Re-elect George Bush
Want four more years of fundamentalism? Vote for Ralph Nader again, you twits. Nader, reports Nick Anderson in the Los Angeles Times, "is raising money to explore another run for the White House next year, one of his strategists said Tuesday." Oh, the horror, the horror.
While you're rights that Nader is a potential spoiler (as Perot was in '92) you betray your California sensibilities when you call Bush a fundamentalist. The fact is that he's a religious moderate, attending a Methodist church. There really are creepy fundamentalists out there, and you'd be better served to learn the difference between fundamentalists and the majority of the country that simply goes to church. I know that these are rare beasts in LA, but that's no excuse.
Bubba Jones at December 4, 2003 2:24 PM
I don't care where he worships -- he take a puritannical, church-kow-towing approach to governing. That makes him a fundamentalist in my book. Every social policy George Bush supports stems directly from his religious beliefs -- ban abortion, etc. He's a guy who got saved from the drink (and then some) by the church, and he's blindly obedient to it. I want secular ethics to be the basis of our government -- and personal autonomy. Not god. George Bush's or anybody else's.
Amy Alkon at December 4, 2003 2:53 PM
Worry less about your President's apparent religious fervor and more about how his administration is systematically undoing your economy, not to mention foreign policy, environment, health, labor, pretty everything except defence and Haliburton. Amazing what they're managed to do in three short years. The mind boggles at what could be in store for your guys over the next five.
To borrow a line from Billy Bragg: "I'm not telling you how to vote. Just be more careful next time."
mrcranky at December 4, 2003 5:05 PM
And you left out the steel tariffs. And much, much else. There's a lot that horrifies and terrifies me about George Bush.
Amy Alkon at December 4, 2003 6:06 PM
Hi Bubba Jones (cute name) --
Just because Bush isn't Pentecostal doesn't mean he doesn't have fundamentalist tendencies. In his book "Boundaries of Faith," Roger Stump suggests that fundmentalists are "distinguished in part by their conviction that contemporary social forces threaten the survival of traditional values and beliefs and that only their religion can halt the degeneration of society [...]" While Karl Rove -- oops -- I mean, Bush -- might not think that religion is the one and only solution, it's certainly been a consistent theme in his proposals to alleviate social problems -- especially urban youth violence.
Think about some of the policies that Bush has advocated, especially the bills that would allow government-funded churches to retain their outwardly religious character as they provide social services to individuals and families in desperate situations. The sentiment that churches care more about poor people than do evil government bureaucracies is the opium of supporters of the faith-based initiative. As director of the White House's faith-based initiative, John DiIulio -- an otherwise bright political science professor -- published some really laughable articles containing heart-rending tales of priests and pastors walking into gunfire to stop the madness. And Jesus only managed to walk on water!
But enough about Jesus. Let's talk about buttfucking.
In July 2001, the Salvation Army requested permission from the White House to discriminate against homosexual job applicants and employees, and still get taxpayer money (including homosexual taxpayer money) for their social services work. When this came to public attention, presidential aides claimed that they were unaware of the organizationís request. However, barely more than a year later, Bush used his executive powers to override state and local laws that protect job applicants from discrimination on the basis of both religion and sexual orientation. Bubba darling, how can you possibly believe that this hateful behavior doesn't have some pathetic, fundamentalist religious justification behind it?
I don't care if he belongs to a moderate denomination. George Bush is a fundamentalist simpleton, and he is not equipped to make decisions that affect millions of people of diverse cultural backgrounds.
in hate,
Sister Lena
Lena is sick and tired of this crap at December 4, 2003 10:16 PM
I don't know about large scale issues between church vs. state, but at the church I attend, as well as at several of the local Christian schools that friends of mine work at, we do NOT want government money for the charitable programs we run. Even without any thought of how the government would step in and control how we use the funds, it also robs the members of the opportunity and responsibility to support worthwhile causes.
My church runs a car clinic for single moms. A lot of these women have children without ever being married. Nobody is turned away or condemned. We are simply there to meet a need--honest mechanics who help women who'd might get ripped off by less ethical shops. If the government started funding that, we could maybe hire more mechanics and buy more parts, but I cannot imagine the red tape that would entail. I for one want no part of it.
Peggy C at December 5, 2003 7:20 AM
INSTEAD OF COMPLAINING ABOUT REPUBLICANS, PUNISH REPUBLICANS.
PEACEFUL REVOLT AGAINST THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
I have started the Buy nothing on Thursday and Fridays movement.
The Buy nothing on Thursday and Friday movement will work this way.
You will tell your friends and family and colleagues who do not use the net, to avoid buying anything on Thursdays and Fridays. You and everyone you speak to will tell their merchants that we do not support the chimp and we're going on a purchasing strike on every Thursday and Friday until the Nov 2004 election. You also tell them that you hope they will do everything they can to help vote the chimp out and their republican congresspeople out in 2004.
America will see a big vote of no confidence in the chimp evidenced by empty stores on Thusday and Friday.
Petition: TELL CONGRESS WE WANT A PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT UNDER MEDICARE
PART B
(put this link in a browser at work and at a public library and leave the page showing. Make it a browser favorite too)
Location: http://www.thePetitionSite.com/takeaction/383366962
Boycott the LA Dodgers, Arnold's movies, the Viper Car Alarm, Disneyland until Arnold resigns leaving Cruz Bustamante to serve as Governor.
Spread the word.
Do not go to any games where the LA Dodgers appear as visitors or at home and tell the Dodgers you will see their games after they get Arnold to resign.
Browse http://www.dodgers.com and send them email from their website telling them to get Arnold to resign or you will not see their games.
Browse these websites
http://www.schwarzenegger.com and email them from their site that you will not buy nor rent Arnold's movies from the video store.
http://www.directed.com makers of the Viper Car Alarm once owned by Darrell Issa and email them from their website that you will not buy the Viper Car alarm.
http://www.disneyland.com and email from their website that you will not go to Disney Land.
You will refrain from doing business with these 4 entities until Arnold Schwarzenegger resigns leaving Cruz Bustamante to take office as Governor.
Stop the Republican Texas redistricting effort.
Call JC Penney Corporate Headquarters in Plano, Texas and tell them unless they get Governor Goodhair Perry to stop redistricting until 2010 when it should happen again, you will not set foot in another JC Penney Store again.
Call them at 1-800-322-1189
Petition: TELL CONGRESS YOU DON'T SUPPORT THE REPUBLICAN AGENDA
Location: http://www.thePetitionSite.com/takeaction/630654745
"The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness."
- John Kenneth Galbraith (1908 - )
The George W Bush 2000 Stolen Election Commemorative Gold Coin
http://www.stolenelectioncoin.com
Send this Christmas card to your unchristian conservative friends this coming Christmas.
You can get a copy of the elegant Christmas Card at
http://www.hoflink.com/~dbaer/christmas.gif
save it and print it and send one to the chimp in the white house.
Get your RAW DEAL poster at
http://www.hoflink.com/~dbaer/fearitself.jpg
Get your vote Republican poster at
http://www.hoflink.com/~dbaer/voterepublican.jpg
The George W Bush 2000 Stolen Election Commemorative Gold Coin
http://www.stolenelectioncoin.com
buckfush at December 5, 2003 8:34 AM
Cruz Bustamante for governor? I'd elect Homer Simpson first. Why post the long post? Just write "Democrats are really cool, and everything they do is really groovy, and Republicans totally suck." I'm so sick of partisan politics. Why can't people just look at issues and candidates independent of whether they have a big R or D on their foreheads? This isn't seventh grade soccer, where you cheer on your team. Socialist policies don't work -- boo, Democrats. Fundamentalism doesn't belong in government decision-making -- boo, Republicans. There, isn't being a free-thinking adult easy? You've gotta try it sometime.
Amy Alkon at December 5, 2003 1:35 PM
What struck me about bushfush's post was the extensive use of the imperative -- ie, the grammatical form one uses to issue commands. This was a major, major turn off. I gave the post only the most cursory of glances, because I don't take commands very well at all.
Lena and her authority problem at December 5, 2003 9:56 PM
Hi Peggy --
Your congregation certainly isn't alone. Many people are concerned that government funding would make church groups less willing to engage in critical, no-bullshit, and potentially oppositional dialogue with policymakers. If you're interested, there's a terrific report on the promise and pitfalls of the faith-based initiative called "In Good Faith" published by the Pew Charitable Trusts. You can download it at:
http://pewforum.org/publications/
take care,
Lena
Lena at December 5, 2003 11:43 PM
Lena: "I don't take commands very well at all."
Well, there goes my plans for Lena in my dungeon. Oh, well...
What struck me as funny was the "buy nothing Thursdays and Fridays" idea. I'm still wondering what kinds of problems that's going to solve, besides forcing mostly small businesses to go belly up. Sorry, Mom and Pop store... you should have done more to keep Bush from stealing the election.
Patrick at December 10, 2003 5:43 AM
But I make exceptions, Patrick baby. Let me have it!
Lena at December 10, 2003 8:39 AM
The Goddess writes: "Socialist policies don't work -- boo, Democrats. Fundamentalism doesn't belong in government decision-making -- boo, Republicans."
Eminently sensible, Amy, as always. But I think it should be carried a little further, to the specific individual, since both parties have exceptions to the rule.
Bill Clinton, for instance, supports the death penalty. Not a typical liberal stance.
And should we now say, "Gays don't have the right to serve in the military - boo, Republicans!" Two words in response to that. "Gold" and "water." (May he rest in peace... or in pieces, whatever you believe.)
Patrick at December 11, 2003 4:37 AM
Patrick -- I have a distinctly American brand of amnesia associated with a diet that's high in processed cheese food and National Public Radio. Please refresh my memory about Goldwater. hugs, Lena
Lena Cuisina at December 11, 2003 11:22 AM
Senator Barry Morris Goldwater (R.-Ariz.; 1909-1992) was notorious for his outspokeness, and while calling himself a conservative Republican, he most definitely did not toe the party line. He supported abortion, for one thing ("I believe a woman has a right to an abortion. That's a decision that's up to the pregnant woman, not up to the pope or some do-gooders or the Religious Right."), and was a champion of gay rights ("The rights that we have under the Constitution covers anything we want to do, as long as its not harmful. I can't see any way in the world that being a gay can cause damage to somebody else."), even advising Bill Clinton to simply repeal the military ban on gays.
My personal favorite quote of his was when Jerry Falwell asserted that "every good Christian should be concerned" over President Reagan's appointment of Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Replied Goldwater: "Every good Christian should line up and kick Jerry Falwell's ass."
Needless to say, the religious right was none too fond of the verbose five term Senator and presidential nominee (who was defeated in a landslide to Johnson), and the feeling was mutual. Goldwater was actually a devout believer in separation of Church and State: "I don't have any respect for the Religious Right. There is no place in this country for practicing religion in politics. That goes for Falwell, Robertson and all the rest of these political preachers. They are a detriment to the country."
Here's a good one of Goldwater's quotes: "I would remind you that extremism in defense of liberty is no vice. Moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue."
They don't make 'em like Goldwater anymore, and that's a crying shame.
Patrick at December 11, 2003 1:17 PM
Thank you, sir. That was today's history lesson.
Lena Cuisina at December 11, 2003 1:35 PM
The twenty lies of George W. Bush
Monday nightís 15-minute speech by President Bush, setting a 48-hour deadline for war against Iraq, went beyond the usual distortions, half-truths, and appeals to fear and backwardness to include a remarkable number of barefaced, easily refuted lies.
The enormous scale of the lying suggests two political conclusions: the Bush administration is going to war against Iraq with utter contempt for democracy and public opinion, and its war propaganda counts heavily on the support of the American media, which not only fails to challenge the lies, but repeats and reinforces them endlessly.
Without attempting to be exhaustive, it is worthwhile listing some of the most important lies and contrasting Bushís assertions with the public record. All of the false statements listed below are directly quoted from the verbatim transcript of Bushís remarks published on the Internet.
Lie No. 1: ìMy fellow citizens, events in Iraq have now reached the final days of decision.î
The decision for war with Iraq was made long ago, the intervening time having been spent in an attempt to create the political climate in which US troops could be deployed for an attack. According to press reports, most recently March 16 in the Baltimore Sun, at one of the first National Security Council meetings of his presidency, months before the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, Bush expressed his determination to overthrow Saddam Hussein and his willingness to commit US ground troops to an attack on Iraq for that purpose. All that was required was the appropriate pretextósupplied by September 11, 2001....
People against George W. Bush at February 24, 2004 6:50 PM