There I go again! Getting all optimistic! I lost my head for a minute…indulge me…

And all the vitriolic volume cranked up by the “true Americans”…you know who I mean, the ‘c’hristian Republicans (‘c’Rs), screaming in the faces of progressives and democratic congressmembers in outraged indignation – that THEY have read the hundreds and hundreds of pages of “the health care bill” (the one that doesn’t even technically exist at this point) so the rest of us had better read it or screw off. And we all know how well-read and studied these folks are…

Then two days ago…one of their own informed members of the ‘c’Rs, and current resident of C Street House, Senator Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, had this to say in an article on the Huffington Post about developing an informed opinion on health care out of concern for the American public:

Republicans challenged Democrats to read the whole bill this summer — even though Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell later admitted that he hadn’t.

In July, Inhofe said that stalling or blocking health care reform would be a “huge gain” for Republicans in the 2010 election.

At a town hall meeting Wednesday Sen. Jim Inhofe told Chickasha residents he does not need to read the 1,000 page health care reform bill, he will simply vote against it.

“I don’t have to read it, or know what’s in it. I’m going to oppose it anyways,” he said.

Okay!  Add Inhofe to the growing list…and I think they need to take this to the floor of congress and have a “movie-day” with popcorn and pillows. In fact, they could up the ante and offer treats to those who can properly use the following words in proper context in a sentence – fascism; socialism; communism; democracy; republic.

I can guarantee you that the investment in treat handouts would be minimal.

QUICK UPDATE:

A comment from a reader suggests that we all go over to You Tube and vote this UP. In doing so, it is abundantly clear to me that I am just a hopeless optimist! Reading some of the comments under the YouTube video of this over on the YT page…and you will be shaking your head too! What a bunch of…! They’re embarrassing…

You have just GOT to watch this for yourself…

…he has truly met the I.Q. standard for the Palin version of conservative republican.

I was just having a conversation on the air yesterday during a radio show about how these same congress members who are so outraged and such alarmists about Obama’s health care reform intruding into our personal lives, especially where end of life decisions are concerned, and then we noted what HYPOCRITES these sanctimonious republicans truly are!

Darren Hutchinson of Dissenting Justice is guest-blogging today for Glenn Greenwald’s column over at Salon.com sums it up beautifully in his article referring to Palin and Grassley as “Dumb & Dumber”…but there is a lot of competition for that title!  Here are a few excerpts for you, but I do recomend that you click this link to read his entire article…well worth it!

“Sarah Palin and Senator Chuck Grassley are working together to spread lies regarding the substance of pending healthcare reform legislation.

In 2005, Grassley supported legislation that injected Congress into the Terri Schiavo saga. Schiavo’s husband – and medical proxy under Florida law — waged an almost 10-year legal battle to refuse life-sustaining medical treatment on behalf of his wife, who was in a persistent vegetative state. After a federal judge ordered the removal of food and hydration, Congress intervened and passed a law that was blatantly crafted to nullify the Florida litigation and to keep Schiavo alive against the wishes of her husband, who acted on her behalf.

Although the Senate passed the statute by unanimous consent, Grassley revealed his position and expressed his support for the measure, stating that: “I support the effort to protect Terri Schiavo. It’s the first case of its kind, a chance to choose life over death. I gave the option to life. . . .” Grassley, however, did not vote for life over death. Instead, he voted to authorize direct federal involvement in an end-of-life medical decision – something he currently claims to abhor.

And to finish icing this cake, Palin and Grassley both support the death penalty. Capital punishment indisputably involves the government determining whether someone will live or die.

“Dumb” works

Apparently, “dumb” works. According to the latest Gallup poll, the conservative backlash to healthcare reform has eroded support among voters – particularly independents. If members of the corporate media (as Glenn Greenwald affectionately describes the “news” outlets) did their job and uncovered the deception and hypocrisy associated with this backlash, then this movement’s rhetoric would actually face greater scrutiny and would perhaps lose some of its effectiveness. The White House also fell asleep at the wheel, as this movement continued to mobilize and to work the media. Furthermore, I suspect that many of Obama’s Web-warriors are enjoying the final weeks of summer break and have not sufficiently organized on this issue.

Public opinion, however, is extremely malleable. If progressives redouble their efforts, a pretty solid reform package might actually get through Congress without damaging (and even possibly helping) the Democrats. Stay tuned.

You know…we hear constantly from these extremists as they smugly declare that the “liberals and democrat party is afraid of Palin”.  Uh, yeah…I am afraid of ALL of them and the collective ignorance that they have brought to the Republican Party!  I am not going to say that this mentality and lack of intelligence doesn’t scare the HELL out of me!  I am concerned for anyone who doesn’t feel that way.

The hypocrisy knows no end…and these Political Dominionists consider themselves the party of Jesus Christ…WOW!

Okay, Sarah Palin does have a new position…Facebook ventriloquist.  No stretch of the imagination can convince me that Palin herself is producing these “Notes”.  They are articulate, non-folksy and referenced…which indicates a level of effort and some reading involved.  This doesn’t mean they are accurate – that’s an entirely different story which I felt is worthy of writing about.

As I read the rolling blogs on Palin’s facebook I asked myself…where is she getting her opinions?  The source of her shot across Obama’s health care proposals can be traced back to a July 24th article written by Betsy McCaughey, a former Lt. Governor of New York, published in the New York Post named “Deadly Doctors”.  Now we are getting somewhere…

As we know, there is NO BILL right now.  There are versions of a health care bill in different committees in congress making their way painfully through the process.  Yet Palin perpetuates the discussion as though this is written and complete in the form of HR 3200.  Her audience buys this and does not question that, or any of the false assertions that someone is writing for her on her facebook.  I have no doubt that these are her sentiments, and that she is enjoying the raucous caused by her dissemination of fear and paranoia – but these are not her words.  As we all know – there would be a ton of ‘there alsos’ and the ‘g’s’ are conspicuously present.

Q: Does Ezekiel Emanuel advocate sacrificing medical care for senior citizens and disabled youths for the good of society?

A: No. Critics of health care legislation are distorting the meaning of Emanuel’s academic writings on medical ethics. And Emanuel tells us, “I am not advocating this.”

FULL QUESTION

Is it true that Dr. Ezekiel J. Emanuel, Rahm Emanuel’s older brother and health adviser to President Obama, has advocated “the elderly with dementia and the young who have neurological disorders should be sacrificed for the common good”?

FULL ANSWER

The introduction of Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, head of the Department of Bioethics at The Clinical Center of the National Institutes of Health, into the health care reform debate came with an opinion piece written by Betsy McCaughey and published in the New York Post on July 24. Dr. Emanuel is also a health care policy adviser for the Office of Management and Budget and brother of President Obama’s chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel.

McCaughey, a former New York lieutenant governor, claimed that Ezekiel Emanuel advocated that “medical care should be reserved for the non-disabled, not given to those ‘who are irreversibly prevented from being or becoming participating citizens.’ ” She interprets his words to mean: “Don’t give much care to a grandmother with Parkinson’s or a child with cerebral palsy.”

Dr. Emanuel strenuously objects to this interpretation. “This is certainly untrue and a distortion of my record,” he told FactCheck.org in a telephone interview. He said that his academic work is being taken completely out of context.

We agree that Emanuel’s meaning is being twisted. In one article, he was talking about a philosophical trend, and in another, he was writing about how to make the most ethical choices when forced to choose which patients get organ transplants or vaccines when supplies are limited.

What Emanuel Really Said

McCaughey cites an article Emanuel wrote nearly 15 years ago in the Hastings Center Report, a journal devoted to discussion of ethical issues in medicine. There Emanuel discusses possible philosophical justifications to “distinguish basic from discretionary health care services.” Emanuel argued that thinkers on both the left and right were beginning to converge on a single answer when it comes to allocating medical resources. Here’s the quote in full context:

Emanuel, Hastings Center Report, 1996: Communitarians endorse civic republicanism and a growing number of liberals endorse some version of deliberative democracy. … This civic republican or deliberative democratic conception of the good provides both procedural and substantive insights for developing a just allocation of health care resources. … Substantively, it suggests services that promote the continuation of the polity – those that ensure healthy future generations, ensure development of practical reasoning skills, and ensure full and active participation by citizens in public deliberations – are to be socially guaranteed as basic. Conversely, services provided to individuals who are irreversibly prevented from being or becoming participating citizens are not basic and should not be guaranteed. An obvious example is not guaranteeing health services to patients with dementia. A less obvious example is guaranteeing neuropsychological services to ensure children with learning disabilities can read and learn to reason.

Emanuel conceded that the article is “pretty abstract” and may be difficult to follow for those who are not academics, but he said that one should not then “take two sentences out of context.”

“This is clearly not written in my own voice,” he said. “I am not advocating this.”

We’ll leave it to you to determine the merits of Emanuel’s philosophical observations. But the context makes it clear that Emanuel is describing the implications of a particular philosophical trend, not offering a policy prescription.

We’ll also note that Emanuel’s article actually said that children with learning disabilities shouldget medical help to ensure that they “can read and learn to reason.” We’re not sure how McCaughey interpreted this to mean that services should be withheld from “a child with cerebral palsy.”

McCaughey also pushes the idea that Emanuel would want to ration care for seniors by quoting from a January 2009 article that Emanuel coauthored in The Lancet journal. Here, McCaughey says, he “explicitly defends discrimination against older patients.”

What Emanuel and his two coauthors were actually writing about was how to decide which patients are to receive organ transplants, vaccines or other “very scarce medical interventions” when there are not enough to go around. The three authors advocated favoring younger patients over older patients as part of a “complete lives” decision-making system aimed at saving the most years of life using the available resources. Age would be only one factor, however. Also weighing in the “complete lives” system would be such factors as a patient’s likelihood of full recovery (prognosis) and the use of a lottery when deciding between two “roughly equal” patients.

The authors disputed the idea that this system discriminates against older people in the way that favoring one race or one sex over another would discriminate. “Treating 65-year-olds differently because of stereotypes or falsehoods would be ageist; treating them differently because they have already had more life-years is not.” The authors stated that the complete lives system “empowers us to decide fairly whom to save when genuine scarcity makes saving everyone impossible.”

Emanuel told us that allocating health care services when there is an “absolute scarcity” is “one of the hardest decisions that a physician has to make.” He said that he and his fellow authors were pondering “the most ethically coherent way to do that.”

There She Goes Again

McCaughey also claims in her article that “presidential appointees” will be deciding “your care” and that Dr. Emanuel should “never be trusted with that power.” She’s echoing an earlier false claim about health care rationing that she first trotted out back in February. It’s no more true this time around. A version of the health care bill in Congress, H.R. 3200, does mention creating a comparative effectiveness research center (and a comparative effectiveness commission to oversee the center) to conduct research into how sickness “can most effectively and appropriately be prevented, diagnosed, treated, and managed clinically.” A summary of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee bill also mentions the establishment of a center for similar purposes. But the research wouldn’t be used to dictate health care coverage. The House version of the bill specifically states that the information can’t be used to mandate any policies for either private insurance coverage or for government health insurance:

H.R. 3200: Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit the Commission or the Center to mandate coverage, reimbursement, or other policies for any public or private payer.

So whether or not one might choose to trust Dr. Emanuel with the power to decide “your care,” the fact is that no such power is being proposed in the legislation now being considered.

Twisting information comes naturally to these people.  They do it to the Bible; they do it to the U.S. Constitution, and they do it to anything related to President Obama – and they do it with misinformation, hate, and a profound desire to achieve the downfall of any democratic led proposal.

Q: Does Ezekiel Emanuel advocate sacrificing medical care for senior citizens and disabled youths for the good of society?

A: No. Critics of health care legislation are distorting the meaning of Emanuel’s academic writings on medical ethics. And Emanuel tells us, “I am not advocating this.”

Full Question

Is it true that Dr. Ezekiel J. Emanuel, Rahm Emanuel’s older brother and health adviser to President Obama, has advocated “the elderly with dementia and the young who have neurological disorders should be sacrificed for the common good?”

Full Answer

The introduction of Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, head of the Department of Bioethics at the clinical center of the national institutes of Health, into the health care reform debate, came with an opinion piece written by Betsy McCaughey and published in the New York Post on July 24.  Dr. Emanuel is also a health care policy advisor for the Office of Management and Budget and brother of President Obama’s chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel.

(Leah’s Note: This video takes 7 minutes to watch but well worth the time to get a clear idea just who this woman is, where she is coming from, and what her interests truly are in the Big Pharmaceutical stakes).

McCaughey, a former New York Lieutenant governor, claimed that Ezekiel Emanuel advocated that “medical care should be reserved for the non-disabled, not given to those ‘who are irreversibly prevented from being or becoming participating citizens.’ “She interprets his words to mean:  ”Don’t give much care to a grandmother with Parkinson’s or a child with cerebral palsy.”

Dr. Emanuel strenuously objects to this interpretation.  ”This is certainly untrue and a distortion of my record, ” he told FactCheck.org in a telephone interview.  He said that his academic work is being taken completely out of context.

We agree that Emanuel’s meaning is being twisted.  In one article, he was talking about a philosophical trend, and in another, he was writing about how to make the most ethical choices when forced to choose which patients get organ transplants or vaccines when supplies are limited.

What Emanuel Really Said

McCaughey cites an article Emanuel wrote nearly 15 years ago in the Hastings Center Report, a journal devoted to discussion of ethical issues in medicine.  There Emanuel discusses possible  philosophical justifications to “distinguish basic from discretionary health care services.”  Emanuel argued that thinkers on both the left and right were beginning to converge on a single answer when it comes to allocating medical resources.  Here’s the quote in full context:

Emanuel, Hastings Center Report, 1996:  Communitarians endorse civic republicanism and a growing number of liberals endorse some version of deliberative democracy…this civic republican or deliberative democratic conception of the good provides both procedural and substantive insights for developing a just allocation of health care resources…

Substantively, it suggests services that promote the continuation of the policy-those that ensure healthy future generations, ensure development of practical reasoning skills, and ensure full and active participation by citizens in public deliberations-are to be socially guaranteed as basic.

Conversely, services provided to individuals who are irreversibly prevented from being or becoming participating citizens are not basic and should not be guaranteed.  An obvious example is not guaranteeing health services to patients with dementia.  A less obvious example of guaranteeing neuropsychological services to ensure children with learning disabilities can read and learn to reason.

Emanuel conceded that the article is “pretty abstract” and may be difficult to follow for those who are not academics, but he said that one should not then “take two sentences out of context.”

“This is clearly not written in my own voice,” he said.  ” I am not advocating this.”

We’ll leave it to you to determine the merits of Emanuel’s philosophical observations.  But the context makes it clear that Emanuel is describing the implications of a particular philosophical trend, not offering a policy prescription.

We’ll also note that Emanuel’s article actually said that children with learning disabilities should get medical help to ensure that they “can read and learn to reason.”  We’re not sure how McCaughey interpreted this to mean that services should be withheld from “a child with cerebral palsy.”

McCaughey also pushes the idea that Emanuel would want to ration care for seniors by quoting from a  January 2009 article that Emanuel coauthored in The Lancet journal.  Here, McCaughey says, he “explicitly defends discrimination against older patients.”

What Emanuel and his two coauthors were actually writing about was how to decide which patients are to receive organ transplants, vaccines or other “very scarce medical interventions” when there are not enough to go around.  The three authors advocated favoring younger patients over older patients as part of a “complete lives” decision-making system aimed at saving the most years of life using the available resources.  Age would be only one factor, however.  Also weighing in the “complete lives” system would be such factors as a patient’s likelihood of full recovery (prognosis) and the use of a lottery when deciding between two “roughly equal” patients.

The authors disputed the idea that this system discriminates against older people in the way that favoring one race or one sex over another would discriminate. “Treating 65-year-olds differently because of stereotypes or falsehoods would be ageist; treating them differently because they have already had more life-years is not.”  The authors stated that the complete lives system “empowers us to decided fairly whom to save when genuine scarcity makes saving everyone impossible.”

Emanuel told us that allocating health care services when there is an “absolute scarcity” is “one of the hardest decisions that a physician has to make.”  He said that he and his fellow authors were pondering “the most ethically coherent way to do that.”

There She Goes Again

McCaughey also claims in her article that “presidential appointees” will be deciding “your care” and that Dr. Emanuel should “never be trusted with that power.”  She’s echoing an earlier false claim about health care rationing that she first trotted back in February.  It’s no more true this time around.  A version of the health care bill in Congress, H.R. 3200, does mention creating a comparative effectiveness research center (and a comparative effectiveness commission to oversee the center) to conduct research into how sickness “can most effectively and appropriately be prevented, diagnosed, treated, and managed clinically.”

A summary of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee bill also mentions the establishment of a center for similar purposes.  But the research wouldn’t be used to dictate health care coverage.  The House version of the bill specifically states that the information can’t be used to mandate any policies for either private insurance coverage or for government health insurance.

H.R. 3200:  Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit the Commission or the Center to mandate coverage, reimbursement, or other policies for any public or private payer.

So whether or not one might choose to trust Dr. Emanuel with the power to decide “your care,” the fact is that no such power is being proposed in the legislation now being considered.

Twisting information comes naturally to these people.  They do it to the Bible; they do it to the U.S. Constitution; and they do it to anything related to President Obama – and they do it with misinformation, hate, and a profound desire to achieve the downfall of any democratic led proposal to see Obama fail.  Where do they think they live?  How do they not get that directly impacts them, and their loved ones?  Unbelievable!

So McCoughey found her sucker…Palin (and Bachman, lest we forget)…to go forth and spread her crap so she can continue to benefit from Big Pharma.  God, Palin is a ditz!

For Palin to continue to stoke the coals under this notion of encouraging the elderly to sign their own death certificate as part of health care reform is simply irresponsible – especially when you have people arriving at locations where the President of the United States is about to speak with weapons and signs calling for the death of him and his family.

What was that parting shot by Palin in her last speech as governor?  Hmmm…OH!  I remember!

Palin opened her Sunday speech with what she called “some straight talk,” taking on the media and, ”You represent what could and should be a respected, honest profession, and what could and should be a cornerstone of our democracy — and that’s why our troops are willing to die for you,” she said.

“So how about in honor of the American solider you quit making things up?” she added, without elaborating.

Practice what you preach Queen Esther!

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.

This is a GREAT article by Frank Schaeffer!

Lies, Intimidation, and the Insurance Industry: The Republicans Have Lost Their Minds

By Frank Schaeffer
Posted on August 7, 2009, Printed on August 7, 2009

http://www.religiondispatches.org/blog/politics/1749/

The Republican Old Guard are in the fix an atheist would be in if Jesus showed up and raised his mother from the dead: Their world view has just been shattered. Obama’s election has literally driven them over the edge.

Consider former congressman Dick Armey. Several far right foundations and the multitrillion dollar health-insuranceindustry have teamed up with him to organize the far right foot soldiers of the Republican Party to intimidate people speaking on behalf of health-care reform. They are using my old shock troops — given that many of these folks were first energized by the Evangelical pro-life movement that my late father and I started in the 1970s. What we did to clinics they are now doing to congressmen and others speaking out for health care reform. It’s called intimidation.

Having failed at the ballot box, having watched their Fox News-organized “tea parties” fizzle, the intimidation tactics which the Republicans have embraced are being used in a well-financed, top-down orchestrated fake grass roots campaign by corporate interests to try and protect the profits of the insurance business.

Armey’s FreedomWorks is organizing against health care reform. Armey’s lobbying firm represents pharmaceutical companies including Bristol-Myers Squibb. Armey’s lobbying firm also represents the trade group for the life insurance industry. FreedomWorks is supporting the status quo at all costs. (They are also fans of fossil fuels. Armey’s lobbying firm represents Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister of the UAE, on energy related issues.)

Oh!  This is a good spot to interrupt Frank’s article and insert that blurb about him from my list of 123 GOP Criminals!

Dick Armey Republican US RepresentativeTexas, former professor at North Texas State in Denton, anit-gay bigot has been accused by The Dallas Observer of sexually harassing at least female students.  This is the same area that Constable Larry Dale Floyd hails from.  (see his listing).

Astroturfing activities

Dick Armey’s organization, FreedomWorks was behind the creation of a fake grassroots web site called Angryrenter.com which rallies opposition to “the Obama Housing Bailout.” The site urges people to oppose bailing out mortgage companies. The site claims to represent “Renters and responsible homeowners against a government mortgage bailout.”

Michael M. Phillips, a reporter with the Wall Street Journal wrote about AngryRenter.com:

AngryRenter.com looks a bit like a digital ransom note, with irregular fonts, exclamation points and big red arrows — all emphasizing prudent renters’ outrage over a proposed government bailout for irresponsible homeowners. “It seems like America’s renters may NEVER be able to afford a home,” AngryRenter.com laments. The Web site urges like-minded tenants to let Congress feel their fury by signing an online petition. “We are millions of renters standing up for our rights!” Angry they may be, but the people behind AngryRenter.com are certainly not renters. Though it purports to be a spontaneous uprising, AngryRenter.com is actually a product of an inside-the-Beltway conservative advocacy organization led by Dick Armey, the former House majority leader, and publishing magnate Steve Forbes, a fellow Republican. It’s a fake grass-roots effort — what politicos call an AstroTurf campaign — that provides a window into the sleight-of-hand ways of Washington.^[1]

Schaeffer goes on to write in his article:

Last year, the Wall Street Journal exposed FreedomWorks for building “amateur-looking” websites to promote far right interests of Armey. FreedomWorks represents a top-down, corporate-friendly approach that’s been the norm for conservative organizations for years. How do I know this is the norm? Because I used to have strategy meetings with the late Jack Kemp and Dick Army and the rest of the Republican gang about using their business ties to help finance the pro-life movement to defeat Democrats. I know this script. I helped write it.

Democratic members of Congress are being harassed by angry, sign-carrying mobs and disruptive behavior at local town halls. It’s the tactic we used to follow abortion providers around their neighborhoods. “Protesters” surrounded Rep. Tim Bishop (D-NY) and forced police officers to have to escort him to his car for safety. We used to do the same to Dr. Tiller… until someone killed him.

Which sure makes me ask myself…how far will this insanity go?  Who will get hurt before this is exposed for what it really is?  This is NOT simple freedom of speech.  This is indeed organized mayhem!

How can the right stoop so low?

I used to know Dick Armey quite well. One of my sons even worked for him as an intern. I knew Armey in the context of his being a fan of my late Evangelical Religious Right leader father Francis Schaeffer. (Back in the day when I was a right wing “pro-life” organizer who has long since quit the Republicans in disgust at their — our — descent into extremism and hate.) Armey was once a decent guy, whatever his political views. How could he stoop so low as to be organizing what amounts to America’s Brownshirts today?

I think I know what happened to him, Gingrich and the rest: They can’t compute that their white man-led conservative revolution is dead. They can’t reconcile their idea of themselves with the fact that white men like them don’t run the country any more — and never will again. To them the black president is leading a column of the “other” into their promised land. Gays, immigrants, blacks, progressives, even a female Hispanic appointed to the Supreme Court: for them this is the Apocalypse.

Conclusion: the fascist formula

Here’s the emerging American version of the fascist’s formula: combine millions of dollars of lobbyists’ money with embittered troublemakers who have a small army of not terribly bright white angry people (collected over decades through pro-life mass mailing networks) at their beck and call, ever ready to believe any myth or lie circulated by the semi literate and completely and routinely misinformed right wing — Evangelical religious underground. Then put his little mob together with the insurance companies’ big bucks.

What can be done?

It’s time that this whole shabby (and insane) business be exposed, vilified in run out of town on a rail by whatever responsible Republicans — if any — that are still in the party and who want to see the fortunes of their party revived. Republican leaders taking insurance industry money via lobbying firms and using it to organize what amounts to roving bands of thugs not only need to be exposed but thrown out of the public debate forever. They should become absolute pariahs.

It’s time to give this garbage a name: insurance-industry-funded fascism.

If there is anyone out there who can write about this with certainty and authority, it would be Frank Schaeffer…and we need to heed his words.

It is kind of like the later years of the creator of nuclear weapons, that although Oppenheimer’s scientific expertise produced the bomb, he grew increasingly uneasy over its application and destructive power. Oppenheimer became the first of a long line of antinuclear activists and scientists to protest nuclear weapons and nuclear power.

So as did Oppenheimer regret creating something so destructive, now comes Frank Schaeffer with his own regrets for co-creating a social weapon of sorts – and his words of warning.

So far we have learned about the following words:  astroturfing; dead agenting; steeplejacking; Political Dominionist; mega church;

Today – we must learn about scripture twisting…and a finer example of this term would be hard to find, than this outrageous video sent to me by a reader of this blog.  (Please feel free to send me information that you come across that you find pertinent).

It is so hard to remain mature and professional some days in the process of reviewing and researching this stuff!  It almost hurts to use the necessary restraint to maintain my credibility…but you get where I would like to go with this I am sure!

At a time where there are literally millions of people who are fixated on denouncing the birth certificate of President Obama, and who think that “teabagging” is a proud label (rolling of eyes) – comes this very interesting ‘interpretation’ of some cherry-picked versus from the Bible.

It truly exhibits all the same level of intelligence and conspiracy-minded trogladites (aka cave-dweller, head-in-the sand moron) cohesiveness that we saw coagulating at the Sarah Palin rallies and stump speeches across the “Bible Belt” of America.

Books have been written bout this method of manipulating the words of the Bible that have been translated and interpreted in many,many ways…and often twisted to serve the purpose of the religious organization.  One of the writers on scripture twisting is Dr. James Sire, Ph.D, a professor of English, Theology and Philosophy at the University of Missouri.  The following are a list of salient points that he identifies and includes in his book:

1. INACCURATE QUOTATION: A biblical text is referred to but is either not quoted in the way the text appears in any standard translation or is wrongly attributed.

2. TWISTED TRANSLATION: The biblical text is re-translated, not in accordance with sound Greek scholarship, to fit a preconceived teaching of a cult.

3. BIBLICAL HOOK: A text of Scripture is quoted primarily as a device to grasp the attention of readers or listeners and then followed by a teaching which is so non-biblical that it would appear far more dubious to most people had it not been preceded by a reference to Scripture.

4. IGNORING THE IMMEDIATE CONTEXT: A text of Scripture is quoted but removed from the surrounding verses which form the immediate framework for its meaning.

5. COLLAPSING CONTEXTS: Two or more verses which have little or nothing to do with each other are put together as if one were a commentary of the other(s).

6. OVERSPECIFICATION: A more detailed or specific conclusion than is legitimate is drawn from a biblical text.

7. WORD PLAY: A word or phrase from a biblical translation is examined and interpreted as if the revelation had been given in that language.

8. THE FIGURATIVE FALLACY: Either (1) mistaking literal language for figurative language or (2)mistaking figurative language for literal language.

9. SPECULATIVE READINGS OF PREDICTIVE PROPHESY: A predictive prophesy is too readily explained by the occurance of specific events, despite the fact that equally committed biblical scholars consider the interpretation highly dubious

10. SAYING BUT NOT CITING: A writer says that the Bible says such and such but does not cite the specific text (which often indicates that there may be no such text at all).

11. SELECTIVE CITING: To substantiate a given argument, only a limited number of text is quoted: the total teaching of Scripture on that subject would lead to a conclusion different from that of the writer.

12. INADEQUATE EVIDENCE: A hasty generalization is drawn from too little evidence.

13. CONFUSED DEFINITION: A biblical term is misunderstood in such a way that an essential biblical doctrine is distorted or rejected.

14. IGNORING ALTERNATIVE EXPLANATIONS: A specific interpretation given to a biblical text or set of text which could well be, and often have been, interpreted in quite a different fashion, but these alternatives are not considered.

15. THE OBVIOUS FALLACY: Words like OBVIOUSLY, UNDOUBTEDLY, CERTAINLY, ALL REASONABLE PEOPLE HOLD THAT and so forth are substituted for logical reasons.

17. ESOTERIC INTERPRETATION: Under the assumption that the Bible contains hidden, esoteric, meaning which is open only to those who are initiated into its secrets, the interpreter declares the significance of biblical passages without giving much, if any, explanation for his or her interpretation.

NOTE:
This material comes from the appendix of James Sire’s Scripture Twisting Methods of the Cults, and summarizes his indepth treatment of each of these points.

Another book about this practice brings up yet another term for another blog and that is “shephearding”.   But for today’s topic here is a review on Mary Alice Chrnalogar’s book “Twisted Scriptures: A Path from Abusive Churches”-

Leaders of many religious groups (even including several mainstream churches) are twisting the Scriptures to subtly coerce cooperation from their members. In the process, personalities are changed and lives ruined. Mary Alice Chrnalogar is a deprogrammer with an international reputation. Chrnalogar reveals how classic mind control techniques are used to systematically seduce followers into total obedience. Twisted Scriptures: A Path To Freedom From Abusive Churches shows readers how to tell when churches are suppressing freedom of speech, intimidating followers, and distorting the Bible. Twisted Scriptures is invaluable as a self-help guide and as a tool for families and friends to free loved ones from destructive groups. – Midwest Book Review

This is a very serious practice.   And given that the majority of these congregations are brainwashed – they have unbelievable impact!  And that scares the hell out of me!  Look at this new term that has gained traction – “birthers”…give me a break!

Now – not only do we have the evangelical Dominionists getting riled over this, but the ignorant racist, bigoted population who are out there that could care less about God unless it is all together in one phrase “God and country” and has a gun – and are already paranoid that Obama is going to lead the charge to break down their doors and take their weapons away!

For God’s sakes people!  Is it something in the water???  How in the hell did we get so gullible and downright stupid?!  This picture of all the naked humans bowing who look like sheep, will be one that I am going to use every time I need to emphasize how absolutely ludicrous this has all become!  I have to stop writing…if I keep going I am going to do permanent damage to myself from the head-shaking and eye-rolling!

Later my friends…

Jack Abramoff, lobbyist, Republican “Think-Tank” guy, pal of the Bush admiistration and close buds with Karl Rove – Currently incarcerated, Abramoff pled guilty to three criminal felony counts in a Washington, D.C., federal court related to the defrauding of American Indian tribes and corruuption of public officials.  The following day he pled guilty to two criminal felony counts of in a separate court in Miami, Florida, related to his fraudulaent dealings with SunCruz Casinos.

He is one of the patriots that worked on the 2001 Bush transition team.  Abramoff has indicated that he knew the U.S. would invade Iraq before the American public did, and before 9/11.

Poor Jack was abandoned by his pals and pitched a fit in prison when his Bush buddies said…”Jack WHO???”…and proceeded to deny having anything to do with him.  If only Bush & Co. could share his cell block.  Now that would be justice!

Thomas Ravenel, former South Carolina State Treasurer, AND South Carolina State Chairman of Rudy “9/11″ Giuliani for President, was charged and convicted for cocaine possession and was sentenced to 10 months in jail.  A supporter of Political Dominionist Senator Jim DeMint, Gover Mark Sanford, and Senator Lindsey Graham…enough said about the type of people he admires…ICK!

Klaudt was preaching the moral superiority of the far right while he was abusingmolesting children– his own foster daughters and 2 state legislative pagesKlaudt fancied himself a radical right Republican (and an evangelical) and in 2005 was a leader against the formation of the South Dakota Mainstream Coalition, meant to turn Republicans back towards mainstream conservatism.He was sentenced on January 17, 2008, to 44 years in prison: 11 years per count, to be served consecutively.  I hope he meets “Bubba” on the inside!!was charged with eight counts of rape, two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, two counts of witness tampering, sexual contact with a person uner 16, and stalking.  There were five different victims, three were foster children who lived with Klaudt.  These poor little kids are victims of the worst form of betrayal and abuse at the hands of a “Family Values” puke!While in office, he co-sponsored several bills that took aim at sex offenders, including “community safety zones,” prohibiting sex offenders from residing, working, or entering within 500 feet of schools, public parks and swimming pools. He also co-sponsored the bill that required South Dakota to be included in the National Sex Offender Registry, a bill that requires the Department of Social Services to inform parents about abuse or neglect involving their children in state custody, and a (defeated) bill that would have prohibited the distribution of birth control to high school students.

Ted Klaudt- South Dakota State Representative was charged with eight counts of rape, two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, two counts of witness tampering, sexual contact with a person uner 16, and stalking.  There were five different victims, three were foster children who lived with Klaudt.

Klaudt was preaching the moral superiority of the far right while he was abusing and molesting children– his own foster daughters and 2 state legislative pages.  Klaudt fancied himself a radical right Republican (and an evangelical) and in 2005 was a leader against the formation of the South Dakota Mainstream Coalition, meant to turn Republicans back towards mainstream conservatism.

He was sentenced on January 17, 2008, to 44 years in prison: 11 years per count, to be served consecutively. I hope he meets “Bubba” on the inside!!  These poor little kids are victims of the worst form of betrayal and abuse at the hands of a “Family Values” puke!

While in office, he co-sponsored several bills that took aim at sex offenders, including “community safety zones”, prohibiting sex offenders from residing, working, or entering within 500 feet of schools, public parks and swimming pools.  He also co-sponsored the bill that required South Dakota to be included in the National Sex Offender Registry, a bill that requires the Department of Social Services to inform parents about abuse or neglect involving their children in state custody, and a (defeated) bill that would have prohibited the distribution of birth control to high school students.  What a guy!

Larry Corrigan- Republican prosecutor arrested and pleaded guilty for soliciting sex from a 13 yr old girls over the internet.

Tom DeLay- house majority leader was indicted for campaign finance fraud, criminal conspiracy, and two counts of money laundering.  He was arrested and booked at Harris County Jail on October 20, 2005.  Since then, he’s been out on bail pending trial.

Tony Alamo-  July 24, 2009- A federal jury has convicted evangelist Tony Alamo on charges he took underage girls across state lines for sex.  The jury issued its judgment Friday in federal court in Texarkana. The jury found the 74-year-old Alamo guilty of all counts he faced. …Alamo had denied the charges, claiming they came from a Vatican-led conspiracy against his ministry. His apocalyptic tracts outline his hatred of the Vatican and his feared “one-world government.” The Southern Poverty Law Center considers his ministry a “cult.”

Aaron Bruns- According to a Tweet by ABC News’ Jake Tapper, a former Fox News producer received a ten year prison sentence for child pornography charges.

Matthew Joseph Elliot- Former campaign staffer of Governor Mitt Romney and Republican candidate to the Iowa state

legislature, Republican Matthew Joseph Elliott was listed as a pedophile.  He is now charged with murder of an infant.  Police ruled the case a homicide on Jan. 24 after investigators received an autopsy report that showed his victim died of head injuries.

Derek Walker- Republican candidate for the 5th Congressional District in Pennsylvania, Derek Walker, has been arrested and charged with felony burglary, criminal trespass, misdemeanor disorderly conduct, stalking and four counts of invasion of privacy. Charges involved his relationship with his ex-girlfriend.

Mike Hintz- March 7, 2005- Republican pastor in Des Moines, Iowa pleaded guilty of three counts of sexual exploitation and sentenced to two years probation.  As part of his sentence,  Hintz, married with four children,  is forbidden to have contact with anyone under the age of 18.  Hintz was the man President Bush used to promote his tax plan in 2004.Jack Abramoff, lobbyist, Republican “Think-Tank” guy, pal of the Bush admiistration and close buds with Karl Rove – Currently incarcerated, Abramoff pled guilty to three criminal felony counts in a Washington, D.C., federal court related to the defrauding of American Indian tribes and corruuption of public officials.  The following day he pled guilty to two criminal felony counts of in a separate court in Miami, Florida, related to his fraudulaent dealings with SunCruz Casinos.

He is one of the patriots that worked on the 2001 Bush transition team.  Abramoff has indicated that he knew the U.S. would invade Iraq before the American public did, and before 9/11.

Poor Jack was abandoned by his pals and pitched a fit in prison when his Bush buddies said…”Jack WHO???”…and proceeded to deny having anything to do with him.  If only Bush & Co. could share his cell block.  Now that would be justice!

Thomas Ravenel, former South Carolina State Treasurer, AND South Carolina State Chairman of Rudy “9/11″ Giuliani for President, was charged and convicted for cocaine possession and was sentenced to 10 months in jail.  A supporter of Political Dominionist Senator Jim DeMint, Gover Mark Sanford, and Senator Lindsey Graham…enough said about the type of people he admires…ICK!

Klaudt was preaching the moral superiority of the far right while he was abusingmolesting children– his own foster daughters and 2 state legislative pagesKlaudt fancied himself a radical right Republican (and an evangelical) and in 2005 was a leader against the formation of the South Dakota Mainstream Coalition, meant to turn Republicans back towards mainstream conservatism.He was sentenced on January 17, 2008, to 44 years in prison: 11 years per count, to be served consecutively.  I hope he meets “Bubba” on the inside!!was charged with eight counts of rape, two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, two counts of witness tampering, sexual contact with a person uner 16, and stalking.  There were five different victims, three were foster children who lived with Klaudt.  These poor little kids are victims of the worst form of betrayal and abuse at the hands of a “Family Values” puke!While in office, he co-sponsored several bills that took aim at sex offenders, including “community safety zones,” prohibiting sex offenders from residing, working, or entering within 500 feet of schools, public parks and swimming pools. He also co-sponsored the bill that required South Dakota to be included in the National Sex Offender Registry, a bill that requires the Department of Social Services to inform parents about abuse or neglect involving their children in state custody, and a (defeated) bill that would have prohibited the distribution of birth control to high school students.

Ted Klaudt- South Dakota State Representative was charged with eight counts of rape, two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, two counts of witness tampering, sexual contact with a person uner 16, and stalking.  There were five different victims, three were foster children who lived with Klaudt.

Klaudt was preaching the moral superiority of the far right while he was abusing and molesting children– his own foster daughters and 2 state legislative pages.  Klaudt fancied himself a radical right Republican (and an evangelical) and in 2005 was a leader against the formation of the South Dakota Mainstream Coalition, meant to turn Republicans back towards mainstream conservatism.

He was sentenced on January 17, 2008, to 44 years in prison: 11 years per count, to be served consecutively. I hope he meets “Bubba” on the inside!!  These poor little kids are victims of the worst form of betrayal and abuse at the hands of a “Family Values” puke!

While in office, he co-sponsored several bills that took aim at sex offenders, including “community safety zones”, prohibiting sex offenders from residing, working, or entering within 500 feet of schools, public parks and swimming pools.  He also co-sponsored the bill that required South Dakota to be included in the National Sex Offender Registry, a bill that requires the Department of Social Services to inform parents about abuse or neglect involving their children in state custody, and a (defeated) bill that would have prohibited the distribution of birth control to high school students.  What a guy!

Larry Corrigan- Republican prosecutor arrested and pleaded guilty for soliciting sex from a 13 yr old girls over the internet.

Tom DeLay- house majority leader was indicted for campaign finance fraud, criminal conspiracy, and two counts of money laundering.  He was arrested and booked at Harris County Jail on October 20, 2005.  Since then, he’s been out on bail pending trial.

Tony Alamo-  July 24, 2009- A federal jury has convicted evangelist Tony Alamo on charges he took underage girls across state lines for sex.  The jury issued its judgment Friday in federal court in Texarkana. The jury found the 74-year-old Alamo guilty of all counts he faced. …Alamo had denied the charges, claiming they came from a Vatican-led conspiracy against his ministry. His apocalyptic tracts outline his hatred of the Vatican and his feared “one-world government.” The Southern Poverty Law Center considers his ministry a “cult.”

Aaron Bruns- According to a Tweet by ABC News’ Jake Tapper, a former Fox News producer received a ten year prison sentence for child pornography charges.

Matthew Joseph Elliot- Former campaign staffer of Governor Mitt Romney and Republican candidate to the Iowa state

legislature, Republican Matthew Joseph Elliott was listed as a pedophile.  He is now charged with murder of an infant.  Police ruled the case a homicide on Jan. 24 after investigators received an autopsy report that showed his victim died of head injuries.

Derek Walker- Republican candidate for the 5th Congressional District in Pennsylvania, Derek Walker, has been arrested and charged with felony burglary, criminal trespass, misdemeanor disorderly conduct, stalking and four counts of invasion of privacy. Charges involved his relationship with his ex-girlfriend.

Mike Hintz- March 7, 2005- Republican pastor in Des Moines, Iowa pleaded guilty of three counts of sexual exploitation and sentenced to two years probation.  As part of his sentence,  Hintz, married with four children,  is forbidden to have contact with anyone under the age of 18.  Hintz was the man President Bush used to promote his tax plan in 2004.

Here are the latest names to add to the gallery of  Republican criminals that I began last month when I initially listed 123 of these stellar, upstanding “family values” ‘c’hristians who insist on dictating to all the rest of us how we are to live our lives, yet they are free to engage in any twisted, sick and dishonest behaviour they so choose.  Just like the “frat- boys” of C Street as told by Jeff Sharlet in his recent book “The Family”.

Jack Abramoff, lobbyist, Republican “Think-Tank” guy, pal of the Bush administration and close buds with Karl Rove – Currently incarcerated, Abramoff pled guilty to three criminal felony counts in a Washington, D.C., federal court related to the defrauding of American Indian tribes and corruption of public officials.  The following day he pled guilty to two criminal felony counts of in a separate court in Miami, Florida, related to his fraudulent dealings with SunCruz Casinos.

He is one of the patriots that worked on the 2001 Bush transition team.  Abramoff has indicated that he knew the U.S. would invade Iraq before the American public did,

and before 9/11.

Poor Jack was abandoned by his pals and pitched a fit in prison when his Bush buddies said…”Jack WHO???”…and proceeded to deny having anything to do with him.

If only Bush & Co. could share his cell block.  Now that would be justice!

Thomas Ravenel, former South Carolina State Treasurer, AND South Carolina State Chairman of Rudy “9/11″ Giuliani for President, was charged and convicted for cocaine possession and was sentenced to 10 months in jail.  A supporter of Political Dominionist Senator Jim DeMint, Governor Mark Sanford, and Senator Lindsey Graham…enough said about the type of people he admires…ICK!

Ted Klaudt- South Dakota State Representative was charged with eight counts of rape, two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, two counts of witness tampering, sexual contact with a person under 16, and stalking.  There were five different victims, three were foster children who lived with Klaudt.

Klaudt was preaching the moral superiority of the far right while he was abusing and molesting children– his own foster daughters and 2 state legislative pages.  Klaudt fancied himself a radical right Republican (and an evangelical) and in 2005 was a leader against the formation of the South Dakota Mainstream Coalition, meant to turn Republicans back towards mainstream conservatism.

He was sentenced on January 17, 2008, to 44 years in prison: 11 years per count, to be served consecutively.

I hope he meets “Bubba” on the inside!!  These poor little kids are victims of the worst form of betrayal and abuse at the hands of a “Family Values” puke!

While in office, he co-sponsored several bills that took aim at sex offenders, including “community safety zones”, prohibiting sex offenders from residing, working, or entering within 500 feet of schools, public parks and swimming pools.  He also co-sponsored the bill that required South Dakota to be included in the National Sex Offender Registry, a bill that requires the Department of Social Services to inform parents about abuse or neglect involving their children in state custody, and a (defeated) bill that would have prohibited the distribution of birth control to high school students.

What a guy!

Tom DeLay, former House Majority Leader was indicted for campaign finance fraud, criminal conspiracy, and two counts of money laundering.  He was arrested and booked at Harris County Jail on October 20, 2005.  Since then, he’s been out on bail pending trial.  Also known as “Hot Tub Tom” from his days in the Texas State Legislature, DeLay became a born-again Christian in 1985.  After his wife Christine DeLay began volunteering as a court-appointed special advocate for children in foster care, the DeLays also became foster parents. DeLay has declined to comment on reports in The New Yorker that he is estranged from much of his family, including his mother and one of his brothers.

DeLay was not personally friends with Armey or Gingrich; he considered them intellectual posers who were not committed to Christian values.

And since he has such upstanding morals…you can see his conflict (rolling of eyes)…

DeLay’s involvement with the lobbying industry also includes a pointed effort on the part of the Republican Party to parlay the Congressional majority into a dominance of K Street, the famed lobbying district of Washington, D.C. (known as the K Street Project) DeLay, Senator Rick Santorum, and conservative activist Grover Norquist launched a campaign in 1995 encouraging lobbying firms to retain Republican officials in top positions.

DeLay has received gifts from Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff, including paid golfing holidays to Scotland, concert tickets, and the use of Abramoff’s private skyboxes for fundraisers. Abramoff has since pleaded guilty to federal charges in an influence-peddling investigation.  The Associated Press reported on April 7, 2005.

Today Tom runs around from one Fox show to another giving his ‘professional’ take on the Obama Administration and actually has the gaul to infer that the “Right” is the answer to our problems in this country!  This is only 33 seconds long, but that is still more time than I can stand listening to this guy.

Tony Alamo, Preacher, July 24, 2009 a federal jury has convicted evangelist Tony Alamo on charges he took underage girls across state lines for sex.  The jury issued its judgment Friday in federal court in Texarkana. The jury found the 74-year-old Alamo guilty of all counts he faced.  Alamo had denied the charges, claiming they came from a Vatican-led conspiracy against his ministry.  His apocalyptic tracts outline his hatred of the Vatican and his feared “one-world government.”  The Southern Poverty Law Center considers his ministry a “cult.”

Aaron Bruns Washington, D.C. Bureau Chief Fox News, According to a Tweet by ABC News’ Jake Tapper, a former Fox News producer received a ten year prison sentence for child pornography charges.  Aaron Bruns is a producer for the Washington DC bureau of the Fox News Channel best known for following Hillary Rodham Clinton during the 2008 Democratic primary race. On February 10, 2009, Bruns was arrested and charged with one count of possession of child pornography.  An FBI search of Bruns’ Washington D.C. home turned up, among other evidence, photos and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children as young as five years old.

On February 13, 2009, it was reported that Fox News had fired Bruns in the wake of his arrest.

They clearly vet their employees with the same thoroughness as they do their support of Republican candidates for national office.

End Times/Armageddon zealots are on the constant look out for “SIGNS”.  In psychology this is known as ‘confirmation-bias’.  That means that a person will seek confirmation biased by their views, we all do it.  But the majority of us (thank God!) are not looking for confirmation of the End Times destruction of the earth and all its inhabitants.

But these aren’t MOST people.  And they are eerily energized by the news of disaster, personal, societal, national.  They are, unfortunately, a force to be reckoned with because though a minority, they are well-funded, highly positioned and have a following of millions that are profoundly brainwashed.

Look at this character, Thomas Manton IV of “Dominion International” (hmmm…that has a familiar ringdoesn’t it?) who dubbed himself, “God’s voice to the Nations” and is described on his website, “He travels the globe releasing God’s Prophetic Fire; and investing time developing leaders and saints into spiritual excellence through Dominion International”.

June 24 2009 at 12:26PM  African Press Release

Nairobi – Kenyan police has arrested an American preacher who faces charges of trafficking pornographic material, police said on Wednesday.

Thomas Manton IV, a self-styled prophet, was detained late on Tuesday following a complaint by a woman who said he posted pornographic pictures of her on a website.

“He will be charged for trafficking pornographic material and being in Kenya illegally,” a police officer said on condition of anonymity.

The country’s top police spokesperson, Eric Kiraithe, and the criminal investigation department chief, Festus Malinge, confirmed the preacher was in custody but refused to elaborate.

Thomas Manton IV used to hold weekly religious services in a central Nairobi hotel and describes himself on his website as “God’s voice to the nations”.

His biography boasts that he has healed the lame, the deaf and the dumb and that his countless prophecies included the September 11 terror attacks and “the Western Bank/Gaza conflicts (sic)”.

Among the best-selling DVDs listed on his online store are “Kill the Middleman”, “God’s Path to Promotion” and “How to Become Devil Proof”. – AFP

As these pious men tumble from “Mount-Holier-than-Thou”…there is going to become a point where the End TImes/Armageddon Sheeples are going to begin rejoicing this as yet another “sign”.

THE WORD OF THE LORD COMES UNTO ME SAYING UNTO THE WORLD  (for 2009 by Manton IV)

23.    2009 Will Be A Year To Gain A Dominion-Mentality.26.    2009 Will Be A Year Of ‘Dominion’ For Us; And We Will Possess Many Possessions.

29.    2009 Will Be A Year That We Will Win Souls As Jesus Christ Told Us To Do In His Great Commission.
30.    2009 Will Be A Year That We Will Understand And Take Severe Action In Our God-Given Right and Power To Transform Nations.

He sent me. He has anointed me. I am not going to apologize for it. We will just see what happens. – Thomas Manton IV

Pay particular attention to the dominionist “code phrases” used and harken back to where you have heard this same rhetoric spewed from.  That’s all I’m saying….

INTERNATIONAL COVENANT MINISTRY PARTNERSHIP

WITH THOMAS MANTON IV

& DOMINION INTERNATIONAL

What Is International Covenant Ministry Partnership With Thomas Manton IV & Dominion International?

By becoming a Covenant Partner with Thomas Manton IV and Dominion International, you are committing to help Thomas Manton IV take the Word of the Lord to the nations of the world. There are several projects the Lord has laid upon his heart to achieve; including supporting orphans and children in need.  The ministry has been involved helping needy children in Kenya behind the scenes. We are planning a very definite expansion of support to the very needy children in Kenya and in other nations!

Your financial support and prayer support will further enable Thomas Manton IV release the Word of the Lord and reach multitudes of lost souls in the nations of the world! Proverbs 11:29 tells us; He who wins souls is wise. This powerful verse of Scripture is talking about you! When you covenant with this Global Ministry with your Monthly Support, you are winning souls for the Master! We can only do all wemust do with precious partners like you!

Are you the One?

Financial Partnering with this ministry will enable you to experience mighty blessings from the Lord. Many people have been blessed around the world by being Covenant Partners with us. We have received great testimonies of supernatural financial increase from Gospel Ministers, Business People and many others from all walks of life. As you help us go the nations carrying the Word of the Lord and helping those in need, you will be a heavenly partaker of the same reward we receive for all of our hard labours for Christ. In essence, YOU are helping to make it all happen! Think about it!

As we are now venturing out into the global media, we MUST have the abundance of financial resources for all the necessary equipment and staff to produce quality programming.

Your personal life, your relationships, your finances, your health and your career will experience changes for the better as you get God more involved through Partnership with this fruitful, global ministry! If you want more blessings from the Lord, please accept our invitation to join us as a Covenant Ministry Partner Today!”

Can it get any more obvious and criminal than this?  Preying on those in despair…the poor, indigent, and minimally educated.

Give, give give so you can earn admittance to the glory of heaven…it is beyond comprehension that people see this crushed velvet suited clown, emerging from his limousine and continue to turn over their last dimes!  Now if that is NOT brainwashing you tell me what is!

I know I am going to get indignant remarks from those who read this…but I truly caution you to take a hard look at this.  If you are inclined to defend any of this as a knee-jerk reaction I fear that you are being lulled in as well.

In their world, if Palin is left standing, they will be even more convinced that she truly is the “Anointed one”. Her anointing in 2008 as Rebecca from the Old Testament was the first step for these Dominionist zealots.  Remember that much seen video?  It was Pastor Thomas Mutthee of Kenya.  Remember?  He was standing in her church, Wasilla Assembly of God, with her very own Pastor and his assistant, laying hands upon her casting out demons, rebuking Satan, and anointing her as a Prophetess Warrior fit to rule.

Well…let us read another quote from Pastor Mutthee…about Manton IV.

“It is such a privilege to know a man who fearlessly declares what he hears from the Lord! During the short time Prophet Thomas Manton IV was in Kenya, we witnessed God’s amazing and mysterious power working through him. All the words God spoke through him in 2002 were fully manifested during the December 2002 elections. President Mwai Kibaki won in an unusually transparent general election, and God has worked through him to bring order in Kenya.

As the prophet declared, corrupt leaders and citizens have been brought to justice. Evil lurking behind the scenes was exposed. President Mwai Kibaki ordered stern action against anyone giving or taking bribes. The media has helped expose several matters of corruption and immorality, such as government ministers involved with prostitutes.

According to Thomas Manton IV’s January 2004 prophecy, the Lord is turning our night into morning. Within days of the prophet prophesying a political leader would die, one suddenly died in a road accident. God has greatly used Prophet Thomas Manton IV in Kenya and many other nations. Things have actually happened as he declared they would! I believe this same prophetic anointing shall flow into you as you go through these prophetic revelations word-by-word! Apostle Pastor Mutthee – Kenya

What does this say about the endorsement and anointing of Palin?  Manton IV?  Thomas Mutthee?  And anyone out there who can swallow this stuff?

These people have the ability to convince not only themselves – but millions of others – of their “prophetic” revelations that seem to oft times put themselves in positions of excessive wealth and power.  So don’t be surprised if they start seeing all these “fallen apostles” and “god-fearing politicians” to be viewed by them as an even greater ’sign’ from the Lord that Palin is truly – their anointed one!

Yeah…frightening!

Alrighty-then! …we need perspective here.  I am against suppression of freedom of speech and the right to assemble anywhere. But, as frustrating as it is to watch and know about these atrocities unfolding in other countries, we are NOT the world’s police.  It is not our place to interject force or even suggest that we have the right in any way to impose our ideals into the debate occurring in another country.  I know that seems disconnected after living through Geo Ws personal Iraqi invasion, but we have to express our disapproval and stay out of it!

Besides…as often happens when self-righteous, heady, religious bigots get all riled up (Graham, McCain et al)…they forget to look in the mirror.

SATURDAY AUG. 30, 2008 12:44 EDT

Glenn Greenwald

Massive police raids on suspected protesters in Minneapolis

“In the house that had just been raided, those inside described how a team of roughly 25 officers had barged into their homes with masks and black swat gear, holding large semi-automatic rifles, and ordered them to lie on the floor, where they were handcuffed and ordered not to move.

The officers refused to state why they were there and, until the very end, refused to show whether they had a search warrant. They were forced to remain on the floor for 45 minutes while the officers took away the laptops, computers, individual journals, and political materials kept in the house.

Nestor, [the attorney who came forward to represent these kids] who has practiced law in Minnesota for many years, said that he had never before heard of that statute, ”conspiracy to commit riot”, being used for anything, and that its parameters are so self-evidently vague, designed to allow pre-emptive arrests of those who are peacefully protesting, that it is almost certainly unconstitutional, though because it had never been invoked (until now), its constitutionality had not been tested.”

And then, in an article about the protestor arrests, we learned that journalists were man-handled and arrested as well.   The treatment of all these arrest are covered in numerous articles and/or by video across the internet.  Here’s an excerpt:

New York, (AP) September 2, 2008—A camera crew, broadcast host, and photographer were arrested Monday while covering protests at the Republican National Convention in St Paul, Minn. Police in downtown St. Paul swept up the journalists while arresting more than 250 other people during an unruly end to an otherwise peaceful anti-war protest, according to news reports.”

And you know?  I have searched the internet, tirelessly, and I am certain this will come as a surprise to you all – I could not find a single utterance about the treatment of these protestors from anyone resembling a GOP member or Evangelical zealot (Lindsay Graham) or even one of the outraged battle thirsty GOP members (John McCain) who are speaking out today criticizing Obama about not being more forceful and suficiently indignant about the treatment of these protestors.

After all, it is clear that we never act like that and all uprisings in our country are handled with clear and level heads.  And if ever have to use force it is only against those who are thoroughly investigated as a danger to our order and/or revealed as the true terroists that they are. We never take forceful action against anyone unless they pose a physical threat to us, and are able to overpower the officers on the frontl lines by their shear strength….

…uh-huh, right!  All we need now is to hear the pearls of wisdom from the mind(s) of Palin!