Seattle Forum Follow-up; What is it Going to Take?
First of all, I would like to thank those who bought “TheoPalinism – The Face of Failed Extremism”, and those who took interest enough to pick up my cards with the web site address. Your interest and support is crucial in taking the steps necessary to begin educating ourselves about the Political Dominionism and how entrenched it is in our political lanscape. It is imperative that we not roll our eyes and dismiss the lunacy of these people who now represent the neo-conservatives in America, and hennce the Republican Party.
Often times we are our own worst enemies. Let me elaborate. As progressives, democrats, moderates and so on – we tend to intellectualize issues to death! When it comes to taking action steps, we balk. We are so busy being tolerant…and politically correct…that our tolerance of the GOP intolerance – is going to put us right back in the minority!
Out of the hundreds of people that came by my table with my display of “TheoPalinism – The Face of Failed Extremism”, I only sold 21 books. I did engage many more than that in short discussions, but the overwhelming sentiment was that they weren’t interested in hearing about Palin. There was a great deal more interest in the 2nd book, “God’s Own Party? – Keep Your Bible OFF My Ballot!” But there was a definite disconnect and a total repulsion at hearing about who this lunatic really is, and what her role is, has been and will be in the upcoming years – whether she ever runs for elected office again or not.
My sense of frustration is not in the lack of sales because TheoPalinism is a self-published book that I see no profit from. I wrote it as a pre-
cursor to the 2nd book and to illuminate where this wingnut sprouted from and why she is a force that we cannot just shake our heads at and ignore with a dismissive attitude. My sincere hope for TheoPalinism is that it will introduce what a political Dominionist candidate looks like and how dangerously close we came to having one as ridiculous as Palin in the White House.
What is disheartening about the lack of interest, is that it brings to light what an uphill battle this is going to be. I have said before that I have no interest or energy in trying to change the minds of the brainwashed sheeples in the GOP. But, getting the attention of everyone else is no small task either.
Even Ron Reagan made a quick dismissive comment about how Palin isn’t a factor and bypassed my table without even talking to me or looking at the book. Again, people are just not getting this. If she never ran for office again, it is about her ‘higher calling’ and how she will be used to whip the GOP fanatics into a froth such as she is doing right now on the issue of Health Care – by throwing out despicable garbage like “Obama’s ‘death panel’, and “euthanasia’ for the elderly.
It is about holding onto our seats in local, state and congressional elections NEXT YEAR! 2010! THAT is what I am concerned about. 2012? Sure! But right now it is about the millions of right-wing fanatics that hang on her every word who will show up in any weather, at any time of the day or night, across America to hear this insanity that she has to regurgitate. It doesn’t matter what we think of her, it matters that she is like a gasoline hose dousing these tea-bagging republicans with hate and misinformation that is dangerous.
Fortunately Bill Press and Mike Malloy were genuinely intrigued (and I will follow up with them this week) – and to some degree Stephanie Miller and Thom Hartmann exhibited a modicum amount of interest. But none of them were interested enough to buy the book.
So I need your help. We need to tell our fellow “progressives” that it is playing right into their hands to turn our backs on learning not only about Palin, but Bachman, Huckabee, Jindal, Pence, Gingrich, and the list goes on. TheoPalinism was intended to highlight their “poster gal”…but she is by NO means the leader of the pack. We need to take a play right out of their book and fight back.
The dumber Palin comes across, the less we take her seriously, and the more dangerous she becomes. If you have any doubts about that…just keep watching her as the weeks and months slip by toward the 2010 elections. Meanwhile, I am now charged even more to complete my draft manuscript of “God’s Own Party?” and get it in the capable and really pissed off hands of Frank Schaeffer so that he can walk it into his NY publisher. For those of you not so familiar with him, and those who are but may have missed it – here is his interview with Rachel Maddow from the other night. With Frank’s endorsement (and those of many more) the 2nd book will draw the attention we need to get this message out in the same way that Jeff Sharlet’s book “The Family” is finally going viral.
So I will work on that as well as continuing to post articles here, and welcome some upcoming speaking engagements – and hopefully we will turn our own people around so that we don’t have to fight resistance from within on top of these extreme manipulative fanatics.
Tags: Dominionists, GOP, Palin, Political Dominionism, religious right, Republican Party, republicans
August 11th, 2009 at 3:12 am
Thank you…and yes, I will most definitely send them all a copy. I do understand what you are saying, and am certain they do get approached often. Thom is going to have me on his show, and I know Press and Malloy are interested. Your input is most welcome!
August 11th, 2009 at 5:11 am
Sarah…you nailed it. She is truly irritating and I know we all have Palin fatigue. I do in fact have a summary that hits the salient points and will start discussing those in my writings, as well as include it with the books. Speaking engagements are key. When I have an opportunity to discuss what is happening, people really respond. I have a couple coming up soon, and that does give me renewed hope that there is a light at the end of this tunnel.
I love your site and would like to link it to my blog side bar! …and thank you so much for your support and encouragement. With the help of the teabagging fanatics, it will become easier and easier to capture peoples interest in Political Dominionism and the GOP tools such as Palin/Bachman & Co. The crescendo will become unavoidable!
August 11th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
I won't get discouraged…in fact, it just re-charges me and invigorates my creativity. I am indeed in wonderful company, including all of you who understand the importance of understanding dominionism. I will add Jeff's book to my reading list, and agree whole-heartedly that we are all approaching this from various perspectives that illustrate just how pervasive this movement is in America. We are all contributing to a 'perfect storm' – and each success opens the door a little wider to exposing Political and Social Dominionism.
You are very kind, and as I have said to others…your support and encouragement means a great deal! Giving up is NOT an option, so no worries there. I did just get a phone call from Mikey Weinstein who told me he read TheoPalinism on the plane to New York and loved it! It is calls like that and comments like yours that are the rewards for all this unpleasantness and frightening research! Thank you!
August 11th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
leah – I just started reading your blog. The only reason I didn't earlier is because I am just soooooo sick of the religious right crap (came from a born-again family & my son is gay so it really bothers me terribly). What you have to say is very very important though. I don't think people who haven't been exposed to this type of Christianity can even understand how scary this movement is. It is downright frightening so don't be disheartened:) Perhaps these "tea baggers/birthers" are going to make people wake up & realize that we need to be concerned about them & their Christian view (from a political & social aspect). My sons both have passports & I'll tell you that I wouldn't be surprised if they have to leave our country.
Keep up the good work & I will be checking out your site in depth and on a daily basis from now on.
August 12th, 2009 at 2:07 am
Hi Leah – Why don't you contact this blogger at Huffington – he seems to concentrate on religious scaries and I think he would be interested in all your materials
Documents Show Christian World Domination Group Paid For Bipartisan Congressional Hawaii Trip
Bruce Wilson just posted something new:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bruce-wilson/docume...
August 12th, 2009 at 2:31 am
Leah, I feel your frustration. A lot of people dismiss Palin as just not mattering any more because she quit, or is too fringy, or she's just a nice innocuous lady. Most people have no clue that she is part of this larger movement that explicitly wants to christianize our country. And I would be eager to dismiss her too if I didn't know about the ferver of her followers and her magnetic media personality. Apparently New Gingrich made the same comment about death panels and children with Down Syndrome a few days before Palin did, but no one paid attention. Palin wrote it on Facebook, and it was the political talk of the weekend and got addressed by Obama today on live television. And I know you know the fanaticism of her followers who speak of her as their Queen Esther and use lots of other warrior imagery.
And I agree that you need to finish your book – no pressure! I have been pleased by how much attention The Family and Jeff Sharlet have gotten recently – I think Sanford and Ensign helped a lot! But the more we can drive home to people just how many of our elected officials are caught up in this the more attention it will get. I don't have the link handy, but I hope you saw the whole week of strips of Doonesbury about the C Street House. It shows that people are interested in the involvement of these religious extremists in our government, and you are a wonderful voice for explaining the extent of it.
And thank you for sharing the Frank Schaeffer items – I find it so reassuring that other people see the same things happening as I do! I really do have to read his book soon
I am so pleased to hear that you have more interviews coming up. I think after the last election so many people wanted all this rightwing stuff to go away and not have to hear about it any more. I wish! But I agree with the commenter above that all this madness going around around the health care debate is going to shake people into paying attention to what's going on.
August 12th, 2009 at 4:47 am
God I hope so! And I am not being facetious! The last chapter in my TheoPalinism book is "A Twisted Debt of Gratitude" and I thin I need to paste that in my blog tomorrow. In other words, if it weren't for Palin – we wouldn't have the same level of visibility to pin this message on. The same goes for Sanford and Ensign for Jeff's book, "The Family". He released that a year ago and NO ONE paid attention! So there we have it…thank you to all the narcissistic GOP "chosen ones"!
August 12th, 2009 at 4:52 am
Bruce is one of a handful of my most honored researchers, and he and I talk weekly. We honor each others' research and there are only literally less than a dozen of us nationwide. Bruce is also going to be interviewed in my upcoming book, "God's Own Party?", as well as a contributor. He also is responsible for at least 60 pages in "The Family" recently released by Jeff Sharlet. Thank you! and please keep sharing…
August 12th, 2009 at 1:41 am
I think it is horrific that any of us even have to consider leaving the country that we love to avoid these lunatics…and if I have anything to do with it, my 'wurd' to your sons is to stay right here. They only gain power when we let them have it. My heart truly goes out to you in your recovery from this movement. I mean that with all sincerity…and thank you for taking the time and having the willingness to endure some of the awful details that I am compelled to report that so many others who are unaware of this dominionist cult can be awakened.