One other (at least) has already said it well in the comments for Randy’s post. But I want to add my voice, ignored though it will likely be.
The values voters debate was a setup. The people commenting after the debate (one of whom you quoted) were clearly already set on Mike from the beginning as God’s annointed candidate.
The question and answer period was structured in a way to prevent any sort of rational discussion by reducing it to yes and no answers.
The easy thing here would be to answer the way you know everyone wants you to in that audience. It would’ve been so easy for Ron to tell people what they want to hear. Like some of those other men did. Instead he held fast to his principles even though he knew they’d be misinterpreted by people like you.
People who take no time to actually understand the political ramifications of an idea or decision before weighing in on it. Evangelicals are largely political morons. There is zero appreciation for the double-edged sword that is the use of government power. Zero understanding of the law of unintended consequences.
No, we swing that sword for all its worth with no heed to who is going to be hurt by it, including ourselves. Imagine a three year old with a fully automatic handgun. That’s the typical evangelical in the political arena.
We have a system of government that separates powers. It does so for a reason – a recognition that man is depraved and cannot be trusted with power. It must be divided and set against itself or it will be abused.
Some of us, like me, Ron, and hundreds of others I now know thanks to Ron’s campaign, understand that the national government has a very specific and LIMITED set of powers and responsibilities. Yes Jefferson made that statement, but if you actually bother to read his writings instead of a quote you read on the web somewhere or in someone’s email signature you’ll find that he CLEARLY did not believe it was the responsibility of the national government to intervene in the life of the individual to accomplish that.
The federal government has that job as a priority in the specific areas that it is responsible for. It is the job of the pastor to shepherd the flock. Not for him to shepherd EVERY flock, but the flock he was given. Likewise the federal government has a responsibility to protect life in its management of our national and international affairs. In part that means not sending our people to die in unjust wars.
If Ron were running for governor and was taking those positions I think we’d have a much more interesting debate. However, the fact is that he was running for president of the United States, and he was dead right on every single one of those questions and everyone else was wrong.
This includes the issue of forcing laws on the Iraqi government. We have no place to impose laws on other nations. Instead we ought to lead by example and encourage that result that we want. I am truly horrified by what happens to Christians in Islamic nations. It’s awful. However, it is also being used of God for the benefit of that Church. One of the biggest problems the American church has is that it is not persecuted enough. How about if we follow our constitution and bring this particular problem before God in prayer instead. The utter hypocrisy here amazes me. One of the main reasons most Christians oppose Islam is because of its law and that laws opposition to and attempted suppression of Christianity. (Sadly enough, they’d likely be fine with it otherwise, much like GWB). Then they want to turn around and impose their own law on Islamic nations.
Further, I wholeheartedly agree with you that there are fundamental issues with Islam that many people don’t appreciate. However, there is this seeming belief among many that the majority of muslims are consistent, accurate muslims. That somehow the Islamic world is not possessed of the weaknesses that possesses every other world religion.
But that’s not the case. There simply aren’t that many militant muslims. Or there weren’t before we started bombing them regularly. Most people are not even aware of the regular bombing runs we did leading up to 9/11. And of course, we can’t possibly give any credence to the idea that might make people angry. Maybe even angry enough to join a militant organization to strike back at the US.
Not when we can look at their religion and find reasons there. Surely that explains everything. Why should I be forced to actually think about cause and effect. Why should we possibly ever possibly entertain the thought that maybe we might need to repent of what our nation has done in the past?
What really gets me is that most of that was Clinton era actions. Christians are even defending HIS policies and their consequences. It’s not even typical “republicans can do no wrong.”
Our pride is killing us.
If we put a man like Mike in the office, he will continue to expand the size of government. Sure, he’s a social conservative – mostly. But that’s as far as it goes. He might even lower taxes. But that is meaningless.
This is not a question of whether he can do enough to appear conservative. This is a question of his worldview. Of his ideology. What is his overall approach to government. It’s not conservative. Not in any historical or meaningful sense of the word.
Further, he will do nothing to repair the great damage done by President Bush. Speaking specifically of his moves in regard to Martial law, his repealing of the Posse Comitatus act, his willingness to declare US citizens as enemy combatants and the subsequent stripping of their rights, the warrantless searches, or the patriot act. In particular on that last point, the power granted to the federal eforcement arm to write their own search warrants and then prevent you from telling anyone – even your lawyer – about it.
As a result, if he wins, and that’s a big if, then in 4 years or 8 years or 16 years when the democrats come to power they will have all of that power and they will employ it in ways that will hurt everyone.
And you will be responsible.
