The conventional wisdom out there is that Michele Bachmann (who won the Ames straw poll) and Rick Perry (who spoiled her victory by entering the race on the same day) are competing for the same religious conservative voters. That masks some important differences between the two, differences that will become more evident as the campaign …
Month of Sundays: Truth
On coming into the neighborhood of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked his disciples this question--“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” “Some say John the Baptist,” they answered, “Others, however, say that he is Elijah, while others again say Jeremiah, or one of the Prophets.” “But you,” he said, “who do you say …
The God of the Dollar
There are many things about these United States that stick in the craw of atheists, and one of them is the requirement that “In God We Trust” be emblazoned on all of our currency, both paper and specie. Their hearts are warmed at the thought that, like the Euro, any references to God would be …
People who are Both Gay and Fat are in Serious Trouble
The lobby for the overweight strikes back at Michelle Obama's campaign against swelling waistlines: Speaking at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., Monday, NAAFA public relations director Peggy Howell said the First Lady “essentially gave permission to everyone to condemn the children with higher body weights.” Howell called Obama’s Let’s Move! campaign “well-intentioned, but …
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The Hole in the "Dominionist/Theonomist Plan" for America
Ryan Lizza's piece in the New Yorker about Michele Bachmann brings up what must rate as the most incoate dread the left has about the Religious Right: the "dominionist" movement, which I prefer to refer to as the "theonomist" movement. You see this in left wing blogs (both in the articles and in the comments) …
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The Collapse of Political Trust = The Collapse of Expectations
In his interesting analysis about The Collapse of Political Trust, Jonah Lehrer makes the following observation: And this returns us to the present dysfunction in Washington. If trust is about the distribution of rewards – about learning to expect bonuses from others – then it’s going to be a lot harder to share those rewards …
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Month of Sundays: Time
Take great care, then, how you live--not unwisely but wisely, Making the most of every opportunity; for these are evil days. (Ephesians 5:15-16) Many years ago, my family business established a branch operation in West Palm Beach, Florida. We built a facility and lined up personnel to operate it. We also brought in people from …
Rick Perry's Prayer Rally: It's Really Midnight Yell Practice
This Saturday Texas Gov. Rick Perry is sponsoring a prayer rally called "The Response." In a country whose elites are sensitive to any serious demonstration of faith, the reactions have been predictable. But in view of the buzz regarding Rick's plans after The Response, I think we need to look at this another way. Ags, …
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The American Middle Class: When You Have Nothing to Lose, You Don't Care If The System Makes It Or Not
That, according to "Spengler" is what's going on with the Tea Party's stubbornness in the recent debt ceiling debacle: The trouble is that both the Tea Party and President Barack Obama have existential reasons to force a crisis. Obama, as I wrote two weeks ago, faces probable defeat with a becalmed economy, and may benefit …
Month of Sundays: Temptation
Once more the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms in the world and their glory. The devil said to him, "I will give you all this if you will bow down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Go away, Satan! Scripture says, 'Worship the Lord your …
Positive Infinity 