And You Thought Polk Street in SF was WILD...

Down in Polk County, Florida, the school board found themselves in a pickle -- or more precisely, a noodle. Seems most of the school board professed a belief in Creationism, and had set its sights on introducing this religiously based theory into science classes in the school district. That is, until the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (a satirical blog) stepped in. The Pastafarians, as they call themselves, demanded their God-as-noodle theory be taught as yet another alternative explanation of life on Earth. When the press stirred up a public outcry against religious theory being taught in science classes, the school board Creationists quickly retreated, egg-noodle on their faces.

Read for yourself: Polk Needled, Noodled in Evolution Flap

And then there was this: in that same school district, a Polk County elementary school principal is arrested for possession of child pornography, as photos were found of two adult nude women, with two of his students' faces pasted on. The pictures were on his home computer, and apparently, not wishing to be without his fair ladies, he took prints with him in his briefcase. The article cites vital details such as his home address and his principal's salary, presumably so we can get good and mad at him for making so much money, then march right to his house, pitchforks and torches at the ready.

Then there is this statement about other nude pictures in his possession: "Those pictures did not rise to the level of criminal pornography." Rise? I suppose they know their porno when they see it.

Read the full article here: Principal Faces Porn Charges

Prostitute Testimony Figures in Cunningham Associate's Trial

Dirty politics in a Hawaii hot tub cost a lot more than anticipated for a Poway businessman, Brent Wilkes, as he argued with North county Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham over two prostitutes hired by Wilkes for the occasion. Apparently it's poor form to choose the prettier one for one's self, while offering the less attractive hooker to one's guest. After the tubbing faux pas, the businessman's government contracts quickly dried up.

See the North County Times article for all the hot bubbling details.

http://nctimes.com/articles/2007/10/18/news/top_stories/1_02_4910_17_07.txt

Staunch Republican Suicide after Resignation

Here's a tragic story, involving a city councilman who seemed to have some terrible secrets involving child molestation.

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ST. PETERSBURG - City Council Chairman John Bryan walked into City Hall just after 1 p.m. Friday and handed in his resignation letter.

Less than five hours later, he was slumped over in a golf cart in the garage of his Floral City house, dead from carbon monoxide poisoning. He was 56.

Bryan's suicide came after news spread Friday that authorities were investigating allegations that he had sexually abused three girls, including two of his adopted daughters, ages 12 and 15. Ron Stuart, a spokesman for the Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Court, said the third alleged victim was a nanny for Bryan years ago and no longer lives in the area.

For city officials, the allegations were as jarring as they were sickening. Bryan was a hometown business hero, a pillar of the community, a powerful voice on the City Council and a fierce ally of Mayor Rick Baker.

See the entire story here: Suicide and Scandal

Haggard vs. Jesus Camp

As many of you know, a documentary film called "Jesus Camp" has just been released. While critics have called the film surprisingly even-handed, it reveals the activities of an Evangelical Christian children's camp.

Ted Haggard (see previous post) appeared in this film. It seems that, of all the people depicted in this film, only Haggard has complained about how he is characterized. Having seen a clip of him from the film, we were astonished at the apparent contradiction between his demeanor in the film and the current accusations of promiscuity and drug use, to which he has recently admitted.

This film reportedly contains footage of Ted Haggard emphatically lecturing children against homosexuality, in a manner that accurately foreshadowed recent events.

To see the trailer for the documentary, just go to Jesus Camp and click on "VIDEOS." This trailer does not contain the Haggard clip in question, but does illustrate the overall content of the film.



You may judge for yourselves whether this film portrays Evangelicals evenhandedly, and whether Evangelicals themselves continue to represent traditional conservative values. According to the film's web site:

"A growing number of Evangelical Christians believe there is a revival underway in America that requires Christian youth to assume leadership roles in advocating the causes of their religious movement.

"JESUS CAMP... follows Levi, Rachael, and Tory to Pastor Becky Fischer's 'Kids on Fire' summer camp in Devil's Lake, North Dakota, where kids as young as 6 years old are taught to become dedicated Christian soldiers in 'God's army.' The film follows these children at camp as they hone their 'prophetic gifts' and are schooled in how to 'take back America for Christ.' The film is a first-ever look into an intense training ground that recruits born-again Christian children to become an active part of America's political future."

By the way, if anyone has seen this film, please feel free to review it here by commenting on this blog post.

Scandals Stack Just Like Cord Wood

If readers are looking for some relief from the mounting scandals plaguing family-values conservatives and the Republican party, there's little hope for a let-up.

Take for example this story by the Associated Press, concerning Ted Haggard, leader of the 30 million-member National Association of Evangelicals and pastor of the 14,000 member New Life Church:

Key Evangelical quits amid gay sex claim

The claims by 49-year-old Mike Jones were first aired on KHOW-AM radio in Denver. Jones said Haggard paid him to have sex nearly every month over three years. (If you're into math, that's about 36 times.) Jones also said Haggard snorted methamphetamine before their sexual encounters to heighten his experience.

Do conservatives bring these situations upon themselves, simply by their outspoken views on such things as who will get into Heaven (a discussion Haggard had with Barbara Walters in a 2005 interview)? Or, if the stories are true, is one of the most revered evangelists in this country, an outspoken opponent to gay marriage, paying for gay sex and using illegal drugs in the process?

Wait, There's More:

Add to the woes of hard-hit Republican candidates across America this announcement that Pennsylvania Republican Representative Don Sherwood, accused of abusing his ex-mistress, Cynthia Ore, agreed to pay her about $500,000 in a settlement last year that contained a powerful incentive for her to keep quiet until after Election Day.

Rep. paying ex-mistress about $500K

The title of this AP article doesn't do this sordid story justice. It seems that Sherwood, a 65-year-old married father of three who is considered a family-values conservative, had one of the safest seats in Congress. That is, until Cynthia Ore sued him in June 2005, alleging he physically abused her throughout their 5-year affair. Ore aggreed to the terms of the settlement, which includes keeping silent about the details.

According to police, in 2004 Ore called 911 on her cell from the bathroom of Sherwood's Capitol Hill apartment to report that Sherwood had choked her while giving her a back rub. Sherwood admitted having the affair with Ore, but vehemently denied hurting her. Criminal charges were never filed. Ore, now 30, sued for damages, hence the $500,000 settlement.

What Does It Mean?

These are just two stories. The news is filled with similarly unsavory accounts. Does it illustrate the growing chasm between deep seated conservative beliefs and the actions of those who profess to share those beliefs? Are these people merely posing as conservatives, in order to gain lofty, responsible, well-paid positions in our society?

Pres. Bush: easy fodder for parody?

It is important to note that all U.S. presidents have been subjects of satire. In the case of President Bush, his persistent tongue-tripping has generated much embarrassment; his policies, however, are no laughing matter on the world stage.

Harlan McCraney, Presidential Speechalist

"Harlan McCraney, Presidential Speechalist" - Starring Andy Dick - Director: Russell Bates. OTIS Productions.com.

Thanks to Emergency Podcast System for alerting us to this video.

Colbert Roasts President Bush - 2006 White House Correspondents Dinner

An excerpt from the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner. Comedian Stephen Colbert makes humorous remarks about current events and the relationship between the press and the White House. He also presented a video of a mock press conference including a chase scene featuring long-time correspondent Helen Thomas.

What is a Conservative?

Would JFK have been called a Conservative today? Maybe.

Kennedy wasn't a liberal even by the standards of his time, regarding totalitarianism and taxes. It may seem like a no-brainer now, but Kennedy was under fire for being a vigorous opponent of the Communist infiltration of the State Department under FDR. Kennedy's sweeping across-the-board tax cut dismayed liberal Democrats of the time, who urged government spending binges to "stimulate the economy." [source: "Remembering JFK" ]

Certainly the American population’s views have shifted to the right. The Far Left is the new Middle, the old Middle is the new Right and the Far Right are the new Nazis.

Seventy percent of the U.S. feels that conservatives have gone off the deep end; that the cause no longer matches traditional American values. That also reflects the views of the rest of the world. The U.S. is now discounted across the globe as a rogue nation, and thanks to our lackluster reactions to attacks on our embassies and ships at sea, our enemies see us as a paper tiger. The world is beginning to doubt the moral basis of our fight against terrorism.

Other countries claim that our new Right is closest philosophically to the Taliban we’re fighting in Afghanistan. It’s hard to argue that they are wrong -- especially in light of the fact that, as a country, we have become economically and militarily weaker since Ronald Reagan. How else can we explain, after five years, the lack of a World Trade Center memorial, much less new WTC buildings? We ousted Saddam Hussein, then used his infamous torture prisons to torture our own war captives. Spiritually, the movement has bankrupted itself with eccentric businessmen posing as TV preachers (e.g., Pat Robertson) attempting to alter U.S. national and international policy.

Let’s examine how the rest of America views the conservative movement to develop better strategies to help the U.S. become a better, stronger nation without sinking into the depravity of nations that have forged the same conservative path before us.



"Familiar Agenda?"