I eavesdropped (sigh) and heard something disturbing...

[lindashaw]

At a restaurant, a thirty-something was talking to an older man about church things. I only caught snippets, but I heard a very subtle sales pitch -- about an organization, and the word "vote" several times. He was "courting" this older man, and all my instincts told me this: He took this man to lunch, invited the man to use his influence in his church about becoming part of an organization that would have a voting bloc.

I think this could be how we lost the election. The scarey part is that they are still working to become stronger.

I may be over-reacting, of course, but I don't think so.

[byronm]

1. Thats not as bad as the stuff i hear...

I've heard People who consider themselves "Conservative" bashing Kerry for his "librul" beliefs and 2 minutes later talking about divorcing there wives, getting "strange pussy" and how great it is that Chenney is a tuff ass and they couldn't have "pussies" running the nation..

These were from people obviously 55+ acting like the typical 22 year old repugs..

nothing changes..

just gets worse..

i wanted to beat the sh*t out of them for just giving me, working men, and family men and respectfull men a bad name.

[adadem]

2. I'm so fed up

that the other day I said "shame on you" to one of them. I just don't care anymore if I get punched in the mouth, these people are sick.

[DoYouEverWonder]

4. Good for you

I have no problem calling these a holes on their bs in public.

I ask the young ones with Bush stickers why are they still here? How come they're not in Iraq?

The religious ones get one of these.

[bush_is_wacko]

7. Me neither!

As far as I'm concerned the fundies "rapture" can't happen fast enough for me. With them gone, maybe we can fix the mess they've created! I won't keep my mouth shut in public or at home. Ever seen a pissed off woman w/ a Napoleon complex? I may only be five foot tall and really kind of a weakling woman, but by God if they want to take a swing at me I will headbutt them in the balls and bite their shins!

[TahitiNut]

19. I tend to think of the "Rapture" like a factory recall.

:evilgrin:

[JennC]

21. LMAO! Need THAT on a Tshirt!

[TahitiNut]

23. (blush)

I must admit, I was happy those words formed in my sick, little mind. :silly:

Jeff (nostamj) might oblige you. Hmmm... maybe I should order one, too.

[bush_is_wacko]

32. New dem slogan!!! n/t

[tavalon]

29. T-shirt!!!!

[Turn CO Blue]

33. LOL! The hubby will love that one! n/t

[TahitiNut]

36. Happiness is ...

... discovering once again that other DUers have sick, twisted minds like mine. :silly: :dunce:

[Tsiyu]

22. Way to go!

From another five foot tall female who takes no prisoners!

[AP]

3. That's why DU'ers should go join churches and start organizing them.

[DoYouEverWonder]

5. At least put flyers on all the cars

while they're in church doing the hop for the Holy Ghost.

[seafey]

6. Please no, you can't make me..... nt

[Perky]

8. Amen and Amen and Amen again

The worst sin commiteed by the the religious right has been the shutting out of of diversity in their own ranks. Reupublicanism in some circles is a litmus test of one's Chrisitanity.

It is Phariseeism at its worst and they will be shamed by it ultimately.


As an evangeical Christian, I have decided to stay and fight I just wish there were more of out there... Its pretty lonely.

[Turn CO Blue]

34. There are a few sites and books starting to pop up.

The Christian Left movement is just getting going - but it is going to happen. They can't hijack Jesus forever for their Pharisee ways. I should think about joining a church...

[zulchzulu]

9. I have nieces being brainwashed by catholic "pro-life" schools

I had some discussions with them over the holidays and they were talking about how Kerry was evil (pro-abortion/pro-gay marriage) and how they were planning on the Pro-Life Bus Tour in DC in January. I asked where they got the info (if the TV is on, it's not the news when they are around) and they told me the sisters and the priests tell them... it's a shame.

I asked them to talk to their "teachers" about the dead Iraqis and how that is against being "pro-life".

[Cheswick2.0]

11. Catholic schools all over the country bus kids to pro-life rallies

it is scary indocrination at a young age.

[MountainLaurel]

30. Extra credit

Some Catholic schools give students extra credit for standing outside Planned Parenthood and other women's clinics on weekends with signs, giant plastic fetuses and the rest of their "flare."

[Stinky The Clown]

37. US Catholic Schools = American Madrasas

I'm a product of Catholic school and when I went (late 50's/early '60's) they were nothing like they are today. No heavy morailty except the bullshit that Protestent kids would go to hell. And even at this level, they caused me to turn away from the church to the non-denominational spiritual but non religious person I am.

::::looking up:::: Sorry Mom. That's just the way it is.

[Oak2004]

38. It must have changed rapidly

I went to Catholic schools from the early to late 60's, and they had us writing letters in class to various government officials asking for public funding of parochial schools.

Must be why I became a Protestant.

[Pirate Smile]

16. How old are they? This stuff pisses me off because I went to Catholic

schools and I never heard a word about abortion or homosexuality from teachers, sisters, priests.

When did this start? My kids are in Catholic schools and the first time I get the slightest whiff of this crap they are out of there.

I went to a couple of the masses (every Thursday morning) when school started and they confirmed why I was sending them there in the first place - love your neighbor, caring for the poor and sick, all the good stuff from Jesus in the New Testament. It was all the stuff I had learned that is the basis of my value system and why I am a Democrat.

(I'm not ancient - I graduated in 1987 - some may consider that ancient but I don't).

[zulchzulu]

17. One is 15 and the other is 13

A nephew (same family) is 10 and in a catholic school. He's pretty smart though and hates Bush.

[zulchzulu]

18. You might ask them if they get pro-life information...

You don't necessarily have to take them out of school...just educate them about the issues. If anything, they could do a paper about the subject or the War.

[Pirate Smile]

20. They are in kindergarten and 1st grade. They don't have a clue about it

yet and I'm happy to leave it that way for now but I will definitely be on the look-out.

[CatholicEdHead]

24. Mostly started this past spring

When St. Louis ArchBishop Burke came out publiclly against John Kerry on giving him communion. It snowballed after that. There has always been an undercurrent of Catholics, but many got the bait and switch this year.

Most of the Catholic media is conservative leaning (except the National Catholic Reporter). They have a new "Catholic" radio network "Relevant Radio" which is just all anti-abortion all the time. To them you are not good Catholics if you question.

Some of this is fallout from the priest sex scandles. It takes the blame from the failures off the heirarchy. Kerry and middle of the road to progressive Catholics are just scapegoats.

[Pirate Smile]

25. After all the sex scandals, they start doing this - like I wasn't

questioning the RCC enough already.

I was always especially irritated with the birth control and women's roles in the RCC issues anyway.

They really do want to drive a lot of people away, don't they?

[zulchzulu]

39. Funny you mention Burke...my nieces are in St. Louis

It may be his doing...

[IStriker]

10. I have an elderly woman friend...

who was taken to lunch by her neighbor's daughter who attends Carnegie-Mellon. When the college girl was unable to persuade my friend to vote for Kerry (I had already tried repeatedly) she finally confessed that she had been assigned to find a Republican and do this by one of her teachers. As a last resort, she asked my friend to just not vote. My friend refused and voted a straight Republican ticket as always. What you overheard is certainly not anything new and it seems that both sides practice it.

[Cheswick2.0]

12. .

[ret5hd]

13. you're thinkin' what i'm thinkin', aint ya?

[MissMarple]

14. Me too.

Humph...

[Poor Richard Lex]

40. (sound of crickets chirping)

whatever

[Pirate Smile]

15. I think the organizing of the churches and getting their member lists, etc

is exactly what killed us. That is where they came up with the new voters because they didn't win the Independent vote. It is the perfect group to mobilize because people know each other and see each other every Sunday and at other church events. They were also given a ton of disinformation about Kerry.

[robbedvoter]

26. Pssst! We didn't lose. Pass it on.

I am not dismissing your conclusions - they are probably true and relevant.
But it's also important to remember that WE ARE THE MAJORITY in spite of those maneuvers. No need to cowtow.

[AuntiBush]

31. I'm with you

You're right. We didn't lose, nor are we the longterm losers. We are the majority - we have democracy on our side! Good post!

[hangloose]

27. If organized religion will be the next political block than take away

their tax exemption. and regulate them just like everyone else.

[AuntiBush]

28. It happened to my elderly neighbor...

the Sunday before elections! She was pro-Kerry all summer long! Couldn't here enough about the evils of the neocons. On election day, she put her head down as we both got out of our cars to approach the house, and somehow I just knew what happened. She couldn't face me. Then, with a never seen before arrogance, she looked up at me and said her priest and doctor told her days prior that she had to vote for Bush, or she'd be going to hell and chancing loosing her long-term doctor.

I was kind, smiled and told her it was "ok," and her "choice." No longer does my phone ring 3-4 times weekly with her begging offers of sodas and baked items. Rather, she avoids me now and looks sneering at me with disdain.

I actually feel like some evil sinner, yet I know my faith and am highly spiritual. So I'm trying to deal with this type of mentality and treatment, along with my election anxieties and depression by thinking to myself that at least I had the courage, strength and intelligence to vote rightly, not self-rightously. I can not be swayed, nor moved by another - rather I voted for my country in the most compassionate, moral way I could, putting my self last and my fellow American's first - I refuse to allow democracy to die. And thank god everyday I can still make my own decisions.

Will she ever look at me again... I don't know, but I hold my head up high and know that it was not I that talked "Kerry" all summer long while I gardened, rather it was her. How sad that our elderly are so vulnerable that they are taken advantage of - and they call this the Christian way, huh. Sorta reminds you of those tv evangelists taking every last penny of their lousy SSI all in the name of religion.

Oughta be a law.

[arewenotdemo]

35. I gotta admire the dedication of the priests and bishops

that took time off from buggering little boys to set the sheeple straight.