"Tempting Faith" A Revelation And A Great Read

David Kuo, formerly of the Faith Based and Community initiatives office in the White House has written a book that had the media chattering a few weeks ago about how the Bush White House referred to the Evangelical Religious Right as the "nuts". Additional colorful terms were used to describe the far right base that helped elect Bush, but I will forgo those here.

In his interviews, David repeatedly said the book was a story of his faith journey, and after reading it I agree. It is a story of one man’s journey into faith, politics and finally into a kind of epiphany about the politics of Washington and how the Bush White House in particular uses people for it’s own purposes.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and found elements of my own faith journey in it. The exception is hat mine was as a gay man and David’s is not. His time as speechwriter for the neocons and policy wonk is fascinating stuff, and though you may or may not be a Christian, it will give you a lot of insight.

In the end David has a recommendation for the Religious Right and I heartily agree. Fasting. Fasting from politics for a couple of years and getting back to the work of Jesus. Feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, healing the sick. You know, the stuff Jesus talks about ad nauseum? Funny how the word Christian has become identified with intolerance, greed and politics. Like Mr. Kuo, I have to wonder how the faithful could have strayed so far from the way.

GOP Get Money From Bareback Gay Porn!

I believe it was Jesus who called the Pharisees a "brood of vipers". He was referring to their hypocrisy in flaunting their piousness but actually being far less than holy men.

With all the scandals coming out about the GOP in recent weeks and the latest whopper involving Ted Haggard, the Colorado Evangelical caught with his pants down, what's next?

Surprise, ABC news reports that the Republican National Committee has been accepting money from a prominent gay porn producer. These are the same "vipers" who want to convince us they are against porn and are pure as driven snow. Family Values voters must be shaking their heads and wondering what is going on.

Here's what's going on, the Republicans are playing the religious right like a violin. They have been using and abusing the Evangelical vote for years and finally it's coming home to roost.
The press has woken from their 9/11 induced slumber and its a feeding frenzy with all the hot topics popping up.

Not only are the GOP getting funds from Gay Porn, but it's "bareback" or unsafe sex porn at that featuring military men! Jeff Gannon was only the tip of the iceberg. The GOP is apparently a nest of self-hating, internalized homophobes who have been hiding in the closet. Well guys, come out and shake off that secrecy. It's the 21st century and being gay or lesbian is mainstream. You can be gay and have a good life, go to church and be happy. Really! Get over this GOP denial crap and start living in the light.. and by the way, vote Democratic. The Democrats support being out of the closet.

Evangelical Leader Peeks Out Of Gay Closet.

And so truth starts to peek out of the dark closet of Rev. Ted Haggard. He admits to "some" of the charges. He has been accused of patronizing a gay hustler and using Crystal Meth. Great stuff for a "Man of God".

The sad thing is that the whole problem is his being in the closet to begin with. Had he lived his life openly and honestly, there would be no scandal. I suspect the drug use flowed from the self-hatred that kept him in the closet in the first place.

Time for gay Christians to come out and live openly. It is not only possible to be a gay or lesbian Christian but rewarding. Why take God’s gift of your sexuality and hide it under a basket? (or a closet)

Maybe he should try looking into any of the welcoming and affirming churches, like the MCC or United Church of Christ. He could start by checking my church out.

Rev. Haggard Finds Comfort In The Arms Of A Gay Hustler?

"Oh Lord, deliver us from the closet. For in that darkness the true evil of self hatred and internalized homophobia dwell. Help us to come out, in to the light of truth and the fullness of your grace."

At least that is the prayer Ted Haggard should be praying right now. Seems Rev. Haggard may have been patronizing a Gay hustler who leaked the story to the press. (A charge Haggard denies.) Well another GOP closet case is exposed and all I can say is, have mercy on them. Don't vote for them, but have mercy.

Haggard, whose church décor sounds more like a very exclusive gay bath house has a nation-wide ministry that opposes gay rights and gay marriage. Wasn’t there something about removing a log from your eye before removing the mote from…?

Bush Building Internment Camps In US. Are You Ready For Change Now?

Bush and his Reich are now working to build detainment camps in the US. Fiction? Nope, the sad truth is that the unprecedented Military Commissions Act which remove our traditional right of Habeas Corpus also provides for camps to be built on US soil to hold basically whoever Bush deems an enemy. No evidence needed, no right to appeal, nada, ZIP!

If that doesn’t scare the living s%$t out of you I don’t know what will. Take to the polls, and if you are not given a paper ballot, protest and call the media. Do not let these thugs take over our freedoms. They already are running us toward totalitarianism, and full dictatorship is not far behind.

UPDATE: Check this out about Halliburton building the camps as we speak.

America Near Bottom Of Scale On Privacy

Ah America, the greatest country in the world! We value our freedom, our free press, our standard of living and our privacy. Well , if you read my previous posts you know that free press thing and standard of living are myths. We rank lower than most of the European countries on both, and now there is the privacy issue.

Well looks like we are not number 1 at that either. In fact we are close to the bottom, right along with China, Russia and the UK (camera country). It’s time we stopped believing the myths and started doing something to make our country better. Time to take back our democracy from the companies and politicians who have sold it off to the highest bidder.

Had Enough? Vote Democratic.

Diebold Machines Rigged Again! Fight Back!

Watch the HBO Documentary on voting tonight. It unfortunately is too little too late, because the vote fraud is already afoot. Diebold machines in Dallas have started vote hopping, in other words you pick a Democrat and they show a Republican.

Here is a letter from a voter who had her vote jump from Libertarian to Republican on her machine. Enough is enough. It’s pitchforks and torches time folks. We have to stop this crap and assure real accurate voting. DEMAND A PAPER BALLOT at you polling place. If they won’t give it to you call the press and get them there ASAP. The Republicans and their big business flunkies are going to try to steal this election and hey have to be caught red handed.

Carry your cell phone and call if you see irregularities.

Ann Coulter May Face Prosecution For Voting Fraud

Everyone's favorite right-wing harpie may be facing a few years in prison if she does not cooperate with Palm Beach County's elections officials. It's a developing story and bears watching.

Mac Vs PC Or Was That Democrat Vs GOP?

The web had spawned a lot of creative folks who are using viral-TV to get political messages out. This one created and written by John Kramer, Directed by Jeff Hadick, Produced by Shannon O'Neil, is a great example. Pass it on.

BlogActive Ad Outs Ken Mehlman

This is a dead on parody of the current ads the GOP has been running, and it's a nice way to out Ken Melman, GOP Chairman.

John Kerry Grows Cajones! Rips Bush And GOP A New One!

John Kerry has finally broken free from the political consultants that had him hold his tongue during the campaign in 2004! After the GOP spinners distorted a remark he made about the failed policies of Bush and Company in Iraq, he held a press conference to set the record straight.

His response was passionate and direct and exactly what needs to be said to this bunch of GOP hacks running our country. I only wish he had said this back in 2004. He might have saved hundreds of lives of our soldiers, and the country from the second term of the Bush disaster.

Give ‘em hell John!

Republican Judges Buy Their Seats From GOP Lawmakers

Surprise! Another GOP scandal. Not really much of a surprise. Seems judges have been buying their benches in the GOP. An investigative article in Salon.com shows that GOP appointed judges donated as much as $44,000 to the politicians influential in getting them appointed. I guess this is just another example of everything being for sale in the Republican run government.

Perhaps the best strategy for Democrats is to buy the government back from the GOP. Seems they have set a price on democracy in this once free country and maybe that would be the easiest tactic.

Had enough? Vote Democratic.

Cheney Shredding Documents. Does He Know Something We Don't?

Combine the storry about Bush buying a big chunk of Paraguay with this and you gotta wonder if the rumors aren’t true. Seems Mr. Cheney has a fleet of shredder trucks arriving at the Vice Presidents residence last week. Hummmm? Could he be shredding evidence to avoid war crimes prosecution? Will Bush and Cheney flee the country like third world despots after a revolution?

Keep you eyes open and your votes on paper ballots. Had enough? Vote Democratic.

Republicans Raise Funds From Gay Porn

GOP the party of family values apparently takes money from a major producer of gay porn. I have absolutely no problem with adult films, especially gay ones, but since the GOP has been so sanctimonious about their "family values" and since they have attacked Democrats for the same thing, it’s open season on their hypocrisy.

Had enough? Vote Democratic, and while you’re at it get your friends to do the same.

Priest In Mark Foley Scandal Sued By Former Alter Boy

If it’s not a politician in a sex scandal, it’s the priests who abused them. Looks like the priest accused of molesting Mark Foley is being sued by a former alter boy for the same thing. OK, I know it’s kind of old news that the Catholic Church has been harboring sex criminals for years, but when are they going to come clean and boot them?

More importantly, when is someone going to see this for what it is, conspiracy to cover up the crimes. From my vantage point it might fall under racketeering at the federal level and that could really blur the lines between church and state, but in this case the church is actively involved in committing and concealing criminal acts.

Bush Signing Statement Reserves Right To Another Katrina Disaster

Sometimes the hubris of the Bush White House is stunning. Today is a prime example. In another of his infamous signing statements, Mr. Bush now reserves the right to repeat the failures of Katrina all over again.

Congress went to a lot of trouble to overhaul the Federal Emergency Management Agency, including a requirement that any director have 5 years experience in the field. Guess what? Bush reserves the right to hire someone equally as unqualified as "Brownie" again! Guess the decider doesn’t like Congress second guessing his decisions?

Bush is determined that nothing will diminish his executive power. Not Congress. Not the courts. Nobody! If this is not shaping up to be a dictatorship I don’t know what is. If you value your nation and your freedom, vote Democratic this November, and pray Diebold hasn’t thrown the election to the GOP.

Bush Wants To Cut And Run IN Iraq Now. Why Won't He Cut And Run From The White House?

So how would you interpret the statement, "if we can’t win, I’ll pull us out." Sounds like "Cut and Run" to me! First of all, I believe we shouldn’t be in Iraq in the first place. We were sold a pack of lies to get us there, and impeachable if not treasonous event, and beyond that we’ve left the country in chaos.

How? Well having no clue or plan as to what to do once we invade would be my first guess. Disbanding the military without having anything for the ex-military to do would be a second clue. Allowing the looting and destruction of the county's infrastructure would be the third guess. I could go on but you probably know the rest.

Now Bush in a speech to conservative journalists says he is willing to cut and run if it looks really bad. How bad is really bad? Do we have to loose another few thousand US troops? Do we have to loose another 100,000 Iraqi civilians? Do we have to have full-blown civil war with daily massacres?

Get a clue Mr. Bush. We have already screwed it up and now you are going to leave the mess for someone else to clean up. Kinda like your life isn’t it. Failed in business after business and left the mess for others. Enough is enough. Leave the White House now. After all you’ve screwed up our country as well, leave the mess for a real statesman and leader to fix. Please, leave now!

US Ranks 53rd In Press Freedom! What Is Happening?

I constantly was told growing up that America is the most free country in the world. We have the highest standard of living, and the most press freedoms of any country in the world.

Well you can imagine my surprise when I discovered we are neither of those things. Looks like we only rank 6th in standard of living. Still in the top 10 but less than Norway, Sweden, Canada, Belgium and Australia. And free press?

Well we rank in a tie with Botswana, Croatia and Tonga in press freedom at a lowly 53 place. That amazes me! We are less free, according to the worldwide press organization Reporters Without Borders, that every nation in the European Union and a large number of former Soviet Republics! Depressing? You bet, but next time you hear some politician lie about our freedom, let he or she know the truth and maybe we can change this.

According to Thomas Jefferson, "…were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter." Time to reclaim our freedom. I’ve had enough and I will vote straight Democratic Ticket this year. Time to send a message to Congress

Another Republican Sex Scandal! Yawn.

Apparently what happens in Las Vegas politics doesn't stay in Las Vegas. Jim Gibbons, Republican Congressman from Vegas was considered a shoe-in for Governor until this latest mess up. A waitress at a seafood restaurant says the Congressman got overly frisky and tried to assault her outside the establishment.

Gibbons says it's a mistake, but the waitress is not backing down. Will the Republicans ever be able to keep it in their pants? Apparently not.

ABC News Reports Possible Election Tampering

Oh now the mainstream press has woken up to the sad fact people in the blog-o-sphere have known for several years. Electronic voting is flawed and prone to trickery. ABC news report that the Diebold machines can be hacked. Duh! BradBlog has been thumping this fact for over a year and few are listening. Now, finally it makes the mainstream with no time left to do anything.

Get on your phone or email and write to your county election officials and demand paper ballots NOW before they can claim it’s too late to print them. Any county that is depending entirely on electronic machines is not a safe place to vote. DEMAND PAPER or maybe even a provisional ballot.

Diebold is in the pocket of the GOP and their machines cannot be trusted. Here in Texas they registered an erroneous 100,000 votes that never took place, in other words had it not been caught the machines could have throw the election.

This one may take storming the gates with pitchforks and torches. If the county refuses to provide paper ballots, go to the press. We must stop this before it is too late.