37 thoughts on “News/Politics 6-22-24

  1. We decided to have a political sign in our yard this year. It has been decades since we have done that. The candidate is from a family we have known for decades, and his wife was a school friend of my daughter. We know several neighbors (and nearby relatives) are for the other party–one fanatically, so we have hesitated. I would be interested to hear what the rest of you do regarding signs or buttons etc. for candidates and your thoughts about them.

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  2. As for my thoughts about them, they don’t bother me unless they might be done in an offensive manner, although I’ve never seen one like that.

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  3. An interesting perspective, that losing the war in Ukraine would actually be good for Russia.

    ~ “If Russia wins, the consequences are horrifying: a risk of a larger war in Europe, more likelihood of a Chinese adventure in the Pacific, the weakening of international legal order generally, the likely spread of nuclear weapons, the loss of faith in democracy. . . .

    Beneath the Russian particularities, history offers a more general and still more reassuring lesson about empires. Russia is fighting today an imperial war. It denies the existence of the Ukrainian state and nation, and it carries out atrocities that recall the worst of the European imperial past.

    The peaceful Europe of today consists of powers that lost their last imperial wars and then chose democracy. It is not only possible to lose your last imperial war: it is also good, not only for the world, but for you.

    Russia can lose this war, and should, for the sake of Russians themselves. A defeated Russia means not only the end of senseless losses of young life in Ukraine. It is also Russia’s one chance to become a post-imperial country, one where reform is possible, one where Russians themselves might be protected by law and able to cast meaningful votes.” ~

    https://edition.cnn.com/2024/05/08/opinions/victory-day-russia-war-ukraine-snyder/index.html?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR02uOPn_27uMfVzHbdqxDhS7gX-rL_X9L5y3637hDxoAZjs79QgtqhO4rU_aem_ZmFrZWR1bW15MTZieXRlcw

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  4. ~ “You know the power you’d have if you’d vote?” — Donald Trump speaking to a “Faith & Freedom” conference, saying Christians don’t vote in large enough numbers. ~

    Power

    • dj

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  5. I don’t have an issue with anyone saying there is power in voting. I think people are motivated to vote because they want trasformation. It takes power to stop something and go in a different direction. It would not matter to me who said that, a Republican or a Democrat. I hear that as a true statement.

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  6. And I’m thinking of the danger of seeking worldly and political power, which appears to be what the quote (from a presidential candidate) directly appeals to — it’s not new and believers are to be on their guard of politicians who use those blatant appeals, promising power in this world, over nations.

    “From the worst parts of the heresy trials known as the Inquisition to “Christianizing’ the world through conquest, colonialism and forced conversions, the Christian faith has been exploited for power by extremist violence throughout history.” — Kingdom of Rage

    • dj

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  7. Kizzie: That’s certainly not a balanced opinion piece.

    If Russia wins, what are the evidences that those listed consequences are true?

    Does not the Ukraine “carry out atrocities”?

    Does anyone think that Russia wants to lose this war, or cares about the opinions of people who think it’s in their best interest to lose?

    Is it sensible to call Russia fascist, when there are active fascist Azov brigades in the Ukraine?

    How are we “defending democracy” in Ukraine when Zelensky has shut down media that the government doesn’t control, shut down churches and religious organizations, threatened to punish any Christian who is caught worshipping in “unapproved ways,” and disallowed elections that should have already been held?

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  8. Tychicus – Opinion pieces don’t have to be balanced, as they are opinions. 🙂 I thought it was a perspective worth some consideration.

    Neither side of this war is innocent or pure, but one side does seem to be the less so. Have you read about how Putin’s government cracks down on evangelicals and other non-Russian-Orthodox believers, including with torture?

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  9. I was not thinking like you think about it, Dj. I was thinking more along the lines of the slogan, MAGA. I have never thought of Trump as being someone who wants to take over the world. I have just seen him as more devoted to making things in our nation better for legal citizens. I do know some have compared him to Hitler, but I never saw that resemblance from my point of view. But I am not as informed as you are in the news world. You have your reasons for seeing things as you do. I have mine.

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  10. Wow you really read way more into his comment than what was actually written.

    You ignore the obvious truth of his statement as well. Had a large number of Christians not sat out the last election, Biden wouldn’t be running roughshod over his political enemies, prolifers, Jan6ers, Catholics, parents concerned about what their kids are being indoctrinated with, every perversion glorified and lionized. The power political office holds is best weirded by a just and decent people. When those people sit it out, that power goes to less deserving and less just individuals.

    You should see that by now. Someone will hold the power, both Trump and Biden have held it. One has used it for nakedly partisan and evil practices. The other didn’t, and instead tried to use it to make America better for all. It’s time you folks accept reality.

    Trump is right.

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  11. Kathaleena I have not placed a political sign in the yard mostly for concerns of being targeted by those who would object to whom I supported. There are crazy people here!!😊But I do support the freedoms that we still have to place such a sign.

    There is “power” in voting. There are some knowing just that and will commit fraud and use lawlessness to get “their” side votes. They did it last time and are now quite clearly bent on doing it again x10! Some will stand against such evil and vote for the candidate who actually loves this nation and her people. Others will not.

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  12. Happy Saturday, AJ. 🙂

    But I wasn’t seeing it so much as “political,” Janice (and, no, it had absolutely nothing to do with “thinking” — which I don’t — of *Trump as Hitler*; it was from more of the scriptural warnings and cautions to believers. So kind of the opposite of I think how you interpreted what I said. But I probably wasn’t being very clear.

    And I agree one votes with the desire that your candidate will win and thus can influence government and policies.

    Because the statement he made was directed at believers very specifically, saying they “go to church” but they don’t vote in high enough numbers — it struck me as urging them essentially to make it their goal to seek secular/political power. And I don’t see or interpret that as the reason we vote, though of course we hope to elect folks who will influence policy in a good and moral way.

    I’m sure now it’s about as clear as mud to all of us, which is what happens usually we we try to explain ourselves too much. 🙂

    • dj

    Liked by 1 person

  13. I’m still not seeing many political signs or bumper stickers — for anyone or anything.

    I think there is a sense that one may only attract counter actions as a result.

    Difficult political year, we’re in. But it’ll be over in about 4 months (!) – time flies when we’re having so much fun arguing.

    • dj

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Oh, yes, the yard sign question. We have not in recent years been putting up pplitical yard signs. The last sign we had up was the call in number for our church prayer line during Covid. I felt that to be bold in this progressive neighborhood😃

    The last political signs we had up were for Republican senators (maybe when Bush was in office). Things have gotten uglier/meaner here now so not many have signs anymore except for a time when the neighborhood seemed plastered with BLM signs. I sometimes wondered if that was seen as a way of protection as things were getting so violent since we had a Dem mayor over the city who defunded police.

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  15. Civil discussions are good. Arguing, not good. Here, on the blog, I just hear people speaking on how they view things from their neck of the woods (literally for NJ).

    I still wish the debate would not be in Atlanta. My liberal friend here agrees with me on that.

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  16. Civility is always good.

    And our nation (this not being the new heavens or new earth) works on a give and take principle with compromise. That’s the spirit that seems to have vanished in the past decade (or two).

    Working across the aisle is necessary for the nation to function; but I’m wondering when — or even if — we’ll be able to get that back.

    • dj

    Liked by 2 people

  17. I liked “weirded”. 🙂

    This quote came up in today’s A La Carte on Tim Challies’ FB page, and it is relevant to a past discussion that we have had here a time or two:

    “We should be happier if a man follows a different path than we do while heeding his conscience than if he imitates us while violating it.”

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Oh, just checked out Challies due to Kizzie’s mention and noticed he’s recommending the book I’ve just started reading on kindness

    • dj

    Liked by 2 people

  19. Kizzie: Given that it’s not a balanced opinion, why do you think that it was a perspective worth some consideration? What spoke to you in it?

    I’d also appreciate hearing why one side appears to be less innocent and pure than the other.

    Liked by 1 person

  20. I believe God calls people to be in government. He did in the OT, and I do not see that would change in the NT. The admonition for Christians to do good to neighbors (and even enemies) speak to being able to do that. Government can aid, make it difficult or stop that altogether. They can stop Christians from sharing the gospel to millions of people. Those are reasons for seeking good government and free speech. Of course, nothing stops God from doing what He will, ultimately. We can say that about all kinds of horrible things that happen, but we would never call for each other to just stand and watch bad things happen instead of working to change situations. How we vote can change situations.

    Jesus never seems to call us to mind our own business and keep to ourselves. Nor do the epistles. There are some verses that allude to not being busybodies, which is entirely different.

    Yes, people have used Christianity as an excuse to do evil in government actions. So has atheism–in fact that has brought suffering and death to millions and millions. So has other religions.

    I didn’t listen to Trump’s speech, but he is right about Christians not voting making a difference. Some voting cycles leave little difference in candidates, or such a mix of what each support, that how anyone votes does not make a dramatic difference.

    We need three strong branches of government to check and balance one another. We need strong city, county, state and national government. The closer to the people the government, the more they see the value of voting for people and issues. The further away, the less. All the elections matter in that check and balance purpose.

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  21. Tychicus – In general, I find various perspectives worth considering, even if we ultimately reject them or most of what they have to say. To do so stretches us mentally. Often, reading a perspective with which I disagree has given me a deeper understanding of an issue. Quite often, I have found that I can disagree with the bulk of a piece, but then find a sliver of something that helps me understand an issue a little better or changes my perspective a bit. 

    As for that particular piece, the part that I quoted above is specifically what I found worth consideration. The outcome may not merely be about Russia vs. Ukraine, but about what Russia may do after a victory in Ukraine. 

    Regarding who is more “innocent” or “guilty”, we must remember that Russia is the aggressor in this war. 

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  22. Re: 11:49 – Back during Trump’s administration, Snopes actually posted a long list of misinformation/lies about Trump. Considering that Snopes is considered by many to be too liberal, I was pleasantly surprised by that.

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  23. Another good piece from several months ago that I came across:

    “Rome is not our home: Live countercultural during election season”

    Some points made:

    ~ … In response to the sack of Rome, Augustine wrote ‘The City of God.’ He surprised his readers when he argued, in contradiction to flawed view of Christianity and to pagan thinking, that Rome wasn’t the heavenly city and that no earthly city or political ideology ever completely aligns with heaven. Rome isn’t our true home. ~

    (Nor is America.)

    His points:

    If Rome is not our home, politics is of relative, not ultimate, importance.

    … a particular political party’s success isn’t ultimately important but only relatively important. Knowing this truth changes how anxious, triumphalist, or despondent we are about the outcome of each election cycle, campaign or candidate. When we make ultimate something of lesser importance, we’ll sin to protect that idol. We have to win the debate, we get disproportionately upset at those who disagree with us, and we’re tempted to gossip and lie about those who don’t share our allegiance.

    Recognizing that only God and his kingdom are ultimately important will foster more godly, Spirit-filled, healthy interactions.

    Because we’re in exile in Rome, politics is relatively (not ultimately) important. God has delegated real power to those in authority (Rom. 13:1), so we should be engaged, thoughtful and prayerful.

    … Recognizing the power that those in authority have under God, we should also be praying for them …

    The church’s allegiance isn’t to Rome but to the heavenly Jerusalem.

    The earthy city and the heavenly city are present in both political parties. … All political parties will have some planks in their platforms and some approaches aligned with the heavenly city and others misaligned with it.

    Living for the heavenly city means seeing merits in a view you don’t share. … Charity is an underemphasized Christian virtue today, and to be charitable requires eschewing suspicion, cynicism, and laziness. It means good conversation and prayerful reflection to inhabit another’s point of view.

    Living for the heavenly city means seeking love, not power. If it’s true the heavenly city is a place of love for God and neighbor, then it’s tragically ironic when those who profess they’re living for that city lack love. Christ’s followers aren’t consequentialists; the ends don’t justify the means. Moreover, our fruit reveals our hearts (Matt. 7:16). So whatever our political allegiance in this sometimes loveless world, let’s be characterized by love.

    Live counterculturally. … It’ll look odd to those around us — and will be counter-cultural.

    • dj

    Liked by 2 people

  24. (And his point on living for love, not power, also ties in to what I was trying to say earlier on this thread but failed to be clear in my effort.)

    • dj

    Liked by 2 people

  25. To clarify my 12:06: It occurs to me that this – “Back during Trump’s administration, Snopes actually posted a long list of misinformation/lies about Trump” – does not convey what I was trying to say. What I meant to say was that the list was debunking those items.

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  26. Kizzie: Is Russia really the aggressor? Anyone who goes back and sifts through the data will get a different picture. Russia was forced to react due to the actions of the USA, NATO, & the coup-implanted regime in Ukraine (under Obama, the duly elected government of Ukraine was ousted in 2014). The UN & U.S. violated their agreement with Putin by suggesting that Ukraine could become a member of NATO – a guaranteed provocation for Russia to invade Ukraine (something that wouldn’t have happened under Pres. Trump). Putin, of course, did not want a NATO nation on the Russian border. He said that military installations would be built there b/c they always are in such border situations. (Imagine Russia doing something similar in Mexico or Canada – what would/should our response be then?) It was also a dumb move b/c this war pushes Russia further into the arms of China.

    Remember, too, that at the insistence of the Biden regime, Ukraine decided to fire the prosecutor who was investigating the then-Ukrainian president, Hunter and all the corrupt money. Biden Inc. is still trying to cover up his corrupt Ukrainian footprint, but Ukraine now has the goods on Biden. They will keep quiet as long as the US keeps pumping money into their coffers in order to prolong an unnecessary war that basically serves the purpose of providing a distraction from the elaborate criminality and treachery of Joe, Hunter and the other Bidens.

    It’s very sad to say, but our American government is corrupt and complicit. Americans have no idea what is going on in Ukraine and what has happened to all their taxpayer money. This war is a HUGE money-laundering scheme between the terribly corrupt Biden regime and the terribly corrupt president of Ukraine. Unfortunately, once again, the end result is that the innocent have to suffer terribly…

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  27. Love is the most powerful force on Earth. God is love. Truth goes hand in hand with love. Our faith is in God and our hope is in heaven. We still, if we feel led by God to do so, must make difficult choices when we go to vote. I am led by my faith in God and His goodness and His word to vote one way while others are led another way. We are fortunate to still have the opportunity at this moment to vote. Praising God for the glimpses of heaven He shares in His word.

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  28. Tychicus – Obviously, as you have pointed out, this issue is deeper than the current war. Thank you for your input and sharing your perspective.

    Liked by 1 person

  29. President Joe Biden should take a drug test before and after his upcoming CNN debate with former President Donald Trump, Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX) said on Sunday.

    Jackson, who served as a White House physician for Trump and former President Barack Obama, told Fox News host Maria Bartiromo on “Sunday Morning Futures” he plans to make a formal request.

    “Tomorrow, I’m sending a letter to President Biden, to his physician, Dr. [Kevin] O’Connor, and I’m CCing his entire Cabinet,” Jackson said.

    “It’s embarrassing that I have to do this and it’s really embarrassing as a former White House physician to have to do something like this but we don’t have any choice, based on what’s going on,” he added.

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