Bush: I'm God's Delivery Boy

William Penwell

Published on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 by The Progressive

Bush: I'm God's Delivery Boy

by Matthew Rothschild

Bush's messianic militarism was on full display on March 11, when he addressed, via satellite, the National Association of Evangelicals Convention in Colorado Springs.

First, acting as pastor in chief, he said, "You're doing God's work with conviction and kindness, and, on behalf of our country, I thank you."

Separation of church and state, anyone?

Bush charged right through that wall, citing religion as his basis for opposing stem-cell research, abortion, and same-sex marriage.

He also ignored the wall when he returned to his favorite, post 9/11 theme: that God is calling America to free the world, and Bush himself is heeding that call.

"America is a nation with a mission," Bush said, not afraid, in this crowd, to connote the crusade he is on.

"We're called to fight terrorism around the world," he said, intentionally using the religious term "called," a term he has repeatedly invoked over the last two and a half years.

"As freedom's home and freedom's defender, we are called to expand the realm of human liberty," he said. Viewing himself as the Great Liberator, he said, "By our actions in Afghanistan and Iraq, more than 50 million people have been liberated from tyranny."

And then he laid the religion on thick: "Yet I know that liberty is not America's gift to the world-liberty and freedom are God's gift to every man and woman who lives in this world."

Follow the logic here: If God's gift is liberty, and if Bush has liberated millions, then he is God's delivery boy.

Now while Bush may invigorate himself by aligning his policies with the presumed wishes of the Almighty, there is something deeply offensive about foisting this theology on our constitutionally secular government.

And the tautological conviction that whatever he is doing he is fulfilling God's will defies democratic discussion and debate.

With his messianic strivings, Bush may not be satisfied believing that he has liberated 50 million people. He may feel it is his religious duty to liberate 22 million more living in godless North Korea.

The President told Bob Woodward in "Bush at War" that Kim Jong Il's massive prison complex "appalls me." He added: "It is visceral. Maybe it's my religion, maybe it's my-but I feel passionate about this." Toying with the idea of toppling Kim, Bush said, "I just don't buy" the argument that we need to worry about the financial burdens South Korea might have to assume if North Korea collapses. "Either you believe in freedom, and want to-and worry about the human condition, or you don't," he said.

The problem with such black-and-white thinking is that it could lead Bush to make a rash decision to attack North Korea.

The toll, according to the Pentagon's own war games, would be astronomical, perhaps as high as a million. But notice that Bush did not count the casualties of the Iraq War or the Afghan War. Everyone there was liberated, according to his speech, even the dead.

Love_Truth

More paltry leftist drivel.

Go, Bush!

kgfreeperson

Being concerned about overturning the constitution is leftist drivel. Huh.

MorpheuzX

Every President plays the religion card! Even Bill Clinton went to church every Sunday and often spoke of his faith in God.

Conservatives presidents aren't the only ones to do this. By all accounts Jimmy Carter, another democrat who served as president was very religious. IMO, God, isn't a conservative vs. liberal issue when it comes to the vast majority of politicians outward facades of faith.

bisous

Love Truth: To Quote Countless Millions of Men:

Bigger doesn't Make It Better!

Yerusalyim

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

The President was exercising both his Free Exercise and Free Speech and Right of Assembly, why is that so problematic for those on the left?

And speaking of "left" the article is pure drivel.

Follow the logic here: If God's gift is liberty, and if Bush has liberated millions, then he is God's delivery boy. Fun calling names, ain't it. Are we forgetting what is found in our own founding documents...the Declaration of Independence for example,

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Now while Bush may invigorate himself by aligning his policies with the presumed wishes of the Almighty, there is something deeply offensive about foisting this theology on our constitutionally secular government. Secular? No, the Constitution simply says the Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of a religion or prohibiting the free exercise...it says NOTHING about government officials not using God's name...or talking about religion.

And the tautological conviction that whatever he is doing he is fulfilling God's will defies democratic discussion and debate. Seems to me a very healthy debate is going on right now.

With his messianic strivings DRIVEL, Bush may not be satisfied believing that he has liberated 50 million people. BS He may feel it is his religious duty to liberate 22 million more living in godless North Korea. The attack on Iraq was not a "religious duty" but a responsibility of the state...constitutionally accomplished.

The President told Bob Woodward in "Bush at War" that Kim Jong Il's massive prison complex "appalls me." He added: "It is visceral. Maybe it's my religion, maybe it's my-but I feel passionate about this." Toying with the idea of toppling Kim, Bush said, "I just don't buy" the argument that we need to worry about the financial burdens South Korea might have to assume if North Korea collapses. "Either you believe in freedom, and want to-and worry about the human condition, or you don't," he said. I'd love to hear this whole conversation...but you're right I suppose, it's better that the North Koreans starve and jeopardize the world by selling nukes than it is to see a re-united and free Korea along the model of Germany.

The problem with such black-and-white thinking is that it could lead Bush to make a rash decision to attack North Korea. I THANK GOD we have a clear thinking president rather than one that shifts position with every poll.

The toll, according to the Pentagon's own war games, would be astronomical, perhaps as high as a million. But notice that Bush did not count the casualties of the Iraq War or the Afghan War. Everyone there was liberated, according to his speech, even the dead. Actually, we have descent numbers on Iraq...Afghanistan, with no infrastructure by which to measure...is a harder deal. What's the quote of the 1 million from? How many will die if NK sells a nuke to AQ?

Yerusalyim

Hard to argue against the founding documents of the country when they're right in front of you...isn't it?

Farkel

So, you prefer Godless, Atheist Presidents, then? Like any other American, Bush has the first-amendment right to freedom of speech. Do you think he shouldn't?

Many deeply religious people are convinced that their own set of ethics and moral values come from being religious, and they say so. Bush is honest in saying so. There are plenty of pinko liberal atheists in Congress to stop him from doing whatever-it-is-you-don't-like.

So, what's the beef?

Farkel

IronGland

Voicing an opinion as worthless as a wino at a wedding, Farkel
postulated...

So, you prefer Godless, Atheist Presidents, then?

Whatever.

Xena

I think what most people hope for is a president who is willing to represent all the citizens of the US, be they christian or not. While he certainly has a right to his own belief system, when he is in office and representing the people of the US, he should not allow those beliefs to temper his decisions.

I would think that would be the price you pay for being an elected official...by the people...for the people...ALL the people.

Bush: I'm God's Delivery Boy

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