The GOP’s McCarthy Gene - Oogedy Boodgedy

From the LA Times:

Ever since the election, partisans within the Republican Party and observers outside it have been speculating wildly about what direction the GOP will take to revive itself from its disaster. Or, more specifically, which wing of the party will prevail in setting the new Republican course — whether it will be what conservative writer Kathleen Parker has called the “evangelical, right-wing, oogedy-boogedy” branch or the more pragmatic, intellectual, centrist branch. To determine the answer, it helps to understand exactly how Republicans arrived at this spot in the first place.

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Gay Marriage is NOT About the Majority

Since the past election, I have read thousands of post. Those for gay marriage, and those who oppose it. One argument of those who oppose gay marriage consistently offered as justification is: “But the majority of the country voted against it, so we shouldn’t have it (gay marriage) forced on us.”

First of all, no one is forcing gay marriage on anyone. If you are straight, and you are married, or not, how does that affect me? It doesn’t. I’m not involved in your marital matters. I’m not involved in your life whatsoever. So, why do you want to be involved in my life to the point where my marriage affects your life? Let’s face it, I better never catch you in bed with my man.

Secondly, and very seriously, the majority of this country once believed in segregation. Did that make it right? Once a majority of this country didn’t believe women should have the right to vote. Did that make it right? The majority of this country once opposed interracial marriage. Did that make it right?

Now, if you think on a global scale, at one time, a majority of Germans thought Jews should be killed. Did that make it right? Or going back even further, at one time, a majority of the world’s population though the world was flat. So, was the world flat?

And lastly, before I step down off my soap box, Christians are by no means the majority in the world. So, should the majority religions be able to tell Christians how or who to worship?

The Real Dangers of Sarah Palin & the Right Wing

From LewRockwell:

McCain is old news, so Palin stands to become dominant in her role of head of the right-wing faction which is probably more numerous than the centrist wing. This means come 2012, Palin will indeed be seen as the de facto leader of the party and especially as the leader of the religious right/culture warrior faction of the party.

Palin will become the leader of the American right-wing. Unless she has a major change of heart, Palin will stand for war, nationalism, the religious right, domestic spying, and massive government of every kind. Her followers will worshipfully follow her anywhere because they see her as the annointed middle-American savior who will lead the GOP to victory against the hordes of urban non-whites, immigrants, Ivory Tower America-haters, and atheists.

She will be re-elected in 2010 as governor, and in 2012 will emerge as the front runner from the right-wing of the party.

Palin will fully employ her country-girl schtick and will rely on active support from evangelicals, rural Republicans, and pro-war factions of the party.

In short, it will resemble the primary of 2000 when George Bush emerged using a country-boy schtick and seized control of the right wing of the party.

In many ways Palin is just George W. Bush without the blue blood, and she will build a very similar coalition. Like Bush she will have lots of clever slogans like Compassionate Conservatism, but virtually nothing will be heard about actually reducing the size of government except as a mantra to discredit “tax and spend liberals.” Like Bush, she will choose a Cheney-like running mate to provide “gravitas.”

The the entire article by clicking here.

Religious Right Holding On for Dear Life

According to the Anti-Gay Christian right website CNSnews.com:

Social conservative leaders in Washington, D.C., say that Tuesday’s sea change election doesn’t spell the end of the conservative movement. But it will mean a thorough “shake-out” — and the Religious Right needs to re-think its relationship with the GOP.

“I don’t think the conservative brand is damaged,” Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council told CNSNews.com.

“I think conservative values continue to be something that a large number – if not a majority — of Americans identify with,” he said. “I think the brand problem is a Republican problem. And I do think they are going to have to do some rebuilding. I think part of that is reaching out to young people, and part of it is a return to the conservatism of Ronald Reagan.”

There will always be a conservative movement in the United States, Perkins said.

Religious Right Power Diminishes in Washington D.C.

The Religious Right’s access to power in Washington, D.C., has been seriously diminished, but its divisive influence at the state and local level remains deeply problematic, according to an election analysis by Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

“Religious Right forces did everything in their power to demonize Barack Obama and maintain their influence in the White House,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United executive director, “but it didn’t work. The majority of white evangelicals voted predictably Republican, but most other Americans ignored the Religious Right’s shrill and partisan message.”

Read more at clarksvilleonline.com.

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