National Day of Prayer in Daytona

This is what we are up against in Florida. Be afraid, be very afraid.

Daytona

"What began as a massive Christian prayer meeting evolved into a rousing Republican political rally Thursday night at Daytona International Speedway."

<snip>

"'He's a leader you can trust 100 percent of the time,' U.S. Secretary of Commerce Don Evans told the crowd, after a local "Army of God" dance troupe dressed in T-shirt fatigues performed a religious song with a military beat."

<snip>

"Although the crowd included people of all races, ages and backgrounds, all communal prayers were said in Jesus' name, and no faith other than Christianity was represented at the more than three-hour gathering."

and this rally is a perfect example of how the Republican party has been hijacked by the religious right and is pushing to turn this country into a "christian" theocracy.

(christian in quotes because their actual policies are quite the opposite of Jesus's teachings...)

For details on how the religious right hijacked the GOP, check out this website: http://www.TheocracyWatch.org/

beat me to the web. I've had conversations with friends over the past five years regarding the approach conservative christian organizations have taken to get their agenda forced into mainstream politics.

They are very well organized (and actively encourage their flocks to vote) and use their beliefs as a rallying cry to get their men and women elected. The idea they have overtaken the republican party is up for debate. I doubt Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and the gang are very religious - and it might be they are the ones who have hijacked the religious right and are using the right's political muscle to get their agenda accomplished.

Keep in mind, until the 1990's Bush had never made a stand for or against anything (except maybe who had the best happy hour or smack). Looking at political forces in the country prior to his run in 2000 it would have been easy to see who was the most vocal and well-organized. Using the rhetoric of the right made it easy for them to give their efforts to Bush and company. His election gave them immediate credibility and they don't want to squander the chance they've been given.

As a resault any one who disagrees with their message or who does not fit their ideal is paraded in front of the media as a traitor or deviant.

at a minimum the religious right has an enormous amount of influence over the republican party. Every single one of the GOP leadership positions in congress is held by people with a 100% rating from the Christian Coalition. The legislative priorities of the GOP are the same as the legislative positions of the Christian Coalition. They actually recognize Bush as the head of the Christian Coalition...

Clearly some at the top aren't part of the CC, but the CC does seem to have veto power...

>>>after a local "Army of God" dance troupe dressed in T-shirt fatigues performed a religious song with a military beat."<<<

:wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf:

:scared: :scared: :scared:

use a similar tactic in the late 30's to promote nationalism in Germany?

I'm surprised the children weren't wearing armbands and leather boots.

You've got to credit the bushies for their brilliance in enlisting these religious groups in support of their cause. From a purely marketing standpoint, these guys understand their customers and keep drilling the message home. That's what's going to make it tough for Kerry to cause these guys to switch gods - I mean, leaders/presidents.

This is why I posted yesterday that I would be staying away from Daytona. The article posted in Sundays News-Journal about this event pissed me off to no end. No thank you! And for the record, I wish they would find another place to roost and get the hell out of my hometown!