Speakler of the House Fundamentalist Mike Johnson believes that “man is inherently evil, and must be restrained to follow the word of God.” That, ladies and gentlemen, is a Very. Big. Deal. Johnson told Fox News’ Sean Hannity in an interview after he was elected speaker: “I am a Bible-believing Christian.”
I am reminded of how Hugo Black joined the KKK and later claimed he didn't really realize what it was about. Of course he knew. He joined it because he wanted to get elected in Alabama. And then he spent the rest of his career showing that he disagreed with everything the Klan stood for, and his family suffered for it back in Alabama.
But wait for a republican to say in response to this, "Robert Byrd," who, yes, was in the KKK, and then spent decades apologizing for it and making up for it.
MAGA Mike is a racist, a sexist, a porn addict (why else would he need something to check himself), and a traitor. In other words, a mainstream republican.
Real Christians look for good in people and society, and are interested in making lives better. Homosexuality exists not only in people, but in animals--it's just a simple biological fact of LIFE among sexual beings (writ large). Fake Christians want to visit hellfire and damnation on those who reject their view of the world, rather than trying to make the world a better place.
Saying that homosexual sex is sinful, and that homosexual life partnerships should be prohibited is an attempt to prevent love from happening among a large percentage of H. sapiens. But social contagion is real, and the more love there is in the world, the better off the world is. My best friend's third marriage, to the first truly appropriate woman he's married, has boosted my well-being, as did the marriage of my ex from the '00s, to a really good guy who was a much better fit for her than I was.
There was a wonderful story in the comic strip, Boondocks, where Huey, and his friend Michael Ceasar tried to find a good boyfriend for Condoleeza Rice, with the expectation that getting her a boyfriend might help end the wars perpetrated by the Bush2 Administration.
You’ve hit the nail on the head Tom. The “antichrist” will look nothing like Trump or Putin. He will seem harmless, wrapped in platitudes and bible verses. A Trojan Horse never looks dangerous.
Tim Alberta of The Atlantic: “ The son of an evangelical Presbyterian minister who came to religion from finance, Alberta lays bare his hurt over how the cross has grown ever more synonymous with those who most fervently wave the Stars and Stripes, on the right of the political spectrum.”
Alberta points out “religious nones” are growing stronger at the polls, especially among younger voters. So Johnson may not be so cool to the next generation…
Telling that woman seeking an abortion “You’ll never forget this day.” That’s spell casting. He is wishing her ill and planting a thought in her head in order to punish her in the future for a belief in HIS own mind.
These kinds of “Christians” are terribly dangerous. They judge, and sentence certain people to death. They cast spells when they say gay people will get Monkeypox as their inevitable just due. They project endlessly as in Tom’s first paragraph and throw around the word “Antichrist” planting seeds of evil in the brains of their followers. They put themselves on God’s throne and strut around with daggers in their belts picking people off. They lust after power. I take them very seriously.
Those who are on the skids or have lost their way are easy pickings for these Bible pounders. They invite them to JOIN. Show them how SAFE they are now under the umbrella of the fold. They give them an instant social group. Now they BELONG. Then comes the indoctrination phase and brainwashing is the goal.
I usually say "far right radical reactionaries", but revolutionaries also fits. One thing that they are not is Americans. Their regressive ideas/goals bare no resemblance to those of the Founders of this country. They would even be a nightmare to the Birchers.
It's the idea that alot of what they do is just angry lashing out. Almost incoherent flailing. It's what happens when reality is just brushed aside if it becomes inconvenient.
Loved this piece, Tom, because it explains how a backbencher like Johnson ascended to his position of power, and more importantly, implies how he plans to hold it.
But I see the current radicalism as quite calculated. The mutha of the current right wing jackals, the Tea Party, was manufactured by Dick Armey, Newt Gingrich, and others at the command of the Koch brothers and others of their ilk who wanted to hide their true and long-term goals at the rear of a populist parade. Armey was busy rounding up senior citizens and inducing them to wear tricorns and demonstrate with offers of charter bus trips and box lunches. They steered McCain's campaign to Palin in order to enhance the anti-intellectualism that's always been a part of populism and would lure in the naive. The populism as an accelerant has just been replaced with religious zealotry. What was at work then is at work now: dark money.
I am reminded of how Hugo Black joined the KKK and later claimed he didn't really realize what it was about. Of course he knew. He joined it because he wanted to get elected in Alabama. And then he spent the rest of his career showing that he disagreed with everything the Klan stood for, and his family suffered for it back in Alabama.
But wait for a republican to say in response to this, "Robert Byrd," who, yes, was in the KKK, and then spent decades apologizing for it and making up for it.
MAGA Mike is a racist, a sexist, a porn addict (why else would he need something to check himself), and a traitor. In other words, a mainstream republican.
Real Christians look for good in people and society, and are interested in making lives better. Homosexuality exists not only in people, but in animals--it's just a simple biological fact of LIFE among sexual beings (writ large). Fake Christians want to visit hellfire and damnation on those who reject their view of the world, rather than trying to make the world a better place.
Saying that homosexual sex is sinful, and that homosexual life partnerships should be prohibited is an attempt to prevent love from happening among a large percentage of H. sapiens. But social contagion is real, and the more love there is in the world, the better off the world is. My best friend's third marriage, to the first truly appropriate woman he's married, has boosted my well-being, as did the marriage of my ex from the '00s, to a really good guy who was a much better fit for her than I was.
There was a wonderful story in the comic strip, Boondocks, where Huey, and his friend Michael Ceasar tried to find a good boyfriend for Condoleeza Rice, with the expectation that getting her a boyfriend might help end the wars perpetrated by the Bush2 Administration.
Did they ever get Condi laid? 🤔
Who would be able to stomach that self-righteous witch?
this was a comic strip
No. but I can't remember how it ended--just that there was no climax
I see what you did there.
actually, what IS the deal with Ms. Rice?
jeez, I'd take her to the movies, but it'd have to be MY choice.
That is a good question! And just what Huey and Ceasar were wondering!
You’ve hit the nail on the head Tom. The “antichrist” will look nothing like Trump or Putin. He will seem harmless, wrapped in platitudes and bible verses. A Trojan Horse never looks dangerous.
Shudder; you are spot on here Diane. I thought immediately of Ted Bundy.
Johnson is worse than we thought?? That. Is. Saying. Alot.
And you're right.
Thanks for the details. I was already of the opinion that Mike Johnson is a scary, unhinged guy, but you confirmed my worst fears.
Yowza! That was a mouthful, Tom! Bravo! And we do, indeed, as a nation, need to keep a very wary eye on these fascist lunatics
Chock full of information. Every paragraph held my interest. I feel much more informed than I did 20 minutes ago. I appreciate you, Tom.
Flattery will get you everywhere, Susan. :-)
‘Twas praise m’Lord.
Comfort needs to be stripped of his name. He wasn't what the angels had in mind with "tidings of comfort and joy."
There is a strain of Biblical scholarship, btw, that says the sin of Sodom wasn't homosexuality, but failure of hospitality to strangers.
"Beware the man wearing sheeps clothing."
Keep peeling Mike Johnson's
lambs wool away. Backbencher my foot! Just been waiting in the dark shadows.
Tim Alberta of The Atlantic: “ The son of an evangelical Presbyterian minister who came to religion from finance, Alberta lays bare his hurt over how the cross has grown ever more synonymous with those who most fervently wave the Stars and Stripes, on the right of the political spectrum.”
Alberta points out “religious nones” are growing stronger at the polls, especially among younger voters. So Johnson may not be so cool to the next generation…
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/dec/02/kingdom-power-glory-review-tim-alberta-trump-evangelical
Telling that woman seeking an abortion “You’ll never forget this day.” That’s spell casting. He is wishing her ill and planting a thought in her head in order to punish her in the future for a belief in HIS own mind.
I’m not totally convinced humankind is inherently evil, but those Living Waters guys....🧐
These kinds of “Christians” are terribly dangerous. They judge, and sentence certain people to death. They cast spells when they say gay people will get Monkeypox as their inevitable just due. They project endlessly as in Tom’s first paragraph and throw around the word “Antichrist” planting seeds of evil in the brains of their followers. They put themselves on God’s throne and strut around with daggers in their belts picking people off. They lust after power. I take them very seriously.
Christians they are not, in my humble opinion. Bet St Peter would have doubts too
For me, these whimsical Bible pounders make democratic people look good.
Those who are on the skids or have lost their way are easy pickings for these Bible pounders. They invite them to JOIN. Show them how SAFE they are now under the umbrella of the fold. They give them an instant social group. Now they BELONG. Then comes the indoctrination phase and brainwashing is the goal.
That's exactly how it works. Seen it done.
"They are far right radical revolutionaries.”
I usually say "far right radical reactionaries", but revolutionaries also fits. One thing that they are not is Americans. Their regressive ideas/goals bare no resemblance to those of the Founders of this country. They would even be a nightmare to the Birchers.
"Far right reactionary revolutionaries". A word salad that makes the freshness and singularity of "fascist" almost welcome.
It's the idea that alot of what they do is just angry lashing out. Almost incoherent flailing. It's what happens when reality is just brushed aside if it becomes inconvenient.
It’s not just inconvenient, it’s deliberately skewed, pretzeled, and denied; it’s the Repub platform
Just an *ahem*, search warrant says the Zieglers had just one previous encounter.
They're still hypocrites.
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article282586063.html
Thx for the link.
Loved this piece, Tom, because it explains how a backbencher like Johnson ascended to his position of power, and more importantly, implies how he plans to hold it.
But I see the current radicalism as quite calculated. The mutha of the current right wing jackals, the Tea Party, was manufactured by Dick Armey, Newt Gingrich, and others at the command of the Koch brothers and others of their ilk who wanted to hide their true and long-term goals at the rear of a populist parade. Armey was busy rounding up senior citizens and inducing them to wear tricorns and demonstrate with offers of charter bus trips and box lunches. They steered McCain's campaign to Palin in order to enhance the anti-intellectualism that's always been a part of populism and would lure in the naive. The populism as an accelerant has just been replaced with religious zealotry. What was at work then is at work now: dark money.
Thanks for the reference to Koch. That makes a lot of sense.