Vere15's Comments (1040)

“Thanks for the thoughtful reply and accordingly fanned

I agree with you 100% about the constitution, whether this country or any country. Most constitutions are the accrued capital of distilled wisdom that includes input from those who happen to be religious. Outside of those recurring Constantinian Dominionists, religious figures have come to the fore in response to leaders who trample it, or if they disagree with the constitution, they have have accepted the consequences. Not so much any more.

I also agree with you about GWB. I believe that he had already forfeited the religious mantle in his conduct as Governor of Texas in his rejection of many religious authorities in respect to his rush to execution policy. When he made that statement, he was implying that he was unique among presidents and that salvation was sola GOPpia. This is why I appreciated Billy Graham and saw Rick Warren as his successor rather than Franklin Graham, the Sarah Palin patron. They had no problem speaking highly of the Christianity of Bill Clinton or Jimmy Carter for example.

I agree with you 200% that GWB rode roughshod over the constitution - in fact pushing back in many respects to the pre Magna Carta, perhaps a fundamental pre constitution document. Perhaps the political unpardonable sin?”

“Some Catholics call themselves evangelicals as well”

“Sorry I can't agree with you at all on that point.

The only problem arises when a group like 20th century fundamentalists turned their back on the Bible and Jesus Christ as a force for gospel activity and whole life improvement. So certainly there is no place for a religion that denies itself participating in politics. Finally, they are duplicitous when advocating things like war war or antiabortion policy without explaining how to pay for it.

However, there are Christians who follow the Bible and use the political realm properly. I don't have room to list all the initiatives but let me give you three examples.

The Canadian health care was brought about by a devout Baptist pastor turned politician. He was voted the most important Canadian ever.

Churches and unions worked hard together against conservatives to ensure that their workers and members got adequate holidays and rest.

Evangelicals worked to abolish slavery despite opposition in both fundamentalist and liberal circles. They recognized that the mention of slaves in the Torah was not approval slavery but actually recognizing that slaves were people - unlike those cultures around them.”

“I don't feel that he changed his mind at all

I believe him that he was doing through the media what he was trying to do previously in public. Remember, he doesn't have a tv or radio show but emphasizes the local church. As a result, he is responsible for dozens of different types of churches on his compound. So it would take some focal point to get this issue on his radar screen. The video script follows the pattern of a Pauline epistle giving his condemnation of these laws a very heightened spiritual gravitas. And it is in synch with the values that he has been teaching for years.

...now if we could just get him to speak out on health care...”

“This is a special bulletin -The GOP death panel has spoken - Anyone lined up for medical services without a plan or the means to pay must immediately requeue at your local Shady Acres found at the cul de sac corner of Rue Morgue and Moratality Street”

“Back to you - I really enjoyed your rounded letters, it is important to be anatomically correct while describing and circumnavigating the arc of a circle with the assistance pies-R-squared.”

“How long did he watch to determine that he had correctly interpreted the events. Did he not have to have experience in conflict management, where you discuss the situation with your coworkers to identify the specific element of the behavior that offends you. Perhaps they spoke different romance languages and needed to network on the precise names of body parts so that students could call those naughty bits something other than those short words associated with King James English”

“Sorry Idea - my reply was meant for Banana Republic”

“Winners include a member or two of virtually ever important position in politics or the judiciary in Canada or Australia.­..

A few other interesting folks include guys named Hubble, Fullbright, Boorstin, Getting, Templeton, Howard K. Smith, Cantor (not Eric), Reich, Bamberg, Bradley, Clark, Clinton, Dionne, Feingold, Stephanopolous, Wolf, Rice (Susan not Condi), Salmeen

If you haven't heard of them, how about Pat Haden, Kris Kristofferson and some guy named Piyush Jindal.

How many can you identify?”

“Love Rachel - and her program is supersaturated with content.

One word of Maddow's is worth more than a thousand pictures on Fox.

I think that she tried to get too much into this interview - she had him against the ropes, making concession after concession and she should have consolidated them rather than going into another round on the credentials

But I guess I would rather that she err on the side of content...­.”

“She was the first openly gay American to win a Rhodes scholarship”

“This confession gave him an air of integrity and "real personhood" in the eyes of his constiuency. They would see it as an act of supreme courage which goes well beyond the traditional coverup response. So while your comment is true, it has exactly the opposite affect when played out in the media”

“Absolutely, I agree with you 100%

For the first two thirds of the interview, Rachel had Cohen in a kid glove left-right backtrack. The perfect transition would have been to say to him that this had been a very productive interview. She appreciated his honesty and could sympathize with his gender "pilgrammage" as well. But now how can we get together and marshall all our networks to oppose this Uganda movement and make sure all his allies are onside.

While credentialling is an issue, Cohen's constituency are great believers in experience. His personal testimony was at times compelling because there was some level of candor and a move away from facile solutions for all things Christian. There was much for them to replay in Utube to show the victimization of their guy, whether he deserved it or not. And as a result, Rachel may dry up her supply of guests who will use this as predication. Probably an issue like certification would be best taken up by Ed Schultz.

Certainly, this was not a suitable one one one interview setup, Rachel needed a buffer for the latter parts

Will never stop watching her show, though

By the way, the conservative PM of Canada who attends a fundamentalist church instantly, uncategorically and unequivocally condemned the Uganda legislation”

“I have done that - adopted, fostered, World Visioned - and I would agree with you that it is the appropriate measure for the reduction of abortion. Additionally, if Roe v Wade was reversed, I would like to know

how they would pay for extra legislative, policy, operational, enforcement and incarceration expenses on one hand

and would be interested in their plans to increase infrastructure, education, housing, employment opportunities and urban renewal to accomodate

These answers are prerequisites for those who wish to cross over from religion to politics”

“The teabaggers wonder why Chip lets his son play sissy European games like soccer and are concerned that he may extend into tiddlywinks, pick up sticks, Rook and Scrabble”

“And the Lord said to Chip, "See that poor injured man Chris." He needs a healing. You must have faith. If thou can grasp the edge of his cloak by the brace and pull it asunder, he will be relieved of all pain, sorrow and any further soccer responsibilities. For if you show the world your healing power, then we will not need to change health care. All those who are ill, injured or weary may report to the C Street and admitted to their basement clinic”

“they infiltrate as much as they can - even the church itself”

“Remember they are only prolife before birth and after death - for the rest they are prodeath which flies in the faith about 98 percent of the Bible”

“Please Please invite Ann Coulter along

Can you imagine the three of them in the same room together”

“Maybe he could have done better if he had fired it from a plane. Don't tomatoes go good with Moose Burgers”

“Shakespearean actors had fruit and vegetables thrown at them during most performances by groups of "groundlings" who liked to show their appreciation for thespian performance. It would have been an insult for them to not show their appreciation for her acting skills.”

“I love metaphors and this is mine for the firing of Lou Dobbs, husband of a Mexican-American

A couple of years ago, I had to testify at a trial against a guy charged with aggravated assault during an episode of road rage. The ironic thing was that he caused the situation and was the only one in a rage. The object of his assault was a cabby who may or may not have been "ethnic." He taunted the crowd accusing them of taking pity on a colored immigrant (my politeness prevents me from repeating the diatribes). At trial, he defended himself. When I produced the evidence on these comments with respect to determining motives, he almost grabbed my collar while screaming at me, "Why would I do that - my wife is a Mexican." The baliff later informed me that this was one of those "Case closed" movements”

“I think your statement is very fair in reminding us that pure discomfort is something that needs to be recognized, particularly when there may be others who actively or tacitly may be amplifying that discomfort.

The best to your daughter, she seems to have a great and understanding dad

By the way, you have more hair to slip than I, so happy to defer on that account.

Fanned”

“With respect, my dad spent his entire formative part of his childhood without any other children of the same race and he turned out just fine. His network of friends has always looked like the United Nations and over time he has picked up a lot of languages.

By the way there seems to be heck of a lot of discomfort going on here - or she was a professional gadfly - one that any self respecting parent would put an end to:

Hawaii Pacific University in the Fall of 1982
North Idaho College in the Spring and Fall of 1983.
University of Idaho in the Fall of 1984 and Spring of 1985,
Matanuska-Susitna College in the Fall of 1985
University of Idaho again in the Spring and Fall of 1986 and the Fall of 1987”

“Poor guy -does this mean that he has seven mistresses-in-law?

More seriously, lets try to define mistress - the free online dictionary suggests

A woman who has a continuing sexual relationship with a usually married man who is not her husband and from whom she generally receives material support..

This is quite different than a person who sleeps with another a few times or has included someone in their network of partners or a prostitute.

...unless Tiger can sign a deal for a movie called Seven Brides for Seven TIger Clubs”