KYZipster

"Just consider the metaphorical and humiliating "poke in the eye " our president received when he went to Saudi Arabia to ask King Abdullah to significantly increase production and availability of oil on world markets. After all, like him or loathe him, he is still our president. And this with oil relentlessly clambering to levels in excess of $130/bbl, levels never seen before."

You seem to be contradicting yourself here. You point out that market speculation and a devalued dollar are determining the price of oil. The Saudis rejected Bush's request because the market had a surplus and more supply was not needed. Perhaps this effort by Bush was to make us 'feel' better and he could argue against his critics who point out that he is doing nothing.

I hope that our own Congress can cut through this BS like the Saudis did, granting more leases for drilling when oil companies are sitting on 1000s of leases already will not do a thing to lower the price of gas, strengthening our economy and currency to the level of 2000 will bring the price of oil down significantly. Reeling in the market speculators will bring it down even more. I hope that we don't lose the urgency to work towards energy independence if this happens. posted 07/22/2008 at 10:11:27

Nothing will change until the Democratic Party admits their complicity in this crisis. So many politicians have been on the deregulation bandwagon every step of the way since Reagan. If they expect the Republican Party to 'get it', Democratic politicians need to admit their own mistakes. We, the voters, should fire all of Congress. posted 07/20/2008 at 23:46:19

Child abuse has been extremely rare in the Boy Scouts like in most of society, it was so pervasive in the Catholic Church because of the archaic and repressed lifestyle of priests and nuns. Many grow up in the church and never have a healthy, sexual, adult relationship. Later in life many are emotional adolescents. Of course this is not the norm and it does not excuse child abuse but I believe it accounts for much of the abuse that has been uncovered. Nuns may not be guilty of sexual abuse but many have been guilty of physical and emotional abuse, that was my experience in Catholic school.

The Catholic church needs to grow up and acknowledge that we are in modern times. Celibacy is a joke, so many priests have sexual adult relationships, they always have and they always will because it's a normal part of being human. It's time for the Pope to acknowledge that women are equal and deserve the right to be ordained. It's time to stop blaming homosexuals on the sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic church, condemning good spiritual people for choosing to embrace their sexuality despite the hate that comes out of institutions like the Catholic Church. posted 07/20/2008 at 12:08:22

Congress has been a huge disappointment since 2006, impeachment can be off the table but investigations and at the very least a censure of the President and VP should have been a priority. Please pursue this Rove business until the bitter end, Pelosi needs to get out of the way, this isn't about the best calculation to win in November, it's about right and wrong and the rule of law. Congress doesn't want to put the American people through it? How about what Congress has allowed tens of thousands of US troops to go through? Those troops who have died or come home with life changing injuries. We've seen this many times before, a threat from Congress that they might actually do something about the criminality in the White House, I'm expecting nothing to happen in the end, please prove me wrong. posted 07/10/2008 at 15:43:41

I agree, there will be no war. Not because they don't want to bomb them into the stone age with no regard for human life, but they are impotent and reality is finally sinking in. If for no other reason, oil will reach such an astronomical amount and even the rich in this country will be ruined. posted 07/10/2008 at 10:54:18

"Genuine spirituality is one's entire life as understood, experienced and decided upon in relationship to God in Christ Jesus and empowered by the grace of the Holy Spirit."

This is precisely why I think of myself as spiritual and not religious because of people of religion claiming to define my spirituality for me. I am not Christian and so many religions teach that their path is the best path if not the only path. I have explored Buddhism, Hinduism and different pagan practices resulting in a solid foundation and inner peace. Yoga and meditation practices keep me well centered and I've found eastern philosophy to be open minded and life changing. I have no use for Christianity, having been brought up going to Catholic schools where I never experienced one moment that felt 'spiritual'. I've known people who practice no religion who seemed far more evolved, if a capacity for love and compassion is any measure, than any priest or minister I have ever met with an advanced degree in theology.

There is a movement in this country away from organized religion and towards spirituality, people are exploring world religions, mysticism, all kinds of spiritual and mind opening practices, most organized religions are decades if not centuries out of date. I really see no difference between the homophobic and sexist garbage coming from the head of the Roman Catholic Church and bigots like the Reverend Hagee. Many people feel the same way. posted 07/06/2008 at 09:30:57

Secular programs run by religious organizations qualified for federal grants before Bush took office. The Bush Administration set up an office to actually reach out to religious organizations and to train them on how to apply for the money.

Trust me, I am in no way defending the Bush Administration or the office of Faith Based etc., there's no doubt in my mind that far right Christian organizations have had preferential treatment under Bush but you need to get your facts straight. posted 07/01/2008 at 12:39:11

That's my initial reaction. That was also my reaction when Obama shared a stage with an outspoken Christian right homophobe. Many bloggers were outraged. He has since made it clear that he is a friend of the gay community, much more so than the alternative at least. He later made a speech to a mostly African American audience condemning anti-gay sentiment in some Christian communities. That action outweighed the previous one for me. Perhaps it's better to embrace all voting blocks as long as you stand firm on your beliefs?

Secular programs run by religious organizations have always qualified for federal grants, since before Bush. I would trust a Democratic Administration to regulate this process much more than the faith based Republican Party. However, promising to eliminate the Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives might be political suicide but promising to expand it seems pretty outrageous to me.

Obama is really going to have to communicate his intentions here, right now he appears to be embracing the Bush Administration's efforts to embrace a theocracy. The article does address this in more detail but elections are lost on headlines and sound bites. posted 07/01/2008 at 12:33:43

The Democrats' biggest mistake lately is in compromising to avoid the filibuster, they are appearing spineless as usual. Let the Republicans filibuster, it brings the debate on the legislation into the MSM.

Let the voters know who is obstructing progress in Congress and let them decide what to do about it in November. The Democratic leadership in Congress is failing on many levels. posted 06/23/2008 at 10:43:08

Drawing a correlation between a highly qualified professional getting fired because of her sexual orientation and the comedy of Bill Maher is really a stretch, not to mention, the courts sided with the church.

70 something percent of this country identify as Christian, there are Christian crosses covering the landscapes in every little town and every large city from coast to coast. This vicitimhood exhibited by Christians because GLBT people are quickly gaining respect makes you folks look pretty pathetic.

Support the ACLU, you will never get locked up for saying the F word, you are free.

You may get fired for saying the N word, the B word, the F word. Oh the persecution.... posted 06/15/2008 at 09:18:53

You should mail a check to the ACLU right away. posted 06/15/2008 at 09:09:06