I think we’re well past “chipping away”. Let’s focus on stopping the arterial hemorrhaging than worry about the new nicks inflicted on our rights.

Choose your windmills with care, ;)

I think this is pretty horrific on its own. Whenever Congressmen start sponsoring referenda that are blatantly in violation of the Constitution they’re expressing their absolute contempt for individual freedom and the law of our land and it’s only a matter of time before they start chipping away at the economic side of that too. Religion mixed with politics is poison to individual freedom at every level eventually.

Recognizing the contributions of the Christmas Tree Industry to the United States economy.

Interestingly, Paul Broun, (Dr. No in training) co-endorsed this resolution. Methinks he’s desperately trying to burnish his record with his constituents before next year’s election.

Ha ha :)

I already opposed Tiahrt because he voted for the Medicare drug benefit, the PATRIOT Act and every other piece of big-government b.s. that Bush told him to vote for. Now I absolutely despise the guy. Barry Goldwater had the religious right pegged years ago…I just wish that the people in the GOP who follow his ideas on the subject were more numerous than Ron Paul:

“I don’t have any respect for the Religious Right. There is no place in this country for practicing religion in politics. That goes for Falwell, Robertson and all the rest of these political preachers. They are a detriment to the country.”

“However, on religious issues there can be little or no compromise. There is no position on which people are so immovable as their religious beliefs. There is no more powerful ally one can claim in a debate than Jesus Christ, or God, or Allah, or whatever one calls this supreme being. But like any powerful weapon, the use of God’s name on one’s behalf should be used sparingly. The religious factions that are growing throughout our land are not using their religious clout with wisdom. They are trying to force government leaders into following their position 100 percent. If you disagree with these religious groups on a particular moral issue, they complain, they threaten you with a loss of money or votes or both. I’m frankly sick and tired of the political preachers across this country telling me as a citizen that if I want to be a moral person, I must believe in “A,” “B,” “C,” and “D.” Just who do they think they are? And from where do they presume to claim the right to dictate their moral beliefs to me? And I am even more angry as a legislator who must endure the threats of every religious group who thinks it has some God-granted right to control my vote on every roll call in the Senate. I am warning them today: I will fight them every step of the way if they try to dictate their moral convictions to all Americans in the name of “conservatism.”

“By maintaining the separation of church and state, the United States has avoided the intolerance which has so divided the rest of the world with religious wars…Can any of us refute the wisdom of Madison and the other framers? Can anyone look at the carnage in Iran, the bloodshed in Northem Ireland, or the bombs bursting in Lebanon and yet question the dangers of injecting religious issues into the affairs of state?”

“A lot of so-called conservatives don’t know what the word means. They think I’ve turned liberal because I believe a woman has a right to an abortion. That’s a decision that’s up to the pregnant woman, not up to the pope or some do-gooders or the Religious Right.”

Frankly, this kind of ignorant short-sightedness and blatant hypocrisy is exactly what started me down the road to atheism…and the “religious” right’s attempts to force my compliance with their beliefs is exactly the kind of thing that’s over the years pushed me away from what was a live and let live philosophy towards religion.

But, apparently Steve King has set me straight. The problem is the evil secular-progressive War on Christmas.

Doug, UCrawford, and Stephen, you ought to be thankful you’ve got good Christian patriots like Steve King and Todd Tiahrt looking out for you. Now watch Bill O’Reilly tonight and be reeducated comrades :).

Of course I shouldn’t have been surprised that my Congressman, Todd Tiahrt, was one of the co-sponsors. He’s one of those annoying little pseudo-socialist chirpers that Bush and the religious goose-steppers love so much. I have no idea who the Dems are putting up against him in this election or what they stand for, but whoever they run will be getting my vote just to get rid of the sonofabitch.