The Awakening of George Bush

"Americans have developed a powerful sense of wrong and right when confronted by terrorism"

AHHH...the politics of religion!

Using God again as a political tool is deeply offensive to those of us who really believe in Him.

Tom,

So then guys like Abraham Lincoln offend you deeply, right?

I don't see how someone who has eroded America's moral and ethical high ground carries any religious credibility, other than for photo opps for the Christian right and for his own sobriety.

Practice what you preach, Mr. President.

Pardon my adding another link, but this seems relevant:

BOOK REVIEW
Abraham's promise and American power
Abraham's Promise by Michael Wyschogrod,
edited by R Kendall Soulen

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Front_Page/GB08Aa01.html

To paraphrase S. Johnson:

'Religion is the last refuge of the scoundrel.'

While we're at it:

To paraphrase HL Mencken:

'If they say it's not about the oil, it's about the oil.'

He speaks to us little people from his "Presidential Pulpit". If he were truly religious he would remember that you treat others as you want to be treated. I guess he wants to be tortured?

Let me get this straight:

George W. Bush, the man who left the state of Texas in a financial mess as Governor,who ran an oil business that Daddy Bush got him into, in the ground,who ran a professional baseball team,that he ignored while most of its players were using steroids,into the ground,who during Vietnam, ran down to an exclusive Natinal Guard Unit,whom Daddy Bush got him into,bypassing thousands of kids on a waiting list,so that he could blow off most of his official duties,and then have parts of his military history, and DD214,come up missing,or blacked out, right before he ran for President,who has had personal issues with drug use,and alcohol abuse........this is the man leading the Christian Conservatives into a "New Awakening." of moral values.?????

To me,he sounds more like a man desperate to get the Republican Neo-Cons reelected to Congress,so that he won't have to face some well deserved investigations.

Clear thinking Americans do know right from wrong when confronting terrorism,even tho Jimmy Carter and B.J.Clinton did not.When America was attacked at home and around the world,Clinton did nothing, except talk tuff....that was wrong!
Carter helped a trusted and true friend to the U.S,The Shaw of Iran,get overthrown by the Islamic fundamentalists,which led to the hostage crisis.....that was wrong!
Now we have a strong president that understands good vs. evil and right from wrong. He doesn't look the other way when confronted,he has and will protect us all. Not like past democratic presidents that were weak and/or perverted.
Paulo

I will not live under evengelical rule. They want one way of thinking,one way of believing,and do do not respect other peoples faith. They are the far right and need to stay out of the political sceen if theuy use God as a weapon

What a coincidence.

There is a similar "Great Awakening" occurring in the fundamentalist Islamic world as well -- and with similar tragic results for those who value rationality, the rights of individuals and peace.

Men and women who preferred living in a post-Enlightenment world have "awakened" into a nightmare of authoritarian fundamentalists' superstitions.

-- SCAM

Reporter Niekirk mentions that Pres. Bush spoke to "conservative journalists" (there are some?) Thursday, but fails to mention that Bush was speaking to "liberal journalists"--i.e., the White House press corps--the next day at the press conference Niekirk (a card carrying member of that press corps) quotes from.

The substance of Pres. Bush's message will no doubt prompt the usual knee-jerk responses from the usual sources, stating that the president's remarks are "deeply offensive". They always profess to be "offended", or "deeply offended", by anything that challenges their own faith-based belief system.

This calls to mind the statement by S. Johnson. Let me paraphrase:

'Religion is the last refuge of the scoundrel.'

While I'm at it, HL Mencken:

'If they say it's not about the oil, it's about the oil.'

Ugh. This President is obviously desperate, and is flailing in the air for anything to grab on to. He is trying to rally his right-wing religious wacko base, and guess what? Even they are keeping him at arms length, because they are catching the scent of failure on him too. (finally) The rats are jumping off the sinking ship. God won't save W's legacy.

If people will look up at Juanito's post, you will see a man (Juanito),who is trying to confuse,and distort the issues by comparing George W. Bush to Abe Lincoln.

You know Juanito,at least Karl Rove gets paid by the Republicans to confuse,and distort the issues,are you being paid,or are you just stupid all the time???

The difference between Abe lincoln and,George W. Bush:

"Honest Abe" was a true believer,not a blowhard like George W. Bush who has hid behind his false religious beliefs,and used good, hard working christian conservatives for their vote.

After he gets their vote,he doesn't give a damn about them,or anyone else.

W. is a man who has had things handed to him on a silver platter his whole life,and he has not once,had to take responsibility for any of his bad decisions in his life,or as the so-called "President".

I for one JUANITO,want to see this draft dodging,silverspoon,fake cowboy,get the cowboy justice that he is long overdue for.
Unfortunatly,we still have well spoken idiots like you around,who want to keep enabling W.

Hey what happeneded to the idea of religeous freedom. Every American has the right to be a church type or not Why are we getting carried away by it - let each of us make our own choices and keep government out of it. GB has no right to talk about it - after he is supposedly thhe pres of all - but not a King!

"So then guys like Abraham Lincoln offend you deeply, right?

Posted by: Juanito | Sep 17, 2006 8:37:24 AM"

I'm not offended by what Lincoln said because his words and deeds had the ring of sincerity and good will towards all, unlike the ill will and barely veiled threats coming from our current 'rapture ready' president.

Check out Sam Harris' book "The End of Faith." I don't agree with everything Harris has to say, but he'd be putting this whole religious pulpit crap, whether coming from his imperial majesty the president or from the Mullahs. They both stand equally as destroyers of our way of life.

I believe the comparison Juanito was making, was that Lincoln also invoked the name of God in his speeches as so many posters say they're offended by in this thread. The idea he was pointing out, aWaveofchange, is that there are no laws that have ever prohibited a president of the united states from expressing his faith.

I'll give you a few famous excerpts, and I'll try to use polite words than "blowhard," so don't worry if they're not very familiar to you.

The Gettysburg Address, written by Abraham Lincoln:

"It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

And you can add to that the oratory of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and many other founding fathers who had absolutely zero compunction about publicly invoking God and religion in their speeches. This next one has nothing to do with religion, but I think it succinctly sums up the difference between people like George W. Bush and angry, little name-callers like you:

"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." - Theodore Roosevelt

C. Morris,

Correction: Samuel Johnson said "Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel".

There is certianly no shortage of things about which to rip into Bush. However, to suggest that his religiosity is insincere and nothing more than cynical politicking is simply wrong. You may not especially like his theology (I certainly don't) but the evidence indicates that it is heartfelt.

There seems to be a big difference in the way Lincoln, Washington and such used their thoughts on God. To say that Americans have great sense of religion (right or wrong) when it comes to terrorism...please...Lincoln spoke those words at Gettysburg...You can't tell the difference?

George Bush has said that he believes God wanted him to be president and to invade Iraq.

I believe that he believes...

But with that said, how can anyone take this man seriously?

If Dubya walked into your burger joint and said God wants me to be your super-sizer asker/deciderer - would you hire him?

religion is the opiate of the masses....

Karl Marx

economics dictates history....

Karl Marx

George Bush may be a religious man...but then Brittany Spears is a pop star. Who cares? In both cases, alleged.

brian

You can tell when the rightwing nuts start coming out...the quality of spelling goes downhill.

Bill...and so I ask again...after that Quote from Roosevelt...Whats all the antipathy towards Obama?

Juanito,

I said let me 'PARAPHRASE' not quote. I know that the original quote said 'patriotism'.

But the thing about great quotes, they apply to a lot of different areas.

His faith may or may not be heartfelt, but he has brought it full bore into the public square. So be it.

But if these people want to use their religion to get votes, and cram it down our throats, it should be fair for the press corps to ask hard questions like;

'Mr. President, which Americans do you believe are going to Hell?

'Mr. Bush, are the Jews going to Hell? If so, why are they our allies!

'Mr. Bush, are the Log Cabin Republicans going to Hell.

'Mr. Bush, are your political opponents going to Hell?

'.... are the Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, going to Hell?

If you are going to flaunt your "faith" to get votes I think we all have the right to know the details of said faith.

par·a·phrase Pronunciation (pr-frz)
n.
1. To express the meaning of a writer or speaker in different words, often to acheive greater clarity.

You did not paraphrase -- but it's not worth niggling about.

I really don't know where the rest of that rant is going, C. Morris, but I see you backed away from your earlier suggestion that his religion is just a cynical ploy. Thank you for that.

"I don't see how someone who has eroded America's moral and ethical high ground carries any religious credibility, other than for photo opps for the Christian right and for his own sobriety.

Practice what you preach, Mr. President.

Posted by: Kenny Bunkport | Sep 17, 2006 8:51:35 AM"

KB,

I agree. He wears it on his sleeve, yet he's obviously of low mind and spirit, drunk on power. I'd rather see him drunk on gin. Less damage to the Republic.

I have never understood the polls that say Americans 'like' Bush as a person. Would rather 'have a beer' with him.

I'm sure most or all of the posters here had a good mom, that tried to bring them up right. One of my old ma's lessons was how to 'tell a liar'.

Look for shifting eyes, no eye contact, nervous lip biting, extended stammering and long pauses as the next dirty lie is constructed for up-chucking.

Here is something for everyone to try next time you see Bush give a speech on TV; look at his eyes for just the moment after he has stopped making noise, and is readying for his next utterance.

The eyes glaze over, taking on a shocking, dead appearance. He shifts his reptilian gaze off into middle space as if looking on with dreadful anticipation at his next few moments of awful, pain filled existence as he hears the terrible instruction set downloading from Mephistopheles, all to the inner drumbeat of wasted GI's walking off the coil,,, forever.

Good questions C.Morris
I've posted these thoughts before and much like your questions I never really get an answer.
If you are a true Christian such as Bush, do you really think Jesus would have told Bush to invade a country, to use violence in a pre-emptive way, to allow innocents to be killed in the line of fire and write them off as "War is tough work, got to get them before they get us.."?
When the good Christians of this country go to church on Sunday do they hear what is being said, "All deserve mercy and forgiveness, love thy neighbor, do not kill"?
Does anger and retaliation sound very Christian?
Does Jesus approve of torture to gain info from another human?
We claim this is a country of religious freedom, yet our president is 'guided' by the Christian God. God speaks to him, guides him, the good Christians of this country pray for him to get this guidance. Was it Gods advice to attack when attacked, get them before they get us, we are right and all other religions are wrong?
Have your own beliefs, decdide who is going to hell and who gets paradise, but in the meantime can we just govern the world using logic and compassion rather than religious zeal?
Methinks whatever God there may be, they arent too impressed with many of the Christian and Muslim faith these days, both religions borne of peace, both religions hijacked by those who "know", "trust", "have faith" that they are right and feel that violence is their just due.
Where are the voices of the true Christians in this country, the ones who actually practice what they preach instead of those who pray on Sunday and "Bomb the livin dickens out of those Allah believin suicide bombing terrorists, innocent children be damned!" on Monday?

American payback, Christian style. No guilt attached because 'they' got us first. And according to our President, Jesus approves.

Christians "know" they are right, the Bible, an ancient text, says so. Everyone else is goin to Hell unless you accept Christian beliefs.
Muslims "know" they are right, the Koran, an ancient text, says so. Everyone else is goin to Hell unless you accept Islamic beliefs.
Scientlogists "know" they are right, L. Ron Hubbard, an ancient alien, says so, etcetera.
"We're right!" "No, WE'RE right!" "NO, WE ARE RIGHT!!!"

Uh-oh.

If George Bush says there's a resurgence in Faith, I'd be inclined to figure the truth is more like he went to God's funeral over the weekend.

It's to The Decider's advantage to spread this stuff around, kind of like manure, to make his version of the truth grow. Did anybody really think he'd say something like he's witnessed people in increasing stages of despair and resentment? Would he really allow somebody who wasn't the epitome of good old fashioned Republican values a chance to get within 50 yards of him? Encapsulated? How about more like living in a glass jar that's buried under 20 feet of insulation that's sealed in 2 or 3 tons of concrete that's sunk under 20 fathoms of water in an area of the ocean patrolled day and night by a whole fleet of destroyers!

OK, an earlier post was a trifle testy and didn't pass the censor, so let me try this again:

aWaveofChangeisComing,

First of all, your assertion that Bush "[hides] behind his false religious beliefs,and [uses] good, hard working christian conservatives for their vote" is something you pulled out of thin air. Bush was "born again" years before he re-entered politics, so it seems extremely improbable that it's nothing more than cynical politicking.

Secondlly, your call for "cowboy justice" suggests lynching. How dare you, then complain about the immorality of this administration -- or of anybody for that matter? Your moral superiority rings hollow, cowboy.

Thirdly, if you can cite anything by me in which I compare Bush to Abraham Lincoln on any other terms than their use of religious rhetoric, I will donate $1000 to the DNC.

Once again, Paulo repeats the false soundbite that Clinton did nothing about terrorism, so he needs to hear the facts, again.

Clinton's Justice department hunted down, captured, arrested, tried, convicted and incarcerated the perpetrators of the attempted bombing of the WTC in 1993. Contrast to president Shrub's FAILURE to even catch Osama bin-Laden 5 years after successfully bombing the WTC towers.

I have never once doubted that George W. Bush is an honestly religious man. That's never been the problem. The problem stems from the fact that he thinks his beliefs give him the moral authority to always do what he *believes* to be right, regardless of whether the truth, or the majority of voters, back him up or not.

It's one thing to say that religion gives one the inner strength to face the world. It's quite another to say that religion dictates *how* one looks at the world. Religion is, in the end, a personal choice, and should not be used to justify actions that, were they not conducted under the banner of "faith", would be considered monstrous.

Nor should religion have the final say in the choices one makes. It's simpler that way, of course, but it leads to mental stagnation. Religion is meant to give us a larger view of the world, not make hard choices easy. It's meant to help guide people, not force them.

I don't know if we're in a Great Awakening or not. Frankly, I don't care, and neither should President Bush. His job, the one that a majority of voters elected him for, is to focus on the here and now, and perhaps a small part of what is to come. Keep faith and religion out of government, and let God sort out the rest.

Come on. Lincoln tried to use religion to unite Americans, not as a cynical device to divide the populace into political factions of "believers" and "non-believers". Contrary to popular belief, Republicans do not have a monopoly on faith and morality. Some of us are spiritial without being Christian, or Christian without being conservative. If you think that Jesus would endorse the politics of Bush, you need to go back to Bible-study.

Paulo

Who is this Shaw of Iran of whom you speak.

Maybe the reason King George gets this sense of a new awakening is that anyone with any sense could care less about shaking his hand or listening to anything he says. This another great example of his approach to life -- never listen to anything or anyone who doesn't already agree with what you say and then you will always think you are right. Who needs science or debate or reason when you are surrounded by lackies and yes men. Maybe George should add the Emperor Has No Clothes to his reading list, it is actually designed for his reading level although i doubt he will get the deeper meaning.

Juanito....In my life time..I have noticed one thing....beware the born again and again and again and again!

I also think you enjoy niggling.

You did not compare Lincoln to Bush, however, your assertion that Lincoln's use of religious
terms the same way Bush does, doesn't pass the
test.

If I spelled anything wrong or did not use proper
punctuation please niggle me.

Ana is quite correct that W's religiosity is adroitly used to advance a political agenda.
http://www.newamericancentury.org/ - Go here to read the neoconservative manifesto. The statement of principles is "interesting" reading. Here are the authors - all the architects of the Iraq invasion - and it was drafted in 1997.
Elliott Abrams
Gary Bauer
William J. Bennett
Jeb Bush
Dick Cheney
Eliot A. Cohen
Midge Decter
Paula Dobriansky
Steve Forbes
Aaron Friedberg
Francis Fukuyama
Frank Gaffney
Fred C. Ikle
Donald Kagan
Zalmay Khalilzad
I. Lewis Libby
Norman Podhoretz
Dan Quayle
Peter W. Rodman
Stephen P. Rosen
Henry S. Rowen
Donald Rumsfeld
Vin Weber
George Weigel
Paul Wolfowitz
It appears that "moral clarity" was part and parcel of their scheme, and Bushs born-again background fit the role nicely.

Ana,

Kudos to you for well thought out analysis. I agree.

Questioning the sincerity of Bush's personal beliefs is simply the wrong way to go -- besides being impossible unless you're a mind reader.

bill r,

I never bust posters' chops about spelling or punctuation (or lengthy posts). I like to think that when I niggle it's about people not thinking or communicating clearly.

Dean, Paulo,

I thought it was Shaw of Ireland.

Please don't confuse the presidents and the Evangelicals idea of Christianity with true Christianity:

Matthew 6:5-6: "And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men....when thou prayest, enter into thy closet and when thou has shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret...."

Also try Matthew 25: 31-46

Is there really an awakening, or is Bush's experience shaped by the types of people he meets when he works the rope line? Consider that this administration vets the people who attend events--tell them you are a Democrat, and forget about a ticket. So it is no surprise that Bush is hearing what he hears; the "public" he is exposed to is evangelical and Republican. No secular Democrats need apply. Or even religious ones.

Michele

Oh great knower of knowledge,and leader of correct oratory argument,Juanito,...please help lead us little Democrats to the promised land.

Faith should be about an individual not about society as a whole. Religion is responsible for most wars and is responsible now for dividing this country. The only way to exist as one society is to respect the views of others. The ironic thing is this what the Administration tells us it's doinf in trying to spread American ideals tot he middle east. What they actually want to do is replace one extremist ideaology with another.

P.S. loved the "Shaw" of Iran thing! had me laughing for ten minutes and had me imagining the salty sea captain of Jaws running Iran. also reminded me whom we're dealing with here...

There have been numerous high sounding and well thought arguments by previous posters on whether this country is becoming more religious, but I submit that we all may be missing the point, including Neikirk and Dubya himself.

From Neikirk's original post:

'When he is working rope lines and shaking hands, people increasingly say, "I'm praying for you," the president said...'

Mr. President, is it possible to imagine a relationship between the increasing number of people praying for you and the decreasing number of people who think you're doing a good job? May I suggest that at least some of the people who are praying for you are appalled at the large number of wrong directions you're pursuing and are hoping their prayers will help you come to your senses?

Keep praying, folks, it's not too late. Two more years is plenty of time to get started cleaning up the mess.

Actually, I thought that when people say they are praying for him, it's along the lines of "Dear God, please open this fool's eyes before he destroys all America has stood for!"

Remember the new GOP motto: "Torture for Freedom"

While I'm not a fan...

Bush and his neo con righties may be geniuses. Evil geniuses, but geniuses nontheless...

Think about it. Our country was attacked. I don't believe any of the flotsam out there that W and Co., planned it. Knew about the plans? Maybe, but not likely. He could have been just as big a hero foiling it and shooting down the planes.

But after 9/11 they have been masterful. They've convinced congress to delegate war making authority so that a President can start a war with a sovereign nation that posed no immediate threat.

They've linked al qaeda with Sadaam Hussein despite no evidence whatsoever.

They've buffaloed the American public into thinking the "war on terrorism" is World War 3 the likes of which we will be fighting for decades or more.

They've outflanked their opposition at every step and fostered a hostile domestic political environment where every decision must be "win/lose" and never "win/win".

They've trampled the constitution in the name of the "war on terrah" and convinced many Americans that "Islamic Fascists" are a greater threat than the Soviet Union or Communist China were during the Cold War that will require us to ratify the use of torture and puppet courts to prevail.

But their real genius is...."the economy stupid". Just look around. The economy is doing well. People are employed. Oil is flowing. You can't even tell we are at war, unless you read the paper.

Their genius is their management of the economy, but more specifically, the OIL FLOW. Whoever said it above is right. It's all about oil. Don't doubt it for a second. Without it our economy would crumble and there would mass pandemonium, economic ruin, bankruptcy (for those that can afford it) and quite possibly domestic unrest the likes of no one has ever seen. 9/11 would not even compare to the carnage that would ensue.

But, W and Co. have saved us from that. Albiet by lying, cheating, demonizing, corrupting, hating, spiting, and using raw absolute power. All while holding themselves out as the faciliators of the next great awakening. Geniuses...yes. Evil, you bet.

Juanito...you are correct. You don't generally
jump on misspelling and such...some do..you got the flack. I apologize.

But you still like to niggle!

So Texas George thinks that this country is going through another "Great Awakening," Right! What else would or could he say?

George maintains that he knows this "Great Awakening" is taking place because he sees this as he travels around the country, talking and shaking hands with people. I guess junior doesn't realize that the people that he sees, and talks with, are all part of the choir. They are all die-hard Bush lovers, and more times than not, are extreme right-wing religious zealots.

George owes his tenure in the White House to his extreme right-wing religious base. They voted for Bush in 2000 and 2004. They will continue to back him regardless of what he says or does. In their eyes, he can do no wrong!

It has often been said that "a little bit of knowledge is a very dangerous thing"....if that is true, then the right-wing religious nuts are very dangerous. They have very little knowledge on most issues and they prefer to have it that way. They hide beyond their Bibles, and continue to view the world from a "good guy vs, bad guy" mentality. They are part of the "love it or leave it" group, and they love to say such things as "you're either with us or you are against us." They also follow up that line of thinking with their "I'd rather fight them over there, rather than fight them over here." This is the same group who talk about how we should all "love our fellow man," but they forget to practice what they preach.

The sooner we rid this country of George Bush and his brain-dead ideals, the better. He has taken us down the wrong road with few opportunities to detour. This fall's election may prove to be one of the most important elections in our nation's history. It's time to change our direction. The Bush administration is a "dirty shirt" and we need to change shirts.

Paulo wake up call Bill sent legislation to the hill three come to mind Tighten Airport Security, Better tracking of terrorist funding and better tracking of explosives all voted down by Republican Congress. Thats just three! others called Wag the Dog . Now Bush failures stopped all of Clintons anti-terrorism efforts,shelved the Hart -Rudman report, Cut the anti-terrorism of the Defence Department,Halted Predator drone trcking bin-Laden, did nothing about the August 6th CIA report saying al-Qaeda was going to highjack airlines, And Bush did know about Attacks on American intrest but said it would be overseas Went on Vacation instead of checking all reports. Now those are the facts . You are using the old talking points put out by the RNC sorry again they are lies.

"Using God again as a political tool is deeply offensive to those of us who really believe in Him."

And it's even more offensive to those of who don't believe.

bill r,

Yeah you're right. I do like to niggle, and it gets on people's nerves.

And I understand you being wary of the born again and again and again.

OK, Bush's religion may be nutty in your or my opinion, but that's not the point. I'm saying that the people here who are saying that it is insincere are simply talking through their hats. Nobody can know that.

And anybody who says that presidents should not put religion in their public speaking (not you, bill r.) are just plain wrong. There's no law against that. Furthermore all presidents have done it so you can't single out Bush if you're going to complain about it.

PS. I think spelling and punctuation are overrated. It's usually the knuckleheads who can't think of a good comeback who jump on it.

"Christians "know" they are right, the Bible, an ancient text, says so. Everyone else is goin to Hell unless you accept Christian beliefs."

Erick,

I agree with your post.

Beyond that, Most Christians seem to think all the other 'Christians' are also going to Hell. Please note the Catholics think that all the Protestants are doomed to hell. Sorry, but it's true. You protestants don't do the necessary rites.

And until very recently, the mid-ninties, the Southern Baptist uh, uh, uh, extremists referred to the Pope as the Anti-Christ. The official line has changed, but a lot of their mouth breathers still believe it.

As far as Bush being sincere or not about his "faith"; It is probably worse if he is sincere. Nothing worse that a over eager power junkie that actually believes his religion in superior to all the others. He seems to be just itching to nuke somebody, anybody. It might bring on the 'end times'.

My advice? If you are a red head with a birth mark in the wrong spot, look out. It could get hot! You just know Ricky Santorum would love to torch somebody. Put him in a black hooded shroud and give him a thumb screw and what do you think he would do? Not what Jesus would do.

Juanito,

Sorry I have been gone so long, but I had to go to work, then talk to my sig. other for a while, and then eat.

You seemed to be niggling on the meaning of 'paraphrase'.

I used the word to make sure everyone knew I wasn't 'quoting' Johnson or Mencken.

I do, however, sincerely ask what word would you have used for my little verbal delight?

PS to all on bad spelling/niggling.
First off; English spelling rules are not logical or consistent.

I am a disaster waiting to happen on spelling. I fooled around with my command bar and found 'auto spell', or 'check as typing'. It really helps me avoid horrid spelling errors.

"Is there really an awakening, or is Bush's experience shaped by the types of people he meets when he works the rope line? Consider that this administration vets the people who attend events--tell them you are a Democrat, and forget about a ticket. So it is no surprise that Bush is hearing what he hears; the "public" he is exposed to is evangelical and Republican. No secular Democrats need apply. Or even religious ones.

Michele

Posted by: Michele | Sep 18, 2006 12:20:07 PM"

Michele,

Excellent post. This is the fact of the matter. No one has said it clearer.

Perhaps old George should be reborn again, it seams that after his first rebirth that he did not figure out that thou shall not kill was not a suggestion but a direct order.

This man should return to his village in Texas, they have been doing without their idiot for six years.

Why even waste time discussing this? George Bush hasn't faced any kind of reality in years. At this point the only "Great Awakening" would be to put this man out of office and us out of misery.

Why is he even up there talking about religion?

What ever happened to the separation of Church and State?

Religious beliefs are a personal thing, keep it to yourself Georgie!

C.Morris,

Yes, I'm niggling, sorry. Maybe "ammend" "revise" "rephrase"... but it's really not important to the larger issue.

And I agree, Michele's post was concise and clear and perfectly sums up one of the fundemental flaws of the Bush administration.

And I also agree with you that him (or anybody) being sincere in their religious beliefs is not necessarily a good thing. After all, the last words of the guys flying the planes into the WTC were "God is great."

Nunayo and the rest of the "religion is personal business" crowd. I direct you to please read the Bill of Rights and you'll see how ridiculous you sound. The First Amendment reads "Congress shall make no law respecting an establisment of religion OR PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE THEREOF, (and, yes, this even includes presidents); or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people to peaceably assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

A president has just as much right to discuss his personal feelings about religion as he does any other topic (Bill Clinton once gave his argument for why Notre Dame would beat Michigan in college football during a press conference). Bush is not making this country a theocracy or respecting an establishment of a national religion by simply discussing his views on the subject.

Juanito,

I guess it's official, we agree on something!

Dear awaveofchangeiscoming,

I don't believe I am as bad as the worst thing I have ever done and cannot change. Do you believe that about yourself? Whatever the President has done in the past is certainly no measure of his Christian conviction or his moral quality. You take the worst of his past behavior and brand him forever. If you knew anything about his life, you would know he has had an experience in Christ that by his own profession has changed him. That doesn't make him perfect, but it has changed his heart. Fortunately for all of us, God is more reasonable than you are.