Jesus H Christ, Bush on TV pissing on the Constitution

[BlueEyedSon]

CNN

The US gov't will fund religion, in order to "save one soul at a time."

[RandomKoolzip]

1. I don't have CNN or cable...

What is this about? Faith-based hoo ha?
Give us some links or something, please.....

America is scary these days.

[Fleshdancer]

2. please tell me you're joking about that quote

Holy crap!

[Cooley Hurd]

20. He's not - it was live on TV...

My jaw is scraping the ground, too...

[Bertha Venation]

3. How's that?

No TV here.... Is this a policy speech? Stump speech? Or did someone just forget to lock the cage again?

[m-jean03]

11. Re Faith-based initiative

* is saying that the government will no longer discriminate against faith based orgs in awarding grants, etc... So that they will be able to go about their work "saving Americans one soul at a time".

[Bertha Venation]

32. HOLY F***ING SHIT.

What an idiot! What an asshole! Pissing on the Constitution is right! My god, we have to stop this guy.

[ewagner]

4. This guy has no clue!

He'll say anything or do anything to shore up support from his right-wing, fundie base.

Yes, I am pissed off!

[hlthe2b]

5. I think this may end up being his achilles heel....

This overuse and exploitation of religion for political gain. Even very religious Amercians tend to be more private in their views and their desire for religion to enter into the public realm, as opposed to the extremist RW fundies. I think this is going to be an incredible turn-off for the average American, regardless of their political persuasion.

[Bill McBlueState]

10. i hope so, but...

the average American has shown to be pretty bad at seeing religious pandering for what it is.

I hear "Bush is a man of God, so I support him" so often it makes me barf. :puke:

[truthspeaker]

52. what WMass said

[elfwitch]

63. Bush is a man of God

I live in Texas. You have NO IDEA how often that crap is thrown out as an excuse for his sorry ass. Makes me sick too.

[lovedems]

6. Well, they should start with their own.

They will fund religion but not healthcare. How F&*^ing compassionate of them.

[tom_paine]

7. In the past we've seen what "saving souls" who don;t want to be "saved"

means.

Torture. Imprisonment.

Given that we are dealing with "kinder and gentler" Nazis, I'm guessing the pressure will be more fiscal and social (at least for 20-30 years)

Did the Emperor really say that?

Monster.

[benfranklin1776]

19. Becoming ever more brazen aren't they?

They no longer bother to try and hide it under the mask of :puke: "compassionate conservatism."

[Gman]

8. Bush just dropped the 'ol zipper, whupped it out

and is whizzing away on the constitution with that stupid smirk.

[benfranklin1776]

15. Sounds like he took a massive defecation on it as well.

How audaciously disrespectful to his oath of office can he be?? He continually lowers the bar. He made such a big deal during the campaign about reciting that oath duing every one of his tortured stump speeches. Obviously he has no clue what it means to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." He did not take an oath to be evangelist in chief.

[Bill McBlueState]

9. save one soul at at time?!?!?

They often try to maintain the *illusion* that the faith-based plan will treat all faiths equally. The sad thing is, the dumbass probably has no clue that "saving souls" is a concept specific to Christianity and maybe a few other religions, but by no means universal.

Anyway, I thought Bush's faith-based crap had already been shot down a year or two ago. Are they resurrecting it?

[PassingFair]

64. Never was shot down, WMass

He has done it all with executive fiat. With a Congress that tripped over themselves to pledge allegiance to gawd almighty after Nedow's spectacular victory in preserving our 1st amendment rights to be free of theocracy, what can we expect.
Tired of it? Try my prescription: Howard Dean!

"I'm TIRED of fundamentalist preachers telling us what to do!"
-Howard Dean, repeatedly....

[glarius]

12. He's delivering his latest message from God...get with it you guys!

I'm joking of course....I'm sitting here puking like everyone else...Now he's trying to tell "religious" jokes....:puke:

[BlueEyedSon]

13. First I would point everyone to Plaid Adder's latest

http://www.democraticunderground.com/plaidder/04/09.html

Hopefully, he is oversold.

Second:

[Cleita]

73. Love your signature.

However, Ann is far more anorexic than that graphic.

[LawDem]

14. Please confirm

Someone please confirm: Did he really say something about saving souls? I find that very hard to believe. Surely, even he wouldn't be that stupid -- would he?

[F-5]

16. I think Bush needs to save his soul...

before he tries saving others.

[rucky]

22. Jinx!

You owe me a coke.

Welcome to DU, F-5!

I owe you a beer.:toast:

[NoPasaran]

71. He'd need to get a soul of his own first

Maybe he could get a transplant from a dead Iraqi civilian

[bigwillq]

17. What a joke

The First One just babbled throughtout the whole speech. Agree..thet have funny to fund this but not health care, education, environmental issues.
This faith based funding is almost as funny as spending $12 million to go to the moon.

[rucky]

18. He can start by saving his own soul.

and saving face. the people will not stand for this.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

21. I guess executing people

is his way of saving their souls

[evil_orange_cat]

23. don't worry, he can't do that much damage... he's out in 2004

;)
Dean will be our next prez

[Bertha Venation]

35. Your lips to god's ears, evil cat. n/t

[tom_paine]

36. IF we have unrigged elections

Given the increasingly Soviet nature of the Empire and the Imperial Family, that is certainly a good question.

[evil_orange_cat]

38. it won't matter, Bush will be gone...

Bush against any Democrat candidate won't be close enough for shenanigans like in Florida to even matter. :D

[tom_paine]

66. Man, I pray you're right

Keep up that optimism. We need it!

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[Cocoa]

24. the Philistine in Chief

did he say anything about his brother Neil?

[Ripley]

25. Great News!! He is really desperate now.

One day he's legalizing all illegal immigrants (liberal commie idea), the next day he's got bold vision to go to the Moon and Mars (at a mere 500 trillion, trillion dollars), and now he's pandering to his BASE!

Folks, he is all over the map...he's a scared little Chickenshit.

[Bill McBlueState]

27. I like that interpretation!

goes along nicely with Plaid Adder's column today. Maybe we're seeing the beginning of the fall...

[Ripley]

34. It is so predictable. Yet his handlers are losing.

They keep peaking too early ("end of war", Saddam capture, Dow up). Then, the photo-ops they made for 04 are being used by the Dems! His flopping around like a catfish on the side of the Mississippi is pretty obvious to me that he's running scared. Let me try to make a prediction...he needs to reassure white southerners that he's still with them...so today in Atlanta he'll beat the Bible again by announcing his appointment of Judge Roy Moore from nearby Montgomery to be the head of his new Faith Based Crock of Shit.

Oh, I hope I'm wrong.

[F-5]

26. Is he funding all religion or just Christianity?

If he's funding all religions, then I see no problem with it.

[BlueEyedSon]

31. I think your interpretation of the Establishment Clause is flawed.

In any case how would you equitably distribute the monies across all denominations? What about Atheists?

[Webster Green]

39. How about my Church of The Holy Mystical Herb?

We could use some federal funds to purchase our (ahem) supplies, so that our neighborhood outreach program can administer the Holy Sacrament to our needy souls.

[Carni]

60. LOL Haven't you heard of Reverend Bud?

He was big in the 70's LOL

[PVnRT]

55. Atheists, by definition, aren't a religion

But that does not detract from your argument, as the Establishment Clause was clearly set up to keep government and religion completely seperate - all religions. Even if every religion were funded in some equitable manner, the government would effectively be sending a message to all atheists, that they are not supported, and basically not welcome in this country.

[Webster Green]

33. Perhaps a reading of the U.S. Constitution is in order.

This violates the principle of separation of church and state.

[markus]

41. All religions? What about the UFO cult

that committed mass suicide a few year back? What about the Scientologists? What about Jim Jones?

Obviously, the government will end up trying to discern among "religions" and that is patently unconsitutional.

[Ganja Ninja]

47. Satanic Cults deserve an equal share.

Saving Souls in an equal opportunity faith based program one at a time.

[BiggJawn]

68. Steve Goldsmith, former #2 guy at OFBI said...

"...Do I see a coven of witches getting funding for a soup kitchen? probably not..."

they already ARE qualifying religions. You gotta book called the "Bible" or "Quoran" or "Torah", you're in. Anyhting else, sorry, go away.

[Caution]

49. What about people like me?

I'm an atheist. If he is going to fund religions then he is sponsoring them and promoting them which is a violation of the seapration of church and state. It leaves people like me who have no church out in the cold.

[truthspeaker]

56. haven't you heard? we're supposed to sit down and shut up

[AntiCoup2K4]

58. Well, you atheists could always form a "church" of your own...

Call it the "First Church of Absolutely Nothing" or something like that. Or the agnostics could have "Our Lady of Who Knows What?".

At least that way you could have a shitload of tax free money to contribute to Democratic candidates, just like the (Un)christian Coalition does for the 'Pukes.

[BiggJawn]

67. How about my LACK of religion?

Gotta fund that, too, to be fair...

[Cleita]

76. I really don't think so.

I wonder how many grants the Wiccans or Pagans are going to get.

[debannbull]

28. faith based b.s.

keep going any further to the right & he'll drop off the edge of the planet, here's hoping....

[SammyWinstonJack]

48. I'll pray for that

:bounce:

[Bandit]

29. Only Christianity believes that to save your soul you must convert

The only way your soul can be saved is to convert to Christianity. Black & White. Only Christians can enter Heaven. So Bush* is saying we are a monotheist society now enforced by Government. If you wish for government resources you must convert to Christianity even though the money comes from us from taxes. This is something we as Democrats need to use as an Election issue. It is WRONG

[barbaraann]

51. Actually, I think a lot of religions believe that.

including Islam.

[underpants]

30. Joe Conason spelled this out in his chapter on Marvin Olansky

and those who hold the "Dominion theory" to their hearts.

Olansky was born into a Jewish family, rejected that faith for communism and atheism, became Catholic, and is now a "Orthodox Presbyterian" (whatever the hell that is).

He is W's "spritual adviser"

This is a plan to transfer ALL social programs to churches which WILL require you to adopt their faith in order to receive any assistance.

Now I will say this, churches have for some time been coordinating the placement of refugees in this country. In the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia the chicken rendering plants and poultry business often employ many foreign born people. There is a Russian enclave near Staunton and there are currently 81 languages and dialects spoken in the Winchester Va. school system.

[proud patriot]

37. lord have mercy

Keep the government out of religion ...

Government corrupts the Church :grr:

[truthspeaker]

65. YES! I wish more churchgoers understood that

The establishment clause doesn't just protect nonbelievers from churches, it protects churches from the government.

It was Baptists, in conjunction with the non-Christian Thomas Jefferson, who really pushed for the establishment and free exercise clauses of the First Amendment. Seems Baptists have short memories.

[Bertha Venation]

40. WH Press Release 01/15/04

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/01/20040115-1.html

Fact Sheet: Progress in Helping Americans Most in Need Through Faith-Based and Community Initiatives

Today's Action

President Bush today visited Union Bethel A.M.E. Church in New Orleans, where he met with Americans whose lives have been changed because of the efforts of faith- and community-based organizations, as well as the dedicated Americans who run the programs that help those in need. . . . <snip>

Read the rest at link.

Nowhere does the phrase "save one soul at a time" nor any similar phrase appear. I can't wait to read the transcript of his stammering session.

[kimchi]

42. I wish his handlers would duct tape his mouth.

On the other hand, every little gaffe helps us win this year.

Don't worry, shrub ole boy--we have a committe formed to get some of that thar faith-based monies to help fund our Pagan food bank. I want to save souls too--by saving the bodies they are in. Novel concept, huh?

[enough]

43. One more plea for a link --

Where can we go to get documentation of this appalling quote?

[markus]

45. Just checked usual news sources and nothing up yet n/t

[Webster Green]

44. They also want to re-write federal anti-discrimination laws....

They want faith based groups to be able to discriminate in hiring employees. That is now illegal for anyone receiving federal funds.

[Fleshdancer]

46. He should work on his own soul and leave mine alone. n/t

[SammyWinstonJack]

50. Bush* is soulless along with clueless

[Q]

53. Jefferson:

"The clergy, by getting themselves established by law and
ingrafted into the machine of government, have been a very
formidable engine against the civil and religious rights of man."
--Thomas Jefferson to Jeremiah Moor, 1800.

[hatrack]

69. More Jefferson:

"The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg...It is error alone which needs support of the government. Truth can stand by itself."

'Nuff said.

[Carni]

54. Watched it and it freaked me out

The guy is nuts!

Did you see him sneer when he bragged about how "When Congress balked he just wrote an executive order"

Where the F%#$ am I living?

[Q]

61. Bush* doesn't like all that messy democracy stuff...

...so he just 'dictates' and bypasses our representatives.

- Remember how the RWingers reacted whenever Clinton wrote an executive order...even if it didn't circumvent the Constitution?

[sable302]

57. c'mon, I think it's just "fundie speak"

I go to church weekly, and I have come to realize that we have our own language when it comes to some things. When you just grow up with it, like I did, you find phrases like *'s slipping out more often that you would like to admit.

The thing it, it's a sort of play on words, like we want to help people one person at a time. Saving one soul at a time is just a sort of evangelical mantra, something they teach you when you start sunday school as a little kid.

In other words, he's pandering to his base by using the sort of catch phrases that will win him the most support.

Lastly, one would like to expect that by saving one soul...etc.. he would never mean that the federal gvt will begin sponsoring recruitment drives for fundie churches, but with these folks, you never know.

Disclaimer: I think the man's an idiot of the highest order, and don't agree with any faith based federal anything, so please don't flame me for being a Christian.

[Bertha Venation]

62. I disagree.

"Saving one soul at a time is just a sort of evangelical mantra...." Actually, the concept of saving souls is completely literal to evangelicals.

I do agree that he's pandering to his non-thinking conservative sheep base.

And being a follower of Christ I wouldn't flame you for that.

[sable302]

75. You point out the subliminal text,

You're right. All the fundie has to do it 'plant the seed' in the heart of the unbeliever, and God will 'make it flower and bear fruit.'

It seems that by using the mantra, many fundies might just call for open season on the rest of us, funded by the taxpayer of course.

Here's why the whole thing scares me. I remember leading a youth group on a mission project to help a homeless shelter. In order for street people to get into the shelter for the night, they all had to attend a worship service and were encouraged to ask Jesus for forgiveness or whatever, and to change their lives and turn to God, I guess so that they will stop being so poor and homeless.

You can believe that when I saw that, I thought 'holy crap, whose souls are these people trying to save, the homeless or their own?'

Fundie religion, perhaps all religion, is a mixed up bag of insecurity, arrogance, love, fear, with a bit of genuine awe and worship for good measure.

But if Bush's fundie brethren think that anybody's soul is going to be affected one way or another by this, he's delusional.

I still think it's just a fund raising ploy, though. Happens all the time in church.

[RainDog]

72. Pander plunder

It doesn't matter whether Dubya believes the unconstitutional bullshit which spews from his lips and from his policy-makers pens,

he has already shown that he is willing to disallow the separation of church and state in ways that are appalling to anyone who values freedom of thought.

simply by funding the fundies he empowers them, both financially and by making their apocaplyptic and evangelistic views of religion acceptable as a framework for therapy, or prisons, or education...

But in fact, I do not doubt that the machiavellis behind Bush have no problem with the idea of social control via religion for the masses. I think Wolfowitz, etc. never forgot the dictim that "religion is the opiate of the masses" phrase...only, to them, that's a good thing and one to be utilized to control a fearful population.

[PassingFair]

74. Hopefullly,

Dean's little visit to Plains, Georgia, will help to sort out the evangelicals from the "evilangelicals".
Remember that * would not even take a visit from the Methodist hierarchy before or during the Anglo-American Invasion of Iraq.

I believe it is encumbent upon all American Christians, Muslims, Jews,Raelians, and Space Alien Probees to join Barry Lynn in denouncing this "faith-based" endrun around the 1st Amendment.

[progressiverealist]

59. scary thing is... oppose this, object to this, and you WILL be labeled

as being "ANTI GOD"

In today's Amurrica, disagreeing with George W. Bush is tantamount to hating God and treason, all at once.

[Carni]

70. Not an Athiest... but I don't go to church

And BELIEVE ME the discrimination factor is already alive and kicking.

I would never dream of walking up to someone and saying so what's your story? Are you a Catholic, or a Baptist- what are you anyways?
Are you a fundie?

Yet SOME people (you know the ones ie bush's base) think absolutely nothing of questioning people such as myself about what church they attend and if the person makes the mistake of saying "I don't" - watch out! You get the "look" or the lecture about "How they used to be like that" followed by a recruitment speech.

It is offensive and IMO a prime example of not treating others as you would like to be treated!

Arrrggghhhh!

[Guaranteed]

77. I'd love a link...I have a few Repug atheist friends that would

shit their pants if they heard that he was saying this. Literally. One in particular got really pissed just that God was mentioned in his WEDDING.

On edit: But I need proof. So I need a LINK!

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