GOP 2012 ticket prediction

[MicroBalrog]

The fact that Muslims fight each other does not change the fact that Islam cannot co-exist, except uncomfortably, with Non-Islam.  All you're saying is that Muslims cannot get along--with anyone.  Is part of this the fact that they're human beings?  Yeah, definitely, but culture and ideology matter, culture and ideology shape and dispose.  When you begin with an all-powerful Deity whose actions are arbitrary, unquestionable, and all-controlling, your culture tends to take a certain path...

Muslim wage wars. So does everybody else. Waging wars on an interminnent basis is the general state of mankind, for generations of generations. You are implying that Islam is somehow inherently 'worse' than every other form of religion, posing a civilizational threat.

Which "Teuton invasion" are you referring to?  We keep coming back to the fact that no one is fighting wars in the name of Jesus Christ any more.  "Deus Vult" is history.  Would that we could say that about the battle-cry of "Allah u akbar!"

[Perd Hapley]

Micro, did you think those pictures would prove something?

[MicroBalrog]

Micro, did you think those pictures would prove something?

That people still invoke Christianity in the modern day to wage wars. This does not mean that Christianity is the motive behind those wars, nor does it mean Christianity is bad. People like believing that God is on their side.

[SADShooter]

The distinction argued here, I think, is that Muslims engage in violence with Islam as its basis, not merely invoking divine protection while fighting about something else.

[MicroBalrog]

The distinction argued here, I think, is that Muslims engage in violence with Islam as its basis, not merely invoking divine protection while fighting about something else.

The distinction argued here is that longeyes argues that we are a weakened civilization in a state of moral decline struggling against an assault by a giant force of Islam. I argue that we are strong in every sense - financially, morally, militarily - waging war against terrorist organizations and a few rogue states that back them for religious and political reasons. Our enemies are evil, yet incompetent and morally weak.

A civilization morally weak and unsure of its superiority would never have produced the United States Marines, the Russian VDV, or the British SAS. Even Israel's Tzanhanim, Givati, Golani are still the incredible superiors of our enemies in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza. This isn't a coincidence.

[SADShooter]

I appreciate your optimism. I confess I don't particularly share it. I might agree that radical Islam isn't the ultimate threat we face, but the moral and economic decline are evident. The fact that we (the west generally) are still militarily and technologically preeminent doesn't mean we will remain so under progressive moral and economic deterioration.

The current economic and long-term debt situation/debate in the U.s. is illustrative. The house is actively engaged in a fire. The occupants are either: oblivious, in willful denial of the fire, or arguing about using a garden hose or fire extinguisher to fight it. Meanwhile, the fire department is engaged in sensitivity training and unavailable.

[longeyes]

The distinction argued here is that longeyes argues that we are a weakened civilization in a state of moral decline struggling against an assault by a giant force of Islam. I argue that we are strong in every sense - financially, morally, militarily - waging war against terrorist organizations and a few rogue states that back them for religious and political reasons. Our enemies are evil, yet incompetent and morally weak.

A civilization morally weak and unsure of its superiority would never have produced the United States Marines, the Russian VDV, or the British SAS. Even Israel's Tzanhanim, Givati, Golani are still the incredible superiors of our enemies in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza. This isn't a coincidence.

Well, not exactly.  It's not that I think we in the West are condemned to weakness or that Islam is inherently stronger.  Far from it.  I do believe the West is serious assault (as much from within as from without) and I do believe that we have weak leadership both in America and in Europe.  I also believe that we can turn that around whenever the right people take power.  Unfortunately, that is going to take a momentous upheaval in the West to accomplish; it is going to take the right people with the right ideas.   

But maybe you folks in Israel will end up taking the lead on that?

That the West has many assets at its disposal--military, technological, economic, political, and moral--is indisputable, but the West is under an evil spell, and until it awakens the goblins are going to run rampant.

***

Surely you are not implying that Nazism was a Christian movement?

[TommyGunn]

Surely you are not implying that Nazism was a Christian movement?

"Gott mit uns" ("God is with us") was adopted by the German Army in 1871, IIRC and the phrase was retained by Germany during the Third Reich, although Hitler only tolerated the church because it was so entrenched in society it would have been too hard to eliminate; instead he merely forced it to adopt certain Nazi regalia.  Hitler's attitude toard Christianity might best be expressed through one of his quotes; "you can't be a good German and a good Christian at the same time."

[Perd Hapley]

That people still invoke Christianity in the modern day to wage wars. This does not mean that Christianity is the motive behind those wars, nor does it mean Christianity is bad. People like believing that God is on their side.

What do those prove? Like your first two pictures, they prove very little. In terms of religion, there is no comparison between Al-Qaeda, and the Nazis or the Federal Reserve. It's like saying that the president is a preacher, just because he ends a speech with "God bless America."


The third picture? I don't know. What is going on there?

[MicroBalrog]

But maybe you folks in Israel will end up taking the lead on that?

Sadly I feel Israel is not the country people in America think it is.

That the West has many assets at its disposal--military, technological, economic, political, and moral--is indisputable, but the West is under an evil spell, and until it awakens the goblins are going to run rampant.

What form of 'rampancy' do you predict?

Surely you are not implying that Nazism was a Christian movement?

Surely not. But many people among the German army believed themselves to be Christians (I don't use the words 'were Christians' because I do not wish to be misunderstood as attacking Christianity), prayed to the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ, etc.

[MicroBalrog]

What do those prove? Like your first two pictures, they prove very little. In terms of religion, there is no comparison between Al-Qaeda, and the Nazis or the Federal Reserve. It's like saying that the president is a preacher, just because he ends a speech with "God bless America."

The very point I was seeking to make is precisely that.

I am not equating this use of religious symbolism with the use of Islam by Al-Quaeda, which is a fanatical terrorist group whose ideology is linked to killing people in the name of Islam.

I am equating this use of religious symbolism to the use of Islamic symbolism by the generic Muslim countries, where Islam is often invoked in military contexts. My entire point is that these countries are NOT like Al-Quaeda.

The third picture? I don't know. What is going on there?

A Russian Orthodox priest blessing officer-cadets.

Similar photos can  be had of priests blessing bombers, SSBNs, etc.

[MicroBalrog]

Back on topic.

The leading candidates are now Mitt Romney at 17% and Sarah Palin at 15%, followed (by what I must assume is a statistical blip) by Ron Paul with 10%.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/147806/Romney-Palin-Lead-Reduced-GOP-Field-2012.aspx

[TommyGunn]

Back on topic.

The leading candidates are now Mitt Romney at 17% and Sarah Palin at 15%, followed (by what I must assume is a statistical blip) by Ron Paul with 10%.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/147806/Romney-Palin-Lead-Reduced-GOP-Field-2012.aspx

Oh ... no........no.....no.....no.......   




Anyone know how much a small but nice house in Costa Rica goes for these days?

[longeyes]

If we decentralize the way we need to, the Presidency will eventually become what it should have been all along.

[AZRedhawk44]

I hear in the early 19th century, it was possible to walk up to the White House and knock on the door.

If you did it early enough in the morning, the POTUS himself might answer the door in a dressing robe.



Our elected representatives should never be un-approachable.

[roo_ster]

Do explain how being a law professor is somehow not a 'real job'.

In the USA, the majority of profs are gov't employees.

[MicroBalrog]

In the USA, the majority of profs are gov't employees.

Clearly being a soldier, a police officer, an astronaut is also not a real job.

Of course, President Obama taught at a private university.

[TommyGunn]

Clearly being a soldier, a police officer, an astronaut is also not a real job.

Of course, President Obama taught at a private university.

Oh, then clearly being a professor is not a real job.

[Boomhauer]

Oh ... no........no.....no.....no.......   




Anyone know how much a small but nice house in Costa Rica goes for these days?

I say again:

You guys know we're boned, right? We are going to be stuck (yet again) with a RINO...

[SteveT]

The RINOs poll better against Obama than the true right conservatives.   They get slaughtered.

[longeyes]

Trying to win over people who don't even belong in the same country is the conservatives' real problem.

[SteveT]

Trying to win over people who don't even belong in the same country is the conservatives' real problem.

I'm not exactly sure what this means, but in the end you need enough voters to reach 270 electoral votes, or you lose.

[makattak]

The RINOs poll better against Obama than the true right conservatives.   They get slaughtered.

Gerald Ford polled much better against Jimmy Carter in 1979 and early 1980 than Reagan did. All the way up till the election. (Reagan was down by 25% against Carter in March of 1980.)

Of course, Reagan got slaughtered, right?

[longeyes]

I'm not exactly sure what this means, but in the end you need enough voters to reach 270 electoral votes, or you lose.

What it means is that this nation is terminally riven.  In my view.  We need to focus on the people who still get it or could get it.  That's political realism; it's also survival realism.

[Ben]

So what's the scuttlebutt on Rick Perry? I like that he CCWs (I believe we had a thread on the coyote incident) and he seems to be good for the TX economy, but otherwise I don't know much about him.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/05/27/perrys-path-gop-nomination-clearest/