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Did God Lie?

Just ran across this gem from the beginning of last year about the conversation that Rev. Pat Robertson -- who recently endorsed Rudy Giuliani's (R) presidential bid -- had with God:

Robertson said, “Bush is going to strengthen in 2006. The fall elections will be inconclusive, but the outcome of the war and the success of the economy will leave Republicans in charge…. And Alito is gonna get confirmed. I believe another liberal judge is going to retire, step down from the Court; we’ll have another opening there. The war in Iraq is going to come to a successful conclusion, and we’ll begin withdrawing troops before the end of the year.”

With the exception of Alito's 58-42 confirmation a few weeks after Robertson's conversation with the Almighty (which most legal observers fully expected), it appears that God lied to Robertson on all other counts.

Is there really any doubt that Robertson is nothing more than a Charlatan?

Creation Museum Group Makes Plea For $400,000 "To Finish The Year On-Budget"

You'd think God would have taken care of the financial needs of those running the anti-science Creation Museum and not leave them struggling to find $400,000 in the final weeks of the year to meet their budget, given how their mission is to destroy science in his name and glory:

We need to raise $400,000 by December 31 to finish the year on-budget—armed to stand as effective witnesses for Christ against Satan’s attacks while 2007 closes and a new year begins.

Funny how that happens...

UPDATE (6:41 PM): A reader added:

You might add that the esteemed journal MAD Magazine recently honored the opening of the Creation Museum as the 14th stupidest thing to happen in 2007. (I think it should have made the top 5).  Be sure and see the artwork of Darwin running through the "museum".

The Lunacy of State Rep. Jon Draud (R) -- Candidate For State School Superintendent

Only in the past few days have I been able to check out some of the public statements that State Rep. Jon Draud (R) -- one of the four current "finalists" for state superintendent public schools -- has said over the years, and I'm more frightened than ever.

Aside from the clear odor of a sense of entitlement that emanated from today's Kentucky Post story -- when Draud whined about Gov.-elect Beshear's (D) preference in re-opening and broadening the search -- Draud has made a few comments that really deserve a little attention.

In May 2006, during the middle of the Fletcher Merit System scandal, Draud made this remarkable comment about the very wrongdoing that cost Fletcher's re-election:

"I don't want to trivialize any of this, but I've said it all along, to the victor goes the spoils," Draud said at the time. "Fletcher won that office, and he deserves to bring in some of his own people. The Democrats did it for years."

(As an aside -- beyond that scary rationalization for Fletcher breaking the law, one might ask why Draud isn't using that same logic as far as Gov.-elect Beshear (D) having some say over who is hired as the next state school superintendent?)

But there's more bits of wisdom from Draud that should concern us.

Back in 1999, Draud penned an op-ed in the Kentucky Post blaming the First Amendment for the problem of violence in schools, further compounded by the lack of God in our public schools, and went as far as to "demand that our judges stop the media industry from brainwashing our society with violence and indecent conduct said we should demand that judges."

Here are some excerpts (thanks to a reader for pointing this out):

Pendulum swings too far in protecting individual rights
Guest column by Jon Draud

I would like to focus on the First Amendment to our Constitution as one of the major reasons for the increased violence in our society and ultimately our schools.

...The major answer to the question, why did these tragedies occur in Columbine, Jonesboro, Paducah and other cities in our country, is that our culture has been changed by the entertainment industry under the protection of the First Amendment.

...Throughout my 36 years of education, I have observed teachers and school officials attempting to discipline students. The wearing of trench coats, army fatigues and other inappropriate behaviors were not permitted when most of us were students. You may ask, why don't teachers and school administrators stop this behavior? Because today students are protected as parents complain that you are violating their child's First Amendment rights of expression...

Furthermore, we have taken God out of our society and our schools. Our major institutions are afraid to teach values, while many parents have completely abdicated their responsibilities. Parents frequently do not teach their children about God and traditional American values, and schools are forbidden to do so by our court system. Our political leaders are often terrible role models for our children who view their inappropriate behavior in office. Then there are the adults who do weird and unacceptable things, write books about them, and reap huge economic benefits. We glorify the villains and minimize the accomplishments of our heroes. Is it any wonder, we have a lost generation of teens who are turning violent?

Yes, it is important that in a free society that free speech for our citizens is protected. However, it is my position that we cannot allow the entertainment industry to destroy our great country. The entertainment business under the auspices of the First Amendment has created a new culture for us - a culture of violence protected by the First Amendment...

Can we save our great Republic? What can we do to put the brakes on this trip to social chaos? We can pass laws to have police officers for schools, require metal detectors and other security measures. We can require our teachers to teach conflict-resolution skills and to develop skills to identify emotionally disturbed young people. We can demand that our judges stop the media industry from brainwashing our society with violence and indecent conduct. We can do it. However, it will take a strong will of our citizens to relieve the destruction of our culture. The question is, ''Do we have the commitment?''

This is the man that might lead Kentucky's public schools? Frightening...

Ky. Capitol Displays Not Historically Accurate (Biesk, AP)

Idiots.

Apparently, Governor Fletcher (R) was in such a hurry to get the Ten Commandments posted in the State Capitol on the eve of the election -- hoping it would save him from a landslide defeat (it didn't) -- that they apparently didn't care whether the display was historically accurate.

What a bunch of fools:

Ky. Capitol Displays Not Historically Accurate
By JOE BIESK, Associated Press

FRANKFORT, Ky. --To some, an exhibit on display in the Kentucky Capitol seems more hysterical than historical.

The "Star Spangled Banner," according to one framed account, was a rallying cry 33 years before it was written. And the U.S. motto, "In God We Trust," was adopted on two separate days in July 1956.

[...]

One plaque, about the national anthem, reads: "Both the new song and the flag became known as 'The Star Bangled Banner' and became a rallying cry for the American patriots during the Revolutionary War."

But Francis Scott Key didn't write "The Star-Spangled Banner" until 1814 after a battle at Maryland's Fort McHenry, and the American Revolution ended in 1781.

Calvert, the UK historian, had not seen the plaque but heard a description of it. She noted that the national anthem could not have been a rallying cry for American revolutionaries.

"This is an egregious error and an example of sloppy historical thinking," Calvert said.

A document regarding the adoption of "In God We Trust" as the national motto was also inaccurate, claiming Congress adopted it on both July 20 and July 30, 1956. The latter is correct.

A Fletcher spokeswoman, Jodi Whitaker, said the administration was "not aware of any inaccuracies."

[...]

Thomas C. Mackey, a University of Louisville history professor, said the connection between the national anthem and the American Revolution was "impossible." Americans did not gain an emotional attachment to the flag until the Civil War era, Mackey said.

"The flag was certainly important for our military troops to know where the lines were," Mackey said. "They certainly were symbols, but did they carry quite the significance as 19th century Americans and 20th century Americans? The answer seems to be no."

Of course, this comes from the same crew that wanted to teach creationism in our public school science classes and eagerly embraced an anti-science "museum" that believes humans and dinosaurs co-existed, with one display showing a saddle on a dinosaur like something straight out of The Flintstones.

Is there any doubt that the voters knew EXACTLY what they doing yesterday when they threw out these nuts?

The Pharisee Strikes Again (Part II)

I just obtained a copy of the order concerning Governor Fletcher's (R) painfully transparent political ploy to use the Ten Commandments as his prop on the day before his landslide election ouster. Click here for the order.

A couple of quick points which you'll glean from the text of the order. First, this matter has sat around since June 2, 2006 and our desperate governor only now -- days before an election -- has gone to the court about it.

But even sadder is the fact that this order is now sought because someone donated this display (called the "Foundations of American Law and Government Display") on October 26, 2007 -- last week -- and Fletcher needs to get permission to display it now.

What a shocking coincidence that such a donation would be made a week from an election where Fletcher is down 20+ points and at the very time he's desperately trying to hoist the Ten Commandments as Version 7.0 of the Fletcher-Rudolph campaign theme.

Amazing coincidences, aren't they?

UPDATE (3:33 PM): Larry Dale Keeling echoes my own thoughts:

I believe it's safe to conclude that the copy of the Ten Commandments now on display with other historical documents in the state Capitol's Rotunda was not put there with religion in mind. It was purely an act of political desperation on the part of an incumbent governor who trails badly in the polls one day before the election. Of course, if Gov. Ernie Fletcher had spent more time following the Ten Commandments during his four-year term, his prospects for re-election might not look so bleak now.

The Pharisee Strikes Again

Just when you think Governor Fletcher (R) can't lash-out more desperately than he has...the ordained-minister-turned-politician is now planning to use the Ten Commandments as a political prop on the day before the voters throw him out of office, quite possibly by a record-breaking margin.

What a pathetic little man:

Fletcher Orders 10 Commandments Placed In Ky. Capitol
By Joe Biesk, Associated Press

Gov. Ernie Fletcher plans to put the Ten Commandments and other historical documents in the Capitol on the day before Kentucky's general election.

...Fletcher attorney David Fleenor said the governor would issue an executive order Monday directing that the Ten Commandments be displayed alongside other historical documents including the Magna Carta, Mayflower Compact and the Declaration of Independence.

Fletcher is a textbook Pharisee if ever there was. Maybe he should try living by the Ten Commandments for a change.

These people are pure scum.

The Pharisees Among Us

And Jesus said:

The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice. They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by men. (Matthew 23:2-5 RSV)

From AP:

Gov. Ernie Fletcher, an ordained Baptist minister, is attacking Democratic challenger Steve Beshear in an ad produced exclusively for Christian radio.

...The Fletcher ad, which began airing last Monday, harshly criticizes Beshear on a variety of topics, including an opinion he wrote while serving as attorney general advising school officials that they must, under a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, remove displays of the Ten Commandments from classroom walls.

The ad also criticizes Beshear for supporting a proposed constitutional amendment that would legalize casinos in the state.

Jesus warned us about Pharisees like Fletcher.

Labor Group Launches Second "Values" Ad Against Governor Fletcher (R) and Stan Lee (R)

One of the most noteworthy aspects of this governor's race has been the independent groups that have provided buoyed Steve Beshear's (D) message and the non-existent support (beyond the RGA) that Governor Fletcher (R) is receiving. This is a far cry from 2003 when Fletcher had numerous groups coming in to help him.

Today, Working Families for Kentucky (the 527 group created by members of organized labor) have launched their second radio spot on questioning the values of Fletcher and the lunatic nominee for attorney general, Stan Lee (R). (Click here for the post about their first ad).

Once again, they are right on target with their message. Powerful stuff.

Click here to listen to the spot.

Poll: Evangelicals Least Worried About Global Warming Than Other Religious Groups

Peter Smith, the religion writer for the Courier-Journal, has this not-very-surprising piece on recent polling done of the various religious groups in the United States as far as their attitudes towards the environment. It showed that evangelical Christians are the group least likely to believe that global warming is a "major problem" (they also don't recycle very well, compared to other groups).

So much for the whole notion of protecting and caring for God's creation -- our planet.

Evangelical Christians are the least worried about global warming than other religious groups surveyed, and agnostics and atheists are the most worried.

And evangelicals are least likely to recycle.

That's according to a new report by The Barna Group, which surveys trends among evangelicals -- which it defines as a more doctrinally conservative band among those who define themselves as born-again Christians.

Only 33 percent thought global warming was a major problem, compared with 69 percent in the latter category. Other Christian and non-Christian groups were also more concerned about global warming.

[..]

Here are comments from David Kinnaman, the president of The Barna Group:

"The survey confirms that Americans disagree about climate change. Each faith audience interacts with the concept of global warming in distinct ways. Evangelicals would rather think about other things. Non-evangelicals say the environment is important to them, yet they are far from convinced that global warming is as important as everyone says. By contrast, many non-Christians view global climate alterations as the central element of their environmental engagement."

Here's the breakdown:

By the way, for the first time in mankind's recorded history, the rapid melting of Arctic ice is almost at the point that a shipping channel through the Northwest Passage is soon to be a reality.

But that's just a normal fluctuation, isn't it? I mean, that's what the wing-nuts continue to tell us.

Bigots And Fried Chicken

Ralph Long has a great post about tonight's "Bigots & Fried Chicken" rally in Lexington being hosted by Louisville's scariest bigot -- Frank Simon -- and his brethren, including The Family Foundation of Kentucky.

Is there any doubt that Stan Lee will be in attendance, either on stage or in the front row?

Fletcher's Taxpayer-Funded Campaign Continues: After Two Years On The Back Burner, Fletcher To Rollout His Faith-Based Office This Week (UPDATED)

How transparent is this, coming just 49 days from Election Day:

Two years after it was created by the General Assembly, Gov. Ernie Fletcher's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives is having its public debut this week.

The office -- set up to work with religious and nonreligious private social-service providers -- will be host to a conference at General Butler State Resort Park in Carrollton.

So, after sitting on the back burner for two years, Governor Fletcher (R) trots out his faith-based office less than two months from the election where he trails by 20 points. Maybe he'll have a chance to present an oversized check for maximum effect.

By the way, will this office teach our ordained-minister-turned-politician about that commandment concerning "bearing false witness" given how much lying he's done during the past four years?

Fletcher is incredibly shameless.

UPDATE (10:29 AM): Given the following additional story in today's Courier-Journal, I wonder how much longer before Fletcher goes ahead and just promises cash bonuses to voters if he gets re-elected? After four years of record-setting state spending and debt, why is Fletcher only now making such a promise?

Gov. Ernie Fletcher said yesterday that if re-elected, he would invest $100 million in the state's Bucks for Brains program as part of the next two-year budget.

Ernie Fletcher = miserable failure.

Labor Goes After Governor Fletcher (R) And AG Nominee Stan Lee (R) In Radio Spot About "Christian Values"

Remember the 527 that was set-up by various members of organized labor during the primary with the intentions of going after Bruce Lunsford (D) called Working Families for Kentucky? Well, they just re-emerged for the general election and are going up with a radio spot throughout western and south-central Kentucky beginning Monday.

The deliberately folksy spot takes aim at Governor Fletcher (R) and attorney general nominee Stan Lee (R) on "Christian values." The ad criticizes both for "implying they are God's chosen candidates" and then reminds voters that Christian values also includes things like soaring health care costs, affordable education, and good jobs -- issues that neither candidate seems much interested in talking about.

UFCW's Chris Sanders cut the spot and, aside from being a member of organized labor in Kentucky, Chris also holds a Master of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville.

Click here to listen to the spot.

I understand that this is their opening salvo and we can expect a number of very targeted hits between now and the election.

UPDATE (2:19 PM): Pol Watchers has a story on the ad. Here's an excerpt:

Asked if the purpose of the ad is to discredit Fletcher and Lee, Sanders said, “I’m a Christian.  I’ve become disillusioned how some candidates wrap themselves in religion and then not acting likewise.”

What An Awful, Hateful Tactic By The Louisiana Democratic Party, And One All Democrats Ought To Reject

I am so saddened to see this hateful attack by the Louisiana Democratic Party on the Republican candidate for governor, U.S. Rep. Bobby Jindal (R).

I hope Democrats across Louisiana reject this hatred and bigotry, and pressure is quickly put on the state party to cease this effort. This has no place in politics -- regardless of party.

I find this effort outrageous and, sadly, it's coming from the Democrats. Awful, awful stuff. I hope there is a strong backlash. This is not how we should try to win elections.

Fletcher's Pandering Of The Far-Right Continues...

While it's hard to imagine that Governor Fletcher (R) could pander any more than he has to the fringe elements of his party, we should never underestimate the depths of this very desperate man.

From the website of Ken Ham, the Australian who just built his monument to scientific fraud in Northern Kentucky, also known as the Creation Museum:

My photos of the week are of the visit by the wife of the Governor of Kentucky, Glenna Fletcher, their daughter Rachael and four grandchildren—Callie, Hannah, Joshua and Mason—to the Creation Museum this past week.

Daniel Phelps, President of the Kentucky Paleontological Society, suggested that Mrs. Fletcher's visit to the Anti-Science Museum perhaps explains a recent post about how the Northern Kentucky Convention and Visitor's Bureau accused those who back science as shunning Jesus Christ and Scripture.

It also puts in perspective Fletcher's very recent appointment of the group's President and CEO, Thomas P. Caradonio, to be Chairman of Kentucky's Tourism Development Finance Authority, a public agency that is charged to "assist small tourism attractions obtain financing necessary for the development or expansion of small tourism attractions."

You can't make-up this stuff...

Riding Dinosaurs

(Note: This post is a follow-up to the excellent piece that Daniel Phelps, President of the Kentucky Paleontological Society, wrote about the "Anti-Museum" (aka Creation Museum), as well as his disturbing discovery concerning the Northern Kentucky Convention and Visitors Bureau, as discussed below.)

If some people want to believe that humans once put saddles on the back of dinosaurs and rode them (per the display at left from the Creation Museum), well, knock yourself out. I'm sure they're one of those rare voting blocks that Governor Fletcher (R) has in his pocket.

But when legislatively-created agencies like the Northern Kentucky Convention and Visitors Bureau start pimping a place that promotes the fraudulent notion that humans and dinosaurs once happily co-habitation -- and where we rode them like something straight of The Flintstones -- well, I do have a problem with that.

Here's a page directly from the Bureau's website:

The 50,000 sq. ft. Creation Museum located within the greater Cincinnati area will proclaim the Bible as supreme authority in all matters of faith and practice in every area it touches on. Set to open in June 2007, this “walk through history” museum will counter evolutionary natural history museums that turn countless minds against Christ and Scripture.

According to this legislatively-created group we're told that national history museums "turn countless minds against Christ and Scripture." Got that?

After doing a little research, I learned that the President and CEO of the Bureau is a gentleman named Thomas P. Caradonio. Aside from the offensive proselytizing of his organization's depiction of the whackjob museum, I also noted that Caradonio was just appointed by Governor Fletcher as the Chairman of Kentucky's Tourism Development Finance Authority, a public agency that is charged to "assist small tourism attractions obtain financing necessary for the development or expansion of small tourism attractions."

So I guess this begs the question whether the Caradonio-led Tourism Development Finance Authority will be recruiting and spending valuable state dollars in trying to bring more Creation Museums to Kentucky while shunning others who his group accuses of shunning of Jesus Christ and Scripture?

Seems like another sad black mark on a state that spends so much money trying woo high-tech companies (i.e., those whose business models are firmly rooting in the very science its leadership mocks) to relocate to Kentucky while blasting those of us who (gasp) rely on science to explain things in our history...

Maybe we can just change the Unbridled Spirit logo to this:

 

Holsinger Update

Despite the national cries over past intolerant comments by Surgeon General nominee James Holsinger, both the Herald-Leader and Courier-Journal editorials this morning defend the nomination and do a fairly good job of separating Holsinger's religious views and his actual record of medical service. Here are some excerpts:

Herald-Leader:

Before Holsinger's church record was unearthed following the nomination, the only report on his views on sexuality and health arose when, as chancellor of the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center, he defended a session on lesbian health issues at a UK conference, in the face of criticism from angry legislators and conservative groups.

But the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee doesn't have to decide whether it likes all Holsinger's opinions.

The criticisms have arisen from his private service as a church leader. To answer the question about whether he will value the health of a gay person as dearly as that of a heterosexual, the committee must look to his extensive record as a public health administrator.

His impressive credentials demand thoughtful review during confirmation hearings.

Holsinger, 68, worked two years as secretary of the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, nine as chancellor of the medical center and spent years directing Veteran's Administration hospitals and as the VA's chief medical director.

Holsinger is entering the glare of national exposure as public patience is wearing thin with incompetent, inexperienced Bush-appointed idealogues running amok in government.

That fatigue, combined with presidential candidates eager for air time, promises a combustible environment at Holsinger's hearings.

Ultimately, he must answer whether, as surgeon general, he would be guided by faith or science.

Courier-Journal:

Dr. Holsinger, as a member of the church's Judicial Council, also opposed allowing a lesbian to be a pastor and supported another pastor who resisted letting an openly gay man to join the church.

None of this should derail Dr. Holsinger's nomination.

The contentious matter of gay pastors and church policy toward homosexuality is for individual denominations to settle according to their beliefs.

Dr. Holsinger's paper on gay sex is more problematic. In addition to being needlessly cruel, his remarks ran against mainstream medical and psychological thought -- that sexual orientation is an innate (and, thus, in a sense "natural") quality. In any case, almost all sexual activity these days requires some health precautions.

But Dr. Holsinger's comments and actions clearly lay within the context of his personal religious convictions and activities.

No evidence has been presented that he allows such views to cloud his own practice or management of medicine or deter him in the least from a determination to provide the best medical care possible to the entire population. Kentuckians who have worked closely with him, including some who are openly gay, come vigorously to his defense.

Especially given the Bush administration's penchant for sacrificing science for political or religious agendas, it will be entirely appropriate to question Dr. Holsinger about his views once his confirmation hearings are scheduled. And his performance, including his handling of gay people and issues, will bear watching.

But he starts with a distinguished record as a medical administrator and important priorities for his new job, including tackling childhood obesity.

He still seems an outstanding choice.

Creation Museum's 'Adam' Shared Sex Exploits Online (AP)

How awesome is this?

Creation Museum's 'Adam' Shared Sex Exploits Online
By Julie Carr Smyth, Associated Press

The man who portrays Adam for a museum based on the Bible's version of history led quite a different life outside the Garden of Eden, flaunting his sexual exploits online and modeling for a line of clothing with an explicit mascot.

Registration records show that Eric Linden, who portrays Adam taking his first breath in a film at the newly opened Creation Museum in Petersburg, Ky., has owned a graphic Web site called Bedroom Acrobat.

He has been pictured there, smiling alongside a drag queen, in a T-shirt brandishing the site's sexually suggestive logo.

The Frightening Fanaticism Of Attorney General Candidate Stan Lee (R)

Today, the Herald-Leader endorsed Tim Coleman (R) over State Rep. Stan Lee (R) (and two other candidates) to be the Republican Party's nominee for attorney general.

In it's endorsement, the paper said the following about Lee:

Lee is fundamentally an ideologue committed to pushing a social agenda. Although this paper often disagrees with him, that's an acceptable role for a representative.

An attorney general, however, is obligated to uphold, interpret and enforce the law, whether he agrees with it or not, something we're not convinced Lee could or would do.

No doubt this is how the vast majority of Kentuckians view the expectation of how our attorney general should conduct his job.

Sadly, Lee doesn't get it.

Not only is Lee one of the leading forces in trying to get creationism taught in our public school science classes, but his past is littered with instances of him trying to force his religious beliefs on the general public, and leading clearly unconstitutional efforts to codify it into statute.

In 2001, Lee led a debate in the state house to propose "whether comparative religion classes must teach schoolchildren that Christianity is the one true religion." (Cheves, Herald-Leader 3/1/01). Later in that story:

Lee singled out U.S. District Judge Jennifer Coffman of London, who has issued a temporary injunction requiring the Ten Commandments to be removed from several public buildings in south-central Kentucky.

"Just because a federal judge rules something is unconstitutional doesn't make that the law," said Lee, R-Lexington, who is a lawyer.

Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed Judge Coffman's decision, despite Lee's scary comment above.

But what takes the cake for me a passage from the book Politics, Religion and Death: Memoir of a Lobbyist by Carl Wedekind. The book chronicles Wedekind's time as a Kentucky lobbyist, and in particular his work to abolish the state's death penalty.

Here's an excerpt from pages 129-130:

"Stan Lee was a pleasant, intense looking man in his early forties who greeted us politely and seemed a little lost in his cubbyhole office with its unpacked boxes, bare walls, a bare desk and computer. We made nice talk; how did he like it so far, were his committee assignments okay, that sort of thing, and he was quick to share his first impressions with us.

After a bit I began to outline our campaign and the basic reasons Kentucky would be a less violent state if we abolished the death penalty, and he listened...

Pat [Delahanty] took it up at that point and began to talk about the position taken by the various Christian denominations and about how this religious anti-death penalty movement had developed. Very suddenly our new legislator interrupted; it was such an abrupt change. His eyes were very dark. Both his hands were raised in the air as he started speaking.

"All your worries, all your concerns, will soon be over" he announced solemnly.

We stopped and waited. He stared at us intently.

"With the coming of Christ, there will be a circle of judges who will decide...who is good, who is evil...and," (looking at us knowingly) "there will be NO APPEAL.  Then there will be a thousand years of goodness--of bliss!" His voice trailed off, his head now raised, and he looked off in the distance.

We stared. This proclamation of judgment was not put forth for debate. It was Representative Stan Lee's answer to our concerns about the death penalty. He was saying it didn't matter. We were stunned. Pat nervously got up, and I think he mumbled something, and the two of us left. Representative Lee was not a likely ally on the House Judiciary Committee.

I find that frightening. Not because Lee has those beliefs. In fact, I share a number of those same religious beliefs. What is frightening is that this was his response as a state legislator to a public policy matter during a meeting with constituents. Lee seems to have no ability to separate his own religious viewpoint from serving a citizenry that has its own countless religious and spiritual viewpoints.

America is rooted in a pluralistic system where we all offer respect and tolerance of each other's point of view (particularly ones involving religion) and we ensure that those various viewpoints fruitfully coexist without being coerced to embrace others' views. To me, that's the very nucleus of our First Amendment right of freedom of religion and worship. Lee doesn't get it. His litmus test smacks at the very problem of religious fundamentalism we see in other countries, particularly in the Middle East. Yet, he's an American legislator.

Now Stan Lee wants to go beyond being just 1 of 100 legislators who make our laws -- he wants to be Kentucky's next attorney general -- the chief law enforcement officer in the state. The man who can't separate his views from our laws wants us to believe he can enforce the laws. All of the laws. That's the scariest proposition on the ballot (even more so than another four years of the incompetent Governor Fletcher).

And if you're not convinced that Lee's agenda as AG would be to further his own narrow viewpoint, here's an excerpt from an endorsement he received which is prominently displayed on the front-page of his website:

"I am honored to receive the Kentucky Right to Life endorsement, which is proof of my dedication to protecting the most innocent lives of our society," stated Lee. "As Kentucky's next Attorney General, I will continue the fight to protect the lives of Kentucky's unborn."

Given that abortion is a federal issue, and remains a defined constitutional right of a woman, just what sort of "fight" does Lee intend to do as the state's top law enforcement officer, if elected?

This is a very, very scary man...

Karl Rove, Heart-Less And God-Less?

It seems that Karl Rove is not just heart-less. Word is that he's God-less too. What a combination.

Fletcher Equates Himself To Jesus (Part 2)

Larry Dale Keeling makes an excellent point about Governor Fletcher's (R) offensive comparison to Jesus Christ in this morning's Herald-Leader:

Of course, it helps if you pardon the "disciples" before they start pointing the finger up the leadership chain.

And reader "old5th" makes another good one:

Also, I don't remember reading the Bible story where Jesus told Peter to fire Judas because he wasn't with the program. Then, fired Peter for doing it, only to hold an press conference where he absolved Peter of all his sins.

Let's hope the mainstream media doesn't ignore Fletcher's over-the-top comment.

Fletcher Equates Himself To Jesus

In a profile piece about him in today's Herald-Leader Governor Fletcher (R) offered this thought:

"You can lead like Jesus and be successful."

But, he added, "there's a price to pay."

This from a man who members of his own party say has "trouble with the truth."

In case you were on the fence as to whether or not Fletcher is delusional...

Rev. Jerry Falwell Compares Homosexuality To "Bank Robbers" In Kentucky Visit

Randy Patrick has an excellent Q&A with Rev. Jerry Falwell in yesterday's Winchester Sun following Falwell's Friday night visit to the region.

During the exchange were these two passages:

Patrick: One of the social conservative issues that has gotten a lot of attention this week is homosexuality, because Dr. (Albert) Mohler at the Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville has said that Christians should accept that there probably is a biological basis for homosexuality.

Falwell: That's what the article said, but today, if you go to his Web site, he denies all of that. (Mohler's blog is at www.albertmohler.com)

Patrick: What is your thought on that?

Falwell: I don't think anybody is born a bank robber or an adulterer or a homosexual or you name it. I think we are all born sinners in need of a new birth experience, but I think our behavior is all a matter of choice.

Patrick: There's a lot of science recently that contradicts. (Here Falwell interrupted the question.)

Falwell: Half of those are gay scientists. It's hogwash. I believe that when you're born, you have a clean slate, but you have a fallen nature because of Adam and Eve. Everyone needs to be born again, to come to know Christ personally.

By the way, Falwell also stands by his comments that the attacks on 9/11 were God's wrath on America, even though he apologized for those very comments on September 14th:

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."

Falwell is still a nutjob.

The Pharisees Among Us

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the main argument offered by the religious-right against genetic therapy -- particularly of the pre-natal variety -- is that doing so is interfering with God's will by altering the life that he created in his own image and intended? Isn't that what they've preached for decades?

Well, we now learn that Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, has found a convenient exception to that argument, to suit his own doctrinal purpose, as highlighted in today's Courier-Journal.

Mohler now acknowledges the possibility that babies can be born gay and shockingly advocates the use of pre-natal genetic treatment on the fetus to reverse such disposition:

"If a biological basis is found, and if a prenatal test is then developed, and if a successful treatment to reverse the sexual orientation to heterosexual is ever developed, we would support its use as we should unapologetically support the use of any appropriate means to avoid sexual temptation and the inevitable effects of sin."

Aside from Mohler's rank hypocrisy in meddling with God's creation by altering fetuses in the first-place, isn't he also running afoul of a second prominent doctrinal narrative here?  If some babies are born gay, as he now believes, doesn't that undermine their argument that homosexuality is a social choice (i.e., sin), rather than a trait that God intended in the first place? Mohler doesn't address that little problem.

Maybe Dr. Mohler could now provide us with a sermon on Matthew 23 where Jesus warns us about the preachings of the Pharisees and what awaits them. Seems like an appropriate topic in light of Mohler's ever-changing position on God's will and creation:

"The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice. They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by men; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues, and salutations in the market places, and being called rabbi by men. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in Heaven."

In conclusion: genetic therapy to prevent Alzheimer's or Parkinson's: wrong. Genetic therapy to prevent homosexuality: totally acceptable.

Priceless.

Creationist Museum Asks Governor Fletcher For "Special Police Powers"

Absurd.

Administrators of Answers in Genesis's Creation Museum in Petersburg, Ky. have asked Gov. Ernie Fletcher to grant special police powers to their onsite security force.

Museum officials say they need the gubernatorial action so their 10- to 20-person security team can gain access to better training and equipment to ensure they can handle the crowds and traffic anticipated when the facility opens May 28.

Construction is nearing completion on the $25 million museum, which provides detailed views of the creationist's argument that the earth was created in six days about 6,000 years ago, as opposed to the multibillion year process that evolutionists espouse.

Intelligent Design Insanity

BlueGrassRoots has an excellent post on an up-close look at so-called "intelligent design" (aka teaching creationism) in our science classes, taken from an actual science textbook used at Lexington Christian Academy.

Here's a tiny sample from the textbook:

...biology was the first major area of assault in the American classroom as evolution permeated the schools in the 1920's. Even today, evolutionism poisons biology textbooks and distracts from God's glory in creation ...Since the day Darwin invaded the classrooms, God's glory has been hidden from students. Now there is an opportunity in the Christian classroom to declare that glory with Biology.

This is hardly an attempt to present an alternative viewpoint, as its proponents often try to dishonestly argue. This is blatant warfare with science and scientific methods and uses the inflammatory words "assault" "poisons" "distracts" and "hidden" in just those few sentences. Thankfully, the federal courts have recently declared such effort as unconstitutional, but that's not stopping some folks, including our own. Recall that gubernatorial candidates like House Speaker Jody Richards (D) and Governor Fletcher (R) would like this very thing brought into our public school science classes and taught as such.

Are you comfortable with this?