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What Did America Vote Against Last Tuesday?
While the liberals did not present a clear case for what they were for or what their agenda would be, they made the case for what they were against. And a majority of Americans joined them – on some things.
While America voted against the War in Iraq, the way they perceive the President has handled that war, Jack Abramoff, Duke Cunningham, Mark Foley (and maybe even Ted Haggard), a party that has overspent and some Republican leaders who have forsaken their traditional, conservative, pro-life roots, it did not vote against conservative values in most cases.
People mostly voted against a congressional face that they perceived to look like self-indulgence and corruption.
I personally believe that what we saw last week was America voting against a “prodigal son.” People who ran conservative, only to act liberal or progressive after they were elected. They voted against a party that had, in too many instances, departed from principle and ethics.
The Washington Post was the standard bearer for the media with this headline: “A Voter Rebuke for Bush, the War and the Right.”
While voters sent a message about how they felt toward the President and the War, they did not send that message to conservatives or the political right. The mainstream media would wish that with all their heart, but it simply isn’t true.
In nearly all the major ballot issues at the state level across America, conservatives or values voters won.
For example, ballot initiatives to recognize marriage as between a man and a woman won in seven out of eight states with strong majority votes. A number of other conservative initiatives dealing with property rights and immigration won as well.
As our culture comes to grips with the real issues of the day, we find they may be less about Republican or Democrat, or left or right, and more about right or wrong – secular or Biblical.
Ronald Reagan once said, “You and I are told we must choose between a left or right, but I suggest there is no such thing as a left or right. There is only an up or down. Up to man’s age-old dream – the maximum of individual freedom consistent with order – or down to the ant heap of totalitarianism.”
He also said, “It is time, indeed, to do more than just talk of a better world. It is time to act --- freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream.”
Acting out of conviction is difficult; because there is usually something about what you are doing that is challenged by people on either side. However, it is only when we act out of conviction that we can truly impact our culture.
Last week, we had a private, closed-door strategy meeting with trusted leaders – some from business and some who hold elected office in Washington State.
Very soon, Faith & Freedom will be making several announcements regarding some positions that we will be taking on issues that will be before the public in Washington State and the actions we intend to take. This will not be well-received by some, but we are acting out of deep conviction, sincerity, and a commitment based on a Biblical worldview.
Thank you for your continued prayer and support.
_______________
Gary Randall
President
Faith & Freedom
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33 Comments:
The voters absolutely sent that message to the political right. You, Mr. Randall, are just continuing to show your stubborn refusal to hear the truth - even when it is said loud and clear like it was a week ago today.
But I encourage and support FnF in your big upcoming announcements. I hope they are made out of "conviction, sincerity, and a commitment based on a Biblical worldview". It would be a nice change from the normal stuff you do here.
Thank you for all you do Gary.
There are many learned people who came to the same conclusions that you did.
I, for one support you Gary and your organization and what you stand for. Keep up the good fight. There are many many fighting beside you. May God Bless you abundantly.
Fortunately, for the protection of our freedom and democracy, America has awakened. It is past the tipping point on our road to recovery from the damage done by the neocons and radical right.
Gay marriage will happen, that ship has sailed.
Newly found investigative powers will unearth corruption and lies far worse than most imagined, launching us on a course that will keep moderates in power for years.
In fact, I believe that for an extended term, this website has been rendered irrelevant. I plan to visit only very occasionally.
Gary's followers can take solace in the fact that God indeed does work in mysterious ways. This time he saved you from yourself!
What I am really happy about is that many RINO's (Republicans in name only) lost and pro-life Democrats won in their stead. Of course, no pro-life issues will see the light of day for the next two years, but after two years of the type of mess the Democrats are already starting, I hope there will be big gains for Rep. and Rep. with convictions, not just in name. And our nation will once again be helping to protect our inalienable rights, among them "Life..."
I am buckled up and ready for your annoucement Gary. Let's kick-it into overdrive in the new year.
Thanks Gary for all the truth you spread. America lost, Socialism and Communism took a step forward in our great country. Keep up the good fight. The brain washed left bites the hand that feeds them. Council with a fool and that makes you a fool!
Gary mentioned the media and someone above mentioned corruption. I've watched the Murtha scandal very closely the last few days. Fox news website has had 2 articles on it so far. CNN and MSN websites have had nothing on it. CBS evening news didn't report it. I found that very interesting for 2 reasons:
1) it supports claims of media bias (I wasn't able to know for certain because I didn't watch closely until 2004 when Republicans were in full control, so I had nothing to compare it to)
2) Nancy Pelosi backed Murtha before this came out. What will she do now? She had big talk of ethics and reforms. I will watch with interest.
The Murtha "scandal," which is actually more of a record of corruption (significant but trivial when put aside other recent Congressional examples) has been reported extensively in the NY Times and in the Washington Post, both bastions of the Liberal media.
Murtha is hardly a liberal, he often voted with, and made deals with other Dem reps. for voting with, GOP Congressmen.
That is why he should not be made the new Dem. Majority leader.
This post from Randall is nothing more than "sour grapes" about a corrupt GOP that abandoned conservative family values (although they did exploit them for years, and will most likely continue to do so in future elections), that was corrupt, and so was righteously booted from office.
Funny how he didn't have anything to say on these subjects before the election. Maybe he is like Mr. Limbaugh who is now "liberated" from "carrying water" for people he actually despised.
Then Mr. Randall goes on to prepare us for the new agenda that liberals like myself will not be happy with (in that we are in agreement). He does this I think to posture like FFN and he are important to the scheme of American politics.
They might prove to be.
But right now the facts are that they failed to deliver any policies or judicial candidates that they intended to this election cycle.
The "business leaders" they speak of no doubt understand this, and are possibly thinking that maybe the match between them and conservative Christians isn't the powerhouse that it promised to be.
One thing is for sure, Mr. Randall's arrogance will remain as naked as it currently is, no matter what happens in Washington State politics.
Gee, let me guess FFN is going to launch some sort of anti-gay intiative. What will it be this time, anti-gay marriage amendement? Or maybe another futile attempt to make discrimination based on sexual orientation legal again?
Anything to milk the rubes for a few more bucks, eh Gary?
-JC
Gary,
Once again I give you kudos for not censoring those bloggers who take issue with your blogs. This is one significant distinction I see between this site and the typical Evangelical Relgious Right site.
Sincerely,
In Christ,
Human
Gary,
I have to take issue with your blog. It is so full twists and opinion and propaganda that it would take a year to unscrew it and straighten it out. Honestly, I must ask, how did your head get so screwed up to think in these manners - unless, as JC suggests, you are simply a profiteering demogogue and this is how you make your $$ - by what is commonly called muckracking. At present, I do not know your motivation only what you present so I speak to that. I will limit to one or two obvious issues.
a. Liberal Progressive Boogyman - This is a fictionalized boogyman created by the right that does not exist and that you use like the cheese for proverbial rat in the cage. You have all the little rats salivating as soon as you raise the huge ugly boogyman. Sure enough - here they come salivating, shaking in an emotional frenzie when you ring the boogyman bell.
I am so sad to see people, some who may in fact sincerely desire to worship and serve the Creator be so used and duped into this pit of being used by the right wing. I would suggest that this would be a fine example of the "great falling away" Paul talks about in Thessalonians. They have literally sold their soul for political merchandise.
I find the best factual info to be on AM1090 - full of those horrible boogeyman - but actually giving raw data (as opposed to FNF which provides precious litte raw data but focuses on Gary's opinion and propaganda points).
b. Biblical Worldview - I find it painful at best to see such a twisting of scripture by the ERR and then representing it to the world as "the Word of God" when, in fact, it is primarily just the opposite. It is increasing intriguing to me that it was the common person who heard Jesus gladly whereas the religiouspeople hated Jesus and killed him. Today, the religious people love the ERR and despise Jesus except for the use of his name for politcal gain.
It is critical that those genuine disciples of Jesus speak out against this deception and make plain that the these are anti-Christs who have come to deceive many in His name - even as He warned - and that our elected leaders are well aware of this.
I am greatly saddened that so much effort is being expended simply to oppress and hurt peaceful human beings - by this fruit ye shall know Satan.
Peace,
In Christ,
Human
I'm a little sad that Gary didn't find a way to squeeze in "activist judges" and "secularists".
How about the idea that Americans were voting towards the middle ground. There are few who will completely endorse extreme positions on the right or left.
Gary,
It doesn't matter what you say on here. These negative folks will always take issue with you. Keep up the fight. We can't give into a secular worldview.
--Wayne Besen (www.waynebesen.com)
Leave it to the Religious Right to turn Santa Claus into a wedge issue and exchange the gift of seasonal cheer for a box of holiday fear. Thanks to their histrionic "War on Christmas" campaign, major retailers, including Wal-Mart and Walgreen Co. are now dumping "Happy Holidays" for "Merry Christmas" and piping in religious Christmas carols.
"They're all trying to get the spirit back," industry analyst Marshal Cohen told the Los Angeles Times.
Is he talking about the universal Christmas Spirit or the sectarian Holy Spirit? This sudden change of heart was due to an intensive lobbying campaign last year by right wing organizations, such as the American Family Association and Liberty Counsel, and conservative pundits like Sean Hannity and Ann Coulter. While mainstream Americans went to the store with a shopping list, conservatives showed up with a political agenda, checking chains once and twice to see if they were naughty or nice.
Yes, their tireless efforts to divide America paid off and Jesus is now officially the "Reason for the Season." With this monumental change, we can purchase Sin on sale to the soundtrack of Silent Night. Praise the American Family Association for they have put morals back into the mall. With the new Big Box Bible plan, you can also get that violent video game for your child, confess your wickedness while in line and be absolved by the time you swipe your American Express.
You know what, if Jesus were a greeter at Wal-Mart, I bet he'd welcome customers with the more inclusive "Happy Holidays."
Jesus was about humility and respecting other people, while this phony "War on Christmas" is about humiliation and disrespecting the views of others. This is a muscular version of religion that seeks to overpower and stomp on diversity.
The reason that retail stores began to say "Happy Holidays" was a recognition that many of their shoppers were not Christians. It was not a war on anyone or anything, but a matter of courtesy, good manners, and common decency. After all, why would a genuine Christian want to want to tell a Hindu, Jew or atheist "Merry Christmas?"
It makes no sense unless the hidden goal is to intimidate people and cow them into accepting religious supremacy of the majority religion. This is the right wings way to let you know that they are in charge and that this is a fundamentalist Christian nation and you are merely renting space, thanks to their overwhelming generosity.
If you break it down, this is really about proselytizing. It is a sort of Jesus tax, that lets non-believers shop for the holidays if they are willing to pay the price of constantly having to bow before another's deity.
This issue does not seem like a big deal on the surface since it is largely symbolic. However, if you look at the way the right wing incorporates symbols and then uses them to bludgeon opponents, there is reason to worry. They often point to the dollar bill and say, "See, it says 'in God we trust!' Doesn't that prove we are a Christian nation? Or, they will point to the Pledge of Allegiance and say, "It says one nation under God, so we can deny gay people equality or teach creationism in public schools because it is our' country."
As with these other symbols, the extremists want to hijack the shared shopping experience that holds us together and remake it in their own mean-spirited image. While Merry Christmas may be a truly joyous message to Christians, it may not be entirely benign to others. It is the celebration of the birth of Jesus and to make other people share in the religious festivities when they enter a Wal-Mart is wrong.
These large chains should reverse course and not give in to the demagogues on the fringe. After getting creamed in the elections, the conservatives get this consolation prize while they lick their wounds. For now, they may have won Wal-Mart and Walgreens in their War on Christmas, but in doing so they have lost their reason for the season, which is love, peace and goodwill for all.
--Tim Cravens, Bishop, Independent Catholic Christian Church
Speaking as a Christian clergyman, two points need to be made:
1. The Puritans who settled this country regarded Christmas as a PAGAN holiday that was forbidden to TRUE CHRISTIANS (Catholics and Anglicans being considered pagans and not real Christians) and, in fact, in most of the New England colonies, the celebration of Christmas was a criminal offense.
2. Liturgical Christians (Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran) observe a penitential preparation period, Advent, from the fourth Sunday before Christmas until December 24. During this period, Christmas greetings and music are inappropriate. Christmas begins on the evening of December 24 and continues through January 6 (Dec 25 - Jan 5 are the "Twelve Days of Christmas").
The AFA and other idiots who are waging this "war for Christmas" are basically arguing for the sacredness of the secular holiday celebration that is the creation of American department stores for the purpose of making money and which is not actually based in Christian tradition.
As someone once said, the religious right is to true religion what paint-by-number is to great art.
Anon 10:01
Nothing more to add - GREAT POST!!
Truth matters and you have shared.
Thanks,
In Christ,
Human
Gary, I have to smile at the above negative posts.
They say far more to make your case than you ever could.
Keep up the good work.
Amazing how all the anonymous cowards, who constantly whine about the "negative posts" can't see the rampant negativism in Gary's posts.
-JC
For once I agree with those liberals. While I still cannot see why a store would advertise wreaths or trees for the "holidays" because no "holiday" but Christmas has those as symbols....same with Christmas tree decorations, nativity sets, even Santa Claus stuff, stockings etc.etc.....
but we really don't need all that STUFF! We need to not shop at stores that don't really have Christmas stuff, and lessen our Christmas giving to the small, perhaps mission oriented sites that do some good while we are helping our children to enjoy the Christmas season.
Meanwhile, we need to direct our Republican politicians, who still have some idea of truth in them (ie when they make a promise, they actually mean it) to go back to the contract with America and stop spending like liberals, and taking away our rights. We need to tell them to separate church and state: ie to stop trying to use the state to usurp the church's responsibilities in the areas of taking care of the poor and homeless. We want them to stick to the duties of a nation, to PROVIDE for the common defense and to PROMOTE the general welfare (such as giving tax breaks to married couples and more for each kid...make those permanent!)
Christmas is the birth of Jesus. It has been bent back and for centuries. It is sad. And that my brothers and sisters is what will happen with Gay marriage..You bend marriage to what you think it should be and you will get no real marriage. Good example Christmas.No real christmas anymore. Birthday of our savior Jesus Christ.I think many christians want it back. Do not think one minute the retailers want that. It would mean thier highest point of the season would be sunk. Materialism is not christianity. That is what you above who protest Gary do not understand. You do not get why we want christmas out there.Because it is one step to what is true. Not what the retail industry and atheists want it to be. It is what God made it. The birth of christ. AND IT SHOULD BE CELEBRATED AND GLORIOUSLY REJOICED ABOUT. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU- EARLY!
What the perverted left promotes while the right sleeps .
Dear Safe Schools Coalition members and friends:
(1) Lobby Day to focus on science-based, medically accurate sexual health curriculum (Feb 12; Olympia, WA)
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If you want to help or if your club or church or other group wants to participate, contact Alissa Haslam, Field Coordinator at NARAL Pro-Choice Washington (206-624-1990 or mailto:alissahaslam@prochoicewashington.org)
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Human, "I have to take issue with your blog" entries. Very nice how you preface your big rant with the obligatory "you're site is so cool, since you don't censor anyone". That seems transparently manipulative, if you ask me...
You come on here trying to sound so intellectual and mature, but tend towards using Bible verses, typically taken out of context, to try and support your anti-conservative agenda. Nice try, but you're fooling no one...
You say "I am so sad to see people, some who may in fact sincerely desire to worship and serve the Creator be so used and duped into this pit of being used by the right wing", but to where do you suggest people turn? To the left? Liberalism? Democrats? The right may not be perfect, but the left tends to be so far from my values, that they're not even on the voting radar, as far as I'm concerned. I'm not that into politics and I'll certainly vote for whoever I want, regardless of their party, but I've not seen any Democrat candidates (in Oregon, where I live, at least) that don't have conflicting views with me on most major issues. So, once again I ask, where should I turn? Should I "turn"? Or should I try to support and fix the party that usually most closely reflect my value. What do you do with your friends, family, or co-workers when they annoying you? Do you drop them out of your life and go try to join up with people you have virtually nothing in common with and/or you can't stand, or do you try to influence them to be better and help them improve themselves?
When you said "It is increasing intriguing to me that it was the common person who heard Jesus gladly whereas the religiouspeople hated Jesus and killed him." it finally sunk in what it is about your posts that get on my nerves. It's that you post like I'd expect a Pharisee to post (seemingly knowledgeable about the Word, but full of themselves, looking for attention, and not fully understanding of the Word). I'll pray that your eyes and/or my eyes be openned to the truth so that we may both see it (admitting that I could be wrong, though I don't think so at the moment, but I'm willing to humble myself and pray that the I'm shown the light if I'm in the dark). I will pray for us both and I hope that you will too.
DC
I do understand that the actual birthday of Jesus is unknown (except it may well have been in the Spring as with the shepherds with the lambs). It doesn't matter whether it is THE day or not, tradition has put it during the dark days of winter where light is welcome.
So, to call it "Christmas", means something to a lot of people in the United States. It does to a very small degree in other countries including UK and Europe. The strong meaning of Christmas for most people is waning. I also know what with all the nostalgia, many people who are "on the edge" suffer great depression. Even if you had ANY spiritual uplifting holiday of any sort there would always be those sufferers. It goes with thoughts of "home" and for the sufferers, the LOSS of "home".
To squabble about whether the "Season" is Christmas or some other name goes against the spirit of the Christian traditional meaning. This shouldn't be. I know the commercialization has gotten a BIG hold on the season. That is interesting as, IF and that is a big if, the Christian's stopped celebrating in the traditional ways, forced out by the secular attitude, commerce would suffer greatly!!!
Our Lord is soon to return for his church! That, we can rejoice in!
Merry Christmas, to men of good will!
DC you gave me a gift. While I could see the pride, I wasn't seeing the Pharisee because it took a liberal form. But you are absolutely right. There are a lot of people who have had their nerves "gotten on" by the strange rantings and you best explained why.
I believe that Human and Oshtur Vishanti (formerly known as long-term guest Vishanti or Vishi) are the same person.
I believe that Mick, Gary Randall, and Ann Coulter are all the same person, too.
Thanks. :-)
DC
Human, please respect those of us who would never say JC for Jesus Christ. We don't say XMAS for Christmas either.
IS LIBERAL CHRISTIANITY REALLY GAINING STRENGTH?
November 6th 2006
A recent headline in USA TODAY proudly proclaimed: "Mainline Pulls in Protestants" with a subhead stating, "Pews are Filling Up in Some Churches." It wasn't until the sixth paragraph of the article that the reporter acknowledged that the leading liberal or "Mainline" denominations - United Methodists, Presbyterian Church USA, Episcopal Church and others - have all been losing membership. They averaged declines of 7.4% in the last ten years! Meanwhile, more conservative denominations - Southern Baptists, Roman Catholics, and Assemblies of God - have been growing rapidly: increasing membership by 11.4% in that same period. So why the misleading headline, when the relative strength of Mainline churches is obviously declining? "Just because a denomination looks like it's dying doesn't mean there actually is les mainline religion out there," says one enigmatic professor quoted in the article. Actually, the USA TODAY piece represents an exercise in denial behavior from observers unwilling to face the obviously conservative direction of American religiosity.
Ann Coulter
Anonymous twit at 8:15 PM.
No one has used JC for Jesus Christ in this thread, nor anywhere on this blog that I am aware of. Perhaps you should read and try to understand before jumping to false conclusions and getting all offended.
-JC
Right JC ,
Would not want anyone jumping to conclusions .
Have you heard that they are investigating the grassy noll area , Karl Rove is said to have been involved in Iraq /Iran talks from that very area .
Ah Mick,
As incoherent and irrational as ever I see.
Yawn.
-JC
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