Republicans must head back to center
Published: November 24, 2008
An important step for Republican Party recovery is to move it back to the center. This will be a difficult, decade long, hard turn away from the elite right neo-cons and the social fundamentalists that
Christine Todd Whitman, co-chair of the Republican Leadership Council, says is holding the party hostage.
The move is necessary because these two entrenched groups have run the party to ground. Under their leadership, the party no longer has the moral authority to govern.
The social fundamentalists so overwhelmingly control the Republican Party that they deter many talented Republicans of different beliefs from seeking political office because in good conscience they
cannot support the social fundamentalists’ approved theology. This is not a good situation for the party or for democracy. The net effect is a reduced Republican talent pool that many refer to as
a “dumbing-down” of the party and a dramatic shift away from its historic principles.
What Whitman and other keen observers saw on Election Day was the return of millions of centrist Reagan Democrats from their diaspora. They could no longer accept immoral preemptive wars, the use
of torture, the use of illegal searches, a presidential philosophy that holds itself above the law and so many extreme social and economic positions the essence of which violated their moral
consciences.
Clearly in a democracy the people want governance that does not impose the theocratic hegemony of the extreme right.
WILLIAM H. WESTHOFF
Woodbridge
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Exactly! Prohibits Congress from making laws respecting “establishment of religion”. That’s it and that’s all! Everybody should be free to pray to Jesus, Buda, Allah or even a tree if they want. The government should not have any say into the church’s business period!!! The government should not prohibit army chaplains from praying in the name of Jesus with the soldiers before they go to a battle for example.
Now go find the truth about “the wall of separation” the liberals are twisting any way they can - look for Thomas Jefferson’s letter to the Danbury Baptists and find the true history and context.
Is it “freedom of religion” or “freedom from religion”?!
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
United States Bill of Rights:
“In the United States, the Bill of Rights is the name by which the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution are known.[1] They were introduced by James Madison to the First United States Congress in 1789 as a series of constitutional amendments, and came into effect on December 15, 1791, when they had been ratified by three-fourths of the States. The Bill of Rights limits the powers of the federal government of the United States, protecting the rights of all citizens, residents and visitors on United States territory. Thomas Jefferson was the main proponent of the Bill of Rights[2]
The Bill of Rights protects freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to keep and bear arms, the freedom of assembly, the freedom to petition, and freedom of the press. It also prohibits unreasonable search and seizure, cruel and unusual punishment, and compelled self-incrimination. The Bill of Rights also prohibits Congress from making any law respecting establishment of religion and prohibits the federal government from depriving any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.
scorpio, here is the key sentence you may wish to read:
“The Bill of Rights also prohibits Congress from making any law respecting establishment of religion ...“
I scanned the other amendments and did not find any that overturned the First Amendment and declared the United States of America a Christian Nation.
No need to thank me for the history lesson - glad to help out where I can.
First scorpio, let me fully agree with you America is a country with a predominant Christian faith - in one of the many, many variations being practiced.
The same as Iraq, Iran and Saudi Arabia are predominantly Muslim and Israel is predominantly Jewish.
But unlike these countries, our constituation was not written to govern through someone’s Biblical interpretation.
We are governed by laws, and while these laws may be based on Christian values - which are really world values shared by most religions - our laws are not restricted to the teachings of Jesus Christ, whom one must believe in to be a “Christian”.
You then say “But “Freedom of Religion” should never become “Freedom from Religion” ..
And I ask “why not”?
What does religion have to do with running a government - unless and only unless it is to help you impose your beliefs on others?
I say you don’t like abortions - don’t have one. You don’t like men - marry a woman. You want to believe little green men live on Mars - go for it.
Just don’t attempt to force me to accept your belief in little green men by making it the law I must follow.
I don’t care if every founding father was a pastor in their community church. What they wrote was to provide freedom to worship as we choose, or not to worship at all if we choose that route.
If you want Billy Graham to rule as president, I suggest you start a write-in campaign for the next election.
Until then, America remains free.
Ray, I base my “America was founded as a Christian nation” on historic facts. The pilgrims wrote a document on board of Mayflower - you might want to read it before we continue this discussion. Or find some statements from William Bradford. Even the Constituion was written by at least 90% men who defined themselves as Christians and about 50% of Americans today define themselves as Christians too. The pilgrims did not come here to create a universal religion society unless you have some secret information you want to share with me - some ‘da Vinci codes’ maybe?!
I do not object to we “are all created equal” as you are trying to put words in my mouth. I have a great respect for the Constituion the way it was written. But “Freedom of Religion” should never become “Freedom from Religion” as some are trying to do through liberal activist judges and courts. I wish there were politicians who would stand up and speak freely and openly about their Christian faith during a campaign and boldly declare that they are going to follow and apply the moral teachings of our Lord and Savior - their faith becomes meaningless otherwise!
No, No do not go to center. Thats what the Democrats want.Go to the days of Reagan. But don’t go to a fanatic Right
as that is not the answer.that is what has caused all the GOP problems. We don’t get Good candidates and these Right wingers get shoved down our throats, till we can’t see straight. Plus we lose all elections.
Someone needs to wake up.
scorpio, this is what you said: “Now, can you say once again America was not founded as Christian coutry?“
And I say again yes, America was not founded as a Christian-based government. Christian values, without question. But not a country to be run as a bible-based religious government in the vein of Iran or Saudi Arabia.
You then offer “I have never seen such intolerance and pure hate toward Christians as in recent years and your respond only proves my point.“
How does my response prove your point? I am not bashing you for being a Christian. I strongly value to rights we have in America to practice any form of religion one chooses to practice. You can worship at the cross or worship at a rock and I am happy for you.
You finish with “I do not reject “those that do not share” what I belive and neither I “impose” my thoughts upon you - “
Yet you begin by saying “Now, can you say once again America was not founded as Christian coutry?“
How can we be a “Christian country” and yet you not “impose” your thoughts on me?
America is a country were all men are created equal - and Christians get in line with the rest of us when it comes time to offer our opinions and place our votes for our elected officials.
The fact that the civil war was not fought to abolish slavery initially does not mean that white people did not fight and spilled blood in order to abolish slavery and Abraham Lincoln even campaigned against slavery BEFORE the war started.
And, yes! “Freedom of religion” not freedom ‘from’ religion as many demand!
As for Christians “humoring those who do not practice christianity” - I have never seen such intolerance and pure hate toward Christians as in recent years and your respond only proves my point. I do not reject “those that do not share” what I belive and neither I “impose” my thoughts upon you - the inappropriate use of these liberal cliches are getting so banal…
Yes, muslims and budhists are free to excercise their religion. No other religion is affected but Christianity. Just recently the court ruled against a company which terminated the contracts of muslim workers for taking breaks to pray during work. While managments are ordering employees not to mention the word “Christmas” during… Christmas! I am yet to see ACLU represent one case in which Christian rights have been violated.
So, sorry for nothing!
McCain was talking about a different “change” than Obama’s change from capitalism to socialism. McCain wanted to “clean house”, to fight corruption, greed. That’s why he choose Sarah Palin who has a record of fighting against corruption even among members of her own party.
Unfortunately the liberal media, the Michael Moorers, the empty headed celebrities, the “give peace a chance” crowd managed to brainwash and lure the majority. And yet - maybe it is a good thing America to taste socialism so they will never again think about it in future like other countries like Sweden, Austria, France and Germany recently turned from it.
“Reality is setting in for President Elect Obama, and he is already planting the seeds to break his campaign promises.“
Actually, I would say all those “promises” are out the window already and he’s dealing with the reality of the failings of the Bush Administration.
And ... John McCain would be faced with the same. Remember, he campaigned on “change” also.
Mr. Williams:
Barney Frank could have won the election. It was no great effort. Reality is setting in for President Elect Obama, and he is already planting the seeds to break his campaign promises.
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