This time, the part of the movie that struck me most was when Evan, standing before Congress, confesses that it was “God” who told him to build an ark in preparation for a great flood… to which the leading congressman responds,

God? You talk to God?… And God is talking back?… Obviously, the stresses of this office have proven too much for you… Please have the congressman removed.

[sigh]

Wouldn’t that be a sight to see in real life: political points deducted – not added – when candidates talk about their private exchanges with God. In the latest GOP presidential debate (the “Thanksgiving Family Forum”), for instance, the Christian contenders even left their dog whistles at home.  They didn’t need whistles; the candidates were astonishly candid about their intentions should they be elected. And, since the debate was not televised nor viewed online by many, I’m wondering if those who might have been critical of what was said may be unaware that there was even a debate this weekend.

Related past posts:  ”Cain: The Reluctant Leader“; “You can’t bridge a wall that doesn’t exist“

TIME Magazine will soon be choosing their Person of the Year; but, for now, they’d like to know who you’d choose.  The poll is here, so go cast a vote for your favorite – or least favorite! – person of the year.  Currently, in the least favorite category, Casey Anthony is trailing the 1%.  :)

In a speech Saturday, Herman Cain illuminated his claim that it was God who convinced him to run for president.

I prayed and prayed and prayed… I’m a man of faith, I had to do a lot of praying for this one, more praying than I’d ever done before in my life. And when I finally realized that it was God saying that this is what I needed to do, I was like Moses. “You’ve got the wrong man, Lord. Are you sure?”

meg·a·lo·ma·ni·a
n.
1. A mental disorder marked by feelings delusions of greatness

Related articles

• Cain Says God Told Him to Run for President (politicalwire.com)
• OH FOR PETE’S SAKE: Cain Compares Himself To Moses And Says God Told Him To Run For President (businessinsider.com)

Recently, I called Michigan’s SB 637 ”a wasteful, GOP-crafted distraction.” The proposed law would,

…ENSURE THAT EACH PUPIL IN EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL IT OPERATES IS REQUIRED TO RECITE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES EACH SCHOOL DAY.

I assumed that the legislation was just another tiresome attempt by Republicans to pander to the Christian Right while stalling efforts by President Obama to grow the economy.  Now I’m wondering if this sudden, out-of-the-blue interest in requiring children to Pledge Allegiance to the Flag every day has anything to do with the new flag:  The Cross Spangled Banner, which “contributes to the course of history and can help bring salvation to millions.”

Obviously the flag is garish (resembling something that I’d whip up in photoshop as a joke, frankly); there’s no doubt that dragging this thing into the classroom would be unconstitutional; but, given the unfathomable hubris of Christian Nationalists, who knows how it’ll be used.  We do know that “the idea for the flag was motivated by 2 Chronicles 7:14,”

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

To read more, see Christian Post: ‘Cross Spangled Banner’ to Reawaken Forgotten Virtues of America.

Related articles

• GOP Bill Would Make Pledge of Allegiance Mandatory for Michigan Students (crooksandliars.com)
• Michigan Senate Passes Bill Requiring Pledge Of Allegiance In Schools (POLL) (huffingtonpost.com)

McDonald’s Corp. announced Monday that the boneless barbecue pork sandwich, usually available in only a few stores at a time, will be sold at all U.S. locations through Nov. 14.
(more)

I first read the news in a family member’s urgent email dispatch to me this morning.  I knew something big was up as soon as I spotted the subject line:

Hooray !!!!

Then,

Hurry!  Try McDonald’s “best sandwich” before they stop making them again !!!!

I hadn’t planned on taking the advice, but Bravest Girl was hungry this afternoon and talked me into buying one for her.  Well, go figure, she actually liked the way it tasted.  She even let me try a bite.

Well, okay, the sauce is pretty good, but the meat…  I don’t know.

A moment later, I looked over at her and noticed that she had stopped eating; she had changed her mind about the meat, which had “started to taste gross.”

Yeah, I know.  What was it about the meat?  What was wrong with it?  I’m not sure.  It tasted… … …

(we paused, thought about it for a minute, then blurted out the same odd word in unison),

Bouncy!

Yep.  So, there you are.  The next time you’re looking for a “bouncy” piece of meat, slathered with barbeque sauce, sandwiched in a soft white roll, you’ll know where to go!

Hurry though!  McRibs are only around through November 14th!

So, here’s my short spiel. 

We’ve always used a clothes dryer.  It’s a tradition. The Girl’s mama used one, and her mama’s mama before her.  But, now, we now have to shlep the wet laundry from the washing machine out to the clothesline in the backyard.  Why?  Is our dryer broken, you ask?  No.  Are we trying to save some money, maybe?  No.  So, why do we hang the clothes?  It’s because, over the weekend, we saw the film, Fiddler on the Roof, and Girl was charmed off her feet by this scene.

You’re probably wondering if she now wants me to “find her a find, catch her a catch” and select a future husband for her, too.  No.  We’re not changing things like that; just traditions having to do with laundry.  Oy.

NY Times: Before you announced your campaign, you said that the liberal establishment is scared that “a real black man might run against Barack Obama.” Are you suggesting Obama isn’t really black?

Cain: A real black man is not timid about making the right decisions, that’s what I meant. Look, I’m not getting into this whole thing about President Obama. It is documented that his mother was white and his father was from Africa. If he wants to call himself black, fine. If he wants to call himself African-American, fine. I’m not going down this color road.

NT Times: But you’re saying he’s not really a black man.

Cain: Not in terms of a strong black man that I’m identifying with. I identify with a strong black man like Martin Luther King Jr., or my dad, Luther Cain Jr., who didn’t have a lot of formal education, but he had a Ph.D. in common sense.

Now, if Herman Cain wants to call himself morally fit for the presidency, fine.  I’m not going down that road.  I would, however, like to share with the Obama Campaign an idea that has been rattling around in my head.  Here it is: Perhaps the best strategy for winning re-election is to just buy extra air time and media access for the eventual GOP opponent - then be ready to disseminate the mess on social media networks.  Sometimes, these folks seem like pervs in trenchcoats who can’t wait to expose themselves to us.

Disclaimer: That the man in the clip art happens to look like Ron Paul is coincidental.

Cashier: “Do you think they have the 4th of July in England?”

Customer: “No, I think it’s just here.”

Cashier: “Y’mean they just go from 3 to 5 and skip over the 4?”

Customer: “No, they have the 4, too.  They just don’t make it a holiday like we do.”

Cashier:  “Oh.”

I hope your 4th was as entertaining as mine. :)

Speaking on behalf of congressional Republicans, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) said today that trillions could be cut from the Federal budget if Congress can agree to eliminate empathy.

…

Rep. Cantor noted that “the word ‘empathy’ comes from the Greek word ‘pathos,’ meaning ‘pathetic’ – and that’s exactly what helping people is: pathetic.”

Sources say that the “Repeal Empathy” effort promises to be a key feature of the 2012 Republican Platform!   I haven’t heard who the GOP Convention keynote speaker will be (Scott Walker?  John Kasich?  Rick Santorum?); but that person will, without doubt, need visual aids like this one that I put together.