Assuming you believe in God and were knocking on heaven's gate

[Cyrano]

would you prefer applying under the name George W. Bush, or Ted Kennedy?

Okay, so it's not a fair question. Or is it?

Most of us here loved Teddy and believe the world is a better place because of him.

Most wingnuts believe that he's now frying in the hottest corner of hell. Why the disconnect? Here's my guess:

Most wingnuts aren't too bright. They buy the non-stop propaganda that's fed to them and gobble it up like candy. It's so easy to see a black and white world, a good and evil world, and not to have to deal with any shades of grey.

Many on our side aren't too bright either. But here's the critical difference. I believe that most of us have an inborn sense of fairness, justice, morality, and right and wrong.

Does that make us "wiser" human beings? Beats me. But I can say for sure that it makes us better human beings than those who can't wait to dance on Teddy's grave.

[whathehell]

1. I would answer "yes".

I like "wisdom" more than "intelligence".

It's broader, IMO. It includes humanity and compassion.

[Warpy]

4. Yes, I've known some of the dumbest people on the planet

who were nonetheless very wise when it came to fairness and decency.

I've known adults with Down's syndrome who totally lacked the capacity to be mean, even though they were often naughty.

It's not intelligence, per se. The right is missing a component of being fully human.

It's why we have to work to keep them out of power.

[krispos42]

5. Authoritarian personality type

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right-wing_authoritarianism



It's a killer.

[Cyrano]

7. Hi, whathehell: I love your inclusion of the word "compassion."

It seems to be the major human quality that Republicans/conservatives and fringe nuts lack.

One of the reasons that so many Republicans stated for voting against confirming Justice Sotomayor is because she was "too compassionate." Someone really needs to explain to me when compassion become a human liability?

It's possible that "compassion" is what makes us so different from our political opponents. Perhaps an even stronger difference is that so many of them would like to see us dead, while we just want to see them go away.

[HopeHoops]

2. Either would be fraud.

Besides, I'm already fucked.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. My concept of heaven is different than yours

I believe that, when we die, we are shown all of our life's actions, stripped of veils of excuse, prejudice, and even mental illness which may have deluded us in our lifetime. We face these actions, and judge ourselves.

I think Ted has atoned for his mistakes in life during his life, and so is facing few regrets as he faces himself in judgment.

[Cyrano]

6. Actually, I don't have any concept of heaven. I'm a devout agnostic.

But having said that, if there's any semblance of balance in this universe, the scale is currently tipping in Teddy's favor.

[SidneyCarton]

8. I would agree with your interpretation.

[Cyrano]

9. Dear SidneyCarton: I always wanted to ask you if it was the best

of times or the worst of times. But I guess the last eight and a half years has shown us that it's all a matter of one's perspective.

[SidneyCarton]

10. Indeed, indeed monseiur!

And how goes things with sweet Maryanne? Will she have you, or has she insisted on the Rhinoplasty first?

[Cyrano]

14. It's a far, far better thing I do to cut this conversation off here before

far, far too many wonder what we're talking about.

[SidneyCarton]

15. Of course.

It's funny to be literate in this culture sometimes.

:hi:

[Orsino]

11. If wingnuts really believed in Hell, they wouldn't be wingnuts. n/t

[FarCenter]

12. Bad assumption

Teddy Kennedy no longer exists.

[Cleita]

13. According to Catholics, he will go to Heaven after a stay in Purgatory to

atone for his sins, providing he is confessed, receives absolution and gets the last rites and there is no doubt he got all of those things. Of course you can still go to Heaven without those circumstances providing you were a good person if for instance you got killed in an accident before you had the chance to be ministered to by a priest. Also, the stay in Purgatory can be shortened or avoided altogether with good works during one's life time and offering up one's sufferings as a sacrifice. No doubt Ted had an abundance of those merit points as well. So I think it's safe to say that Catholics are believing that he is smiling down on us today from inside the Gate.

Also, one of the conditions to be considered for sainthood (that means you made it into Heaven) are three miracles. May I offer my first miracle that single payer universal health care becomes the law of the land. For all the atheists who want to challenge me, I am only telling you what Catholics believe.

As for George W. Bush, he is still among the living and has a chance to make up for his crimes, but I doubt it. I'm sure Lucifer already has a warm place in Hell prepared for him and the whole BFEE. Grandpa Bush, the Nazi sympathizer is already there. Well, that is the way it would be if real Christian mythology is followed in belief. I don't believe the fundie crazy cults represent true Christian thinking.

[AuntPatsy]

16. I think our biggest problem is believing those ignorant haters on the cons side stupid...

granted many lack common sense but the real threat here is NOT stupidity coming from those that push the definitely ignorant fraction of their tight knitted group to do the dirty acts but "Hate and Prejudices" are the real threat here..

Regardless of whether standing side by side with the liberals would be more to the cons advantage they refuse to because of their deeply ingrained sickness of hating any and all those different from themselves...in some strange way this hate is actually born and raised in fear...fear is a powerful weapon...

My point being if you wish them to wake up and realize the stupidity of their fears is the only thing that keeps them from moving forward in a way that would obviously benefit all of mankind than you have to realize that calling them stupid out loud is not the answer...

they have to be made to realize that those politicians and or right winged media loudmouths who play on those fears and incite them to display actions in all reality don't even believe their own bs, its all for ratings and a past proven way to ensure they can still keep their hateful and criminal agenda in play..

those high profile cons are not only fooling them with the I hate all things liberal context but are outright lying to them about the reasons why they the people are told to hate and fear, in fact I am not even sure they themselves know why they are told to say and act the way that they do, their corporate masters pay them well and in the end for most of them it is all that matters, the money....

(though I personally do find the word (stupid} to be fitting it's not accurate for the majority of cons and really doesn't help ) and it is used simply because the make me so furious, but when we realize the real fight is toning down the prejudice and fear, fear of those different from themselves and turn that fear around to fearless..than perhaps we can get the last few stragglers who are holding on so tightly to the hate because if not dealt with soon someone is surely likely to find themselves in a very dangerous situation as in being the recipient of another whose only desire now is to see you silenced for eternity....

the CHURCH is one of those HUGE divisional tools used to keep people in the dark....them themselves must stand up and announce their guilt and pray for forgiveness from whomever they feel the need to pray too because it is more than obvious that if anything the church leaders in so many denominations do nothing more than preach hate, fear, and intolerance...such actions have been proven time and time again are the way to ensure your followers remain firmly behind you never daring to question their so called leaders even in deep in their hearts they know those leaders to be wrong...

The events over the past two years are proof positive at least to me that what the gop and conservatives are pushing for in order to regain power is complete chaos inside middle america and with that chaos there are bound to be casualties and its more than obvious who they wish to be the casualties to be in order that they are once again able to ensure their bank accounts remain in the plus side...

The belief is that their base is stupid..its so in their faces...if I were to consider myself a republican or conservative whatever they are calling themselves I would not only be embarrassed by the utter bs that side is exhibiting but furious that they believe me to be so ignorant to believe they care even an iota...