The Radical Right Revealed

During this past week we have been witness to what the right wing really think about freedom.

Exhibit A:
"First Amendment speech and press rights may also be subordinated to the overriding need to wage war successfully,"- John Yoo, in a Bush administration memo entitled "Authority for Use of Military Force to Combat Terrorist Activity Within the United States."

Exhibit B:
During Ken Starr's moment in the sun in the Prop. 8 hearing, one of the justices asked if the majority of California voters voted to repeal freedom of speech, she asked, if that vote would be valid? Ken stated unequivocally "yes".

Now on first glimpse, these two examples may not seem similar, but look closely at the motivations. The right wingnuts are stating that majority rules should always be paramount to minority rights. Which begs the question, what are the courts for if not to protect minority rights? As for John Yoo's assertion that the President of the United States of America can block freedom of speech and press rights, use the army to attack anywhere within the boarders of the U.S.? Well, I'm sure the President would only do those things to protect us. The same argument is used by the proponents of Prop 8. They only want to "protect" traditional marriage. See, it's for our own good.

The right wingnuts only want to protect us by taking away rights. Because a society without freedom for all is a society protected.

Does Obama's Tolerance Have It's Limits?

via Joe

The Ego-Driven Life

Pastor Rick Warren, he of Saddleback Church and inaugural invocation, asks his flock to "to follow Jesus with the fanatical dedication with which the Nazis, or Hitler Youth, gave to Adolf Hitler"

What the HELL is Obama thinking by giving this guy a platform at the Inaugural?

Oh, but it gets better...
"Concluding his motivational speech, the Saddleback Church founder instructed his ranks in the stadium to hold up signs, from their official programs, with the preprinted message "whatever it takes". Warren then introduced, as leader of the first nation on Earth in which the P.E.A.C.E. Plan would be implemented, Rwandan President Paul Kagame.

In 1998 under Kagame's leadership Rwanda, along with the now officially "Purpose Driven" nation of Uganda, invaded the Democratic Republic of The Congo, touching off a conflict that has claimed more civilian lives than any since World War Two. On December 12, 2008, the United Nations accused Rwanda of aiding Congolese warlord Laurent Nkunda, accused of massacres and human rights violations and whose recent offensive has created several hundred thousand Congolese refugees.

In March 2008, Rick Warren's Saddleback launched an official national "Purpose Driven Living" program in Uganda, a country which was indicted in 2005 by the International Criminal Court for perpetrating "massive" human rights violations by invading and looting the natural riches of the Congo. Uganda is know for brutalizing its own population too. In the late 1990s under president Yowerie Museveni, whose wife Janet Museveni has spoken at Saddleback Church conferences, the Ugandan military drove upwards of two million Acholi tribe members in Northern Uganda, through a terror campaign of massacres and bombing, into crowded concentration camps on the Congo-Uganda border where many languish to this day, in what one Former Undersecretary for the UN has described as an ongoing, slow genocide."

What about his work with regard to AIDS in Africa?
"As described in a January 7th, 2008 Daily Beast article by journalist Max Blumenthal, the reputation of Rick and Kay Warren, for work on HIV/AIDS reduction, appears considerably overrated. As Blumenthal writes, "a survey of Warren's involvement in Africa reveals a web of alliances with draconian right-wing clergymen who have sidelined science-based approaches to combating in favor of abstinence-only education. Most disturbingly, Warren's allies have rolled back key elements of the continent's most successful initiative, the so-called ABC program in Uganda. Their activism, according to Stephen Lewis, the United Nations' special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, is 'resulting in great damage and undoubtedly will cause significant numbers of infections which never should have occurred.' "

As Blumenthal's article goes on to explore, one of Rick Warren's allies in Uganda, Martin Ssempa, has played a key role in reducing the availability of condoms in Uganda. Known for publicly burning a pack of condoms at Uganda's Makerere University, Ssempa advises Ugandan First Lady Janet Museveni on HIV/AIDS policy and has successfully lobbied the US Congress to de-fund Population Resources International, a world distributor of condoms. As abstinence-only has ramped up and condom availability decreased in Uganda, the HIV/AIDS rate has begun to climb."

via Huffington Post

I'm all for Obama's call to work together, but how do you work with a man that uses Lenin, Hitler and Mao as standard bearers of greatness?

Obama really need to rethink this.

What's Synonymous To Christian Love....?

Christian Hate!


Christian love is so deep that the Yes on Prop 8 folks now are trying to nullify the marriages of over 18,000 gay and lesbian Californians because of the passage of Prop 8. But fear not, they are doing this out of love.

Ahh, "Christian" love knows no bounds.

Good Question

So the same people who are telling us that Obama is a Muslim and controlled by Islamic law are saying that he's a serious Protestant, controlled by his minister. Come on kids, decide on a story line.

Funny we have never heard about any previous candidate's minister. Billy Graham was spiritual adviser to Ike, Nixon, Johnson, the Bushes and Clinton but nobody pointed out that he was an anti-semite (although his anti-semitism is well documented in the Nixon tapes). And rightly so.

But with Obama, for some reason, it's different.

What a crock.

And yet I am a member of this congregation and will remain one. Why? As I said, I like the rabbi (the regular one, not the annual visitor) despite disagreeing strongly with many of his views. More important, this is the congregation that my kids grew up in. This is where their Bar Mitzvahs took place. The people there (not the war criminals though) are kind of like family. It's home. Probably how Obama feels about his church.

In 2000, when Joe Lieberman ran, do you recall articles about the political views of his rabbi? I don't know who his rabbi is (that tells you something) but Orthodox rabbis are invariably very conservative on the same issues on which Democrats are very liberal. They also tend to feel strongly that Jews and non-Jews should not marry each other or even date each other. Some Orthodox rabbis will tell you that dietary laws prevent Jews and non-Jews from even having a meal together except in a kosher locale.

So what. That's religion. Lieberman's politics (not his moderately liberal politics then or his conservative politics now) has nothing to do with his rabbi. Lieberman is pro-choice, pro-gay rights, pro-feminist, all the things Orthodox rabbis tend not to be. There is a good chance Joe's rabbi is against the Iraq war (75% of Jews are) but Joe sure isn't. But, as I said, Joe's rabbi, whoever he is, was never an issue. Obama's is. Why is that?

-M.J. Rosenberg

H. Res. 847: Recognizing the importance of Christmas and the Christian faith

We don't need no stinking First Amendment.

Yes, the idiots in The House of Representatives feel the need to establish the importance of a religious holiday. I give you HRES 847 IH:



HRES 847 IH

110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 847
Recognizing the importance of Christmas and the Christian faith.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 6, 2007

Mr. KING of Iowa (for himself, Mr. AKIN, Mrs. BACHMANN, Mr. BAKER, Mr. BARRETT of South Carolina, Mr. BISHOP of Utah, Mr. BOOZMAN, Mr. BRADY of Texas, Mr. BROUN of Georgia, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Mr. CARTER, Mr. CONAWAY, Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee, Mr. DOOLITTLE, Mr. FEENEY, Mr. FORTENBERRY, Ms. FOXX, Mr. FRANKS of Arizona, Mr. GINGREY, Mr. GOHMERT, Mr. HAYES, Mr. HERGER, Mr. ISSA, Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. JONES of North Carolina, Mr. JORDAN of Ohio, Mr. KINGSTON, Mr. KLINE of Minnesota, Mr. KUHL of New York, Mr. LAHOOD, Mr. LAMBORN, Mr. LAMPSON, Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California, Mr. MCCAUL of Texas, Mr. MCINTYRE, Mrs. MCMORRIS RODGERS, Mr. MILLER of Florida, Mrs. MUSGRAVE, Mrs. MYRICK, Mr. NEUGEBAUER, Mr. POE, Mr. SALI, Mr. SHADEGG, Mr. SMITH of Texas, Mr. STEARNS, Mr. TERRY, Mr. TIAHRT, Mr. WALBERG, Mr. WELDON of Florida, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina, Mr. DAVIS of Kentucky, and Mrs. DRAKE) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

RESOLUTION
Recognizing the importance of Christmas and the Christian faith.

Whereas Christmas, a holiday of great significance to Americans and many other cultures and nationalities, is celebrated annually by Christians throughout the United States and the world;

Whereas there are approximately 225,000,000 Christians in the United States, making Christianity the religion of over three-fourths of the American population;

Whereas there are approximately 2,000,000,000 Christians throughout the world, making Christianity the largest religion in the world and the religion of about one-third of the world population;

Whereas Christians identify themselves as those who believe in the salvation from sin offered to them through the sacrifice of their savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and who, out of gratitude for the gift of salvation, commit themselves to living their lives in accordance with the teachings of the Holy Bible;

Whereas Christians and Christianity have contributed greatly to the development of western civilization;

Whereas the United States, being founded as a constitutional republic in the traditions of western civilization, finds much in its history that points observers back to its roots in Christianity;

Whereas on December 25 of each calendar year, American Christians observe Christmas, the holiday celebrating the birth of their savior, Jesus Christ;

Whereas for Christians, Christmas is celebrated as a recognition of God's redemption, mercy, and Grace; and

Whereas many Christians and non-Christians throughout the United States and the rest of the world, celebrate Christmas as a time to serve others: Now, therefore be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

(1) recognizes the Christian faith as one of the great religions of the world;

(2) expresses continued support for Christians in the United States and worldwide;

(3) acknowledges the international religious and historical importance of Christmas and the Christian faith;

(4) acknowledges and supports the role played by Christians and Christianity in the founding of the United States and in the formation of the western civilization;

(5) rejects bigotry and persecution directed against Christians, both in the United States and worldwide; and

(6) expresses its deepest respect to American Christians and Christians throughout the world.

What is wrong with this country!?


Oh, wait. I know why they are doing this. Because religion is under attack. Makes perfect sense now.

You know, I am going to write my representative and ask that the importance of masturbation be recognized.

What is wrong with this country!?

via Joe

Gays, Nukes, Abortion - Impediments To World Peace

So says his hokeyness, Pope Benedict XVI. Odd how he never mentions religous intolerance as an impediment to world peace. Just saying...

"By the power of Gayskull, I impede all world peace!" I had no idea the gays wer SO powerful.

"Everything that serves to weaken the family based on the marriage of a man and woman, everything that directly or indirectly stands in the way of its openness to the responsible acceptance of new life ... constitutes an objective obstacle on the road to peace," Benedict writes.

via The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life

and Andrew Sullivan

My New Teddy Bear

I would like to introduce you to my new Teddy Bear, Muhammad.

Isn't he cute?

Thousands of Sudanese, many armed with clubs and knives, rallied Friday in a central square and demanded the execution of a British teacher convicted of insulting Islam for allowing her students to name a teddy bear "Muhammad."

and



via SFgate

I think Dan Savage has the right idea.

This whole mess cries out for a Teddy Roosevelt. Enough with the "expressions of displeasure" from the diplomats. Someone in the British government needs to deliver a "Perdicaris alive or Raisuli dead!" speech on Gibbons' behalf. And mean it.

Before I go home tonight I’m going to pop across the street to the new Crypt, buy myself a buttplug, and name the fucking thing Mohammed.

Christ.

Charles Darwin From The Grave

Charles Darwin's cold dead skeletal hand is "partly" responsible for the VT shootings.

No, really.

"The president of Creation Worldview Ministries says decades of teaching "evolution only" in public schools and universities is partly responsible for crimes such as the mass shooting earlier this week in Virginia."

via One News Now

Take The America The Beautiful Cruise...and feel the touch of gawd!

"Fully staffed with crew hailing from the U.S. and it's territories"
Well, thank the lord none of them furineers will be serving my my Mai Tai! LORDY!
Take a look at the video and feel the patriotism

Has Anyone Ever Gone To War Because Everyone's Too Reaonable?

May 3, 2007 is National Day of Reason (not endorsed by George Bush).

Religion

I stated my views as an Atheist in a previous post, but lately, I have come to the conclusion religion is actually dangerous for society. It is the kind of thinking this guy in the article holds that only fuel my fear of religions effect of society:

"No you will not teach or show that propagandist Al Gore [referring to An Invconvenient Truth] video to my child, blaming our nation -- the greatest nation ever to exist on this planet -- for global warming," Hardison wrote in an e-mail to the Federal Way School Board.

The 43-year-old computer consultant is an evangelical Christian who says he believes that a warming planet is "one of the signs" of Jesus Christ's imminent return for Judgment Day.

Forget the mischaracterization of An Inconvenient Truth, to say that global climate change is an indication that Judgement Day is around the corner is just nuts! Not only is it nuts, but this line of thinking is dangerous for society as a whole (awfully close to what the Islamo-fascist think). When we have large groups of people that wait for Judgement Day with hope and glee (Judgement Day, BTW, foretells the destruction of earth) is insane! Where does this guy get the idea that global warming is a sign of "Jesus Christ's imminent return for Judgment Day"? He feels it. Truthiness, indeed.

via: sfgate

Religion And The Atheist

I was reminded of a conversation I had with a fried of my not to long ago after I read this article that Andrew Sullivan linked to. My friend is religious, while I am not. If fact, I am pretty much an atheist with the understanding that religion gives great comfort and guidance to many, and I respect that (I say "pretty much" because I don't think much about religion beyond what world affairs, child molesting priests and gay fundementalists bring to the news). Too often people think an atheist is necessarily anti-religious. Not true. At least, not for me. I think anyone can worship whatever they want, just leave me out of it. I actually enjoy discussions about religion because, if anything, religion is a testament to humankind's imagination. Sadly, we live in a society that feels the need to cram down our collective throat their belief. Ironic, or, perhaps not, since I have never tried to convert anyone to my belief that there is no god. But, when pushed, I will usually bring up that, as far as I know, no one has ever gone to war over the the other side's non-belief in god was non-believing enough.

As the conversation progressed, the usual talking points of how much carnage and war religion has brought to the world was brought forth. My friend mentioned that even atheists have brought pain and suffering to the world, like Stalin. True enough, I responded, but then gave this caveat: Stalin did not kill those millions of Russians out of some sense of being an atheist, he did it out of a sense of retaining power over his country, not out of an atheist dogma (an atheist dogma, in the classical sense, would be counter intuitive). The want for power is not the sole provenance of the atheist or the religious. The difference is the want and need for power from a religious person is often wrapped in the cloak of doing "god's work". The want and need for power by an atheist is generally simply the want and need for power, with none of the trapping of a faith to hide inside. One can argue Stalin's atheism, and accompanying Communism, was used as an excuse for the many deaths he caused. If he were to allow religion, he would always be secondary to this faceless god. Simply put, his atheism was a tool to retain power, but not the reason to pursue power. Whereas a religious fanatic uses religion as a reason for his power; the religious fanatic always has the hot line to god, after all!

Does the lack of belief in a god make Stalin's atrocities any less heinous than that of, say, Bin laden's use of his god as reason for killing thousands of people? Certainly not. Religion is used in conflict time and time again as an excuse to spread, ironically, the love of god. In true atheism, there is no such conceit to spread anything. If you are a true atheist, you really shouldn't care what someone else beleives since it doesn't make a difference since what they believe in (god) does not exist and, therefore, has no bearing on our lives. The problem is the religous person has this need to convert the atheist, and that can be annoying.