The Workday Liberal

Today brings two widely reported stories that, to me, shows the doggedness of Republicans in sticking to wrong headed propositions.

President Bush is visiting Vietnam, and told the world that the lesson of the Vietnam war as applied to the Iraq war is to not give up. "We'll succeed unless we quit" are his exact words.

After his "thumping" at the polls, we have President Bush absolutely refusing to acknowledge the will of the American people. In fact he wants to directly contradict that will by sending just enough troops to give the message that we are not going to pull out, but not enough to satisfy John McCain and the hawk wing of his party.

The President understands the lesson of Vietnam like I understand the inner workings of a hydrogen bomb. Which is to say he knows what the end result was, but not the reason it all blew up in our face!

The next example of Republican obtusity (is that a word? it is now!) was how Congressional Republicans re-elected the same leadership that had guided them through the last several years and led to the Republican loss of House control. (Should we start calling them Republic Congress members like they are always talking about Democrat members... Nah, we aren't that childish.)

Both of these actions by top Republican leadership demonstrate a bull headed determination to not admit failure. To be defiantly and proudly wrong.

I encourage them to continue in this mindset for the next two years at least. It is this sort of idiocy that led to the only election in modern American history in which one of the parties did not give up a seat in Congress. Be proud of that stupidity! It is a thing of beauty to behold from the perspective of an American liberal. But it must be very irritating to thoughtful Republicans...

One more thing to cover while talking about brain dead Republicans. Check out this "concession letter" from the most fervidly rabid wingnut Christianist in the great state of Minnesota. By way of background the race was between the incumbent state Senator Satveer Chaudhary, a practicing Hindu. His opponent was Republican Rae Hart Anderson who sent the following concession letter via email, rather than the more conventional telephone call.

Congratulations on winning the District 50 senate race. Your phone is "busy"...no doubt with good wishes!

I've enjoyed much of this race, especially the people I've met...even you! I see your deficits--not all of them, and your potential--but not all of it. Only your Creator knows the real potential He's put in you. Get to know Him and know yourself...you'll be more interesting even to you!

The race of your life is more important than this one--and it is my sincere wish that you'll get to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. He died for the sins of the world, yours and mine--and especially for those who accept His forgiveness. His kingdom will come and His will be done--on earth as it is in heaven. There's more....I love belonging to the family of God. Jesus is the way, the truth and offers His life to you and each human being. Pay attention...this is very important, Satveer. Have you noticed Jesus for yourself...at some moment in time, yet???

God commends His love to us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8

Death came upon all and was defeated by the superiority of Jesus' life and His tomb is empty. God in Christ is reconciling the world back to Himself, with offered forgiveness--this is one choice we get to make nose to nose with the living God--fear Him and you need fear no other. Become His family and know the love of God that passes knowledge. See Isaiah and the Gospel of John...good reading while waiting for fishes to bite.

God sent not His son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
John 3:17

Jesus Christ lives in His earth family by His Spirit. He said He'd be back, and He said it first. You could invite Him to make the race of your life 'eternal'. God waits to be gracious to each person that knows they need to be forgiven. Do you? I think you do. Just ask. Christ won eternal life for you and said so. Take Him at His Word. Take some time to get acquainted with this power-filled Jesus...God with us. You could be a temple of the living God, by invitation---yours, TO GOD. :) There's nothing like belonging to Christ...not winning, not money, not degrees...it's the best.

Good wishes and better wishes...until you wish for the best!

I'm proud of my belief and will tell anyone who cares to know that I am a born again Christian. In fact when appropriate I enjoy talking about the spiritual side of life and why I believe as I do... Hopefully I set an example that reflects well on my beliefs. But the example set here by Anderson seriously makes me cringe! The state of being that would lead a losing candidate to write the winner of the race a letter like this, calling it a concession, is beyond my scope of understanding. But then again, (I would like to think that) I'm not completely bonkers!