…and this is a 
It's so easy to find candidates who are unqualified for office. I wish it were easier to find good candidates. I was sent the campaign page for this Republican bozo in New Mexico, and one of the important issues he addresses is the atheist effort to outlaw prayer.
Christians are just sick and tired of turning the other cheek while our courts strip us of all our rights. Our parents and grandparents taught us to pray before eating, to pray before we go to sleep. Our Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. Now a handful of people and their lawyers are telling us to cease praying.
God, help us. And if that last sentence offends you, well, just sue me.
The silent majority has been silent too long. It's time we tell that one or two who scream loud enough to be heard that the vast majority doesn't care what they want. It is time that the majority rules! It's time we tell them, "You don't have to pray; you don't have to say the Pledge of Allegiance; you don't have to believe in God or attend services that honour Him. That is your right, and we will honour your right; but by golly, you are no longer going to take our rights away. We are fighting back, and we WILL WIN!"
God bless us one and all...Especially those who denounce Him, God bless America and Canada, despite all our faults We are still the greatest nations of all. God bless our service men who are fighting to protect our right to pray and worship God.
I almost hate to break the news to him. There are no godless laws criminalizing prayer. There aren't even any atheists trying or hoping to make prayer illegal. Go ahead — you want to pray before a football game, no one is stopping you. You want to pray before eating and sleeping, and you want to teach your kids to do that, too, then you may.
All we plan to take away is your privilege of being able to seize a bullhorn as a public official, and in your official capacity order everyone else to pray. If Pearce were actually sincere in his claim that he wants to tell us that we don't have to pray, then there is no issue here. But of course, he's not sincere. He wants to win a secular public office so he can bray that this is a Christian nation, and put his superstitions about God into our government.
So that makes him a lying sack of soggy sewage and an idiot, which ought to disqualify him for office if it weren't for the fact that too often those seem to be prerequisites for getting elected.
Politics
Comments
Posted by: Valdyr
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October 7, 2010 8:28 AM
...perhaps this isn't the right religion for you, then. Have you tried Islam?
Posted by: riverrunner
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October 7, 2010 8:32 AM
plus he said "by golly" which is taking the lords name in vain!
Posted by: Free Lunch
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October 7, 2010 8:34 AM
But there are a bunch of believers who will accept any lie, no matter how outrageous, if it is told by a "leader they trust", particularly if that leader claims to be religious. Pearce knows how to con the marks who will vote for him.
Posted by: peter.jeaiem
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October 7, 2010 8:36 AM
"God bless our service men who are fighting to protect our right to pray and worship God."
Ah God with a big G makes him the Abrahamic one. He is know by many names: Yahwe, Allah... It seems He, the Omniponent Omnischizophrenic Bigfuck is on both sides of the fight,... again.
Posted by: irarosofsky
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October 7, 2010 8:36 AM
Or as they say: "Anyone who believes there is no prayer in school hasn't been in a math classroom on final exam day."
Posted by: RationalityatWork
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October 7, 2010 8:39 AM
“Our Bible tells us to pray without ceasing."
Our Bible tells us to pray without thinking.
Fixed!
Posted by: Valdyr
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October 7, 2010 8:40 AM
Oh, I just can't let that one go without comment. Is..is he seriously insinuating that the governments and peoples of Iraq and Afghanistan were threatening the rights of American citizens to practice Protestant Christianity? Am I interpreting that correctly? Please tell me I'm wrong and explain what he's really saying.
Posted by: AJ Milne OM
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October 7, 2010 8:40 AM
Mebbe the appropriate response would be illustration...
As in: demagogues of this (woefully uncreative) stripe are always making this claim... So let's show 'em exactly how that would really look. And have someone write in to the legislature, propose exactly that law: prayer is hereby made illegal...
But just for Steve Pearce.
Draft bill:
'WHEREAS he claims to be a Christian, and some figure or other parenthetically involved in the founding of that sect didst at some point says some properly dismissive shit about publicity-hungry wanks fond of flapping their jaws in a deliberately public, pathetically ostentatious show of prayer, purely as a self-serving pose, as opposed to sincerely (if pointlessly) begging help of their Invisible Friend...
'BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT that wanker Steve Pearce is hereafter forbidden from praying. Anywhere. Ever. And if we catch you we get to give you noogies.'
(/And no, 'I was just moving my lips 'cos I was reading' isn't gonna cut it as an excuse, Stevy. Even if that is pretty likely to be true.)
Posted by: Tabby Lavalamp
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October 7, 2010 8:46 AM
On behalf of secular Canadians, I'd like to say to Steve Pearce... What the fuck? Don't bring us into this! Of all the times for some American congressional candidate to notice us, it's crap like this?
As for his comments about sporting events in Jerusalem, Baghdad, or China, what's with the false equivalency lately? First the wingnuts whine over the "Ground Zero Mosque" by complaining that you can't build a church in Saudi Arabia, now this? What is it about the First Amendment to the Bill of Rights that doesn't exist in any of those countries are they failing to understand?
Posted by: Rorschach
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October 7, 2010 8:50 AM
Yeah, ehm, too true, we haven't heard from the oh so silent and politically underrepresented majority of Christians in the US forever ! Let's end our oppression by the atheists, who get elected to public office all the time and deny us christians our rights to.....oh, wait.....
Posted by: Laurent Weppe
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October 7, 2010 8:50 AM
Come on, try to understand the guy, and by understand, I mean knowing that while he says
he thinks:
"Our parents forced us to fake praying before eating, to fake praying before we go to sleep, and there is no way we will let the new generation have it easy."
Posted by: Free Lunch
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October 7, 2010 8:50 AM
Please tell me I'm wrong and explain what he's really saying.
He's stringing together a series of phrases that play well with the target audience. They have no meaning for him.
Posted by: Rhinanthus
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October 7, 2010 8:58 AM
"God bless us one and all...Especially those who denounce Him, God bless America and Canada, despite all our faults We are still the greatest nations of all."
Wow. How did we Canadians get dragged into this? If this guy was speaking in New Mexico then why didn't he pick on the Mexicans and leave us alone? Does he know that - with the possible exception of Alberta - we are one of the most secular countries and so don't want God's blessings?
Posted by: raven
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October 7, 2010 9:00 AM
Atheist haters are a dime a hundred.
They aren't the new gays or Moslems yet, but that might be coming.
Fundie xianity is based on pure hate for tribal cohesion and identification. The list of hates is so long they have to focus. Last month it was the gays, this month is Hate Moslems month. Next month, who knows, scientists, atheists, who knows.
And watch your back. There have been recent cases of atheists being fired from jobs when some wild eyed religious bigots can get away with it. Hate isn't always a harmless hobby.
Posted by: johnbebbington
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October 7, 2010 9:00 AM
Another "christian" who doesn't know his bible. Verily, Jesus says unto you, readeth Matthew 6:
And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
Posted by: Capital Dan
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October 7, 2010 9:02 AM
Can anyone explain to me why this bugfucked, waterheaded zealot felt the need to drag the poor people of Canada into his insanity?
Posted by: tumorous
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October 7, 2010 9:03 AM
Matthew 6:5-7
5. And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites [are]: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
7. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen [do]: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Yeah, they can't be bothered to read their own super-awesome God's-literal-direct-truth magic book.
Posted by: Matt "Nora" Penfold
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October 7, 2010 9:11 AM
He probably thinks Canadians would really rather be Americans, and indeed would be were not for the fact they have been corrupted by all that socialism.
Posted by: Snikkers
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October 7, 2010 9:12 AM
Oh the chill!!! WTF???
Our Prime Minister is fundie, but very quiet and sneaky about it. Is this hinting of a total invasion?
Posted by: raven
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October 7, 2010 9:16 AM
Atheists are becoming the new gays or Moslems.
It is a good sign. It doesn't mean you are right because people hate you but it does mean you are in the way of their grab for power, money and sex:
what religion is really all about.
It is no secret that the fundie xians hate science, education, and especially the US secular democracy and will destroy us if they can. The xian moderates (who aren't necessarily based on hate) have mostly been missing in action. Who has opposed the death cults is the No Religions.
Which is why I'm no longer a xian.
To be fair to the moderates, what could they do? The days when sects fire up their tanks, call up the troops, and spend a few decades fighting a war are over for now except among the Moslems.
Posted by: Reginald Selkirk
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October 7, 2010 9:17 AM
That's not true. We've seen on several ocassions how bent out of shape God-botherers get when someone doesn't join in the pledge, or fails to stand or kneel or whatever while other people recite it.Posted by: Free Lunch
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October 7, 2010 9:19 AM
He probably got his knowledge of geography from various television commercials. If you listen long enough, you might conclude that the name of the country is "theUnitedStatesandCanada".
Posted by: abb3w
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October 7, 2010 9:19 AM
Just as your right to swing your fist stops at the tip of my nose, so does the right of religious exercise stop once you say "I'm from the government; I'm here to help you".
Posted by: Fred Price, The Cantankerous Cephalopod
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October 7, 2010 9:20 AM
Rorschach | October 7, 2010 8:50 AM
'The silent majority has been silent too long.'
Yeah, ehm, too true, we haven't heard from the oh so silent and politically underrepresented majority of Christians in the US forever ! Let's end our oppression by the atheists, who get elected to public office all the time and deny us christians our rights to.....oh, wait.....
Rorschach, you deserve a medal. a big shiny one with fancy latin/greek stuff on it, and some motivational phrase from some former president/prime minister/ world leader/ carl sagan.
preferably carl sagan.
heres why:
That's here. That's home. That's us. On it, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever lived, lived out their lives. The aggregate of all our joys and sufferings, thousands of confident religions, ideologies and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilizations, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every hopeful child, every mother and father, every inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every superstar, every supreme leader, every saint and sinner in the history of our species, lived there on a mote of dust, suspended in a sunbeam.
Posted by: Andrés Diplotti
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October 7, 2010 9:20 AM
@johnbebbington, @Capital Dan:
Read between the lines: "Christians are just sick and tired of turning the other cheek." Considering where the command to turn the other cheek comes from, he's pretty much saying that Christians are tired of doing what the Bible says. (Blatant contradiction with subsequent sentences notwithstanding.)
Posted by: a.debaser
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October 7, 2010 9:21 AM
Oh no! Who will pray for prayer? If we stop believing in the power of the power of believing in prayer, it'll be like its a waste of time! So say a prayer for prayer, or at least pray for those who are. And my sincere thanks for those praying for those praying about praying for prayer as well.
Posted by: raven
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October 7, 2010 9:23 AM
Sure. Simple. He is a xian Dominionist. After they take over the USA, you're next.
Don't laugh. Harper is a fundie and the Minister of Science and Technology thinks the earth is 6,000 years old and Noah had a boatload of dinosaurs.
Canadians like to laugh at the insanity in the USA without realizing they have their own kook problems and extremism is exportable.
Posted by: Fred Price, The Cantankerous Cephalopod
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October 7, 2010 9:29 AM
raven *27: Canadians like to laugh at the insanity in the USA without realizing they have their own kook problems and extremism is exportable.
and once nth america is conquered, they will infect south america with (more) religious crap, before moving on too -shock horror!!!!- Europe, not safe, secular, leftist europe!!!! anything, anything but that!!!!!!!
ohh well, its all relative anyway isn't it???
Posted by: Quodlibet
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October 7, 2010 9:30 AM
This just in, 10/7/10 a.m.: Mississippi judge jails attorney because he would not recite the pledge of allegiance:
http://www.wtva.com/news/local/story/Local-attorney-jailed-for-not-saying-Pledge/a1Zk2ojPjUy2JPHtVfZLrw.cspx
Excerpt from the article:
"[the judge] said, 'please stand for the pledge.' Of course, we were all standing anyway because the judge had just come in - it's a matter of courtesy. I remained standing with my hands by my side," Lampley [the attorney] said. The attorney told WTVA News he waited for everyone to finish the pledge. Lampley said when it was over the judge asked him to say it. He refused, and that is when the judge held him in contempt. Lampley told WTVA News this was not the first time the judge had him removed from a courtroom. "I was asked to leave the courtroom in Corinth because I did not want to participate in the pledge that day either."
Posted by: Rorschach
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October 7, 2010 9:30 AM
Fred Price,
what drugs are you on ?
Posted by: Snikkers
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October 7, 2010 9:31 AM
#27
Yup.
Posted by: https://me.yahoo.com/a/Cs2wFZASrZWXUr046mGQzBdjUQZK1lqKa85Asw--#b6009
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October 7, 2010 9:52 AM
Just tell these folks that President Barack HUSSEIN Obama (and remind them he's black) has written a prayer that he will require all school children to recite four times a day, and see if they're really in favor of structured prayer in school.
Posted by: Free Lunch
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October 7, 2010 9:55 AM
Fred's probably on those inferior socialized medicine drugs from Canada that cost way less than the free market drugs that you pay through the nose for in the good ol' US of A.
Posted by: locka99
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October 7, 2010 9:59 AM
I'm trying to decide if this candidate is deeply stupid or pandering to the deeply stupid. Or both.
If some people want to pray they should go nuts and just do it. No one is stopping them, assuming it's on their own dime & time. Pray to the sky, pray to the teapot, pray at the wall, pray on the toilet, pray under your breath. Pray. Pray. Pray.
What they should not expect is the right to inflict their insanity on other people which is what it boils down to. Kids in school should not be expected to pray, or pander to any kind of religion. People in their daily lives should be free to follow whatever beliefs they like. The pledge of allegiance has always struck me as an incredibly pathetic attempt to associate religion and allegiance to the flag and look at the controversy it has caused.
Perhaps some state should enact a change that changes the pledge from god to allah and see how the whackjobs like it.
Posted by: Tuxedo Cartman
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October 7, 2010 10:12 AM
"You want to pray before eating and sleeping, and you want to teach your kids to do that, too, then you may."
I'm not so sure about that last bit. I still think forcing religion on children is a form of abuse. On the other hand, when it doesn't take hold, it DOES tend to create some very vocal, very well informed atheists later on in their lives.
Posted by: llewelly
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October 7, 2010 10:18 AM
https://me.yahoo.com/a/Cs2wFZASrZWXUr046mGQzBdjUQZK1lqKa85Asw--#b6009 | October 7, 2010 9:52 AM:
Four times per day? Islam requires five prayers a day.
Posted by: Katherine Lorraine, Chaton de la Mort
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October 7, 2010 10:25 AM
@llewelly:
Well obviously Obama will give people a small break. Call it a 'Prayer Cut,' and show how much he can be like the Republicans.
Posted by: rob
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October 7, 2010 10:26 AM
“Our Bible tells us to pray without ceasing."
well, he must be a bad christian cause he stopped praying long enough to write that piece.
Posted by: Katherine Lorraine, Chaton de la Mort
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October 7, 2010 10:29 AM
@rob:
Also he missed a part of Matthew that says 'pray in private.'
Posted by: Glen Davidson
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October 7, 2010 10:38 AM
Pretty appalling, but it's also mostly empty pandering. At worst it means that he'll try to keep the "Day of Prayer," which oughtn't be recognized by the US government, but which is also mostly meaningless pandering.
Sure, he shouldn't be lying about the right to pray being taken away. He is a politician, a breed not known for, well, strict construction of the truth.
Might as well hit back here (as we engage mostly in meaningless rhetoric), indeed, yet it's kind of like complaining that a campaign speech, gasp, panders to the prejudices of the audience. A given.
Glen Davidson
Posted by: Walton, Marquis of Carabas
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October 7, 2010 10:47 AM
Do you think he actually realises the origin of the phrase "turn the other cheek?"
(Jesus, from Matthew 5:38-39. Quoting the KJV, since this guy strikes me as the kind of person who thinks it's the One True TranslationTM.)
There should be another Internet law about this: the more vocally conservative and fundamentalist a Christian is, the less he or she actually knows about Christian theology, the Bible and Church history. In religion, as in so many other fields, there seems to be a strong correlation between dogmaticism and ignorance.
Posted by: Walton, Marquis of Carabas
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October 7, 2010 10:48 AM
My Comic Sans didn't work. Should have previewed. :-(
Posted by: lexicakes
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October 7, 2010 10:51 AM
It seems relevant to point out that Steve Pearce didn't actually write any of this. It's just a chain email that was circulating about the National Day of Prayer, which he chose to post on his website. Still stupid, but not his words.
I'd also like to point out that he allows comments on this particular article. Just in case anyone has any opinions they'd like to share with Mr. Pearce.
Posted by: ereador
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October 7, 2010 10:54 AM
From Pearce's article:
Um, no. I would expect public institutions to operate in accordance with the establishment clause. Constitution much?And I am sorry Canada was pulled into Pearce's delusion. I have no clue where he got that idea. I'm over 50, and I do not remember ever in my life feeling the need to speak for Canadians on any issue of any sort. What a typical god-mongering buffoon.
Posted by: Katherine Lorraine, Chaton de la Mort
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October 7, 2010 10:57 AM
@Walton:
It seems to me that Christians are like whiny children. You'd think a religion espousing 'treat everyone nicely' would do just that. While not all Christians are homophobic, racist, and misogynistic, there is an awfully large percentage of them that are. They also seem to be ignorant and follow blindly along with things without having done the work themselves. Case in point - Creationism, a bunch of people who claim Goddidit because evolutionary theory has lots of flaws, not realizing their misinformation about those flaws has been addressed numerous times before.
Christians are whiny, petulant brats who complain ceaselessly because some people have the gall to say they don't believe in their god, while at the same time claiming theirs is the 'one true gawd.'
Posted by: Lee Picton
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October 7, 2010 11:11 AM
Hah! I tried to leave a comment as invited to by the article. Why am I not surprised that it vanished?
Posted by: Didaktylos
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October 7, 2010 11:15 AM
Ah yes - the daily Pledge of Allegiance: does that mean 'merkins are only prepared to be loyal to their own country for one day at a time?
Posted by: Gregory Greenwood
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October 7, 2010 11:37 AM
What an utterly transparent lie. This isn't about protecting christians from persecution (real or imagined... no just imagined), it is about forcing Pearce's superstition on the rest of America.
If he gets into any kind of power, then as PZ says it will be all the usual 'one nation under god' stuff and attempts to legislate based upon his backward theology. This is the usual whine of the dominionist fundie who complains about the supposed erosion of christian rights while feverishly anticipating the day when they will be powerful enough to abolish everyone else's rights. There are no laws legislating against prayer, but if Pearce and his ilk get their way you can bet your bottom unit of national currency that ther will be laws against any expression of godlessness or any action that runs counter to their precious mythology.
Because mob rule without any thought given to the rights of minorities is the very essence of functional democracy...
(/sarcasm)
And I say Cthulhu favour us one and all, especially those who believe in false gods like Yahweh. May His Tentacled Magnificence forgive you your heresy, Steve Pearce. When the Elder Gods come, may you be among the first consumed, along with the true faithful...
Too violent? Okay, may the FSM's Noodly Appendage embrace you, Steve Pearce. May you find enlightenment and liberation from your misguided faith in the Beer Fountain of the Righteous...
... That doesn't offend Stevie, does it? He did say we didn't have to believe in his god, so an invocation to Cthulhu/The Flying Spaghetti Monster shouldn't bother him, should it...?
Methinks a citation is needed here...
And here I was thinking that these wars were nominally about preventing further terrorist atrocities, while in large part actually being about oil and global power balance. It is news to me that this is a 'holy' war being fought to prevent the destruction of the rights of American christians to pray coming to pass... somehow or other.
What about the atheist soldiers (yes, there are atheists in foxholes afterall) and other non-christian military personnel? It hardly seems fair that no one told them that they were fighting a religiously motivated christian conflict, or don't they count, what with being 'heathens' and all?
What about the broader coalition? Should, say, British troops really be expected to die to protect American religious rights? I know that we aren't numbered among Stevie's all time greatest nations list, but all the same...
...Oh I forgot, Stevie probably isn't even aware their is a coalition. Its all manifest destiny and the Star Spangled Banner if you are like Stevie. The rest of the world just looks on in envy/gets in the way...
Posted by: Trixie
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October 7, 2010 11:37 AM
Yah, I'd rather we Canadians were left out of it. Makes me wonder though, what kind of relationship does Harper have with the Republicans? Kookiness knows no borders.
Posted by: Sastra
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October 7, 2010 11:38 AM
Obviously, this little diatribe once again deliberately (or maybe unconsciously) blurs the distinctions between private behavior, public behavior -- and government. It's as if there's some sort of mental block here about seeing the difference between your own house and the state capitol, or a party in a public area and a public schoolroom. The majority religion owns the government, and those with other religions and philosophies have to remember that they are guests in someone else's home. After all, we are all united by our common faith -- and outsiders shouldn't try to disturb that unity.
They can pray in public, sure. But what they're really talking about isn't a right to public prayer, it's a right to watched prayer. They're demanding that the state make people in their vicinity WATCH them while they pray. You can't talk, you can't work, you can't read, you can't get up and go somewhere else. No. The Christians are going to pray, and this is a spectator event which requires a quiet and respectful audience. Or else.
Because they're so meek and humble, and it's easier to be meek and humble if you can show others how you do it.
Posted by: Katherine Lorraine, Chaton de la Mort
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October 7, 2010 11:39 AM
Y'know. It's almost like Christians don't even read the bible...
Posted by: browne.as
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October 7, 2010 11:43 AM
I'm disappointed that comments aren't shown on Congressman Pearce's page, if they are being saved at all. I'll bet it would make for some juicy reading.
Posted by: Fortinbras Armstrong
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October 7, 2010 11:44 AM
I'm reminded of something Augustine of Hippo wrote in his On the Trinity, "I meditate on the law of the Lord, if not all day and night, at least whenever I have a moment to spare".
Steve Pearce should know that the Bible is at least as emphatic on not lying as it is on praying.
Posted by: Rey Fox, Bird Caller Guy
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October 7, 2010 11:56 AM
"Our Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. "
And yet you're still finding time to run a political campaign. God's gonna be pissed. You know those Muslims are already making you look like a slacker by praying five times a day. Butts in the air and everything.
"You don't have to pray; you don't have to say the Pledge of Allegiance; you don't have to believe in God or attend services that honour Him. That is your right, and we will honour your right"
I wish I could believe you. I really do.
(Hey, Firefox spellcheck is flagging the English spelling of "honor". Heck yeah.)
"but by golly"
By golly? What century is this guy living in?
Oh well, I suppose as long as he's not taking the name of Jeepers Creepers in vain...
, you are no longer going to take our rights away. We are fighting back, and we WILL WIN!"
Valdyr:
"Am I interpreting that correctly?"
Where you err is that you're interpreting. That is to say, you're thinking about what he said, and trying to parse it to where it makes some logical sense. Don't do that. Just hear the dog whistle, and obey.
Posted by: Alverant
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October 7, 2010 12:04 PM
"Our Bible tells us to pray without ceasing."
So when do you sleep? Or eat? Or go to the bathroom? Or give a speech? Was he praying throughout his speech or cease for a while to show us his ignorance and pretend to be the victim?
Posted by: cody.cameron
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October 7, 2010 12:15 PM
"Christian's are sick and tired of turning the other cheek" Ha ha ha! Priceless!
Posted by: lexicalninja
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October 7, 2010 12:32 PM
Prayer in public. Their own little scarlet letter, letting us know exacly who they are without worrying about color coordination of accessories and shoes. We'd be able to identify them easily if we'd just give them this right back.
Although, if we made the BIG C red, white and blue it would be sufficiently 'merickin enough and we could get them all to wear it. Then they would go on TV accusing everyone who doesn't wear one of being an athiest or a mooslim.
More Lovecraft references, please.
god bless America and Canada!!!! Fuck Mexico!!!
Posted by: ad6uy.anne
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October 7, 2010 12:38 PM
I live in the 2nd district in New Mexico and plan to vote early for Teague.
This area is extremely rural, there are about 3 people per square mile in Socorro County. The nearest commercial radio station to the town of Socorro is 30 or so miles north in Belen.
Most of the county has no cable TV. The nearest stations are in Albuquerque and it takes a serious antenna tower to get decent reception. Satellite TV is expensive once the teaser rate wears off.
Internet connections are dialup, satellite or 802.11 (I forget which letter); there is no cable out of town. Bandwidth is limited. Satellite is expensive once the full price kicks in. And dialup is unreliable -- partly because much of the wires is buried under dirt roads that tend to wash out during the rainy season.
There are two newspapers in Socorro County: El Defensor Chieftain and the Mountain Mail.
Information is out there for voters but we have to seek it out since it does not generally plop down in front of us. Most candidates use robo-calling to annoy and educate their supporters.
Most of the people I know here are religious; last time I counted there were more churches than bars in Socorro.
Posted by: danielmhenry
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October 7, 2010 12:54 PM
That quote is from a standard, form-letter screed that has been around for a decade. It's often attributed to 'Samuel Thompson,' but appears to have been lifted (and modified) from a column written in 1999 by the sports editor of the Wichita Falls Times Record News – a man named Nick Gholson. Also, there are versions on the internet attributing the piece to Paul Harvey. (See Snopes)
Posted by: Scott
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October 7, 2010 1:12 PM
#57- exactly. Who he's leaving out is more important than who he's including there. What he means is "God bless WASPs (and some Catholics that will be dealt with later)"
Posted by: Joffan
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October 7, 2010 1:12 PM
It doesn't matter that it's part of the nonsensical flotsam that clogs up e-mail boxes everywhere - what matters is that Pearce chose to put it on his website, under his name, with his recommendation on top.
And he explicit brackets the quoted e-mail with his own "silent majority" deception.
Posted by: Fred Price, The Cantankerous Cephalopod
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October 7, 2010 1:14 PM
actually, Rorschach and Free Lunch, i'm not on drugs at all. i was just in school waiting for our teacher too arrive, turns out she was ill, so i was bored and wondering how long its gonna take for the religious to eventually take ver the world.
Posted by: Vicki, Chief Assistant to the Assistant Chief
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October 7, 2010 1:22 PM
Speaking their language:
This is the comment I just left:
Note that I have not actually said that I pray, or that I believe in God, because I don't, but a Christian reading at comment will probably infer that I do.
Posted by: Benny the Icepick
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October 7, 2010 1:34 PM
Another NM resident here, and ad6uy.anne (#58) hit the nail on the head.
The southeastern portion of the state is very rural, very isolated, and very conservative. I happened to be down in Hobbs with my boss on the day Obama was inaugurated. We were trying to find SOME coverage on the radio of this momentous, historic occasion. There were three stations: Country, Gospel/Religious, and Right Wing Talk Radio. The talk radio said NOTHING at all about the inauguration, though it dedicated the better part of the programming to talking about Bush arriving in Odessa TX that afternoon.
The residents of the Llano Estacado are conservative, just because that's all they're exposed to. Although these tiny rural towns are aging and shrinking rapidly, as the few youth left abandon them for larger cities as soon as they're able. It's a dire situation for the towns economically, but perhaps it's a silver lining for the progressive movement.
Posted by: https://me.yahoo.com/a/vpjUiOVtwOYZGObzML5pc0A42iI-#794b3
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October 7, 2010 1:56 PM
Surprised that no one has mentioned that he has ALREADY been elected to Congress once before: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Pearce, serving six years in the House. Career highlights include plagiarizing the Heritage Foundation and voting against SCHIP.
Posted by: MetzO'Magic
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October 7, 2010 2:04 PM
Tuxedo Cartman (#35):
Direct hit. That's me. I gather that applies to most of us here. So no surprise, really.
Posted by: NitricAcid
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October 7, 2010 2:14 PM
I'm sure the reason he's including Canada is because New Mexico gets a lot of snowbirds from western Canada- retirees who are naturally conservative, as well as generally white, Christian, and homophobic. They fit right in with his target demographic.
I personally don't want my entire country judged by the opinions of my great-aunt Edna, though.
Posted by: El Bastardo
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October 7, 2010 2:15 PM
Don't think he quite gets Buddhism
Or Communism for that matter.
Posted by: Mu
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October 7, 2010 2:20 PM
The Albuquerque TV stations report he's just got the endorsement of Sarah Palin...
Posted by: Xenithrys
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October 7, 2010 2:24 PM
@19:
Not as unlikely as it sounds. I've read such a plan was on the books at least until WW2.
Posted by: grudgedk
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October 7, 2010 2:30 PM
They also thought that putting Mercury in your teeth was healthy, that Cocaine was an acceptable softdrink additive, and that adding lead to gasoline was a fantastic way to improve the performance of early combustion engines. So maybe you shouldn't hold their ignorance in such high regard. No, the world needs Atheists, and the religious kooks know it. In the same way the Pope relies on composite bulletproof materials, for his PopeTank, they know prayer isn't going to stop a chemical or biological terrorist attack, if it can't even stop a bullet. They know that Alfred Nobel was actually right. As soon as men will find that in one instant, whole armies can be utterly destroyed, they surely will abide by golden peace. Mutually assured destruction works. Without atheists to invent their new technology, the leave themselves vulnerable to attack.Posted by: cag
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October 7, 2010 2:47 PM
Rey Fox #54.
My Firefox flags the US spelling. On installation I chose Canadian English for the dictionary. Sometimes I override the dictionary to avoid colouring my neighbours with foreign influences.
Posted by: Diane G.
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October 7, 2010 2:49 PM
Am I the only one who thinks there's a subtext here saying, "I feel really foolish when I'm the only one praying; if we can no longer pray by fiat [scheduled prayers at public assemblies], who'll dare pray when no one else is?" Or maybe, "...if people don't all bow their heads, they'll be looking at those of us who do & maybe we'll look pretty ridiculous..."
Posted by: Gregory Greenwood
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October 7, 2010 3:11 PM
An interesting insight into Steve Pearce's thought process. On the one hand;
And yet, only a few lines later;
So he doesn't have a problem with atheists not believing in god, it is just that he wants to turn public institutions intended to serve all citizens in fortresses of christian doctrine.
He is OK with atheists being atheists just so long as good, god-fearing, patriotic christians are allowed to disenfranchise them. Stevie says "by all means be an atheist, just do it from inside the closet..."
Translation:- "Just shut up and stop pointing out entrenched christian privilege. You are not proper Americans, get used to it!"
Once again, the meme that non-christians are 'outsiders'; guests in their own country of birth, and so they must mind their P's and Q's. And they have the bad form to complain about it. Tsk, tsk...
They are doing it in public. The message is clear:- "this is a christian nation, you heathens are here on sufferance".
Unlike his ahistorical fantasy, America is a secular nation, not a christian theocracy. I wonder if he would be as blase if every American football match held in America was preceded by high profile muslim, buddhist and hindu prayers, all performed with the undertone that America was a nation existing under the deity(ies) of those religions? Somehow, I doubt it. It is unlikely that he would even tolerate a reading of secular humanist philosophy in a legally secular nation. Just another fundie hypocrit determined to establish one law for christians, and another (less favourable) law for everyone else.
Posted by: Leon
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October 7, 2010 3:24 PM
These loons never stop projecting, do they? It's we who are fighting to avoid being coerced to pray; as you mention, PZ, there's no effort to prevent people praying in public places, just to prevent them using secular authority to push their religion onto others. But then, logic has never been these people's strong suit. Ah, the voice of demagoguery. Never mind checks and balances and other mechanisms that are supposed to prevent mob rule and abuse of the minority by the majority--we'll just do what we want because we outnumber everybody else.Posted by: timothy.green.name
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October 7, 2010 3:27 PM
This would seem to be an appropriate time to share the only sensible article I've ever read on WingNutDaily.
Why I'm against pre-game prayers, by the Evangelical Christian pastor Gary Christenot.
TRiG.
Posted by: Bandit19
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October 7, 2010 3:57 PM
"God bless our service men who are fighting to protect our right to pray and worship God".
As a soldier and veteran I swore to uphold the Constitution of the US. A document that these types of people clearly do not care about. Sad really.
Here's some humorous satire. (It went from 42 hits to 356 in two days after I put a link in a post here, enjoy)
http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/7272299
Posted by: danielmhenry
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October 7, 2010 5:08 PM
@Diane G. #73
I don't think that's his goal. I think he wants to use the apparatus of the state, not necessarily to impose his beliefs on others, but to reinforce the primacy of his particular religion. He wants to create an atmosphere of intolerance for other mythologies (and for atheists). He wants everyone else to feel a burden or weight for non-belief. He wants to create a subconscious bias in everyone that keeps them from questioning and thinking for themselves. What he is trying to do is pure evil, really.
Posted by: j-brisby
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October 7, 2010 6:31 PM
So he's tired of doing what Jesus told him to do, is he? Interesting.
Posted by: gmartincv
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October 7, 2010 6:47 PM
Hi, ad6uy.anne @58 and Benny hhe Icepick 264
I live in Socorro, New Mexico. Other than a small bed of liberal thinkers in Socorro (and maybe Las Cruces?), the district does tend to be very conservative. Pearce was a several term representative for the district until he decided to run for the Senate in 2008. In a small surprise, the Democrat Harry Teauge won the district. (Because the Albuquerque representative also tried for the Senate in the Republican primary, New Mexico ended up with both Senators and its three Representatives being Democrat.) He is not exactly a liberal unless compared to Pearce.
In a larger surprise, the last polling I heard had them essentially even. So maybe .... I'll be voting for Teague even though I don't care for some of his positions.
George
Posted by: Ichthyic
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October 7, 2010 7:06 PM
Wow. How did we Canadians get dragged into this? If this guy was speaking in New Mexico
there's your answer:
New Mexico
like where I used to live, Palm Springs, New Mexico is a haven for the famed "snow bird".
I guess there are enough now that they actually represent a special interest group, that even though THEY don't vote, they have friends that do.
Posted by: Ichthyic
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October 7, 2010 7:16 PM
...OTOH, the fact that it's really just a chain letter he posted would also explain the reference to Canada, as I'm sure there were Canadians it was sent to.
Posted by: Ichthyic
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October 7, 2010 7:26 PM
I don't think he does actually post comments, but I tried:
Posted by: ad6uy.anne
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October 7, 2010 7:34 PM
Hello gmartincv @80. I live just south of Luis Lopez village. The more liberal elements of Socorro are, I think, associated with New Mexico Tech. Perhaps NMSU has a liberalizing effect on Las Cruces.
Pearce is appalling. He claims to be pro-life but yet he wants to roll back our limited health care reform. I agree that Teague is far from ideal but he's better than Pearce.
Posted by: mikeyB
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October 7, 2010 9:22 PM
teve Pearce was a 3 term incumbant who gave up his seat to run for the senate last
time getting whipped in the general.
He want's his old job back - running neck and neck against a blue dog - Harry Teague who
voted against the health care bill.
He is basically a Bush republican - voted for all of Bush's policies, offshore drilling, tax breaks to millionaires,rabid supporter of the gulf war, etc. etc.
Other gems:
He gets most of his money from oil and gas & may have profited from
his past contacts in the house
http://www.citizensforethics.org/taxonomy/term/1094
He is sympathetic to birthers
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/06/steve-pearce-obama-birther-questions_n_752475.html
Believes global warming is a hoax
http://newmexico.watchdog.org/3342/global-warming-susana-martinez-has-her-doubts-and-steve-pearce-says-some-climate-scientists-dont-even-believe-the-crap/
In other words, he fits in well with the tea party.
Unfortunately I don't live in the southern district, so I can't vote against him, even if it means supporting a blue dog.
Posted by: Timaahy
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October 7, 2010 10:52 PM
Firstly, he may be "sick and tired of turning the other cheek", but he should remember that Jesus told him to, so tough shit.
Secondly, I refuse to countenance any declaration that begins with "By golly".
Posted by: boygenius
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October 7, 2010 10:57 PM
Bandit19:
No, you put at least 6-7 links in one thread. The one commenter that expressed approval set off my sock-o-meter.
Your vid is not that interesting or humorous. Give it a rest, mkay?
Posted by: MacTurk
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October 8, 2010 8:04 AM
A man is running for office in an "advanced" democracy in 2010, and his main plank is the "atheist effort to outlaw prayer? I am sorry, but did I wake up this morning in a parallel universe?
Oh, since when did the US military oath of service include the idea of "..fighting to protect our right to pray and worship God"?
Is it possible that a country can deliberately run backwards or follow policies which are known to be detrimental to itself? Read Jared Diamond's "Collapse".
Posted by: BeyondKen
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October 8, 2010 9:31 AM
Your bible also tells you "And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men."
Posted by: Dude... Real Men Watch Ponies!
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October 8, 2010 11:34 AM
Hell yes. And our plan is working. Ke ke ke.Posted by: Dude... Real Men Watch Ponies!
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October 8, 2010 11:38 AM
Btw, Texas here.
Anything we should watch out for (idiotic candidate, for example).