Is her pastor by any chance black?

if not, then don't count on it.

sigh....

Sure preachers are part of it. It takes a village to raise a wingnut. Why do so many assholes become preachers and Republicans? There's a cosmic question.

That's Just What I Said

Here's all you need to know, via the Post:
------
Rick Davis, campaign manager for John McCain's presidential bid, insisted that the presidential race will be decided more over personalities than issues during an interview with Post editors this morning.
"This election is not about issues," said Davis. "This election is about a composite view of what people take away from these candidates."
------

For the record, I'm far more concerned with Palin's far-right worldview, credibility problems, ethical lapses, and lack of qualifications than I am her spiritual leaders.

The "far-right worldview" and the choice of voluntary religious affiliations are not two distinct, orthogonal features.

Jesus "operated from that position of war mode."
Like when he said: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:9).

I'm not even a f*cking Christian, and I know that much about Jesus' teaching. These people need to put the Christ back in Christianity.

As someone who was born and raised in Alaska I have to say, "What, this surprises you?"

Alaska is a pretty extreme place. I mark it off as a side effect of repeated bouts of cabin fever. Long cold winters with little to no daylight, storms that would cause Anderson Cooper to spontaneously orgasm, etc. If preachers in the lower 48 have a tendency to be nuts it is a fair bet that Alaskan preachers are in desperate need of electro shock therapy (think Thomas Eagleton.)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/02/palins-church-may-have-sh_n_123205.html

Excerpt:
Speaking before the Pentecostal church, Palin painted the current war in Iraq as a messianic affair in which the United States could act out the will of the Lord.

"Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right. Also, for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending [U.S. soldiers] out on a task that is from God," she exhorted the congregants. "That's what we have to make sure that we're praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan."

Religion, however, was not strictly a thread in Palin's foreign policy. It was part of her energy proposals as well. Just prior to discussing Iraq, Alaska's governor asked the audience to pray for another matter -- a $30 billion national gas pipeline project that she wanted built in the state. "I think God's will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas line built, so pray for that," she said."

Those are Palin's own words folks. Link and see the video for yourself. McCain got himself the extreme of the wingnut extreme.

Radical clerics are only scary if they are off-white.

storms that would cause Anderson Cooper to spontaneously orgasm,

Admit it, you work for the Alaska Tourism Board, don't you?

Normally I don't really care what church a person goes to, but I do have a problem with the "End of Days" crowd. The idea that the Battle of Armageddon is a battle that we should want to fight is more than a little crazy, and it has very real foreign policy implications. And the idea that all non-Christians should be slaughtered during the End of Days is just plain genocidal. If Palin wants to demonstrate that she doesn't take these ideas seriously, she needs to find another church. And if she does take them seriously, she has no place in American government.

Holy cow, she's a nut! Along with everything else, she's a nut. I can't believe it; are you sure the Democrats didn't insert her as a mole?

What do you think, Orwell; got a soft-pedal excuse for this? I could understand if it was John McCain; after all, for five and a half years he didn't have access to fundamentalist preachers, only Alexander Solzhenitsyn stopping by at Christmastime to draw crosses in the sand in front of his hut.

orange

"The "far-right worldview" and the choice of voluntary religious affiliations are not two distinct, orthogonal features." -cmdicely @ 3:11

I have to point out that for many people in these smaller and extremely religious communities, religious affilitation doesn't always seem voluntary. This fundamentalist distortion of Christianity is all they know. It's an integral part of their life and education.

I posted this late last night at the end of a thread, but take a look at an Alaskan's account of the campaign she ran for Mayor of Wasilla (and won). It'll give you an idea of how strong this "fungelicism" is.

This is just more evidence that a beaten-down, humiliated John McCain was forced by the Rove machine to give up on his own choices for VP -- Joe Lieberman and Tom Ridge -- and to choose a far-right wing extremist nutcase to pander to the so-called "Christian" fascist movement on whose support the Rove machine has become completely dependent.

The ratio of con-men+humbuggers+parasites/truly-religious among preachers is around 1000-1. Maybe more.

Talk about being on the edge, Palin and her daughter being pregnant is something. At first, for me it was not an issue but after looking up Alaska statutory laws, Yowee, there are a whole lot of questions that are too, too, close to Statutory Rape where Palin’s daughter is seventeen and real shark bate.

Not married!!! There is a whole lot of shaking goin on. Documentation and DNA tests are the order of business…

How much longer until we have jumped the Eagleton shark?

High level government officials who are right wing Evangelical Christians that subscribe to the belief that we are the last days ARE a threat to national security.

Fringe Christians have been predicting the imminent return of Christ and changing their lives on that prediction for two millennia, and this prediction has had a 100% failure rate.

These Christian dead-enders have no incentive to act to ensure the long term security of the United States and its citizens, because under their thinking, the USA and its people don't matter because it'll all be over soon.

It might not be politic to say it, but I would much prefer an agnostic or athiest Pres and VP. Full disclosure: I usually identify myself as an agnostic Taoist bordering on athiest, but there are Christians and then there are xtians. I have great respect and admiriation for those who try to "walk the walk", but I have no respect at all for those who can't even keep up with us agnostics/athiests in compassion, and working to make the lives of our fellow humans better.

The Palin choice is very scary!!!! Just as Obama's pastor was relevant so is palin's. She should go away!!!!

Perhaps the IRS should look into this little church and its nonprofit, tax-free status. There may be a slight issue of federal law violations.

Real Americans want to secede.

Bush is looking better every day.

When does the good stuff; the stuff that supports her spot on the ticket come out?

I think this is a scene from Palin's church: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtlVWlTeBfk

Oh, and TPM is now saying that the Wasilla lobbyist was working for Jack Abramoff.

She's really the gift that keeps on giving, isn't she?

IOKIYAR

Americans - lobotomized by television and capable of exceptionally stupefying hypocrisy.

Isn't it time the whole effing nation had a reality check, recalibrated and joined the "reality based community"?

Proposing certifiable people for the highest office in the land should be impossible.

Steve Benen you're so funny. Don't you know? It's A-OK to say "God Damn Democrats".

"We are in a time and a season of war, and we need to think like that. We need to develop that instinct. We need to develop as believers the instinct that we are at war, and that war is contending for your faith. ... Allah called us to die. You're worried about getting hurt? He's called us to die. Listen, you know we can't even follow him unless you are willing to give up your life."

No, that's not some nutty imam. Those are Palin's pastor's exact words. Except he said "Jesus" instead of "Allah." And he didn't talk about the sexual opportunities available in paradise to those who die for Allah. I mean Jesus.

Wow, a Pentecostal, hmm? Great, really superb.. So she "speaks in tongues" or does she hyperthyroid on the floor as well? Great, now not only is she scary, she's a lunatic too! The freak-out fascists for Jeebus church is seriously demented. No wonder she advocates Creationism, her church is like bad Kaiser Permanente group therapy on acid..

I have a very dear friend I've had for years. She went through a weird period where she attended an Assembly of God church. The thing is, there is no governing body to this denomination. No archdiocese-like authority to pull back the reins, if the church's pastor gets a little totalitarian, either with the congregants, or the money. And these people really cough up the dough.

I would really like to see the MSM shine the light on this group of whackos.

"Course, I'd like to win the Power Ball jackpot too.

::This is just more evidence that a beaten-down, humiliated John McCain was forced by the Rove machine to give up on his own choices for VP -- Joe Lieberman and Tom Ridge -- and to choose a far-right wing extremist nutcase to pander to the so-called "Christian" fascist movement on whose support the Rove machine has become completely dependent.::

Ironic that Karl Rove managed to do in five short weeks what the Viet Cong couldn't do in five long years.

Yes, I've always thought it was pathetic that McCain defied the Viet Cong but surrendered to George W. Bush, of all people.

About Palin's pastor's belief that those who oppose Bush may well wind up in hell: Hell, Reverend, we woke up in hell the day after the election in 2000 even if we didn't quite know it, and we sure as hell knew we woke up in Hell the day after the election in 2004.

Steve, wrong. You should worry about apocaylptic pastors like this.

Why?

Global warming? Why worry if Jesus is going to end the world in a bang.

Ditto for endangered species, etc.

And, no, that's not something new. That's part of what drove Jim Watt's mindset as Reagan's interior secretary.

Bush's enemies burn in hell? Nah...but liberals don't believe in GOD is why do they worry about something they think doesn't exist.

Bush's enemies burn in hell? Nah...but liberals don't believe in GOD anyway so why worry about something you think doesn't exist. Weird...liberals lobotomized by George Soros.

Well I do think the 9/11 attacks are an important moment for people of faith.

Put up or shut up, are we about forgiveness, and caring for one another and the "least of these" or are we about demonizing opposition and anyone who seems different with mindless fear and reckless hate?

I know which on the GOP chose.

there's no info on how long and when she attended. there's no info on whether she had a close relationship with the minister, and had him in any of her campaigns. obama does not want a minister issue to arise. lol

By the way, little off topic, but correct me if I'm wrong: Palin and her daughter were pregnant at the same time. The kid's five-months pregnant and S. Palin's youngest is four-months old. Comical.

You quote: "But Pastor Kalnins has also preached that critics of President Bush will be banished to hell; questioned whether people who voted for Sen. John Kerry in 2004 would be accepted to heaven..."

Question: If Jeremiah Wright had said that supporters of President Bush will be banished to hell, and questioned whether people who voted for Bush in 2004 would be accepted to heaven, would Barack Obama be the Democratic nominee today?

We all know the answer.

Hey, it's OK if you're a Republican.

You also quote: "Pastor Kalnins...said that Jesus 'operated from that position of war mode.'"

Well, if today's Republicans can pervert the party of Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt, I suppose it should come as no surprise that they can pervert the religion of Jesus and Paul.

Wait until we find out some of the choice statements Alaskan Seperatist Todd Palin has likely made regarding his feelings toward the good ole U.S.A.

It's worse than that. This church believes in (among other things) "speaking in tongues," separate parts of the Bible for Jews, literal interpretation (of what's left) and miracle healings. They are extremely out of the mainstream, even by Fundamentalist standards.

It's a worldview comparable with one of those headlines "Child dies after parents refuse treatment for religious reasons."

Some context (from 46 hours ago): "God Swill"

http://hisvorpal.wordpress.com/2008/08/31/god-swill/

Didn't McCain have to renounce Hagee after it came out that he advocated war in Iran to precipitate Armageddon? How does the world view of Palin's church differ significantly from this?

I generally believe there should be no religious test for office. However, if you are actively rooting for the end of the world, I think it IS relevant and it SHOULD preclude you from being in charge of this country's future.

This is good.

Palin will flame out soon - especially with the possibility of a new scandal that just came out at http://guthriesguitar.blogspot.com/2008/09/palins-push-for-grants-for-jcc.html

How's she going to handle that one?

The campaign to stop the presidency of Barack Obama reached a new low today with the announcement that John McCain has selected Sarah Palin, a white woman, to be his vice-presidential running mate.

As a further insult, McCain referred to Palin as being the “next vice president” of the United States as if Barack Obama did not exist or won’t be winning the election this November.

The use of Palin as a political tool is racist and a direct attack on Senator Obama. It is an attempt to reinvigorate the old stereotypes that African men (or Negroes as they were called) are lustful creatures who eye white women as sexual prizes to be claimed.

It is also attempt by McCain to get Senator Obama killed. In many U.S. states it is still illegal for any African man to look at, touch, or speak with a white woman. McCain is trying to set up a circumstance where Obama would do one of the three with Palin in one of these states and have him imprisoned or lynched.

In addition, McCain does this just as a Hurricane is bearing down on New Orleans which was attacked by the Bush regime’s Katrina in 2005.

http://truthfirstnow.blogspot.com

Ask not for whom the Arma geddons,
it geddons for thee.

Have no fear! As both Michael Moore and the former head of the DNC have said ... God favors the Democrats as shown by Hurricane Gustav. Palin has no chance! Rev. Wright is a great man and can whip her preacher any day of the week.

All you have to do is read the above posts to see the heart of the Lost

Lets see how arrogant and proud you proclaim your so called wisdom in front God Himself. Boy oh boy there are gonna be a lot of people caught with their foot in their mouths.

Its truly sad. You let yourselves hate. You look for any reason to hate--to be paranoid. Those you disagree with are sinister. They must be right?--they dont agree with the all-wise YOU

The Bible does teach unbelievers will go to hell. is that a news flash? Christ himself proclaimed you will go to hell if you reject him. Those who approve of abortion--are approving of murder. If they were saved..they would not hold such a view. Abortion is about one thing--selfishness.

The sad thing is I actually believe that Obama is a believer but he is too weak and has too much lust for power to stand up for what he knows is murder. Lefties have done a good job of making people who want to save babies lives seem like the evil ones/

Think about that. Think about a society who has actually been twisted so far that it calls good evil and evil good.