Bush Makes Appeal on Faith-Based Programs

[thebaghwan]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=536&e=3&u=/ap/20040115/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush

It really amazes me how brazen Bush is in violating the U S Constitution.

[DBoon]

1. I can't wait for Scientology to apply

for their reading program.

Or the Nation of Islam?

[Malva Zebrina]

2. It will gain momentum--he has been working on this for a while

In the link Bush is quoted as saying: "Problems that face our society are oftentimes problems that, you know, require something greater than just a government program or a government counselor to solve," he said. "Intractable problems, problems that seem impossible to solve, can be solved. There is the miracle of salvation that is real, that is tangible, that is available for all to see."

More mysticism from the fascist's mouth. A "miracle of salvation" is and cannot be termed "real" except to the person who a abelief that miracles, coming from some intangible and unprovable source, in this case, of course the Christian god, are "tangible" What a bunch of gooblygook and this is why Bush reaches those bellievers--it is easy to fool those who cannot think beyond this mysticism of "miracles"-that a "tangible". Disgusting that he can get up there and say these things--unfortuneately religion that demands little thought from it's believers, is vulnerable to the evil persons like Bush who seek to capitalize on it's vagueries and inabililties of people to think past the platitudes. This is what happens---now look at the photo op



Another one--this is disgusting--I am sorry if this offends any believers here but--it is absolutely disgusting to me.





The problems that face our society are rooted in you and your disdain for the citiznes of this country right from the beginning, by superceding the vote counting and pretending that the Supreme Court, the one loaded with your buddies, had a right, a legal right to decide an election. You continue to treat your own citizens as if they were your enemy and you pretend to be righteous in doing so simply so you can continue your killing spree in the ME. You have taken us down to the bottom where the muck hangs out, and pretend that you have done more for the peace of the world than any other president. You are a disgrace, George Bush, to this country and the sooner you are outa there, the better. You take our money, spend millions of it on making more millions for your election treasure chest,and seem to think nothing of it. We are the chumps here, folks. We are chumped by our own Dmeocrats, who most likely, judging from their pathetic performance these past three years--pathetic, selfish performance, I will add, will wimp away and give him everything he asks for regarding the faith based money--I have no fight left to scream about this. He knows which buttons to push and he gets away with it time and time after time and there is no reason to think it will be otherwise on this item either

It is a terrible thing what has happened and will happen to my country -- I fear he is well on his way to being elected--in whatever way he has to. What a tragedy was allowed to happen when NO ONE except the black caucaus saw fit to challenge Bush's coup. NO ONE--they all just stood by and let it happen.

What has happened since that capitulation? Have we gained seats in the congress--NO--who would vote for a wimp or a person connected to the wimp party? We were attacked by terrorists and there are rumblings that Bush allowed it to happen in order to push his wars--the first on Afganistan and now Iraq. Both are miserable failures--but someone make a lot of money and that someone (s) does not particularly care how many died on both sides to give them those contracts.

and what else has he gotten away with? Everything he initiated has come to pass. The medicare fiasco, he is weakened SS, he has weakened our education system, he has weakened our healt care system and he will continue to weaken every social program in his evil path that does not give an opportunity for the rich to exploit it--so he will privatize it all while he is up there. MEanwhile we see photo ops and we know he is making money on our tax money--spending it to go here and there, pretending to be visiting , for instance, Martin Luther's Gravesite, as an afterthought to his fund raising campaign in that state. NO ONE objects.

I won't even apologize for being negative. Just scroll on by if you think it defeatist.

[asjr]

7. I am very disturbed

by his actions, especially this one. I am religious in my own way. A president of the U.S. proselytizing (sp?) was not in his job description. This is a slap in the face to the entire country. This must be struck down. He has taken our tax dollars for an unnecessary war and wants to take them to supply marriage counseling to the country. What will he do when the legitimate marriage counselors have to find other jobs? This man is not real. I guess I will have to hit Frist and Alexander again, not that they ever acknowledge me.

[bluestateguy]

3. Please push forward with it

Religious groups are just waiting to apply: like the Nation of Islam, the Church of Scientology, the Hare Krishnas, the Buddists, the Raelians, Pagan and Wiccans. All of these groups are eager to apply for taxpayer funding for their activities.

[thebaghwan]

4. I am thinking about forming a Mithraic church and applying since

I can't find a job. I will be the administrator and take a small salary.

[Malva Zebrina]

5. In that case just call me Sister Marianne

I need a new car.

[damnraddem]

10. Why a small salary?

The 'in' thing is to make big money off religion.

[DBoon]

6. Don't forget the Rastafarians

I hear they have an interesting drug rehab program

[jmowreader]

26. What would that be?

"Quit smoking ditch weed"?

[markus]

9. That's an intesting list

Why do you associated the Reaelians, Nation of Islam and Scientology with Buddists and Pagan/Wiccans? (I'm a nominal Catlick myself, but I'm a unitarian/universalist at heart).

You post seems like a blanket indictment of non-Xian religious traditions. We'll take Krishna Conciousness Movement as representative of the Hindu faith to some extent, and boy you've just lumped a lot of the world together with some very flaky people

Not very nice.

[damnraddem]

11. The point is not what we think of these groups ...

it's that the Religious Right cannot abide them.

[bluestateguy]

12. You missed the point

I make no judgements about who is "flaky". The list merely suggests that Bush and his Christian Coalition supporters can expect applications from a variety of non-Judeo-Christian religions, which THEY certainly do consider to be flaky. When this project was dreamed up by the Bush campaign in 2000 they just assumed that only Christians and Jews would be receiving funds.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

24. Of course, they will "apply"...

...but how many will be rejected?

Most, I'll bet...

[damnraddem]

8. It's his debt payment to the Religious Right.

He may or may not be serious about wanting a fundamnetalist ideology in charge of government, but he obviously doesn't care about the risks as long as he can gain political capital from his pimping for the RR.

[yellowcanine]

13. Pretzelboy again claims that faith stopped his "drinkin"

When a lot of the evidence says he is still drinking. Look at his various mishaps where he ends up with face bruises - Does anyone seriously believe the pretzel story? Then there is the flushed cheeks and red nose - classic signs of a serious drinker.

[shanti]

14. to be fair

and not sticking up for chimpy in the LEAST, there are other medical conditions that cause red cheeks and nose - ROSACEA.

but i think chimpy's problems ARE alcohol induced.

[yellowcanine]

15. Rosacea-right, but

it is also true that alcohol can trigger outbreaks, no? And Bush seems to have periodic outbreaks.

[shanti]

25. not enough is known about rosacea

to pin it on alcohol. it's one of those tricky conditions - i know - i have it, although it's on a hiatus now.

[progressiverealist]

16. this is the final straw for me I think. I am now an ex-christian

I'm quitting my church. I cannot be associated with this bunch, even wrongly.

[yellowcanine]

17. You need a different church.

Not all Christians bow down to George W. Bush. Hardly anyone at my church supports him.

[progressiverealist]

18. members of my church don't support Bush either

it's just that Bush has "taken" religion. Until we take it back, some way, some how, I just can't go and worship there or anywhere. Too many nasty associations. I'm going to go back to running in the woods to be in contact with God.

[Malva Zebrina]

22. that made me laugh

many times I have retreated to my hermitage in the woods. I love that hermitage except that right now is is something like fifteen below zero and there is a wicked wind, which makes it something like 35 below zero, so I do not visit there too often. (I wonder how any of the Native Americans survived here in New England, for that matter) Our pipes are frozen as I speak and our plumbers have been so busy that they have not been able to come out to help in two days. So we have no water. Now I wonder, how did anyone survive when they had to go out to the well to get the water. (we still have an old dug well on our property--maybe we should try to use it again?)

You see, Christians fighting each other over which has the "right"m
christianity or religion is as bad as Christians fightibg the infidels.

If the debate is over which person has the "right" Christianity" it becomes amusingly trite and becomes quite childish in it's application. Historically, over the centuries this has happened consistently and we see it happening here in these times again. Does anyone wonder howcome this has happened consistently?

A political position is reinforced by a religion. And usually it is a convienent religion--ie one that would support the barbarism of that particular religion. In this case it is a religion that is supporting Fascism and that is not the first time it has done so.

I mean it is totally holy to kill others, women, children and old men, of the "other". It is holy to be rich also and it is holy to slew the other with the sword of the rich.

That it is barbaric and that it is reactive to the current political conditions does not matter=as long as a "god" is involved, people will do and believe anything--and they will support all kinds of murder, serial murders, and all kinds of absolute inhumane activites as long as a religion and a belief in the god supports it-=-and it is funny to me, that, ineveitably, the god and the religion supports it!!

And I am sorry to say, it is the Christian religion in this country and under George Bush, that is fast becoming the religion of the barbaric, reptillian brain, unevolved human being. We need to evolve further if we want to truly love and help each other-each other being other human beings no matter where they are located on the global map-and the Christian religion is dead as far as that is concerned. It does NOT respect other human beings at all. It only WANTS to convert and control them and do away with the religion of those others.

Is that not funny? The religion based on the logo of "love" supports all sorts of atrocities. And, the religion in today's politics of the USA, under Bush, also supports it!! I mean look at all Bush has been able to kill because of this religion!! NO ONE, not a one of them has been able to turn his religion around even though it is firmly behind all of his terrible reign. Is that not strange?

[Bluerthanblue]

23. Progressiverealist, i don't think

this is something new...

remember what Jesus himself had to say about the "religious" folks when he was here- (Pharasee's and teachers of the 'law')

Bush may 'think' he's 'got religion'.... but the very telling phrase in this article was
"....I changed my heart"

He is his own saviour-
and his own worst enemy-

Don't let him steal your hope, your faith, or your spirit- Let him have the "label" you keep the stuff that matters-

(sorry to wax so 'religious') but i understand and share your frustration, and am trying to learn something from this mess.

[Sugarbleus]

21. I am a follower of Christ but...

I don't think GW knows what that means, exactly. I don't think it hurts to have faith based programs for some folks, but they should be administered by THAT FAITH. For that matter, ALL faiths should be reaching out to hurting folk with no strings attached!
I notice GW likes to talk out of both sides of his mouth. On the one hand he says government shouldn't be helping the people of this nation, yet he WANTS TO GIVE government money to religious organizations to do what the 'state' should be doing for everyone!
He stands up and talks about his faith and how this nation should follow his notions of religion and faith and charity and how the bible is the only road map to that end.. BUT helping the entire hurting nation is out of the question unless they become religious???? What is Christian about that scenario? If he is truely a follower of Christ, then he should be helping all the people no matter who they are or what they do or don't believe--that would be true historical Christianity/Judaism.

Hey George, remember the parable of the Good Samaritan??? Ya need to go re-read that "road map" book.

Bush is such a venal putz! :crazy:

[yellowcanine]

19. I actually think this could backfire on pretzelboy.

Even many of the wingnut Christians are not thrilled with the government giving money to churches - because they are suspicious that mandates will follow....and certainly there are a lot of Christians who are opposed to it because they believe in the separation of church and state. And btw, didn't pretzel boy sound like he was promoting a specific religion with his salvation talk?

[ngGale]

20. "The miracle of salvation"

For one, I hope "the miracle of salvation" applies to the coming election.