A reader sent me the link to this article and I will post the entire article here for your ease of access.  This is a perfect example of the Political Dominionist brain works and how frightening that is while sitting in the White House.

A French Revelation, or The Burning Bush

JAMES A. HAUGHT

Incredibly, President George W. Bush told French President Jacques Chirac in early 2003 that Iraq must be invaded to thwart Gog and Magog, the Bible’s satanic agents of the Apocalypse.

Honest. This isn’t a joke. The president of the United States, in a top-secret phone call to a major European ally, asked for French troops to join American soldiers in attacking Iraq as a mission from God.

Now out of office, Chirac recounts that the American leader appealed to their “common faith” (Christianity) and told him: “Gog and Magog are at work in the Middle East…. The biblical prophecies are being fulfilled…. This confrontation is willed by God, who wants to use this conflict to erase his people’s enemies before a New Age begins.”

This bizarre episode occurred while the White House was assembling its “coalition of the willing” to unleash the Iraq invasion. Chirac says he was boggled by Bush’s call and “wondered how someone could be so superficial and fanatical in their beliefs.”

After the 2003 call, the puzzled French leader didn’t comply with Bush’s request. Instead, his staff asked Thomas Romer, a theologian at the University of Lausanne, to analyze the weird appeal. Dr. Romer explained that the Old Testament book of Ezekiel contains two chapters (38 and 39) in which God rages against Gog and Magog, sinister and mysterious forces menacing Israel. Jehovah vows to smite them savagely, to “turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws,” and slaughter them ruthlessly. In the New Testament, the mystical book of Revelation envisions Gog and Magog gathering nations for battle, “and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.”

In 2007, Dr. Romer recounted Bush’s strange behavior in Lausanne University’s review, Allez Savoir. A French-language Swiss newspaper, Le Matin Dimanche, printed a sarcastic account titled: “When President George W. Bush Saw the Prophesies of the Bible Coming to Pass.” France’sLa Liberte likewise spoofed it under the headline “A Small Scoop on Bush, Chirac, God, Gog and Magog.” But other news media missed the amazing report.

Subsequently, ex-President Chirac confirmed the nutty event in a long interview with French journalist Jean-Claude Maurice, who tells the tale in his new book, Si Vous le Répétez, Je Démentirai (If You Repeat it, I Will Deny), released in March by the publisher Plon.

Oddly, mainstream media are ignoring this alarming revelation that Bush may have been half-cracked when he started his Iraq war. My own paper,The Charleston Gazette in West Virginia, is the only U.S. newspaper to report it so far. Canada’s Toronto Star recounted the story, calling it a “stranger-than-fiction disclosure … which suggests that apocalyptic fervor may have held sway within the walls of the White House.” Fortunately, online commentary sites are spreading the news, filling the press void.

The French revelation jibes with other known aspects of Bush’s renowned evangelical certitude. For example, a few months after his phone call to Chirac, Bush attended a 2003 summit in Egypt. The Palestinian foreign minister later said the American president told him he was “on a mission from God” to defeat Iraq. At that time, the White House called this claim “absurd.”

Recently, GQ magazine revealed that former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld attached warlike Bible verses and Iraq battle photos to war reports he hand-delivered to Bush. One declared: “Put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground.”

It’s awkward to say openly, but now-departed President Bush is a religious crackpot, an ex-drunk of small intellect who “got saved.” He never should have been entrusted with the power to start wars.

For six years, Americans really haven’t known why he launched the unnecessary Iraq attack. Official pretexts turned out to be baseless. Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction after all, and wasn’t in league with terrorists, as the White House alleged. Collapse of his asserted reasons led to speculation about hidden motives: Was the invasion loosed to gain control of Iraq’s oil—or to protect Israel—or to complete Bush’s father’s vendetta against the late dictator Saddam Hussein? Nobody ever found an answer.

Now, added to the other suspicions, comes the goofy possibility that abstruse, supernatural, idiotic, laughable Bible prophecies were a factor. This casts an ominous pall over the needless war that has killed more than four thousand young Americans and cost U.S. taxpayers perhaps $1 trillion.

James A. Haught is the editor of the Charleston Gazette (West Virginia) and a Free Inquiry senior editor.

I hear a lot of people out there asking why Sarah Palin acts like the proverbial victim.  Well, her unyielding desire to be in the media spotlight is certainly one huge reason.  And hey – she has a “take no prisoners” attitude!

It doesn’t matter if it requires feigning outrage over a stupid joke by David Letterman that certainly was not about an older man and her 14 year-old daughter.

Nor is it necessary or professional to misquote Obama from the campaign when he intentionally put out a statement in defense of Palin’s family being off limits during the elections,

“Why don’t we join with the Republicans and agree that children, families of the candidates, religion of the candidates, is off limits.

Let me be very clear about this, and if there are members of the media who are listening, I hope they hear me loud and clear,” Obama said. “I have said already that people’s families are off limits. They are civilians and they didn’t choose to run for office, and how qualified we are for office … isn’t determined by what our children do.” Barack Obama September 9, 2008

Then…there is the less understood – but extremely important factor in the reasoning behind the constant cries of persecution and foul play by any and all who criticize, correct or chastise Palin.  That reason ties directly to her dominionist evangelical upbringing.  Dominionists are taught to view any negative expression as a direct attack against their church and religious faith.

“Some dominionist groups have actively attempted lawsuits et al against critics, and have attempted “real life” harassment (including both pickets and libel); the particular dominionist church has in fact gone to this level of “dead-agenting” in targeting persons merely being critical of a member of the movement.

Many dominionist groups accuse critics [of the movement or] its leaders of “having a liberal agenda” and in churches practicing “deliverance ministry” doubts about the church, its theology, or its leadership are literally seen as signs of demonic possession. “

Again, common in dominionist groups (in fact, a part of the essential theology), even the most moderate dominionist groups claim they are being persecuted by “liberals” and “satanists” or by the “gay agenda”.

Watch Anointing Here

This mindset even extends to the political realm; many dominionists have actually stated they supported President Bush as he was known to have been anointed, “specifically anointed to lead the country”.  Bush himself believed this notion by dominioinists that he was [anointed and] appointed by God as well.

In the case of John Ashcroft, the ex-US Attorney General who is part of a multigenerational Assembly of God family and who had his last senatorial bid largely funded by the AoG, this included anointing in the literal sense–as in US Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas literally “anointing” Ashcroft with Wesson oil in a pentecostal parody of King David’s coronation.”  Alex Bird Senior Researcher – NARRT (New Apostolic Reformation Research Team)

This not only begins to explain the routine knee-jerk reaction anytime Palin sees herself as a target of persecution, it goes on to remind my readers that Palin identifies herself as the “Anointed One” in much the same way that Bush, Ashcroft and others have.  And remember, I am talking about actual ceremonial anointings within their churches.  This has been written about since the announcement of Palin for vice president.

Her ego is most definitely a driving force in her fumbled non-stop attempts at garnering media attention, including over-reacting to the whole Letterman Top 10 dispute.  Both Todd and Sarah expressed their outrage in a letter to Letterman; he apologized on-air; THE END.

Palin interview with Today's Matt Lauer

But with Palin it just can’t stop there.  She has little self-control and really, really amateur advisors such as Meg Stapleton who do not have the maturity to rein her in but conversely, wind her up and contribute to what comes across as juvenile playground spattering.

It is becoming the definition of a syndrome!

The GOP’s New Big Tent

“Coming soon to a battleground state near you: a new effort to revive the image of the Republican Party and to counter President Obama’s characterization of Republicans as “the party of ‘no.’” by Ken Silverstein, CNN

Big tent?  Revive?  This is the “new/old” term being bandied about by the re-branded National Council for a New America GOP.  (That is a run-on isn’t it?)  This is reminding me of something else…hmmm…what is it? Aha! I know! Tent revivals!  GOP Revival…I am totally seeing the connection!  In their effort to appear distanced from the fact that GOP now stands for “God’s Own Party”, a Tent Revival is a natural step to take in this subtle attempt to re-brand and be inclusionary.  And that triple ‘A’ rentals had canvas with the cross pitched on the whole WORLD and everything (It actually looks like it is stuck on Mt. McKinley where they did that ceremony ‘planting the Christian flag and casting out demons from Alaska’ ceremony)- it just doesn’t get much better than that!

 Definition:  ”When a party that is motivated by ideology begins a shift to a “catch-all” or “big tent” party, it’s usually marked by a move to the center of the political spectrum and a very flexible and pragmatic platform. Many believe this is a powerful way to make a party more popular, as it no longer limits itself to a specific ideological sector of the population. Opponents of this tactic argue that this alienates the ideological bases of a party.”

This is going to cause a D-I-V-O-R-C-E between the GOP marriage of Church & State!  They should’ve been listening to their own rhetoric all these years…espousing to the rest of us that “mixed marriages” are purely unnatural and just don’t work!  

And now look…they even have a Tent Sale!  Where will this madness end?  I fear we won’t know that answer until post-2012 and beyond.  It is no wonder that Sarah Palin decided – after some momentary ambivalence awaiting the final ‘wurd’ on her new book deal – to jump on in with this New America Movement and the boys.  

Co-publishing with the Christian Company, Zondervan…the same publisher that introduced and marketed The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren.  Now THAT’s change we can believe in!  Vetting process anyone?  If you are promoting ‘change’, do you really want Palin in the club?  and Barbour, Jindal, Bush, Romney, yada, yada, yada?

I am truly pulling for the Secular Republicans to come in from the Land of the Lost and Displaced Conservatives and kick some self-righteous ass and reclaim their Party from this 30 year infestation so we can get back to arguing about real conservative vs. liberal issues without the arrogance and piety of a GOP raptured by extremists that are drinking the End Times kool-aid!

I’m just sayin’….

…Even though this was made famous by a Republican icon, President Teddy Roosevelt, its meaning seems to fall on deaf ears in the current GOP.  Can you only imagine how horrified TR would be by blowhards like Rush, Coulter, Hannity, O’reilley…et al.  (I am limited to the number of those names that I allow myself to type out in any one sitting for my own preservation)

And for my fellow Alaskans…I can’t omit an observation about failed Attorney General Wayne Anthony Ross, given that he soooo idolizes Teddy R that he has attempted to mold his own appearance – and views himself as TR’s reincarnated twin.  MR. ROSS – YOU SIR, ARE NO TEDDY ROOSEVELT!  NO amount of costume, glasses or guns will put you in the same league as Teddy Roosevelt!  You are the antithesis, more aptly, “Speak bombastically and carry a tiny stick; and you will never progress”. This is a pervasive theme with this personality type that seems to now dominate the Republican Party.  Bullies…

“Bully” in the days of TR was used in much the same way “awesome” is now used and was coined by President Roosevelt, when referencing the American presidency as a “bully pulpit,” by which he meant a terrific platform from which to advocate an agenda.  Roosevelt famously used the word bully as an adjective meaning “superb” or “wonderful”; the term has no relationship to the noun bully, i.e. a harasser or someone who intimidates. “Unfortunately, due to the archaic nature of the adjective “bully” and the religious symbolism of the word pulpit (the elevated platform used by a preacher), this phrase is often misunderstood to imply intimidation and, possibly, an abuse of authority.” Wikipedia 

I suppose I can be grateful that they are not ALL attempting to take on the appearance of TR, although that does conjur up some interesting images…hmmm…been meaning to learn photoshop…but I digress.

The mouthpieces for the GOP clearly aren’t big into researching terms and their origins, as we learned recently in the “Teabaggers” uprising on April 15th.  Even minimal effort by Fox News R&D (wait! Is that an oxymoron?) would have saved the never-ending jokes at the expense of uber-conservatives who proudly displayed “I’m a Teabagger” signs in their yards.  Google isn’t new here!

But that kind of “cleverness” by the oh-so-sly like a Fox kinda crowd really thinks that we are going to be suddenly converted to thinking of the extremists in the GOP as having forsaken the agendas of oh, 2 days ago…and applaud them as the more in touch kinder, gentler GOP even though we are staring at the same damn faces!  

Yep!  There they are – again!  Palin & McCain…A “New America” hmmm…nope…that is just not working for me.     

And how about throwing in a white supremiscist who is proud enough of the offshoot KKK known as CCC (Coo Clucks Clan) that he is photographed with them…sly like a Fox?  NOT SO MUCH!

And then there were THREE?  Please…for the love of GOD! we can’t take another Bush involved in national politics.  Yet, in addition to Jeb, the New America GOP has invited as advisors and consultants several of George W’s crackerjack staff!  WOW! Now isn’t that a refreshing new approach for the GOP?

Again, I have reached my saturation level on being able to list this club roster any further for one day but I think my point is made.  The only thing that is “NEW” about this new re-branded GOP Club, is the name. This is really just a new version of the Council for National Policy, but they tried to be super secret and that has failed so now they are trying this new approach to see if we can tell the difference.  

Let’s all watch, shall we?

Let’s support secession of Texas and make a new sovereingty – and call it “TexAlaska”!  It could be the paranoid’s new FEMA Camp!  All the “teabaggers”…ooops! NO!  That wouldn’t work, those are gay men!

Ummm…okay, just the gun totin’, Bible thumpin’, racist bigots who seem comfortable in engaging in any vile behaviour and threats against anyone who disagrees with them – all in the name of GOD!  

I have no problem with them joining forces and creating their own country where they can establish the dominionist nirvana that they seek.  But then we would have to wall them off, and I am not talking a virtual wall…I am talking a new “China Wall”.  A bullet proof China Wall.  

It’s perfect isn’t it?  Their Dominionist clergy such as Pastor Haggee and Joel Osteen, et al are already there, the Bush dynasty, Big Hair Republican women who don’t argue with their men, and lots and lots of Skoal!  And – as a BONUS, they really DO have southern accents down there!  So then, all those migrant southerners who infested the Northern climes can return to whence they came and be with their own kind…which we all know is all they can tolerate.  

Governor Rick Perry…no wonder Palin flew to Texas to endorse him!  They are both products of the same nut (as it were).

Perry/Palin adminisrtation…Co-Presidents of TexAlaska…

Hey!  A gal can dream can’t she?