While my blog work is in this transition this week, I am frustrated by some of the antics my computer is playing with me, so bare with any hiccups along the way.  But I had the privilege of meeting the only other person brave enough to come forward last April and speak out against Sarah Palin’s choice for the new Attorney General, Wayne Anthony Ross (aka WAR), with regard to his misogynist behaviour.

I will use only the initials PH here out of respect for her ongoing concerns of backlash because she still resides in Anchorage, Alaska where she was born and raised, and where her ex who abused her for many years, still resides.  This woman bravely agreed to come forward with testimony against this overwhelmingly poor choice, bolstering my own testimony.  My heart went out to her as I pleaded with her to have to repeat her testimony one more time during the process.  In tears she agreed.  And we won a history making decision against this monster – and Wayne Anthony Ross!

There is a lot of discussion about the behaviour of the ‘teabagging’ town hall bullies and how we need to face them head on and put a stop to this intimidation.  This is easier said than done.  I agree that we have to stand up to them, but no one relishes having to confront and stand up to an aggressor.

PH spent the night here giving us time to cover a lot of conversational ground.  Speaking out and standing together for what is right is always easier to talk about than actually do.  I had a sense of the trauma that this caused her, but now know the extent of her past and the domestic violence abuse.  I am even more appreciative today than I was in April for her remarkable bravery in speaking out against a such a despicable bully, even at the risk of bringing retribution into her personal life as a result.  I applaud you PH!

We must all dig deep and find that sense of duty to go out and speak up.  It doesn’t have to be a huge time investment, or require deviating into total activism.  I was sent a great article that I will post here outlining 7 ways to fight fascism...think of ways that you can pick a slice of these ideas and put them into action.

We really can make a difference through our individual actions…

Yet ANOTHER Press Secretary for Palin!  She never tires of being the first governor in Alaska to set records.  Let me introduce you to her FOURTH Press Secretary!  David Murrow…another ‘c’hristian zealot joins her staff.

And another “Promise Keeper” to boot!  (Like the morally superior Senator John Ensign)

Gov. Palin selects new spokesman

Bill McAllister forced out after less than one year

By Pat Forgey | JUNEAU EMPIRE  June 28, 2009

The turnover continues in Gov. Sarah Palin’s public relations staff, with her top spokesman, Bill McAllister, forced out after less than a year in the position.

Murrow said he was too busy to talk to the Empire on Friday, but earlier told the Alaska Budget Report Newsletter he began the job June 10 and is paid $103,716 annually.

Replacing McAllister is David Murrow, an author of Christian books who lives in Chugiak.Murrow is Palin’s fourth communications director, following McAllister, Rosanne Hughes and Meg Stapleton. Hughes remains in Palin’s communications office as director of external communications, while Stapleton is now working for Palin’s political action committee.

Deputy Press Secretary Sharon Leighow remains in the office, while two other deputy press secretaries have departed; Beth Leschper is now handling communications duties for the Department of Labor, and Charles Fedullo has returned to the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Murrow told the Budget Report that he owned a media production company that once did work for a Palin campaign, and is also author of two books on Christian men and church.

According to the American Library Association’s Booklist, “Murrow advocates injecting a strong shot of testosterone into the proceedings to restore the masculine spirit to the church,” in his first book, “Why Men Hate Church,” published in 2004.

In 2008 he published “How Women Help Men Find God.”

WAIT! But what about this?  ”Women are not permitted to teach men (1 Timothy 2:12)”

Interesting isn’t it that the “Church” he refers to – the evangelical, dominionist, New Apostolic Reformation, Patriarchal, Born-Again-Jesus-Is-Coming! -Church…who preaches that women are to be as submissive to their “men” as the men are to God, is asking for women to drag their poor unwilling male partners to church services?  How does this fit?

“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything” (Ephesians 5:22-24).

“Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church” (1 Corinthians 14:34,35).

I find that fascinating and perplexing.  If women who are to follow and the men are always to lead in church how are they doing that if the guys aren’t showing up?

“The more traditionally masculine side of Christianity enjoys crossing swords with hostile secular worldviews. So, as long as Christianity appeals to the emotional, therapeutic, interpersonal, relational areas, it’s not going to appeal to men as much as to women,” a Murrow colleague, Pearcey stated.

‘Many churches emphasize Jesus’ softer teachings, like his love and his desire to save, and they ignore the doctrines of sin and hell, but men dislike liberal Christianity — “a mild religion of progress and enlightenment” as opposed to a battle between good and evil”.

So if you want a guy to show up for Sunday go-to-meetin’ then you better have some war games, gun talk, hellfire and brimstone.  Throw in a little “we don’t tolerate “homos”, save the unborn – blow up the clinics, and a rally cry to raise up arms in the name of God!  And by God these boys will come a runnin’!

“Men want to expend their lives for a great cause, even if it involves risk, according to Murrow. He said that’s why the U.S. military’s “Army of One” campaign was effective. But American churches rarely teach about Christian suffering and martyrdom, Murrow said.  ”Instead, today’s Christianity is presented as an antidote to these things”, he said.

To reach men, churches should stress the cost and dangers of following Christ — including Christians’ conflict with the world, the flesh and the devil”

And we sure don’t want all that touchy-feely love and peace stuff!  Reverend “Guns and God” Pagano from Kentucky could join forces with Palin’s new-hire and franchise his Church Gun Raffle services in his Church for Men and engage those poor lost male souls that Murrow seems to identify with at such length.

Murrow goes on to say, “Touchy-feely sermons come from touchy-feely pastors. A feminized church tends to attract more “gentle, sensitive, nurturing” leadership”.

Why do you suppose they think this is contrary to the teachings of Christ?  It is frightening to have such blatant repudiations of Christ as a kind and gentle teacher and caregiver of the poor and downtrodden – to instead place emphasis on “masculine” violence, punishment, and a retributive nature of an angry and warlike God.

“Texas for Sarah Palin.com” responded to this appointment thusly, “David Murrow is obviously a trusted friend, one who knows and understands Sarah Palin. They share an abiding faith in the Lord”.  That is their litmus test isn’t it?  More Murrow…

Murrow suggests that we, “Consider Islam. It just feels more masculine. Men who practice Islam actually enhance their manhood in the eyes of their peers. There are still strong gender roles. Islam has stringent requirements, including an epic journey (haj). Concepts such as heroic sacrifice and holy war live in Islam. The genders worship separately. And compare our visions of heaven: Christians offer eternal singing, Muslims offer eternal sex!”

And I suppose in Murrow’s heaven Viagra is handed out each day with your daily bread and a nice harem. Somehow I think they are missing the point – but with that attitude he will make a real gem of an addition to the GOP gallery I discussed in an earlier post, 123 GOP! Or I am and what he is REALLY saying is that he wants the women and all their girly frills gone altogether and prefers a Manly-Man’s Church altogether….whatever!

Well there we have it!  Another wise and thoughtful choice by Sarah Palin.  Let’s see what kind of “spinning” will come out of the Guv’s office now.

The Palin adminstration opened a door and I went through it when Governor Sarah Palin announced Wayne Anthony Ross as Alaska’s next Attorney General.  It was a difficult calling, but the reward of NOT having WAR confirmed was abslolutely worth the static.  

Alaska history was set with the 35-23 vote in the Alaska Legislature denying his confirmation.  This is the first time ever that a high level cabinet appointment put forward for confirmation by any governor in Alaska has ever been denied.  This was a tremendous win for the people of Alaska!

I am grateful that my God is a kind and loving God, and one that rewards truth and does not reward bullies. Even though WAR expressed that he was keeping both my father and I in his prayers, I too was praying…and I will let you draw your own conclusions how that turned out…but I am genuinely thankful that prayers really do get answered!