"We will not be able to recover the vision and understanding of God's grandeur until we recover an understanding of ourselves as creatures who have been made to know such grandeur. This must begin with the recovery of the idea that as beings made in God's image, we are fundamentally moral beings, not consumers, that the satisfaction of our psychological needs pales in significance when compared with the enduring value of doing what is right. Religious consumers want to have a spirituality for the same reason that they want to drive a stylish and expensive auto. Costly obedience is as foreign to them in matters spiritual as self-denial is in matters material. In a culture filled with such people, restoring weight to God is going to involve much more than simply getting some doctrine straight; it's going to entail a complete reconstruction of the modern self-absorbed pastiche personality."
- David Wells
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Is the Republican Party imploding? Stuff like this and other recent scandals makes me wonder . . .
At any rate, despite Obama's affability, I'm with John, A Cane for sure.
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Comments on "Serious Question":
2. Shrode
- 07/29/2008 4:18 pm CDT
Hey, Kudos to the NYT with concluding their article about a republican caught in a scandal with quotes about "innocent until proven guilty". I couldn't believe it.
Anyway, Bird, how is the party "imploding"? I mean, what does that mean exactly?
And in light of Andrew's comment, I think I might add that the GOP and Conservatism are not necessarily the same thing. (Though I know you both know that.)
I think that classic conservatism will be around for a long, long time. It's the heart of America.
3. Quaid
- 07/30/2008 11:31 am CDT
I think that Republicans are a little unsettled now, but I see the GOP as more stable than Democrats. (I'm being very serious.)
The only thing that the Republican party lacks is a clear leadership. While the Democrats have that in Pelosi, Obama and Reid, they hold a very fragile party in their hands. I think the Congress approval rating is in the single digits, or possibly the teens. Bush isn't the only weak politician in DC.
Should the conservative movement find someone/something to rally around, whether it's a VP candidate or some issue, it can solidify relatively quickly. The Democrats are as solid today as they ever could be, and they're not running much further ahead than the Republicans, even though the GOP is in a "less-stable" state.
5. Ellen
- 07/30/2008 2:40 pm CDT
Whenever there are fallen human beings involved, things will "implode".
There does need to be clearer future defined for the party that is supposedly conservative. There are too many ways that the Republicans have abandoned the conservative way of thinking that built the party to see much hope of reining it in. Perhaps a real threat of a credible third party would help, but I don't see that happening.
7. Ellen
- 07/30/2008 7:17 pm CDT
There is a certain amount of "if the economy is going to fall apart...let it happen on their watch" going on also.
8. Andrew
- 07/30/2008 9:14 pm CDT
That's not what I meant, but you're right. The Party seems to be taking to an increasingly fatalistic tone this election season.
What I meant was that perhaps some time with the other party controlling everything will force Republicans to get their acts together and come up with a more coherent narrative for the next go-round.
9. Quaid
- 07/31/2008 12:46 pm CDT
I think there's plenty of time to discover a coherent narrative for this election - the convention is still two months away.
Still - it has to be developed by leaders - and the GOP seems to have none who are willing to stand up and be counted. Newt Gingrich might be able to do it, but I don't see that happening. It's too chaotic at the top, right now.
John McCain needs to take the bull by the horns, stop listening to his handlers and lay down the law. Stand up and be a leader. This can happen at the convention.
I think that this election hinges on:
1. The conventions - they set the tone
2. The debates - they define the candidates
3. The last month/week before election - these last weeks matter much
I give the edge in conventions to the Democrats (Obama gives a speech better than most). If the GOP has a sound convention that sets a tone that resonates with and mobilizes the right, it will be successful - even if it's not the biggest show on earth.
I give the edge to McCain in the debates. John McCain will likely tear Obama up in the debates - especially if they're done in a town hall format.
It will come down to how the last month is played by the campaigns. Money doesn't necessarily bring success, but it helps. Current edge: Obama.
10. Ellen
- 07/31/2008 3:13 pm CDT
The debates could easily go badly for Obama...he is not at his best when he's not in front of a tele-prompter.
He will, however, have rehearsed ad nauseum for the expected questions.
11. Quaid
- 07/31/2008 10:24 pm CDT
Of course he will have rehearsed, as will have McCain. The difference is that Obama is seemingly incapable of listening and responding appropriately in "real-time".
What I mean is that if McCain makes a slip or a moderator gets off base, Obama doesn't have the ability to call them on it until afterwards when he speaks to his advisors. These unexpectd events aren't rehearsed for because they can't be prepared for.
Hillary repeatedly made mistakes in the debates and Edwards had to call her out on them - even after Obama would have the chance to call her out. He's not very good on-the-spot.
McCain, on the other hand, is passable as a decent wit. Since he will go into the debates as a staunch underdog, he'll easily exceed expectations. This election year, the debates have been so important and I think that will continue to be the case.
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Modern Conservatism does seem to be jumping the shark as of late.