ie:missional teaching. glocalizing. living. serving. repenting. incarnating. loving. repeating.

November 29, 2008

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, Movie review and analysis

Filed under: History,Movies — Tags: , , , — Marty Duren @ 7:22 pm

Mark Herman’s amazing Holocaust movie, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, is now in wide release. Drop whatever you are doing and go see it. This is a powerful, emotional film.

The story is introduced with boys playing in the streets, running as if they themselves are airplanes as boys often do. From these familiar beginnings we are taken, through the experiences of 8 year old Bruno, son of an SS guard turned Commandant of a death camp, to “the countryside.” The father, Ralf, has shielded his family from the deepest horrors of the Final Solution so that even his wife, Elsa, believes him to only be a soldier standing for “the Fatherland.”

After the family arrives in the country Bruno spies the camp from his bedroom window mistaking it for a farm. His observations relating to this “farm” are honest and completely believable as coming from an eight year old: “Why do the farmers wear pajamas?” as he mistakes the camp uniforms for sleepwear. “Why can’t I play with the children?” since he is bored. And to the prisoner helping in his own kitchen, “Why did you quit being a doctor to be a potato peeler?” Knowing what we know about the Holocaust, each of his questions has a raw power.

The focal point of the movie is the unlikely friendship between Bruno and an 8 year old Jewish boy, Shmuel, a prisoner in the camp. (The movie does not strive for absolute historical accuracy; most kids under 15 were killed upon their arrival.) While exploring one day, the young German boy happens upon the camp’s barbed, electrified fence finding the young Shmuel sitting forlornly behind a pile of concrete. Shmuel is not aware of all that goes on at the camp (for instance, he believes the ovens to be burning old clothes), but Bruno has absolutely no frame of reference for it anyway. He understands everything only from his own experiences. This friendship leads to several scenes of almost indescribable agony, one of which brought gasps from virtually all in the theater and the other brought tears to many including me. When you grasp what is about to happen at the end, it’s all you can do to stay and finish the movie. The scene between the two boys in which Bruno is informed by Shmuel that he cannot come to his house and play is as poignant as any ever filmed. Bruno simply does not comprehend that his friend is in a prison and asks him, “What did you do?” Shmuel replies, “I’m a Jew.” The silence that follows that exchange is punctuated by the looks of incomprehension on the face of the young German and resignation on the face of the young Jew. It is far more powerful than any additional lines of dialogue.

The final, gut wrenching scene features Elsa frantically searching for her son and weeping uncontrollably when she begins to realize what has happened. I could not help but think of all the Jewish mothers, grandmothers, wives and sisters who also wept for their lost loved ones. I also could not help but think that if one life was important, all lives were and if none were important, then neither was that of a cute German kid.

Do not go expecting a docu-drama or emphasis on the historical aspects of the Holocaust or Germany in the 1930’s. Very little is given. Knowledge of the historical events are assumed. This movie is an exploration of the emotional impact of what was famously called “the banality of evil” as witnessed through the eyes of a child.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is rated PG-13 for thematic material concerning the Holocaust. There is some violence, but most is off screen. There are no swear words, nudity or sexuality, but this movie would be difficult for kids younger than middle school. The movie features British and American actors who speak English. It takes a little getting used to, but, IMO, is better than a bunch of faked German accents.

November 25, 2008

The Church as Missionary: A Global Networking Dialogue

Filed under: Church,God,Gospel,Leadership,Mission,Missional — Tags: , , , , , , — Marty Duren @ 1:00 am

The Church as Missionary: A Global Networking Dialogue
January 12, 13, 2009-St. Louis, MO

The world is changing. Actually, it has already changed several times over in the past decade or two. Technology and globalization are creating quantum change instead of the linear progression of generations past. But, when it comes to the local church and mission, things plod along as they have for decades. Many churches still primarily engage in mission through sending their dollars off to a denominational agency or parachurch ministry while their own people remain passive in the task that God has given them. With the world nearing 7 billion people, the rise of the indigenous Church of the global South, and America emerging as one of the greatest mission fields in the world, we believe that the local church has a more vital role to play now than ever before in proclaiming and living out the gospel, both globally and locally. It seems, though, that few churches really step into the purpose of God in this area. What if local churches networked together to pray and find out where God was working, share opportunities and best practices, and encourage one another along in their God-given task? What if the Church became the missionary, instead of farming out our calling to others? What if we partnered together to directly engage in global missions and domestic church planting?

Some of us believe that this is possible. We believe that God is igniting the local church to step to the forefront of His work in the world. Each local church has gifts, talents, vision, and people who are already engaged in the world around them. Each Christian and church has a God-given purpose to fulfill. What if a network formed that encouraged each participating church in the task of impacting the world globally and locally by maximizing what is already happening the lives of the people in our churches? If churches in the network partnered together to share vision, people, and resources to impact lostness, couldn’t we do far more together as the engaged people of God to transform the world, than we could separately? We’d love to join with some other folks who are thinking about the same things.

On January 12-13 in St. Louis, MO, a group of pastors, leaders, and thinkers, will come together to engage in guided discussion regarding the possibility of networking to specifically engage in global and local mission by putting the local church on the forefront of the task God has given us: discipling nations. Some of us are Southern Baptists. We have our own missions agencies and cooperative giving program. This is not meant to take away from that, but we recognize that just sending money to denominational agencies and passively waiting for them to initiate work will do little to fulfill the Great Commission. Local churches must be engaged in the task in a more direct way. We’re thinking that we would be more effective at that if we partnered with others.

We are specifically inviting you to join a few dozen leaders to engage with this concept and see if God is wanting to link some folks together to help one another become more effective. This is not about starting an organization or collecting money-the last thing we need is more bureaucracy. If this goes well, the local church will be at the forefront and the network will exist in the shadows. We don’t have a name for what we are wanting to do. We might just call it, “that missional thing.” But, we believe that God is up to something and if we can help one another engage the world more effectively, then we will have accomplished our task.

This is not a standard conference or seminar where a lineup of speakers download terabytes of information to process later. Discussion initiators will be brief and on point leading to dialogues directly related to network building. Real value will be added to your ministry objectives and church mission as a result of your participation.

If this resonates with your heart, plan to be in St. Louis so that together we can help one another move our churches to the front line of Kingdom work in this world!

For more information, please leave your email address in the comment section (use this format: name[at]provider[dot]com to avoid spambots). You will be contacted in short order.

Grace and Peace,

Marty Duren, Lead Pastor
New Bethany Baptist Church
Buford, GA

Alan Cross, Pastor
Gateway Baptist Church
Montgomery, AL

November 10, 2008

Remembering Kristallnacht

Filed under: Books,Church,Culture,Economy,History,Leadership,Life,News,Politics — Tags: , , , , , , — Marty Duren @ 2:00 am

Crystal Night. The Night of Broken Glass.

October 1938 saw the forced deportation of thousands of German Jews to the Polish border where some were allowed immigration but many waited. All were uprooted from their homes and dispossessed, many traveled penniless. This deportation was an inevitable result of the cumulative 90 discriminatory, anti-Jewish laws passed in Germany from 1933 to 1935.

Living in Paris was the seventeen year old son of two of the displaced, Herschel Grynszpan. From his sister, who was with their parents, he had received a post card telling him of their plight and asking for any money he could spare. The family had lived in Hanover for twenty seven years. After receiving the post card, Grynszpan purchased a newspaper where he read in graphic detail of the deportations from Germany. On Monday, November 7, he took a loaded pistol to the German embassy where, “in the name of 12,000 persecuted Jews,” he shot Ernst vom Rath, fatally wounding him.

Not wanting to miss a golden opportunity to further their warped agenda, during the night and morning of November 9 and 10, 1938 (seventy years ago today), Nazi goons all over Germany set fire to more than 200 Jewish synagogues and smashed the windows of 7,500 of Jewish owned stores and businesses. One writer called it,

the crowning moment in the wild domestic terror that Germans perpetrated upon Jews.

In villages, towns and cities across Germany, Jewish residents were awakened to the sounds of shattering glass and beaten flesh. Around 100 were killed and some 30,000 taken to concentration camps. A picture from the day shows German citizens lining a street while Nazi policemen march Jewish men toward a transport to Dachau. A Bible twisting sign held in the crowd reads, “Exodus of the Jews.”

It bears remembering that Hitler did not come into power by a coup, but by the will of the people of Germany. Runaway inflation, national shame and the loathed Treaty of Versailles primed the country to listen to the pseudo psychological babblings of the mustachioed madman. The primary motivation that prepared ordinary Germans to accept the leadership of a man who was obviously either crazy, demon possessed or both was not reason; what Hitler believed did not make sense and was against any real science. It was not based on history; Jews had been in Germany, and Europe, for generations. It was not based on parasitism; Jews contributed greatly to the German economy, being hardworking business people.

It was based on fear. German nationalistic pride was in shambles. The German economy was suffering from runaway inflation. The German military forces were supposed to be severely curtailed and military aircraft non-existent. The German people lived in fear of the future and into the leadership void stepped Adolph Hitler, who was welcomed with open arms and admired with open hearts.

About a month ago, we had the opportunity to go to a nearby town and hear a presentation by Holocaust survivor, Eugen Shoenfeld, retired professor from Georgia State University and author of My Reconstructed Life. He recounted his story from the age of 17 when he boarded a crowded train car with scores of other Jews where they rode four days with virtually no food and only a bucket for a toilet. Upon finally arriving at the destination, they began disembarking into two lines at the heads of which stood a man in a leather jacket who was motioning some people to the right and others to the left.

The place was Auschwitz.

The man was Dr. Joseph Mengele.

Many of Schoenfeld’s family were unwittingly condemned on the spot, while he and other family members joined the hundreds of Jews already in laborious, sickening captivity. Schoenfeld lived until he and the remaining survivors were liberated by American soldiers. The irony of being freed by American Lt. Schwartz was not lost on the young man.

Following the story of his life, the retired professor reminded us of the emotion that drove virtually an entire country to support Hitler: fear. He reminded us that fear causes otherwise rational people to do completely irrational things. At that moment in our country, we were just in the beginning of the economic meltdown from the mortgage crisis. Wall Street was in a panic and it seemed that decision after decision was being made as a result of fear, whether a hastily conceived bailout or 401(k) owners selling out stocks and moving into cash. Fear is not a link to wisdom or patience.

Fear, no matter what the “boogie man” behind it, causes people to willingly, and often eagerly, sell their future for a “mess of pottage.” It happens over and over again in our world. Fear of one government causes submission to a war lord. Fear of liberalism causes conservatives to make bad decisions. Fear of another terrorist attack, well, interpret events as you will. Fear war and you vote for Barack Obama. Fear Barack Obama and you vote for anyone else. Regardless of who is president, we can never allow fear to lead us to willingly give up our basic rights. Once given, they are rarely returned. Just ask the Germans. Wearing the cloak of fear, the Reichstag gave unfettered authority to Hitler, making themselves puppets in his dictatorship.

Leadership is forged in time of crisis to be sure, but the hammer of the molding is never fear. Life leadership has to be from faith, wisdom and boldness, never from fear, uncertainty and weakness. If there are any citizens that live free from fear and exhibit the patience to evaluate circumstances based on the truths of God, it ought to be His people. Let it be so.

November 4, 2008

Live blogging the election returns…for fun

Filed under: Humor,Politics — Tags: , , — Marty Duren @ 7:12 pm

10:40 pm

It’s almost a done deal. Going to bed.

10:05 pm

TX GOP senator retains his seat, Dem in Montana also in IA. GOP replacement senator, Roger Wicker of MS wins the election and keeps the Dems from gaining a filibuster proof majority, if things stand.

Shot goes to Hume with Bill Kristol in the background with his nose stuck eight inches deep in some paperwork. Looks funny.

McCain campaign says, “There doesn’t appear to be any path” to victory. Losing NM and IA seems to have been the icing on the cake. They don’t believe that any republican could have survived the “credit tsunami.” If you towed the party line, then I agree whole heartedly, but if you bucked the party line, the candidate would have stood a chance.

10:00 pm

Got an email, purportedly from a Christian leader asking me to pray for one candidate, but not the other one. I guess we only pray for the ones we like, not like God commands, “all those in authority.”

Looks like Obama is closing in states where McCain was leading and maintaining in the states where he was already leading. Mecklinburg County (Charlotte), NC is going to Obama bigger than it went for Kerry in ’04.

EVs- Obama 207, McCain 129 (Fox calls McCain for TX, though neither candidate made a single trip there).

Obama- IA

McCain- UT

9:48

Fox panel reiterates that this is a “protest election.” Not voting for or against Obama, but voting against Bush and identifying McCain with him.

Listening to the exit polls, it sounds like, “McCain would be a better president, that’s why we’re voting for Obama.” This is a weird country.

9:35

A few thoughts on the electoral college that strange animal by which we elect the president. According to Wikipedia:

Some nations with complex regional electorates elect a head of state by means of an electoral college rather than a direct popular election. The United States is the only current example of an indirectly elected executive president, with an electoral college made up of electors representing the 50 states and one federal district. Each state has a number of electors equal to its total Congressional representation (in both houses), with the non-state District of Columbia receiving three electors and other non-state territories having no electors. The electors generally cast their votes for the winner of the popular vote in their respective states, but are not required by law to do so.

I really don’t have a problem with it and, frankly, it may not be as fairly proportioned as it could be if it is to be based on actual population. It does seem that the electoral college should be more representative of the popular vote, though that strange animal “winning the electoral college while losing the popular vote” is so rare as to be an endangered species.

A Fox reporter just said, “John McCain has made 2,000 visits to Pennsylvania in the past few months.” Busy guy!

9:25 pm

If the numbers stand, McCain is in trouble. It didn’t help him that he brought Dick Cheney out on the campaign trail this week. How utterly stupid.

Senate seats are Dems up 4.

9:20 pm

A friend of mine is happy that Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer is now Former.

Hume is enamored with the touch giant screen thing. Karl Rove things thinks that McCain has to win everything and still cannot win, unless he turns a state from the last election. Fox has called OH for Obama.

National vote total is Obama up about 70,000 or so on Politico.

9:13 pm

Fox dropped 17 votes from the Obama column without comment yet; now at 163.

9:02 pm

Dems pick up 1 in the House.

EVs- Obama 180, McCain 81 (as called by Fox)

Obama- WI, NM, MN, NY, RI, MI

McCain- ND, KY, WY

Lots of yucking it up over some mistake. Brit Hume still looks like a hound dog, but I like him.

8:58 pm

WPE- Within Precinct Error. When there is a differential, Fox hesitates to make a call. In VA, Obama is 10.8% higher in exit polls than in actual votes. This means that Obama supporters are willing to participate in the exit polls more often than McCain supporters leading to skewed results.

Popular vote is 50-50.

County by county voting in Indiana shows a few more counties going Democratic this time than in the last two elections.

Lots of talk today about Obama governing from the center, much like Clinton did. The reality is that Clinton had to deal with Republican houses of congress–Obama will not. Is American a center-right country or a center-left country? We shall see.

Obama leads early in Ohio, McCain in North Dakota and Texas.

8:50 pm

EVs- Obama 103, McCain 69

FL loses a house Republican seat and keeps a seat.

Some reports of voter fraud, but few documented. Things in most places seem to be going smoothly.

8:38

NBC called GA for McCain just now. Their map looks awful.

8:26

Obama just picked up 1 EV?? What is that, Guam?!

“Well, Pa…” Reporter on Fox looks like Opie Taylor.

Still early reports have Obama blowing out NC, but still trailing in VA and IN. Dems pick up 3 senate seats. Fox wants to call PA for Obama without any precincts actually being counted, but refusing to do so. Perhaps they are learning a little. Apparently there was as much as an eleven point discrepancy between the exit polls and the actual numbers in some places.

NH loses a Republican–Sununu loses to Jeanne Shaheen. Smith, anyone? Sununu apparently fought against Bush on many counts, but loses anyway. Net pickup of 3 seats. Dems need 6 of 7 remaining.

8:20 pm

Fox reporting Mitch McConnell, who ran on a “pro-earmark” platform has been re-elected in Kentucky. 200 year old Elizabeth Dole is projected to lose her NC senate seat in a landslide. Another example of Republicans not getting it when they attacked Kay Hagan for supporting atheism, she the Presbyterian Sunday School teacher. Smaaaaart.

Obama picks up another 4 EVs (NH apparently). Democrats pick up 2 senate seats, but have to win all the rest (I think) to reach 60. For the first time in 50 years, Republicans will have lost double digit seats in the House in consecutive elections. Hume makes an interesting point: Democrats have control of both houses of congress, congress has a sorry approval rating and yet Americans are sending more Democrats to congress. Dislike of Bush anyone?

Buffalo leads Miami 14-3. Ooops, that’s ESPN. They are red and blue however.

8:05 pm

Brit Hume just called their studio “the strategery room.” Timothy says, “He’s been watching SNL.”

“I just have to right on the screen. Look, I can make a circle. I can make a slash.” Geez.

Maine still at 2 votes to one. Apparently there is a blizzard of epic proportions keeping people from the polls there. Or a hail storm. Or they don’t know how to count. Fox now calls it for Obama; might as well.

EVs just went Obama 77 to McCain 39.

MA, MD, IL, DC, CO, ME, NJ, DE- Obama

OK- McCain (CNN adds TN for McCain)
And Tulsa is voting on just how to spend their local option sales tax money.

Joe Biden wins seventh term in DE while running for VP with Obama. Biden now passes necessary threshold to stay in office for up to five years after he dies.

Time for a short break.

7:55 pm

Fox has a guy in West Palm who looks like Kato Kaelin. That guy never goes away.

Barack Obama has a monster outdoor “victory party” planned for Grant Park in Chicago. Perfect weather and huge crowd.

Fox has called South Carolina for McCain, while trailing in the popular vote.

Obama up 54% in the popular vote nationally. Fox analyst favors Marlo Thomas.

Bob Barr has a few votes in Dade County FL, where Obama is reporting at 60%.

Some analyst thinks we need to have the polls open for an entire weekend, AFTER we’ve had more than a month to early vote. I really don’t get that. I voted 2 1/2 weeks ago and didn’t wait. Because of early voting, the wait today has lessened dramatically in many areas. My daughter and son-in-law in PA walked in and voted with no wait (after work).

These guys are having waaaaay to much fun with these touch screen TVs. I imagine John Madden, “Boom, Obama needs Gary, Indiana. Look, McCain needs West Virginia….that guy, that guy has mud on his ballot.”

7:45 pm

Random thought: At about 2:30 today, more than 900 people had voted at New Bethany, a local voting precinct. More than 2,100 had early voted from the same precinct. In our county, around 40% of voters cast an early ballot.

cnn.com still has virtually all states too close to call and precious few precincts reporting. McCain’s lead in VA seems to be increasing, while Obama’s in FL seems to be increasing.

Late deciders seem to be breaking to McCain. “White people with little education” (why don’t they just say “rednecks”) also seem to be breaking to McCain. Are those one and the same?

A Fox News reporter just said, “In two thousand oh four…” Interesting phrasing.

7:35 pm

The Republicans ran a guy for governor in West Virginia who looks like Supreme Chancellor Palpatine from Revenge of the Sith. He lost; should have used his light saber.

Obama just took the lead in the popular vote for the first time tonight. McCain up 13-3 in EVs.

7:29 pm

Apparently it took Barack Obama 15 minutes to vote. Beth says it was because he was looking for the “Present” button.

My wife is fixated on that Murtha character from PA. She is calling his a lot of names right now. Four in the last minute. I don’t think she likes him.

McCain up in Indiana with 12% counted. They are saying it is the northwest corner that will turn it to Obama.

7:25 pm

It really is something that Georgia is too close to call. Georgia has not gone for a democratic presidential candidate since Carter, our favored hometown son. For there to be anything close only goes to show how much President Bush has damaged, not rallied, the republican base. If McCain loses Georgia, it will be a foreboding sign indeed.

7:18 pm

There is a holographic reporter on CNN: “Help me Wolf Blitzer. You’re my only hope!” No lie.

7:16 pm

So apparently, Maine only has three residents. And Obama won 2 votes to 1.

My daughter woke up this morning wondering who won the election.

7:12 pm

Until I get tired or fall asleep.

Politico is calling two senate races with no votes reporting. Good call guys.

Currently McCain leads 8-3 in EVs. We’ll see how long that lasts.

The family is watching Fox because it is what is on. They think that the former gov Mark Warner has won. They mention the fact that he is a millionaire as if that means anything.

Georgia senate race: Zaxby Chambliss is probably going to lose because he supported the big bailout and because there is a Libertarian (incorrectly identified as an “Independent” by Fox) who is going to siphon some of his votes. However, this is a runoff situation if no one garners at least 50% plus one vote [thanks, Charlie].

An election day prayer

Filed under: Culture,Economy,Family,Gospel,Leadership,Life,News,Politics,Prayer — Tags: , , , , , , — Marty Duren @ 6:34 am

Father,

On this important day for American society, I pray that we would not forget you. Your word says that you set up kings and you take down kings, so surely that includes our president, whether it be Barack Obama or John McCain.

Father, I pray that we would not forget your kingdom. In a day when fervent patriotism and divided politics carry most every conversation, help your children to remember that we have been called to a higher allegiance and that what happens in America does not equate to what happens in your kingdom. Forgive those of us in the United States that have convinced ourselves that your eternal plans ride on decisions that we make, forgetting that your kingdom was expanding centuries before 1776 and will continue eternally after the last copy of our constitution has disintegrated.

I ask that you would forgive us for making political preferences a basis for fellowship. If you can break down the walls between Jew and Gentile, can we not imagine that you have done so between Democrats and Republicans? Many of us know people who, if they don’t outright despise people who hold to different politics, find it extremely difficult to carry on conversations that don’t degenerate into political wrangling. May we never forget that Jesus set the pattern for us by choosing among his disciples one zealot, whose goal was to extricate Israel from Roman domination, and one tax collector, whose job was in league with the oppressors. Let us love, love all and love well.

Please forgive us for putting our hope in a political party or a president, when our hope should ever and only be in you.

Father I pray for Barack Obama, a man who seems to have no conscience toward the unborn. In his very stance on the abortion issue he betrays himself as a man not of your word, regardless of his claims of salvation. If elected, I pray that he would humble himself under your mighty hand and that you would use him, turning his heart wherever you will.

Father I pray for John McCain, a man who seems to be running on a platform he doesn’t completely believe. I do not believe that he understands the complexities facing our nation and have no hope that he would pick anyone other than “good old boys” to be around him if elected. He has no plan to stop the slaughter of the innocents. If elected, I pray that he would humble himself under your mighty hand and that you would use him, turning his heart wherever you will.

Father, I pray for the mostly unknown others who are on ballots for president across America. It is my earnest prayer that, beginning in this election and at all levels, we would begin to see the end of the two party dominant system that has polarized this country. Allow third, fourth, fifth party candidates and independents to be elected to force more reasonable and workable solutions to the problems we face.

I pray for the salvation of those who are in congress or who will be going there after this election. Place someone around them with the message of the gospel that they might come to know you and govern with wisdom.

Above all, that we your people might demonstrate the righteousness that we have received from you in every conversation we engage. The kingdoms of this world are fallen and corrupt; help us to promote the one, eternal King and the plan that he has instituted.

I ask this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, your son.

Amen.

November 3, 2008

If Obama wins, then Republicans have only themselves to blame

Filed under: Culture,Economy,Life,News,Politics — Tags: , , , , , , — Marty Duren @ 8:14 am

I have a good friend who simply cannot believe that any clear thinking American would vote for Barack Obama for president. In fact, he issued a challenge for someone–anyone–to give him a convincing reason to vote for the Illinois senator. Few took him up on the offer.

I first called this election for Obama well before the primaries were over. Not because I planned to vote for him, not because I think he’d make the best president, not because I shuddered at the thought of another Clinton in the White House, but because seemed obvious to me he would win it in a walk. Here are the reasons in no particular order:

1. Because of the last two elections. Those residents of America that call themselves liberal have been steamed in the last two presidential elections since they feel they have been ripped off. Bush’s 2000 win over Gore through the electoral college (via the Supreme Court) and the Swift Boating of John Kerry (with proclaimed voting irregularities all over the place) have motivated them to get out the vote even if some of those voters are dead or sharing a ballot. Supposedly 105% of the population of Indiana (correction: Indianapolis) have now registered to vote. What happens if a state has more people vote than are on the registered voter list? Can they withhold their electors? Who knows, but it is obvious that far left liberals really do not care as long as Obama is in the White House.

2. Because of George W. Bush. Any Republican nominee was to be running against two opponents-the Democratic nominee and the immensely unpopular sitting president. Only if McCain (or Romney, Huckabee or whoever) had immediately drawn a stark line of distinction between himself and Bush would they have had a good chance. McCain’s late effort to do so only gives the appearance of desperation. In fact, one of the primary reasons that Democrats are on the verge of a filibuster proof majority in the senate and gaining as many as 30 seats in the house is because Republicans have not stood down the president at more turns.

The recent Wall Street cave in bail out put front and center the problems of the current administration. The over-simplified “It’s a big solution ’cause its a big problem” kind of talk from the president reflected badly on McCain if for no other reason because he’s a Republican. He chose to support the almost universally loathed bailout plan, rather than strongly oppose it and thus appeared as socialistic as Obama. To show true leadership and ingenuity, McCain should have been critical of the rush to judgment. Instead, he proposed a delayed “solution” that was easily and quickly dismissed.

3. Because he is black. Barack Obama is appealing to the African American community because he is perceived as one of them, even though he is of mixed heritage. It’s the same reason that McCain would be appealing to veterans or Romney to Mormons or Clinton (either one) to women. There is a strong identification factor because of his race. But, for the Democrats, it goes deeper.

During the primaries, the only diversity at all was on the Democratic side. There was an African American and a woman included in the running. The Republican ticket was white bread America (please people, Alan Keyes just does not count). McCain and Paul, the “old white guys,” Huckabee the “funny white guy,” Romney the “white rich guy,” Thompson the “white actor guy,” etc. Republicans don’t appeal to minorities because the Republican party is primarily about lip service. Did anybody see the crowd shots at the RNC? It looked like a snow storm. We have millions of immigrants who come to this country (legally) for the opportunities that the free market system affords them and Republicans, the party of opportunity, can’t even lock up that vote?

4. Because of big business interests. For better or for worse, Republicans are seen as business friendly to the extreme. They like to think of their party and the one that is good for business and that helps business to flourish thereby allowing the rising of all boats in society. This is well and good, but it does nothing if it isn’t communicated to and understood by Americans and it actually is harmful when you have a few companies reaping record breaking profits (Exxon Mobil, Shell, Chevron Texaco) from Americans who are given little real choice (we’ve got to drive gas vehicles since there are so few viable alternatives).

Republicans have done a terrible job of demonstrating how the growth of business drives the growth of the economy and have allowed their party to be pigeon holed as the one that only cares about creating wealth for the already wealthy. Even the founding fathers warned about the centralization of wealth in the hands of a few because of the corrupting nature of it.

5. Because he’s a socialist. The difference between Obama and the Republicans is that he is open about his socialistic beliefs while they are still in the closet. Socialism is not simply a belief in the redistribution of wealth; it is the belief that the vague entity known as “the government” knows better how to run the people’s lives than the people do including how they should use their money. Socialism puts the interest of the structure above the interest of the citizens. By this measure Republicans (at least the ones in DC) are as socialist as any Democrat, including Barack Obama. Our sitting president has expanded government to the point that true Republicans are repulsed by it, while he pushed for a growing amount of executive power to the point that constitutionalists are repulsed by it. It seems obvious that Republicans are very content with big government as long as they are in control of expanding it. They now are surprised by the embracing of it by the average American? They have fomented the mindset and now will live with the consequences and potentially without the power to do anything about it.

So, if Senator Obama becomes President-elect Obama sometime tomorrow evening, and the Republicans begin to whine about ACORN, the media, campaign finance reform and all the other post-Halloween ghouls, just remember: they have only themselves to blame.

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