Fat Ass Issues Fatwah--Baptist-style

Dr. Wiley S. Drake, pastor of some cracker-ass Southern Baptist church, endorsed Mike Huckabee in a press release on church letterhead. For tax-exempt entities, that is a no-no. The Carpetbagger and Jesus General have the scoop.

Idaho's Not Just for Potatoes

Wordsmith at Les Enrages has a great post up about the continued push for theocracy from the retarded-rightwing of the Reich. Rep Bill Sali ID-R, thinks were in trouble 'cause we gots ourselves a Muslim in congress, among other things... Read Wordy's wonderful piece.

God's Soldiers

Last week a disturbing new video surfaced featuring high-ranking Air Force and Army officers in uniform and on active duty, evangelizing for Jesus. This behavior is expressly prohibited by military ethics regulations and the UCMJ.

One officer, Maj.Gen. Jack Catton, USAF, is heard on the video stating his 'priorities' as, "...God, then my family, and then country." I guess I'd better hope that his god is my god and should wish I was a member of his family because his oath to defend the U.S. Constitution and the Air Force Core Values consisting of "Integrity First, Service Before Self, Excellence in All We Do" doesn't seem to matter much.

Specifically, "Service Before Self" is defined as, "The giving of self to provide for the welfare of others. Air Force people focus service in defense of the nation." Participating, producing, and appearing in uniform while in the Pentagon espousing hard-core Christian ideology hardly seems to fit that definition.

This new revelation angers and frightens me. These regulations are in place for good reason. The Founders specifically codified separation of church and state in the 1st Amendment. The military is an arm of the government. Should those who have the power to wage war and kill have control of nuclear weapons in what could easily be characterized as a war on Islam?

The hypocrisy and theocratic ideology is implicit as demonstrated by the treatment of anti-war protesters by the military. Jason Leopold at TruthOut writes: "Over the past few years, the military has set its sights on prosecuting Iraq war veterans who have completed active duty, soured on the war and participated in antiwar protests while wearing their uniforms. Recently, the US Marine Corps prosecuted Cpl. Adam Kokesh and Marine Sgt. Liam Madden, both of whom were photographed marching in an antiwar protest while wearing their uniforms in what the Marine Corps says was a violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Military prosecutors vigorously sought to have both men dishonorably discharged. However, it appears unlikely the military will apply the same standard to the Air Force and Army officers who the inspector general said violated the same code of conduct Kokesh and Madden were found to have broken, according to the disciplinary recommendations of the report."

Leopold posts the video and his well-researched article.

Dominionism: Bastard Child of the Far Right--Updated

Amy Goodman did it on Democracy Now!, I listened to several shows where it was featured, and now I'm chiming in. Goodman had the good sense to interview Chris Hedges about his new book "Fascist America:The Christian Right and the War On America". Hedges blows wide-open the hypocrisy, danger and truly warped cult of personality of The Dominionists, the far,far right religious movement whose leaders who are destroying the separation between church and state while cluster-bombing America with their doctrine of hatred. The Dominionists cloak sexism, racism, homophobia, and hatred for any difference in religion, love of God, and "traditional values." Hedges points out the resemblances between the fascist movements of the 20's and 30's in Italy and Germany and today's theocons. He uses some of the work of Umberto Eco which in itself is stirring and insightful.

My writing on the topic of the "religious right" is not about attacking faith or God, but exposing the cruel and dangerous nature of these "talibangical" groups that prey on the vulnerable human psyche of despair that arises from poverty, lack of human rights, and the despicable treatment of people at home and abroad in the name of "righteousness." What is basically the inexcusable excesses of power and greed that have created these conditions are in part, responsible for the move toward fascism in this country. BushCo has capitalized on this dynamic in spades.

I am a person of faith. My relationship with God is one I count as among the most important in my life, but that's me. I would never presume to force or even discuss what is a private, personal relationship with someone else who wasn't interested or doesn't share similar beliefs. The Dominionists believe that everyone and everything else must bend to their will. Period.

These 'Christian' people who have exerted extreme pressure on the political processes in this country and exported their brand of radical religious terror throughout the world indeed represent the most frightening trend in the world today because their evil is done with a smile and violence pretending the sincere belief that it is 'God's Work.' Unless the American public and politicians stop tip-toeing around these insane power-hungry, money-loving, war-mongering fiends, because this cult cloaks itself in an essential freedom, we will find ourselves in essence, a Christo-fascist police state. How long will it take before we Americans find ourselves clothed in a burka of religious-based fascism? We are well on our way.

Update:Courtesy of Lotus
Hopey, now I see that Jim Wallis has this up at HufPo today:

Dear Kos, Can the Left Stop Shooting Itself in the Foot?
I think you’ll appreciate it. It concludes:

” … So Kos, let’s made a deal. How about if progressive religious folks, like me, make real sure that we never say, or even suggest, that values have to come from faith - and progressive secular folks, like you, never suggest that progressive values can’t come from faith (and perhaps concede that, in fact, they often do). If we progressives, religious and secular, could stop fighting among ourselves (shooting ourselves in the foot) and join together on some really big values issues - like economic fairness, health care, and a more just foreign policy - think of the difference we could make. How about it?”

Please check out the comments, valuable links and info from readers, whom I thank for their insights.