Maybe it’s the time, maybe it’s the way you wrote it, but I can’t help laughing. What a wonderful way to “know your neighbors” — I can’t think of a better way to telegraph views than a burning cross in the yard.

One question, though. If the donation of $81.00 is “suggested” why can’t the amount be changed?

Apologies, if I’m being too insentive to people who may feel hurt or see it as a painful reminder of the present.

Good morning, pups. Roger Cohen and Paul Krugman are off today, so the Times gives us Wee Billy Kristol to shine alone. Today he gives us “George W. Hoover?” He says if Republicans don’t come to grips with what’s happened over the last eight years, and can’t develop an economic agenda moving forward — then they could be back, politically, in 1933. Works for me — let’s tie the anvil of Herbert Hoover around their necks again.

http://mgpaquin.wordpress.com/

The coffee, tea and hot chocolate are ready, and the biscuits are out of the oven. It’s chilly here this morning, at 36° we have the about the same temperature as Brattleboro, VT. Brrrrrr… Have a good day.

This fake burning cross would have been a big hit in the all-white town in which I grew up: Show one’s racism without mess, fire hazard, or bother!

As a Jew, however, I’m totally creeped out by this…

As an Episcopalian I’m also creeped out.

I see what you mean, Attaturk, and it makes you wonder how many white supremacists will have one on their front lawn now under the cover of “We’re very religious”?

I just brought this to Mr. Marion in Savannah’s attention, and his response was “Does it come with the hood?” which I think pretty much sums up any rational person’s response to it.

Well to me it is a symbol of hatred and bigotry on fire or not.

Since the cross is not a symbol of Christmas, what are they going to offer for Easter? Rabbit on a skewer might be one suggestion. Sensible folks might want to donate the money to a homeless center instead. I’m sure that there is a homeless family living in a manger somewhere that could use it.

CULTS-Я-U.S.

You give that husband of yours a great big smooch for the best quote of the day!

The right wing religious zealots in this country are very sneaky when trying to mask their inner racism.

Pat Buchanan is talking about “economic patriotism” this morning! Does this mean Pat is in agreement with Joe Biden that the wealthy and others paying their taxes truly is patriotic? Bah hahahahahahaha! *pointing microphone at Pat’s lips* Well, Pat?

With any luck, these items will have been manufactured overseas with very shoddy materials. It would only be appropriate if they did actually catch fire…

Given that pretty much all of what passes for modern conservative thought is some variant of “Hmmm, what will piss off those Lefties?”, it’s entirely possible that they did think it through.

And KayInMaine’s right. With this crowd, a racist object that they can pretend is a religious object is a piece of marketing genius.

Oh yes, the wingnuts are very good at masking their true intentions with pretty bright objects. ;-)

Non-Christian wants to know: original Christmas cross: was there one, I mean was Christ’s death in the stars at his birth? Or has wingnut commerce rewritten the Gospels here?

Citizen wants to know? Are there municipal or other ordinances forbidding the display of burning crosses? Now that I think of it, there is a lit cross 14 or so stories high in the BlueState, and we are the Blueish of states. So in the BlueBayState, neon crosses allowed. Fire ones, not so sure. And in yours?

Never ceased to amaze me what are wingy nutty “zealots for bad causes” (words from the Confession prayer on Yom Kippur) can come up with with which to fleece the faithful.

Their other marketing tool is Sarah Palin. She can be a racist, a bigot, and a complete slimeball, because the republic party knows the only thing the neck drooling knuckle draggers of the party will be looking at is her face and boobs, and won’t be noticing much!

See? Pretty bright objects used to mask their evilness.

In addition to the hood, does it come with Army recruiting material?

Wow…. Just…wow….

On a more positive note, on Imus they’re lauding the Obama “60 Minutes” interview. This was gonna be my quote of the day offer:

“He engenders hope, not despair.” Charles McCord, the Imus Show.

But “does it come with a hood” sure is an appropriate response to the AFAholes.

Good Morning all,
And if you pay now with your credit card we will send you absolutely free …………… just pay for shipping and handling.

He says if Republicans don’t come to grips with what’s happened over the last eight years, and can’t develop an economic agenda moving forward — then they could be back, politically, in 1933.

What happened, he found that manuscript he mislaid 2 years ago balled up in a corner of a drawer 2 years ago and decided, what the hey, why waste the words?

As to the subject, I haven’t heard of anything so delightful since the SLC Olympics, when all those adorable little elves skated out in their pointy hats … IIRC, Jon Stewart also made the connection on that one in his next show.

…along with the new revised Evangelical bible complete with 3 new chapters, specially written by Rev. Hagee!

I was just heading there from your 15. *g*

So, is Tony Perkins the cleaned-up face of David Duke? Or, come to think, has anyone seen them both in the same room at the same time?

~Prairie, Lutheran

If it’s a plug-in vice battery you can count on it. I can hear the calls to 911 now.

911, what’s your emergency?
(screaming) The cross in my front yard is on fire.
…
…

The “original christmas cross” decoration. A genuine original copy of the true Rolodex Breitling cross, with identical lighting and hardware. (Nails and spikes not included.) Available wherever indulgences, and slivers of the true cross and the bones of your favorite saints are sold.

And I thought Roman Catholics were ahistorical. Is this ignorance, marketing reductionism, or desperate code to unite the few, “victimized” faithful in opposition to uppity boys? Or is it resending the original message of the cross, the one meant by the Romans? Whatever.

These Christians, what a sense of humor. Man, they’re killing me.

Stratocruiser, Buddhist.

Thanks Attaturk, for all you do

T-Bear, None of the above.

Yep, they just seem to be concentrating on the killing part lately.

JW, leaving PCUSA for UCC.

Available at extracharge a manger complete with white robed and hooded figures.

lol..Excellent way to start my morning. I wonder if all the McCain/Palin signs that popped up in my neighborhood will be replaced with this cross.

Lets all call American Family Association today. Flood. Them. With. Calls. Ask them to explain how the cross, a near image of a burning cross, is the “reason for the season?”

Mention a cross that appears to be burning is a reflection of the most hideous actions of hate. Suggest they perhaps could at least have covered the cross with multicolored lights, avoiding an image of a burning cross.

Nice peace on Earth messaging there AFA.

It’s hard not to go there. ;-)

Many interesting reports and links today, see health too

http://news.bbc.co.uk/

Oooooo, you just gave me an idea! How about when our racist neighbors put one of these ‘burning’ crosses on their front lawns, we call 911 to alert the authorities of the fire?

We could have these burning crosses outlawed in no time. LOL

I’ve always been astounded that the far right was able to make Christmas so divisive. Between The war on Christmas and ‘Happy Holidays’ vs ‘Merry Christmas’ they managed to ruin what was once such a uniting, feel-good holiday. I guess we’re in for another round.

Contact the American anti-Family Association here:

http://faq.afa.net/index.php?o…..;Itemid=70

They’ll feel so special getting all those phone calls!

And do not forget to remind AFA that the National election was a mandate against hate.

Nice peace on Earth messaging there AFA.

Last I checked, the “peace on earth” part was one of the first messages fundies dropped from the agenda. :-(

Do you remember the scene from Boston Legal where Alan uses the phrase ‘Peace on Earth’? Brad looks at him and says (paraphrased) “Just what I thought, you’re a liberal”. So sad, what the neocons have done to us.

Wait til Billo starts his anti-Xmas schtick.

(((katymine)))

I’m not one for lawn decorations, but when those McCain signs popped up on my neighbors’ lawns, well, I had to counter them with Obama signs (which, were very hard to come by). If I see any burning crosses I’m buying an emblazoned “Peace on Earth, Good Will Towards Men”. It’ll stretch from one end of my lawn to the other. It will be gaudy as all get-out. But, hey, if it will piss off my neighbors, it’ll be worth it. True Christmas spirit.

Neighbors put up a burning cross from Xmas, retaliate with this.

I’ll tell my husband to get right on it.

Swim’s up.

Leaving aside the Klan connotation, what is the mindset of people who revel in displaying an instrument of torture and execution, and to top it off, complete with victim?

remind me.. which wingnut is the AFA connected with/led by?