Andrew Sullivan explains exactly why Sarah Palin is extremely dangerous.

[The Night Owl]

Religion Is Politics ...
06 Sep 2008 02:20 pm

... and politics is religion. With Sarah Palin, America has taken one very large leap toward a completely theocratic politics. For Palin, as for Rick Warren, there can be no distinction between politics and religion: all politics is subject to religious guidance and that guidance is to obey the literal truth of everything in the Bible:

In the address at the Assembly of God Church here, Ms. Palin’s ease in talking about the intersection of faith and public life was clear. Among other things, she encouraged the group of young church leaders to pray that “God’s will” be done in bringing about the construction of a big pipeline in the state, and suggested her work as governor would be hampered “if the people of Alaska’s heart isn’t right with God.”

She also told the group that her eldest child, Track, would soon be deployed by the Army to Iraq, and that they should pray “that our national leaders are sending them out on a task that is from God, that’s what we have to make sure we are praying for, that there is a plan, and that plan is God’s plan.”

Everything in her worldview must be according to God's plan, and God's plan is revealed without any ambiguity whatsoever in the literal words of the Bible, Old and New Testament. There is no detail too small, no policy too obscure, that isn't vetted through this filter. This is the fundamentalist psyche in its most extreme form: think Bush but less intellectual. Think Bush's evangelical tradition combined with speaking in tongues and a belief in the Rapture. Yes, this is now conservatism. If you want to explore how it came to this, I gave it my best shot here.

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/09/religion-is-pol.html

This woman is a fundamentalist. Barack Obama must stop her ascent.

[Barack_America]

1. Extremist.

She's an extremist.

[Ichingcarpenter]

2. She will not speak to the press for 1/4 of the time we have left

in this election. Two weeks is 1/4 of 60 days

[thestrugglecontinues]

37. She might not speak to the "press" at all

It will be interesting to note the media strategy they have mapped out for her. She has looked really good up until now speaking in front of adoring crowds. Last night, to be replayed tonight, CNN ran a very positive piece on her. Even the Sally Quinn's are recanting their previous opinions.

It's less than 60 days so they can hide from "unfriendly" media very well. Don't look for her with KO or even Chris Mathews. They could wait until after the vp debate and roll her out with the likes of Sean Hannity or even Greta after last night's puff piece. They could be successful at keeping her under wraps.

[speedoo]

3. K&R. Thanks for posting this. nt

[texastoast]

4. Thinking people in Alaska who know her say she is an extremist

I wonder how she feels about The Rapture. Hmm. Wonder what kind of car she has. Maybe I can get it once The Rapture comes.

[The Night Owl]

5. Palin's church not only believes in the Rapture but believes that it is imminent...

Wasilla Assembly of God

We believe

...in the imminent return of Jesus for all Christians

http://web.archive.org/web/20021128194647/www.wasillaag.org

[Barack_America]

13. So you're saying she can't even commit to serving a full term as VP?

;)

[The Night Owl]

30. LOL!

[DeschutesRiver]

35. Sarah Palin IS one of the rapture ready crowd?

is that for sure what that imminent return line means? I thought the rapture crowd was going TO Jesus in a flash, not that Jesus was returning here first?

I do know some raptures in the neighborhood, but I avoid them even though we get along fine superficially. First time I heard the rapture deal was when they'd offered to lend me some book series, but I quickly realized it was a rapture deal. My dh was so religiously naive that when I mentioned what rapture appeared to mean, he said I was just messing with him, right? I said nope that otherwise nice neighbor family that you chat with every now and then, thinks they are going to be sitting at the table eating with Jesus any minute now, just that there will be no formal invite - just one minute here, bam, next minute ransported there to the dinner table. They told me this, but outside of having done one quick rapture search years ago that I don't remember much about (so I could know what the heck these neighbors were into), I don't know all the key issues. Just that my impression was that they were the ultimate in nutjob religious fantasy to have made up wierd stuff, like that Jesus would do some alien abduction of all the good people in a finger snap someday.

It was bad enough when I heard the talking in tongues psychosis part about her church. But rapture would be even worse. That is very hardcore fundie, I believe. Shit, what a mess.

[Booster]

8. Thanks for that belly laugh. Best of the night.

[BrklynLiberal]

9. I have that bumper sticker on my car!!!!!

[texastoast]

14. Okay, okay, I stole it

It's funny. :7

[BrklynLiberal]

17. No accusation meant. I still thought it was funny...obviously, since I put the sticker on my car...

:thumbsup: :hi:

[Plaid Adder]

18. I always wanted to make a Rapture bumpersticker that said...

Don't Let the Earth Hit You In The Ass On Your Way Up

The Plaid Adder

[BrklynLiberal]

20. That is so funny!

There are sites where you can make your own stickers...


http://www.makestickers.com/

[TwilightGardener]

"Bush, but less intellectual"--God, that is horrifying. Speaking of whom, if

there IS one, and he gives a shit about this country, Palin and McManiac will be back in their old jobs come November.

[The Night Owl]

7. Yeah... I got chills when I read that line. {EOM}

[dkf]

6. It sounds like whatever she wants becomes "God's Will".

Is that representative of some sort of psychological problem?

[BrklynLiberal]

10. Can't disagree with Andrew Sullivan. He's got it right and he is telling it out loud

[BeyondGeography]

11. Sullivan does this country a service when he call the Republicans a party of religion

After all, where is the secular base of the Republican Party? There is none, not that the MSM would ever point out that inconvenient and politically damaging truth.

[many a good man]

12. God's plan is to smite the United States

in retribution for voting fundies to the highest offices in the land where they bastardize His teachings and intent.

[AntiFascist]

15. K&R, she is bad news...

unfortunately many will find her charming.

[AZBlue]

16. KR - she's dangerous.

[Maccagirl]

19. "Barack Obama must stop her ascent"

No Mr Sullivan-only WE THE PEOPLE can stop her ascent.

[stolivodka]

21. Andrew Sullivan is incredibly dangerous.

Because he used to carry water for Bush, and only joined the Bush Haters Club when it became the popular thing to do.

I wonder when he'll post something, wait for all the liberal bloggers to circulate it, far and wide, and then give us the Dan Rather treatment.. Probably sometime in October.

[IndianaGreen]

23. Another fraking hand wringing post from a low post count poster

Andrew Sullivan rocks when compared to that Nazi queen, Sarah Palin.

[DangerousRhythm]

24. Really. Shouldn't you be off painting a PALIN POWER! sign or something?

But seriously, if you think Sarah Palin isn't dangerous, you're just not paying attention.

[young_at_heart]

22. Evidently, many of us already think we are a theocracy

Picking Palin is just one more nail in the coffin.

[kestrel91316]

25. Here's the deal:

Sarah Palin >>>>> Wasilla Assembly of God church >>>>>>> Master's Commission Bible School >>>>>>>> Todd Bentley >>>>>>> Joel's Army >>>>>>> violent theocratic overthrow of US government

The links are there. Sarah Palin and her church need an FBI background check. Joel's Army is a violent hate group listed with the Southern Poverty Law Center.

[HowHasItComeToThis]

29. BINGO, CITIZEN

[MISSDem]

26. The American Taliban and

just as dangerous as the other Taliban.

[kath]

27. Let's spell it out simply - the religious groups that Palin is affiliated with

(and which she had state tax dollars funneled to) WANT TO TAKE OVER THE US GOVERNMENT AND TURN IT INTO A THEOCRACY.

The speaking in tongues, rapture stuff and all the rest of it is not really important, What IS important is their Theocratic beliefs.

There have been multiple threads on this over in GD in the past week - please read up.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=3883263
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=3922719
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=3932200
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=3922702
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=3936944

[Major Hogwash]

28. This is a great synopsis of Palin's political attitude.

We need to trash Palin from here until November 4th.
Every day!!

[vaberella]

31. She's crazy. She'll turn this nation into a nutball and probably

start influencing what churches she feels should get funding and pushing for laws with heavy theorethical backgrouns..ugh

[Peacetrain]

32. I am a committed Christian

and Andrew Sullivan is exactly right!.. Just like Islam we have a subset group who are trying to use religion as a power base, in contrast to the teaching of the religion. And in all three groups, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, it is a subset that are trying to bring on the parousia. The end times.

They have nothing to do with religion and its advocacy for the poor, the environment etc, and everything to do with a misuse of religion for power.

[The Night Owl]

38. Thanks for that. {EOM}

[alsame]

33. Obama campaign needs to start framing McCain/Palin ticket

as 'radical'. Emphasize the positions they take that are far to the right of the majority of this country:

Stay in Iraq 100 years - radical
Ban abortion for rape and incest - radical
Privatize Social Security - radical
Banning books - radical
etc.

I am so sick and tired of the term 'radical' used only to describe the left, when in fact these neo-con fundies are more radical than any group I've ever seen in my life.

[LeftishBrit]

34. Wish he'd been equally perceptive about Thatcher; but yes, he is right there.

She appears to be a potentially very dangerous theocrat.

[NoFederales]

36. We must keep SEPARATION of Politics and Religion, period. nt

NoFederales

[windoe]

39. Someone who will uphold and defend the Constitution-

and live up to the first oath taken, this is the definition of a president. Someone who wishes to change the very structure and Constitution of this country is a criminal, and is falsely representing themselves as a presidential candidate when actually these ideologies better fit an usurper or a dictator. It is time to use the real language here, and not parse words.
Radical times call for the strongest and clearest language.

[NoodleyAppendage]

40. The old "Time Machine Hitler Foreknowledge Ethical Hypothetical" might need revision, I'm afraid.

What if Palin becomes President and realizes the worst fears of many...transformation of this country from a democracy to a fascist theocracy. This transformation led to the death of America as we know it; deaths of thousands; and anguish throughout the world.

What would you do if you knew ahead of time and had the power to stop it?

VOTE.

J