American Politics: An exersice in nots November 19, 2006
Posted by fajita in politics.2 comments
The Republicans got a beating a couple weeks ago. The Democrats took over congress. Americans voted against Bush, I think that it is clear. As happy as Democrats are with the election results, they are in real trouble now.
Why? Well, I think they had more power when they had no power. Huh? The only energy they have is “not Bush.” That can get you an election, but only one. When they had no power, they could gripe relentlessly about it and no one cares if they don’t get anything done because they have no power.
Well, now that they have power they had better produce something. Thing is, it is no real accomplishment to prove that you are not Bush. If Dems are a one trick pony and that trick is the not Bush trick, they are going to have a real hard 2 years as a pointless majority.
I hope the Democrats come up with something so attractive that the people who voted for them will be glad they did. They have already gotten all of the “not Bush” mileage they can get. From this point out, they need to have some actual ideas. What they risk is generalized voter discontent. If the voters see notihng from dems, they won’t stick with them.
The temptation for dems is going to be to go back to what dems have done in the past. Voters didn’t for for what Democrats have done in the past, they voted for “not Bush.” The dems must be innovative, creative, and intriguing. If they are not, if they are viewed as the old democrats, they will lose big in 2008 because Bush is gone no matter what. They’ve 2 years to work wonders. If they haven’t fixed anything in 2 years, they’re done. 2 years is no a long time to fix anything.
Well, that is probably all I am going to say about politics for the next two years.
Let’s Try It Again September 18, 2006
Posted by fajita in 9/11, politics.5 comments
Had America not responded, what would have happened?
What if… September 17, 2006
Posted by fajita in 9/11, Christianity, politics.13 comments
On September 11th, 2001, America was attacked by terrorists. Planes hit the World Trade Center, the Pentegon and another plane crashed. Thousands or Americans were killed.
The enemy was instantly identified as Al-Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden. So, the president ordered and attack on Afghanistan. In an effort to destroy terrorism, the president ordered a controversial attack on Iraq. Five years later, Americans still fight on those places – two of the most dangerous places on earth.
What do you suppose would have happened if instead of attacking these countries and occupying them, the Unites States turned the other cheek? What if Americans, who were receiving the sympathies of almost the entire world, made a clear statement that we are not about violence, death and murder, but are instead about reconciliation, forgiveness, and love? What if Americans had demanded that our president forgive the aggressors?
What if we poured our energies into security and defense, but refused to be seduced into an aggressive posture? What if we refused to respond with force?
These are not rhetorical questions. I really want to know what you honestly believe our reality would be now 5 years later had we not attacked back.
I don’t presuppose any answers and I am not looking for anything specific besides what you really believe.
Would not attacking back have been a disaster? Would it have been an opportunity for the world to be impressed by our love? What do you think?
Israelis reported entering Lebanon August 8, 2006
Posted by fajita in politics.2 comments
The headline on the front page of the Minneapolis newspaper was clear, Israelis had been reported moving into Lebanon. Not exactly a newsflash, right? What is a bit surreal is that this headline was lifted from a newspaper found in a deep, dark corner of my sister’s garage and the date on the paper is Sunday, June 6th, 1982.
Also in the news that day:
-University of Minnesota profs were not exaclty raking in the dough, with one prof making $18,353. He taught “the classics” whatever that means.
-Northwest airlines employees were striking. Hmm, that sound familiar.
-My mutual fund didn’t exist.
-Some money market funds were yielding 13.68% Cripes! My paypal money market fund (with $1.00 in it) yields 5.02% and I think I’m hot stuff.
-Dow Jones was a stellar 814.97
-Preacher Jed Smock preached to students at the University of Minnesota charging that they lead the Big Ten not in academics or athletics, but in “whores and whoremongering.” Students were apparently very entertained and came to see Preacher Smock in droves.
-Sophia Loren was released from prison.
-When Northwest employees were not on strike, you could get from Minneapolis to Omaha for $35.
-Iraqi jets bombed Iranian city of Ilam.
-“1.43 trillion dollar defense budget problem.”
-“Bush says arms plan cedibility a problem.”
-Huge glasses and huge women’s underwear were in vogue.
-Humphrey was a formidible political name.
Busy News Day July 5, 2006
Posted by fajita in enron, politics.4 comments
Ken Lay is dead. There is no doubt to be some gloating and some cheering as the former Enron CEO convicted of cheating investors and Wall Street in general to his profit of millions of dollars. He died of massive heart attack.
The fact that he had a heart condition is no mystery. It was the fact that he had a physical heart condition that caused a massive heart attack is what took most people by surprise.
I would say that gloating would be inappropriate and cruel, expecially to his loved ones who have been dealt yet another devastating blow. Justice in the courts has been done, and that is enough. Anything else is just revenge.
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North Korea is testing missiles. Their scariest missile, the long range, Taepodong-2, self-destructed 42 seconds after launch. This is the missile that was said to have the capability to reach the United States West Coast. This would be a humiliating embarassment for North Korea and kind of funny had the implications not been so grave.
North Korea, as you may remember, is part of what George W. Bush called, “The Axis of Evil,” Iran and Iraq being the others. Whether this development makes Bush a prophet or a self-fulfilling prophet at this point is irrelevant. This development might be compared to the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962.
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The United States got a Space Shuttle off the ground and into t space without a hitch – well, without a major hitch. I am so glad everything went well. It is good for the United States to ahve some good news.
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I am moving to Minnesota, the nation’s leader in e85 distribution. e85 is a homegrown, corn based (usually) gas for automobiles. It’s 85% corn and 15% gas. Think energy freedom. If you can use this product, I highly reccommend that you do. Many vehicles have flex-fule technology in their engines and owners don’t even know it. Can your vehicle use e85? Click here to find out. Where can I buy e85? Click here to find out. I will probably be buying mine here, if I ever get a vehicle that runs on the stuff.
e85 is cheaper than regular gas, but gets a little bit lower fuel economy. For the price, it is a wash. But the value in it is 2-fold. 1. Money stays in the US and does not travel to terrorist nations. 2. The Co2 it produced in consumption equals the Co2 taken in by the corn it is produced from. In short, it’s clean.
I want my next car to be an e85 hybrid. That would be a hydrid gas/electric engine that burns e85 gas. Clean and super efficient.
Spamerific June 12, 2006
Posted by fajita in politics.add a comment
I just received an e-mail spam with this in the subject line:
Will al-Zarqawi’s death bring peace to Iraq? Get a $500 gift card.
OK, it’s not like I am a Zarqawi fan or anything. I am against terrorism. But this is certainly American consumerism run amuck.
Church and State June 4, 2006
Posted by fajita in Christianity, emerging church/emergent, Philosophy/Religion, politics.6 comments
I wonder if the religious conservative church's political efforts are misguided. Certainly morality is something of value and is a part of the Christian ethical fabric, but is that worth fighting for through legislation?
I think that we live in a strange time when the government we (in the United States) live under actually has an ear for social justice and the concerns of the weak. This is not the case in most of history or most of the world. It seems that the church has a terrific opportunity to team with government to lift the poor, and weak, and broken.
However, some churches are more interested in being a Brotherhood Maintenance Organization or a Center For The Accumulation of Knowledge and Biblical Trivia or the Morality Patrol than they are caring for people in need.
Something is seriously wrong when a nation's government is more generous than that nation's churches.
Some of everything April 19, 2006
Posted by fajita in A Little Something, emerging church/emergent, politics.add a comment
Curt Cloninger will be at the Woodbury Church of Christ in Woodbury, Minnesota April 27th. He's good and tickets are cheap.
Or, if you happen to be in Tulsa, go watch "Invisivble Children" at the Garnett Church of Christ. TONIGHT at 7 PM.
W gave us a huge, "What the…?" when he mentioned human/animal hybrids at his State of the Union address. Here is more about these hybrids.
News on the emerging church from ReligionLink. Thanks emergesque for that one. At the bottom of the article is a list of emeringing church bloggers, theologians and "diversifiers." This article is a good collection of resources. It even has vocabulary words at the very bottom. And, at the very, very, bottom is a list of articles.
Running With The Lion might be giving us something good as he starts this series of posts.
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