Religious right relishes chance to push agenda

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uselections2004/story/0,13918,1343992,00.html

Abortion and gay marriage to be targeted as moral crusaders demand election payback

A mood of elation permeated the ranks of evangelical Christians in the United States yesterday as it became clear that the election marked a watershed moment for their chances of implementing a conservative moral agenda - above all on the issues of abortion and gay marriage.

Buoyed by exit-poll results suggesting that moral issues had weighed on voters' minds even more than terrorism, activists vowed to use their victory to push the second Bush administration to ban same-sex unions at a federal level and to move the supreme court to the right. "I think it's quite possible this could be a turning point," said Peter Sprigg of the Family Research Group lobbying organisation.

"We're seeing from the exit polls that conservative Christian voters turned out in record numbers ... so we certainly will be pressing for action on key items of our agenda, and we will not be shy about claiming that our influence was significant in the outcome of the election."

take me now!

You ARE a True Believer, aren't you?

Please save me from your followers.

eom

But you guys have survived puritans before, you can do it again.

Shudder

...dunking, crushing, and stretching!

And how about that Inquisition crowd fave....the hot-coal-on-the-tongue test!

as payback for helping to rig the vote?

Such moral christians -- they are an example to the whole world.

Shame on me for having zero respect for them.

These idiots scare the hell out of me.

The point is that WE won the election -- we got out the vote -- THEY did their best to suppress the vote.

Check this snip from the same article...


But a leading moderate Republican told the Guardian yesterday the tactic could prove self-destructive if pushed further. "If Bush deliberately or inadvertently appoints enough judges to overturn Roe v Wade, the worst-case scenario is that it's the beginning of the end of the Republican party," said Jennifer Blei Stockman, co-chair of the Republican Majority for Choice. "It wouldn't be long before the outrage would spill into the voting booth, and it would only be a matter of time before the Democratic party ascends to power that will last for a long time."

In pandering to evangelical conservatives, Ms Stockman said, Republican strategists had "been feeding a monster who now has the party by its tail". At least 75% of Bush voters do not consider themselves evangelicals, she said. "The keynote speakers at the Republican convention were all 'pro-choice' moderates, from Arnold Schwarzenegger to Rudy Giuliani to George Pataki. Was that just a masquerade or was something of substance communicated?"

It IS a monster. And yes, to answer Stockman's question - it WAS just a masquerade. It was a bait-n-switch.

I'm wondering if maybe a good strategy is to let the monster run amok. The aftermath may come back to bite it in its own tail. I'd like VERY MUCH to see them self-destruct, and pave the way for Democratic domination for a long time. Unfortunately, what we'd have to endure until then is just completely CRUSHING.

I'm considering the next 4 years as an opportunity to observe some might fine juggling between the fundies and the money-grubbers.

"It wouldn't be long before the outrage would spill into the voting booth, and it would only be a matter of time before the Democratic party ascends to power that will last for a long time."

By then they will have BBV down to an artform. Or maybe they will implant voting chips under our foreheads... except that Democrat's chips will cast an invalid vote. Like I said... an artform.

nt

Hmmmm, I wonder if the North East can secede?

Americans are religious fanatics just like their idiot president
http://foros.eluniversal.com.mx/foros_sr_detalle_foro.php?p_id_tema=2430

THAT'S the way to protect the sanctity of marriage. After a few public stonings, NOBODY'S gonna fuck around.

Let's start with Newt Gingrich and Henry Hyde!

WE could start pushing bills to codify such punishments. They'd have no room to object because it's in the Bible. Plus, I could have my own concubine. Think I'll name her Conky.

I'm serious when I say that. There are many Americans who firmly believe that God's law is the basis for American democracy even though that tradition of the people's government has its roots in the Greco-Roman tradition. This seems to go over the heads of people until someone actually mentions history that people should already know.

With civil rights, there are many who simply don't want gay marriage because "marriage" has Christian religious connotations to it, yet even if we change it "civil unions" to avoid the use of the word "marriage," we still run into a wall because it would be seen as an endorsement of homosexuality, and some of the referendums this past election banned both "civil unions" and "same-sex marriage."

The argument that seems not to be made effectively by the Democratic leaders is that it is all right to disagree with homosexuality, but there is a difference between beliefs and actions. One can disagree, but when one tries to legislate religious beliefs, then one comes up against the rights of another, and THAT is where it becomes not an issue of religious beliefs but an issue of CIVIL RIGHTS. You have a right to believe what you want, but you do not have a right to make a decision for another with respect to those beliefs.

"Equal rights for all except for fags."

The issue of abortion is a bit more complex. The bills banning abortion have been rejected by the courts because there have been no exceptions in cases of rape or where the health of the mother is put at risk, but the message is that women don't have such a right to choose because a pile of cells that cannot yet live outside the human body has the same rights as the mother. Even if such a bill that provided exceptions passed muster, the hypocrisy is evident.

"We believe in the right to life for all but not with the death penalty."

What is the prognosis? Well, it seems to me that no matter what people in general say about equality for all and civil rights, we have simply not moved far enough so that our actions match our rhetoric. We, as a country, simply have made an exception to that rule, no different than when we made exceptions with black people when we, as a country, said that we're free and equal.

If religion is an issue, then perhaps we should point out that Jesus never condemned homosexuality directly and that he advocated tolerance and acceptance of others (a fundamental tenet of Christ's teachings) regardless of beliefs and said that if one had to remember anything from what he said, then that would have been to "love thy neighbor as one loves thyself."

Now, how would you feel if someone told YOU that you could not marry someone you loved???

and the Republicans are now at the mercy of the religious right. This will change the nature of the party. Opening up a huge number of moderates who will abandon the party. Or, as Zell says, I didn't leave the party. The party left me.
Let's welcome the refugees with open arms.

of corresponding or associating with heathens and non
Churched people will be charged with heresy. A simple
drowning test will be used to determine guilt.

http://www.light-to-dark.com/pregnant_in_pimpland.html

Best regards,

Stephen Pitt

here is a snip from the song "When The Lie's So Big" from the album Broadway the Hard Way. Its happening.



When the lie's so big
As in W's case,
(That sinister face
Behind all the Jesus hurrah)

Could result in the end
To a worrisome trend
In which every American
Not "born again"
Could be punished in cruel and unusual ways
By this treacherous cretin
Who tells everyone
That he's Jesus' best friend

When the lies get so big
And the fog gets so thick
And the facts disappear
The Republican Trick
Can be played out again
People, please tell me when
We'll be rid of these men!

most of America is not that conservative.

no welfare, no equal pay for equal work, no workers rights, no taxes for wealthy, no control over religious organizations (even those that are big business), extreme censorship of entertainment, music, books, abolishment of ltigation against corporations, no public accountability for government intrusion and violations of privacy and due process, police brutality protections, increased subsidies for agribusiness and other mega businesses, MORE deregulation of banks and other financial institutions, public energy, air lines, and everything except the sex you have in your bedroom between consenting adults.

I suggest the Democrats first major legislative proposal, complete with press conferences, laser show, hunger strike, whatever, is the "Tax Fairness Act of 2005." This Act would mandate that, within some reasonable margin of error, your state should get as much back from the feds as is sent to them in taxes. It's time to end this kind of geographic welfare

http://atrios.blogspot.com/

chimp isn't interested in this kind of piddly shit, there is NO money in it for anybody but trial lawyers so he fucking doesn't give a fat shit about it. These poor saps are delusional, no matter how loud they yell they aren't going to get the fucking constitution changed for something like this.

As the former executive director of The Christian Coalition you have been remarkably effective in pushing the evangelicals higher and higher in both federal and state government. Since Reagan gave you legitimacy you have succeeded beyond even your expectations. I'm sure Max Cleland would have a few words of wisdom for you!

But a leading moderate Republican told the Guardian yesterday the tactic could prove self-destructive if pushed further. "If Bush deliberately or inadvertently appoints enough judges to overturn Roe v Wade, the worst-case scenario is that it's the beginning of the end of the Republican party," said Jennifer Blei Stockman, co-chair of the Republican Majority for Choice. "It wouldn't be long before the outrage would spill into the voting booth, and it would only be a matter of time before the Democratic party ascends to power that will last for a long time."

This is our wedge issue. Separation of church and state. There are lots of moderate republicans who don't believe the religious right control their party. When they find out the truth they'll be horrified.