Rick Warren defends invite to inauguration
22 December 2008 by Stardust
As Rob Boston from Americans United says, “Rick Warren poses as a moderate, but he’s just another Falwell wannabee.” And vjack from Atheist Revolution reports that Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass) explains:
Mr. Warren compared same-sex couples to incest. I found that deeply offensive and unfair.
If he was inviting the Rev. Warren to participate in a forum and to make a speech, that would be a good thing. But being singled out to give the prayer at the inauguration is a high honor. It has traditionally given as a mark of great respect. And, yes, I think it was wrong to single him out for this mark of respect.
And Boston points out that it isn’t just this issue in California that is cause for concern about giving Warren too much respect and recognition:
More recently, Warren has taken to interjecting himself into other political issues, spouting off reckless and ill-informed opinions. Former Americans United employee Steve Benen, who now blogs for Washington Monthly, noted that on Dec. 3, Warren appeared on the Fox News Channel with right-wing loose cannon Sean Hannity, where he invoked the Bible to endorse Hannity’s call for the U.S. government to “take out” Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
“Well, actually, the Bible says that evil cannot be negotiated with,” Warren told Hannity. “It has to just be stopped…. In fact, that is the legitimate role of government. The Bible says that God puts government on earth to punish evildoers. Not good-doers. Evildoers.”
Warren’s office later cited Romans 13 as his justification for this statement. There are no fans of Ahmadinejad here, but having the U.S. government assassinate him and then cite Christian scriptures as the justification might inflame things just a little bit in the Middle East, don’t you think?
Warren poses as a moderate, but he’s just another Falwell wannabee. It’s a shame he is appearing at this important event.
Warren defends the invitation for him to participate:
“I have many gay friends. I’ve eaten dinner in gay homes. No church has probably done more for people with AIDS than Saddleback Church,” he said in a recent interview with BeliefNet. But later in the interview, he compared the “redefinition of marriage” to include gay marriage to legitimizing incest, child abuse, and polygamy.
Obama defended his choosing bigot Rick Warren by saying:
“During the course of the entire inaugural festivities, there are going to be a wide range of viewpoints that are presented. And that’s how it should be, because that’s what America’s about. That’s part of the magic of this country … we are diverse and noisy and opinionated,” Obama said.
But it’s more than opinion. The “opinions” of Warren and those who believe as he does has trampled on the rights of other citizens.
Of all the high-profile religious leaders, why did Obama have to choose Warren? He justifies it with that he balanced it out by choosing Joseph Lowery, a Methodist minister and civil rights leader who supports same-sex marriage and gay rights, to deliver the benediction. Does this justify having such a divisive personality participate in such a historic and important event? And another question, does it really matter?
22 December 2008, on 2:12 pm
If that bloated macy’s balloon is equating same sex couples to incest then is it ok for me to stop playing ‘nicey nice’ and tell religious idiots they should require IQ tests to breed and raise children? I mean really, how incredibly head-up-your-ass stupid do you have to be to believe a magic invisible sky fairy is watching your every move ?
It’s time people stop indulging these fools and their delusions.
It’s a mental illness, not a virtue.
22 December 2008, on 2:29 pm
I can’t figure out why Obama continues to pander to the evangelicals even now that he is elected, and while supporting gay rights at the same time. Well, when you look back, Obama did say that his own personal views were that marriage was meant to be between one man and one woman, according to his Biblical beliefs. No matter how much they try, some politicians cannot keep their personal beliefs aside and remain neutral. I understood that Obama was evangelical bent from when he first became known as a young politician in Illinois. And he admits he prays every day, and says his god talks to him, and Lawd I hope he doesn’t hear his sky daddy tell him to kill a leader because it’s the “right thing to do” or invade yet another country because his Godfather in the sky orders him to.
22 December 2008, on 2:36 pm
I hold little hope that we’ll have a completely rational government any time soon. Some have suggested that Warren’s inclusion is a symbolic gesture to the fundies in order to avoid giving them any substance. Time will tell, I guess. In the meanwhile, we keep applying pressure to make our voices heard.
22 December 2008, on 2:43 pm
Some have suggested that Warren’s inclusion is a symbolic gesture to the fundies in order to avoid giving them any substance.
That would have been better done with Billy Graham’s son. Evangelicals love the Grahams. I don’t understand choosing someone who is like Falwell and who is so openly bigoted and is obviously working hard to mix religion and politics. I do not trust Warren, I am not fooled by him. He’s “evil” and a huge bullshitter like most evangelical leaders of megachurches.
22 December 2008, on 2:45 pm
What a complete fucktard is Warren! And to think of the money and fame he’s been afforded because of all the totally stupefyingly ignorant religious morons.
To me, the whole ridiculous issue is a reminder of just how stupid it was for the powers that be to have ever instituted the inclusion of an “Invocation” and “Benediction” in the first place. It’s an obvious and blatant affront to the principle of Separation of Church and State. Of course, that delusional practice happens every day in all the courts and governmental functions across the nation. Like the notions, “In Gob We Trust”, and “Under Gob”, it was not so sneakily railroaded in by various religious fuckhead factions; with hardly a notice by the huge number of brainwashed sheeple!
So much for ANY real sense of Logic and general Rationality in this country!
In my opinion…and I voted for him…Obama just made his first, preliminary, BIG mistake in his advent into the Presidency. It certainly diminishes my respect for his overall rational thinking ability. He’s obviously somewhat of a religious kiss-ass. I’m hoping he at least, to SOME degree, remembers the agnostic/atheist part of his upbringing, via both his parents, if I’m not mistaken! That, of course…as I understand it…was before he succumbed to his so-called “Xtian conversion”.
22 December 2008, on 3:21 pm
To me, the whole ridiculous issue is a reminder of just how stupid it was for the powers that be to have ever instituted the inclusion of an “Invocation” and “Benediction” in the first place. It’s an obvious and blatant affront to the principle of Separation of Church and State.
It is ridiculous, and I don’t remember a time when so much emphasis and attention was given to the evangelical fucktards. Kennedy got elected though he was a Cat-o-lick, he didn’t need to pander to the fundies and kiss their fucking asses.
If Obama wants to promote the difference in our nation and coming together despite these differences, what a great thing it would have been to just do away with the religious “invocation” and have a uniting speech, a statement of hopes and plans for the coming year and a request of all people to join together. After all, nothing happens unless humans make it happen. No gods come.
22 December 2008, on 3:26 pm
Romans 13:
Yes. Let’s have more of this type of thought influencing our leadership. Please, I always wanted to live in a draconian dark age of oppressive theocratic dominion.
22 December 2008, on 3:40 pm
^^ Geoff, you have provided a bit of evidence of how religion is all about control of the masses. The sheeple are blind.
22 December 2008, on 7:13 pm
Blind is a good word, but I truly believe what plagues these fucktards the most are two very important issues:
1. Intellectual dishonesty. There are some people so dog-shit stupid that they really do think miracles take place, that Jeebus hears and answers prayers, that speaking in tongues is real, etc. But most know deep down that if they expect anything to happen, they need to do it themselves…even Gawd’s own voice can’t be heard unless someone speaks for him.
2. Emotional immaturity. People who cling to their relgious beliefs despite all the evidence to the contrary about it’s legitamacy or relavence show this most clearly. They openly admit it much of the time. They NEED to know there is a an invisible sky daddy who deliberately plans every single facet of our lives (despite the free will bullshit…?). They need the comfort of an afterlife, and in most cases, they also need some kind of cosmic justice for those who deserve punishment, but won’t get it in the here and now.
What’s disturbing about this to me is that these people often times aren’t necessarily *unintelligent*. They aren’t stupid in the sense that they would fail a typical high school exam, and they usually contain enough brain power to hold down a decent job, raise a family, manage a household, etc. All their religious psycho-babble and nutjobbery is based in LYING to themselves (and ultimately, others) and being no more grown up that a child afraid of the boogie man. Ignorance can be eradicated through education. This shit sticks through even the harshest storm of information, debate, reason, logic, common sense, etc. It is FAR worse than simply being stupid. Calling these people dumb is being nice. They should be reffered to as maniacal drains on society with the maturity level of a pre-adolescent and a penchant for self-destructive behavior that endagers everyone around them.
22 December 2008, on 7:29 pm
Even Gawd’s own voice can’t be heard unless someone speaks for him.
I have brought up this point to the fundies in my family and when they have no argument they start asking why I am bashing them, and all the other persecution crap is brought up to detract from the point I was making because I struck a nerve and said something that they probably often think about themselves.
What’s disturbing about this to me is that these people often times aren’t necessarily *unintelligent*.
The intelligent ones and religion are more dangerous than those who are stupid and god botherers because the intelligent use this god belief as a too. If they tell the sheeple that god tells them to do awful things, the sheeple will believe that whatever the intelligent ones say is the right thing to do. Because god is on their side. Politicians can get support from the ignorant masses to do evil things and make them believe that it is good.
A bit off-topic. Just saw a clip of Cheney and a reporter asked him what was the highest point of his and Bush’s 8 years in office and he said 911. “That was the highest point of the past 8 years?” the reporter asked. And yes…it was for Cheney and Bush because it was just the beginning of their big plans to invade Iraq.
22 December 2008, on 7:37 pm
HAHAHA … once again, the classic “I’m not a bigot, really,” excuse…
Rev. Warren: “But I haz gay friendz…”
Later… “who are all going to burn in hell!”
22 December 2008, on 7:43 pm
Relax progressives. Everyone knows that liberal activist judges make the laws of this Republic, not the people via their representatives.
Even the Messiah knows that.
22 December 2008, on 8:05 pm
^^Then Obama has no reason to kiss Warren’s ass. So, why is he?
22 December 2008, on 8:09 pm
The question is, would you buy a used car from him?
22 December 2008, on 10:39 pm
Bloody hell, what the? he looks like something the cat dragged in and NO I wouldn’t buy a car from that cretin, here in australia we have our fair share of F#*kwits but I have to say this clown must be their mentor, why is it that religion freaks always seem to want to kill something,as I’ve said before Stupid one day out killing something the next, dinnerjacket is indeed a dangerous muslim fruit cake but if this clown wants to take anyone out perhaps he could begin in his own backyard theres plenty of evil freaks that could be his victims, the list is huge, when it comes to evil the religious right are the epitomy of evil, in fact come to think of it their all frickin evil, religion is the embodiment of all that is sick and demented, if these are the omni fairies emmisaries then what hope has humanity got, hopefully this weirdo from satans lair will get taken out, hang on maybe he is satan, no if there was a satan I’m sure he wouldn’t want that douche bag as part of his team he’s to stupid and I have to say it again Frickin hell that guy looks like shit………………..
22 December 2008, on 10:50 pm
This issue really angers me and supports my tenacious suspicions of Obama. I never felt comfortable with his relationshiop with Jeremiah Wright, and his buddying with other extremist religious figures is not a quality I would prefer in a president. McCain seemed more sane when it came to religion (more insane in other areas). This invitation gives support to the Right Wing’s believe that it’s okay to discriminate against gays because their status as a protected class hasn’t been established yet, and it adds a bit of ambiguity to Obama’s tolerance of bigotry toward gays. Change? Yes we can? On the topic of gay rights: No we haven’t.
23 December 2008, on 12:38 am
I’ve argued before on this blog, especially right after he came out in favor of faith-based initiatives, that Obama could not be trusted and would continue to embrace, or at least placate, the religious right. Well, he’s doing it, and he’s going to continue to do it. So fasten your seat belts if you don’t like it, because this is what you’re going to get from him for the next four years.
23 December 2008, on 2:55 am
And don’t even get me started on his book “The Purpose Driven Life”. One of my wife’s religious co-workers gave her this book as a “gift” last year. On a lark, I opened it up and gave it a shot and I could not make it through the first chapter, it was just that bad. How this guy can be so well known for writing such an unreadable book is beyond me. I guess when you are gullible enough to believe anything his crap writing holds some sort of appeal I just can’t fathom.
23 December 2008, on 3:59 am
All that hype by obama ruined by giving a fucktard like Warren a look in, we here are waiting for the inevitable, the assasination by right wing filth, it may sound pretty negative but as we watched TV here in OZ we saw a level of hatred that made our skin crawl, it was almost a sure thing that Obama would end up murdered, perhaps his placating these arse wipes is a way of keeping the dogs at bay, a bit of arse licking may help him stay alive, the bigotry and racist crap we saw was horrorfying and made us wonder just where the US was going, Obama talked about change, change to what? Australia is still a far more irreligious country but we are now seeing the rise of these facist far right scum here with their mass hysteria and preaching that borders on Nazism but in comparison to the US it’s a picnic here, I just hope that Obama can prove that he is immune to the need to pander to these psycho freaks, good luck my friends……………
23 December 2008, on 4:18 am
Hey I just noticed that some of the Duggar freaks kids look a bit like Warren……………..mmmmmm
23 December 2008, on 6:29 am
Benjamin and StarDust points excellently taken. What you said should be our mantra. Forgive me if I re-post (from another blog) something along those lines. Again it is very important we explore the hypothesis (I think it bears out – but we should test for holes) that you and I seem to agree on. Here’s my take regarding challenging believers (I’ll not edit – it had a context but that is not important to understanding my point) – see what you think:
He’s another ConcernedJoe postulation: most – over 90% – of sane, intelligent, educated people under the covers are as atheist as I am (and I am ATHEIST). Suspect Sullivan and a host of others of his ilk fit my mental model of a typical fake “faithist.”
Think I’m crazy? Well listen to my logic before you throw me into the loony bin:
* I recognize “valid” surveys say differently but they ask the wrong questions; they do not test the answers to valid them – they accept the answers as given. Not very scientific really. No measurement criteria, no falsification tests.
* I recognize most people love the idea that faith allows (i.e., a personal protector all-powerful, etc.), and also most people are acutely aware subconsciously of the social stigma associated with professing non-belief. People want to believe and have good reasons to trick themselves into thinking they are believers, just like they want to believe they are “a good person.”
* Now lets marry those two thoughts: would we accept that 90% of people are “good people” because they say they are? Would we not apply criteria to judge “goodness” as opposed to accept their self-perceptions? Given the nature of declaring non-faith (like declaring non-goodness) and all that goes into recognizing and admitting to yourself and others where you stand why should we assume the declarations of a professed believer to be true?
* Here’s the clincher: in what real practical and substantial ways do these professed “in God we Trust”‘ers act substantially different than I would or any sane secular person would when the rubber meets the road. None!
I say we all act like atheists when the chips are down. People may pray but still seek the best modern secular scientific care for their sick child – NO different than I would; soldiers in foxholes may pray but shoot their way out – NO different than I would.
Hope my point is obvious – actions speak louder – I mean way louder — than words. I challenge those who say they have faith in the almighty to give me one substantial thing they leave truly to their faith object. Non-testable and non-here-and-now things do not count. So saying things like “it is in god’s hands” when someone is obviously in the last hours of life does not test anything, nor does “he’s in a better place.” Flying jets into buildings for eternal fun with virgins – now that does!!
The problem with the intellectual dishonesty of most people in regard to faith is that it gives license to people who really do have faith to use it in truly malignant delusional ways. Allowing delusion and fantasy at any level to be revered and supported within the structure of governance or operational society is giving delusion and fantasy a path to foster some pretty scary things. I think that is Harris’s problem with so-called moderate faith and I know that is mine.
23 December 2008, on 12:54 pm
the bigotry and racist crap we saw was horrorfying and made us wonder just where the US was going
Hoffy, I am wondering what news sources were reporting what you have been seeing as I myself have not seen anything like it (though I am sure that some of our citizens hold this sort of evil sentiment towards Obama.) But from what I have seen it is merely the usual clash between conservatives and liberals…and many liberals I know are dissatisfied with Obama’s evangelical bent rather than anything to do with race. Though there are still a ways to go in some areas concerning bigotry and hatred, we have not seen the news reports you are seeing there in Oz.
And again, as for Obama’s god beliefs, I think from knowing about him longer since I am from his state of Illinois, are genuine god beliefs. He really talks to his sky daddy, he still hears his sky daddy talk to him. And he and Rick Warren appear to be buddies. Like I said above, there were dozens of evangelical leaders he could have chosen. If he is concerned about uniting, he might have chosen someone like Rev Robert Schuller or his son, etc.
23 December 2008, on 12:56 pm
I say we all act like atheists when the chips are down. People may pray but still seek the best modern secular scientific care for their sick child – NO different than I would; soldiers in foxholes may pray but shoot their way out – NO different than I would.
Hope my point is obvious – actions speak louder – I mean way louder — than words
Concerned Joe…excellently said.
23 December 2008, on 1:24 pm
You would think that Warren would be more pro-gay, given that the name of his church is “Saddleback”!
As for Obama hoping he will get some love from evangelicals for giving Rick Warren a speaking slot in the inauguration, I am reminded of the character of Sgt. Waters from the movie ‘A Soldier’s Story’. In the film, he is portrayed in flashbacks as shitting on his fellow blacks who don’t act “white” enough, blaming his own kind for racism. But in the end, after being beat up by a racist white officer, Waters tells the two black soldiers who find him on the side of the road that no matter how much you aspire to be like them, “they still hate you!”
23 December 2008, on 1:34 pm
no matter how much you aspire to be like them, “they still hate you!”
That is an excellent quote, Tommy. No matter how much Obama butters up to the fundies, they will still consider him to be an evil liberal baby killing supporter. Most of the people in Warren’s mega sheeple center probably voted for McCain. Would love to see the stats to back that up.
23 December 2008, on 2:22 pm
BTW, ‘A Soldier’s Story’ is probably one of my favorite movies of all time. I can watch it over and over again. Great performance by Adolf Caesar as Sgt. Waters, and the actor who portrayed C.J., the object of Waters hatred in the film. I can’t recall that actor’s name, but I read, sadly, that he died from AIDS a few years after the movie came out in 1984. Also a great early performance from Denzel Washington, which foreshadows in a way his later role as Malcolm X.
23 December 2008, on 9:27 pm
Hi stardust, the main program was actually a very well known commentator from JJJ a radio station { not mainstream } who was commisioned to do a series of interviews with Americans, he spent 6 weeks making the program and it was aired on SBS our public broadcaster, again not mainstream, it basically showed an America riddled with religious crazies who even thought Obama was a Muslim plant for fucks sake, there was the occasional sane person but as he pointed out they were rare and at times he felt threatened for even daring to ask any questions, I know you would wish to defend your country but in all honesty America from this end of the world looks like a country of nutters and we are worried that your values are perverting our country to our great detriment, religion here in Australia is really only practised by a tiny minority and its only been in the last 10 years we even heard about evangelical fucktards, their now showing up here and hi jacked our independent broadcaster channel 31, we were inundated with their filth as they used their money to buy up all the air time , 31 is now off the air and thankfully they no longer have a medium to spread their lies, according to figures we saw on the Jim Leurer news hour show Obama has the rec ord for the most amount of death threats EVER recorded and is the most guarded individual in US history, that says something about whats happening, I’m sorry if I offend you but america is viewed here with some disdain and other than the bikie scum and the ultra right who worship anything American the great majority think the US is a land of fruit cakes, the new posting today about the Seinfeld thing is a classic example of a country on the ropes, every man and his dog seems to want their 15 minutes of fame it’s perverse to say the least, that Obama worships a sky daddy is another disturbing peice of info, I was under the impression he was sane but hey my info was wrong, as I’ve said before good luck my sane friends.
23 December 2008, on 9:49 pm
^^ Oh yes, Hoffy. There were a bunch of fundies saying that Obama was a muslim before the election and who still believe that. And I am sure that we don’t get the full news here…they always keep things from us. And Faux news (Fox News) sure isn’t going to do any reporting like that about their viewers being racist, murderous liars.
23 December 2008, on 10:33 pm
What would Obama have to do to convince these people, drop a nuke on the Kaaba?
24 December 2008, on 1:07 am
^ Hoffy: “I’m sorry if I offend you but america is viewed here with some disdain and other than the bikie scum and the ultra right who worship anything American the great majority think the US is a land of fruit cakes…a country on the ropes, every man and his dog seems to want their 15 minutes of fame it’s perverse to say the least, that Obama worships a sky daddy is another disturbing peice of info…”
“JEEZ!”…Hoffy…and Stardust…
I guess I wasn’t TOO far off from a certain reality in my little tangential “Fruitcake Mythology” fantasy in the other recent Post.
[I love the imagery of "every man and his dog"...what!...
wielding a 'pooper scooper' in one hand; and a Buybull in the other? (whilst the dog, 'grinning', and totally unnoticed, pees on his/her master's shoe?)]
As to Obama, one might hold out a desperate (and ultimately futile) HOPE that he’s really been faking the kiss-ass god belief stuff; but if that were the case, we’ve got yet another First Class liar as our “Commander in Chief (Theft).
Then again…aren’t ALL politicians on the Planet…First Class, genetically born liars?
Shades of George Carlin’s old comedy routine insight…something like:
“You think you have Freedom?…You don’t!…They OWN you!”
To reminisce on that note:
“George Carlin – Big Money Owns Politics and You” [Length 4:40]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tU3LkM1onFg
Hmmmm…
I’m beginning more and more to think…
maybe those “Zeitgeist” conspiracy style ‘Fruitcakes’ AREN’T so ‘nutty’!
What!…MOI?…Cynical?
24 December 2008, on 11:15 pm
ChuckA, good on you. As I like to say, it’s just as nutty to insist there are NO conspiracies as to think EVERYTHING is.
re: Obama, pah, he’s just tossing a bone to the Religious Right, it means nothing. I also couldn’t get past hardly the first page of A PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE, it was just too stupid.
I would’ve loved to have seen the Right wing shit a brick if Obama reconciled with Rv. Jeremiah Wright and invited HIM to do the inauguration instead. Alas, it was not to be. I happen to agree with most of Wright’s points, and he reminds me a little of the later MLK, the MLK that turned against the war in Vietnam, etc.
To postulate that John F. Kenndy was shot from the front and probably not shot by Oswald from the 6th floor of the TSBD isn’t “fruitcake”, it’s what the best evidence leads one to conclude. Sirhan Sirhan was in front of RFK, yet the fatal wounds he received were from behind RFK, close enough to leave powder burns on RFK’s body. Not theory, fact.
Some Skeptics stop at organized religion but never question more pervasive mythologies like American patriotism and the American Dream. Marx said criticism of religion was the beginning of critical thought, not its endpoint.
“They call it the American Dream because you have to be asleep to believe it!” — George Carlin.
25 December 2008, on 3:44 am
Yeah, JJR…
I can’t help but notice how EXTREMELY angry and vicious people in general get over those who even SUGGEST the possibility of a conspiracy regarding any number of favorite, almost sacredly held subjects. The old “Blasphemy” charge comes up WAY faster than…
boiled Asparagus?
It’s very much the way atheists…like Hitchens fr’nstance…are immediately jumped on when raising any doubts or questions RE religious dogmas on a typical venue such as CNN.
(Here I go again…and perhaps for the last time…at least THIS year?)
Personally, as I’ve said more than once here on GifS; I consider myself a very skeptical agnostic-style atheist. The agnostic part, in my case, covers a fairly wide range of subjects about which not enough solid, evidential data is really known to completely rule out any doubt either way; at least at this point in time.
Absolute knowledge, after all, on ANY subject…is most probably not really ever possible for us…erm…’mortals?
Case in point, for me, would be the existence of Extraterrestrial Aliens; with all the usual accompanying questions.
[Of course...religious Alien shtick like Scientology's bonkerdom tale, is "Roit Out"!]
And, as an atheist…similar to Richard Dawkins, who’s something like 96% sure (I’m more 99.999% sure?)…I don’t believe in the existence of ANY “gods”…and most certainly not anything resembling the rather ludicrous and vicious gods of man’s rather stupid, mythologically-based made-up religions. Actually to worship that, or ANY kind of notion, seems utterly nonsensical.
And as for Deism…What!…Worship the friggin’ Universe? Yikes!…Yada, yada.
In other words: “I’m not THAT impressed!”
I guess the main ‘point’ (as in dunce cap?), for me, is to maintain a rationally-based skepticism, whilst “keeping an open mind” (cue whistling wind sound FX?), and of course…with what remains of my aging brain tissue…preferably still adhering to the INSIDE of my skull!
“YEEH!”
Happy Winter Solstice, GifSters!
25 December 2008, on 2:23 pm
This Obama feller is slicker’n chicken shit and methodical beyond belief. He does not do anything on a whim or without a purpose. Often the purpose does not become clear until later. As several upstream have pointed out, there is no upside to choosing Warren to participate in the inauguration. And so, why was he chosen? Sherlock said, “When all else has been eliminated, whatever remains, no matter how unlikely, must be true.” Following my hero as best I can with my meager talents, I propose the following:
Warren was selected to draw additional attention to the gay rights issue, to make certain the issue did not fade away or get lost in the flurry of inaugural activity or the never ending news of our financial collapse. Warren’s presents at this level also broadens the audience who will be exposed to the issue. Ok, this is one reason.
The other reason is to expose Warren, his methods and his beliefs, to scrutiny and criticism that he would not otherwise receive, and by extension others of the same ilk.
I’m just saying is all. I am not as smart as Obama and certainly cannot think ahead like he does. But if I were Obama, I would want gay people and their supporters to stay pissed off, you know, really pissed off. I would also want to slash the influence of religious assholes on the political and governing process. But, how to do this without engaging in a counter productive political shitstorm?
If I were as smart as Obama, I would pick Rick to say a few words at the inauguration and then fly off to Hawaii on vacation, leaving nature to its own course and Rick Warren, naked and exposed, dodging hand grenades.
You know, if I were as smart as Obama I would do that, but damn, I am just not that smart. Not even close.
25 December 2008, on 3:20 pm
Hmmm…gruntled atheist?
Veeeeery interesting…AND…
nice gruntling?
If what you suggest is true…a shade ‘conspiratorial’ of Obama, I’d say.
By the way…just how slick IS chicken shit, anyway? Being an old city ’slicker’; that’s something I have no direct experience with.
I do, I might say, have a rather long lifetime of rather ’slick’ experience with bullshit, however!
Come to think of it…considering the economy right now…market investor types (I’ve never been one of those) are, undoubtedly, getting a whole lot of rather unexpectedly slicker experience with…
bear shit?
On that note (pedal B flat?)…
Happy Winter Solstice…and…
Happy Depression and…Sub prime Mortgage?
25 December 2008, on 5:44 pm
Chuck
Thanks for the Carlin.
Gruntled.
Hmm I hope you’re correct. Maybe this is Obama’s way of putting Warren under scrutiny. Apparently he has removed anti-gay assaults from his website. There’s nothing like exposing Warren to public exposure to reveal his true nature. Obama debated on Warren’s turf. Now Warren must prove himself on Obama’s or rather OUR turf. Maybe this is Obam’s intent, to shine the light on warren and reveal a bigot along with his church.
I’d love to see Obama create a debate with Warren and Obam’s newly appointed science staff. Now that could get interesting,
Really though this picture of Warren says to me:
And here we have a lovely 2002 Chevy Caprice with low miles. bidding starts at $1200, 1200, we have 12 do I hear 13? 13? 13? we have 13 do I hear…..
25 December 2008, on 10:37 pm
ChuckA,
Chicken shit is the slickest material on the planet. If I could figure out how to get it to fly out of a spray can when you push the button, WD40 would be out of business. I’m working on it, along with some other crap.
26 December 2008, on 1:19 am
^ I’m speechless!
(Or is it shitless?)
“Yes, gruntled, but…(follow my “Logical trend”?)
how will you prevent one’s car ignition key from smelling like a chicken coop?…and thus, also, inevitably…
one’s pocket, or purse?”
Of COURSE!…”Au du Cologne”!
PERFUME!…Men’s & Women’s versions…and that’ll end up doubling your sales!
NO?
26 December 2008, on 1:47 am
Warren was selected to draw additional attention to the gay rights issue, to make certain the issue did not fade away or get lost in the flurry of inaugural activity or the never ending news of our financial collapse. Warren’s presents at this level also broadens the audience who will be exposed to the issue. Ok, this is one reason.
Wow, that is pretty slick if that is his reason.
26 December 2008, on 2:08 pm
Wow, that is pretty slick if that is his reason.
Less than one year ago no one on this planet would have given an inexperienced “half-breed muslin” terrier a snow balls chance in hell of being elected President of the United States in the next hundred years. Guess what happens in less than a month. So, yes, I think this feller is that slick.
But my comments actually make more sense when I finish them. So to conclude my thoughts from above, I think Obama will pursue an agenda so broad and so deep and so comprehensive that in eight years we will not recognize this country, at least not our government. Rebuilding our infrastructure, national health care, education reform and funding, stem cell and other scientific research, green technology leading to a green economy, overhaul our financial system with new rules and proper oversite, dismantle the war on drugs, redesign our foreign policy to be sensible and consistent, etc., etc., I see a lot of comments saying that our financial crisis will occupy Obama’s first term, that everything else will have to wait. I think those people have not been paying attention. He actually can do more than one thing at a time and he will expect Congress to do more than one thing at a time.
More to the point, I think he will address rights for persons who are gay sooner than anyone expects. He will do what he can but very soon legislation will be needed. This is where the energy and determination of a whole bunch of loud, angry gay people may very well be the difference between success and failure. And deflating Warren takes a lot of the wind out of the sails of the opposition while also sending a message to Dobson and others that the same could happen to them if they crawl too far out of their holes. Deflating Warren also helps with stem cell research, women’s rights, health care reform, etc.
Grab hold of something and hold on tight. It is going to be a wild and exciting eight years. Get ready to write letters, make phone calls, and rally support. He will need our help, he will ask for our help, and he will expect our help.
Wow! That just sounds crazy! But one year ago today it would have sounded insane for someone to say, “I think that skinny, Harvard educated, little known black guy from the Chicago is going to ride into Iowa, an agricultural state with a seven black people, beat the stuffing out Bill/Hill, ream Edwards a new asshole and walk out smiling on his way to play basketball.”
I am telling you, this Obama feller is slicker’n chicken shit. Pundits are busy comparing him to this or that past president, but we have not seen one like him before. That is how it appears to me but I could be wrong.
26 December 2008, on 4:38 pm
Now that you put it THAT way, gruntled atheist…
I, for one, hope that you’re “Right on”!
You posit a rather unique and interesting summary of some rather subtle and pretty perceptive observations. If you haven’t already been, or you’re not presently somehow directly involved with the Obama transitional “team”; there just might be a nice job opening for you in his administration.
(I’m kidding?)
One thing that occurred to me since I read a bit deeper (on Wikipedia) into Obama’s Bio, revolves around the facts about the early influence from his mom, who was, apparently, either an agnostic, or atheist in her quite open minded viewpoints. She was also highly educated; a Phd. level Anthropologist; and with her early guidance, opened up a rather wide vista of experiences for him to digest. Even his dad, of course, whom he had very little contact with, went from being a Muslim to becoming an atheist (and, evidently, an alcoholic!).
Cutting to the chase…Obama’s extremely unusual bi-racial mixed upbringing, combined with all the other subsequent and unique life evolving factors, may prove to be a powerful reason that would lend some strong credence to your predictions.
I, for one, hope you “nailed it” in your observations.
The thing, of course, bottom-line, that has bothered us atheists through it all, is the obvious necessity for Obama, like all American political candidates, for having to kiss-ass BIG-TIME to a definite religious belief. It might be REAL interesting if, over the course of the next few years…assuming everything goes well with rescuing the economy, AND getting out of Iraq, etcetera, etcetera…that Obama reveals a kind of “rebirth” to those early agnostic/atheist influences.
THAT would be veeeeery interesting, indeed!
“What’s that?…Dream On, ChuckA…zzzzzZZZZ(snort)ZZZZZZ”?
26 December 2008, on 5:32 pm
It might be REAL interesting if, over the course of the next few years…assuming everything goes well with rescuing the economy, AND getting out of Iraq, etcetera, etcetera…that Obama reveals a kind of “rebirth” to those early agnostic/atheist influences.
I am not too optimistic about that one Chuck, Obama is too much of a genuine god botherer. He really talks to Jeezus every day and Jeezus walks and talks with him and tells him what to do. I don’t think this god belief is a front for anything and the only thing he could possibly do for atheists is to help maintain or improve separation of church and state. However, that is a bit unlikely, as well since he has embraced Dubya’s “faith-based iniatives” program.
26 December 2008, on 8:52 pm
I agree Stardust, I don’t think Obama will enact real changes when it comes to the economy or religion. And even if he had a full eight years, that probably wouldn’t be enough time to clean up the mess Lil’ Bush left us in. At least the fall of the empire and collapse of what was the best and brightest country will be interesting to watch on FOX (Fixed) news. They have the cutest little anchorgirls on there!