Arkansas Blog

I believe jazzy posted yesterday that one of the Congressmen actually conducted his illicit affair within Jesus' C-Street house.

Let's give KOS a gold ribbon: >>Fundamentalism is not the religion of the GOP, it is the established religion in Washington and it to some extent maintains control over both parties. I was raised in a church that preached it as the religion of the status quo: Respect authority and the power and always know your place. It helps the poor in poverty waiting for their treasures in heaven while the wealthy amass greater riches on earth.<<

Who could have explained Christianity better. Maybe the Medici family who "profited greatly from this fable of Christ."

.

Last week, The Associated Press revealed that the estranged wife of a former Republican congressman, Chip Pickering of Mississippi, had filed an alienation of affection lawsuit seeking damages against her husband's gal pal, a wealthy former college sweetheart named Elizabeth Creekmore Byrd.

The suit charges that as a lawmaker, Chip used C Street as a divine love nest. "Ultimately," it says, "Creekmore Byrd gave Pickering the option to remain a public servant or become a private citizen and continue relations with her."
Maureen Dowd, NYT

clickit.

Meanwhile, the rich get richer. Click.

Dang. I am an idiot. So just copy and fricking paste.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124813343694466841.html#mod%3DtestMod%26articleTabs%3Darticle

Reminds me of that goofy video where Mark Pryor tries to sit on the fence between creationism and evolution.... the one where he astutely confesses there's no IQ test to be in the Senate. It would be easier to take Mark's shallowness and deceitfulness if I wasn't so fond of his father. Mark's one acorn that fell far, far from the tree.

Man, Marky has really gone to the dark side. Time to shine a light on this little enclave.

How quick you lefties are to condemn on one hand that you waive proudly with the other. That pesky First Amendment lets these citizens live, think and believe what they want, when they want, where they want.

I don't scare easily, but considering just how evil Marks votes have consistently been. Needless wars based on obvious lies, torture, abandonment of justice, Habeas Corpus, taking our surveillance state to horrifying new levels. Rarely if ever even bothering to gather enough facts to be able to coherently answer folks questions or concerns about all I mentioned above.

When do people finally wake up to the fact he (and so many others in positions of power) is simply a dangerous human being?

The C street Family is where power is purchased and souls are sold. And I have never heard one statement from Mark which leads me to believe he is intelligent or strong enough to be able to properly question or reject such evil. Bless his heart.

We Arkansans can do so much better... and we would be doing him a favor.

" That pesky First Amendment lets these citizens live, think and believe what they want, when they want, where they want."

Not on my dime, on their time as politicians, it doesn't. Separation of church and state, one of the foundations of our strength as a democracy, makes the blurry lines in terms of this political "Christian Mafia" very clear and distinct.

I think the very existence of such a "Christian Mafia" within the government is positively un-American.

Go pull up Fosdick's Sermon he preached at Riverside Church in NYC on the Fundamentalists. See if that wont't take more to the MAX!

And if big AR Newspapers, television and radio had one shred of journalistic integrity... this story would be huge.. and never really go away.

Damn right hick, LilMarkyMark can believe any damned fool thing he wants - he (and you?) can believe the earth is flat and the center of the universe. But, he can't believe that crap and expect to get my vote.

"..."Let's say I hear you raped three little girls. What would I think of you?" The man guessed that Coe would probably think that he was a monster. "No," answered Coe, "I wouldn't." Why? Because, as a member of the Family, he's among what Family leaders refer to as the "new chosen." If you're chosen, the normal rules don't apply. " Coe is David Coe, the heir apparent of The Family. (see clicky)

hick, is this the type of person you want your senator associating with? I certainly don't.

"That pesky First Amendment lets these citizens live, think and believe what they want, when they want, where they want."

OH HELL NO, no, no, no.
These "citizens" can "believe what they want, when they want, where they want" when they are private "citizens", but as long as we are paying their wages they need to make sure that they are not under the influence of a Dominionist cult that wants to create a Theocracy in this country...hell, in the world.
I suggest, before you throw mud around here, that you click on the blue name and do a bit of reading on Dominionism and Dominion Theology.
All free people should find the fact fact that their Congress Critters are involved with this type of "christians" very troubling.

I'm so sick of all this hypocrisy. This 'Family' is nothing but a religious cult, no different than the Moonies or Scientologists, and any elected representative who puts loyalty to it ahead of their constituents, their state and their country should be run out of town. I have to wonder about the sanity and stability of someone who can be so easily brainwashed into supporting the crap this organization promotes. It's long past time to tell all these bozos to keep their religion out of our government.

Does it really matter how Pryor votes or what clubs he joins? To Arkansas liberals, he will always be better than the evil, Republican alternative who raises his/her head every six years. They will hold their nose and vote for him, despite his oppostion to a woman's right to choose and support of the war. If Mike Huckabee or Bud Cummins or Chuck Banks became one of our two U.S. Senators today's disgruntled, whiny lefties would long for the days of Pryor II. It is the Arkansas democratic party that is over a barrel or on the fence, not Pryor. He knows what he is doing.

Religion has been part of our society since the Republic began. Do politicians use religion to promote their own agenda and careers? I don't think that anyone would disagree with that. I'm not sure what you are objecting to. You cheer when someone extols the virtues of secularism. What is the difference? I don't know what is in Pryor's heart so I am not going to judge his intent. However, if he were cheering for some hedonistic policy you would be praising his values.

Knock, the days of Dems getting my vote ended last May 31 when the RBC stole votes to anoint Teh Lightbringer. Howie Dean got the shreds of my DNC, DSCC, DCCC and voter registration cards in the mail a few days later and, with very few exceptions, I wouldn't piss on Arky Dems if they were on fire.

But, you're right of course - LilMarkyMark & Blank will be reelected as long as they desire. And Arkansas will remain in next to last place forever and ever Amen.

"I'm so sick of all this hypocrisy. This 'Family' is nothing but a religious cult, no different than the Moonies or Scientologists, and any elected representative who puts loyalty to it ahead of their constituents, their state and their country should be run out of town. I have to wonder about the sanity and stability of someone who can be so easily brainwashed into supporting the crap this organization promotes. It's long past time to tell all these bozos to keep their religion out of our government. "

My feelings also, HardHeadedWoman. I can disagree with somebody in Congress and still respect him or her, still vote for him or her. But when cults like the Family come forth, count me out.

This country was not founded on religion, nor was religion itself in any way a divining rod for the Constitution.

Nor were the words of Jesus.

Fact.

It is increasingly obvious that Mark Pryor and B. Lincoln have long ago abandoned the Democratic Wing of the Democrat Pary. This latest revelation about the self-righteous bible-thumping hypocrite, Mark Pryor, is further proof. He actually believes the earth was created in 7 days and that man walked the planet with dinosaurs! He came from really good Democratic Party reformist stock dating back to the mid-60's in South Arkansas, but Marko-boy long-ago betrayed those of us who trusted he had learned the legacy of his father. Too bad. Arkansas needs a real Democrat to run against this vacuous plastic man, or at least one who is not an embarrassment.

"I'm not sure what you are objecting to. "

I am objecting to pols being involved with a group that wants to make this country into a Theocracy, that's what I have a problem with.

Isn't it funny that this thread sits right above a thread about Tony Alamo? What difference is there between Tony Alamo and the people we've sent to Congress? Oh yes..I know...child FK'ing. But you know they throw that charge at every religious wacko. They've been throwing that at Alamo for years and never proved it. Don't get me wrong, I don't like Tony Alamo, but I don't see much difference in him and the rest of the frauds we discuss on this blog.

Tony Alamo and this C Street crowd have more in common with each other than they do with us. They all believe they're special, those Thou Shalts don't apply to them. Alamo and the C Street Congressmen pretend to believe a lot of goofy stuff about God, but it's a cover for their quest for power, money, women, and world domination. Tony Alamo is on trial......no one in Congress is. Tony Alamo is on trail, no former Bush administration official is. Why are they picking on Tony? He can't FK my life, Congress can and has and will as long as we let them.

Let's review Mark Pryor's record. Since taking office he's followed the Republican way with nearly all his votes. He came off like an idiot when Gonzales played him for a fool in public. Gonzales...that one....the stupid one..pulled the wool over Pryor's eyes. Pryor has sold sick people down the river with his vote to change the bankruptcy laws. He voted to confirm many of the worst in the Bush administration and when that wasn't good enough, he joined other Democrats In Name Only to form a gang to get the last and most dangerous Bush appointees confirmed. He's been Allah's gift to warmongers everywhere.

Mark Pryor was dumb enough to get in a room with a camera and Bill Maher and then after mumbling a few things about the fictitious Christ, admitted Gomer Pyle could be a Senator because there ain't no IQ test. Do you think Pryor was worried about what his C Street buddies might think if had admitted a belief in evolution? Do you think his wife moving back to Arkansas several years ago had anything to do with the C Street shenanigans?

Truth is, we pay our elected representatives a lot of money, send them off to DC and have no idea what goes on. Pryor could be the father of the Octomom's children for all we know. He could be shacking up with Lindsey Graham for all we know. He could have a Cheney chip implanted in his ass for all we know. Same can be said about Blanche Lincoln. Where's the Eastern Star version of C Street.....you know there has to be one.

We're being played like a deck of cards. Arkansas....the good old launch pad. We send them off and never hear from them again. If you removed the racists and the fundamentalist nuts from our state those of us left could each own our own town.......jazzy, all of Hot Springs is yours, hon. We don't need no Mexican border guards, but it might be smart to send a band of retired people to follow Pryor and Lincoln around. And isn't it time the Arkansas Times has a Washington bureau? Without someone snooping around and finding out what's going on, I'm afraid we're going to have Pryor, Lincoln & Tony Alamo around for a very long time.

Yes, religion has been a part of our society since the white man first set foot here on dry land. It's played a heavy role in the slaughter of the native people. It played a leading role in the imprisonment and execution of people accused of practicing witchcraft. It was 'good Christian men' who traded in and benefited by the ownership of slaves. And it continues to play a large part in promoting the hatred and violence aimed at minorities, gays and immigrants in groups from the KKK to the Westboro Baptist wackos. Just because someone or some group claims to be a 'good Christian' doesn't mean they're not completely insane or evil. In fact, it may just be proof that they are!

And just because someone claims to be sensitive and caring about others doesn't mean that they are really altruistic at heart. Wolves come in many forms.

Just a little cold water on the party:
- Mike, you and the rest of your conservative friends don't vote Democrat, so this is not your party and you ought to STFU.

- Everyone here who voted for Pryor ought to STFU too, because you voted for him.

- How many people does that leave in the thread?

I have this feeling that Pryor doesn't care what the ARKBLOG thinks of him. His base of support is elsewhere. Outside of the hillcrest area who cares what the arkblog crowd thinks.

Speak only for yourself, Mike.

You said it all DBI, and yes, there is a bit of a pattern forming here.

Wolves in Sheep's clothing and dumb as rocks.

No one has mentioned greed yet and it needs to be included.

I know old man Pryor did better than the boy. He had better opportunities, a better atmosphere. And, he may have simply been a better person. His IQ seems about the same.

Democracy exists by it's committment to universal education, a free press, and an informed electorate. None of those is working today. We are in deep, deep trouble.

Boys like Pryor will always want our votes. We must find candidates who will honor them. If we do not, we get the government we deserve. Guess what?

" - Everyone here who voted for Pryor ought to STFU too, because you voted for him.

- How many people does that leave in the thread? "

Me.

I've had several service type people in the last few days to evaluate/assess storm damage and the majority always preface their assessment with "I'm a Christian" -- unfortunately I'm instantly auspicious -- if they only knew how turns me off and how untrustworthy that makes them come across.

I've had several service type people in the last few days to evaluate/assess storm damage and the majority always preface their assessment with "I'm a Christian" -- unfortunately I'm instantly auspicious -- if they only knew how turns me off and how untrustworthy that makes them come across.

Oh, and, when Jesus comes back, I am happy with him taking over, until then, this is a democracy. Go into your closet to pray and don't let the left hand know what the right hand is doing.

Giving some people a Bible is like giving a monkey a machine gun. It's not the Bible's fault.

Me too.

Why don't you send him a letter and give him a list of what is acceptable and what is not acceptable. That way he can measure his actions and the way he thinks before he does anything. He can be a good little robot in the 'progressive' way. What would Daily Kos do in a situation like this? Surely they have one of those lists that they hand out to politicians.

I'm with you, BWC. I grew up around a bunch of those kind of people. My grandparents were some of the ugliest people you'd ever meet when it came to those who are 'different'. And when my dad wasn't out screwing around outside one of his 5 marriages, he was at home beating the shit out of his current wife. But every one of them presented themselves to the world as such a 'good Christian'. Such a claim by anyone today will immediately make me suspicious.

"Jesus didn't come to take sides. He came to take over."

Funny, but that's not what I remember from my Baptist church childhood. I remember "believe in me" and "I will go and prepare a place for you."
Nothing about "I'm gonna take over."
Being that vaunted all powerful being, I'd guess he coulda done that a long time ago if he's wanted to, and with no help from the likes of Pryor and company.
I'd say Pryor and buddies need to brush up not only on the Constitution of the United States, but also on the Bible.

Pryor is not the issue. The absence of leadership is the issue. The absence of democracy is the issue.

When you have the uncontested power of a Pryor is when you can have real influence for your constituents. Blank and Pryor need to have the courage of their convictions and tell it like it is. Let the people see. Show us what our vote is worth. They don't have to hide and back alley us. They need not rely on double talk. They have the freedom to be honest, and lead.

Talk to any waiter or waitress and they'll tell you Sunday afternoon is the worst time for tips, because that's when all the Christians go out to eat.

Pryor is like Scott Ford. Without daddy, they'd be in middle management somewhere.

This is much ado about nothing. Pryor has a right to his religious beliefs. It is none of your business what he believes. I thought your ideology advocated individual freedom? Sure doesn't look like it to me unless of course the person agrees with you.

"Why don't you send him a letter and give him a list of what is acceptable and what is not acceptable."

Wow, Mike, you actually had a good idea! That is exactly what we should be (and have been) doing. It's called letting our representatives know what we want and expect from them in their REPRESENTATION of our interests as Democrats.

"Why don't you send him a letter and give him a list of what is acceptable and what is not acceptable."

Wow, Mike, you actually had a good idea! That is exactly what we should be (and have been) doing. It's called letting our representatives know what we want and expect from them in their REPRESENTATION of our interests as Democrats.

Ok, then what is your beef?

Oh, and, the health care thing is easy.

The government sets up the 'Wal-mart' of health care based on preventative medicine, generic drugs, and basic level of care at a low price (Low Prices, Always.)

Specialists, drug companies, insurance companies, and for profit hospitals can compete over expanded care, expensive treatments, cutting edge drugs, and elective or experimental surgeries.

One will not replace the other. They will exist side by side, just like Walmart and Saks. Everyone will get basic care wherever they choose. On the low end, you will expect some rationing. Those who can afford it will have supplemental insurance to cover that.

Sorry for the double post.

Why don't you let Wal-mart set it up and administer it? They have a pretty impressive record of performance providing low cost products. Look at the $4 generic drug program. All the government can do is screw up whatever they touch and pay an enormous amount of money for it.

My beef is with Democrats who work to undermine the overall goals of universal health care, getting us out of these unwinnable wars and prosecuting the criminals who took us there. My beef is with the spineless leadership that lets Republicans steamroll them and keeps us from moving forward as a nation to fix all the problems left us by the Repubs.
Certainly everyone is entitled to their own beliefs, and for all I care Pryor could be sacrificing ducks for Jesus in the privacy of his own home. But when it comes to our government, just like so many of the C Street cheaters, they need to keep it zipped. No one wants to see it and they have no business flopping it out in the public square.

Only because once it is government funded business immediately gets in there and screws it up.

You have to guard against the sloth in government but not near to the degree you do the greed in business. Campaign contributions are the bigger problem. Repubs like to blame government because they don't what public service means.

"His base of support is elsewhere. Outside of the hillcrest area who cares what the arkblog crowd thinks."

Mike, why is it you think that only folks who live in Hillcrest post here? I don't live there, I live our in Saline county. There are a number of posters who do not live in Little Rock. And why do you use Hillcrest like it is an offense to human decency to live there?

"This is much ado about nothing. Pryor has a right to his religious beliefs. It is none of your business what he believes."

Mike, Mark does have a right to his religious beliefs, but as my rep and employee he does NOT have a right to push the agenda of a religious cult. It makes me very uncomfortable when I find out that one of my Congress Critters in Washington is a member of "The Family", a christian cult that is actively working towards setting up a Theocracy in this country.

Sloth and incompetency in government is EXTREME. It is not a minor thing as you paint it to be. Greed is a human trait not a business trait. There are honest businessmen who seek to make a profit. Profit is not synonymous with greed. If you don't make a profit you don't stay in business.

He gets together with others who believe as he do. What has that got to do with his job? Are you saying that everyone else can do it but someone in government? The Constitution gives ALL American citizens the right to their beliefs and to practice their beliefs. You nor anyone else have the right to limit the practice of his beliefs. The Bill of Rights is not exclusive in its application.

Your opinions are EXTREME.

Repubs think liberty is just about making a profit and freedom from taxes. But, I know no one as singleminded is capable of understanding two sides.

If you were, you would understand that government is required to perform many important public functions and that it requires leadership and direction. If you weren't so busy trying to cut your taxes while milking the government cow you would be trying to make it run properly and do the jobs for which competition is not feasible or useful.

personal beliefs vs public policy. That's all.

Mikey Business...

[Milkey] walks into a bar and says, "Excuse me, I'd like a pint of beer."

The bartender serves the drink and says, "That'll be four dollars."

[Mikey] pulls out a twenty-dollar bill and hands it to the bartender.

"Sorry, sir," the bartender says, "but I can't accept that."

[Mikey] pulls out a ten-dollar bill and the bartender rejects his money again. "What's going on here?" [Mikey] asks.

Pointing to a neon sign, the bartender explains, "This is a Singles Bar."

"but as my rep and employee he does NOT have a right to push the agenda of a religious cult. It makes me very uncomfortable when I find out that one of my Congress Critters in Washington is a member of "The Family", a christian cult that is actively working towards setting up a Theocracy in this country."

The use of the word 'cult' is inflammatory and highly opinionated and not a fact. He is protected by the Bill of Rights to practice his beliefs wherever and whenever he chooses. You have no right to dictate your terms or beliefs on him. Christianity is hardly defined as a cult except by the regular imbibers of the Daily Kos.

Liked the joke.

"the practice of personal religious beliefs" does not conflict with public policy.

Repeating, I couldn't care less what any of them believe or practice in their private lives. But in their public lives, they represent people of various, and yes, even no faith. They have a solemn responsibility to respect the diversity of their constituents and govern accordingly without favor to one religion over another. If this group was based on the Islamic faith, no doubt you'd be screaming a whole different tune.

The 'hard headed' moniker fits. It is none of your business. End of story.

"How quick you lefties are to condemn on one hand that you waive proudly with the other. That pesky First Amendment lets these citizens live, think and believe what they want, when they want, where they want."

Roger -

Congrats. The standard, patented response from someone who can not actively engage in a substantive retort. When logic flies in the face of a narrow-minded thinker (a dime a gross in this regressive state of our's) the person beats their chest and starts shouting names. "How proudly you lefties are to condemn...?" You lefties??? Quick Roger, abandon an intelligent response and embrace the emotionally fueled name calling!

Let's go back to the operative word -- substantive. It is "substantive" to address stated arguments rather than emplpoying the cowardly stance of rallying on the sactity of the amendment that allows for opinion. Think about it, you infer the sanctity of the initial opinion as protected and worthy under this amendment, then you disrespectfully disregard and dismiss the opposing opinion. Seriously, are you too afraid to state why one opinion carries such sactity and the other is so easily dismissed? Again, 'cowardly' -- how's that for solid name calling?

You are a coward because you seriously fear thinking outside the box of conventional thought...just like Mark Pryor. Let me share a Bertrand Russell quote which I'm sure you have not yet read: "Conventional people are roused to fury by departure from convention, largely because they regard such departure as a criticism of themselves" Thus the "You lefties" really means, "you people who don't think like me," doesn't it, Roger.

With that stated, thank God I do not think like you OR Mark Pryor! My Jesus is obviously a far bigger, creative, inclusive and open-minded being. My God doesn't endorse 'exclusivity' nor did he ever employ the word "family" as a weapon to alienate some and qualify others to meet a specific political agenda. My Savior was never a member of any 'mafia.' In fact, he 'so loved the WORLD' -- all of it, that it would be beneath him to belong to the C Street House or the Family.

Lies, more lies, avoid facts at all costs, avoid direct answers to what people say.. and change the subject constantly.

Like Mark, mike's got nothing.. death, suffering, loss of liberty, treasure.. and no problem with any of that as far as i can tell.... especially if religion is used to justify it.

The rest is just an attempt to maintain divisiveness.

Mike, include me to in rural Faulkner Couty as believing as Hillceat does. Of course, I lived in Hillcrest before it became "Hillcrest".

Pryor didn't get my vote and he lost 30% of the vote to the Green Party candidate in the last election which should tell him that there discontent with his DINO status. Ms. Blank is going to have some competition and hopefully there will be a Green Party candidate as I won't vote for a Republican at any level down to assistant dogcatcher.

If Mikey-Mikey wants to have a theocracy, there is an opening for Vice President in Iramn. Go and see what it is to live where you obey all the rules, not just the ones you like.

I told you you wouldn't understand.

Lawd have mercy! All this carrying on about Mark Pryor. And for zilch. He'll be elected to a third term in 2014, and to 4th and 5th terms if he wants them. Only the naïve would think otherwise. In 2008, Pryor received more votes than any statewide elected official in Arkansas history.

If you think that Pryor exercising his constitutional right constitutes a 'theocracy' then you need to visit Iran and find out what a real theocracy is all about. Spoiled brat Americans. You have never really experienced the loss of your basic human rights so you really don't know what it is like.

But, I don't think that.

If you had a brain, you would take it out and play with it.

You're right Durango.

But, maybe, if he is going to chase women with these inerrant, super elites we have a good sex scandal to look forward to.

"If you think that Pryor exercising his constitutional right constitutes a 'theocracy' then you need to visit Iran and find out what a real theocracy is all about. Spoiled brat Americans. You have never really experienced the loss of your basic human rights so you really don't know what it is like."

What an irrelevant post, Durangokid. It is also a bit funny, considering you are passing off this statement like "those Americans" don't know repression, but I do. Life without formulated logic must be utter bliss, consiering you just blur right across the lines.

The line of thought is not just Pryor exercising a constitutional right, but a group pursuing an agenda. Gee, you have never experienced Fascism like I have, back when I lived in Austria in 1938, Durangokid. Let's all stack experiences, y'all!

The point? That we note (historically) that these types of movements can take wing when least expected, unless more rational minds prevail and restore common sense. You promote the very argument you 'attempted' to bite with condescension. We need to nip extremism and any attempt of a theorcracy before this fosters into a machine and smites any differing opions and/or begins to infringe upon the civil liberties our fore fathers worked so hard to establish for this nation. Germany was also a rationally thinking nation before extremism got the better hand.

It is the business of all of us when some group or organization has as its stated goal to take over our government and fill it with religious cultists. What's troubling is that you don't seem to see anything wrong with that. That is, of course, unless this group happened to be made up of non-Christians.
As for my moniker, yes, I am a hard headed woman in the truest sense of the Cat Stevens' song. Apparently, like most conservatives, you feel too threatened by an intelligent woman with strong opinions to appreciate a woman like me.

HoopHog - 'twarn't Roger, 'twas mike...who is a Troll and we need to STOP feeding him. IF you challenge him to present a FACT or respond specifically to something, he cuts & runs or changes the subject...

...and who you misread as Durango is, BINGO: mike!!!...

Irrelevant, hoophog? Hang around until 2014 and THEN tell me. It will be without my vote, but Pryor will win as long as he chooses to run. And that's the way it is, Tuesday, July 21, 2009.

Lawdy, Larry! I hope you're not saying I'm mike!

RIGHT ON, HHW!!! This blog is full of intelligent women with strong opinions, and they universally would love the opportunity to kick mike where the sun don't shine - but MAY miss and injure his 3"

The Religionist nutsacks have been surreptitiously trying to take over the country since the early 80's when they mounted the "stealth" campaigns at the lowest level - school boards. They were successful (ref Abstinence ONLY "education") and we see what that has done to education, as someone pointed out above. They have been right-along WAY more dangerous to our liberty than any bands of "Terrorists," and were able to crawl partially out of their smelly holes with the advent of Newt & the "Contract on America!"

They have more recently been fully emboldened by Bush Lite, et al and have seriously over-reached, simply by having no competence to govern (ref Ashcroft, Gonzalez & "Brownie" - just to name a few) - or do much of anything else except decry sex while playing footsies under the table with whatever scummy women would have a THING to do with them!!! Would YOU want your daughter to marry one? That really says it all about mike and his ilk, except they enjoy being assholes who come on this terrific venue and shit in the sugar bowl simply because they can!!

HA, DK - good one!!! I was simply trying to point out (and keep up!) that HH was reading the line ABOVE the actual poster instead of the line below - he quoted first Roger, then You = when both posts he was referring to came from our new favorite (NOT!) Troll, mike....

A second reading eases my mind, Larry. Whew! Thanks for clearing it up for hoophog.

Thanks, Larry. You know, there's nothing more fun on a rainy day than to bat a little troll around like a cat toy.

"In 2008, Pryor received more votes than any statewide elected official in Arkansas history."

Percentage wise, more than McClellan, Bumpers, Faubus, or Monroe Swarzelose?

"The use of the word 'cult' is inflammatory and highly opinionated and not a fact. He is protected by the Bill of Rights to practice his beliefs wherever and whenever he chooses. You have no right to dictate your terms or beliefs on him. Christianity is hardly defined as a cult except by the regular imbibers of the Daily Kos."

Mike, please stop putting words in my mouth.
I never said Christianity itself is a cult. I actually happen to be a Christian and go to weekly Mass. I said that "THE FAMILY" is a christian cult that espouses Dominionist theology. THEY WANT TO TURN THIS COUNTRY INTO A THEOCRACY. Coe has said the rules the rest of us live by do not apply to his followers. PLEASE take a minute to read a bit on Dominionist theology....or maybe the reason you seem to offended is because you are a member of The Family or think America as a Theocracy is a good idea?
Hmmmmm, inquiring minds want to know.....

Mike READ something other than Kool-Aid propaganda?!! Surely you jest - maybe you've been on vacation from the blog for a while. Mike is Troll-1, impervious to facts.

I love how people on this blog so freely use the word 'facts'. The only 'facts' that you people accept are those that agree with your ideology. I have read comments that quoted the NYT and was rebuffed. In that case the NYT article didn't support the 'progressive' cause. You don't want 'facts' you want a mutual agreement society.

"Percentage wise, more than McClellan, Bumpers, Faubus, or Monroe Swarzelose?"

Pryor got 80% of the vote when he beat Rebekah Kennedy in 2008. Don't think anybody else has ever captured 80% of the vote. Remember, too, that when Pryor beat little Timmy Hutchinson, he was the only Democratic candidate for the Senate to defeat a Republican incumbent that year. Pryor has proved he's a campaigner, and he's got a heckuva machine, plus loads and loads of money. Yep, he'll stay raht there in the Yewnited States Senate 'till he gets tired of it or the Lawd takes him out, whichever comes fust.

Here is the bottom line relative to Pryor. He can belong to any organization he chooses in terms of his rights as an American citizen barring the political consequences. If you don't like it, vote for someone else on election day.

The Family is linked to many of the America's leading politicians, has been the subject of controversy for its secrecy, involvement in sex scandals, ties to third-world dictators and oppressive regimes, and approving references to Hitler and the Mafia. Its religious leader endorses the "totalitarianism of Christ."

And Marky says not to take sides?! And he says they want to take over?

Can you say Christian Taliban and Biblical Fascism and a Crucifixion Jihad? Well, the Family can and will if you don't put a stop to their evil ways. What a dangerous group!!!

Not anymore dangerous than the morons who run the LRSD.

Troll mike has 16 of the first 83 posts on this thread. Must like to see his name in lights or think he has something very important to contribute. Must be the former; isn't the latter.

I have a couple of questions for you, mike.
Were you one of those people screaming about Obama's relationship with Rev. Wright?
Were you one of those people who were demanding he disassociate himself from the Rev. and his church?
If so, then you are a hypocrite.

HHW,

Your questions make entirely too much sense for our Lil Mikey. Please don't kick the baby seal:)

Of course you're right, Sister
Guess I'm just feeling a little sadistic today. ;-)

"This 'Family' is nothing but a religious cult, no different than the Moonies or Scientologists" - HardHeadedWoman

HardHeadedWoman shies away from going far enough. ALL religions, large or small, are cults, my darling. Not just the Moonies and Scientologists.

Of course, NOBODY believes they themselves belong to a cult: just everybody else.

Further perusing this thread, it must be cocktail hour somewhere because logic's getting soused. Oh, wait: it's a religious thread. There IS no logic. More wine, please, waiter.

Next up? Any*Mouse with THIS Mobius strip of mental malware.

"I never said Christianity itself is a cult. I actually happen to be a Christian and go to weekly Mass. I said that "THE FAMILY" is a christian cult that espouses Dominionist theology. THEY WANT TO TURN THIS COUNTRY INTO A THEOCRACY." - Any*Mouse

Isn't that what I just said, Any? ("NOBODY believes they themselves belong to a cult: just everybody else.")

Any*Mouse CERTAINLY isn't a Christian cultist. Just those "other" people who "want to turn this country into a theocracy."

Any*Mouse goes to Mass weekly and tithes, presumably, to the Catholic Church.

Along with the Mormon cult, Any*Mouse's Catholic cult spent $83 million last fall to pass Prop. 8 in California, which legalized the majority religious cults' unconstitutional discrimination against same-sex Americans' equality. They (the theocrats) won.

Those same cults are spending millions more right now in Maine to overturn same-sex equality.

We'll soon have six Catholic cultists on the U.S. Supreme Court. But they aren't theocratic cultists either, because they've got the "real" Truth and nobody else does.

In other words, Any*Mouse tithes regularly to support HIS religious cult's determination "to turn this country into a theocracy" BUT -- thank God -- isn't a theocratic cultist personally.

Psst -- waiter? Our party would love another round of shiraz but do you have a four-top in the non-schizophrenic section?

Hey HHW...maybe some role playing.

If I'm Mike, this is my response to those questions..."It's different, you stupid liberal bitch. Why can't you see that? The Constitution doesn't cover hate-speak by blacks. The Family is an organization our white, heterosexual Founding Fathers would approve.''

Is that close?

That would be correct, Sister.
Well played!

Dang, Norma -

You know I adore you but you were way too hard on Any*Mouse. She's on our side. Let's not throw out the baby with the bath water.

And HHW, I think you scared away Mikey with your "bitchy'' questions. I guess the moniker fits, damn you! :)

Just doin' what I can, Sister!

Gee...so much.....so much wrong... The Family, or the C Street family or whatever you want to call them are a cult...CULT. Some of you wish to defend them, but you won't defend the Tony Alamo World Wide Church. What's the difference? mike states that Mark Pryor is free to believe and worship as he pleases. Why can't Tony Alamo? God tells Tony...take as many 10 year olds as you like for your wives....as many as you please. Why is that wrong? God told Tony to do it. It must be godly or Tony wouldn't attack them babies with his Christian Crimson Darth Vader. Tony says he's a man of God. Billy Graham says he's a man of God. Who are we to believe, when everyone can claim God talks to them. Why isn't Tony Alamo staying at C Street? Let Coburn put his legs up in the stirrups and give him a pap smear while talking about God's word on love and marriage.

CRAZY! The worlds gone crazy! The biggest defender of Democratic Senator Mark Pryor on this thread is a conservative Bible-beating creep named mike. Doesn't that tell ya something? Doesn't that tell you why no one ran against Pryor the last time? No Rebekkah doesn't count. The Democrats support Pryor because he's one of those numbers that supposedly add up to 60. The Republicans support Pryor because he's as good a Republican as they come. These exact same things can be said about Blanche Lincoln too. We can knock her ass off next year, she's had a free ride long enough.

If you go to work tomorrow with all kinds of duties and agendas and spend on your time on your personal stuff...you'll probably be fired by the end of the day. We have 6 elected officials in Washington, DC and only Snyder ever does any work for us now and then. mike talks about Mark Pryor not representing Hillcrest....hell....Mark doesn't even represent Arkansas...whatta you talking about?

I'm tired of getting screwed. I'm tired of all this silly religious talk. I'm tired of corporate America owning our representatives! Look around.....our lives are hard....they're lives are easy. How many more decades do you want to live like this? Dig dig dig dig on Mark Pryor's hidden life......and we might be rid of him ahead of Lincoln. The madness must stop!

So Mark Pryor getting with other people who believe as he believes is morally equivalent to tony alamo? And you wonder why people regard you as pinheads!!!!!

Bates----try selling your 'christianity is a cult' to mainstream America. "Waiter, could I have a table as far from the pinheads as possible."

Certainly, we have a table for you. If you'll just follow me to the end of the page.
Here we are, sir.
Have a seat and click on 'sign out'.

HHW...Master Mikey still didn't answer your questions.

Really, I'd like a right-winger to answer those. I'd honestly like the national media to ask the same questions since a Baptist preacher and a Mormon will be frontrunners for the GOP in '12.

Sister --

Thanks for the gender-clarification for Any*Mouse.

"You know I adore you but you were way too hard on Any*Mouse. She's on our side," you say.

Yes, I enjoy Any*Mouse's comments here too: intelligent, thoughtful, well-written. Until they're not. As in THIS case, when her disconnect between what she's saying and what she's doing is stunning.

"She's on our side," you say, apparently meaning on the side of GLBT Americans and their straight supporters.

No, Sister, she's not. Every week, says she, she gives her time, her energies and her tithes to support anti-gay theocratic bigotry around America. "I go to Mass every week."

Reality, Sister, is not that anybody is being "too hard" on Any*Mouse by simply stating facts and pointing out deep unacknowledged conflicts in her thoughts, words and actions.

Reality is that Any*Mouse is being "too hard" on millions of GLBT Americans by supporting theocracy (hers, natch) that denies them equality while telling herself (and us) that she isn't.

Ladies and gentlemen, the bates motel is full for the night. We have tried to accommodate all of your requests but we find that the rooms have been emptied of all contents and the owners just really don't care if they are occupied. We would refund all of your money but the money has been sent to the headquarters and they never refund money. However, they will send you a complimentary chocolate.

Norma -

Again, I'll try to butter you up by saying I have a non-sexual crush on you because of your prose. Without your posts and blog, gay civil rights' issues likely wouldn't get the time of day.

But again, I think you're being too harsh. We can't alienate everybody who belongs to a church - especially in Arkansas. This tact is subversive to our ultimate goal.

Sure, Any*Mouse attends Mass once a week and gives money to the very church that opposes our goal. However, Any*Mouse makes a point to write on this liberal blog supporting gay civil rights.

She's leading by example and is a beacon to other church folks that gay rights are not just OK, but are necessary. I'm glad she's a church-going, tithing liberal. She has an "in'' that we don't.

I say "Good for you, Any*Mouse.''

Respectfully,

Sistertoldja

Any*Mouse, we Episcopals would love to have you. You too Sister. Yes, yes and you Norma as well. We'll have mimosas and brunch after 10:30 service. Seriously. Lots of Christians do Christ's work of helping "the least of those", not condemning sinners and the like. What they don't do is grab a lot of headlines for it.

I think Marky's spokesman protests a bit too much that Sharlet is nuts. You can be nuts and still be correct; the two aren't mutually exclusive. Granted, our friend mike shows us that you can be wrong and be nuts. No news there either. This "Family" stuff creeps me completely out. Read the article today before Max posted it.

Who can we run against him to get his blue dogged ass out of the Senate? I say we all pitch in and get eLwood to run againt Marky Mark...the bumbling fool...

Oh, and Mike, who the hell are you bringing your conservative crap in here? I used to be conservative until I learned that liberal is the only way to go. See, the way I look at it, by being a liberal POS is that if we are true in our beliefs, I will be well taken care of...if not, I am so friggin stupid that I won't know the difference.

So, get with the winning team...come on in for the big win on our side...you will feel better about yourself...oh, and it is a lot funner throwing pies in conservatives faces and acting as though you have no class, then being a conservative and having them thrown at you...or being cyberbullied.

Catfish
The Liberal POS

Thank you for your invitation, EY. I've already pointed out how HUGE is the step taken last week by the Episcopal Church, at clicky.

Coupled, a day or two later by David Boies' Op-Ed piece in Monday's (yesterday's) WSJ, these developments have ENORMOUS import for all Americans, extending far into our future as the Land of the Free. Or not. This, indeed, is America's "theocratic warfare" eLwood picked up on.

Sister --

More for you later. I non-sexually love you too but I must leave now to socialize and circulate.

If I may, let me leave you with this thought to ponder: how is what you're doing not "enabling?"

catfish, in the name of open-mindedness, I will consider being proselytized.

No accusations, or imprecations just an observation. Isn't it interesting whom is advocating for Markie-Mark?

Norma,

I do understand your point. Your fight, however, is more encompassing than mine as it relates to religion. I do believe that 95 percent of organized religion is a cult and undermines the greater good. I do believe in God and think he/she/it is aghast at what's being perpetuated in his/her/its name.

But religion isn't all bad. Some actually do the right thing (hence, your blog post).

I think Any*Mouse is one of those. Hell, she's a white, heterosexual, married woman who lives in Saline County (I've gleaned that from her posts). How many white, heterosexual women from Saline County actually espouse gay rights? She, in my estimation, is the first.

Therefore, I don't want to scare her off "my cause'' because she's Catholic. The more the merrier in my party...I can't get enough members.

You, Norma, can be more militant than I am because you're a heterosexual. You're fighting a fight for the "oppressed'' but you're not one. You can "get away'' with prose I can't. It's like the civil-rights fight in the 60s...you're a n*gger lover, but you're not a n*gger.

Of course, blacks never would've gotten civil rights' legislation passed without the whites who supported it. That's why I adore you so and would love to meet you one day and hug your neck.

My future depends on soldiers in the trenches like Any*Mouse. She lives in a white-flight county but is such a progressive. We need more of her kind.

Non-sexual love...but love all the same,

Sistertoldja

Well...the end of the day! And what did we learn today? That Mark Pryor hangs out with the C Street Cult. A Republican leaning Senator with a wifey safely home in Arkansas, uh huh. The trolls think Mark should pack all the Jesus possible into his Senate work. Even if it's a bizarre view of Jesus strained through The Family's filters. Has Mark Pryor ever taken a trip on The Family's dime? We don't know. I don't know how to check such records from Fort Baptist. How many front organizations does The Family own? I don't know, don't know how to find out.

What does Mrs. Pryor think of the Men of C Street and her hubby hanging out with them? Might she get an aids test soon? Sex doesn't worry me though. Sex isn't what's killing this country. It's money and power and religious lunacy used to cover up the greedy grabbing of money and power. You know the lusty Men of C Street are on the AT&T tit, probably Exxon, all the major credit card companies......lordy...who knows. I don't know because I don't know how to check stuff like that. But twisting the idea that God wants our Senators to take money from Big Business to pay for them always voting for the interest of Big Business is NEVER going to be in our best interest.

The Men of C Street have free health care. The Men of C Street will never be wasted in a war for oil. The Men of C Street have full pension for life, really great pensions for life. They can interpret God's voice, but you and I and Tony Alamo can't. Whose to say if God did or didn't tell me to drive 70 in that 55 mph zone? That kind of crap is exactly why our Founding Fathers kept religion out of our government. Religion isn't a fact. God is not a fact. No one can produce proof to back up a Godly pronouncement. You can't prove God.

I hate to admit it...but I know where God comes from. It's in us...in every one of us. Just like every dog knows to lick it's ass, deep inside every human there is a God seed. How do I know? I foolishly give living spirits to inanimate objects. I know my old truck likes a good pat now and then. I talk to my 72 year old Chambers cook stove and thank it for the good meals it's given me for the last 24 years. I talk to plants, I talk to my dogs. I rub on favorite old books. I look deep into antique mirrors searching for the images they reflected back 100 years ago. My house isn't a house, it's human and I think of it thinking and I think of it smiling and I think of it shivering in cold weather, just like me.

I hate to admit to so many stupid things, but they've been going on for years....as far back as I can remember. I think my house keeps me safe. Now and then I imagine Ma looking down on me. But I really know better. I know you can crush my truck and it won't think or feel or hurt or miss me. Burn down my house.....it won't know. But something inside me requires a relationship with something that can't give anything back to me...and that's stupid....and that's probably very very human.

So you don't have a favorite truck or chair or house or book or plant or any animals. But you go to bed a little scared and wake up that way too. And it's comforting to think some giant old white haired white guy is up in the sky looking over you...worrying about you, taking care of you, keeping you from buying spoiled milk at Wal-Mart. So you talk to him at bedtime or when the car won't start or when you're kid is late from the movies.

And when Aunt Martha dies, instead of thinking about what they're doing to her old body at the funeral home you just think of Jesus walking her thru the gates. Instead of thinking about dark and moisture and worms doing their work in the cemetery....you imagine Aunt Martha running and playing with her brother Tom, the one blown apart at Anzio back in 1944 and it makes you feel better. One thing you can say about humans...we like to feel good and we'll do anything to keep from feeling bad. Liquor was invented to chase the blues away. A little Ecstasy and you'll think your amputation scars are things of beauty.......must feel better....

I don't want to die, I suspect only those in great suffering want to die. But while we're relatively young and healthy...no one wants to die. But 100% of us will die and some smart caveman figured out dying goes easier with a happy story. And the idea caught on and stays with us today and we can't help it because we're simple humans. I don't mind all that if it makes a body feel better and get through life 10% less scared. It's not harmful that I think my truck likes to see me or for you to believe the open arms of Jesus are waiting for you when you die. But when you mix such thinking with the governing of a country with 300 million people in it.....that's when the trouble starts. That's when religion becomes dangerous. Crazy thoughts are always dangerous when applied to the law.

Mark Pryor shouldn't govern using crazy thoughts and he needs to keep away from The Men of Cult Street. Being a effective Senator from Arkansas should take up all his working hours and being a married man and a father, his off hours should be spent with his family. Adult thinking should replace superstition in the halls of Congress. Is that too much to ask?

What a lovely evening I've had, Sister! Incredible weather, incredible music, incredible friends of all races and sexual orientations. I could have continued on to Ciao Baci or the Fountain, and thence to Midtown . . . but no.

It's only Tuesday. One must eschew social overexposure to build one's air de mystère.

Particularly when wearing a Jewess' designer wrap dress, a gay Chinese man's designer heels, two Italian gay guys' designer scent (they've since broken up romantically but sanely maintained their multi-million dollar business partnership), a Paloma Picasso pendant and Tracie Martyn cosmetics.

It's not about ME, Sister. It's about the venue not being able to rise to my occasion. (I love you. I love you all. I need you to call my limo, Derrick.)

"We can't alienate everybody who belongs to a church - especially in Arkansas. This tact [SIC] is subversive to our ultimate goal."

Why CAN'T we, Sister? Religionists are certainly alienating everybody ELSE by attacking our Constitution and violently demanding their religious dogmas become Law for ALL Americans.

Threatening and killing gays, lesbians, transexuals, doctors, politicians and anybody else who asks questions and won't conform?

Question, Sister. It's "subversive to our ultimate goals" -- presumably your GLBT equality -- to speak the truth and confront lies?

I don't think you believe that, Sister.

Think that through and what you're saying is that truthful public confrontation "subverts" the GLBT's (and supporters') fight for equal rights; it's better to shut up; better to wait; better not to "alienate" religious bigots and violent theocrats.

You believe that? Really?

I don't think you do. I think you're nice, and unwilling to delve much deeper into the darkness underlying religions.

TiVo back to 1933 Germany with me, sweetheart. Only pretend you're a Jew instead of a GLBT or supporter. Then re-read what you just said.

"We didn't know! We just went to Mass every week! Honest!"

Bullshit nearly 80 years ago and STILL bullshit, Sister.

Some earlier post cited, as they always do, how much "good" religions and their organizations do around the world.

Well, of course they do. So do non-religious organizations do lots of good around the world. Another non-thinking non-sequitur for the theocrats and their sheep.

Even Hitler's regime gave us the People's Car -- the Volkswagen.

Let me say this about that, Sister. ALL our present (and most if not all our historic) wars are, at base, "religiously justified" (though in fact secularly motivated: oil, land, slaves, etc.). Nobody's honest or courageous enough to justify wars secularly.

No. "We're on a 'crusade' to save the world from Islam." Not -- "We're going to slaughter 100,000 Iraqis and 4,000+ American troops to control oil prices and make billionaires out of Cheney and Halliburton and friends."

The notion that religion "justifies" anything -- that a superstitious belief in a fictional figure and dogma -- Thor, Zeus, Xenu or Jesus -- no matter how widely held, no matter how authoritatively and violently enforced, no matter for how long or how seductive its cloak -- is by definition irrational.

I too "believe" in God, grounded in infinitely observable and never-ending wonders of science and nature. Religions cheapen the ever-expanding truths and wonders of observational science and knowledge.

Religions cheapen Life and God by demanding one's Life be lived and experienced second-hand, through fascist men in dresses, extracted through a middleman's dogma -- at a price. You can't experience God on your own: it's gonna cost you.

Conformity and obedience are all. Independent, rational thinking? Move somewhere else. We like it this way.

It's not that my (or anybody's) telling the truth "subverts" your cause (ALL Americans' cause, Sister).

It's not that "telling the truth" has EVER hurt any cause or civilization.

It's that religions and those who support them consistently HAVE.

It's that 33 million same-sex Americans and their families are being punished every day in every walk of life -- from military service to insurance to property rights to parental rights to hospital visitation right and on and on -- by "nice" religious Catholics [read ALL religionists] in 1933 Germany who pretend they don't know what's going on and deny they're supporting it every week with their tithes.

It's one thing to be "nice" on a daily, petty basis.

It's another to be "nice" on issues of theocracy vs. individual equality that purportedly still matter in America.

One can be nice or one can be real.

Rarely both simultaneously.

Real gets you further, faster, with fewer casualties.

Oh, yes, Sister. Just because somebody SAYS they're your friend and supporter doesn't mean they ARE.

As always, watch what people DO rather than falling for what they SAY.

GREAT WORK MIKE, CARRY ON. SOMEONE NEEDS TO.. LAST I HEARD, MARK PRYOR AND BLANCHE LINCOLN ARE REPRESENTING ALL OF ARKANSAS, NOT JUST THOSE DUMB DEMOCRATS. THEY HAVE
SEEN THE LIGHT AND ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK. AM PROUD OF THEM. BOTH. AND YOU FOR STANDING UP FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE, EVEN THO THE POND SCUM MAY TRY TO SUFFOCATE AND STOP YOUR POSTINGS. WHAT MAKES THEM THINK WE ALL WANT TO READ THAT PERVERSE DRIVEL DBINK POSTS ALL THE TIME.. AND U REKA.. BOY DOES HE EVER. PERFECT NAME. GIVE EM HELL MIKEE.

After reading the history of and statements from leaders of The Family, the memory of Storm Troopers for Christ came to me from my studies of World War II and Nazism. The German Christian movement embraced the Nazi Party with fervor and actively promoted the racism and tyranny of the Nazis. (Click on name for an in-depth article on this little known part of the Church and Nazi history.)

Here is an excerpt from that article that reviews books and a film on the subject:

"...for many Christians inside Germany, Protestants and
Catholics, there was a kind of difficult relationship with the idea of Democracy in Germany, and I think by 1930 German Democracy, the Weimer Republic was already on pretty shaky ground.... a lot of decisions were being made by the President, sort of bypassing the elected representatives, and I think for many church people this change, or this move away from a kind of a functioning democratic process, was quite welcome. - Doris Bergen, author of Twisted Cross: The German Christian Movement In The Third Reich,as interviewed in Storm Troopers Of Christ

"In 1933 Berlin Bishop Joachim Hossenfelder proclaimed the popular, pro-Nazi "German Christian" movement the "Storm Troopers of Christ." Hossenfelder led the early phase of a movement that still echoes through the church today, even though the world has tried to forget." - from the Vital Visual, Inc. description of "Storm troopers Of Christ"

This is one lesson from history we should pay careful attention to, especially when the founder and early leader of The Family expressed admiration for Hitler, supported brutal dictators, saw Satanic powers behind any who opposed them, and promoted prejudice and hatred against citizens who did not fit their rigid mold of thinking.

"Et lacrimatus est Iesus"

Max, thanks for the update that clears Pryor of associating with this shady group.

Click on name for an in-depth look at the use and meaning of the word "cult." It is put out by a Religious Tolerance group from Canada. Quite informative and it reminds us to be careful with our choice of words (which so many of us are guilty of these days).

JAKE, FOR ONCE I AGREE WITH YOU.... JESUS IS CRYING. OVER WHAT WE ARE DOING TO OUR UNBORN, AND CHILDREN, AND THE ELDERLY. AS YOU DO UNTO THE LEAST OF THEM.
THANK YOU LORD TOO, FOR THE CRUTCH YOU PROVIDE IF WE NEED IT.

THANK YOU MIKE, A VOICE OF REASON, ONCE MORE ON THIS HOLE FILLED THREAD.

I'm sure he cries as much if not more for what people do in his name.

Speaking of "reason,' which was just mentioned, here are a few remarks from Thomas Paine's "The Age of Reason," Sister. Now you know why Arkansas will never have a Thomas Paine Day.

"What is it the Bible teaches us?--rapine, cruelty, and murder. What is it the Testament teaches us?--to believe that the Almighty committed debauchery with a woman engaged to be married; and the belief of this debauchery is called faith."

"Religion, by such means, becomes a thing of form instead of fact; of notion instead of principle: morality is banished to make room for an imaginary thing called faith, and this faith has its origin in a supposed debauchery; a man is preached instead of a God; an execution is an object for gratitude; the preachers daub themselves with the blood, like a troop of assassins, and pretend to admire the brilliancy it gives them; they preach a humdrum sermon on the merits of the execution; then praise Jesus Christ for being executed, and condemn the Jews for doing it."

"A man, by hearing all this nonsense lumped and preached together, confounds the God of the Creation with the imagined God of the Christians, and lives as if there were none."

"Of all the systems of religion that ever were invented, there is none more derogatory to the Almighty, more unedifying to man, more repugnant to reason, and more contradictory in itself, than this thing called Christianity. Too absurd for belief, too impossible to convince, and too inconsistent for practice, it renders the heart torpid, or produces only atheists and fanatics. As an engine of power, it serves the purpose of despotism; and as a means of wealth, the avarice of priests; but so far as respects the good of man in general, it leads to nothing here or hereafter."

"The story, taking it as it is told, is blasphemously obscene. It gives an account of a young woman engaged to be married, and while under this engagement, she is, to speak plain language, debauched by a ghost, under the impious pretence, (Luke i. 35,) that "the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee." Notwithstanding which, Joseph afterwards marries her, cohabits with her as his wife, and in his turn rivals the ghost. This is putting the story into intelligible language, and when told in this manner, there is not a priest but must be ashamed to own it."

_________________

Finally, a quotation from that gay playwright Noel Coward:

"Discouraging to think how many people are shocked by honesty and how few by deceit."

Norma,

At this point, I'm not sure if you're to be worshiped or shunned.

The jury's still out if you're the wisest person on the planet or the village nut ball.

If you put a gun to my head now, I'd swear that you're both the (non-sexual) object of my affection and the most evil human on earth.

Hmmm...must mean we're family.

Love,

Sister

P.S. Don't (sic) "tact'' in my previous usage...that's very debatable in English circles considering it's short for tactic. Did you read the book, "Stet, Damnit.''