Pulpit Freedom Sunday

Alliance of Right Wing Nutjobs and Round Churches stage a tax exempt circus

LA Times: Beware the bully pulpit
NY Times: Ministers to Defy IRS

What we aren't hearing about....

... The McCain health plan would treat employer-paid health benefits as income that employees would have to pay taxes on.

Something smells fishy...

Perhaps Rove's comments can be taken at face value but it just seems unlikely... Does anyone else see horns and tail when you hear his name?

"McCain has gone in his ads one step too far, and sort of attributing to Obama things that are, you know, beyond the 100-percent-truth test," said Rove.

"In case anyone was still wondering whether John McCain is running the sleaziest, most dishonest campaign in history, today Karl Rove - the man who held the previous record - said McCain's ads have gone too far," said Obama campaign spokesman Tommy Vietor.

Hope and Ick

DHP shared this gem: Women against Sarah Palin. The diversity of the voices on this blog are pretty impressive. Very hopeful that so many folks see through Palin.

And for the most anti-woman Palin policy of the week: I nominate the practice of charging victims for rape kits. Ick.

Links

Steinem Op Ed: Sarah Palin shares nothing but a chromosome with Hillary Clinton.
And why we heart Jon Stewart:

Palin on the Rocks

I am not really a fan of Drinking Liberally since their juvenile attacks on RC back in 2006 but I happen to catch this one in my junk inbox today and thought it was clever.

Palin on the Rocks: The Official Drinking Liberally Sarah Palin Convention
Speech Drinking Game

Take a Sip when She Says:
- faith
- Barack Obama
- abortion
- pregnancy
- She claims that "the media" is attacking her family
- She makes reference to being governor of Alaska
- She talks about the sanctity of life
- She makes a positive reference to Hillary Clinton
- She mentions Cindy McCain

Take a Gulp when:
- She claims that "the Democrats/Democrat party" is attacking her
party
- She makes reference to being a beauty queen
- She uses a down-homey aphorism
- She makes a positive reference to Geraldine Ferraro
- She calls Obama a Muslim
- She references her relationship with God
- She mentions the lack of a vetting process

Chug when:
- She claims that Joe Biden is attacking her family
- She makes reference to being a tv sports anchor
- She says that she "won't apologize" for something (e.g. her family, being
who she is, being a christian, etc.)
- She makes a positive reference to Gloria Steinem

Celebratory Toast if:
- She forgets a line/stumbles through a line
- She tries a joke about her inexperience

Finish Your Drink if:
- She is replaced by Phyllis Schlafly
- She mentions VPILF
- She claims that Barack Obama is attacking her family
- She makes reference to being a secessionist and/or under
investigation
- She makes a positive reference to Andrea Dworkin

Pepsi Center Feature

Who knew the Pepsi Center's sprinkler system had a BS detector feature?

Even my alter ego* was offended

I have just returned from JB's holiday party where a 1996 era Bill Clinton joke involving a prostitute was told to 250 people to cap off a speech that began with a summary of the history of political party affiliation but branch. As I lifted my jaw off the floor and asked don't they have lawyers, the wife beside me pointed out there would be no open bar if they had lawyers.

I knew it would be a great night in the first 2 minutes when discovering the words "Highlands Ranch" appeared beneath my "name" on the name tag.

...playing for October-November...

In this special comment on President Bush’s surprise visit to Iraq “Countdown” host Keith Olbermann says President Bush is “playing us” on the state of the war in Iraq and when the troops will come home.

Like a broken record....

Sen Larry Craig (R-Idaho) was arrested in June at a Minnesota airport by a plainclothes police officer investigating lewd conduct complaints in a men’s public restroom...

The wacky world of politics.

I've been doing some campaign finance searches for a project I'm working on and have come across some very interesting PACs pushing some very interesting agenda items.

Government Is Not God Political Action Committee. Their website contains a bevy of important information for the right-wing and their candidate qestionnaire is fairly standard stuff, but includes one of the best disclaimers I have ever seen. And I quote: "You should assume that no national emergency exists when answering the following questions. We recognize in the event of a national disaster or war, questions of public policy must be viewed in other terms." So, I guess in time of war or natural disaster that allowing gays to adopt or marry would be just fine as would the teaching of sex education. Rock on! Aren't we at war?

From the Cyber Cast News Service, I learned that the real reason oil is so expensive is due to that commie Hugo Chavez, and that Gore's son pleading guilty to drug possession counts as important political news. I also love the fact that they use Chavez article to perpetuate the right-wing propoganda that blames ethanol production on rising food costs. I mean it must be that given that ethanol gets used in like .01% of vehicles on the road. It couldn't possibly be the rising energy prices (oil and gas) that heavily impacts agricutural production across the board. Silly, silly us.

I did not need to find this

I got an e-mail from one of my cousins tonight notifying me of her e-mail address change. And I quote . . .

"I have finally decided I better grow up and delete my
e-mail account. This screen name no longer fits me nor is professional. I will be deleting the old one in the next week. Thank you all for your assistance in this matter."

It seems that she has found god and is now a "prayer group leader" at her church. Being a heathen, I had to look that one up. Instead of an answer, I found this. I actually think that we have blogged about the Presidential Prayer Team before. But the national leaders prayer cards needed their own entry.

"I don’t know about you, but I sometimes struggle with remembering all of the
national leaders for whom I should be praying. Well, PPT has come up with an
exciting new prayer tool to help you pray for our American leaders. It's
called the U.S. National Leaders Prayer Deck."

I spend most of my day trying to forget about our "national leaders". Thank god this handy little tool is available to remind me for an eternity of the laughing stock of 2000 - 2008. Priceless.

So why haven't we commented yet on Senator Vitter? Yet another proselytizer of family values found with his dick in a prostitute. I guess it does get old after a while.

I secretly hope a lesbian feminist abortionist pagan got him . . .

And, I know that I'll hear from them for this. But, throwing God out successfully with the help of the federal court system, throwing God out of the public square, out of the schools. The abortionists have got to bear some burden for this because God will not be mocked. And when we destroy 40 million little innocent babies, we make God mad. I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way -- all of them who have tried to secularize America -- I point the finger in their face and say, "You helped this happen."-- Rev Jerry Falwell, blaming civil libertarians, feminists, homosexuals, and abortion rights supporters for the terrorist attacks of Tuesday, September 11, 2001, quoted from John F Harris, "God Gave US 'What We Deserve,' Falwell Says," The Washington Post (September 14, 2001)

Here are a whole bunch of doosies from the Falwell collection.

And, as usual, The Onion got it right in their September 26, 2001 edition: Jerry Falwell: Is That Guy A Dick Or What?

Thanks, Alberto Gonzales and all the other Women Haters in our Sham Government

Read about the close effort by Ruth, Stephen, John Paul and Dave--our Supreme Court justices who tried to uphold the legal right of women to obtain safe medical care in the event of an abortion:

(*@&#($*#&(^%!@% from PP

@@^#%)@$*&@^* from the NYT

And what about protecting the WOMEN who are actually IMPACTED?!....Justice Kennedy’s observation that “the government may use its voice and its regulatory authority to show its profound respect for the life within the woman.”

Local jackass makes it official, runs for president

Tom Tancredo is once again bringing up the stature of Colorado. Good news folks, he’s running for president to spread his hate nation-wide. He’ll be continuing the “yee ha!” policy of our current administration. Woo Hoo!

Unfortunately he can run for president and continue to hold (and run for) his current congressional seat, so we are not rid of him yet. Bummer.

My money is still on John Edwards.

I know you are but what am I?

Oh no she dinint. Ann Coulter calls presidential candidate John Edwards a faggot. Evidently this story is days old. I miss all the good stuff.

I really need to get an Ann Coulter action figure. Hopefully they'll update the doll to include her most recent wisdom.

“Completely Heterosexual”

This has to be my most favorite Denver Post headline, ever. I heard that the print headline was “I’m Not Gay” which I cannot substantiate since I only read the news online. In any event, that would actually be my favorite headline ever if it is true. Evidently Haggard did not consult with Alfred Kinsey who developed a scale of sexuality of 0-6 and determined that there were no 0’s, so no one is completely heterosexual. I love the Wiki on this.

I caught an MSNBC program today (caught it at the gym, for those knowing that I don’t have cable) and actually laughed out loud. I didn’t realize I was making laughing noises (due to the volume on my beloved iPod) until the guy on the damned eliptical machine next to me began laughing and said “Isn’t that priceless”. I don’t typically approve of gym conversation, but he was right. We shared a laugh once I pulled the ear buds out. I digress . . .

Keith Olberman had an interview with “former” prostitute Mike Jones, who commented on the fact that Haggard had be sequestered with 4 male “psychologists” and said “and that’s not gay?”. Very funny stuff.

Got to love it when an asshole gets his just deserts

Tape has former official asking aide for kickback

Ex-Jeffco treasurer indicted on two felony charges

Former Jefferson County Treasurer Mark Paschall was booked into the Jefferson County Jail late Monday after he was indicted on two felony charges for allegedly soliciting a kickback from a top aide. The indictment alleges that on Dec. 27, Paschall offered a $25,092 pre-tax bonus to his administrative assistant, Kathy Redmond, and asked her to split the money after taxes. Paschall, 52, of Arvada,was charged by a Jefferson County grand jury with one count of attempted felony theft and one count of compensation for past official behavior. If convicted, Paschall could face one to three years in prison on the theft count and 18 months on the compensation count.

FROM DHP - So I'm hoping that since SNG can't read the blog anymore she won't mind that I shortened her posting of the full article for a synopsis and link in order to provide the back story. Because it is soooo good. You see Mark Paschall used to be in the State House. He was a champion of family values. So, like all good purveyors of family-values that attend big round churches and spout off publicly about their superiority, he had his dick in everything that walked under the dome. Women (particularly interns) and some rumored that he had a bit of Ted Haggard in him as well. He was an anti-choice, anti-gay, gun toting freakshow back when they ruled the day at the capitol. Good times, let me tell you. Anyway, that is why both DHP and SNG take such glee in the fact that we get to post his mug shot on our blog. Hee hee hee.

(No wonder he had to resort to extortion, he has that cookie-cutter McMansion mortgage to pay off. Did I also mention that he has absolutely no taste?)

For DHP's netflix...

Friends of God Why? Because how can you not want to see a drive thru prayer center, bible themed mini golf courses, and learn a song about the dinosaurs in the bible.

Flirt to Convert

We really must stop eating at chain restaurants on Sunday "after church". Overheard today....

-Theory that the "liberals" are hiding the WMD in Iraq just to make Bush look bad. Great relief was shared that now that Saddam was dead, the 9/11 nightmare is over.
- Home from college participants discuss their Missionary Dating activities. (Bummer that no one seemed to be dressed in appropriate attire.)
-Quizzing of young children on the geography of heaven.
- Discussion of the lies of "science". (Where are those Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster tracts when you need them?)