In future years, when they regain political power, conservatives will likely face the difficult task of reforming entitlements while minimizing the social fallout of the citizens who have come to view them as acquired rights. All the more reason to take Western Europe’s lessons on public spending growth seriously: at the moment, it seems that even with plentiful European evidence of the dangers of too much public spending, American policy makers are unwilling to change course, willing to repeat the mistakes of Western European countries while the leaders of these very countries argue in favor of a different course.
I had a reaction when I read this article, I will get into that after the quote and link here:
It was a small detail, a point of comparison buried in the fifth paragraph on the 17th page of a 24-page summary of the 2009 American Religious Identification Survey. But as R. Albert Mohler Jr.—president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, one of the largest on
No Church?
earth—read over the document after its release in March, he was struck by a single sentence. For a believer like Mohler—a starched, unflinchingly conservative Christian, steeped in the theology of his particular province of the faith, devoted to producing Ministers who will preach the inerrancy of the Bible and the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the only means to eternal life—the central news of the survey was troubling enough: the number of Americans who claim no religious affiliation has nearly doubled since 1990, rising from 8 to 15 percent. Then came the point he could not get out of his mind: while the unaffiliated have historically been concentrated in the Pacific Northwest, the report said, “this pattern has now changed, and the Northeast emerged in 2008 as the new stronghold of the religiously unidentified.” As Mohler saw it, the historic foundation of America’s religious culture was cracking.
“That really hit me hard,” he told me last week. “The Northwest was never as religious, never as congregationalized, as the Northeast, which was the foundation, the home base, of American religion. To lose New England struck me as momentous.” Turning the report over in his mind, Mohler posted a despairing online column on the eve of Holy Week lamenting the decline—and, by implication, the imminent fall—of an America shaped and suffused by Christianity. “A remarkable culture-shift has taken place around us,” Mohler wrote. “The most basic contours of American culture have been radically altered. The so-called Judeo-Christian consensus of the last millennium has given way to a post-modern, post-Christian, post-Western cultural crisis which threatens the very heart of our culture.” When Mohler and I spoke in the days after he wrote this, he had grown even gloomier. “Clearly, there is a new narrative, a post-Christian narrative, that is animating large portions of this society,” he said from his office on campus in Louisville, Ky.
Before I get into my reaction of this rather interesting piece. Let me get some full disclosure type housekeeping out the way here; If you will kindly head over to my “aboutme” section, you’ll see where I am coming from here. Honestly, When I read this, The first I said to myself was, “Where the heck has this guy been living for the last thirty years, under a rock?!?!”
As someone who basically grew in Church in the 1980’s and in the 1990’s; (Except for a period between 1992-3’ish and 1997, when I was very much away from “The Lord” as we Christian folks call it.) I can tell you without an ounce of doubt that there has been a huge tectonic shift in the culture in the country; away from the Church, Christianity and the like. America has swung hard and quite fast away from the Traditional values of the 1940’s and 1950’s. The first wave of it, was in the late 1960’s, second was in the 1970’s, third was the 1980’s and by the 1990’s we were really into the Liberalism feared by many today.
The Church, much like our Nation’s supreme court is a active reflection of society itself. The legalization of Abortion being a prime example of this. The legalizing of the systematic slaughter of innocent unborn, was one of the worst events that ever happened in this Country. The only thing that has surpassed that, is the moronic attempt by the religious right to reverse that decision; at a federal level, of which it should have never been set up in the first place. I am speaking like a federalist, in case any of you are confused at this point. While I am very sympathetic to the Christians and thier mission to protect the unborn in this Country. I cannot support thier quest to return power to the Federal Government in this fashion. If the religious right or “Pro-Life” as they are called, want to stop abortion, do it at the State level, not the Federal. The less centralized government, the better.
Of course, there are a ton more examples that I could trot out here, but I do not want to scare of the secular Conservatives that do visit this Blog. Instead, I will simply quote a few Bible verses:
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:1-17 –King James Version)
and in a little something more Modern:
But you should know this: There will be terrible times in the last days [of the Christian age]. (2) For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive talkers, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, (3) lacking in natural affection, unwilling to be reconciled [to their enemies], slanderers, lacking self-control, brutal, haters of what is good, (4) treacherous [i.e., betrayers], reckless, conceited, [and] lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. (5) [These people] maintain an appearance of being godly, but they have denied its power; [you should] turn away from such people. (6) They are the kind of people who enter homes and influence [morally] weak-willed women, loaded down with sins, [and] led on by all kinds of evil desires. (7) They are constantly learning and [yet] never able to arrive at a [full] knowledge of the truth. (8) These people oppose the truth just like Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses. They have corrupt minds and are worthless as far as the faith is concerned. (9) But they will not advance any farther [in their sin] because their foolish ways will become obvious to everyone, just as those of Jannes and Jambres were. (10) But you have followed [Note: These words mean “to observe closely, have a keen interest in”] my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, (11) persecutions and sufferings. You know what kind of things happened to me at Antioch, Iconium and Lystra [See Acts 13:13-14:23], and what [severe] persecutions I experienced [there]. But the Lord rescued me from all of them. (12) In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in [the service of] Christ will be persecuted. (13) But evil people and impostors will go from bad to worse [in their behavior], deceiving people and being deceived by them. (14) But you should continue [to believe and practice] what you have learned and been convinced of, knowing those from whom you learned it. [Note: These persons would include Lois and Eunice (See 1:5), as well as Paul himself]. (15) And [remember] that, from childhood, you have known the sacred Scriptures which are able to make you wise [enough] to be saved through faith in Christ Jesus. (16) All Scripture is inspired by God [Note: Literally, this word means “breathed out by God”] and is useful for teaching [truth], rebuking [wrongdoing], correcting [error] and for providing instruction [i.e., training] on how to live right, (17) so that the man of God will be thoroughly equipped for [doing] every good deed. – 2 Timothy 3:1-17 from The New Testament: An Understandable Version, by William E. Paul,
Pittsburgh police say a man wearing a bulletproof vest opened fire on officers during a domestic disturbance call, killing three of them.
Police chief Nate Harper says the motive for Saturday’s shooting isn’t clear.
Friends say the gunman recently had been upset about losing his job and that he feared the Obama administration was poised to ban guns.
The three dead officers are Eric Kelly, Stephen Mayhle and Paul Sciullo III. Kelly had been on the force for 14 years and the other two only two years each.
Another officer was shot in the hand and a fifth broke his leg on a fence.
The gunman, 23-year-old Richard Poplawski, was arrested after a four-hour standoff.
It’s sad, but it is also sick; it seems now that some LiberalBloggers are now blaming the Conservative media for this shooting. Which I think is a bunch of bull crap. As much as I know that it ticks off the left, but the truth of the matter is this. If someone is going to grab a gun and kill someone, they are going to do it regardless if they listen to Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Randi Rhoads or Stephanie Miller.
The point here is this, this dude and the dude in New York had issues, seriously bad mental issues. The sad part is, that he had access to firearms. The State of Michigan and I assume the State of New York and Pennsylvania have very good gun laws that keep people from getting guns that have diagnosed mental illnesses. However, it cannot stop people who have issues that are not diagnosed. I mean, the Government is not a mind reader. The sad part is, that Liberals are going to use this as some sort of sick excuse to rally for more Governmental regulation and stripping of our Gun rights. I am afraid that is this simply not the answer.
The truth of the matter is that there are mentally ill people out there and they are going to do stuff like this, it is just a fact of life. I just do not buy the idiotic notion that the Conservative media, Glenn Back, Sean Hannity or any of the rest of them are to blame. There are millions of sane, rational people that listen to these programs on a daily basis and they have never done anything stupid like this.
Another thing that highly annoys me is this; is how the Media is trying to engage in the profiling of the shooter in New York. He is being described is a quiet type, who harbored some hatred towards America. Well, let me be the first to say that, I am, in fact, a quiet type. I’m not a Fred Flintstone type. I keep to myself, I’m not very outgoing at all. Hey, I am unemployed, except for this Blog. I don’t drive around wasting gas, it is called being smart and frugal. I feel like people with personalities like mine are simply unfairly being singled out. There’s nothing wrong with being an introvert. We quiet people tend to be thinkers. I also, the portrait being painted about those who value their gun rights is totally unfair. I believe in the second amendment, if I were living along, I would own a gun, I would register it; as I believe in complying with the law.
I just do not understand why the Left Wing Media and the Liberal Bloggers are using two major tragedies like these to try and further an anti-gun agenda and a Conservative Media hysteria agenda. It does sort of remind me of the Jewish hysteria agenda that Hitler started in Germany.
Update #2: There is now a facebook page with a petition to get the shooting in PA; Richard Poplawski charged with Capital Murder. I’ve signed it, I suggest you do as well. No matter what political stripe you are, this guy commited murder. He should be punished with such.
A Pakistani Taliban militant leader has claimed responsibility for the attack on a U.S. immigration center in New York state in which 13 people were killed, Reuters reported.
“I accept responsibility. They were my men. I gave them orders in reaction to U.S. drone attacks,” Baituallah Mehsud told Reuters by telephone from an undisclosed location on Saturday.
U.S. officials were not immediately available for comment about Mehsud’s claim, Reuters reported, and one Pakistani security analyst dismissed the claim as a publicity stunt.
Representative Maurice Hinchey, whose district includes Binghamton, told the New York Times that indications are the gunman was an immigrant from Vietnam.
Mehsud’s claim comes as a suspected U.S. drone fired two miss
Most Sane right wing blogs are dismissive of this claim as well. Well, except for two; one is a Die-Hard Wilsonian Neo-Con, who obviously was really screwed up in Vietnam, and the other is a long discredited far right wing Blog, who is prone to make up stuff, when she does not have the facts. However, for the most part, everyone else about it is pretty much inline with the Government.
While I might give the Taliban credit for being what they are in Afghanistan, I highly doubt that the Taliban are that far reaching into the United States. So, while I might not agree with the left on issues of Government and the role of it in our lives, I can see why they would write posts like this one here. Sometimes there are people in our ranks that really make Conservatives look like loons. I am happy to report, we’re not all that way! 😀
I mean, chapping Obama’s ass for bowing to Saudi King in one thing, but playing the role of an idiot, and Blogging and speculating on stuff that has been widely disputed is another. It puts you in the line of Alex Jones and Company.
When they refer to themselves as “progressives,” radicals express their own basic truth: Their method of operation is always to move steadily forward, seeking a progressive series of victories, each new gain exploited to lay the groundwork for the next advance, as the opposition progressively yields terrain. Such is the remorseless aggression of radicalism that conservatives forever find themselves contemplating the latest “progressive” demand and asking, “Is this a hill worth dying on?”
The bankers struggled to make themselves clear to the president of the United States.
Arrayed around a long mahogany table in the White House state dining room last week, the CEOs of the most powerful financial institutions in the world offered several explanations for paying high salaries to their employees — and, by extension, to themselves.
“These are complicated companies,” one CEO said. Offered another: “We’re competing for talent on an international market.”
But President Barack Obama wasn’t in a mood to hear them out. He stopped the conversation and offered a blunt reminder of the public’s reaction to such explanations. “Be careful how you make those statements, gentlemen. The public isn’t buying that.”
“My administration,” the president added, “is the only thing between you and the pitchforks.”
Talking about cashing in on the public outrage! What’s more is this one here:
There were signs from the outset that this was a business event, not a social gathering. At each place around the table sat a single glass of water. No ice. For those who finished their glass, no refills were offered. There was no group photograph taken of the CEOs with the president, which typically happens at ceremonial White House gatherings but not at serious strategy sessions.
“The only way they could have sent a more Spartan message is if they had served bread along with the water,” says a person who attended the meeting. “The signal from Obama’s body language and demeanor was, ‘I’m the president, and you’re not.’”
Way to go there Mr. Bambi, piss off the very people that made you on wall street. What more do the people need to see, to realize that electing this buffoon was the biggest mistake America ever made?
You know, I criticized Bush relentlessly during the man’s time in office. But the actions of this new President is starting make me really wonder just how better off we truly are. I mean; this guy is right now over in Europe, and now going to France to make speeches saying that the United States of America was arrogant?? I have to admit, I do not always agree with Sean Hannity, But tonight he was spot on. Obama ought to be impeached for treason, first for bowing an Arab leader and then going overseas and basically sounding like the Dixie Chicks! I am, quite frankly, surprised that our media here has given him a pass on that one. But then again, when you are in the tank for the guy. What can one expect??
Not to mention that, he is spending like a drunken sailor, which is going to weaken our dollar. It is truly unbelievable.
You see people want to say that Bush caused all this economic recession, and that’s just flat out horse hockey! Bush did not cause this recession, Bill Clinton did! Clinton was one the one who placed the high pressure on the big lending institutions, like Freddie Mack and Fannie Mae to give loans to those who could not normally afford them. Then the people on Wall Street, thanks to the stupid deregulation of the Markets, cooked up these crazy credit swaps. Bush’s White House saw the impending disaster and warned sternly the Republican controlled Congress that there were signs that the Markets are showing signs that there was about to be a serious problem. This was in 2003, Congress then began an investigation and the then President/CEO or whatever the hell you call him, who was black, did what any black person does when they’re under the gun. He played the race card. Rep. Barney Frank sat right up there and said there was no crisis.
So, this whole notion that is being peddled by the Democrats is totally false and is basically revisionist history. No wonder Bill O’Rielly flipped out on Barney Frank. Because the man is a damned liar. As are the Democrats in general. But yet, the President can sit there and act like a total asshole?!?! It was his party that created this whole mess!
At least twelve people are dead after a gunman went on a shooting spree inside the American Civic Center in Binghamton, according to preliminary information from state police.
A federal law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity told the Associated Press the shooter has been found dead in the building.
The law enforcement official said the gunman entered the building through the front while firing. He had already blocked the back door with his car.
At one point more than 40 hostages were being held in the building at 131 Front Street — 15 in a closet and 26 in the boiler room. At 2:40 p.m., Binghamton Police indicated the situation was over and that a SWAT team was making sure there were no people inside the building.
At 3 p.m., Binghamton Police Chief Joseph Zikuski said no one taken from the building is a suspect, including two men who were removed in plastic handcuffs. A report of a man fleeing the building was false, Zikuski said.
The building is currently secure, although the dead remain within it, Zikuski said. He would not say where in the building the bodies were located.
Sharpshooters from the Binghamton SWAT team were poised outside the building during the crisis, and the Endicott police bomb squad was also at the scene.
Scanner reports just before 1:30 p.m., indicate police were asking 26 people in the Civic Association to lie on the floor with the hands above their heads.
Police and ambulance crews began staging at Oak and Main Street, the site of the Binghamton High School, shortly after 10:30 a.m. today. Local apartments were evacuated and businesses, including a nearby nursing home, were placed under lockdown. The high school was also locked down.
I am writing about this to appeal to all political bloggers on all sides of the aisle. Please, let’s keep politics out of this, for the time being. This is not the time to engage in political dogmatic nonsense. This is a time of mourning for the families and the people in this area. I don’t think that it would be out of place to offer up a prayer for the familes involved in this horrific tragic event.
My personal prayers go out to all families of the victims. My God be with them all.
It seems that the Liberal Congress and Obama are hell bent on devaluing our dollar:
Congressional Democrats overwhelmingly embraced President Obama’s ambitious and expensive agenda for the nation yesterday, endorsing a $3.5 trillion spending plan that sets the stage for the president to pursue his most far-reaching priorities.
Voting along party lines, the House and Senate approved budget blueprints that would trim Obama’s spending proposals for the fiscal year that begins in October and curtail his plans to cut taxes. The blueprints, however, would permit work to begin on the central goals of Obama’s presidency: an expansion of health-care coverage for the uninsured, more money for college loans and a cap-and-trade system to reduce gases that contribute to global warming.
The measures now move to a conference committee where negotiators must resolve differences between the two chambers, a prelude to the more difficult choices that will be required to implement Obama’s initiatives. While Democrats back the president’s vision for transforming huge sectors of the economy, they remain fiercely divided over the details.
$3.5 trillion dollars; That’s more money than I’ll ever see in this lifetime. Spending that much money will do nothing more than devalue our dollar to the point where the simplest things will cost more than most can afford. Ron Paul said it right in this video here; the Liberal Congress are simply trying to recreate the bubble that burst and they are simply going to try create another.
This of course will create another burst somewhere down the road that will be greater than this one. Our only hope is that someone like Mark Sanford will get in there and order the fed audited and possibly closed. Also maybe Sanford would put us back on the Gold Standard and back Austrian Economics and put this silly Keynesian economics to pasture, where it belongs.
