Jim Lindgren points out that Charles Gibson utterly flubbed his preparation when he used a truncated quote to mischaracterize Sarah Palin's hope that her church members would pray that out troops in Iraq are on a mission from God. I had beaten the same point last night. Gibson's truncation amounted to recharacterizing her position as asserting that God was on our side.
And look how far the media rot has spread. Here is Mary McNamara of the LA Times Show Tracker column:
Gibson’s probing of a videotaped claim that the Iraq war is a task from God led to a rather convoluted explanation - that it was really a paraphrase of an Abraham Lincoln quote that seemed, frankly, utterly dissimilar.
Geez, Mary, look it up - here is what Ms. Palin said:
"Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right. Also, for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending [U.S. soldiers] out on a task that is from God," she exhorted the congregants. "That's what we have to make sure that we're praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan."
Is that really so dissimilar from the Lincoln (cited here from author Jim Wallis):
Abraham Lincoln had it right when he said: "Our task should not be to invoke religion and the name of God by claiming God's blessing and endorsement for all our national policies and practices—saying, in effect, that God is on our side. Rather," Lincoln said, "we should pray and worry earnestly whether we are on God's side."
Well. The confusion has spread to San Francisco. Joe Garofoli of the San Fran Chronicle Politics blog is at least trying to track down the Lincoln quote. Carla Marinucci, also of the Chronicle, takes Gibson at his word and claims Palin "deflected" the question:
Palin - who has spoken in her church about U.S. troops being "on a task that is from God," was asked if she believed the United States is fighting a "holy war."
Quoting Abe Lincoln
She deflected the question and said she was merely quoting Abraham Lincoln, adding, "I would never presume to know God's will."
Uh, that was a correction, not a deflection.
The idea that Ms. Palin thinks we are on a mission from God fits so nicely with the libs preferred vision of her as a religious nut-job that getting these reporters to do a bit of research is an uphill struggle. But I pray they will run clarifications. And a theological note to Charles Gibson - my praying it is so does not make it so.
Don't forget, for the moonbats belief in God is evidence of stupidity. They don't care how the message gets out, as long as Sarah is tagged with God they think it will be a loser.
They all know that Obama doesn't really believe all the Christian carp; that was just a stepping stone to power.
===========================
Posted by: kim | September 12, 2008 at 09:17 AM
Have any of these folks ever heard an actual prayer uttered in an actual church? Sarah Palin reflects the prayers that are made here every Sunday in churches of all denominations. Keep flogging it, I say.
Posted by: Pofarmer | September 12, 2008 at 09:26 AM
Kim - belief in Christianity is evidence of stupidity*. You'll never hear a word against Hinduism, and even the worst of the Muslim world is equated with middle-of-the-road American evangelical churches.
*Among white people - difficult to criticize religion in the black community without criticizing the community itself, which is of course verboten.
Posted by: bgates | September 12, 2008 at 09:28 AM
TBH it was rather surprising Palin hadn't been briefed on the mini-furor surrounding this quote, so that she could better answer the question. If she had remembered the actual line (or re-watched herself speak as part of prep), she could have called Gibson on his editing.
Seriously, aren't campaigns supposed to be monitoring the nutcases spreading memes around the Net, just in case one of their questions shows up in an interview--a possibility made even more likely this election cycle?
Posted by: The Unbeliever | September 12, 2008 at 09:34 AM
My impressions: Once again all the focus is on Palin vs. Obama. Not McCain. Big mistake on the Ds part there.
She once again overwhelms the media’s low expectations and so, once again, they fall back on “she was well coached” similar to their “her acceptance speech was written by a speechwriter, she just performed it well” after her boffo performance at the convention.
Translation: She continues to score!!
I still wish they could find a way to make the point that if she became president she would also appoint another vice president!! This fact seems to elude the media. Just to get to the pathetic situation that the Dems have with Obama who is highly unqualified to be president, McCain would have to die and Palin not be able to choose her own greybeard as vice president, just like Obama has.
And running against Washington D.C. reflects the mood of the country. She is the only outsider in the race.
Posted by: bio mom | September 12, 2008 at 09:37 AM
And we should all give thanks to God that this stuff isn't left to "journalists" any longer. I'm old, I remember how this used to work. If the stories Tom has described the last couple of days had played out in the late 1960s or 1970s no one would ever have an inkling how just plain wrong the news coverage has been.
Saint Tom of the Blogs?
Posted by: John Oh | September 12, 2008 at 09:39 AM
The game is to be able to characterize whatever Palin says as being consistent with the story the journo has already written. The journo "interprets" "for us" what the politician says. they tell us what it means because we, the great unwashed, need them to do our thinking for us. All the sheep are to do is simply swallow the pre-digested thinking of the journo, since he/she went to journalism school and therefore know the mind of G..... I mean Lee Bollinger.
Posted by: Barry Dauphin | September 12, 2008 at 09:40 AM
bgates - and that label *stupidity* conceals their worst fear...being judged.
I can't tell you how often I've heard this from otherwise intelligent people - "oh Christians are so mean and judgemental, they're so uptight."
The moonbats don't realize they're mocking themselves...they're terrified.
If they'd open their eyes (or leave NY, LA, SF, & DC) and meet a few actual Americans, they'd see...naw, I'm kidding myself.
They'd see a bunch of ignorant hicks.
Posted by: Mustang0302 | September 12, 2008 at 09:43 AM
Quite so, Barry: just as the internets is driving the capacity for greater transparency the MSM - due I think to idealogical override - is doubling down on presenting spin rather than information.
Posted by: ex-democrat | September 12, 2008 at 09:49 AM
GIBSON: And you didn’t say to yourself, “Am I experienced enough?
No Charlie. If I used your standard for quotes, I would have to say that it was Jimi Hendrix.
Posted by: Neo | September 12, 2008 at 09:53 AM
The idea that Ms. Palin thinks we are on a mission from God fits so nicely with the libs preferred vision of her as a religious nut-job that getting these reporters to do a bit of research is an uphill struggle.
Looks like the Axelrod meme machine is up and running well. Maybe the Obama campaign should spend some money hiding the seams.
Posted by: RichatUF | September 12, 2008 at 09:55 AM
The whole thing is starting to come apart. Now, we have the "generic Democrat" is losing ground to the "generic Republican". The double digit lead is down to 3%.
Watch 'em turn on Obama if he doesn't blow out MaCain in the 1st debate.
Posted by: Neo | September 12, 2008 at 10:02 AM
The thin slice here is that the Democrats think - they feel actually - that they're done attacking McCain. They think Palin needs to be the next one to fall, but this is a classic miscalculation.
Were the Republicans trying to take apart Lloyd Bentsen to defeat Michael Dukakis?
This strategy doesn't work.
Atta boy Democrats.Posted by: Gabriel Sutherland | September 12, 2008 at 10:07 AM
Gibson probably doesn't realize he's also opened the door for renewed comparisons between what people in Palin's church hears and what is heard in Obama's church, by the Rev. Wright:
from
http://www.brutallyhonest.org/brutally_honest/2008/03/obama-pastor-go.html
Wright: “The government gives them the drugs, builds bigger prisons, passes a three-strike law and then wants us to sing ‘God Bless America.’ No, no, no, God damn America, that’s in the Bible for killing innocent people,” he said in a 2003 sermon. “God damn America for treating our citizens as less than human. God damn America for as long as she acts like she is God and she is supreme.”
In addition to damning America, he told his congregation on the Sunday after Sept. 11, 2001 that the United States had brought on al Qaeda’s attacks because of its own terrorism.
“We bombed Hiroshima, we bombed Nagasaki, and we nuked far more than the thousands in New York and the Pentagon, and we never batted an eye,” Rev. Wright said in a sermon on Sept. 16, 2001.
“We have supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans, and now we are indignant because the stuff we have done overseas is now brought right back to our own front yards. America’s chickens are coming home to roost,” he told his congregation.
Posted by: fdcol63 | September 12, 2008 at 10:09 AM
I believe this may be a first .. McCain 270 Obaama 268
Posted by: Neo | September 12, 2008 at 10:12 AM
As an answer to the is she ready, blah blah blah, and the suggestion her comeback should be, "If God forbid, something happens to John McCain and I become President, then I'll pick a VP with plenty of foreign policy experience. John Bolton comes to mind."
If there is anyone the left hates almost as much as Bush and more than Sarah Palin, it is John Bolton.
Posted by: Sara (Pal2Pal) | September 12, 2008 at 10:14 AM
To pray for rain doesn't mean you know it's already raining.
Posted by: Charlie (Colorado) | September 12, 2008 at 10:24 AM
"generic Democrat" v "generic Republican"
45 v 50 "likely voters"
Posted by: Neo | September 12, 2008 at 10:28 AM
What is the astronomical body I am thinking of? The one that generates more and more heat as it gets smaller and smaller. White Dwarf?
I keep picturing that with the press and Dems right now.
Posted by: MayBee | September 12, 2008 at 10:28 AM
I keep thinking of the scene with the Black Knight in Monty Python & the Holy Grail. LOL
Posted by: fdcol63 | September 12, 2008 at 10:31 AM
White Dwarf? Naw, Kucinich caved a long time ago.
Posted by: Mustang0302 | September 12, 2008 at 10:35 AM
This should be rewritten substituting Allah for God.Then watch the left grab their ankles.
Posted by: PeterUK | September 12, 2008 at 10:42 AM
Newt Gingrich is all over the place pointing out how Palin's words regarding God were mild in comparison to the sentiments expressed by Jack Kennedy and FDR. He is amazed at media's lack of historical knowledge and perspective on this issue.
Posted by: bad | September 12, 2008 at 10:45 AM
Jake Tapper, noticing this is the 4th time Team Obama has declared "The gloves are coming off" is calling him the Isotoner candidate. hehe
Posted by: DebinNC | September 12, 2008 at 10:50 AM
Hey, even O.J. couldn't wear more than one pair at a time.
Posted by: Mustang0302 | September 12, 2008 at 10:51 AM
I'm pretty amazed at how the intrade money has flipped over to McCain, and stayed that way, the past couple of days. Even after the GOP convention it was 60-40 Obama (making Obama, in real world odds, a 3 to 5 proposition and McCain 5 to 2), with me concluding that it must be foreign money holding it up. Now I guess I have to just hope that the smarter money is showing itself, and for the long haul!
Posted by: hrtshpdbox | September 12, 2008 at 10:53 AM
USA Today
Ed Morrissey opines:
Posted by: Sara (Pal2Pal) | September 12, 2008 at 11:02 AM
Obama is executing Project Isotoner today with a new ad:
The newest ad showcasing their hard line includes unflattering footage of McCain at a hearing in the early '80s, wearing giant glasses and an out-of-style suit, interspersed with shots of a disco ball, a clunky phone, an outdated computer and a Rubik's Cube.
"1982, John McCain goes to Washington," an announcer says over chirpy elevator music. "Things have changed in the last 26 years, but McCain hasn't.
"He admits he still doesn't know how to use a computer, can't send an e-mail, still doesn't understand the economy, and favors two hundred billion in new tax cuts for corporations, but almost nothing for the middle class," it says. It shows video of McCain getting out of a golf cart with former President George H.W. Bush and closes with a photo of him standing with the current President Bush at the White House. "After one president who was out of touch, we just can't afford more of the same."
But, heavens no, they're not making McCain's age an issue.
Posted by: DebinNC | September 12, 2008 at 11:03 AM
She did call him on it, but if you watched the West Coast version you didn't get this:
ABC replaced that exchang with a snippet of her actual speech in the church. And, of course, not fully contextual. Then they returned to Sarah explaining the paraphrase of Lincoln.
Very devious.
Posted by: Patrick R. Sullivan | September 12, 2008 at 11:04 AM
O/T
From John Batchelor at Human Events:
Obama's Plumbers
LUN
Posted by: SWarren | September 12, 2008 at 11:06 AM
ABC replaced that exchang with a snippet of her actual speech in the church. And, of course, not fully contextual. Then they returned to Sarah explaining the paraphrase of Lincoln.
Very devious.
Dangerous, too, since she can take a clean shot at them today if she wants to.
Posted by: Extraneus | September 12, 2008 at 11:15 AM
SWarren, thanks so much for that link. Great summary of the CAC controversy and the "Plumbers" angle is pretty intriguing. I look forward to hearing more from Steve Diamond on this.
Posted by: Porchlight | September 12, 2008 at 11:19 AM
From the ABC transcript:
But, when I watched the ABC Evening News out in Seattle all this was missing:
I saw this:
Posted by: Patrick R. Sullivan | September 12, 2008 at 11:25 AM
With all the BTN hoopla, why aren't we hearing about Biden refusing to release his earmark requests over the last 36 years ... except for 2009?
When in his career has Joe Biden ever supported this level of transparency? Even during the March vote on the one-year earmark moratorium, which Obama and Clinton supported, Biden opposed. The measure failed, 71-29, thanks to old bulls like Biden. Time after time and vote after vote, Biden has sided with Washington’s special interests rather than reformers.
Obama’s decision to swear off earmarks this year also stands in direct contrast to his running mate. According to the non-partisan Taxpayers for Common Sense, Biden’s earmarks for 2009 add up to well over $100 million.
Posted by: DebinNC | September 12, 2008 at 11:27 AM
Plumbers. Obama as the new Nixon.
Sweet!
Posted by: fdcol63 | September 12, 2008 at 11:27 AM
I have been unable to access Steve Diamonds' Global Labor site. Hope he is okay. He has been quoted in all of the Ayers/Obama/CAC articles in print and on the web.
Posted by: bad | September 12, 2008 at 11:28 AM
There is no confusion.
It has not spread to San Francisco.
There is a plan and it is being promulgated everywhere.
Posted by: Larry Sheldon | September 12, 2008 at 11:28 AM
The Libs are stumbling on this one - again.
What the haggard media doesn't get is, most Americans are quietly spiritual, and this personal spirituality is heavily informed by Christianity.
It is only a fringe of the American electorate that doesn't manifest regular religiosity in their private lives most days, and, if this sliver-demographic is the target beneficiary of the media's concerted anti-Christian diligence, then, well, the legacy media is shooting itself in the foot.
Which makes me wonder...is it that most old-media brands are expendable now; like dirty napkins after a high-school prom?. Does an NYT or an ABC even care about their brands anymore?
I write this because there used to be a time when the longevity of a brand (ie. "branding" your consumers for life) was the primary marketing goal of any serious, competitive company. Now, I wonder if many media orgs haven't decided to wear out their brands in this election year on purpose.
Their thinking goes (and, I think this is the thinking in most of Time Warner, Inc's serial media org's.), "If we're going to have to rework the brand in order to transition the company to a modern internet-model anyway, AND if we can push America in our elitist direction by 'playing politics' in the meantime, then playing loose with our brand makes a lot of sense."
Lately, when faced with the question of allowing the wider-public's perception of their brand's integrity to constrain their company's range and style of political advocacy, most legacy media have answered, "Don't let it." Now, imagine if a Johnson and Johnson, or a Nestle, or a MacDonalds took that approach to marketing. They'd be swept aside in a heart-beat by some other food-company.
Could it be that we're reaping what the legacy media has sown: that the Time Warner conglomeration in the late eighties perverted the media market in ways that have structurally rewarded the Left's license to politick on our televisions?
Something is screwy in the media-industry sector - maybe its the amount of real competition in the sector, and it needs fixin.'
Posted by: steveaz | September 12, 2008 at 11:29 AM
McCain up three at Rasmussen.
Extraneus, I don't think she can do that--I think the entire interview has been completed, but they're just showing it in parts, as O'Reilly did with Obama.
Remember when Bill's troubles with Monica broke into the news? Remember him walking around with a bible in his hand? Remember his seeking spiritual guidance from that estimable man of the cloth, the Rev. Jackson? Remember the good Rev. Jackson showing up at the White House with his mistress, visibly pregnant with the Rev.'s love-child?
Posted by: Danube of Thought | September 12, 2008 at 11:37 AM
WARNING: The link from SWarren is wrong. John Batchelor took Professor Steve Diamond's hypothetical quotes and used them as if they were actual quotes.
Steve Diamond's blog has been changed to "invitation only". I have not heard back from him on why it is this way.
This is what he posted today that is behind the access wall.
If you see the Batchelor story referenced anywhere, PLEASE provide this correction. This is going to make the CAC story a non-story if this is profligated.
Posted by: Gabriel Sutherland | September 12, 2008 at 11:38 AM
I'm mildly surprised nobody is using this Lincoln quote:
Lincoln is a great inspiration, on many levels.Posted by: Cecil Turner | September 12, 2008 at 11:39 AM
This is a direct link to the RSS feed for Global Labor & Politics. It confirms what I posted.
GL&P RSS FEED
Posted by: Gabriel Sutherland | September 12, 2008 at 11:40 AM
With all the BTN hoopla, why aren't we hearing about Biden refusing to release his earmark requests over the last 36 years ... except for 2009?
Good question, DebinNC. McCain should hammer on this.
Posted by: Porchlight | September 12, 2008 at 11:42 AM
Really? I thought it was a two-day sitdown.
And yes, I remember the bible quite well. (Wasn't that where he hid the cigars?) Always wondered which passages he found most meaningful at the time.
Posted by: Extraneus | September 12, 2008 at 11:43 AM
Gabriel, thanks for the heads up. If you haven't already, please post this on all the relevant JOM threads.
Posted by: Porchlight | September 12, 2008 at 11:46 AM
I saw this:
GIBSON: Have you ever met a foreign head of state?
PALIN: I have not....
Designed to disallow her executive experience, which neither Biden nor Obama have.
Ya know.
Charlie Gibson and ABC news had an opportunity here.
They blew it.
This isn't about editing for time constraints.
This is about editing for ideology.
If I were Palin, I would have kicked Charlie Gibson out on his ass first thing this morning and went back to my work as governor of AK. Then again, she's probably tougher than I am.
Posted by: Pofarmer | September 12, 2008 at 11:47 AM
I agree that Gibson mangled the quote and that Palin was praying that the war is a mission from God, not asserting that this is so.
What if a politician did confidently claim to know God's will, though? Specifically, what if a politician expressed confidence that God wants him and his team in office?
Would that bother anyone here?
Posted by: Foo Bar | September 12, 2008 at 11:52 AM
Not really, foo bar.
Posted by: MayBee | September 12, 2008 at 11:58 AM
"What if a politician did confidently claim to know Marx's will, though? Specifically, what if a politician expressed confidence that Marx wants him and his team in office?
Would that bother anyone here?"
It sure does. Marx has been dead for a long time and there is no way that Obama could know his will.
FooBar,
That's the stupidest hypothetical I believe I've ever seen. Are you that gripped by panic? Why don't you just promote Obama's accomplishments and record? It will only take 20 seconds or so and you'll feel better - until you realize that it only took 20 seconds, anyway.
Posted by: Rick Ballard | September 12, 2008 at 12:01 PM
You may be right, Extraneus, although the description of a "two-day sitdown" seems a little ambiguous to me.
Krauthammer nails it to the wall, as usual. LUN
Dunno, Foo Bar. I'd need to know exactly what the politician said, and the context. I mean, in part it depends on the meaning of "God," doesn't it?
Posted by: Danube of Thought | September 12, 2008 at 12:02 PM
Would that bother anyone here?
Ahhh...the Foo is doing his best Charlie Gibson impression. You already know there is such a politician.
Posted by: Sue | September 12, 2008 at 12:03 PM
Wait for it...the Bush statement that was mangled...3...2...1...
Posted by: Sue | September 12, 2008 at 12:04 PM
"We're on a mission from God."
Posted by: Extraneus | September 12, 2008 at 12:05 PM
I would be bothered if a President woke up one morning and declared war on Australia because it was what God wanted him to do.
But as for believing he is where God wants him to be, I don't think that is outside normal Christian or religious belief. Just like it's pretty normal to thank God for an accomplishment.
You know, God willing and all that.
Posted by: MayBee | September 12, 2008 at 12:07 PM
What if a politician did confidently claim to know God's will ...
Depends. "all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain Inalienable rights ..."
Ooops that's way over the line.
Posted by: boris | September 12, 2008 at 12:08 PM
I am convinced it is God's will that FooBar has the freedom to post his thoughts.
Posted by: bad | September 12, 2008 at 12:12 PM
It's really a problem for the media when former Hiliary supporters start sounding like Republicans in regard to the media.
Posted by: Neo | September 12, 2008 at 12:14 PM
Remarkable. What's going on here?
Foreign policy is conducted to a very great extent with words. Unlike our academic elites, our foreign policy establishment operates on the assumption that words mean something. What do Sarah's words mean here? "Should not, cannot"--WHY not? Is it not one of the primary functions of our foreign policy establishment (DoS, NSC, IC, Congressional Committees) to "second guess" virtually everything that goes on in the world, whether it is done by a foreign nation or by the US? What kind of nutty blanket statement is this? If it's intended as a message to Iran, to put pressure on Iran, could that message not have been framed more artfully but no less bluntly? "We can't rule out... We would consult before deciding... We would (whatever...fill in the blank)."
Posted by: anduril | September 12, 2008 at 12:14 PM
what if a politician expressed confidence that God wants him and his team in office?
If it were a Republican expressing such thoughts, I'd pray he were right, and merciful God had stayed His hand from visiting upon us the reign of Democrats, which we poor sinners certainly deserve.
Posted by: bgates | September 12, 2008 at 12:14 PM
"What if a politician did confidently claim to know God's will, though? Specifically, what if a politician expressed confidence that God wants him and his team in office?
Would that bother anyone here?"
There is a vast swathe of politicians like that all across the Middle East and into the Indian subcontinent.
Then there are those who declare the are doing the will of Karl Marx,quite a few of those,not only in the Democrat party.
Posted by: PeterUK | September 12, 2008 at 12:17 PM
That's the stupidest hypothetical I believe I've ever seen.
Maybe not so hypothetical, Rick!
Wait for it...the Bush statement that was mangled...3...2...1...
Sue is on to me! OK, this is from a book by David Frum, a former Bush speechwriter (search for "he wants us all here") :
And I realize some Obama supporters have suggested that God has a plan to put him in office.
Just thought I'd note this Bush quote for the record.
Posted by: Foo Bar | September 12, 2008 at 12:20 PM
I hate myself for loving Foo Bar.
Posted by: Jim | September 12, 2008 at 12:22 PM
What if a politician did confidently claim to know God's will, though? Specifically, what if a politician expressed confidence that God wants him and his team in office?
Would that bother anyone here?
Posted by: Foo Bar | September 12, 2008 at 11:52 AM
Well, the wife of one presidential candidate did claim that her husband was the only one who could see our souls were broken and he would heal our souls. That sounds like she was claiming God's endorsment for the ticket.
Did that bother you very much FUBAR?
Posted by: Ranger | September 12, 2008 at 12:23 PM
Thanks, Gabriel, Batchelor's piece sounded off to me, too. But then he'a made a star of John Loftus who is constitutionally unable to draw the line between fact and fiction either.
Posted by: clarice | September 12, 2008 at 12:23 PM
Would that bother anyone here?
Yes.
I'm sure you'll let us know when it happens.
As long as it's a Republican.
Posted by: Charlie (Colorado) | September 12, 2008 at 12:24 PM
Settle down anduril.
She's not running for commander of CentCom.
Besides, what she did was give tacit support to Israel while telling Iran, "You're on your own with Israel buddy."
I though it was a good answer.
Posted by: Pofarmer | September 12, 2008 at 12:25 PM
God, you're stupid. Who does CentCom answer to?
Posted by: anduril | September 12, 2008 at 12:27 PM
Don't some of his supporters believe that God directs weather events in order to help elect Obama?
Posted by: Extraneus | September 12, 2008 at 12:27 PM
Dude. "He wants us all here" is not exactly a confident statement of knowing God's will.
I mean, just think it out for a moment: Bush, as most Christians, believes in an omnipotent God who can and does change things around as desired.
Posted by: Charlie (Colorado) | September 12, 2008 at 12:28 PM
Just thought I'd note this Bush quote for the record.
Gad! A Christian who believes he is where God wants him to be. That's a real man-bites-blog moment.
If a Christian believes he is where God doesn't want him to be, he best be leaving.
Posted by: Barney Frank | September 12, 2008 at 12:29 PM
Gosh if we had not adopted this stupid constitutional amendment preventing a third term, you favored socialist would be winning in a rout. How about that for unintended consequences. Plus where is there going to be enough climate controlled storage for all you likeminded trolls and your Bush Dearngement when Bush goes to the ranch in January?
Posted by: GMax | September 12, 2008 at 12:29 PM
By the way, Kirsten Powers has a good column up on Gibson's asinine transgressions.
Posted by: Charlie (Colorado) | September 12, 2008 at 12:29 PM
Didnt Hill claim to converse with Eleanor Roosevelt in the WH when she was First Lady?
Posted by: GMax | September 12, 2008 at 12:31 PM
Foo Bar: Not so fast, my friend. Are you seriously suggesting that Bush saying "God wants us all here" (a belief held by all Christians, and I suppose by all Muslims) is within your hypothetical? Let's review what you asked:
"What if a politician did confidently claim to know God's will, though? Specifically, what if a politician expressed confidence that God wants him and his team in office?"
That dog won't hunt.
Posted by: Danube of Thought | September 12, 2008 at 12:32 PM
Thanks, DoT, I enjoyed that Krauthammer piece. The fade of Obamamania and the rise of Palinmania are overlapping, leaving McCain sitting pretty.
I think the Invesco field speech was modeled after Gore's programmatic acceptance speech in 2000. A laundry list of gimmes. This helped Gore because his people wanted specifics. It didn't help Obama because *his* people wanted soaring flights of oration.
I wonder how much of the surge in independent support is from people who were not particularly strong Obama supporters but were unhappy with the GOP ticket as is. Some of the "independents" may actually be Republicans who jumped off the train in 2006 and are now getting back on. We won't know for sure until the election, but the party ID shift shows signs of hope that it may be cool to be a Republican again.
More reason for the nutroots to tear their hair out.
Posted by: Porchlight | September 12, 2008 at 12:34 PM
"Who does CentCom answer to?"
The Secretary of Defense. She's not running for that, either.
Posted by: Danube of Thought | September 12, 2008 at 12:34 PM
Very interesting to me that Gallup/USA Today now finds only a three-point gap in party identification, 48-45. If that's accurate, and Rasmussen is still weighting with a seven-point margin, The One is in deeper caca that we might realize.
But I'll bet his folks realize it. Brother, have they ever blown this thing.
Posted by: Danube of Thought | September 12, 2008 at 12:37 PM
I think Rasmussen is supposed to start using the new party ID numbers (a 5 point instead of a 7 point margin) beginning Oct 1.
Posted by: Porchlight | September 12, 2008 at 12:40 PM
Foobar,
The reason it's not so scary that an elected American Vice-President may be religious in her office is, the Executive Branch is checked by two other independent branches.
In short, the American Executive is not an Emperor. G.W. Bush's history of forced consultation with the Daschle/Reid Senates models one Executive's tempering under this Constitutional pressure.
This is elementary civics, but, checked, elected government checks the excessive acts of persons in all three branches of government. For some reason, this Constitutional concept has proven indigestible to many of our republic's perpetual critics. Many folks in intelligentsia here and abroad just can't conceive of Constitutional, checked government.
It's one of those pesky little rules that might confound a pocket-Napoleon, or a Putin, or a Mugabe.
Posted by: steveaz | September 12, 2008 at 12:40 PM
If a Christian believes he is where God doesn't want him to be, he best be leaving.
Ah, but you are implicitly suggesting that the only two possible belief states are either believing with great confidence that you are where God wants you to be or believing with great confidence that you're not (and then correcting things quickly, if you're a good Christian). Sarah Palin (and many others) says she would never presume to know God's will, though. So you hope and pray that you're doing God's will and strive to do so, but you don't presume to know that you're doing so.
Certainly, there's a humility regarding knowledge of God's will and intentions that is present in the Lincoln quote, as well as Palin's reiteration, that is not present in Bush's quote.
Posted by: Foo Bar | September 12, 2008 at 12:43 PM
anduril,
Foreign policy is conducted partly with words, and the words of the foreign policy establishment of our own country and others have led us more than once into either avoidable wars or made small wars large ones. It is precisely the over application of diplo speak when good old fashioned plain truth should be employed that has frequently encouraged or disasterously misled our adversaries.
The plain speaking of Harry Truman and Ronald Reagan was far preferable and far more useful for our country than the interminable mealy mouthed diplo jargon you advocate. There is a time and a place for it; a limited one. Warning off the Iranian nutters is not one of them.
And your gratuitous shot at pofarmer was low.
Posted by: Barney Frank | September 12, 2008 at 12:44 PM
That dog won't hunt.
No, it won't. Like it or not, America is simultaneously a very religious and tolerant nation, and deriding others' religious beliefs is bad form. Even if her views were well out of the mainstream (like maybe a Mormon? . . . jus' playin'), it'd be a dubious attack. On the perfectly benign stuff I've seen so far, this is a loser. On that note, another Lincoln quote springs to mind:
Posted by: Cecil Turner | September 12, 2008 at 12:46 PM
God, you're stupid. Who does CentCom answer to?
Anduril
What to FUCK is your problem?
It's not he position of the Vice Presidential Candidate to be questioning the foreign policies of our Allies.
Posted by: Pofarmer | September 12, 2008 at 12:47 PM
Certainly, there's a humility regarding knowledge of God's will and intentions that is present in the Lincoln quote, as well as Palin's reiteration, that is not present in Bush's quote.
Yes, there certainly is. Two different quotes from two different people expressing two different sentiments. Great find!
Ah, but you are implicitly suggesting that the only two possible belief states
No he didn't suggest that at all, not implicitly or explicitly.
Posted by: MayBee | September 12, 2008 at 12:48 PM
Only because you have the sensitivity of a man trying to sew with oven mitts and cooking tongs.
Posted by: Charlie (Colorado) | September 12, 2008 at 12:48 PM
not present in Bush's quote
The context of that Bush quote scares nobody.
Fan: You're doing the Lord's work sir!
Star: Aren't we all.
O o o o o o o o h Fanatical!
Posted by: boris | September 12, 2008 at 12:49 PM
Does anyone know any good old fashioned jewelers? I'm trying to figure out this "$250,000 3 carat earrings" story about Cindy McCain; I've begun to suspect --- given that I'm seeing $15,000 3 carat diamonds via Google --- that someone has an extra zero.
Posted by: Charlie (Colorado) | September 12, 2008 at 12:50 PM
and then correcting things quickly, if you're a good Christian
Missing the point, here, Foo. If you're a good Christian, you can't believe you've departed from the Plan (the path, perhaps, but never the plan).
Posted by: Cecil Turner | September 12, 2008 at 12:50 PM
fdcol63,
I have just been in touch with my favorite Senate Staffer re: The Drug War. He was very favorable. I think the Rs will be going after it once elected. When it comes time, I'm going to help him put together a package of people to call for hearings.
Posted by: M. Simon | September 12, 2008 at 12:50 PM
here on the Left Coast we haven't seen too much of the advertising discussed. Obama and McCain probably think it's in the bag for Obama. From the sound of it though, Obama's ads are small minded and doing him little good. The true believers are convinced, and the rest of us worry about things like his gaffe at WTC yesterday.
Between him and "Senators say the darndest Things" Biden, I am amazed no one in the media is giving them this much play. It is truly becoming Laurel and Hardy and would probably make a heck of a SNL Special.
Posted by: matt | September 12, 2008 at 12:51 PM
"Should not, cannot"--WHY not?
Is "Should not, cannot" plain speak or stupid speak? BF, you're as low as Pofarmer--in IQ.
It's not he position of the Vice Presidential Candidate to be questioning the foreign policies of our Allies.
Really, really dumb. Like a brick.
Posted by: anduril | September 12, 2008 at 12:52 PM
MP 272 OB 266
Posted by: M. Simon | September 12, 2008 at 12:52 PM
Certainly, there's a humility regarding knowledge of God's will and intentions that is present in the Lincoln quote, as well as Palin's reiteration, that is not present in Bush's quote.
Ummm, aren't you implicitly arguing that there is only one possible state for a Christian to be in; to only hope that they are in God's will.
Perhaps at times a Christian is unsure of God's will and at others is quite confident that he is precisely where God wants him. That would seem to be the pattern of behavior and belief throughout both the Old Testament and the New and in the life of virtually every Christian I know.
Posted by: Barney Frank | September 12, 2008 at 12:54 PM
Certainly, there's a humility regarding knowledge of God's will and intentions that is present in the Lincoln quote, as well as Palin's reiteration, that is not present in Bush's quote.
You are misreading what Bush is conveying.
Posted by: Sue | September 12, 2008 at 12:56 PM
virtually every Christian I know
Perpahs the problem is fubird doesn't know many.
Posted by: boris | September 12, 2008 at 12:57 PM
* Perhaps *
Posted by: boris | September 12, 2008 at 12:58 PM
DOT
But its a 5 point R advantage with likelies. Rasmussen is currently using 39.7 D, 32.1 R, and 27.8 I. He's lowered a bit from a 9 point D advantage in August.
Posted by: Laddy | September 12, 2008 at 12:58 PM
My strong suggestion is to totally ignore Anduril. His tired act of disgruntled Rep has pretty much been exposed for what he is, a troll. With a foul mouth and nothing but ad hominems for anyone and everyone. Why bother?
I am sorry that I wasted bandwidth once upon a time on his ilk, but even mockery is too good for the cad. Shun.
Posted by: GMax | September 12, 2008 at 01:01 PM
there's a humility regarding knowledge of God's will
Code for Obama
Posted by: bad | September 12, 2008 at 01:03 PM
Foo Bar, if your point is that Sarah Palin has a bit in common with the twice-elected incumbent but may have views on the relationship between belief and government closer to Abraham Lincoln's - I'm convinced!
On the other hand, if your point is that trying to raise the chief executive up to some kind of messiah figure is a terrible idea - also convinced!
In fact, based on your arguments about the appropriate levels of humility in a chief executive, I'm willing to rank Palin, Bush, and Obama in that order.
Posted by: bgates | September 12, 2008 at 01:03 PM