I received 2 interesting “comments” today that I am going to share with you by pasting the verbiage from Sandra Yeager’s rant at me about my posts on her letter sending out a rallying cry to “her churches”.  Below is the ‘comment’ that she posted to BOTH of my blog articles “Fellow Christians?“ and “Con Con”:

“My name is Sandra Yeager. I am the state coordinator of the We the People Foundation that drafted the church letter up for discussion. This letter was sent to my church affiliates to notify them of the Continental Congress 2009, which is being held in November to grant us all relief from any law that violates our liberty and the Constitution. The We the People Foundation has filed numerous lawsuits against our government for the past twenty years for violating the constitution. We have served the government with eighteen (18) petitions for redress for grievances since 1995, not just since the election. 

A Continental Congress has only taken place once in history, in 1774. It’s time to do it again. The first one gave us our founding documents which gave us the experience of freedom like the world has never known. The next one in November of this year has the sole purpose of holding the governmental accountable to the people for their violations of the Constitution. We are reaching out to constitutional scholars all over America. Their religious status is not a qualification. These delegates will be nominated and elected by the people of their state. 

As my alleged hate letter clearly states, if you know someone that is a constitutional scholar, please nominate them on the website to be a delegate. I have strict religious beliefs, as does my church. In America, that is our right. It’s called freedom of religion. I also have a right to send an email to my church affiliates about my thoughts, it’s called free speech. The same 1st amendment right allows you to scrutinize my letter. Isn’t freedom wonderful? We live in a country like none other, and we need to keep it that way. If we don’t agree, we can just disagree. 

A Constitutional Convention is a convention called by members of Congress (government elected officials) to change or amend the constitution. We definitely do not want any part of that, nor are we members of Congress that would have any authority to do so. We believe our founding documents are already perfect, and us religious extremists even go as far as to say they were endowed by our Creator. 

Our intentions are very well explained in this slide show presentation: 

<a title=”View CC2009 is Your Civic Duty on Scribd” href=”http://www.scribd.com/doc/17599422/CC2009-is-Your-Civic-Duty” style=”margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; display: block; text-decoration: underline;”>CC2009 is Your Civic Duty <object codebase=”http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0″ id=”doc_414064834516605″ name=”doc_414064834516605″ classid=”clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000″ align=”middle”height=”500″ width=”100%” ><param name=”movie”value=”http://d.scribd.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=17599422&access_key=key-4mkfm7ro0aavo4hiexu&page=1&version=1&viewMode=”> <param name=”quality” value=”high”> <param name=”play” value=”true”><param name=”loop” value=”true”> <param name=”scale” value=”showall”><param name=”wmode” value=”opaque”> <param name=”devicefont” value=”false”><param name=”bgcolor” value=”#ffffff”> <param name=”menu” value=”true”><param name=”allowFullScreen” value=”true”> <param name=”allowScriptAccess” value=”always”> <param name=”salign” value=”"> <embed src=”http://d.scribd.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=17599422&access_key=key-4mkfm7ro0aavo4hiexu&page=1&version=1&viewMode=” quality=”high” pluginspage=”http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer” play=”true” loop=”true” scale=”showall” wmode=”opaque” devicefont=”false” bgcolor=”#ffffff” name=”doc_414064834516605_object” menu=”true” allowfullscreen=”true” allowscriptaccess=”always” salign=”" type=”application/x-shockwave-flash” align=”middle” height=”500″ width=”100%”></embed></object> 

Finally, as this letter was not sent to any of you, please realize that there was no cramming down your throat intended. I certainly hope this clears things up. THIS IS NOT A CON-CON! 

In Liberty, 

Sandra Yeager”

Alrrriiiighttyyy then!  Phew!  That clears it all up for me…how ’bout you???

Especially all that gobbley-gook in the middle.  Of course I had to go to my number one “go-to”, Alex and below are the emails we had discussing this clarification:

a) This is classic CYA astroturfing.
b) Despite her claims, what is being proposed is a de facto ConCon,
and the groups associated with it are uniformly dominionist and
right-wing groups linked to “Christian patriot” militias (as noted in
previous mails).
c) That crap at the end is VERY poorly formed HTML, where they tried
to link to a document on Scribd which was again a CYA attempt to make
a de facto ConCon not seeming like a ConCon.

And furthermore….

It starts out by essentially claiming the government usurped its

authority including calls for “tea parties” (common in “Christian
patriot” circles),  goes on to the “we are a republic, and not a
democracy” rant (more properly, the US as operates now IS a
representative democracy, rather than a direct democracy–up to and
including claiming the difference is that “democracy is two wolves and
a sheep voting for dinner, with a republic the sheep has a gun”),
calling for steeplejacking of government (from astroturfing city and
county council meetings to steeplejacking state political party
conventions to becoming “expert witnesses” in legislative committees
to explicit recruitment to join “Christian Patriot” militia orgs to
running for office), promotion of the wonderful “Patriot” bogosity
known as “jury nullification” (VERY widely promoted in “Christian
patriot” communities), claims straight out of Posse Comitatus
(claiming county sheriffs have more authority than the President), fun
with “State’s Rights” bogosity, claims that the government was
established as a Christian nation, Bircher claims that the entire US
government was essentially usurped by “bankers” at a “secret meeting”
in 1910 (not noted is that “bankers” has historically been a Bircher
codeword for the Jewish people)…pretty much this is the typical
“Christian Patriot” screed.

Okay…follow me on this…here is the “gobbly-gook that Sandra tried to post for us to clear things up:

As an aside, this is the document she tried to link to w/o success:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/17599422/CC2009-is-Your-Civic-Duty

Since this is a slide show and not a video, you will have to click on the link to view this. So what she is trying to tell me is that this is simply a letter that was meant to go out to her church affiliations, not me, and that they are firm believers in the Constitution as it was created by our Founders.

The disparity comes in when you examine that they seek to right a wrong by correcting the perceived loss of constitutional freedoms.  They also appear to have a true sense that there was an inherent joining of church and state in the name of the ‘c’hristian god that they have determined is the only path to salvation.

Given their coziness with ‘patriot militia’ ideologies, I think my next post will have to be a discussion of the vigilante activity of organized private militias such as the corporation formerly known as “Blackwater” – now known as “Xe”…

And the story continues…

There are many ugly sides to researching Political Dominionism – not the least of which is starting my day never knowing what whacko tripe will be in my email in the morning…such as this lovely letter…

You have gotta read it…this is Palin’s ideological base…

From: Sandra Yeager

Date: July 16, 2009 11:33:41 PM MDT

To: undisclosed recipients: ;

Subject: In God We Trust – Forever!

Dear Friends of Liberty,

The time has come that we as Christians are at a critical crossroads in America. Due to recent activities of the Obama administration, our accountability to God as a Christian nation weighs heavy in the balance. We are now forced into a situation where we, as Christians, must undeniably choose, which master will we serve.

Please find the important attached document, which I encourage you as Patriots and Christians not only to forward and print, but to present to the members of your church.

In Love and Liberty,

Sandra Yeager

WHO are they?  We had better ALL get to know them and pay attention.  If you think they aren’t gearing up?  Think again!  Here is Yeager’s letter:

“Dear Fellow Christians,

It is with a heavy heart and deep concern for our future generations that I am writing this letter.

On March 9, 2009, just six weeks after the Presidential Inauguration, President Obama signed Executive Order 13505 titled, Removing Barriers to Responsible Scientific Research Involving Human Stem Cells. After years of Court appeals and Supreme Court rulings, our President with one stroke of the pen, removed all barriers to scientific research on the brain stem cells of unborn, aborted babies, though it has been argued many times that the same research can be accomplished using the tissue of discarded umbilical cords at the time of birth.

More recently, President Obama has sought to mandate that our tax dollars be used to help fund the genocide of these unborn innocents. Such an act as federally mandated funding for abortion , makes us all equally responsible for the deaths of unborn babies in America, for it is our federal tax dollars that will be funding it. Therefore, by paying our federal taxes, we will be supporting the fund for abortion.

Federally mandated funding for abortions is only one of the major crises that we as Christians are now facing; though this is the one that I believe would bring down the pure wrath of God upon this Christian nation.

I truly believe that in Revelation 12:14, the woman who was carried on the wings of an eagle into the wilderness where she was nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, is symbolic of Christ’s church that found refuge in America. For, no other nation has had the liberty to worship, as we have had.

I truly believe that our founding fathers were inspired by God when they created our founding documents, thus providing a system of government and freedoms like the world had never known, but most importantly providing nurturance and protection to the woman (Christ’s church).

This is only one example of the many continuous abuses our government has committed against our liberties, and in direct violation of our founding documents. So now, we find ourselves as Christians faced with a situation that is ultimately the last straw.

The Holy Bible teaches us to give unto Caesar what is due Caesar, and give unto God that which is God’s.

The Holy Bible also teaches us that we as Christians will not be tempted above what we can bare, but that for every temptation, God will provide for us a way of escape. Thankfully, I believe God is already doing that for us.

In May of this year, the We the People Foundation and twenty-five other liberty minded organizations came together for a three day meeting at Jekyll Island, Georgia. You may view a full list of the Patriot organizations at http://www.jekyllislandproject.com/invitees.aspx . To learn more about the details of this meeting, see www.JekyllIslandProject.com . The purpose of the meeting was to determine what steps could be taken to defend and restore our

founding documents and our liberties, before our nation — our Constitutional Republic – is totally destroyed.

These organizations voted unanimously to promote and support a Continental Congress in November of 2009. Full preparation is underway, as the states organize and prepare for local, regional and national outreach to The People of America. The purpose of Continental Congress 2009 is to bring delegates together who represent The People, to establish before the people, the alarming record of abuses by our government over these past years and the impact of those abuses on our nation. There will be three delegates selected from each state and the District of Columbia, totaling one hundred fifty-three delegates.

CC2009 delegates will specifically review and discuss the facts surrounding escalating violations of the Constitution, each of which has had devastating impacts on our liberty, our economy, and our way of life. Those gathered, before a worldwide viewing audience, via daily live webcasts, will consider the necessary and legal means afforded to The People, via our governing documents, to peacefully hold our servant government accountable for their crimes, and restore our nation to the Founders’ original intent of a Constitutional Republic.

Nominations for delegates to attend the Continental Congress can be made at your state’s website via http://www.givemeliberty.org . In every state, we are seeking our finest citizenswho have a proven passion for the Constitution and want to take this stand now. Perhaps you are one, or know someone who should be there. The deadline for nominations is September 1. Nominees will be posted on the state web pages by September 12.

Elections will be held across the nation on October 10, and Continental Congress will convene November 9-24 in a location to be announced. For more information about Continental Congress 2009, to help fund this event, nominate a delegate or volunteer please visit http://www.givemeliberty.org . We have a position for every citizen who loves America and wants to take a stand for God, liberty and constitutional obedience.

In closing, I ask all true Christians who know our Savior and Mediator, to humble yourselves before God and seek mercy with bitter tears, just as David did, that he might hear the cries of his people and lead us out of Sodom and Gomorrah, as he did for Lot and his family, before the souls of our children are eternally vexed by the sins of this nation. If God be for us, who then, can stand against us?

In Love and Liberty,

Sandra Yeager

Kentucky State Coordinator

We the People Foundation

How many times did we hear the Right slam Obama as nothing more than a “community organizer”?  The evangelical extremists have been proficient and successful at this practice of conveying calls to action since President Obama was in grade school.  This letter is but one method of spreading their messages virally and igniting the millions of congregational members across America who are prompted to action by the propaganda of fear.

This is not a peaceful difference of opinion.  This is an intentional campaign to rally these followers into the frenzy I have so oftern referenced to Sarah Palin.  These are the same crowds and Sheeples.

This organization CC2009 got it’s start in 2001 and is now re-invigorated and ramping up its efforts topromote tyranny.  I cannot stress this loudly enough!  We MUST educate ourselves and those around us.  This is NOT a simple Republican vs Democrat issue.  This is about diffusing all out extremism in America that is equated to the same cult-like devotion to any other radical movement.

This letter alone is going out to thousands of dominionist churches in the United States, and the members in those churches range in the millions.

Today is more than fireworks, BBQs, and flags.  It is even more than the recent news that Governor Palin resigned amidst widespread proclamations of a new-found independence in Alaska.  It IS about what this day celebrates, which among several principles in the Declaration of Independence – is the freedom of religion and the separation of church and state.

“What the Religious Right doesn’t tell people, and what, tragically, many Americans apparently don’t know, is that when it comes to determining what the laws of the United States mean, the only document that matters is the Constitution. The Constitution, a completely secular document, contains no references to God, Jesus or Christianity. It says absolutely nothing about the United States being officially Christian. The Religious Right’s constant appeals to documents like the Declaration of Independence, which contains a deistic reference to “the Creator,” cloud the issue and make some people believe their rights spring from these other documents.”  From Legacy Of Freedom by Rob Boston, Church and State, January, 2003

This falls under, if we (the Religious Right) repeat something often enough, it will become truth.  But these Political Dominionists not only repeatedly twist the meaning of the Constitution, they very quietly attempt to mold our laws to fit their twisting.

The Constitution Restoration Act of 2004, introduced into both houses of Congress on February 11, 2004, “includes the acknowledgment of God as the sovereign source of law by an official in his capacity of executing his office.” Katherine Yurica, author of the Yurica Report, reports on this bill that reveals the theocratic intentions of its sponsors including Rep. Robert Aderholt (Alabama), Rep. Michael Pence (Indiana), Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama, Sen. Zell Miller (Georgia), Sen. Sam Brownback (Kansas), and Sen. Lindsey Graham (South Carolina).

Foes of Church-State Separation

The Texas Republican Party Platform, 2002:

“Our Party pledges to do everything within its power to dispel the myth of separation of church and state.”

Christian Coalition: Speakers at the Road To Victory rally sponsored by Christian Coalition just before the 2002 elections,

“Seemed to compete with each other to say the worst things they could about this concept.” Coalition founder Pat Robertson who described church-state separation as “a lie” and “a distortion foisted on us over the past few years by left- wingers.”

Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore termed separation “a fable” and insisted that the phrase “has so warped our society it’s unbelievable.”

Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) upped the ante, calling concerns about church andstate “the phoniest argument there is.”

But the award for the most vicious attack goes to Joyce Meyer, the TV preacher who cosponsored the Coalition’s national meeting. Meyer lambasted the constitutional concept as “really a deception from “Satan.”

Because we have such wide-spread apathy among our electorate, even those who consider themselves “engaged and paying attention”, we have created a breeding ground for disinformation.  The facts simply play a very small role in voter perceptions.  Consequently we are stunned IF we actually learn about these attempts to chip away at our freedoms.

WAY too many Americans view the whole notion of participating in government at the most basic level as an “us and them” issue.  ”Oh, I don’t get involved in politics”, or “i don’t have time for all that”, or “They’re all a bunch of liars and criminals anyway”, and the list of excuses goes on and on.  Does it occur to them to really learn about the people who sit in positions of power over us all?  That when an incompetent, or disastrous, or religious zealot, or any other form of unfit person is elected – that we are ALL responsible whether you voted or not?

The efforts to take away the right to free religious expression – or to observe no religion at all – is constantly under attack in America by Political Dominionists.  Defending those freedoms is NOT anti-American, anti-patriotic or inspired by Satan.  Quite the opposite!  Defending religious freedom and the separation of church and state is the most patriotic American thing you can do.

Supreme Court Justice Harry A. Blackmun - “When the government puts its imprimatur on a particular religion it conveys a message of exclusion to all those who do not adhere to the favored beliefs. A government cannot be premised on the belief that all persons are created equal when it asserts that God prefers some.”

And as it stands right now, the push for theocratic dominance has become so entrenched in the Republican Party that to stand a chance of success as a GOP candidate on ANY level, you must demonstrate an alliance to the dogma of Dominionism – no matter what denomination you hale from.

Contrary to Article IV, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution which states that, “no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States”, the GOP flippantly ignores this rule – cherry-picking from the Constitution much the same way it does the Bible.

Currently, you must meet the litmus test of having been “born-again” and acknowledgethe extremeevangelical version of “Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour” to be in the club.  (It never hurts to speak in tongues as a second language and plaster your cars with numerous paint-damaging “ribbon” magnets, an American flag flapping and the potpourri of fish decals or “Calvin” peeing on a Darwinian fish).

I will end with the following article I read today by a Reverend from Fayetteville, Arkansas who eloquently defends his devout faith in the Christian God, yet intelligently defends pluralism versus monotheism and how incredibly fortunate we are in a world filled with religiously dictated tyranny causing inhuman suffering to millions.

Government, Religion Don’t Mix Well

By Rev. Steve Sheely

I love my country. There is no place I would rather live. I relish the freedoms we enjoy and I am grateful for those who gave their lives, their health and their dreams so I have the freedom to write this newspaper column, vote for whoever I prefer and, most of all, worship as I choose.

In Saudi Arabia, the Islamic government has given full police power to the CPVPV (Commission to Promote Virtue and Prevent Vice). Minority Muslims and non-Muslims are vulnerable to various forms of religious discrimination and persecution.

But the examples of this problem are not limited to other nations. In our own country there are those who would prefer a similar relationship between government and religion.

This Independence Day as we celebration freedom of religion, we also celebrate freedom from religion. We cannot let our government get in the religion business. Throughout history this has been a disastrous affiliation.Any democracy, protectorate or monarchy — even a nation as wonderful as ours — will never match the mercy, redemption and holiness of the Kingdom of God. Our borders are not wide enough, our social programs are not gracious enough and our foreign policy is not redemptive enough. Uncle Sam is not the Holy Spirit. The Bill of Rights is not the word of God. George Washington is not Moses.
So we need to be proactive citizens. If the government intrudes on religious freedom or violates human rights we must take action. The ends do not justify the means in the Kingdom of Heaven or the United States. When John the Baptist encountered the “bad guys” at the Jordan River, he did not water-board them.”

“When facism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.” -Sinclair Lewis

Sarah Palin may be the most visible of current-day Political Dominionist figure that was added to a long and growing list of GOP power-players and politicians, but her notoriety has caused some to take their collective eyes off the ball.

I actually want to thank her, in all sincerity, for if it wasn’t for her meteoric rise in popularity she would not have inadvertently brought light to the absurdities of extremism and what that spawns.  Had she not come on the scene, and whipped the extremists into a froth, the challenge of educating us all about the threat to our democracy would have been a much harder uphill battle.

Thank you Sarah!