And Pat Robertson has no navy. But we have a big dangerous problem now that G.W. Bush says openly that Muslims are our enemies. Now, officially, he is fighting "ISLAMIC terrorists" and "Islamic fascists," rather than just terrorists and fascists.

Why does he even bother to say this stuff? Do we still have enough American voters who would care? Does Allen believe having some Jewish ancestry would hurt his credentials as a fundamentalist Christian? I guess he was trying to accuse somebody else of religious or ethnic bias against him, to counter the Macaca thing. This kind of phony simple-minded irony often resonates well within the Pharisee Wing of the fundamentalists.

Nonetheless, the ham sandwich shtick is far out of date. It is about the equivalent of talking about watermelon: Not so terribly offensive in 2006, but it shows that his mindset is at least 75 years in the past.

To amplify what Poster Juneausmog said, and what a couple other posters are groping toward: American christianists ARE as bad as islamist extremists. GoldenBoy (2nd Poster) is flat-out wrong. The comparison is apt. GoldenBoy is recalling an America that leaked away several years ago.

Please tune in to your local christianist radio guy. Listen for a couple days. These people say every day that the Muslims are out to kill us, that the Koran is just a book of lies, that they support torture, and that Jesus loves you.

The only big difference is that the American christianists do not have effective corps of suicide bombers or IED experts. Yet.

Probably, Hillary already has decided to run. Otherwise, the old President would not criticize the current occupant. Now, I hope he cuts loose! It will give other opponents an example, and maybe they will cut loose. Great to hear Colin Powell speaking out too!

Now, the rest of you, Fire At George!

hirscst2 -

Are there Pharisees still? I am sorry I wrote that crack. It comes from the depiction of Pharisees in the Christian New Testament.

I honestly thought Pharisees went away long ago. This reminds me of a certain Geico commercial, but it is serious. I apologize. I never will say anything similar again.

Fantastic post title, profound post! Will you marry me?

hirscst2 -

"Pharisee" arguably is Christendom's worst insult. It is fightin words. It is a tooth-baring, knife-drawing sort of an accusation.

I honestly want to know: Were there other Pharisees, maybe in another era from Jesus? Were they good? Or do you have a better story about the Pharisees Jesus knew? Is there a subsequent history? Please give us (me at least) somewhere else to look, and to learn.

I thought I knew more than I knew. Have you noticed that is a major problem with these www smartie-pantses? I will learn more. Shalom!

The Americans would torture me.

The George-Allen's-Jewish-Grampa-Thing turns out to be a rather complex ploy by Allen to paint himself as a victim. Yikes! Please bear in mind that Jewish is good now, among the christianist right. The kooky "Christian" fundamentalists all support Israel now because of Israel's part in their predicted apocalypse.

So, some of our posters are a little off-target when they speculate about classic anti-semitism rearing its dormant head in Virginia. Allen being a little Jewish almost certainly helps him with the far right. But any rational person must read Allen's "Ham Sandwich" comments from yesterday, and realize they are goofy, tin-ear schtick.

We are seeing a shameless, laughable attempt at high-concept spin. I hope it does not work.

Enough Americans are irrationally, cussedly inclined that they are likely to vote in W.Bush's philosophical/intellectual/barbaric successor in our next election. Why? Pay attention to the posters who have said that people do not want to believe, much less admit that they ever have been wrong...

Also, something has gone wrong with our concept of Shame. W.Bush and Cheney do shameful things, and behave shamelessly about them. Americans cannot be shamed into anything anymore. They see shameless liars such as Rush Limbaugh and Pat Robertson getting rich and famous. Nowadays, Americans just squeeze their eyes almost shut, and quit listening, and spout cliches.

When we say, "Torture," they just respond, "Liberal!" When we say, "Rational," they just say, "Elitist!" When we suggest, "Love," they say, "Cruise Missles!" When we ask, "Future?" they reply, "Apocalypse!"

A few points to bear in mind while you watch:

1. These Jesus Camp people WILL seem whacky to most viewers. And whacky is whacky. Give them credit for sincerity, and allow for their youth, though. Most of them are harmless.

2. The far-out whackos have taken over the word "Christian," but you do not have to be kooky to be Christian. Most of us are embarrassed by the snake-handling tub-thumpers, but they get all the publicity.

3. This guy Ted Haggard, the villain of the film, actually is not as far-out as, e.g., Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, and many other famous, dangerous christianists. Ted Haggard, strange as he is, actually is relatively rational. For example, he has stood up against the big, famous kooks on global warming and the environment.

4. Pay attention to Andrew O'Hehir in this article, when he mentions the differences within what we call the Christian Right. The Baptists mostly hate the Pentecostals and the Calvinists. And the Calvinists look down on the Baptists, and on and on... This may save America from the Christianists. They are not a solid movement. They will not stay united because they still are fighting the battles of the Reformation.

Please do not parse this to shreds. Bill Clinton joins Jimmy Carter as a former US President who does something worthwhile. Good news!