ELECTION 2014 - Merged Threads

[MarkCO]

While I agree with you in large part hollohas, I think it is deeper. It is not just holding to one's own personal compass when it comes to morality and integrity, it is the attempt by many conservatives to attempt to force everyone else to conform to their personal values. There are many things which, for me, are immoral and wrong and I will not do them. Yes, there are things which are wrong which I have done, and I try to alter my behavior to cut down on those. But, if you do not hold my same personal convictions, American values say that I am to let you be so long as your actions are not detrimental to my life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. When I shoot matches, I obey the rules and penalize those who do not as the rulebook says, but I do not tell them they have to shoot the course of fire that same way I do.

If we examine closely Christian values (like ti of not, the Judeo-Christian ethic is foundational to the constitution), they say that we are not to judge people, but actions while adhering to Christ's teachings. That went off in the weeds in the Christian church when legalism came in and said you can not dance, drink or chew or go with women who do. Christ associated with prostitutes and criminals, he did not condemn them. The American Christian church has sought to condemn "sinners" when if the true teaching were to be followed, ALL are condemned to sin. The politicization of Christian values left the acceptance and replaced it with judgement, even if the "sin" was impactful only on the sinner. By re-creation of the "law" most Christian politicians have lost their way in that Christianity teaches that everything done by man is folly apart from Christ. Bottom line, no-one can legislate morality and many in the Christian right think they can. If you want people to be better, you affect their thoughts, show them the benefits of better conduct, not condemn them by labeling in accord with their actions.

Republicans who want to get elected should not even be talking about issues which are already law. Rear-looking policies are the methods of Obummer, the republicans need to lead with a positive message and let the vileness of the Democratic party damage their candidates. Repeal, undoing etc. as it relates to Democrat policies is a focus on the negative. Identify the biggest problems and find solutions without attacking the Democrats directly...that looks like a winning formula for some GOP wins across the county.

[Great-Kazoo]

Republicans who want to get elected should not even be talking about issues which are already law. Rear-looking policies are the methods of Obummer, the republicans need to lead with a positive message and let the vileness of the Democratic party damage their candidates. Repeal, undoing etc. as it relates to Democrat policies is a focus on the negative. Identify the biggest problems and find solutions without attacking the Democrats directly...that looks like a winning formula for some GOP wins across the county.

Too Late. Why is this person even speaking ? Ocare should have been a mid to late 2015 discussion, not out of the gate. The D's are already on I TOLD YOU SO mode STFU, move these bills that Reid supposedly would not and go from there.
http://news.yahoo.com/speaker-boehne...-business.html

After more than 50 failed attempts to repeal or neutralize Obamacare, Boehner said the House would vote again in 2015 to scuttle the law, even if Democrats can still block it in the Senate and it faces a certain veto from Obama.

[davsel]

Too Late. Why is this person even speaking ? Ocare should have been a mid to late 2015 discussion, not out of the gate. The D's are already on I TOLD YOU SO mode STFU, move these bills that Reid supposedly would not and go from there.
http://news.yahoo.com/speaker-boehne...-business.html

After more than 50 failed attempts to repeal or neutralize Obamacare, Boehner said the House would vote again in 2015 to scuttle the law, even if Democrats can still block it in the Senate and it faces a certain veto from Obama.

Unfortunately, the Rs have been speaking much more about "fixing" OCare than they have repealing it.
I suspect the same will happen with immigration. Obama will do something huge/drastic in regards to open immigration and the Rs will later scale it back, but not repeal it.
The Rs figure the citizens will like them for pulling back on the reigns.
I don't see any way the Rs are going to give up the governmental power that is inherent to OCare - once they are in charge of it.

[Great-Kazoo]

Unfortunately, the Rs have been speaking much more about "fixing" OCare than they have repealing it.
I suspect the same will happen with immigration. Obama will do something huge/drastic in regards to open immigration and the Rs will later scale it back, but not repeal it.
The Rs figure the citizens will like them for pulling back on the reigns.
I don't see any way the Rs are going to give up the governmental power that is inherent to OCare - once they are in charge of it.

Perhaps. However Boehner is a negative in my book. Let one of the young guns who won tuesday explain why they want to do what's needed. Keep him and other old R's out of the picture.

[davsel]

Perhaps. However Boehner is a negative in my book. Let one of the young guns who won tuesday explain why they want to do what's needed. Keep him and other old R's out of the picture.

Make Ted Cruz the Senate Majority Leader, and Trey Gowdy Speaker of the House.
Then we'll see some action.

[Jer]

Make Ted Cruz the Senate Majority Leader, and Trey Gowdy Speaker of the House.
Then we'll see some action.

This I could get behind. The old dogs from both parties need to go away. Time for some new ideas.

[HoneyBadger]

This I could get behind. The old dogs from both parties need to go away. Time for some new ideas.

Agreed.

[buffalobo]

Unfortunately, the Rs have been speaking much more about "fixing" OCare than they have repealing it.
I suspect the same will happen with immigration. Obama will do something huge/drastic in regards to open immigration and the Rs will later scale it back, but not repeal it.
The Rs figure the citizens will like them for pulling back on the reigns.
I don't see any way the Rs are going to give up the governmental power that is inherent to OCare - once they are in charge of it.

Damn straight. Pure politics to preserve power.

[davsel]

If we examine closely Christian values (like ti of not, the Judeo-Christian ethic is foundational to the constitution), they say that we are not to judge people, but actions while adhering to Christ's teachings. That went off in the weeds in the Christian church when legalism came in and said you can not dance, drink or chew or go with women who do. Christ associated with prostitutes and criminals, he did not condemn them. The American Christian church has sought to condemn "sinners" when if the true teaching were to be followed, ALL are condemned to sin. The politicization of Christian values left the acceptance and replaced it with judgement, even if the "sin" was impactful only on the sinner. By re-creation of the "law" most Christian politicians have lost their way in that Christianity teaches that everything done by man is folly apart from Christ. Bottom line, no-one can legislate morality and many in the Christian right think they can. If you want people to be better, you affect their thoughts, show them the benefits of better conduct, not condemn them by labeling in accord with their actions.

Though I agree with most of what is posted, here's a couple of points regarding Christian judgment and consent:

Christians are commanded to judge:
This link explains it better than I:
http://www.letusreason.org/Pent44.htm

John 7:24 Jesus says: “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” What Jesus does tell us is not to judge by our own opinions, but instead judge by the word of God, that is what it means to judge righteously. He always encouraged the people to judge. God told Israel to judge the prophets in the Old Testament. He had the true prophets judge the false but the people reacted saying the very same things people are saying today. Your being negative oh you never have anything good to say. In the New Testament we are told to judge prophecy, to discern, to test the spirits and we are told to test ALL things. We are told to do this because it helps keep us away from what is false and evil. The apostle Paul showed us how to judge so there would be no second guesswork. The apostle Paul said, “If anyone preaches another gospel let him be accursed” Would anyone say to Paul's face “your judging.” In 2 Thess. 3:14-15 “And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.” Strong guidelines that many avoid to do today. These are done not to condemn but to bring repentance and restoration."

Paul reminds us that not only the sinner, but also anyone who consents to the sin is worthy of death.

Romans 1:32 (DRA)
Who, having known the justice of God, did not understand that they who do such things, are worthy of death; and not only they that do them, but they also that consent to them that do them.