tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26145735.post408986323384346826..comments2024-03-28T03:32:52.949-07:00Comments on unapologetic conjecture: Homegrown American Taliban Threatens Christian Evangelicals with Blame for Ruining America if Obama WinsBenjamin Gormanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15690290533167718706noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26145735.post-66916271578251154142008-11-05T16:11:00.000-08:002008-11-05T16:11:00.000-08:00BG, you nailed my point when you say, "identifying...BG, you nailed my point when you say, "identifying the times Dobson was correct and illustrating why he was wrong about the causes". I don't care about the causes, only the outcomes. I don't know enough about Dobson to have the obvious dislike that you've achieved. I was merely reading the text, cross-referencing the footnotes of actual Obama quotes and positions, and imagining how those positions could affect the US and the world. In that regard, I thought it was a creative way to make a point, based on the reality of the quotes and positions in the footnotes. <BR/><BR/>You may want to talk to @M about his denial issues, though. ;-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26145735.post-34003992394527635832008-11-05T11:45:00.000-08:002008-11-05T11:45:00.000-08:00Dear Anon:I am afraid you confused the appearance ...Dear Anon:<BR/><BR/>I am afraid you confused the appearance of my blood boiling, with that of me curled up on the ground in uproarious laughter, unable to stand. (I think I just peed myself.) Seriously, consider the comedy tour circuit as a life plan!Jed Carosaarihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10775889983099808362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26145735.post-26648241355616873002008-11-05T11:17:00.000-08:002008-11-05T11:17:00.000-08:00Completely grounded in reality? No, the piece is m...Completely grounded in reality? No, the piece is mired in the bile of a fearful, spiteful, and despairing ideology. Dobson's letter may turn out to be predictive in the same way the astrology section of you local newspaper is predictive; even when he's correct, he will be fundamentally wrong about the reasons those things have occurred. For example, if there are terrorist attacks, it will not be the fault of young evangelicals who voted for Obama. It will be because of, um, I'm just guessing here, terrorists. I could spend the next four years identifying the times Dobson was correct and illustrating why he was wrong about the causes, but instead I think I'll do two things most Americans will do: I will enjoy watching my country repair itself after eight long years of dismal, incompetent, and morally bankrupt Bush leadership enabled by people who advocated for hatred, warfare, and greed in the name of Jesus Christ. And I'll completely ignore Dr. James Dobson to the best of my ability.Benjamin Gormanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15690290533167718706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26145735.post-47173115589864324242008-11-05T06:52:00.000-08:002008-11-05T06:52:00.000-08:00I suggest that you hold on to that Dobson anecdota...I suggest that you hold on to that Dobson anecdotal letter so you can start checking things off as they take place. I know your blood is boiling already because of the first sentence and you can't think clearly any more, but do you realistically think any of the items in the letter are accurate? Is it 1? 5? 10? <BR/><BR/>While it's unlikely that all of them will happen, the story is completely grounded in reality. Which issues do you think will be a priority?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26145735.post-26981043942677617392008-10-31T22:43:00.000-07:002008-10-31T22:43:00.000-07:00Thanks, Ben. As you mentioned re the post I did on...Thanks, Ben. As you mentioned re the post I did on bluechristian, you are harsh. But at least you didn't use the word "fascist"! Hahahahaha...Jon Trotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05269111052515857956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26145735.post-80775386415973036612008-10-30T22:23:00.000-07:002008-10-30T22:23:00.000-07:00Thanks, Catherine. You get it. I know we shouldn'...Thanks, Catherine. You get it. I know we shouldn't be allowing ourselves to fill up with anger, but c'mon! Liberal Christians are just trying to be cool? I have been trying to treat the other side of some of these hot button issues with respect, to not question their motives but to assume they are sincere. I also know I shouldn't lower myself to the level of an opponent who is clearly not motivated by the same desire for fairness and respect. Still, I can't figure out how to take the high road and do so with a smile on my face.Benjamin Gormanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15690290533167718706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26145735.post-70514265981095695212008-10-30T14:16:00.000-07:002008-10-30T14:16:00.000-07:00I stumbled upon your blog from Sojourners. I can t...I stumbled upon your blog from Sojourners. I can totally relate to your blood boiling... I can barely contain my anger and frustration recently with fellow Christians. <BR/><BR/>At an Obama rally two days ago, I and the other folks in line had to endure two hours of being told we're all going to hell for supporting Obama. We wouldn't if we really knew Jesus' voice, they said.<BR/><BR/>And then the ensuing email bombardment from my right-wing conservative "friends" who found out I went to (Gasp!) a socialist's rally! That was enough to push me over the edge...<BR/><BR/>Expect more from Focus on the Family. I have inside info that their Boundless Magazine is revving up to do a big article on Christians who vote liberally because they want to be cool. What an insult!Catherinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03443426087398554377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26145735.post-67406530908145303312008-10-29T16:44:00.000-07:002008-10-29T16:44:00.000-07:00Was that "Jesus Wants to Save Christians"? I just ...Was that "Jesus Wants to Save Christians"? I just read the description, and I think I'll be adding it to my Christmas list. That being said, I'm back to writing fiction and I'm staying away from anything too timely. I've realized that without some big name it will take me years to get published, so I'd rather spend those years writing the best possible prose I can generate. I should have a query letter on agents' desks shortly after Christmas, but if they want to wait for then end of the series (it might be five or six books long) then that's okay as long as the final product is something I can be truly proud of. And when it's done, the company that publishes "Sarah Palin; A New Kind of Leader" and the "Faith-girlz" series probably won't want to touch it.Benjamin Gormanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15690290533167718706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26145735.post-4285596178810404242008-10-29T15:27:00.000-07:002008-10-29T15:27:00.000-07:00This is sort of a side note, but I just read a boo...This is sort of a side note, but I just read a book by Rob Bell that many would consider liberal within the Christian community.. maybe you could try his publisher?? Good luck!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26145735.post-18042292944785338322008-10-29T13:45:00.000-07:002008-10-29T13:45:00.000-07:00Sojourners has a good response to the Dobson artic...<A HREF="http://www.sojo.net/blog/godspolitics/?p=3283" REL="nofollow">Sojourners</A> has a good response to the Dobson article.Jed Carosaarihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10775889983099808362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26145735.post-7513664231715383412008-10-27T12:23:00.000-07:002008-10-27T12:23:00.000-07:00I love the labels..."Dr. James Dobson, Jesus, Joel...I love the labels..."Dr. James Dobson, Jesus, Joel." Any point to that order? Just sent an email, but thought i'd post this here to see what you're readers thought...<BR/><BR/>According to this article American’s with $1M-$10M vote about 75% for McCain, while those with $10M+ vote about two-thirds Obama.<BR/><BR/>http://blogs.wsj.com/wealth/2008/10/13/the-rich-support-mccain-the-super-rich-support-obama/<BR/><BR/>Apparently $10M is our culturally decided tipping point at which American’s feel their basis needs (recall maslow) are met and they can move on to thinking about social concerns. - BillAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26145735.post-62964314576840216742008-10-27T09:11:00.000-07:002008-10-27T09:11:00.000-07:00P.S. Now I'm feeling defensive and have to cl...P.S. Now I'm feeling defensive and have to clarify that although I may be a registered Republican, I never once voted for Bush. I refuse to have that put on my shoulders by anyone in any party... <BR/>And I'm not wholly certain who I am voting for yet this year but I am MUCH happier with the choices than I was in 2000 & 2004. That was just a major suckfest. Both candidates have positives to offer this time around.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05456529225975263787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26145735.post-29079138896148976362008-10-27T08:53:00.000-07:002008-10-27T08:53:00.000-07:00Dobson...Ugg...As a Catholic, my best hope is that...Dobson...Ugg...<BR/>As a Catholic, my best hope is that he gets sent to Purgatory for eternity (I try to not hope for people to go to hell since it doesn't seem very Christian to do. But Purgatory seems okay, right?). I have many thoughts about all this but no time/energy/space to put them all down. Basically, the question that Joel poses is the same that I've had for years. I keep telling my one remaining athesist friend that "a change is a'comin'" and that the Christian Right is falling and will be replaced by people like "us". I just pray and pray and pray that I'm right. Then maybe I won't have any more athesist friends...<BR/>From one of your earlier blogs..."I want to feel that kind of respect for Republicans, and receive it from them in turn, but I'm not there yet, and the Republicans I know aren't there either"???? That makes me sad. I totally recognize you and your views as "informed, thoughtful, patriotic" even if I don't agree with all of it. Of course I'm very left-leaning in my Republician-ness but you need to realize that it's the same stupid Christian Right that has ruined the GOP and, just like I hope that the "real" Christians will step-up against the C.R., my hope is that as the the C.R.'s hatred and self-righteousness drags them into irrelevance that the GOP party will be restored back to Federalism being the largest, heaviest plank and NOT attacks on Individul's rights. I do admit that if the GOP can't shake the C.R. soon, I may have to switch to Independent. Because I do hate the Democrats thinking I'm stupid. Which they do... : ) ha haAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05456529225975263787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26145735.post-16147847518362763652008-10-27T07:02:00.000-07:002008-10-27T07:02:00.000-07:00In pursuant of this, here's a good article from Ne...In pursuant of this, here's a <A HREF="http://www.newsweek.com/id/165656" REL="nofollow">good article</A> from Newsweek, on how the future could have Palin basically leading us into the religious extremism of a Christian jihad.Jed Carosaarihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10775889983099808362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26145735.post-44829976704821844342008-10-27T05:28:00.000-07:002008-10-27T05:28:00.000-07:00Thank you for your sacrifice, Ben, in suffering fo...Thank you for your sacrifice, Ben, in suffering for us, as Christ did, reading this, so that we don't have to.<BR/><BR/>I agree with you, I don't think a McCain administration would be as apocalyptic as the author of the trash thinks an Obama administration would be. But I think you could agree with me, that you could write an excellent article of The Letter from 2020 in Palin's America?Jed Carosaarihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10775889983099808362noreply@blogger.com