Pro Filibuster = Anti-Christian
Sinking to newer lows, the Republican leader of the Senate Bill Frist is turning to the radical right to religify and political issue.
"As the Senate heads toward a showdown over the rules governing judicial confirmations, Senator Bill Frist, the majority leader, has agreed to join a handful of prominent Christian conservatives in a telecast portraying Democrats as "against people of faith" for blocking President Bush's nominees. Fliers for the telecast, organized by the Family Research Council and scheduled to originate at a Kentucky megachurch the evening of April 24, call the day "Justice Sunday" and depict a young man holding a Bible in one hand and a gavel in the other. The flier does not name participants, but under the heading "the filibuster against people of faith," it reads: "The filibuster was once abused to protect racial bias, and it is now being used against people of faith." "
Offensive on a number of levels, and another sign of how much the Republican party has changed. Here are some of my favorite quotes on this development:
As a Christian, I'm disgusted at this blatent misuse of religion. This just shows how low the GOP will stoop to "get their way". Unfortunatly, a great number of my Christian brothers and sisters buy into the venomous rhetoric spewed by the likes of Dobson and Colson. it's a shame really. The Dems are not blocking some nominees because they hate "religous people"... it's because the judiciary has great power, lifelong power and putting an ideologue on the bench, either from the right or from the left is just plain wrong. Nominations need to be considered carefully. The judges are there to enforce the laws, not rule based on their own value system. Responsible, impartial people should be on the bench... not extremists! Shame on Sen Frist for using religion to further his own agenda... Also, a great number of "lefties" don't have a problem with God... just the rabid "Christian Right"... I love God, but mourn because so many of the Evangical Christians have lost their way.
Posted by: elmysterio on April 15, 2005 03:39 PM (John Cole)
Could someone please address the fact that all of the powers of each branch are checked by the other branches? The Senate was never meant to just rubberstamp the President's nominees. If the Founders had intended it, then the President would just appoint the judges without any review process. To say that the founding fathers could not have written that were that their intention is absolute nonsense.
The question that Republicans need to ask themselves is how they would feel if the filibuster had been eliminated during Clinton's time in office when Democrats controlled by houses. If you can honestly say that even a Democratic President should have no Senate opposition to his of her judicial nominations, then you are either lying or far too indoctrinated.
However, it is nice to see that there are secularist Republicans left. Now if only the media would recognize the religious Democrats. Hrm.
Posted by: electricgrendel on April 15, 2005 04:10 PM (John Cole)
The "religious right" has become a cult of constant victimization, despite its unprecedented power. Any religion or spiritual movement or ANY kind of group of people who weilds the kind of power this group does, but STILL cries victim, is morally bankrupt.
I think "Christianity" is too kind a label for the current religious right-wing in this country. Sure, they throw the name "Jesus" around like it's their favorite brand of soft drink, but ignore just about EVERYTHING he says in the New Testament. They have completely perverted the most moral teachings the world has ever been given, making Jesus a mouthpiece for their greed and power machinations, and then they whine about being persecuted when true people of faith and good will object.
They are committing a terrible sin: using God cynically, in service of their own earthly power. The Lord is not a hand puppet to be popped out whenever you want to score a rhetoric point against your political opponent. Jesus saved some of his biggest contempt for the religious and political leaders of his time, for doing the exact same thing.
Shame on them all. They really are defiling the name of Jesus Christ.
Posted by: Chumley on April 15, 2005 07:29 PM (John Cole)
The last post really resonates with me as a man of Christian upbringing who loves the teachings of Jesus, but not what man has used them for. I feel very sad that there is a fanatical religious element in this country that thinks they need to drive their personal value wedge into all corners of the government. It really scares me about what the ramifications could look like if they are successful. The veil has to come off of the wing of the moderate Republicans, or libertarian Republicans, so that they can see that their core beliefs are being plundered by a this fanatical right wing of theocrats pushing their own socio-moralistic agenda. If the moderate and true conservative elements do not wake up soon, the Republican party will no longer be a safe place for them, and then where does that leave us?
"As the Senate heads toward a showdown over the rules governing judicial confirmations, Senator Bill Frist, the majority leader, has agreed to join a handful of prominent Christian conservatives in a telecast portraying Democrats as "against people of faith" for blocking President Bush's nominees. Fliers for the telecast, organized by the Family Research Council and scheduled to originate at a Kentucky megachurch the evening of April 24, call the day "Justice Sunday" and depict a young man holding a Bible in one hand and a gavel in the other. The flier does not name participants, but under the heading "the filibuster against people of faith," it reads: "The filibuster was once abused to protect racial bias, and it is now being used against people of faith." "
Offensive on a number of levels, and another sign of how much the Republican party has changed. Here are some of my favorite quotes on this development:
As a Christian, I'm disgusted at this blatent misuse of religion. This just shows how low the GOP will stoop to "get their way". Unfortunatly, a great number of my Christian brothers and sisters buy into the venomous rhetoric spewed by the likes of Dobson and Colson. it's a shame really. The Dems are not blocking some nominees because they hate "religous people"... it's because the judiciary has great power, lifelong power and putting an ideologue on the bench, either from the right or from the left is just plain wrong. Nominations need to be considered carefully. The judges are there to enforce the laws, not rule based on their own value system. Responsible, impartial people should be on the bench... not extremists! Shame on Sen Frist for using religion to further his own agenda... Also, a great number of "lefties" don't have a problem with God... just the rabid "Christian Right"... I love God, but mourn because so many of the Evangical Christians have lost their way.
Posted by: elmysterio on April 15, 2005 03:39 PM (John Cole)
Could someone please address the fact that all of the powers of each branch are checked by the other branches? The Senate was never meant to just rubberstamp the President's nominees. If the Founders had intended it, then the President would just appoint the judges without any review process. To say that the founding fathers could not have written that were that their intention is absolute nonsense.
The question that Republicans need to ask themselves is how they would feel if the filibuster had been eliminated during Clinton's time in office when Democrats controlled by houses. If you can honestly say that even a Democratic President should have no Senate opposition to his of her judicial nominations, then you are either lying or far too indoctrinated.
However, it is nice to see that there are secularist Republicans left. Now if only the media would recognize the religious Democrats. Hrm.
Posted by: electricgrendel on April 15, 2005 04:10 PM (John Cole)
The "religious right" has become a cult of constant victimization, despite its unprecedented power. Any religion or spiritual movement or ANY kind of group of people who weilds the kind of power this group does, but STILL cries victim, is morally bankrupt.
I think "Christianity" is too kind a label for the current religious right-wing in this country. Sure, they throw the name "Jesus" around like it's their favorite brand of soft drink, but ignore just about EVERYTHING he says in the New Testament. They have completely perverted the most moral teachings the world has ever been given, making Jesus a mouthpiece for their greed and power machinations, and then they whine about being persecuted when true people of faith and good will object.
They are committing a terrible sin: using God cynically, in service of their own earthly power. The Lord is not a hand puppet to be popped out whenever you want to score a rhetoric point against your political opponent. Jesus saved some of his biggest contempt for the religious and political leaders of his time, for doing the exact same thing.
Shame on them all. They really are defiling the name of Jesus Christ.
Posted by: Chumley on April 15, 2005 07:29 PM (John Cole)
The last post really resonates with me as a man of Christian upbringing who loves the teachings of Jesus, but not what man has used them for. I feel very sad that there is a fanatical religious element in this country that thinks they need to drive their personal value wedge into all corners of the government. It really scares me about what the ramifications could look like if they are successful. The veil has to come off of the wing of the moderate Republicans, or libertarian Republicans, so that they can see that their core beliefs are being plundered by a this fanatical right wing of theocrats pushing their own socio-moralistic agenda. If the moderate and true conservative elements do not wake up soon, the Republican party will no longer be a safe place for them, and then where does that leave us?
posted by GT at 8:47 AM
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