Update:#1 Russert says Obama is the nominee.
Update #2 Pundits declare this race is over.
Update #3 Clinton to fight on?
Update #4 Clinton to drop out on June 15th.
Obama vs. Clinton: Indiana and North Carolina.
Neo-conservative Bill Kristol writes in the New York Times op-ed piece that Barack Obama needed to be as angry at Jeremiah Wright’s attack on the United States as he was when Wright disrespected Obama. One way or another, Wright may just be Hillary’s new best friend.
The situation before Tuesday’s primaries remain dangerous for the Obama campaign. Should he lose both Indiana and North Carolina, it will be nearly impossible to remain composure. The undecided super delegates will begin to think a bit deeper about their pick. Two months ago, Obama had this nomination almost guaranteed, now it almost seems it is slipping from his once confident hands. Should Obama win North Carolina and lose Indiana, then this will wait until June. But if Obama is able to win both states convincingly, it is very possible we may be hearing Senator Clinton’s last speech running for commander in chief.
Screwing up America?
Out of sheer curiosity, I decided to start reading through Bernard Goldberg’s 100 People who are screwing up America. The book begins with a series of articles detailing the trajectory of television in the last 50 years. The author reveals the stark differences of television in the “I Love Lucy” days and the modern sitcom. These sitcoms are effective in promoting their agenda. In fact, they have done so well inculcating their values into our culture that to criticize their worldview is considered a hate speech. The “attitude” writes Goldberg, is that “anyone who is offended by these values is, by definition, a square” (Goldberg, 13).
But what is most remarkable is the mindless content of modern television. Whereas, it was common to watch shows that dealt with substantive issues in politics and religion some decades ago, our celebrity addicted culture today is more interested in the details of some actor’s love-life, instead of the significant debates of our day.
Christians can hardly blame pagans for doing their job well. They are simply expressing their worldview through a medium. It seems proper, therefore, that before Goldberg mentions 100 people who are screwing up America, we–the Church– need to realize that our message is not being heard, and we may even be part of that number.
Obama vs. Wright, a perspective
The newest political feud is not between Obama and Clinton political advisers, but between Obama and his spiritual mentor, Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. The now infamous remarks in 2003 that God is damning America for her past sins have come to the front of public debate. The comments were made in the context of a message about government failures around the world, noting that what a man (or a nation) sows that he shall also reap. Anyone who disagrees with his assessment will at least have to concede it was made using a biblical text in Galatians and that throughout the sermon America was not the only nation he blamed. Wright’s foreign policy is not that much different from the paleo-conservative argument of “blowback,” meaning that a nation’s entanglement in foreign affairs will have negative consequences for its own well-being in the future. In this sense, Americans at large need to admit that US involvement overseas have not been as pure as neo-conservatives imply. However, most of what Wright has said is at least dubious. His “bombastic” remarks about the US government are undergirded by a fallacious understanding of the role of government in society. He advocates a government that needs to stop spending money abroad (in wars) to a government that needs to permanently take our money locally and distribute it to the causes he deems suitable. In reality, this is a very common perception; it is a variation of socialism, just not fully developed. But the Black Liberation Theology that Wright advocates is just a more racial specific form of South American Liberation Theology. Moyers observed–and Wright concurred– that this theological outlook is based upon reading the biblical text through the lenses of an oppressed people. It is true that Israel was an oppressed people, but God was still willing to prosecute them for their covenant betrayal. In no way was God obliged to bless disobedient Israelites; in fact, the opposite is truer to the facts. Why is it so outrageous that God may be judging certain communities in the US or any other countries for their immorality, unfaithfulness and lack of recognition of their Lord? Indeed, the whole premise of any liberation movement is faulty from the start.
In the Moyers’ interview I was somewhat intrigued by Jeremiah Wright. His linguistic and historical insights were at times appealing, but then reality sunk in. This is the man that holds Louis Farrakhan in high esteem; “that the government was capable of having used the AIDS virus to commit genocide against minorities,“ who praises other black leaders (Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton) who are more interested in their fame than the causes they espouse. They masquerade their socialism in Pharisaical clothing.
When asked if Obama reacted appropriately by distancing himself from him, he answered that Obama acted like a politician and he (Wright) acted like a pastor. Of course, implying that politicians will do and say whatever it takes to get elected. Obama, reacted with indignation at those remarks and once again attempted to distance himself from Rev. Wright. The New York Times reported on Obama’s speech. The article concludes with Obama’s strong words:
“Whatever relationship I had with Reverend Wright has changed as a consequence of this,” Mr. Obama said Tuesday. “I don’t think that he showed much concern for me. More importantly, I don’t think he showed much concern for what we’re trying to do in this campaign and what we’re trying to do for the American people.”
But Wright is out for blood now. As a dedicated minister for 30 years he has the right to defend his own reputation, whether he is right or wrong. That is, if he is actually trying to defend his own reputation; or as some have concluded, he may be purposefully seeking to destroy Obama’s chance of winning the nomination. For what reason? One can only speculate. He may be one of those guys that demands full allegiance or else. He may, as Judge Andrew Napolitano suggests, trying to draw the attention of the public to racial issues that in his own mind continues to be a major hindrance in the black community. It is even possible that he and the Clinton campaign may have some ties; none of this is beyond the scope of a genius orator and wise religious politician. In the end, that is what Wright is: a religious man who is deeply interested in using politicians for his own gain.
Wright is correct to assert that Obama is acting as a politician. At this point, Wright has left Obama with no other option. He is distancing himself from an old friend because if he does not, he is doomed. The last thing Obama needs is an old friend working against him. It looks like this old friend is here to stay.
Quote, Pat Buchanan on what McCain will do for the right?
But McCain may also mean more Middle East wars, more bellicosity, more manufacturing jobs lost, malingering in the culture wars, and more illegal aliens and amnesty.
In Pennsylvania, thousands of Republicans re-registered to vote Democratic, and 27 percent of the GOP votes went to Mike Huckabee or Ron Paul. McCain may just stretch this rubber band so far it snaps back in his face.
Will the Right Sit it out? by Patrick J. Buchan
Obama’s Problems…
Barack Obama’s problem is ecclesiastical: he is part of an unorthodox church with an unorthodox former pastor. His problem is soteriological: he offers salvation through the government and by the government. His problem is eschatological: his run for the nomination does not have an end in sight.
Quotes, Jefferson on Limited Powers
“The issue today is the same as it has been throughout all history, whether man shall be allowed to govern himself or be ruled by a small elite.”
— Thomas Jefferson
“Congress has not unlimited powers to provide for the general welfare, but only those specifically enumerated.”
–Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Albert Gallatin, 1817
Keyes leaves GOP
Alan Keyes has announced his loyalty to the GOP is no more. Keyes participated in only two of the Republican debates. “Keyes added that he is looking to the Constitution Party as a possible home for his future efforts in politics, including a potential run for president in the 2008 general election.”
Straight Talk on the Election…
Anyone who knows me well knows that principle always outweighs pragmatism. I refuse to hand over my right to vote my conscience for the right to please the majority. Part of my young life has been dedicated to communicating this message.
This evening was another example of pragmatism at work. The party abandoned all principles and voted for the most electable. My state of Florida decided to endorse Senator John McCain, while Dr. Ron Paul received over 55,000 votes, placing him last among the ever-diminishing pack.
McCain has received the righteous wrath of radio stars like Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity. Limbaugh has observed numerous times that a McCain victory will end the Reagan coalition and the Republican Party as we know it. In my estimation, the Republican Party has been dead for a long time; it is just that the carcasses do not seem to rot as quickly. If anyone put a seal of death on the GOP it was George Bush. Bush did everything Republicans claim to oppose. He grew the government like a spoiled father rears his son: with uncontrolled and unrestricted boundaries. The sky is the limit in this abusive and destructive administration. Nevertheless, if the Limbaugh’s and the rest of the neo-conservatives wish to set a timetable for the destruction of their own party, then let it be at the Convention.
Certainly not all in the GOP is lost. Ron Paul is still in it. Why does he remain in the GOP and not embrace another party? Because the media and the establishment political leaders have too much at stake. Other voices, other parties would conflict too much with the establishment’s agenda, which incidentally coincides with the media’s. Ron Paul still remains as the lonely voice in the political wilderness crying out: Return to the Constitution! Perhaps that is his role at this point in history. Perhaps Super Tuesday may be a surprise for all the pundits who have essentially written him off the polls. The 72-year old is not dead yet; he still has–last I checked– over 300 million people to educate.
Though I am principled, I am also realistic. Here’s my realism: Paul’s campaign is not over and there is much more of Paul left in this campaign. I refuse to embrace the pessimism of some. Months ago Rudy Giuliani was the front-runner. This evening, he has proven to be a complete failure. Result: Rudy is gone. Paul is still in.
The future of this election holds a few interesting developments:
First, Giuliani will endorse McCain. This will enhance the warmongering thirst of some Republicans and will naturally boost McCain’s campaign. Rudy may now be vying for an Attorney General position in McCain’s administration.
Secondly, Huckabee will stay in the race and split the evangelical votes with Romney. Huckabee has played a central role in McCain’s victories. If Huckabee were not drawing the evangelical votes, Romney would be ahead of McCain this evening. Huckabee may now be strategizing–secretly–with McCain for a future VP position, though I do not discount Thompson for that role. Hence, Huckabee is crucial to a McCain victory.
Thirdly, Romney is somewhat doomed. His millions have earned him few victories and new enemies. It is difficult to decipher Romney’s strategy on Super Tuesday. He needs several important victories on February 5th to propel his candidacy in the final states and perhaps take it to the Convention.
Finally, Ron Paul is the unspoken hero. He understands the economy; he grasps the significant philosophical questions of foreign policy, and he understands that this is a Republic, not a fascist state. His future depends heavily on February 5th. Furthermore, he still has money left, which McCain does not.
The Republicans who endorse McCain support him because of his straight talk on the war. Indeed his straight talk has brought him far; far into the center of a party who pleads for more war; a hundred years of war. Republicans may have found a man who can beat the Democratic nominee, but if this is a victory, it is a Pyrrhic victory. The Republican victor will cheer, while the world bleeds and our country suffers with tears of recession.
Fred Thompson Drops out…
Thompson withdrew from the race. Many hailed him as the front runner before he entered the race. However, his third place in South Carolina was too overwhelming for a candidate who invested so much in his high positioning in that state. Fox reports:
Thompson was the closest to a Constitutionalist in the Republican race, save Ron Paul. Unfortunately, his position on the war was the same as the other four neo-cons on the stage. Thompson also considered himself a Federalist. As a southern and more traditional candidate, he may be orchestrating a possible VP move should a more moderate Republican win the nominee. Perhaps some of his supporters will take Federalism seriously and embrace a true Constitutionalist and the only peace candidate, Ron Paul.