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I am reminded of times during W when outrages and bad news came so fast, I didn’t have the emotional capacity to even register them all. Some started making lists.
Jr.jr is stepping up to the plate and now delivering multiple blows in one decision
White House rejects gay judicial nominee
But wait, there’s more:
The White House has rejected the recommended nomination of a New York attorney who would have become the first openly gay man to sit on the federal bench, because of comments he reportedly made about the Pledge of Allegiance and Christmas that were deemed anti-Christian.
We are deep in the War on Christmas territory and this is what the heathen went and done it
n a 2005 article published by Cybercast News Service, Alter is quoted as saying that a general holiday greeting is more appropriate and inclusive for retailers as opposed to saying “Merry Christmas.”“It seems both from a business … and a community perspective, that if merchandisers were going to do that … they would try to wish those in the community who may not share in celebrating Christmas a happy holiday as well,” Alter is quoted as saying.
To thing Ds were making fun of Christine O’Donnel for not being aware of the separation of Church and state being in the Constitution! I mean it’s not like she was some Constitutional Law professor or something!
Seems the war on Christmas is starting early this year!
But not a moment too soon, as The Giardian informs us, the heathens are on the attack
More than a figure of speech, this rejoinder is a direct invitation to join one of the dozen local non-theistic groups that have come together as Washington CoR – the Washington DC area Coalition of Reason.
Believers in traditional religion are often shocked at such ads.
Bewate of them!
http://unitedcor.org/index.html
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From CNN, comes this headline
Louisiana lawmakers propose prayer to stop oil disaster
State senators designated Sunday as a day for citizens to ask for God’s help dealing with the oil disaster.
“Thus far efforts made by mortals to try to solve the crisis have been to no avail,” state Sen. Robert Adley said in a statement released after last week’s unanimous vote for the day of prayer. “It is clearly time for a miracle for us.”
The resolution names Sunday as a statewide day of prayer in Louisiana and calls on people of all religions throughout the Gulf Coast “to pray for an end to this environmental emergency, sparing us all from the destruction of both culture and livelihood.”
Something here seems amiss… Oh, that pesky separation of state and church again.
Something here seems insane. Oh, yeah, that magical thinking again.
Something here seems familiar. Where did we hear – 6 paragraphs out of 32 speech on this?
Apparently B0bots forgot that part because they are all jumping on this.
A few great lines too
As a friend noted yesterday
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and
10. I wanna help god
But no one remembers the six paragraphs in teh speech. You know, the stuff that made Andrew Sullivan’s father cry
And while I approve of prayer as as much as I approve of yacht racing for stopping the oil, the state legislators were no more removed from reason than Obama in his speach to the nation.
So, if we’re going to mock, let’s give credit where credit is due.
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Moving around of the guilty won’t do. Who says the Pope condones malfeasance?
Pope ‘could cancel UK visit’ over ‘offensive’ Foreign Office memo
Of course the sin here is not molesting children but making fun of catholicism – a much more serious crime:
Senior Papal aides suggested the Foreign Office had not taken strong enough disciplinary action against those responsible for the document, which suggested the Pope should open an abortion clinic, bless a homosexual marriage and launch his own range of condoms while he is here.
Oh, the humanity! How dare they! And to make matters worse
No-one has lost their job over the memo, which was sent to Downing Street and at least three Whitehall departments, and the civil servant who authorised it has simply been moved to other duties.
What does the Foreign Office think they are? Pedophile priests or something? Off with their heads!
So far, only humble apologies were offered
The Foreign Office responded by sending Francis Campbell, the British ambassador to the Vatican, to an urgent meeting with senior officials of the Holy See, and said the “foolish document” had not been cleared or shown to ministers or senior officials before it was circulated.
A spokesman added that “many of the ideas in the document are clearly ill-judged, naïve and disrespectful” and the department was “deeply sorry for the offence which it has caused”.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Obama is genuflecting to Billy Graham
the president as “extraordinarily gratified” that the reverend took the time to meet with him.
And just in case anyone would be thinking this as a merely symbolic gesture, we are told that
Obama brought Josh DuBois, director of the White House Office of Faith-Based Initiatives and Neighborhood Partnerships, with him to the meeting, the White House said.
That might have made the good revered feel gratified too. Literally.
I was pleasantly surprised to see this morning on the cover of WaPo and Obama Times news of this progressive order.
At The Confluence, MIQ2xu reinforced my own suspicions
It was not until I went to B0botland that I found the fly in the ointment
Someone posted the text of the EO rrrr Memorandum. The last paragraph
This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
So, first of all, this is NOT an executive order. Like say the Jane Crow Executive Order. This is what Obama uses when he wants something to take effect. Such as the very conscience rules that will render this “memorandum” ineffective.
But this is a “memorandum” which is barely a step up from propaganda/campaign promise/speech. Hence the last paragraph.
Here’s how a GLBT member reacts in Bobotland
Great, another grand gesture that really does not mean shit.
It’s still “separate but equal,” which as we all know, is NOT EQUAL. It’s just a small bone to throw to the LGBT citizens. It sounds good, but in reality, how enforceable is it? Does it really address the law?
And all you nice straight folks out there just giddy over this “token acknowledgment” of us Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgendered persons as full citizens with full rights: what if the shoe were on the other foot?
“This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.”
Good to see some are sharp and awake.
Or, as NY Times eventually discloses
Richard Socarides, who advised President Bill Clinton on gay rights issues, said that while the memorandum on its own did not grant any new rights, it did “draw attention to the very real and tragic situations many gays and lesbians face when a partner is hospitalized.”
As to why this empty gesture now? Besides the upcoming elections some good guesses at the Confluence. Apparently there was a kerfluffe with CBS which reported Elena Kahan, possible SCOTUS choice might me gay. In fighting this, the White House staff let their homophobia show
A White House spokesman, Ben LaBolt, said he complained to CBS because the column “made false charges.”
Indeed! The horrible, horrible charges! So, the empty visitation memorandum might be just damage control. It was sudden enough to make the story plausible.
Page one of Washington Times wears this headline
Judge: Prayer day violates U.S. law
Obama to recognize national tradition
Ironically, the lawsuit leading to this decision was brought by the Freedom from Religion Foundation against Dubya. But this is a perfect case of Jr.jr
The lawsuit originally targeted then-President George W. Bush and members of his administration, but Mr. Obama is now listed as the defendant because the president enforces the statute in question by issuing a proclamation each year declaring National Day of Prayer.
Because proclamations for National Day of Prayer are released through the White House press office, Mr. Bush’s former press secretary, Dana Perino, was originally listed as a defendant, but has since been replaced as a defendant by Robert Gibbs, Mr. Obama’s press secretary.
The judge had decided yesterday
that the country’s National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional because it calls on citizens to take part in religious activity. Senior U.S. District Court Judge Barbara B. Crabb said the statute that created the National Day of Prayer violates the Constitution’s prohibition against the government establishment of religion
A determination that the government may not endorse a religious message is not a determination that the message itself is harmful, unimportant or undeserving of dissemination. Rather, it is part of the effort ‘to carry out the Founders’ plan of preserving religious liberty to the fullest extent possibly in a pluralistic society.'”
Of course, out constitutional scholar/Messiah doesn’t believe in separation of powers nor separation of church and state as he had his flunkies declare
The ruling will not stop President Obama from recognizing, as he did last year, a national day of prayer, said White House spokesman Ben LaBolt. Judge Crabb delayed the imposition of her ruling pending an appeal.
“We have reviewed the court’s decision, and it does not prevent the president from issuing a proclamation,”
This is the funniest part of the news
“President Obama is a constitutional scholar, and knows the issues at stake,” said the foundation Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor.
Well, Annie, you should have paid more attention:
It was not the B0bots, but six million fundies staying home Election Day who elected Obama. Their pastors didn’t tell them to vote for a number of reasons – they were paid off before and after the election:
Before the election Obama did nothing to make his supporters in California to vote against proposition 8
Obama declared – repeatedly that abortion is not an issue of women’s freedom, but a moral choice.
During his campaign he pledged to extend Bush’s faith based programs, including allowing those federally funded groups to hire and fire based on faith.
When congress was writing the stimulus, Obama personally asked House members to dump contraceptives funding from the bill
and also it restores funding for abstinence only programs education (i.e religious groups)
and culminating nicely with the Jane Crow Executive Order allowing religious hospitals/practitioners to discriminate against women, but protecting THEM from being discriminated against ( additional provisions to Hyde too)
and these were just a few I searched in my own blog.
Where were you, Foundation for Freedom from Religion when all these things happened?
Me? I learn to read the incoming threats from the way a candidate sells himself.
Bush sold himself as the first busines school graduate – he wrecked the economy.
Obama, the first Constitutional scholar…. see how it works?
Not Your Sweetie 
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