Religious Right and swing voters may stay home (this won't help at all)

Business Week Online ^ | Richard Dunham

[philman_36]

...but you realize the spiritual battle often manifests itself in the world, don't you.
A question, I assume. Yes, I realize that the spiritual battle manifests itself in the world. However, I seriously doubt that an election would qualify as a spiritual battle.
We're to pray.....we're to have a relationship with the Lord......but we're to "do", to "act" to be "salt"....
Yep, all spiritual things based on the individual and their individual relationship with the Lord. Still has diddly to do with politics and elections.
...otherwise, why does the Lord still keep us on this earth after we're saved?
Rev 6:11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
Best I can do, and still seperate from the political.
In the past, the difference between Democrats and Republicans was on how they were to adminster policy.
No, not always. Besides, at one time "in the past" there was no such thing as either Republicans or Democrats. Your "in the past" has no real meaning.
There was never attacks on Christian/moral values, children, families, like you see today.
Yes, there were. They were just less noticable. Boldness in the attacks is merely easier in today's PC world.
But now, there are battle lines drawn - - bright lines of good and evil.....and woe be to us if we sit back and say this is a secular battle, and we needn't get our hands dirty.....
This is a secular battle, so woe be unto me, from your perspective. And I won't be getting my hands dirty. Mayhap you will. That is what the whole issue of my not voting is all about! I refuse to get my hands dirty by casting a vote for those who are "chosen" as candidates as I won't vote for the lesser of two evils simply "to vote". You are free to do as you will. If you don't feel that it dirties your hand then vote away and do so with my blessings, just don't tell me what I have to do or can't do.
Also, IMO there is nothing spiritual at all about an election. If there is tell me how that is, using scripture, please. Maybe you can convince me differently.
And I still don't think that you know how to seperate your spiritual life from your secular obligations. Given, all things a Christian does should be done with a spiritual perception and perspective, I just don't see how an election is a spiritual battle or how calling scribes and Pharisees "scribes and Pharisees" is wrong. They, like elections, have nothing spiritually to offer so why do you think that they do?

[shhrubbery!]

But polls show that Religious Right voters aren't particularly enthused this year.

For an article whose headline screams about the 'Religious Right,' this one line doesn't say much.

What exactly were the poll data for identifying the 'Religious Right'? The author doesn't say. Which candidates and issues are 'the Religious Right' not 'particularly enthused' about? Again the author doesn't say except to issue an non-informative 'look for losing candidates in such-and-such states for evidence those wackos chose to stay home.'

And as Ann Coulter asks, WHO ARE the 'Religious Right,' anyway?

[myrabach]

I'm Right. I'm Religious. I'm VOTING!!! Hello!

[philman_36]

In the past, the difference between Democrats and Republicans was on how they were to adminster policy.
And is this a de facto admission that Republicans and Democrats are now concerted on how they adminster policy?

[philman_36]

In the past, the difference between Democrats and Republicans was on how they were to adminster policy.
I also find interesting your priority of placement. A small thing, but, sometimes, small things matter.

[alwaysconservative]

Dear RadicalRik:

I also am a right-wing Christian conservative, who already voted absentee so that I can monitor the polls on election day to help prevent fraud. One of MY biggest issues this time was the confirmation of judges! Most of the people I know are similarly motivated. Vote early! Encourage others to do the same!

[IdeashaveConsequences]

I'm going to the polls. I usually vote third party only. If the republicans or democrats give me something to vote for I may consider voting for one of them again someday.

It is my observation that the largest bloc of voters (or potential voters) is the group who are either happy with whoever is in office or think that neither party represents what they desire. Therefore, they do not vote very often.

I am with you in waiting for one of the dominant parties to represent what I want to happen.

[sayfer bullets]

absolutely not.

[duckbutt]

Sit in your nice pew, pray your prayers, surround yourself with likeminded saints.......just don't complain about what happens in this country if you don't want to take part in the political system.

Sure, it's an imperfect system, set up by imperfect, sinful folks -- but, it's the best system this world has to offer; and I feel this country and its constitution were God-inspired.

God can and does change hearts and minds one at a time - - but someone has to be his hands and feet. We have to fight the battles of darkness on all fronts, whether they be secular or spiritual.

Just don't use your highminded spirituality as a excuse for your laziness in not engaging the issues affecting this country.

And, if Christians continue to disengage from the system, don't complain when those in power come to close your churches, confiscate your goods, burn your Bible or jail you for your beliefs. After all, it must be God's will.......

[MHT]

The Missouri religious conservatives will be out in force. Talent is pro-life and has been a good friend of conservative causes.

My fear is the limousine liberals--rich, mostly suburban, pro-choice, mostly female anti-gun, vocal--usually wives of fiscally conservative Republican self-made men. If they strong-arm their husbands into voting for "Jean", the road to Washington is going to be much toughter for Jim.

[templar]

Try voting for the conservatives in your state.

Why? They don't seem to care about representing my views, and voting for them doesn't give them any reason to do so. Nader took significant support from gore and the Dems are aware of that: Which, in my opinion, is why we see them pushing hard to regain that segment of liberalism. Why can the dems introduce a constant stream of gun controll, environmental regulation, etc. to represent the desires of their liberal base but the Repubs cannot intorduce conservative legislation to represent the views of their 'conservative base'? The repubs aren't going to push any liberal law repeals or xo reversals as long as they can continue to get the votes of conservatives without doing so. They seem to just keep apologizing for conservatixm and playing to liberals. That means we will continue moving toward socialism whether we vote for repubs or not, so why vote for somethng I don't want? The national republicans have been in charge since 1994 and I haven't seen them do anything conservative yet. State repubs here don't seem any different than the national ones to me.

[RadicalRik]

I picked this up on CBN this morning and it explains some of what I said before about the importance of Christians voting in droves in this election.
But, it also explains what will happen if we don't or if we fail to keep a majority in the House and gain a majority in the Senate...but most importantly the Senate:

CAPITOL HILL — With the current Congress winding down, conservative activists are adding up the recent hits and misses of the pro-family movement. They are also looking ahead to next month's elections with an eye toward a radically different future, depending upon whether Democrats or Republicans win control of the House and Senate.

Christian activists say this particular Congress has been a challenging one. The Republican controlled House passed some 50 bills that were later stalled by the Democrat-led Senate. Still, there are victories for conservatives to cherish.

For example, Congress passed the Sudan Peace Act, blocked a bill that could have opened the door to "nationalized" health-care, and approved the Born-Alive Infant Protection Act — a new law that grants legal rights to newborns, even if they survived an attempted abortion.

The defeats include the failure to ban human cloning, stonewalling on President Bush's judicial nominees in the Senate Judiciary Committee, and the inability of Congress to pass a welfare reform bill that included initiatives to encourage marriage and abstinence.

But a new Congress will be coming into power soon. And CBN News asked Christian lobbyist Michael Schwartz to explain what might happen if Democrats gain the upper hand in the upcoming elections.

"I suspect that we would see a great deal of motion in direction toward nationalizing healthcare of expanding environmental controls, of nationalizing public education," he said. "We'd also see, if you could imagine, even more strongly pro-abortion policies advanced."

Schwartz continued, "We would see more suppression of any kind of evidence of religious life. I think there would be an anti-religious backlash very strongly because that is one of the core principles of contemporary American liberalism."

But what if Republicans win big by keeping the House and reclaiming the Senate?

"Then I think immediately we'll see the enactment of some pro-life legislation that has been pending for a long time: the partial-birth abortion ban, the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, the Child Custody Protection Act, the cloning ban," Schwartz said. "The cloning ban is actually more problematic because the Senate is not sure which way to go on cloning, but those first three I think would be enacted very quickly."

Schwartz also believes that under Republican control Congress would reauthorize welfare in a pro-family direction and slowly build support for school choice to help families frustrated with public education. But of course it all depends on what voters decide at the ballot box November 5th.

[RightWhale]

I, too have been somewhat active in the R party. Not real active, just dropping in now and then. What I see is that the numbers are dropping at party meetings, the population is getting a year older every year, and there are zero young people. Besides that, the Rs are running total amateurs for candidates, non-politicians who seem devoid of ideas and who are asleep on their feet.

Hate to say this, but the blue-hairs are driving out everyone who is more than 2 years younger than they are. Last time I saw such elitist snobbery was in Boulder, Colorado. Democrats are the same BTW, but at least their candidates can deliver a coherent if meaningless speech.

I'll stick with the Rs anyway. If this keeps up I might be the last one left in a few years and can nominate myself for governor.

[Richard Kimball]

What I see is that the numbers are dropping at party meetings, the population is getting a year older every year, and there are zero young people.

Yeah, I thought it was hysterically funny when at the last National Convention, the media all went out to strip clubs to try and get stories about the hypocritical Republicans going to strip bars and found the places totally empty. Republican conventions remind of a sermon given by Bill "the mailman" Martin, a terrific black preacher that is based in Austin, Texas. He said, "To all you people who are complaining about the young folks today and how they act. You don't smoke because your lungs won't let you. You don't drink because your liver won't let you. You don't run around because your arthritis won't let you. You're not holy. You're old."

In any event, those of you who have responded to me have confirmed my suspicion that the article isn't a plant, but a pretty accurate representation. Most religious people, and conservatives and libertartians who are currently voting Republican really aren't voting for Republicans any more. They're voting against Democrats. Hard to energize your base when your only real argument is "but the other side's worse. Reagan was the last guy that made me WANT to go to the polls. Unfortunately, the pubbies are leaving Reagan in the dust as fast as they can.

[RightWhale]

They're voting against Democrats

That's a fair assessment.

[jmstein7]

In charge? They were never in charge. From 1995-2001, they couldn't do anything because they couldn't override Clinton's veto. From 2002-present, they haven't had effective (or any) control of the Senate, so the good bills coming out of the house never got a senate vote b/c they were killed by the Dems. Give Bush a SOLID majority in the house and Senate and you WILL see good legislation begin to flow like milk and honey.

[anniegetyourgun]

"But select capable men from all the people--men who fear God,
trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain--and appoint them as
officials..." (Ex 18:20, 21)

[justshutupandtakeit]

Works for me. Of course, it also means I could never vote for a DemocRAT.

[Chad Bagwell]

Will do.

[Chad Bagwell]

"The truth is that men are tired of liberty." -Mussolinni

Maybe he's right.