in him, a mirror reflection of your Constitution, something which we had not seen for 30 years and which has not been seen since.
Had he served 2 terms, and his protege served 2 terms after him, America and the world would have been a much better place. And there would be more democratic governments as well … because “the best” lead by example.
Men [of god]with Wet Dreams waiting for the nuking of Iran
huff puff transfat flowing into brain, ‘Why I believe huff puff Why I believe he is huff puff a man huff puff of god a huff puff devout man’
as Nelson would say on the Simpsons: HA-HA
rwcole @ 9
I think Jesus was probably one of the most political people that ever lived. He reacted to the powerful in such original and non-violent ways as to totally freighten the powerful that they would loose their power. When people followed Christ instead of the powerful, the powerful were as freightended at the GOP is today. When the truth becomes known, the liars and criminals have much to fear; i.e. the GOP Congress and the Executive Branch are on the run. Oh, the power of a non-violent subpeona!
I just started reading the “God Delusion” book and I was pleasantly surprised to read what Barry Goldwater said about the right wing zealots of his era who browbeat him constantly to vote according to their wishes. Good old Barry promised to fight them off, those who judged his character and tried to influence his vote on nearly every bill. I wonder how many current members of Congress have the guts that Barry did. Dobson, Falwell, Robertson et al are not the conscience of this country. Their claims that this country was founded as a Christian country should read some of the comments on religion that our founding fathers spoke or wrote for the public. They wouldn’t crow so loudly if they learned the truth.
How can you all forget the other distinguishing things about Carter:
1. Prettiest First Lady ever (Jackie maybe more glamorous, but Rosalind could melt a cold heart with a smile — still can.)
2. Coolest First Mom, ever (she joined the Peace Corps and went to India — compare that to Ms. Beautiful Mind Bush)
3. Coolest grandson (went to Africa in the Peace Corps, became fluent in the local language)
4. Coolest daughter (come on, she was working with Abbie Hoffman before he died!)(compare her with the Bush girls.)
5. Toughest former boss — Hyman Rickover, the biggest and most bullying martinet ever.
As a true man of faith, Jimmy would naturally be excoriated by a fat, pompous hypocrite like Falwell. What would Jesus do to these usurpers of His name? Probably send in the Special Ops Archangels Squad to win them back to the Faith through grim persuasion and some actual hell raising. But I digress.
Sorry for the long post. So much to say, so little time . . .;-)
Oklahoma kiddo @ 35
Because AIPAC came down on him like a ton of bricks for having the temerity to publicly suggest that the Palestinians have a right to live in peace. If you want to know which way the wind blows in the Democratic party, check AIPAC’s position.
I was a volunteer working phones at one of the DP offices in L.A. for the ‘04 election. A young black woman called and asked me if she would go to hell if she voted for Kerry. I asked her why she would think so and she responded that her minister told her that Kerry was not a “christian” and, therefore, voting for him would condemn her to hell.
I wonder if he got a slice of that faith-based pie? A man has a right to protect his income source, doesn’t he?
While saying such things used to be sufficient to take away a tax-free status, it is now protected by allowance for a several such “mistakes”.
And that was a small, evangelical church. Why should local and small make any such religious group free of taxes?
With the insertion of Falwell U. grads into the DOJ and CIA and preferential treatment and advancement at the Air Force Academy for evangelicals of far right bent, I agree that we need to reverse the blending of religion and government.
Falwell and Dobson and the rest of the Church of the Delusional Thirty Percent Who Still love some Bush are examples alleged Christians who are just way too handy with the proverbial first stone in some cases and then conveniently willing to dole out the forgiveness when it is most politically expedient.
It’s good to know that if there really does turn out to be a hell, most of the people who were so happy to tell me i was going there will likely end up roasting right beside me
What happens to you when you think of “America’s Mayor” fleeing from the site of the soon to collapse Office of Emergency Mgmt he had built in the target of WTC against all professional advice, Kerik chasing behind the headless chicken for a Command & Control center, waiting for Rudy to declare to him that as he “watched the bodies fall…I turned to Bernie Kerik and said “Thank God George Bush is President.” Shameless lies on lies. See ‘”Giuliani Time” dvd. Read “Grand Illusion” by Barrett & Collins. Get ready for The Party of Order leader to show that “It Can Happen Here”!