"You remember Bush, right?"

The Anchoress has a linkfest going on over there this morning that's good, as usual, but this particular reference jumped out at me:

You remember Bush, right?  The guy who goes to Asia and tells China to free her people, while the press jeers, the guy who, while in Asia also meets with Democracy Activists in Burma and gets ignored for it, the guy who drew enormous and supportive crowds in Korea, while the American press yawned?

Sure, you remember Bush!  He’s the guy whose life was threatened along with Barack Obama’s but only the threat to Obama was newsworthy for a very long time at CNN.  Bush?  You mean the creepy moron who will be charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity as soon as congress can figure out how to do that without exposing itself or having to put some of its own members under oath? 

Yeah, that guy!  The guy who does more than just talk about freedom and progress.  The guy who has brought real hope and change to people all over the world, and yes, here in America.  But you don’t want to hear it.  It’s the wrong and inconvenient narrative, the embargoed one.

This takes me back to Sonja and her piece I linked to some days ago.  You might remember this excerpt:

My first thoughts are that all Christians need to take a course in critical thinking.  This is critical.  As an adult convert (at the age of 30) who went to a regular liberal arts college and learned the art of critical thinking and discourse, I have been regularly appalled at the lack of critical thinking that I see amongst the brethren and sistren.   It is why so many are now so bitterly disillusioned with President Bush.  Those of us who are critical thinkers saw him for who he was back in 1999; a charlatan.  But most Christians only heard what they wanted to hear in 2000 and again in 2004.  Having done that, and been so badly burned they seem unwilling to trust any politician again.

You'll note two glaring things here in these two quoted excerpts.  The Anchoress, while defending President Bush, provides tons of fodder substantiating her defense.  Sonja, while attacking the President, provides nothing, nada, zilch to substantiate her idiocy.

But wait... there's more:

I woke up this morning and realized I’m watching this dream come true.  On August 28, 2008 … 45 years to the day later, Barack Obama will accept the nomination for the Democratic Party.

This year. This election. We’re choosing hope. We’re looking at the content of someone’s character and not the color of their skin. Yes, Amen and all good things, we’re choosing hope. Let justice roll down like a mighty river and may grace abound …

- Ravine of Light

That was Sonja back on June 5th... glowingly Obasmic and poetic in her support for the Obamanation.

Roll forward to this week:

I’ve viewed life primarily through the lens of a Democrat.  I worked for my senator when I was in college. Senator Stafford was a life-long Republican and I thoroughly admired him and supported his work. I believe that the government’s job is to protect it’s citizens, to provide a safety net for them should they need it, and several other things that I haven’t yet verbalized enough to write.  I still don’t know who I’ll be voting for in the upcoming presidential election. There was a time when I certain it would be Obama … but recently I’ve been thinking about Nader.  I know … throwing my vote away again.

Well, well, well... what happened?  I thought justice was rolling down the river like a mighty river?  I thought grace was abounding?  Now we're considering voting for... Ralph Nader?   Ralph Nader?

And this decision, we have to assume, is arrived at via Sonja's masterful embrace of " the art of critical thinking and discourse"?

Yea... right...  Critical thinking led to her embrace of Obama, her throwing Obama under the bus and now her embrace of Ralph Nader?

I'd like to suggest that Sonja has instead embraced uncritical emoting and so typifies and exemplifies what passes for liberal thought today.

Thank God for The Anchoress who rather than speak about her critical thinking skills simply gives us evidence for it.

And thank God for people like Sonja who best represents that school of thought emoting thinking people should avoid.

Comments

[Fuquod]

Obviously, only morons are unable or unwilling to come to terms with the miserable failure that Bush has always been, before and especially, during his presidency.

By every definition and interpretation of international law, he is a war criminal who deserves the punishment meshed out to other war criminals of the past.

His human rights record seems to be based on the Chinese play book, so he has little credible to say in that area.

I'm guessing that anyone who still supports that a**hole is also an a**hole with an I.Q. that one could measure on their fingers and toes.

[Mommynator]

And once again we see critical emoting in big bright colors.

Fuquod - either prove it with links, etc., or shut up.

The only a**holes around here are the ones exuding lots of gas without the requisite solid matter.

[Fuquod]

whoa...

take a minute to rescue your panties which are wadding up where the sun doesn't shine.

I look over your posts and you certainly don't have the knack for citation.

so I will do it when you do it.

deal?

[tim aka The Godless Heathen]

“Obviously, only morons are unable or unwilling to come to terms with the miserable failure that Bush has always been, before and especially, during his presidency.”

Let us review:

Bachelor’s degree in history from Yale University.

F-102 fighter pilot in the Texas Air National Guard.

Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School.

Career in the energy business.

Purchased the Texas Rangers baseball franchise in 1989.

Governor of Texas. He became the first Governor in Texas history to be elected to consecutive 4-year terms when he was re-elected on November 3, 1998.

George W. Bush is the 43rd President of the United States. Two Terms.

Yea, that’s a resume of a failure If I’ve ever seen one. Care to post yours?

“By every definition and interpretation of international law, he is a war criminal who deserves the punishment meshed out to other war criminals of the past.”

So he’s either smart to get away something so obvious, which contradicts your earlier comments, or you’re so wrong it’s not funny.

“His human rights record seems to be based on the Chinese play book, so he has little credible to say in that area.”

Name me one instance where your rights have been violated since Jan. 2001 due to Pres. Bush’s policies.

“I'm guessing that anyone who still supports that a**hole is also an a**hole with an I.Q. that one could measure on their fingers and toes.”

Guilty as charged and being called an a$$hole from the likes of you is an honor and a privilege.

Now go play a video game little boy.

[Rick]

It's a joy to come on the blog, see that my troll is back (one who's been posting offensive comments that I've had to delete... one who posts from a variety of IPs to circumvent my attempts to block him...) and that he's been dealt stunning blows (for which he's probably too stupid to even notice).

I loved Mommynator's:

The only a**holes around here are the ones exuding lots of gas without the requisite solid matter.

And then tim's:

Now go play a video game little boy.

Hell... I enjoyed both replies immensely.

Thanks folks... the troll will be back and only God knows (and He truly does) who he'll post as or what IP... keep in mind that I have a history with this one and I believe firmly he's a Desperate Preacher with a vendetta (and serious issues).

An incredible thing if true.

[BroKen]

Yeah, Mommynator and tim did an excellent job.

But Rick, I want to make a suggestion or maybe a request in regards to Sonja. It is fascinating that she's changing her position. Going from Obama to Nader or just not voting at all is something we can hope will increase as November approaches. I would just ask that you not gloat. Maybe she is being cast about by every wind of doctrine, maybe she is just learning to think. Whatever is happening, I think it is something to encourage and cheer (without gloating.) Am I right?

[Rick]

Request denied Ken.

You can call it gloating... if you mean that I take great satisfaction in seeing a pompous leftist awaken from a stupid slumber... especially one who gloats about how freaking smarter she is than all or most who dare disagree with her.

But in your haste to be a peace-maker, you forget one little ole thing.

I no longer respond well to manipulative guilt.

This blog is what this blog is. And I'll not tire of "gloating" when an arrogant leftard with serious delusional tendencies gets her comeuppance.

Are we clear? If not, I can attempt to be blunter.

Oh.. and by the way... some names on this thread have been changed to protect the innocent... because... well... I can.

[Jvette]

Count me in as one of the a-holes. I am still a supporter of President Bush and have only grown to admire him more and more. I actually voted for Gore in 2000 was devastated by the outcome of the election. For months, whenever President Bush came on the TV I changed the channel.

Since 2001 there have been personal things happen to me that spurred a renewal of Christian living and a hard right turn. But, it was 9/11 that saw me totally fall into President Bush's camp.

I haven't always agreed with him, in fact I've been downright disappointed but I can accept that he is only an imperfect human. I support everything he feels he needed to do to vindicate this country and protect it from further attacks.

So, for all those who hate him and wish him harm, I will pray for you and for this country all the harder.

[BroKen]

Wow. Way to go, Jvette!

Rick, fair enough. I really didn't know I was applying guilt. I guess it's like breathing or something. But let me ask for future reference, if I have a question or suggestion that might involve peacemaking, how can I present it in order for you to respond well?

[Rick]

Hey Ken... I'll ask the question with a question.

Was Jesus a peacemaker? Did he gloat?

13"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.[c]

15"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.

16"Woe to you, blind guides! You say, 'If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.' 17You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? 18You also say, 'If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.' 19You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20Therefore, he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21And he who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. 22And he who swears by heaven swears by God's throne and by the one who sits on it.

23"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.

25"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

27"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. 28In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

29"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. 30And you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' 31So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your forefathers!

33"You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? 34Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. 35And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36I tell you the truth, all this will come upon this generation.

37"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. 38Look, your house is left to you desolate. 39For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'[d]"

Wow... I'd say the man/God was tougher on these folks than I've been on Sonja...

You?

[BroKen]

Nevermind.

[Rick]

Why?

[BroKen]

I was tired.

OK, harsh words have their place but when an individual scribe came to Jesus with a good answer Jesus said, "You are not far from the Kingdom of God." Mark 12:54 Not harsh words but encouragement.

Here's what happened. I was "jousting" over at W/D and Sonja chimed in with her snottiness. When I pointed it out, she apologized. Forgive me, Rick, but I'm a sucker for an apology. I know how hard they are to come by. Maybe it was insincere, but I keep a good thought.

Anyway, next thing I know, you post this link that shows she's dropped Obama. "Wow!" I think, "That's good news." I want to encourage that movement. That's all.

Please carry on.

[Rick]

Sonja's snottiness is part and parcel of the Religious Leftist mindset Ken. And if you're suckered by an apology, something so cheaply given these days as to make them meaningless, then be suckered. It'll take a whole lot more to convince me that she's changed. A whole lot more.

I have experience with the Sonjas and Mikes of this world. Years of it. Sincerity isn't something I see them to manifest often when it comes to their dealing with people I consider to be my like-minded friends, acquaintances and co-ideologues.

Notice over there how once you've boxed them into a corner, they're quick to make an exit. I'd like to think it's a by-product of shame. I'd like to think that when light is shined in their direction, they're quick to look for the comfort of their accustomed darkness until they can get used to the light. The problem is that soon enough, if my history with them is any gauge, they return to their uncritically thinking ways and their hatred for all things they disagree with.

I'm one who thinks pressure should be continuously applied to these blokes for their emotive and substance-less way of thinking until, like Jvette, they finally come to their senses and see the errors of their way.

You think otherwise. So be it. We're different people. I'm not asking you to change your methodologies. Why do you ask me to? And why do you feel the need to box me into that way of thinking by suggesting I should be someone other than who I am?

I'm always amazed at those who have Jesus figured out, who see Him as this milk-toast peace-nik who never had a harsh word for anyone.

More amazed when someone attempts to make me a clone of that false Christ.

[BroKen]

You are making more out of my request than it warrants. It was just a suggestion. Was there any pressure applied?

I'm a sucker and probably will be suckered. It's really no great loss if I am. If you see me engaging or jousting and I'm too conciliatory, you can just say, "Isn't that cute. Ken's making nice with the leftists." I would like to maintain some respect for them as people, even if their minds are muddled. After all, I know mine is too, in ways I can't imagine.

I don't know if we are THAT different. You have had much more experience than I with this process. I've never had a "fuquod" or had anyone call my boss. That would likely change my tone pretty quickly. But for now, I seem to be able to take less offense at hypocrisy and arrogance and general foolishness.

Now, if you happen to see me engage in something really foolish or dangerous, I hope you will take the trouble to call me on it.

Do you think I am one of those who thinks he has Jesus figured out? That I think He is a milk-toast peacenik? No desire for clones on this side, bro.