Observations and inanities by a second-shift assistant supervisor in the Puppy-Grinding division of the Evil Atheist Conspiracy® (our motto: "Sure it's cruel, but think of the jobs!"), your host, Brent Rasmussen.
Our National Chaplain
Leon Panetta, Chief Of Staff during the Clinton Presidency, commenting on President Bush's trip to Virginia as "Consoler In Chief":
"In many ways, he is our national chaplain."
Obviously, I do not agree with this statement. I think that at times our President likes to act like a national Chaplain. I have observed this sort of self-concious, self-righteous piety first hand many times in my life. Usually from a male family member who is picked to lead a prayer at a family gathering, or say a few words at a funeral. All of a sudden, the happy, secular, hard-drinking, joke-telling crazy Uncle Larry is praying in a rolling baritone voice with "thees" and "thous" thrown in for good measure. The hypocrisy and deception always made me uncomfortable - even as a believer.
It is also interesting to me that Panetta, a Democrat, a Gore supporter, and an outspoken opponent of the Bush Administration, would phrase this the way that he did. "He" is our national Chaplain, not "The President", or "American Presidents". He could have said something along the lines of, "In many ways, American Presidents must act like a national Chaplain during times of great crisis."
But he didn't. Panetta is too damned smart to have misspoken on this.
Is President Bush our "National Chaplain"? And what exactly does that mean for our country?
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JESUS
think we all know who was responsible for that, the Godless liberals who cannot stand having their immorality shoved back in their ugly face!! The defenders of free thought, the Big Bang theory and evolution, are not only striking out at me, but at all Christians. . Last night, while I was sitting on my front-porch swing, gazing up at Heaven, President Bush appeared to me in a vision. He told me that my work was not yet finished, there were still many liberals who had not yet seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!! President Bush would not be in the White House right now if God didn't want him there. President Bush was put in a position of leadership in order to wipe the devil's religion of Islam off the face of the Earth, so that the Christian God can fill the world with His message of peace and love. President Bush has stated numerous times that he speakes with God in the Oval Office, he even asked God for military advice before the invasion of Iraq. Modern liberalism is the equivalent of atheism, liberals are in favor of killing babies, raising taxes, teaching evolution, and same sex marriage. Jesus is opposed to all of these horrible things.
Hmm.
I think I need to replace the batteries in my snark-detector. Because I'll be dipped if I know whether that is meant straight or not.
Jim Downey
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or
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Charlie
I agree that Bush is our national Chaplin. This one.
Thanks for Noticing That
I've linked to your post here: Conservative Christians: Atheists, Atheism Responsible for Virginia Tech Killings
I know a real chaplain
His name is Ron. For many years he was the director of the chaplaincy program at our major local hospital. He is compassionate and tolerant of others' differences. He is a good listener. He knows I am an atheist and it doesn't bother him at all, we are good friends. He leaves the fate of the universe in the hands of his god; his concern at any given moment is the person he is with. Now retired from chaplaincy, he teaches gerontology at the university.
Somehow Bush would be a different kind of "National Chaplain" - the kind who would deprive you of privacy without giving you company. The kind whom you would request your relatives keep out of your room by any means at their disposal.