George Bush’s 21st Century Crusade
May 26, 2009
A little noticed story was put out this weekend, lost in all the hubub of Memorial Day, about how our previous President honestly believed that the Iraq war was a biblical confrontation destined to bring about the end times. This follows on the heels that then SecDef Rumsfeld used to “pretty up” his briefings with religious messages.
In the new story, an anecdote from 2003 is finally brought to light in which Bush told then President Chirac
It took a few years for this story to come out because the French were confused about what he said and actually sought out theologians to help decipher what he meant.
To me, the more information that comes to light just amplifies and clarifies that the last administration was, well, quite certifiably insane. More and more it appears that their motivations were rooted in millennial thinking and eschatology. Honestly, that scares the bejeezus out of me. A Presidential administration actively working to bring about the end of the world is about as frightening as it gets. What makes it even scarier is the number of people who blindly followed this guy to the point of actively demonizing anybody who dared disagree.
Here’s an interesting point from the end of the piece:
While a senior at Yale University George W. Bush was a member of the exclusive and secretive Skull & Bones society. His father, George H.W. Bush had also been a “Bonesman”, as indeed had his father. Skull & Bones’ initiates are assigned or take on nicknames. And what was George Bush Senior’s nickname? “Magog”.
Seems 2008 may have come just in time.
Entry Filed under: Uncategorized. Tags: christian nation, Donald Rumsfeld, election, Election 2008, eschatology, evangelicals, George Bush, Politics, Religion, Republicans, war.
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1.
cousinavi | June 1, 2009 at 8:44 am
I will give you this (and props for it): You seem to be, on the scale of theists, at the opposite end of the bell curve from the batshit mad fundamentalists that so dramatically enhance my profound distaste for religious faith.
I also want to be clear about one thing. In no way would I wish to deny you your faith. If it provides you comfort, makes you happy…whatever…you are welcome to it. I simply prefer evidence, and am not prepared to accept claims (especially grandiose fantastic claims) in the absence of anything that would support the truth of the assertion.
So long as you agree to keep your faith out of my school, off my lawn, away from the health care system and off my person, you are perfectly welcome to fill your boots with all the gods that suit you. …and out of politics.
On the sanity of the Bush administration, we are of like mind.
I would argue that the eight long years of Bush/Cheney would have been dramatically less mad had GWB not been born again (although the sincerity of that conversion remains an open question in my mind – taken solely for the purposes of gaining support from the tithers, I think).
2.
Gene | June 1, 2009 at 11:39 am
I’m not sure about Bush – but this weekend, have seen some of the madness of the “religious” right in action.
I refer, of course to the cold-blooded murder of abortion provider George Tiller – and the barely suppressed joy of some of the Konservatives who back such actions. (Charles Johnson of Little Green Footballs has documented portions of it on his website.)
I use Konservative deliberately. These are people on the road to becoming KKK members: hard-edged, utterly intolerant, and almost moronic in their “me too” pile-ons.
(They are, however, much too genteel to recognize their image in the mirror; and they have disdain for actual Klansmen.)
3.
csalafia | June 1, 2009 at 1:28 pm
I agree, Gene. People have lost their ever-lovin’ minds!
4.
Matt J | June 16, 2009 at 7:57 am
You consider yourself a theologian, and obviously have no qualms criticizing a president , his administration and his supporters.
Yet, curiously absent is any criticism of our current president, his administration and his supporters who not only encourage, but whole-heartedly embrace messianic treatment. Such behavior borders on idolatry and would seem to be in direct opposition to Biblical Teachings.
Remove the plank from your eye my friend.
5.
csalafia | June 16, 2009 at 7:27 pm
You consider yourself a theologian, and obviously have no qualms criticizing a president , his administration and his supporters.
First, I don’t see the connection you’re making…being a theologian doesn’t mean one leaves politics behind.
Second… yes, I will criticize them, regardless of theology. When they enacted policies that punished the poor, or sent our sons and daughters off to die in a war they saw as the 21st Century crusade, or stood up as “Christians” as they enacted policies that degraded and tortured other human beings.
You’re damn right I’m going to criticize them AND I’m going to call them out on their perversion of Christianity.
Yet, curiously absent is any criticism of our current president, his administration and his supporters who not only encourage, but whole-heartedly embrace messianic treatment.
Umm, the 99% of the people perpetuating this “messiah” nonsense are those on the right. In fact, it’s one of their favorite insults. Honestly, it shows an astounding lack of intellectual depth mixed with a healthy dose of cynicism-laced bitterness.
It’s sad, really, to see people so angry, so bitter, that it poisons their entire outlook on the world.
6.
Matt J | June 17, 2009 at 6:37 am
Theology is not partisan in nature. This is not to say that politics should be cast aside. However, when one allows politics to influence interpretation of theological issues, deceit begins to run omok. Your words reveal your partiality.
As for the messiah “nonsense”; if you are willing to completely dismiss the discussion as a perpetuation by the right (again revealing your partisan view), you are truly deceived. Supporters of President Obama walk around with his picture on T-shirts, become overwhelmed by emotion when in his presence and flock to him in cult-like fashion. Meanwhile, major media outlets and so-called press refuse to ask tough questions or even challenge blatant violations of our Constitution.
President Obama seems to have no problem with the fanaticism that surrounds him. Beware the man who lacks humility.
It’s not outlook that’s been poisoned, it’s trust.
7.
cousinavi | June 17, 2009 at 7:05 am
This Messiah crap is a matter of right wing perspective.
It’s nothing more than an insult against a popular president, who enjoys such adoration from the people largely because he’s NOT like the arrogant, swaggering, lying son of a bitch he replaced. He’s educated, literature, thougtful…in all regards pretty well the opposite of the certain, blithering, stammering IDIOT from whom he took over.
You want “fanaticism”, you need look no further than the sons of whores who shredded the constitution, tortured to gain false evidence in order to justify an illegal war, ignored fair warnings about pending threats, fired DoJ attorneys for craven political ends, bastardized the concept of legal advice to provide cover for their immoral and illegal programs, spied on their own citizens, denied habeous corpus and right to counsel, sent people to third countres where they could be tortured without anyone knowing about it, sat on their fucking hands and watched New Orleans drown, and ran the whole show like some goddamn manifest desitiny red, white and blue neocon hegemonic orgy.
And you think OBAMA LACKS HUMILITY???
Haul your dittohead out of Limbaugh’s ass, you presumptuous, arrogant, blithering prat.
Messianic, indeed. Who the fuck are you? Glenn Beck?
8.
Matt J | June 17, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Wow. Hurling insults and profanity in the face of opposition. You are a true scholar and dignitary who represents your point of view well .
Nice of Mr. Salafia to encourage such classy conversation on his blog.
I will concede that the Constitution has been repeatedly violated by the exectutive, legislative and judicial branches of our federal government for most of the last century. I will not, however, ignore further violations because a president is “popular”.
9.
csalafia | June 23, 2009 at 6:24 am
Matt,
It’s interesting that you say my politics influences my theology. Honestly, I believe you’ve got it backwards. My theology influences my politics. Things like…oh… stewardship of the environment…… fighting exploitation of the poor….. believing in the dignity of every person…. opposition to war and capital punishment….
…those come out of my theology, not the other way around.
Yes, I am completely willing to dismiss the messiah nonsense as a construct of the right. Do people walk around with t-shirts and get excited in his presence? Sure. Perhaps it is you who doesn’t understand the historical implications of the 2008 election and the impact it has had, particularly among minorities. If you can’t begin to truly understand that, then, well…
10.
cousinavi | June 17, 2009 at 8:00 pm
@ Matt
If you have a point to make, make it.
If you have an argument in support of the point, have at it.
But don’t come out in public with that “Messianic” crap and expect to be treated as a reasonable man.
Please, explain (in your inestimable Consttutional understanding) just how the executive, legislative and judicial branches have violated same, and which specific clauses were violated in each instance. Would love to learn more about the sort of constitutional interpretation that supports such a claim.
Can you cite cases from the USSC? I mean, given that the document MEANS WHATEVER THE USSC SAYS IT MEANS, I’m hard pressed to even IMAGINE how such a claim could be true in principle. But I’m sure you’ll explain.
Legislative branch? Please…do tell! Which specific statutes do you allege were unconstitutional? And, is your evidence for that the fact that the laws were then overturned by the USSC? And, IF SO, is that an example of the legislature OR the court violating the constitution?
Perhaps it’s beginning to dawn on you…you don’t know what you’re talking about. You just yammer like Glenn Beck, in ignorance. You just toss around words like “Messianic” because you have no real thoughts on the matter that your didn’t steal from something you heard Michelle Malkin say.
In any case, looking forward to your short course in the constitution. Ready when YOU are…but not holding my breath.
11.
Matt J | June 18, 2009 at 6:03 am
By no means do I claim to be a constitutional scholar. My interest in such matters has been sparked only in the last couple of years. Believe me when I say that I wish I had paid more attention during Bush’s years in office. Conceivably, the alarms that are now going in my head would have been sounded earlier. The more I learn, the more I understand the disdain many have for him.
Here is a brief synopsis of my understanding to date:
The Constitution of the United States was not intended to grant power, rather to limit it. Branches of government should be operating independent of each other to maintain the checks and balances for which they were established. Instead, they operate in favor of each other to further the interest of political parties. The interest of the people has been overshadowed by the greed of self-interested politicians.
While I am not equipped to compose a dissertation, complete with parenthetical documentation, without performing the research such a topic deserves, I would refer you to your previous comment in which you site several instances which I think we can both agree demonstrate the use, and abuse of powers not provided for in the Constitution.
Perhaps the messianic talk is melodramatic. It is less of a knock on our president, than an observation of unhealthy behavior by some, not all, of his supporters.
I’m not sure why you feel the need to attack and belittle those who have a point of view opposite that of your own. It detracts from your argument. I don’t have to agree with you to respect you.
If you believe that our country is on the right path then we disagree. Let’s leave it at that.
12.
cousinavi | June 22, 2009 at 6:57 am
Apologies for the delay in replying.
The branches of government as separate entities – a system of checks and balances – is an illusion.
They do not collude, despite what you might think, nor do they impose brakes – they are simply the same thing. About the only effective way for “The People” to affect course is to participate in electing people who (a) represent their values and (b) will carry out their duties in keeping with those values. I submit that this is just what occurred in the previous presidential election. You would seem to disagree, although I would question whether you have sufficient basis for making that claim as you admit that you have no real awareness of constitutional principle or history.
If you’re worried about “unhealthy” behaviors of those who support Obama, I think you might be well sorted by checking out some of the numerous videos of people who supported Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld, and were determined to see McCain and Palin elected to the white house.
I attack and belittle those who disagree with me, generally speaking, because their arguments are knee-jerk, thoughtless responses which bear no relationship to the facts or reality.
It’s not YOU I disrespect, it’s the ideas and opinions you seem to hold. Thirty years of economic failure (success built on illusions in not “success”), and a decade of political ass-raping failure does not, in my opinion, provide any support for the blithering perspective that we need a return to “conservative values.”
On the RIGHT path? How is it on the wrong path?
Do you support torture? Hegemonic extension of neocon policy by violence? False intelligence to support illegal war?
What was it you think the GOP got so right? What is it that Obama is getting so wrong that allows you to pine for days past?
The abuse of the constitution to which I refer is ALL – every last single one – the handiwork of a runaway executive under Bush/Cheney.
Nevertheless, I DO think the country is on a FAR BETTER path than it was under GWB. If you don’t, I can only advise you to go do some research before blurting out knee-jerk opinions without anything to back them up. And I advise you to stay away from Malkin, Limbaugh, Beck, Savage, Levin and the rest of the brainless rightwingers as sources. There’s a difference between good information and yammering fuckwittery.
13.
csalafia | June 23, 2009 at 6:02 am
While everyone reaches their tipping point, so to speak, I’m not entirely convinced you’ve reached yours honestly. Your commentary regarding a messianic view of President Obama does tend to indicate a partisan agenda.