Christ. Because he changed my heart.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

This is what the guy who said "Fuck Saddam, we're taking him out" said when asked who his favorite philosopher was.

This is what the man who, when asked what he and his father discussed when alone responded, "pussy" said...when asked who his favorite philosopher was.

And America bought it.

[wtmusic]

1. I've often thought that man's soul would benefit

by spending 5-10 years with the Peace Corps in India.

[Kool Kitty]

5. Maybe, but I think that in order

for that to work, he'd have to have a soul to begin with. And I don't think he has one.

[question everything]

11. And a brain n/t

[SlavesandBulldozers]

2. yeah

and Christ just called me and told me that if I talk to George tell him that Christ accidentally gave him the heart of Vlad the Impaler, and forgot entirely to replace the brain.

[opiate69]

17. Hey! Don't insult Vlad like that!

[RandomKoolzip]

3. "Leo Strauss. Because he gave me an excuse to act like Stalin

and simultaneously cover my ass with the spectre of unearned divine providence."

- Bush's answer if he had an honest bone in his body.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

6. Ain't that the frikkin truth?

[redqueen]

68. Nailed it

But, do you think he knows who Strauss is? I doubt most people that vote for republicans even know who he is. If they did, maybe a few more would wake the hell up already.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Reemember

he is a MINORITY PRESIDENT

[Cleita]

7. Jesus probably would have forgiven the dirtbag after

throwing him out of the Temple for money changing. Christ is a really Greek concept that no one has addressed yet. Any scholars want to stick your necks out and continue the dialogue Joseph Campbell started?

[rumguy]

8. I'm watching this and it is fuckin' scary

He's a Jesus freak, he's a monster of religion....

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

10. Did you see that poster of him just now

with the black background and the word Christian with his arm stretched out? His eyes looked completely evil. That was a SCARY pic.

[otohara]

60. My Impression - He Converted to Win Election

after he saw that his opponent in house run was a Christian and it worked in his favor. All pics of Bush frighten me.

[thecrow]

63. "Frontline" did say

(as a quote of *W*)
"This*  could work in Texas"

*campaigning on evangelical principles

[jobycom]

15. He's not religious, it's all an act

He's a drunken, womanizing, mean, murdering, lying bastard. He no more believes the religious stuff he spews than Jimmy Swaggart did.

I've got a brother like him. Disgusting, parasitic criminal. He tells everyone that he's found Jesus, that Jesus is helping him become a better person. He uses that story to get little old ladies to take him in so he can rob them blind for drug money. That's Bush. Instead of running to a big brother to win the fights he starts, he hides behind God. But he no more cares about God than he cares about the kids in Iraq he's murdering.

[rumguy]

23. I have no doubt that he sees himself as religious

Little does he know when he talks about the evil-doers he's also talking about himself...

[jobycom]

24. No, I don't believe he does

I've known too many just like him. It's an act. It's his way of justifying outrageous acts and shutting up criticism. He's a pure sociopath, he shows all the signs of it. I've got one in my family, I know the routine. When he goes to bed at night he's laughing at the gullibilty of Christians.

[dawg]

53. I'm with you, jobycom.

I don't think he's sincere.

And it's not 'cause he said "Fuck Saddam!" or likes to talk about pussy. I'm a Christian myself, and I will occasionally cuss and talk about pussy. (Well, I don't know if I've ever talked about just pussy and not the rest of the woman in question, but you get the idea.)

But I'm not cold-hearted, or at least I try not to be. To me, Jesus is all about love - not hate and power. The things that are done in his name do not always coincide with his teachings, and religion is a great cloak for politicians to hide behind.

Bush saw his father defeated because he was unable to sufficiently arouse the religious right. With Perot running, even my home state of Geogia went to Clinton in '92. Well, W. decided from the start that he'd be damned if he'd let that happen to him.

[FizzFuzz]

57. I'm with you there too

and what really really drives me into purple rage is the way the mass media/gop/fund-nut etc etc hordes refuse to look at the facts of his behavior, instead endlessly sweeping actual incidents under the rug!

I think that is what I hate the most; the truth is right out there constantly for all to see, and the mass media, who are supposed to be the eyes and ears for nation, not only refuse to pay attention, they come up with "human interest" pieces presented as fact of some delusionary sort. Oh yeah, I forgot, its not news anymore, its entertainment.

[seabeyond]

50. i have a brother like bush too

i know this man. you are right on. isnt it amazing how clear it is, living with a person like this growing up and how easy it is. yup

[AntiCoup2K4]

58. Junior ran to his little brother to win a fight.

..or actually steal one.

And if he's a Christian, send me a ticket to Hell :evilgrin:

[jobycom]

9. Ah, the memory. Did you see the looks on the faces of the others?

The question came in a Republican primary debate. I'll never forget the looks on the faces of Alan Keyes and Orin Hatch. They were so stunned by his stupidity that they were embarassed for him. Rather than slam his answer out of the park with ridicule, they sort of stammered over an attempt to make him look less stupid, as though they were suddenly trying not to destroy the fragile ego of a defenseless child.

Bush just stood there, smirking, proud of his dumb little ass. Not for the first or last time, I thought "Well, that's the end. No one will buy your nonsense now." But people buy it, no matter what. We have to remember that.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

12. Watching the show demonstrates why

It isn't stupidity on the part of the voters (although hypocrisy DOES come to mind) and it isn't really calculus totally on his part...it IS psychosis.

[bloom]

16. psychosis is no excuse for brainlessness

Blaming it on psychosis gives psychotics a bad rap. :)

[jobycom]

20. Hm. What show? I was going off memory.

[Clyde39]

13. Just heard on the news that more people are turning to religion

Bacause of all the "terror" in the world and fear here at home people are going to church more and turning to prayer (prayer in the workplace is becoming more and more common). Unfortunately they buy the myth that our "leader" is a good Christian and therefore a good leader.

[PurityOfEssence]

14. Hate to break it to ya, but it's TRUE

The scariest thing about this miserable fuck is that he actually believes this poppycock; if he were just a user who was calculatingly playing the zealots for personal gain, it would be chilling enough, but the fact that he believes this fairytale should make all of our sphincters clench in terror.

It's true because it's probably the only "philosopher" he's ever read. It's also true because Junior is the embodiment of what is most dangerous about Christianity: the sanctification of selfishness. Deep at the heart of the belief is the construct that getting straight with the big Witchy Man is ALL THAT MATTERS. Once one's done so, one may do as he damn well pleases, just as long as he checks in now and then and sucks up to the supernatural whosey-whatzit. That's it. The rest of it's all secondary. Good deeds, abstention and scorning of all earthly fun and any other proscribed activities are mere icing on the cake; forsaking all mere mortals for the proper relationship with the maker is all that truly counts.

People who believe in an afterlife have less respect for life than those who don't; sure, there are evil non-believers, but in the main, there's no "out" for non-believers, and the ones who elect to join in society tend to care and act more to make the earthly existence better.

This is a man who could push the button. He certainly has no qualms about starting wars for familial revenge and personal gain.

America didn't "buy" anything, that's what's so horrifying: he believes this and he'll act upon it at the drop of a hat. When people like this are cornered, they'll do anything; he answers to a higher power.

[bloom]

18. "Good deeds, abstention and scorning of all earthly fun..."

The whole works for salvation/ grace = salvation and other aspects...varies with denominations.

[jobycom]

19. No he doesn't, it's just a con job

His followers might, Ashcroft does. Bush doesn't give a damn about any God. Bush believes in being the meanest bully on the block, and using anything he can to manipulate people. Religion is just his way of manipulating, like a travelling miracle worker, hiding behind what people want him to be to do what he wants to do. Don't let him fool you. He's too much of a personal coward to believe in an afterlife.

[PurityOfEssence]

27. That, too, is just a guess

What a person truly believes is really beyond anyone else to divine.

Your last sentence makes no sense to me; I feel that it takes much more courage to accept that there probably is no afterlife, and further, operate from the assumption that the creation of the concept of an afterlife stems specifically FROM fear and cowardice.

Let me backtrack a minute here. Many people truly believe and are gentle, decent sentient beings. Shitheadedness is an equal opportunity and cross-cultural affliction, though, and it doesn't necessarily cleave along the fault line of belief. This is not meant to disparage believers, but I fully admit that I see much of the current peril of the world (the biosphere, not just humans) as being the outcome of religion. Overpopulation can't be addressed because too many belief systems have a "be fruitful" bent deeply embedded in its scripture, and if that's not enough, a very cynical numbers game is being fought by competing religious cultures: Evangelical Christians do it, Mormons do it, Hindus do it to counter the Muslims, Muslims do it, Palestinians do it, various strains of fundamentalist Jews do it (although their numbers pale in comparison) and the effect is as overwhelming as it is irresolvable. It can't even be addressed.

To the extremely selfish and messianic nut case, Christianity is a very handy enabler; I wouldn't call it the cause, just the grease on the skids to hell. This man considers himself special, and that specialness may or may not be sanctified by religion. If it isn't, it's just the most handy cover any skunk could ever want.

You don't know. I don't know. He DEFINITELY reminds me of quite a few messed-up people who really did/do believe, and there are ample cases like Jim Jones to bring up for illustration.

There is a smugness evinced by many believers that accepting a higher power is proof of one's humility. There's another way of looking at it: that this is, although accepting "secondary" status to a supreme being, still proof of grace that gives one superiority to the rest of the inferior non-believers. I say that it takes guts to face inevitable death and finality, as well as essential insignificance when living. I say that subscribing to a belief system like Christianity is anything but bravery in comparison.

This may sound self-aggrandizing, but it's still not meant as a slight against you or any other cosmopolitan believer; this is meant as a serious and rational perspective.

I think he's got some kind of monarchic/fascistic/racist/sexist belief that god set him up as the son of wealth and privilege specifically so he could become the savior of his country. In my more fearful moments, I feel that he may actually think he's some kind of "holy ghost" embodiment of the deity, and more than just a mere mortal. In calmer moments, I think he just thinks he's god's messenger, and above the law. Maybe I'm wrong. Which is worse?

Whether religion is dangerous by nature or just incredibly useful if one wants to do evil is a dicey argument. Was Hitler really a devout Catholic as he claimed and acted, or was it just a handy tool? Beats me. I do know that if religion is not granted the unassailable assumption of "good" we'd all be a lot better off.

All I can say is that we'd all better hope that he's a cynical user, because people who believe in an afterlife have less qualms about killing other people, and are pretty much the only people who commit suicide bombings or crash planes into buildings on purpose. Let's hope he's a cynical atheist prick; I'm deeply scared because I don't think he is. I think he really believes this stuff. Those people are much more dangerous than amoral non-believers.

[jobycom]

31. No, more than a guess

Bush is not a believer. That's not a guess. It's an informed opinion based not only on contact with a lot of people who know him, but also upon observation of him for many years. And experience with others with the same traits, as I said. I have no doubt of my opinion-- religion is his con. He doesn't believe he's a messiah, or appointed by god, or any of that. He just does what he does from an instinct to grab power and bully people, like a spoiled kid terrorizing his classmates. He may have a basic belief in God, like many people, but that isn't what's behind his actions, and it's not the cause of any messianic complex.

As for the rest of your essay, very thoughtful. You seem to think I'm a believer. I'm an atheist. I tend to believe that people use religions to justify the way they would behave with or without religion. Carter would be a saint without religion. I'm not claiming his faith isn't real-- I believe it is. Just that religion doesn't make him who he is. Same with Robertson or Falwell. They'd be evil without religion, they simply justify their bigotry with religion.

Bush doesn't justify his actions with religion in that way, though. He just uses religion to defend his actions. Robertson and Falwell probably really do think they are doing god's work. Bush doesn't give a damn one way or the other. When he was little, he would blame his wrongdoings on someone else-- brother, friend, etc-- to get out of trouble. Now he uses God the same way. He knew his friends didn't do the things he would blame them for. He knows God didn't tell him to do what he's doing. It's just a nice story that his followers will believe, and Bush uses it as a con.

That's not a guess. I've seen him close enough to know what he's doing. And I've got experience with that type of person.

As for Hitler, I have no idea what his beliefs were. I don't speak German and wasn't alive then, so I have no way of judging anything but his words.

As for my last sentence in the other post, it was awkwardly phrased. I mean that Bush is a personal coward, and to me that indicates that he doesn't expect an afterlife, so he is afraid of dying here. You had said something before about them not caring how badly they screw up the world because they believed in an afterlife,, so my sentence (badly worded) was a response to that.

Some friends of mine worked security for him when he was governor. They say he's a real coward, afraid of the crowds, afraid of everything for no reason. Afraid of horses. Watch the clip of him with the turkey. Think about where he was on 9-11, the day America most needed a leader. Guiliani was in the heart of danger. Congress met on the steps of the capitol. Bush ran and hid. He's also very subservient. When his security says "stand here" he does it. Unlike every other politician they've worked with, who do what they want and let security catch up with them.

[PurityOfEssence]

52. Point taken, and somewhat good news

I certainly hope you're right; if he's a true believer, he's truly dangerous.

Yes, you're right; I was under the impression that you were a believer from the way you responded. I'm glad you elaborated on the personal contact issues, they're very telling. He truly is a cowardly little privileged bully, isn't he?

Despite the many disparaging things I often say about the human race, I do have a great deal of faith in us too: many people HAVE to see what a transparent smirking creep he is, and I hope they act upon that impulse.

[jobycom]

61. More or less scary, let's just get him out of there

I don't know if he's more scary because he has no core values to limit him, or less scary because he is at least afraid of dying personally. I don't care. He's as evil as it gets, let's just boot the bastard and get back to arguing over whether our Democratic president is liberal enough or not. Much more fun arguments!

I agree with your optimism about the human race. They are fooled right now. If they shift their perspective, and see him as he is, I believe they'll turn on him.

[Ladyhawk]

54. You are so totally correct. (nt)

[dpibel]

29. I think of that variety of Xtianity

As the Church of the Get Out of Hell Free Card.

Once you got that sucker, go for the gusto.

[dawg]

72. People who think like that are deceived ...

you can't sincerely accept Christ and then live in total opposition to his teachings. People who do that may have accepted something, but it sure isn't Jesus Christ.

[AlCzervik]

21. I think that Bu$h just exchanged one addiction for another

He stopped boozing and used his conversion as a 12 step program. I found the whole thing a little unsettling, you know just focusing in depth on his Christianity. This Jihad for him is just that...it is a crusade and Bu$h sees himself as a modern day Moses. The thing that confirmed how deep his views are was when he was speaking to the fundies, he spoke so well and easily, no stuttering or word malfuntions, it was way natural for him. The best thing Bu$h can do for this country is to pack it up, not run again and hit the road spreading his word, he'd be better off and we sure as hell would be.

[Az]

26. Would not be the first time this happened

There are some rather dangerous cults that prey upon addicts. They work their way into their lives and simply switch one addiction for another. They then turn the converted into a cheap labor force.

I contended with one particular cult such as this that was preying upon young adults and teens. One of their leaders had an singular amazing claim that he had been a police officer somewhere down south. He claimed that some drug dealer had splashed acid in his eyes and burned them entire out of his head. And that by praying to Jesus they had grown back entirely. I informed him that it was interesting that he had not become more known in the medical community as that would have been the single most astounding acomplishment in recorded medical history.

While dealing with his followers I was reminded of a story in Carl Sagan's book Demon Haunted World. Carl had encountered a cab driver that had a burning interest in the nature of the world. But he had become caught in the glare of bad science. His mind was full of flying saucers and crop circles. The interest was there, but it had been tainted by false teachings.

These poor kids were caught in the same trap. It breaks my heart and I do what I can, but belief it not something so easily altered.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

28. I agree completely

It puts me in mind of an interview with Don Van Vliet that I read many years back. He was mocking rock stars who had taken tons of drugs and then found Jesus. Can't remember exactly what he said, but it was along the lines of, Sure they found Jesus - you drop that much acid and you're gonna see something...

People who want to be Christians, that's fine; but when you trade substance abuse for religion, you're just walking with a Jesus crutch.

[Corgigal]

41. I believe its been studied

that the brain reacts in the same state of euphoria under substance abuse and religion's revivals. I saw some special years ago on HBO Undercover and it showed how people behave at those functions. So Bush has taught his brain to do the legal high but both of those addictions can take away critical thought. Which is why I always thought that if you were a con man the best place to break into new revenue is by joining the local fundie church. Lots of them would never see it coming.

[librechik]

49. dingdingding

He escapes into religious musings to hide the fact of his crimes from himself. I used to be alcohol that helped him bear the wreckage of his mean-spirited life. Now it's the hypnotic hum of many people murmuring Jesus at the same time (except that he doesn't go to church--maybe he's afraid he'll be discovered for the phoney he is.)

But make no mistake--he is evil, aware of his own evil, calculating in covering it up (the religiosity is also good for that) and very dangerous. He's a psychotic and totally unpredictable (note the stunning flipflops of late)

[bloom]

65. I think it's more likely

that he is a psychopath, than psychotic. At least that is how it looks from my armchair.


http://www.crisiscounseling.com/Articles/Psychopath.htm

"I have known several psychopaths in my life. The clearest case involved an older teen who had no sense of guilt. He could learn the rules, but he had no sense of conscience. ...People know when something is wrong because it feels wrong. I have to remember or be reminded that stealing from someone is wrong. I don?t feel bad if I take something.

One famous brain imaging study showed that psychopaths can remain calm looking photos of dead bodies in automobile accidents where as other people were clearly upset. They don't use their brain they way others do. This suggests that they may be physically different from normal people."

[Ladyhawk]

55. 12-step programs are blatantly religious.

You have to accept a "higher power" and admit you can't do it on your own. The 12-steppers argue that your "higher power" can be anything, but to me that is total bullshit.

The idea that you have no ability to stand on your own two feet and yet, at the same time, you are responsible for your mistakes: these are basic tenets of fundamentalist Christianity. This is dogma. This is dangerous. Also, I've read that the "success" of 12-step programs is highly overrated. I'd have to find the articles, but statitics show that 12-steppers tend to simply replace one addiction with another, as you said. In some cases, this is innocuous. If a 12-stepper becomes a fundy Christian, look out!

[progressivebydesign]

22. Don't forget Adam Clymer..

that "major league Asshole" Bush commented.. on an open mic at a school event during campaign season. Christian.. hardly. I remember some idiot on a board being upset that the term "gawd" was used as a quote attributed to Saint Bush. She was freaking because she was certain that he would NEVER talk like that! Gawd!!

[bill grasso]

25. "Christ. Because he changed my heart."

The politics and hypocrisy of religion caused me to reject it in total many years ago. I was afraid to watch "Frontline / The Jesus Factor" after hearing the subject statement on NPR Thurs afternoon. I feared they might treat the topic (in the current RNC-dictated style) as the well intentioned meditations of a rational man, rather than the political machinations of a dim-witted, spoiled, amoral person of no character. Seeing such a presentation would have probably made me vomit... I did not view or record..

[ChickMagic]

34. I was getting nauseous

during the first half. But the second half was much better. They pretty much slammed him on his rotten theology and calculating politics.

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[bloom]

67. The way they did it

I think if you were a Fundamental Christian and watched it, you would feel affirmed in your ideas.

But if the way you see Fundamental Christians is more like the way people on this board do - you would be freaked.

[bill grasso]

75. My Fear Exactly

I guess that's why I cannot bear to watch mainstream media anymore.. the Repug / Corporate Complex have this mind control sloganeering down to a science. Maybe they learned it from religion. They tap perfectly into the ignorant, flag waving, Faux News watching mind set (oh, hell.. any television news). Damn the facts.. we can push the buttons.. screw 'em and they thank you.

All the mutual affirmation in the world won't rid us of these incompetent criminals until we change minds. I remember the '60's.. it took years and that was with a media which was more sceptical, investigative and less prone (at least after '68) to flag waving..

My heartfelt support, though, to Ted Koppel and Nightline..

[OpSomBlood]

30. What was Bush's heart like before Christ "changed" it?

Pretty scary to ponder.

[Ripley]

38. Black.

Now it's just black draped in a thin veil of pink pestilence.

[terrya]

32. Run away as fast as you can from people who incessantly...

goes on and on and on about their "close, personal relationship" to Jesus Christ. Run very fast.

Terry

[OpSomBlood]

33. I want a president who makes decisions based on facts...

...not on what a voice in his head tells him to do.

That's just me, I guess.

[terrya]

36. The President of the United States should not be acting like some...

damn country preacher. This is extremely improper. This whole "Praise the Lord" stuff is ok. But, damn keep it private. Particularly if you're the leader of the Free World. It's most unseemly.

[ChickMagic]

37. That's my take on it

I nearly lost it when he was holding up a bible saying that it was the only handbook he needed for public policy. :scared:

[OpSomBlood]

40. Bush must prefer the Old Testament, then...

...because he sure seems to enjoy smiting the wicked.

[Ladyhawk]

56. Amen. I'm surrounded by such people. They scare me.

I see dumb people. :scared:

[GiovanniC]

35. Jesus -- A Philosopher Who Talks To Bush

I'm sure that the reason Bush's favorite philosopher is Jesus is because Bush has had several real nice conversations with Jesus and his dad.

They told him to invade Iraq.

"Verily I say unto you, fuck Saddam. Ye must taketh him out."

[skypilot]

39. I want to...

..FUCKING WRETCH every fucking time I see that footage. The very look on his fucking smug fucking face just makes me sick. The way he said it, the look on his face, the curt little nod with which he punctuates the statement, it all makes me sick. It's such obvious bullshit. How dark and hard must his heart have been BEFORE if AFTER he finds Christ and has his heart "changed" he'd do something as despicable as make fun of a woman he is about to have put to death ("Please don't kill me"). It boggles my mind that ANYONE would fall for this shit. And he says it without the slightest hint of humility--like saying "Yeah, I'm a badass" or somthing. Wretched, lying motherfucker.

Sorry for all the swearing but that little performance of his is THE vilest thing I've ever seen.

[Stuckinthebush]

42. I don't think he is lying about that

I think he really believes that "Christ" changed his heart. This is the kind of drivel that some fundamentalist Christians often repeat without ever critically analyzing their actions in relation to their words.

You see, for the fundamentalist Christian, all that matters is that one believe that Jesus was the savior and died for their sins. It doesn't go much further than that, however. It is an infantile theology at best. Once one accepts Jesus as his/her savior, then his/her sins are forgiven and they enter heaven. If the person "sins" again, then they are comforted in the knowledge that Jesus will forgive them and they will go to heaven. Therefore, there is no need to analyze ones deeds and actions vs. one's words.

I'm sure George Bush gets on his shifty little knees and prays every day. I'm sure that George Bush feels that the Holy Spirit is working through him, and that all he does is sanctioned by God. I'm sure that he has little remorse for his actions because he feels that he is doing God's will.

He can easily go to the old testament and see many passages where God called upon the believers to kill the enemies of God to the point of "smashing their children's heads upon rocks" (somebody find that passage for me, I know it is there). By jumping back and forth between reading the really whacked out Old Testament, the Gospels, and the writings of Paul, the fundamentalist Christian can justify just about any action and know that God is with him/her.

So, yes, George Bush is a Christian in his image of Christianity, and yes, George Bush really probably believes that "Christ changed my heart". No, his actions do not trouble him one bit because he is convinced his actions are sanctioned by the Almighty.

This is what makes him the most frightening President in the history of the United States of America.

[GiovanniC]

46. Psalm 137:9

Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.

[Stuckinthebush]

62. That's the one!

A little twisted, eh?

I have a good friend who is a Presbyterian minister. He said that in a class in seminary one day, a student asked the professor about this particular passage and how to explain it to his parishioners. The crotchety old theologian look at him, grunted, and said, "Tell them that God had a bunch of psychological crap he hadn't worked out yet."

Great, huh?

[GreenPartyVoter]

43. Oh, he just drives me INSANE!

Would Jesus love a liberal? You bet!
http://www.geocities.com/greenpartyvoter/liberalchristians.htm

[Mandate My Ass]

44. An unrepentant loose cannon and risk taker

It used to tbe the booze and coke that compelled him to do the insane things he's always done, now it's his belief that he is God's chosen. People who have been touched by Christ by and large have a great deal of humility and are openly repentent about their past. This putrid gasbag is just the opposite.

He's suffering from religious mania and a messianic complex. That's how he gets high now and if anything he's more dangerous than when he was a druggie.

[mrgorth]

45. No way

He said this because he's too stupid to think of anything else.

[skypilot]

51. And he was too stupid to elaborate...

...in any way. He just found a way to reword and repeat what he'd just said when asked for more information. Sorta like his press conferences.

[Misinformed01]

47. America only "bought" it after 911 scared the hell out of us

However, of the people that voted in the last Presidential "election," the majority voted against this insane fool.

I think there are a good number of Americans that recognize him for exactly what he is...a lunatic that will get us attacked and killed if he is allowed to continue.

[OpSomBlood]

48. Matthew 6 was written with Bush in mind.

Matthew 6

Giving to the Needy

1"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Prayer

5"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9"This, then, is how you should pray:
" 'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
11Give us today our daily bread.
12Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.<1> ' 14For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Fasting

16"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 17But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Treasures in Heaven

19"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 23But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
24"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

Do Not Worry

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life<2> ?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

[jobycom]

64. Matthew 7:15-20 applies, too.

15"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

Not that I'm a believer...

[dawg]

73. Yeah, you're not a believer but ...

you have to admit that Jesus said some really cool things, that still apply to people today.

Too bad so many so-called Christians don't take verses like that to heart.

[jobycom]

74. Yeah, he was a swell bloke

My point wasn't on Jesus (I just put the last as a disclaimer), it was on Bush's claims to his heritage.

Jesus, Muhammad, the Buddha, Francis of Assissi, Mother Theresa... Lots of great people involved in religions. Bush is not one of them.

[Ladyhawk]

59. I know lots of fundies.

Some of them are incredibly normal until they start talking about Jesus and their religion. Then--especially when they are trying to proselytize--they lose all reason. Their eyes get wide and scary. They lose all sense of propriety. Nothing matters except their "personal relationship with Jesus" and they'll treat you like shit in the name of "the Lord." And afterward, they'll feel no shame because what they did squares up with "the Word." Anything they do in the name of Jesus becomes moral, no matter how immoral it is.

It sickens me. I have friends who seem normal, the suddenly--POOF!!! They become ravening Jesus lunatics. It scares me. It should scare you, too.

[DaveSZ]

70. quote

"I'm with you there too and what really really drives me into purple rage is the way the mass media/gop/fund-nut etc etc hordes refuse to look at the facts of his behavior, instead endlessly sweeping actual incidents under the rug!

I think that is what I hate the most; the truth is right out there constantly for all to see, and the mass media, who are supposed to be the eyes and ears for nation, not only refuse to pay attention, they come up with "human interest" pieces presented as fact of some delusionary sort. Oh yeah, I forgot, its not news anymore, its entertainment."



The problem is that the Fundies look @ sites like Worldnutdaily for their news instead of real news.

[redqueen]

66. No! Not "America"!

America didn't buy it, fewer Americans bought it than those that knew better, at least.

And he really said that about what he and his dad talk about? Geez, just when I think my opinion of the bushes can't sink any lower.

[bobthedrummer]

69. Proverbs 8:13

The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth do I hate.

[DaveSZ]

71. LOL @ Ladyhawk

I know what you mean because I have an aunt like that.

She's a fundamentalist Catholic, and believes in the literal truth of the Bible. It's scary how some people can simply put aside all reason and logic.