Republicans insane; want to establish theocracy

[웃 910]

Republicans insane; want to establish theocracy

As I’ve found from reading comments on this site, non-Americans are continually astonished by the extreme degree of both religiosity and idiocy of Republicans in America. Without living here, it’s hard to apprehend how soaked in God our country really is. And if you do live here, it’s so common that you barely notice it. If you want a graphic demonstration, here’s a two-hour-plus video of the “Thanksgiving Family Forum,” a meeting of six Republican presidential candidates in Iowa. They include

Congresswoman Michele Bachmann

Herman Cain

[ex] Speaker Newt Gingrich

Congressman Ron Paul

Texas Governor Rick Perry

Senator Rick Santorum

Start at 36 minutes in if you want to skip the opening prayers, Pledge of Allegiance, and other religious and and patriotic requisites and get right to the insanity of the candidates themselves.

Or, better yet, just skip the video and read Rick Saletan’s piece in Slate, “Rule of the Lord,” which summarizes what these politicians have in mind for America. Here are a few salient quotes:

Herman Cain:

What we are seeing is a wider gap between people of faith and people of nonfaith. … Those of us that are people of faith and strong faith have allowed the nonfaith element to intimidate us into not fighting back. I believe we’ve been too passive. We have maybe

pushed

back, but as people of faith, we have not

fought

back.

Rick Perry:

Somebody’s values are going to decide what the Congress votes on or what the president of the United States is going to deal with. And the question is: Whose values? And let me tell you, it needs to be

our

values—values and virtues that this country was based upon in Judeo-Christian founding fathers . . . in every person’s heart, in every person’s soul, there is a hole that can only be filled by the Lord Jesus Christ.

Michele Bachmann:

American exceptionalism is grounded on the Judeo-Christian ethic, which is really based upon the 10 Commandments. The 10 Commandments were the foundation for our law. That’s what Blackstone said—the English jurist—and our founders looked to Blackstone for the foundation of our law. That’s our law . . . I have a biblical worldview. And I think, going back to the Declaration of Independence, the fact that it’s God who created us—if He created us, He created government. And the government is on His shoulders, as the book of Isaiah says.

Rick Santorum:

Unlike Islam, where the higher law and the civil law are the same, in our case, we have civil laws. But our civil laws have to comport with the higher law. … As long as abortion is legal—at least according to the Supreme Court—legal in this country, we will never have rest, because that law does not comport with God’s law. . . The idea that the only things that the states are prevented from doing are only things specifically established in the Constitution is wrong. Our country is based on a moral enterprise. Gay marriage is wrong. As Abraham Lincoln said, the states do not have the right to do wrong. … As a president, I will get involved, because the states do not have the right to undermine the basic, fundamental values that hold this country together.

And Newt Gingrich, who argues that we should abolish the courts’ power to review the constitutionality of laws:

I am intrigued with something which Robby George at Princeton has come up with, which is an interpretation of the 14

^th

Amendment, in which it says that Congress shall define personhood. That’s very clearly in the 14th Amendment. And part of what I would like to explore is whether or not you could get the Congress to pass a law which simply says: Personhood begins at conception. And therefore—and you could, in the same law, block the court and just say, ‘This will not be subject to review,’ which we have precedent for. You would therefore not have to have a constitutional amendment, because the Congress would have exercised its authority under the 14

^th

Amendment to define life, and to therefore undo all of

Roe vs. Wade

, for the entire country, in one legislative action.

Don’t think for a moment that if religious candidates like these get the upper hand, they won’t do everything in their power to convert their religious values into laws that apply to all of us. And accommodationists wonder why we’re so hard on religious belief! Because, of course, only rarely is such belief a purely private matter. If you think you have God-given truth and morality, it’s almost imperative that you try to impose your values on everyone else, including those who disagree. It’s the Inquisition in latter-day form.

If one of these Republican clowns get elected, it will require the complicity of the religious “moderates” we’re supposed to coddle. Remember that not everyone supporting these people is a fundamentalist or Biblical literalist.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

outside of Michelle Bachman, most of them don't believe half the ####### there coming out of their own mouths.

With that being said, this is no different than Democrats going to the United Socialist Party and talking about how they are going to get the EVIL rich to pay and how they are going to work hard to try Bush for war crimes....

[mawilson 2,133]

Sometimes I fantasize about living in a Jesus freak land, pretending to be a Jesus freak. Quoting random Bible passages as if they mean something... fun fun fun fun fun!

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

That's what Blackstone said—the English jurist—and our founders looked to Blackstone for the foundation of our law.

I wonder how many of them would also embrace Blackstone's Ratio.

[Danno 1,228]

Republicans insane; want to establish theocracy

As I’ve found from reading comments on this site, non-Americans are continually astonished by the extreme degree of both religiosity and idiocy of Republicans in America. Without living here, it’s hard to apprehend how soaked in God our country really is. And if you do live here, it’s so common that you barely notice it.

Republicans insane; want to establish theocracy

I always get a chuckle when I read stuff like this and have to wonder how much American history the author of such silliness could be aware of.

If this country was ever going to become a "Theocracy".... it would have happened long before now for we are much less guided by religion today than anytime in our history.

When you ask for proof of the great calamity that our penchant towards religion has brought to this land..... the best you get is: "Ahhh What about the Salem Witch trials?"

Thats how ridiculous the argument is.

ONe can't help but marvel that with States and Localities operating at will with virtually no constraint from the federal Govt, why there were not serious episodes of American History where Faith turned ugly by forcing people to attend Church or powerful Ministers setting up office at the State house to grant approval of laws or some other functions of Government.

Instead we had the horrors of Blue laws and minor requirements of public office. (No Atheist allowed).

So I would say the Christian faith has been our greatest strength with few notable exceptions.

But on one point I will agree with you, America is Starkly more marinated in Religion than any other Western Country.. and Christianity being that Religion.

I never appreciated that fact until I have visited half a doz. countries myself.

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

Republicans insane; want to establish theocracy

As I've found from reading comments on this site, non-Americans are continually astonished by the extreme degree of both religiosity and idiocy of Republicans in America. Without living here, it's hard to apprehend how soaked in God our country really is. And if you do live here, it's so common that you barely notice it. If you want a graphic demonstration, here's a two-hour-plus video of the "Thanksgiving Family Forum," a meeting of six Republican presidential candidates in Iowa. They include

Congresswoman Michele Bachmann

Herman Cain

[ex] Speaker Newt Gingrich

Congressman Ron Paul

Texas Governor Rick Perry

Senator Rick Santorum

Start at 36 minutes in if you want to skip the opening prayers, Pledge of Allegiance, and other religious and and patriotic requisites and get right to the insanity of the candidates themselves.

Or, better yet, just skip the video and read Rick Saletan's piece in Slate, "Rule of the Lord," which summarizes what these politicians have in mind for America. Here are a few salient quotes:

Herman Cain:

What we are seeing is a wider gap between people of faith and people of nonfaith. … Those of us that are people of faith and strong faith have allowed the nonfaith element to intimidate us into not fighting back. I believe we've been too passive. We have maybe

pushed

back, but as people of faith, we have not

fought

back.

Rick Perry:

Somebody's values are going to decide what the Congress votes on or what the president of the United States is going to deal with. And the question is: Whose values? And let me tell you, it needs to be

our

values—values and virtues that this country was based upon in Judeo-Christian founding fathers . . . in every person's heart, in every person's soul, there is a hole that can only be filled by the Lord Jesus Christ.

Michele Bachmann:

American exceptionalism is grounded on the Judeo-Christian ethic, which is really based upon the 10 Commandments. The 10 Commandments were the foundation for our law. That's what Blackstone said—the English jurist—and our founders looked to Blackstone for the foundation of our law. That's our law . . . I have a biblical worldview. And I think, going back to the Declaration of Independence, the fact that it's God who created us—if He created us, He created government. And the government is on His shoulders, as the book of Isaiah says.

Rick Santorum:

Unlike Islam, where the higher law and the civil law are the same, in our case, we have civil laws. But our civil laws have to comport with the higher law. … As long as abortion is legal—at least according to the Supreme Court—legal in this country, we will never have rest, because that law does not comport with God's law. . . The idea that the only things that the states are prevented from doing are only things specifically established in the Constitution is wrong. Our country is based on a moral enterprise. Gay marriage is wrong. As Abraham Lincoln said, the states do not have the right to do wrong. … As a president, I will get involved, because the states do not have the right to undermine the basic, fundamental values that hold this country together.

And Newt Gingrich, who argues that we should abolish the courts' power to review the constitutionality of laws:

I am intrigued with something which Robby George at Princeton has come up with, which is an interpretation of the 14

^th

Amendment, in which it says that Congress shall define personhood. That's very clearly in the 14th Amendment. And part of what I would like to explore is whether or not you could get the Congress to pass a law which simply says: Personhood begins at conception. And therefore—and you could, in the same law, block the court and just say, 'This will not be subject to review,' which we have precedent for. You would therefore not have to have a constitutional amendment, because the Congress would have exercised its authority under the 14

^th

Amendment to define life, and to therefore undo all of

Roe vs. Wade

, for the entire country, in one legislative action.

Don't think for a moment that if religious candidates like these get the upper hand, they won't do everything in their power to convert their religious values into laws that apply to all of us. And accommodationists wonder why we're so hard on religious belief! Because, of course, only rarely is such belief a purely private matter. If you think you have God-given truth and morality, it's almost imperative that you try to impose your values on everyone else, including those who disagree. It's the Inquisition in latter-day form.

If one of these Republican clowns get elected, it will require the complicity of the religious "moderates" we're supposed to coddle. Remember that not everyone supporting these people is a fundamentalist or Biblical literalist.

NEWS FLASH!!!!! The Republicans have just changed their name to the Party of God.

Republicans insane; want to establish theocracy

I always get a chuckle when I read stuff like this and have to wonder how much American history the author of such silliness could be aware of.

If this country was ever going to become a "Theocracy".... it would have happened long before now for we are much less guided by religion today than anytime in our history.

When you ask for proof of the great calamity that our penchant towards religion has brought to this land..... the best you get is: "Ahhh What about the Salem Witch trials?"

Thats how ridiculous the argument is.

ONe can't help but marvel that with States and Localities operating at will with virtually no constraint from the federal Govt, why there were not serious episodes of American History where Faith turned ugly by forcing people to attend Church or powerful Ministers setting up office at the State house to grant approval of laws or some other functions of Government.

Instead we had the horrors of Blue laws and minor requirements of public office. (No Atheist allowed).

So I would say the Christian faith has been our greatest strength with few notable exceptions.

But on one point I will agree with you, America is Starkly more marinated in Religion than any other Western Country.. and Christianity being that Religion.

I never appreciated that fact until I have visited half a doz. countries myself.

Slavery, any further questions?

[Danno 1,228]

NEWS FLASH!!!!! The Republicans have just changed their name to the Party of God.

Slavery, any further questions?

Slavery? Slavery was theocracy in action?

Actually the conscience of Christianity probably did more to make people aware of need to stop it for most people than anything else.

The few who tried to use a few biblical scriptures to justify it were grossly out numbered by those who didn't.

Your post though is a prime example of my earlier point, fundamentalism, even when it was much more powerful than today was never a threat.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

Slavery. Manifest Destiny. Assimilation. All with very strong ties to Christian thinking and what constituted a proper human being endowed with inalienable rights.

[Danno 1,228]

Slavery. Manifest Destiny. Assimilation. All with very strong ties to Christian thinking and what constituted a proper human being endowed with inalienable rights.

Beside being ridiculous and off point...... you still are far from making the case that a "Theocracy" was ever in the making.

There is a big difference between government being influenced by the faith of the people and Government becoming an instrument of a religion both in law and policy.

Edited November 23, 2011 by Danno

[ready4ONE 5,400]

Beside being ridiculous and off point...... you still are far from making the case that a "Theocracy" was ever in the making.

There is a big difference between government being influenced by the faith of the people and Government becoming an instrument of a religion both in law and policy.

Danno, Danno, Danno... I know you like to believe Christianity has been nothing but a pillar and becon of light, lending nothing but support and divine guiding light to all of humanity blessed by its touch, but let's talk a little reality shall we?

In the days of our founding fathers a proper human being was a White Christian Male. Africans were cursed by God, their skin proof of the same. Thus they were perfectly suitable as slaves. They were, in the good White Christian Male perspective sub-human. Thus perfectly suited to being considered property. Christianity didn't prevent slavery, it reenforced the rightness of slavery.

Native Americans were, from the White Christian Male perspective debatably human, but decidedly animist heathens who did not know God, nor the proper use of land. God wanted this land for good White Christian Males, this is a pillar of Manifest Destiny. God wanted Native Americans to know the Sacred Truth of Christianity, this was a pillar of Assimilation.

While many founding fathers were good White Christian Males, others were not. You have written many very confused posts on this subject. The King of England ruled by Divine Right, and our founding fathers, even the most devout White Christian Males amongst them, fought to create a nation free from that.

You have written many a post consistent with the OP quotes from the ReTaliban presidential hopefuls.