Fundamentally, Bush works on faith (GREAT ARTICLE IN LA TIMES!)

LA Times ^ | 4/11/2004 | Peter Schweizer and Rochelle Schweizer

[Keith]

Fundamentally, Bush Works on Faith

By Peter Schweizer and Rochelle Schweizer

Peter Schweizer, a fellow at the Hoover Institution, and Rochelle Schweizer are the authors of "The Bushes: Portrait of a Dynasty."

April 11, 2004

NEW YORK — Ask Bush family members and friends about the intersection between the war on terrorism and George W. Bush's Christian faith and you get some strong answers.

"George sees this as a religious war," one family member told us. "He doesn't have a PC view of this war. His view is that they are trying to kill the Christians. And we the Christians will strike back with more force and more ferocity than they will ever know."

Family friend Franklin Graham told us: "The president is not stupid. The people who attacked this country did it in the name of their religion. He's made it clear that we are not at war with Islam. But he understands the implications of what is going on and the spiritual dimensions."

< snip >

In many respects, questions about the role of faith in Bush's presidency are a replay of those raised during Ronald Reagan's administration, when the former president called the Soviet Union an "evil empire" and talked about a spiritual battle against communism. Critics then predicted a possible nuclear Armageddon caused by a president bent on fulfilling prophecy. In reality, what Reagan's faith brought him was a deeper understanding of the Cold War, that it was less about missiles and geopolitics than about core principles. His faith morally clarified the superpower conflict, and according to some dissidents behind the Iron Curtain, encouraged them to further resist the Soviet system.

Faith has played an equally important role in Bush's administration, morally clarifying for him the war on terrorism and encouraging patience in the light of tremendous pressure. But Bush's critics have it backward: It's not so much that Bush thinks God is on his side; rather, he wants to be on God's side and make the correct moral choices. He doesn't think God has given him a blank check; rather, to make the correct decisions, he believes he must study and embrace Judeo-Christian principles.

[Keith]

This is very worth going to the LA Times site to see it all...someone wanna post the "password-ID" for it?

[stylin_geek]

Excellent post.

I not only read it, but forwarded it to friends.

[Reagan Man]

With all the outrageous rhetoric, exaggerated criticism and personal attacks being made against PresBush over the last four years, this article is a breath of fresh air.

"It's not so much that Bush thinks God is on his side; rather, he wants to be on God's side and make the correct moral choices."

Amen.

[McGavin999]

This is an excellent article and I am surprised, no shocked, to see it in the LA Times.

[Smartass]

Our President, George W. Bush

[Agnes Heep]

The really unique thing about GWB is how he humbles himself before the Almighty and his fellow man. Do you know how I can tell he's sincere in this? It's because he never goes out of his way to point it out ... as a certain former President did, whenever the occasion presented itself.

[Reader of news]

President Bush is a truly religious man and his actions are guided by moral. He is a decent man who deserves the re-election

[NordP]

God Bless You Sir!

NordP

[Reader of news]

May you post more fragments of the article, please?

[Keith]

I am afaid of violaing LA Times rules

Go to

www.realclearpolitics.com

read it off their website, ok?

[Moonmad27]

Good article. The LA Times....really? In a Sunday edition? The regular editor must be on vacation.

[Reader of news]

Thank you for the link.

[Reader of news]

It's necessary to be registered in LA Times, I couldn't read the article.

[arjay]

This one quote about being on God's side impressed the most. Most folks want God's will to be their will, whereas we should want our will to be God's will.

[Osage Orange]

This piece reminded me of something that President Lincoln said so many years ago...

"Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my great concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right."

FRegards,

[skeptoid]

Right, but registration is free.

[nothingnew]

Still gotta register, but thanks for a good try.

FMCDH

[DannyTN]

"He doesn't think God has given him a blank check; rather, to make the correct decisions, he believes he must study and embrace Judeo-Christian principles."

If only voters would do the same.

[RoseofTexas]

Psalms 57:3 - He will send from heaven and save me, he will put to shame those who trample upon me. [Selah] God will send forth his steadfast love and his faithfulness!

[NordP]

How beautiful - and perfect, RofT!