More Evangelical Code-Words in the Inaugural Speech?

[AnnInLa]

Sidney Blumenthal in The Guardian: (go to www.buzzflash.com for the whole article, a good read)


"Bush, meanwhile, works on his second inaugural address, to be delivered next week, where his speechwriters can be counted on to produce a bravura speech filled with high-flown patriotism and evangelical codewords, a paean to can-do optimism. "They're not code words; they're our culture," his chief speechwriter, Michael Gerson, explained recently.

This rhetoric summons purity of heart ("written in the human heart"), divine blessing ("God is not neutral"), and the power of faith ("there's power, wonder-working power, in the goodness and idealism and faith of the American people").

As Bush draws the sword of righteousness against the forces of darkness, the enemy being evil itself ("evildoers ... axis of evil"), he ascends on messianic imagery. "Do you not think an angel rides in the whirlwind and directs this storm?" he said in his first inaugural, quoting a letter written by a Virginian friend to Thomas Jefferson during the American revolution. "This story goes on," said Bush. "And an angel still rides in the whirlwind and directs this storm."

That particular verse originates in the book of the prophet Nahum. It contains no "angel", but the Lord, "a jealous and avenging God ... full of wrath ... The Lord is long suffering, and great in power, and will by no means clear the guilty; The Lord, in the whirlwind and in the storm is His way, And the clouds are the dust of His feet ... Woe to the bloody city! It is all full of lies and rapine ... Thy crowned are as the locusts, And thy marshals as the swarms of grasshoppers ..."

Lord, help us.

[Malva Zebrina]

1. code words typical--I expect it to be full of religious right code words.

"They're not code words; they're our culture"

Ain't MY culture and there are millions like me who are citizens of this country who do not appreciate the code words and the obvious embracing of an extremist Christian view by our presidunce, who has the nerve to preach it from the inaugual stand to ALL the people of this country.

While his daughters and his wife will prance around in extremely expensive designer clothes,going to parties,bedecked with designer diamonds, showing off their assets to the world and seem to think this crass, tasteless display,is, indeed, so cool.

[bobbieinok]

2. this is BLASPHEMY

("there's power, wonder-working power, in the goodness and idealism and faith of the American people").

in the old hymn, the power is in the blood of Jesus that washes away sin....NO REAL CHRISTIAN WOULD SAY THIS, LET ALONE THINK IT



THERE IS POWER IN THE BLOOD

Would you be free from the burden of sin?
There's power in the blood, power in the blood;
Would you over evil a victory win?
There's wonderful power in the blood.


There is power, power, wonder working power
In the blood of the Lamb;
There is power, power, wonder working power
In the precious blood of the Lamb.


Would you be free from your passion and pride?
There's power in the blood, power in the blood;
Come for a cleansing to Calvary's tide;
There's wonderful power in the blood.


There is power, power, wonder working power
In the blood of the Lamb;
There is power, power, wonder working power
In the precious blood of the Lamb.


Would you be whiter, much whiter than snow?
There's power in the blood, power in the blood;
Sin stains are lost in its life giving flow.
There's wonderful power in the blood.


There is power, power, wonder working power
In the blood of the Lamb;
There is power, power, wonder working power
In the precious blood of the Lamb.


Would you do service for Jesus your King?
There's power in the blood, power in the blood;
Would you live daily His praises to sing?
There's wonderful power in the blood.


There is power, power, wonder working power
In the blood of the Lamb;
There is power, power, wonder working power

[bobbieinok]

3. this phrase was in the 2003 state of the union speech

see discussion at

http://www.alternet.org/story/15667

a MUST READ about how the RW took over the Southern Baptist Convention and radically changed it

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. The man makes me, as a Christian, livid and ill

-------------------------------------
Would Jesus love a liberal? You bet!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/

[yella_dawg]

5. And the clouds are the dust of His feet

Whoa! Does this imply that god is really Pigpen from Charlie Brown??

[hector459]

6. Also written: "Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap"

Bush has a lot of "reaping" coming.

[riverwalker]

7. speechwriter Gerson is being replaced

I don't think he will be using the religious stuff as much, he no longer needs the fundie support now that the election is over. I don't know what will replace it.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6790433/


"Jan. 5 - President Bush will start his second term with many of his closest and longtime aides by his side including chief of staff Andrew Card, senior adviser Karl Rove and Communications Director Dan Bartlett. Although the visual picture will largely look the same after Jan. 20, Bush's words may sound very different. Michael Gerson, Bush's chief speechwriter, who has helped craft nearly every one of Bush's speeches during his first term, is leaving his job. Gerson is expected to move into the policy arena and be replaced as head speechwriter by Wall Street Journal editorial-page writer William McGurn. Gerson's job change cements the breakup of Bush's speechwriting team that included deputies John McConnell and Matthew Scully." <more>