Exactly correct.

I grew up in Orange County as a "real" Christian (Lutheran) and witnessed the migration in the late 70's and 80's of my unchurched friends and neighbors into these big box pseudo-churches.

While I was moving toward atheism and disbelief these people were making up their own religion, or rather the pre-Pastor Warren's of the era were honing the political and social messages white, middle class conservative wanted to hear about themselves. These folks want an easy, Costco-esque consumer based theology that justifies their often excessive lifestyles and allows them to feel OK about their prejudices, and that's exactly what they built.

Calling these people "Christian" in any traditional sense is really a misnomer.

Warren is an atheist. And Bush is a liberal.

This clearly explains their dishonesty, because Christians and Conservatives by definition can't be dishonest.

You missed the comment where Warren, when asked about McCain possibly hearing the questions in advance said "I trust the integrity of both candidates" - as if someone was questioning Obama's honesty as well. It's fascinating how this disingenuous little turn of a phrase was unremarked upon in the media.

The opposition is old and feeble, quite possibly senile. He has lied multiple times about his voting record, lied about cheating on his ex-wife, his mother lies about his divorce and his wife repeatedly lies about being an only child. Oh, and she forged prescriptions for her illicit drug habit but was never charged with the crime.

Add to that he (apparently) repeats other people's published prison anecdotes as his own, was one of the primary perpetrators of the S&L scandal, actively fought against the MLK holiday (and lies about it), enthusiastically supported Bush in his every misadventure (again, while lying about it) and wants to get us involved in another war in Iran - all the while managing to show up at his Senate job less that 40% of the time.

Why exactly isn't Obama kicking this losers ass?

There's never a shortage of Americans ready and willing to blame some random misfortune on the victim themselves - even to the extreme of blaming people for the weather.

It is a fiction that Americans are "whiners". What we are are a people that harbor a strong antipathy toward strangers, even other Americans, especially those who are different by class or race. The myth of the lone citizen against the elements is apparently powerful enough for us to smugly dismiss even the fundamental right to human dignity for people we view as outsiders.

It's a horrible flaw in the American character.

I'm on a politics mailing list where I work. The participants are mostly conservative engineers. Two weeks ago the mail was all about how Obama was a rich elitist out to tax the middle class.

When I posted the same point (in so many words) that Lawrence did the response from the list was "well, you liberals hate rich people".

It's like exchanging emails with monkeys.

"two rifles ... a high-powered scope, a bulletproof vest, a walkie-talkie, several boxes of ammunition and some methamphetamine."

Doesn't every wingnut carry this kind of stuff around in his car?

Three comments into his career and Niterider0311 has already played the victim card.

So we're "looking down their noses at those of us they deem less worthy"?

Sorry, you need to try another tactic because I stopped feeling sorry for you guys with your fragile egos long ago.

Thanks for the concern trolling. We evil despicable leftists with take your advice under advisement.

Give my regards to Red State.

Cheers!

Can we stop calling her "Sarah" or as some now say "John and Sarah" (as if they had the McPalins over for drinks last night).

What's the genesis of this I wonder? It doesn't seem to have the "at the direction of leadership you will make this reference" quality that the term "Democrat Party" does but it has become a common diminutive in the wingnut-sphere and now seems to be infecting the rational world.

What's wrong with addressing them as Senator McCain and Governor Palin?

As I understand it he is at best ambivalent toward organized religion.

Where does he attend? Does he do so regularly? If this is legitimately an issue for Obama and Palin why aren't McCain's church affiliation and attendance being examined?

Take the most ridiculous, racist, silly inane comment a small-town American has said about Obama and I guarantee I've heard worse said by a suburban west coast American.

Americans generally believe (and say) whatever idiotic emotional bullshit strikes their fancy. I think it's been because we've always been rich enough to buy our way out of the consequences of our irrational behavior, but this is changing very very quickly.

McCain did very well. He gave standard roundabout answers that went only nominally challenged. The nitwit Bush has done worse in every single interview I've seen with him and he was "elected" twice.

I don't know when the first debate is but Obama had better do something quick because McCain is now leading in electoral votes.

We are in a dire situation. Clearly a large number of Americans actively despise our form of representative government and the constitutional principles we (ostensibly) operate under. If McCain/Palin wins the people will have clearly chosen to throw our Republic away.