Letters to the Editor
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i doubt it will happen
Religious conservatives aren't as narcissistic, elitist and out of touch as leftists are. They are too smart to throw their votes away (like leftists did with Ralph Nader) because they know that, bad as Rudy might be for their agenda and their sensibilities, any of his possible Democratic opponents will be worse.
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No good choices for a Christian conservative
Nope, many of them will stay home instead of voting.
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Huckabee
Why won't they put their support and vast amount of money behind Huckabee. He is pretty much perfect on their issues.
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Tangental, perhaps, but ...
Can someone please explain how the hell donations to Dobson's "Focus on the Family" are tax-deductible?
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A Little More Tolerance
It's odd how utterly condescending this author seems, esp. when he is accusing the religious right of self-righteousness (I'm not a fan of the R.R., even if I do disagree with same gender marriage and would discourage an abortion under most circumstances). Indeed, why has it become fashionable to talk trash about them? Granted, they certainly are not meek in the exhortations; however, does that make their stance wrong?
This article highlights the paragon of "cynical smiles" that all too often permeates journalistic writing. What this author's true convictions are on religion, I cannot say. But given the unqualified ridicule given to the R.R. without any kind of redeeming token remarks about the good religion has done (and I'm well aware of Richard Dawkins' caricatures of both my religion and others). This author needs to, dare I say it, be a little more tolerant.
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President Clinton
Hillary, that is. That would be the guaranteed upshot of a Dobson 3rd party intitiative in the wake of Rudy's nomination. Much as I dislike her, I'd settle for that. Guiliani is no good.
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As the suckers would say ...
Let us pray. Although I suspect Rudy will convert at some point, renounce (yeah right) his sinful past and allow these phony hucksters to tell their 'flock' it's okay to vote for him. The only thing they worship is power. Well, that and money.
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It is time to defang the christian right cobra
The neo-con and the hateful christian right agenda of the Republican party has wrought havoc on the American people. The hateful anti-women, anti-choice, anti-gay, anti-immigrant, anti-black, anti-environmental policies are slowly waking up doped up American people from their corporate media induced binge. Let Jimmy Dobson and his theocrats prop up a third party candidate who will be sure to lose and bring down the Republicans as well. Now all we need is some Democrats with spine to turn this country into a constitution abiding of the people, for the people and by the people.
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This story begs the question...
...in what sense IS Rudy Giuliani a Republican? Back in the 1970s, he was a Democrat, then became an Independent and finally morphed into claiming to be a Republican. But his essentially liberal core beliefs are unmistakeably Democratic to this day.
No wonder Dobson and friends can't stomach him -- he's probably their worst nightmare! A popular politician who chooses to call himself "Republican", and achieves a certain level of success, totally WITHOUT their overt blessing -- and actually in spite of their real opposition.
Seems to me Guiliani has made a simple calculation that he can't succeed in the Democratic Party after so many years claiming to be a Republican, and given that he's obviously the odd man out among the GOP field, he might garner just enough support to beat a fractured band of more traditionally conservative opponents.
Not to say I support Rudy in any sense -- I don't. But his strategy is something to admire!
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Right on
A good read, clear and concise. Finding any kind of good news about our political picture has been tough lately, and knowing the R candidates are giving Dobson and his ilk fits is shameful joy but joyful nevertheless.
As for the letter about not recognizing the good religion has done, oh my goodness. Organized religion has led to so many wars, so much killing, and was and continues to focus on two things: controlling peoples' lives and money. Interfering in some of the most intimate facets of followers' lives isn't good. The pressure they've exerted to have abstinence programs replace realistic family planning and sex ed isn't good. Shunning birth control to the point of seeing condom distribution programs cut in poor countries that have skyrocketing HIV rates isn't good. Organized religion, at least in our time, is about doing some good works using the money and labor of others, while hoarding wealth and conning people into giving up power over their own lives and voting to steal rights away from others.
Many people of faith with true Christian or other spiritual values do work to help others, and that is terrific. However, that is people doing good not "religion." While it can't be proven, I suspect the same people would strive to help others even if there was no organized religion. People who seem to get Christian teachings are often wonderful people, but there are also so very many people who blindly follow questionable leaders who wouldn't dream of following the actual teachings of Jesus.
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Well, russellwades ...
... why should we be tolerant of those who have shown themselves, over and over again, to be intolerant of everybody else?
It is not intolerance to be condescending when speaking about fanatics who wrap themselves in the flag while trashing every value that America is built on. These American Taliban have gained control of far too much of our government, economy, and culture already. 2008 will be their chance to solidify their power still further (does anyone really believe there will be such a thing as a "swing vote" in the Supreme Court if a Republican President has the chance to appoint another Justice or two?) unless America wakes up and defends itself from the threat within, which is far more dangerous than any foreign threat has been since the end World War Two. The only danger in condescension is that it might mean we're not taking them seriously enough.
I'm assuming from your letter that you're a Christian. Please understand this: criticism of the religious right is not criticism of your faith. It is criticism of the people who have twisted your faith into a monstrous tool for power, in the world and most definitely of it.