Clipmarks | AtlLiberal's 'politics' clips

Fear and Loathing in the Republican Party

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:54:45 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: A new low, even for Republicans. Not content with associating Obama with Hitler, now he's being portrayed as the Antichrist! And sadly, enough brain dead fundamentalists are around to make this an issue.

Clip Source: www.time.com

An Antichrist Obama in McCain Ad?

It's not easy to make the infamous Willie Horton ad from the 1988 presidential campaign seem benign. But suggesting that Barack Obama is the Antichrist might just do it.

The ad was the creation of Fred Davis, one of McCain's top media gurus as well as a close friend of former Christian Coalition head Ralph Reed and the nephew of conservative Oklahoma Senator James Inhofe.

As the ad begins, the words "It should be known that in 2008 the world shall be blessed. They will call him The One"

Tags: politics, obama, mccain, fundamentalists, religion, antichrist

Religion Out of Govt

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:21:42 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: Our government is designed to operate without regard to religion. Unfortunately, many have not figured that out yet.

Clip Source: secularhumanism.org

The Campaign for Secularism

We are chagrined that during the current U.S. presidential campaign, secular Americans cannot point to a single candidate who is willing to maintain a clear distinction between religion and public policy, insisting on the strict separation of church and state.

On the GOP side, this is not altogether surprising, given the way in which many Republicans have sought the support of religious fundamentalists in the past. John McCain says that America is a Christian nation. Mike Huckabee, who quit the race after the March 4 primaries, declared that “My faith doesn’t influence my decisions, it drives them.” Of course, the Bush administration has spent almost eight years injecting faith into politics.

Regrettably, all the presidential candidates now seem to support President Bush’s faith-based initiatives, which enable federal funds to support religious charities.

Tags: religion, secularism, government

Here We Go Again

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:25:44 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: This somewhat disappointing position by Obama may be simple politics or it may be a sign of increasing involvement by religious organizations in government. Already we've seen the problems this can cause, mainly in the realm of churches to discriminate according to religion. If the rumors are true, churches will be able to discriminate in hiring if "certain conditions are met". I can't help but wonder if this is a ploy to garner the "evangelical" vote. Of course this still doesn't make McCain any more disirrable as a candidate.

Clip Source: thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com

The Early Word: You’ve Got To Have Faith

In another sign that his campaign is reaching out to evangelical voters, Senator Barack Obama plans to announce his support for expanding President Bush’s faith-based programs in a speech on religion he will deliver at Eastside Community Ministry in Zanesville, Ohio this afternoon.

The Associated Press previews his remarks and notes that Mr. Obama will say that he supports allowing religious organizations to hire and fire employees based on faith:

Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton offers his take on the faith-based proposal:

The Times’s John M. Broder takes a look at the Obama campaign’s efforts to court religious voters, who make up as much as one-quarter of the electorate:

“Obama does not believe that faith-based groups are an alternative to government or secular nonprofits, or that they’re better at lifting people

Tags: politics, candidate, religion

Finally!

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:47:10 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: We hear so much about alternative energy sources and reducing fuel consumption but exceedingly little on energy traders who some sources say are responsible for up to 50% of the fuel price we pay here in the US. Unlike McCain's silly offshore solution this tactic has the best chance of immediately reducing the cost of fuel.

Clip Source: www.usnews.com

Obama Vows To Close "Enron Loophole" For Oil Speculators

The AP reports Sen. Barack Obama said Sunday that "as president he would strengthen government oversight of energy traders he blames in large part for the skyrocketing price of oil." Obama "singled out the so-called 'Enron loophole' for allowing speculators to run up the cost of fuel by operating outside federal regulation." The Obama campaign "blamed the loophole on former Sen. Phil Gramm," who serves as Sen. John McCain's campaign "co-chairman and economic adviser."

Tags: politics, gas, obama, mccain

John "Christ" McCain?

Mon, 19 May 2008 15:19:32 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: Showing the eloquence demanded by the head of the Georgia state GOP, Sue Everhard, demonstats the strange reasoning of religious politicians. She makes the direct comparison of McCain to Jesus Christ and then denies making this comparison immediately afterwards.

Oh well.

Clip Source: www.ajc.com

State GOP chair: McCain 'kind of like Jesus

Columbus — Georgia Republican Party chairwoman Sue Everhart said Saturday that the party's presumed presidential nominee has a lot in common with Jesus Christ.

"John McCain is kind of like Jesus Christ on the cross," Everhart said as she began the second day of the state GOP convention. "He never denounced God, either."

Everhart was praising McCain for never denouncing the United States while he was being tortured as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.

"I'm not trying to compare John McCain to Jesus Christ, I'm looking at the pain that was there," she said.

Tags: politics, religion, language, rationality, logic

Bush is an Idiot

Thu, 15 May 2008 23:52:03 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: Bush, never one to rely on diplomacy when bombs will do the trick, opens his mouth again and nonsense spews out. What a loser.

Clip Source: www.chicagotribune.com

Bush takes veiled jab at Obama during speech in Israel

JERUSALEM — President Bush took the occasion of Israel's 60th anniversary on Thursday to compare his American political opponents to Nazi appeasers and brand them as too willing to negotiate with terrorists, remarks that Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama reacted to instantly as an attack upon him.

"We have an obligation to call this what it is — the false comfort of appeasement, which has been repeatedly discredited by history," Bush said in his 23-minute speech to Israel's parliament.

Bush has tried to stay out of the 2008 presidential race, and White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said Thursday that he didn't mean to directly criticize Obama.

Tags: politics, bush, failure

Sally Kern Bigotry

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 22:30:15 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: Here she is damned by her own words. What she says is not new. Bigots like her have been saying this for a long time. What is new is that now we can cast their words into the light of day for all to see. And this person is an elected official! Shame on you Oklahoma.

Clip Source: www.youtube.com

[Video]

Tags: religion, gay, politics, bigotry

Science Ignorance Blessed in Oklahoma

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 16:44:48 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: Although this legislation has not made it through to law the very idea that it was put forth at all is surprising. I feel sorry for rational Oklahomans who must endure this humiliation.

Clip Source: scienceblogs.com

The odious Sally Kern

Here's something even worse than the self-destruction of her own family: Kerns is the sponsor of Oklahoma House Bill 2211, the "Religious Viewpoints Antidiscrimination Act".

The bill requires public schools to guarantee students the right to express their religious viewpoints in a public forum, in class, in homework and in other ways without being penalized. If a student's religious beliefs were in conflict with scientific theory, and the student chose to express those beliefs rather than explain the theory in response to an exam question, the student's incorrect response would be deemed satisfactory, according to this bill.

Even simple, factual information such as the age of the earth (4.65 billion years) would be subject to the student's belief, and if the student answered 6,000 years based on his or her religious belief, the school would have to credit it as correct.

Tags: christianity, religion, politics, science, laws

Bush's Legacy? Torture

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 17:40:41 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: I have nothing but contempt for this man. In fact, I actually have serious doubts concerning his sanity. His reign can't be over soon enough.

Clip Source: www.washingtonpost.com

Bush Announces Veto of Waterboarding Ban

President Bush said Saturday that he has vetoed legislation meant to ban the CIA from using waterboarding and other harsh interrogation tactics because it "would take away one of the most valuable tools on the war on terror."

In his weekly radio address, Bush said, "This is no time for Congress to abandon practices that have a proven track record of keeping America safe."

Congress approved an intelligence authorization bill that contains the waterboarding provision on slim majorities, far short of the two-thirds needed to override a presidential veto.

Bush's long-expected veto reignites the Washington debate over the proper limits of the U.S. interrogation policies and whether the CIA has engaged in torture by subjecting prisoners to severe tactics, including waterboarding, a type of simulated drowning.

Tags: politics, bush, news, terror, torture

Law Abiding Immigrants

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:39:29 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: Another straw man that ultra nationalists love to offer shows that it has no legs. With much of present day conservatism based on fear manipulation of the population this study indicates what a little sunshine can do to rank prejudice and bigotry.

Clip Source: www.mercurynews.com

Immigrants incarcerated less frequently

Stereotypes about foreign-born residents' role in crime disproven

Countering a widespread belief, a new report shows California's foreign-born population -- including illegal immigrants -- makes up only a sliver of the state's population of inmates.

The report released Monday by the Public Policy Institute of California also suggests that the foreign-born population, which makes up more than a third of the state's adults, plays a disproportionately smaller role in serious crime.

"Crime, Corrections, and California: What Does Immigration Have to Do with It?" gives one of the clearest glimpses yet into the effect of immigrants and immigration on the state's justice system.

It also aims to dispel the perception that cities with large foreign-born populations are criminal hot beds, with several California cities showing a dip in police activity amid recent immigration waves.

Tags: politics, immigration, aliens, law

Huckabee Supporters

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 05:29:38 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: I'm fairly certain these are good people but they surely have some strange ideas.

Clip Source: www.youtube.com

God and Politics in Lynchburg, Tennessee

[Video]

Tags: religion, politics, huckabee, christian

Predictable Huckabee Win

Sat, 09 Feb 2008 22:14:00 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: Frankly, I'm not surprised in the least. The state that tried to set back the teaching of biology 150 years has given a rousing endorsement to the most biblical candidate in quite a while. How does commander and preacher sound? The inauguration should be fun. I'm all set to watch Dino, the Jesus Horse, leading the parade down Pennsylvania Ave.

Clip Source: www.newsday.com

Huckabee wins Kansas

Mike Huckabee will win the Kansas Republican presidential caucuses with more than 60 percent support, CNN projected Saturday.

The former Arkansas governor's victory comes as he continued to vow to remain in the GOP race for the White House despite the large delegate lead held bv Arizona Sen. John McCain, who scored 22 percent of the Kansas vote.

"I didn't major in math," Huckabee told the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington. "I majored in miracles, and I still believe in them, too."

Tags: religion, politics, christian

Uh, Who Cares What Religion Obama Is?

Sun, 03 Feb 2008 21:20:28 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: Evidently this "issue" has captured the imagination of religious people around the US. Maybe they're not familiar with Article VI of the Constitution.

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.

The popular view today would seem to be that this article was simply a "suggestion".

Clip Source: www.dailyherald.com

Christian Obama won't stoop to mud

I support Sen. Barack Obama for president because he does not seek to perfect the politics of swift-boating. He seeks to end it.

Anonymous e-mails are circulating attacking Senator Obama's Christian faith. Barack Obama is a committed and active Christian and has been a 20-year member of the Trinity United Church in Chicago. He and his wife were married there, and both their daughters were dedicated there.

He has never been a Muslim nor has he ever practiced any other faith besides Christianity.

In January 2005, he was sworn into the U.S. Senate on his family Bible.

Tags: religion, christian, islam, politics, obama

Facts Don't Impress Bush

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 18:40:53 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: What an ignorant, biased, bigoted, ideologue. Do you people still want to elect a President that you could sit down and "have a beer with"?

Clip Source: www.newsweek.com

Bothersome Intel on Iran

In public, President Bush has been careful to reassure Israel and other allies that he still sees Iran as a threat, while not disavowing his administration's recent National Intelligence Estimate. That NIE, made public Dec. 3, embarrassed the administration by concluding that Tehran had halted its weapons program in 2003, which seemed to undermine years of bellicose rhetoric from Bush and other senior officials about Iran's nuclear ambitions. But in private conversations with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert last week, the president all but disowned the document, said a senior administration official who accompanied Bush on his six-nation trip to the Mideast. "He told the Israelis that he can't control what the intelligence community says, but that [the NIE's] conclusions don't reflect his own views" about Iran's nuclear-weapons program, said the official, who would discuss intelligence matters only on the condition of anonymity.

Tags: politics, bush, foreign policy, iran

Fox Noise - News You Can Ignore

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 16:09:04 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: Considering the extraordinary inept vetting that Faux News uses, this story comes as no surprise. Is it any wonder that the least informed are viewers of this fake news channel?

Clip Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

I've been dealing with the media and politics for 25 years, but I've never had a more surrealistic day than January 8. Several times that day Fox News reported that I was joining Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign. It was a big story - at least until the stunning election returns.

The only problem was, it wasn't true.

Fox News never even tried to contact me to verify their story, and when I contacted Fox, I felt like a character in a Kafka novel -- or at least Curb Your Enthusiasm.

After I told Fox it wasn't true -- and this is the surreal part -- they kept reporting it anyway. In fact, Fox's Garrett told me he'd "take it under advisement." Take it under advisement? I realize I'm generally seen as just another liberal with an opinion, but this was not a matter of opinion, it was a matter of fact. Fox now knew their story was flatly, factually wrong, and they took it "under advisement."

Tags: news, media, fox, politics, bias