Since the far-right lunies were trounced last November they have tried desperately to find anything they can against Barack Obama. Hannity attacks him for choice of mustard on his burgers, while Limbaugh slams him for holding Americans accountable for their health. The fun never ends with these clowns.
Meanwhile, over at the Wing Nut Daily the two most repeated words from Joseph Farah are "birth certificate". Ever since Barack Obama set his sights on the White House, Farah has been like a pit bull trying to clamp its jaws onto a hapless kitten's windpipe. Day after day, Farah and his goons go on the offensive asserting that Barack Obama was not born in the United States, and therefore according to the Constitution, is not legally president.
Last week all the hubbub was over a copy of Obama's birth certificate, as if that isn't legitimate. This week, it's over the absence of Obama's birth certificate from the National Archive. Why this matters I have no clue. Interestingly, at no point in history has the topic of authenticity of presidential birth certificates become so volatile. Clinton, Bush 41, Bush 43, Reagan, Nixon, Carter - not one of them had their nationality scrutinized.
Note: I have a copy of my birth certificate, and it's just as valid as the original.
Since Farah seems so utterly incapable of reading his own news site, I'm going to use it to thoroughly discredit and embarrass him. In the August 23rd, 2008 edition of the WND, an independent study over this whole pooch screw was released. The article thoroughly discredited the right-wing pawn, JeromeCorsi's blathering that Obama is supposedly Kenyan. From the article we read:
"A separate WND investigation into Obama's birth certificate utilizing forgery experts also found the document to be authentic. The investigation also revealed methods used by some of the bloggers to determine the document was fake involved forgeries, in that a few bloggers added text and images to the certificate scan that weren't originally there."
This is from your own news site, Joe. Now, before this whole birth certificate "scandal" goes on much longer and you suffer further embarrassment, stop beating a horse that has long been dead.
If President Obama truly wasn't born on American soil, then he should be removed from office per the Constitution. But even if it was confirmed that he is in fact Kenyan, I would vote for Obama before a war-mongering, right-wing, lapdog like John McCain.
Sam Wurzelbacher, a.k.a. Joe the Plumber, has popped his head up recently, only to get it thumped again. In a speech he delivered at an event called, "Pints and Politics," Wurzelbacher demonstrated why this man should never be allowed within a 10 mile radius of a microphone.
"Obama right now is talking about, he can generate more revenue by taxing the top 2 to 3 percent of Americans. Well, you know, that's immoral. Just because someone's worked hard, gotten ahead -- it's not your money." Joe continued, "They [The Founders] knew socialism doesn't work. They knew communism doesn't work."
Uh, Joe? Neither of these concepts existed during the lives of the Founders.
As much as I hate taxes, I have to admit they're a necessary evil, something Joe doesn't seem to grasp. Without taxes, there would be no roads, bridges, social programs, or even military.
Will someone please introduce this clown to a economic history book?
Paul Wolfowitz recently wrote an article for the Salt Lake Tribune on June 19th simply titled, "Obama needs to change stance on Iran". The basic premise of the article is the same rhetoric that's been coming from the neo-con lunatic fringe like Lindsey Graham and Mike Pence - that the president is weak, passive, timid, etc.
The United States has a history of intervening in the politics and affairs of other nations. Each time it was because of national interest and preservation. It also has a history of non-intervention as well. Founders such as Thomas Paine, George Washington, John Adams, James Monroe, and Thomas Jefferson had strong warnings against meddling in the internal affairs of other nations. But it wasn't until the 20th century during the Teddy Roosevelt administration that American intervention became prominent. His administration prided itself in the fact that they didn't drag the country into World War I. In fact, the administration's slogan eventually became, "He kept us out of war." But it wasn't before long that the United States did become involved in WWI.
After the entrance of the United States into World War II, intervention became one of the crown jewels in American foreign policy. Every administration since Harry Truman has at least one account of intervention. Perhaps the most famous and alluded to account of American intervention took place during the Reagan administration when he called Mikhail Gorbachev onto the carpet and demanded, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" So-called "conservatives" love bringing up the specter of Ronald Reagan, even though he left the country $2 trillion in debt when his presidency ran its course.
But we're talking about Iran, not the Eastern Bloc. Much different scenario.
American intervention in Iranian politics began with Operation Ajax, which was the blueprint for the overthrow of Mohammed Mosaddeq in 1953, the democratically elected Prime Minister of Iran. The British government accused Mosaddeq with violating rights to the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, which made Britain increasingly wealthy. Britain subsequently approached the Truman administration with a plan to dethrone Mosaddeq, but Truman washed his hands clean of the plan. However, the plan resurfaced during the Eisenhower administration who accepted it with open arms. Eisenhower allowed the CIA to engage in its first covert operation, and Mosaddeq was ousted from power in 1953. Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was placed in power. Pahlavi himself was overthrown in 1979 by the Islamic Revolution, and a brutal theocracy was born.
Less than 1 year later, conflict erupted between Iran and Iraq over border disputes and fear of Shi'a insurgency. The conflict claimed the lives of over 188,000 Iranians, over 100,000 of which were killed by chemical weapons and nerve gas. The sad reality is through American intervention these weapons were sold by the United States to Iraq under Saddam Hussein. Hussein would later use these weapons against Kurds in the northern region of his country. Even after it was learned that Hussein was using nerve gas on his own people, the Reagan administration continued to sell weapons of mass destruction to his administration. To date, Iranians are still angry over the fact that the United States gave its weapons and resources to Iraq. It should be of little surprise that the phrase, "Death to America!" practically cakes the ceilings of the mosques in Tehran.
It was later learned that the Carter administration supported Iraq's invasion of Iran because he felt it would hasten the release of US political prisoners being held in Tehran, in spite of the fact that Iraq was placed on a terrorist state watch list on December 29, 1979.
Ten years after the end of the Iran-Iraq war, the United States entered Kuwait to evict the Iraqis who had invaded the country. After ongoing talks with US ambassador April Glaspie, who informed Hussein that "We have no opinion on the Arab-Arab conflicts, like your border disagreement with Kuwait." Apparently, this meant a green light for Saddam to invade Kuwait, who began amassing troops along the Iraq-Kuwait border in July 1990. In January 1991, bombs started to fall in Baghdad, and less than 10 hours later all communications and power were lost in the city. Immediately after the aerial assault the ground war began, and 100 hours later President George H. W. Bush declared victory.
The irony of the Gulf War is that in 1994, then Defense Secretary Cheney stated that if troops "finished the job" in Baghdad and took out Saddam it would have been a quagmire. But lo' and behold, 19 years later, Bush 43 decided to invade Iraq after scaring the bejeezus out of the American public with reports of WMDs. $900 billion, 100,000 dead Iraqis, and 4,315 dead American troops later, Cheney admitted what the rest of us knew all along - that Gulf War II was a war of choice. No WMDs were ever found in Iraq, not to mention no proof of Iraq's involvement in 9/11.
I think the video below pretty much sums up American foreign policy in Iraq. Yep, that's Donald Rumsfeld shaking hands with a dictator in 1983.
Funny how neocons like Sean Hannity love to slam President Obama for saying that he would be willing to meet with Ahmadinejad, but give Rumsfeld a pass for shaking hands with a known murderer.
So, if this is Mr. Wolfowitz's idea of President Obama being tougher with Iranian dictators, I want no part of it. Ahmadinejad has already stated that the blood of Iranian civilians is on the hands of Western countries, primarily the UK and the US. If that's the case, how much more blood are you willing to be spilled, Paul?
In case you've been living under a rock for the past week, there's been a presidential election there. The incumbent, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has declared victory, while the challenger Mir Hussein Mousavi and his followers cry fowl. As a result, Tehran has been in turmoil as tens of thousands loyal to Mousavi have taken to the streets in protest. Personally, I'm in lockstep with the protesters.
But what really puzzles me is why the United States House of Representatives felt it was absolutely essential to vote on resolution to show moral support for dissenters in Tehran. House Resolution 506, introduced by Rep. Mike Pence (R-Indiana) states the following:
RESOLUTION
Expressing support for all Iranian citizens who embrace the values of freedom, human rights, civil liberties, and rule of law, and for other purposes.
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— (1) expresses its support for all Iranian citizens who embrace the values of freedom, human rights, civil liberties, and rule of law; (2) condemns the ongoing violence against demonstrators by the Government of Iran and pro-government militias, as well as the ongoing government suppression of independent electronic communication through interference with the Internet and cellphones; and (3) affirms the universality of individual rights and the importance of democratic and fair elections.
I think it's safe to say that most of the civilized world is on the the side of those who seek freedom in Iran. In an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, Pence said "I appreciate the fact that the president said the protesters have a right to be heard and represented, and I appreciate the fact that he said he is troubled. But I respectfully disagree with the administration's decision to essentially draw the line at not meddling and not interfering."
The overall tone from the Republicans has been just shy of sabre-rattling while accusing the president of being soft and timid toward Iranian hardliners. Some have even evoked the name of Ronald Reagan and his famous "Tear down this wall" speech to Mikhail Gorbachev, in an attempt to draw correlations between Obama's "softness" and the situation in Iran.
I can hear it now - "Mr. Khamenei, give the presidency to Mousavi! We demand it!"
Please.
Senator John McCain has back-pedaled from his previous statements in which he was also said Obama was timid. John McCain is the last person that should be offering the president any foreign policy advice toward Iran. Jokes about bombing Iran is not foreign policy, Senator.
So what do Congressman Pence and his like-minded peers hope to achieve with their little resolution? Is it really necessary to waste the time and effort to draft a resolution like this? What do they think will happen - that Iranians will just stop what they're doing and kiss their feet?
Let's say that the president does come out with a stronger approach toward Ahmedinejad and Khamenei while Mousavi and his supporters embrace President Obama with open arms. What would likely happen is the current leadership would label Mousavi as friendly toward the "Great Satan", and the blood that is already spilling in the streets of Tehran would only increase. What would be your intervention approach then, Congressman Pence - a fleet of aircraft carriers and tanks?
While Republicans have been calling the president timid toward Iranian foreign policy, even Henry Kissinger said "the president has handled the situation well," during a recent interview on Fox News. He went on to say, "Anything that the United States says that puts us totally behind one of the contenders, behind Mousavi, would be a handicap for that person. And I think it’s the proper position to take that the people of Iran have to make that decision...and I think it was the right thing to do because the public support for the opposition would only be used by the - by Ahmadinehad...against Mousavi." Ironically, John McCain has recently said in his Facebook page that Kissinger is the "smartest man in the world!"
So here's a friendly foreign policy reminder for Mike Pence and those Republicans who call themselves "conservative":
"The great rule of conduct for us, in regard to domestic nations, is in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible. Europe has a set of primary interests, which to us have none, or a very remote relation. Hence she must be engaged in frequent controversies the causes of which are essentially foreign to our concerns. Hence, therefore, it must be unwise in us to implicate ourselves, by artificial ties, in the ordinary vicissitudes of her politics, or the ordinary combinations and collisions of her friendships or enmities."
George Washington's Farewell Address, 1796
By the way, the resolution passed overwhelmingly 405 to 1. Anyone want to guess who voted "No"?
A couple of weeks ago I told you about former Southern Baptist Convention vice president, Wiley Drake, and his admission that he was praying for the death of President Obama. His commentary was so volatile that even fellow pastors in the SBC gave Drake a very wide berth. It seems that this idea of imprecatory prayer has been spreading like wildfire as of late. It turns out that former Navy chaplain Gordon Klingenschmitt is now wishing death upon those who dare to think for themselves. I seem to remember Jesus as saying to pray for your enemies, not wishing them dead.
In April, Klingenschmitt released a podcast called "The One-Minute Prayer," in which he called for the death of freethinkers Barry Lynn and Mikey Wienstein. Hit the play button to hear the clip. Here is the transcript of the prayer:
"One-Minute Prayer: Let us pray. Almighty God, today we pray imprecatory prayers from Psalm 109 against the enemies of religious liberty, including Barry Lynn and Mikey Weinstein, who issued press releases this week attacking me personally. God, do not remain silent, for wicked men surround us and tell lies about us. We bless them, but they curse us. Therefore find them guilty, not me. Let their days be few, and replace them with Godly people. Plunder their fields, and seize their assets. Cut off their descendants, and remember their sins, in Jesus' name. Amen."
For those of you who may not know, Barry Lynn is the host of "Culture Shocks", a daily web broadcast, and an outspoken advocate of separation of church and state. Mikey Wienstein is an Air Force Academy graduate who spent 3 years in the White House during the Reagan administration has his own website, and is also an outspoken advocate for separation of church and state. Interestingly, Lynn is an ordained minister.
Klingenschmitt believes that he was wrongfully court-martialed from the Navy in 2007 because he was praying in Jesus' name in public. In reality, he was canned for disobeying a Navy rule that prohibits taking part in a political rally in front of the White House in uniform alongside known racist and former Alabama Supreme Court justice Roy Moore. Being a veteran, I can assure you that showing up in uniform at a political rally is illegal.
Klingenschmitt put out the divine hit on the lives of Lynn and Wienstein after they sent a joint letter to the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Gary Roughead, informing him that he [Klingenschmitt] was violating federal law by misusing a military uniform. Because of this letter, Klingenschmitt was forced to offer a disclaimer informing visitors to his website that he is no longer a Navy chaplain. Not surprising, however, he still refers to himself as such.
The glaring irony of Klingenschmitt's stance is that he claims to support religious freedom. I'm not sure if he knew, but religious freedom does not mean indoctrinating or proselytizing military members with a very specific religious worldview. Rather, it means letting an individual have the liberty to choose which religion is right for him or her, or even if they want to worship at all. The First Amendment is there to protect Americans from religious tyranny, and separation of church and state is possibly the most important aspect of our form of government. Leave it up to right-wing thugs like Klingenschmitt and Drake to take this vital part of our culture and twist it into a demonstrable lie.
In related news, the military is now denying that its members are trying to convert Muslims in Afganistan. According to Klingenschmitt, "It's not proselytizing. It's evangelism." What the difference is I have no idea. It was learned that Christians in the military were carrying Bibles in Pashtu and Dari to give to Afghans, a blatant violation of General Order 1. The Bibles were subsequently confiscated and burned.
In somewhat related news, scientists have determined (again) that intercessory prayer for the sick and injured does little if anything to help them recover. Why universities keep wasting their money on the link between prayer and health I have no idea.
I just love when Rush Limbaugh opens his mouth and blathers on about things he doesn't understand. If only his listeners could think for themselves.
In the June 11th edition Limbaugh's radio program, he stated that people who exercise regularly put undue strain on national health care. Apparently, Rush took exception to comments from President Obama when he said, "If we can get somebody first of all who is overweight to lose weight so they don't become diabetic, we save money."
Diabetes costs Americans over $27 billion a year. What's worse is that it's preventable. But true to form, Limbaugh tossed logic and reason aside for the sake of political identity. I'm starting to think that Limbaugh would hack off his own arm with a rusty butter knife than find common ground with his political opponents.
Hit the play button to hear Rush's response:
Let's take a look at the facts, Rush.
According to the CDC, $475 billion will be spent on heart disease in 2009. Things that contribute to the increase in heart disease in America are use of tobacco products, a crappy diet, and little or no activity.
The use of tobacco products alone contributes to ~$200 billion in unnecessary health costs. Chugging on tobacco products the way you do is not a good idea if you want to fight heart disease, Rush.
About $93 billion is spent every year on complications due to obesity.
In 2008, the overall cost of diabetes was ~$27 billion.
The cost of physical inactivity also takes a toll on the workplace. In 2007, over $58 billion in revenue was lost due to illnesses and other complications due to physical inactivity and poor health.
However, injuries sustained during sports or recreation are about $117 billion. Which is more costly?
It's truly astonishing how out of touch this man really is. Leave it up to Limbaugh to slam those who are passionate about life enough to get out of their house and go do something with their lives. Maybe if you got off your ass once in a while instead of eating painkillers like candy and chomping on cigars every 10 minutes, you might start to feel better, Rush.
It was only a matter of time before the Obama administration was the target of racism by high-ranking Republican officials. But I didn't think the first target would be the president's wife.
Rusty DePass (R-SC) is deservedly under heavy fire for recent comments he made toward Michelle Obama. After a gorilla escaped from the Riverbank Zoo in Columbia, SC, the former campaign manager for Rudy Giuliani wrote on his Facebook page, "I'm sure it's just one of Michelle's ancestors - probably harmless." Suddenly, conservatives accept evolution. How lovely. Of course, DePass offered a less than contrite apology.
Too late, douchebag.
Update:
Sherri Goforth, a staffer for state Senator Diane Black (R-TN) is under fire herself for submitting this picture by e-mail to some of her associates. Too bad for her that she sent it to the wrong people. When pressured if she understood the racial tone of the image, Goforth simply responded, “I went on the wrong email and I inadvertently hit the wrong button. I’m very sick about it, and it’s one of those things I can’t change or take back.”
Like most right-wing troglodytes who consider themselves the apex of the American ideal, you reveal your utter ignorance of patriotism and what it truly means to be an American. Running around in a 4x4 donned in a Native American head dress and war paint while blowing a squirrel away with a .50 cal doesn't make you an American, let alone a man. Hate speech has nothing to do with the 1st Amendment, and the 2nd Amendment doesn't mean owning an entire arsenal of weapons.
While perusing the net tonight I came across this picture. I knew you were a bottom feeder of the Republican party who panders to the drones of the far right wing, but this is sad.
Unlike yourself, Ted, I didn't dodge service to my country. I served in the United States Air Force from 1995 to 2003, therefore I reserve the right to tell you to stop wiping your ass with the flag I helped defend. United States Code, Title 4, Chapter 1, Section 8d states:
The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free. Bunting of blue, white, and red, always arranged with the blue above, the white in the middle, and the red below, should be used for covering a speaker's desk, draping the front of the platform, and for decoration in general.
Thanks for kicking all of us veterans, POWs, MIAs, and KIAs in the stomach, Ted.
In the May 29th edition of the Centre Daily Times (CDT) , one Billie Kay Johnson of Lewistown, PA wrote a letter to the editor expressing her disdain for the recent decision by the federal government to increase in excise taxes on tobacco products. The primary reason for her complaint is that it hurts local business, although she didn't provide an example.
The writer believes that smokers are being "unfairly singled out." Somehow this means that smokers are likely to head out of state to get their hands on cheap cigarettes. The author closes by admonishing us to "think clearly" about this.
Happy to oblige!
The excise tax that the author refers to will affect smokers in Pennsylvania by adding a $1.35 tax on a single pack of cigarettes. The tax increases in New York and New Jersey are even higher at $2.75 and $2.58 respectively. Maryland's increase is $2.00, Ohio's increase is $1.25, Delaware's increase is $1.15, and West Virginia's increase is $.55 (of course).These tax increases will take effect on July 1st.
So that means that if you live in Central Pennsylvania, you have to drive at least 2 - 3 hours to WV if you want to save money on your nicotine addiction. With gas currently at ~$2.60 per gallon, how traveling to WV to save money on one pack of cigarettes is a mystery.
This is what the the author doesn't tell you:
As of the time of this writing, Pennsylvania is the only state that does not have an excise tax.
Among the ingredients that can be found in cigarettes are over 400 toxins including - toluene, cyanide, arsenic, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, ammonia, DDT, cadmium, and benzene. Ask any smoker if they'd willingly ingest these chemicals and they'll likely say, "No."
Taxes placed on tobacco products brings the states about $22 billion annually, a large portion of which goes to smoking cessation programs.
Use of tobacco products claim over 440,000 lives annually in the US, and 4 million worldwide.
Over 8 million people in the US contract illness due to smoking.
Tobacco-related illness costs Pennsylvanians over $5 billion annually, and about $200 billion nationally.
Second-hand smoke leads to at least 35,000 illnesses across the country annually.
Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of death in the US.
The good news is that after decades of trying to give the FDA regulatory authority over tobacco products (and being stumped by the previous administration), Congress has finally succeeded. The bill is headed to President Obama who, despite struggling with his own nicotine addiction, says he is eager to sign it into law. The bill:
Creates a tobacco control center within the FDA and gives the FDA authority to regulate the content, marketing and sale of tobacco products to protect public health.
Requires tobacco companies and importers to reveal all product ingredients and seek FDA approval for any new tobacco products.
Allows the FDA to change tobacco product content to protect the public health.
Bans the use of flavors, including candies and fruit flavors, in tobacco products.
Calls for new rules that would prevent sales to minors except through direct, face-to-face exchanges between a retailer and a consumer. Limits advertising that could attract young smokers.
Strengthens warning labels.
Bars the use of expressions such as "light, "mild" or "low" that give the impression that a tobacco product poses less of a health risk.
So, here's a suggestion for those of you who hate the thought of driving to West Virginia to buy your cigarettes - Instead of spending all that money on gas, cigarettes, and trips to the hospital because of your nasty habit, why not spend it on a mountain bike instead and stop smoking?
I'm borrowing a page from Peter Buckland - I'm posting some of my own pictures.
I currently own a Canon Rebel XT (350D) digital SLR, a handful of filters, a 28-105mm lens, and a 100-300mm lens. It's not a great set-up, but what do you expect on a limited budget?
So here are a few pics. They're not great, but I hope you enjoy.
There are a lot of sheeple in America. The latest cable news ratings by Nielsen prove it.
I hear so much from the right-wing talking heads about patriotism and truth-telling these days that it hurts my brain. I respect differences of opinion so long as no one is hurt, killed, or lies aren't handed out like bad checks. But there are times that the bullshit gets so deep, and the truth so stretched, you have to say something about it.
Take Sean Hannity, for example - the biggest liar Fix News has to offer. Sean's a lonely little man that can't help but attack the current president while fellating the former president every chance he gets. Sean banks his success on the hope that his audience is too stupid to do any real research that proves him wrong. As if attacking the president for recently ordering a cheeseburger with brown mustard wasn't lame enough, he continues to label Obama as a 9/11 sympathizer and a Muslim. There's no proof that Obama is any of this, but does Sean let that stop him? Hell no!
In the clip below, Sean attacks the president by claiming he "decided to give 9-11 sympathizers a voice on the world stage."
No, Sean, he didn't...
"He went on to imply to the foreign audience in Cairo that the U.S. is a nation that tortures."
Sadly, Sean, we do...
"Iraq was a war of choice."
It was a war of choice, Sean. Even the former veep finally admitted to this.
Watch Sean lie his arse off in the clip below. Hit play:
What the little coward isn't tell you is the rest of Obama's speech:
"The situation in Afghanistan demonstrates America's goals, and our need to work together. Over seven years ago, the United States pursued al Qaeda and the Taliban with broad international support. We did not go by choice; we went because of necessity. I'm aware that there's still some who would question or even justify the events of 9/11. But let us be clear: Al Qaeda killed nearly 3,000 people on that day. The victims were innocent men, women and children from America and many other nations who had done nothing to harm anybody. And yet al Qaeda chose to ruthlessly murder these people, claimed credit for the attack, and even now states their determination to kill on a massive scale. They have affiliates in many countries and are trying to expand their reach. These are not opinions to be debated; these are facts to be dealt with."
So where is the outrage from the right regarding Sean's lying, trashing of public schools, falsely claiming that Obama said we're a Muslim nation, and petty bickering about choice of mustard? Right-wingers, why you continue to get your news from a liar and racist who says to love our military (he really doesn't) but never set foot in it is beyond me. Listen - you can't have it both ways. Either you're honest or you're not. Either you call a spade a spade or you don't. I might disagree with a lot of your politics, but please - when is enough enough? When will you stop playing politics and join the rest of humanity?
Tell me, Sean - what part of lying makes you a great American? By the way, we're still waiting to watch you get waterboarded.
A right-wing, religious nutjob uses a holy book to justify his beliefs that someone should die.
Shock.
Former Southern Baptist Convention officer, Wiley Drake, has stated in an interview with Alan Colmes that he is praying for the death of President Obama. During the interview, Drake said that his prayers were answered that George Tiller was killed, after which he turned his hatred to President Obama. From the Associated Baptist Press we read:
"Imprecatory prayer is agreeing with God, and if people don't like that, they need to talk to God," Drake told syndicated talk-show host Alan Colmes. "God said it, I didn't. I was just agreeing with God."
Asked if there are others for whom Drake is praying "imprecatory prayer," Drake hesitated before answering that there are several. "The usurper that is in the White House is one, B. Hussein Obama," he said.
Later in the interview, Colmes returned to Drake's answer to make sure he heard him right.
"Are you praying for his death?" Colmes asked.
"Yes," Drake replied.
"So you're praying for the death of the president of the United States?"
"Yes."
Colmes asked Drake if he was concerned that by saying that he might be placed on a Secret Service or FBI watch list, and if he believed it appropriate to talk or pray that way. "I think it's appropriate to pray the Word of God," Drake said. "I'm not saying anything. What I am doing is repeating what God is saying, and if that puts me on somebody's list, then I'll just have to be on their list."
"You would like for the president of the United States to die?" Colmes asked once more.
"If he does not turn to God and does not turn his life around, I am asking God to enforce imprecatory prayers that are throughout the Scripture that would cause him death, that's correct."
First of all, imprecatory prayer isn't agreeing with God - it's wishing evil upon someone, or cursing them. There are several Hebrew words that are synonymous with the word “imprecate,” each one in some sense or another meaning, “to curse.” This lunatic thinks that God's on his side because George Tiller died. Since this piece of trash knows so little about the Bible, once again I have to inform the "Christian" leadership in this country about what the Bible says.
Hey, Wiley - pay attention!
Ephesians 6:12 - "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
President Obama is a man - flesh and blood. Therefore, your battle isn't against him.
By the way, Wiley, I doubt you knew this because your seething rage and hatred blinds you to reality, but this is what the Bible says about people in positions of authority and heads of state:
Daniel 2:21 - "And he [God] changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:"
Daniel 4:17 - "This decision is by the decree of the watchers, and the sentence by the word of the holy ones, In order that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men."
Daniel 5:21 - "And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will."
John 19:10-11 - "Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin."
Romans 13:1 - "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God."
1 Peter 2:13-17 - "Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king."
And this is what Jesus had to say about those who hate:
Matthew 5:21-22 - "Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire."
So, since you're supposed to be God's ambassador to the human race, Wiley, who are you to question his authority and decision-making?
Penguins are next on Gawd's shortlist of hell-bound sinners! First they were caught trying to have sex with each other, and now they're now raising families. How dare they corrupt the balance of the animal kingdom by such insolence! Just who do they think they are?! Male and female married couples are meant to raise orphans, not ocean-going, fish-eating homosexual birds!
And where in the hell is Fred Phelps when you need him?!
An apparent homosexual penguin couple at a zoo in Germany have been documented raising a chick from an egg that has been abandoned by its .
Seriously, if you think that a gay penguin couple is immoral and are dragging the planet to hell, you are in dire need of psychological help.
Debate any creationist on astronomy or evolution, and you're likely to be met with a sneer. If you ask them to give a scientific alternative to either of these topics, they'll shut right up. If you ask what the red shift is, and they'll shut right up. Prove that their holy book of choice is not inerrant, and they'll shut right up. Ask them to reconcile Matthew 2:1-6 with Luke 2:1-6, and they'll shut right up. Nope, it's not very difficult to pull the rug out from under a fundamental creationist. Especially those who claim to love science, but don't have the first clue about the scientific method, let alone a theory.
Over the past few weeks I have been debating the fundies over at Ray's blog. The more questions I ask, the more I'm met with silence. It's annoying.
Skeptics often ask creationists for evidence of their claims, which always starts with, "In the begininning..." or some variant of "Abracadabra!" But whenever a creationist asks for evidence for the Big Bang, or evolutionary biology, they practically have the evidence thrown at them. Taxonomy, geology, astrophysics, chemistry, genetics, biology, you name it - the evidence there by the boatload for them to sift through. But the moment it's given to them, creationists just shrug it off like it doesn't exist. And the whole time, they say they love science.
Bologna sauce!
Enter 1 Peter 3:15. It says:
"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:"
In other words, if you want to put that loud-mouthed, sniveling, snot-nosed creationist in their place, ask them a question about life or the universe based on science, cite this verse, and they'll flee from the Bible like a plague.
The text declares Job as a righteous man and that he has nothing to do with evil. He is wise, kind, and generous to those around him. He prayed constantly for his sons and daughters for the sins they may have unwittingly committed, and gave burnt offerings on their behalf. Even though he was blameless, everything he owned, and the sons and daughters he loved, were ripped away from him. His wife in essence blames Job for their loss, and even though his friends come to comfort him, they also blame Job. But even in the worst of his pain, he worshiped God and praised him.
However, Job eventually realizes what is happening to him. Even though the Bible declares Job is blameless, Job makes the correct assumption that, "though I am blameless, God will declare me guilty." In other words, Job realizes that he is powerless against God, who decides that he should be guilty of something.
When God finally reveals himself to Job, he addresses none of the concerns or questions that Job has. He doesn't ask Job if he's alright. He doesn't give comfort to Job. He doesn't heal Job's boils. He doesn't provide water to drink. He offers nothing. Instead, God proceeds to give Job a guilt trip. God goes on self-absorbed ego trip, drunk with power, and begins to assault Job with questions and demands for Job to display the awesome power that God can. Of course, God knows that Job can't possibly answer or perform the miracles he asks for, but he demands these things anyway.
The amazing aspect of this display of God's power, is that God seems to enjoy beating Job down and humiliating him. Even after Job offers to repent in ashes for questioning God's presence, God continues to pummel Job, demanding that he rival God's power. But the irony of this tirade against Job is that Job never once questioned God's power, only where God was during his suffering. Furthermore, the only one to defend God throughout Job's suffering was Job, himself. Yet God sees fit to take Job to the woodshed, anyway.
Job knew that he hadn't sinned against God and dared to ask, "I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself? And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away my iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be." In other words, "Have I sinned against you, God? Why do you hate me to the point so that you make me my own worst enemy? I'm begging you to forgive me; but you refuse to. Why?"
We ultimately realize that Job was caught in the middle of a cosmic game of cat and mouse between God and Satan. As chapter 2, verse 3 tells us, "...thou [Satan] movedst me [God] against him [Job], to destroy him without cause." God had been tempted by Satan to move against Job to "destroy him without cause"? I thought the Bible clearly teaches that God cannot be tempted? In short, God gives in to Satan's wiles to destroy a just man without any reason.
In the final chapter, verse 11, we learn that God restores Job's wealth even more than it was before his troubles began. We also learn that God gives Job 7 new sons and 3 new daughters, as if this would somehow wipe Job's memory of the first smile of his firstborn child. Job's friends, brothers, sisters, and even mere acquaintances go to Job's house to eat and drink with him, and to comfort him from the "evil that the Lord had brought upon him." Evil that was visited upon a blameless man from a "just" and "holy" god.
In closing, I have a question for Christians who believe that the Book of Job is a beautiful passage of God's divine love and providence to his faithful:
If this is the god you serve - a god who can be swayed by evil to allow a righteous and just man to be destroyed - how then can you be assured of Heaven?
One day as God was doing the things that only one of unlimited capacity can do, Satan arrived among an escort of angels. Upon arrival, God asked Satan, "From whence comest thou?" to which Satan replied, "from going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it."
The conversation between God and Satan was very similar to the first conversation mentioned in chapter 1. But this time God informs Satan that he may do whatever he wants to Job. The only condition that applied is that Satan spares Job his life. Satan departed from God, and attacked Job from head to toe with boils. The only comfort that Job can find is through the shard of a clay pot as he tried to scrape the boils from his body.
You would figure that the one person in Job's life who would offer him comfort was his wife, but she simply told him to curse God and die. Job rebuked his wife and sinned against God not once throughout the whole ordeal. Three of Job's friends come to his aid to try to bring him some level of comfort. They could see that Job was in terrible pain, and they stayed with him for 7 days and 7 nights, comforting him.
After losing his wealth and family, and trying to suffer through the boils that had afflicted him, Job finally breaks down and reveals his humanity by cursing the day of his birth. For the next 36 chapters, Job pleads for God's presence. Job implores of God in 7:20-21, "I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself? And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away my iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be." He begs God to forgive him for any sin he might have committed for the calamity that has come upon Job, but God remains silent.
The chapters between 2 and 38 reveal Job and his friends struggling in vain to determine the cause of Job's misery. They spend days and nights pondering on the ways of God, but Job's friends ultimately decide that the cause of his suffering is some forgotten sin. As one of Job's friends indicates, "those who plow iniquity and those who sow trouble harvest it." In spite of the interrogation from his friends, Job maintains his innocence, which forces him to realize, "Though I am righteous, my mouth will condemn me; Though I am guiltless, He will declare me guilty."
Finally, after days and nights of silence, God reveals himself to Job in a whirlwind. But instead of bringing solace and love to Job, God is furious with his servant. God sidesteps the questions that Job had justly asked regarding the whereabouts of God, and begins to brutally interrogate Job.
The interrogation begins in chapter 38, verse 1, when God demands "Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?" For 4 chapters God hammers away at Job with questions and demands that he knows Job can't answer nor perform. Every question relates to God's great power, but not one addresses the health and safety of Job.
Job, realizing he's in the middle of a losing battle, offers up a white flag by confessing, "Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further." But even after Job had surrendered, God's onslaught continued. "Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous? Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?"
After Job had received the mother of all verbal beat downs, God finally relents, but not before turning his wrath from Job to his friends. Even though they were the only ones who brought any comfort to Job, God tells Eliphaz, "My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath." God then commands Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar to give him a burnt offering so their sins may be forgiven, in spite of the fact that they were the ones who defended God during Job's suffering.
God had gotten got the best of Job, who admits that he is nothing. Job even goes so far to say that he abhors himself for questioning God in the first place, and repents.
Job's story ends with him acquiring twice the riches he had before his troubles began. He was also given 7 more sons and 3 more daughters, whose beauty was unmatched in all of Uz. Job lived for 140 more years, and died "being old and full of days."
When I considered myself a faithful Christian, my favorite book in the Bible was the Book of Job. I liked the story of Job because it appealed to the spiritual part of me, but mostly because it appealed to the scientific part of me. I've always been curious about the world around us, particularly the night sky. It is in Job 38:31-33 that God reveals Job's ignorance to him when God asked Job:
"Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons? Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth"
When I read these words, I used to get choked up. It was in these verses, that God revealed my ignorance to me. Truly, I had taken my first steps in understanding God's dominion over the sky that I adored so much.
Or had I?
The Book of Job begins by giving a succinct description of Job as an upright man and had wanted to have nothing to with evil. He had a large family of 7 sons and 3 daughters, and God had blessed him with great wealth because of Job's loyalty and obedience. Job enjoyed the best life in the land of Uz, but horror, bloodshed, and agony was about to visit Job and turn his world inside out as the Bible says, "without any reason or cause."
One day as God was doing the things that only one of unlimited capacity can do, Satan arrived among an escort of angels. Upon arrival, God asked Satan, "Where have you come from?" to which Satan replied, "Coming from to and fro on the earth, walking up and down on it." God then asks Satan, "Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?" to which Satan replied, "Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face."
God then informed Satan that he could do whatever he wanted to Job, but he couldn't lay a hand on him.
Satan departed from God's presence and struck everything that Job owned. One after another, servants of Job rush to him, citing the terrible events that had unfolded. First, his cattle were stolen and his servants were killed by a group of Sabeans, save the one who lived to tell Job. While the servant was still speaking, a shepherd of Job's rushed to him, informing him that the fire of God fell from the sky, consuming all of his sheep and the remaining shepherds.
Yet, while the shepherd was still speaking, another servant came to Job, and told him that 3 groups of Chaldeans stole his camels and killed his servants, save the one who lived to tell the tale. No sooner had he finished telling his story, did another servant come to Job and told him that his sons had been killed while they were enjoying dinner and wine with their sisters.
Place yourself in Job's shoes for a moment, and try to imagine what he must have been feeling. Everything he had ever worked for is gone. His sons are dead, his cattle, sheep, and camels were stolen. Any normal human being would have found the nearest blade to fall on it. But Job fell to his knees, worshipped God, and blessed him.
And through it all, Job sinned not once against God nor blamed God.
The temperature in hell has dropped another 4 degrees.
Thanks for finally admitting something that we've all known for 7 years, Dick. $675 billion, over 4,000 dead American troops, over 100,000 dead Iraqis, and billions and billions in fraud, waste, and abuse. How fat has your wallet gotten since you left office, Dick?
Hey, Rush? Why are we in Iraq again? Sean? Glenn? O'Reilly? Quinn? Rose? Anybody?
Again, do you Republicans wonder why you had your asses handed to you last November?
Watch Dick make as ass of himself (there's a joke in there somewhere) in this 1994 clip regarding Iraq.
