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Pat Robertson Speaks in Tongues Again
The always entertaining, if wacky, religious broadcaster Pat Robertson declared yesterday that God smote Ariel Sharon for giving away the Gaza Strip to the Palestinians. CNN reports:
"He was dividing God's land, and I would say, 'Woe unto any prime minister of Israel who takes a similar course to appease the [European Union], the United Nations or the United States of America,'" Robertson told viewers of his long-running television show, "The 700 Club."
"God says, 'This land belongs to me, and you'd better leave it alone,'" he said.
Robertson leaves unexplained why God didn't bother smiting the leaders of those Saracens and other Muslims that began occupying the eastern littoral of the Mediterranean Sea 12 centuries ago.
|1.6.06 @ 10:54AM|#
For an omnipotent guy, Yahweh sure chooses some ambiguous signs of his expressing his displeasure. I mean, a 77 year old guy having a stroke? Not exactly the same as angels raining and brimstone, is it?
Warren|1.6.06 @ 10:56AM|#
Crazy talk'n religious wakos once amused me, but not since we elected one president.
|1.6.06 @ 10:58AM|#
I find it highly ironic that these supposed "holy" men are
calling upon a loving God to bring sickness and destruction upon
other human beings.
Maliciously evoking a supernatural power? Sounds pretty satanic to
me.
Times like this I'm glad I'm a devote agnostic.
Baylen Linnekin|1.6.06 @ 11:08AM|#
Israel should simultaneously ban Pat from its territory and declare the coming of Armageddon.
|1.6.06 @ 11:10AM|#
Could somebody refresh my memory about the hurricane that Robertson predicted would destroy DC as punishment? And then it changed course and hit his town instead?
|1.6.06 @ 11:10AM|#
God smote Ariel Sharon for giving away the Gaza Strip to the
Palestinians.
Yeah, that and he was like a gazillian pounds overweight.
|1.6.06 @ 11:14AM|#
Okay, there is a lot of loose talk about Me being an "angry
God". True, I killed a lot of innocent people in the Old Testament.
A lot of folks. But that was back in the olden days. It was really
rough back then.
But I got better. I sent my only Son and he said some very
beautiful things. True, I let him die a horrific death, but that
was "show business". I mean, people wouldn't be worshipping Jesse
right now if he just got run over by a donkey cart, now would
they?
So give Me a break. I'm not killing innocent people anymore. Except
those fags in New Orleans.
|1.6.06 @ 11:21AM|#
THoreau,
I believe it was hurricane Bonnie. I remember because I was living
in the Hampton Roads area at the time (home of the 700 club).
To be fair, all those Saracens who took over Israel all those years
ago ARE dead. You have to give god that.
|1.6.06 @ 11:21AM|#
Thoreau--the hurricane was supposed to hit Orlando as punishment for Disney's Gay Days, but instead hit Virginia Beach and did mucho damage to Pat Robertson's CBN headquarters. I think it was Hurricane Bonnie.
|1.6.06 @ 11:22AM|#
Robertson leaves unexplained why God didn't bother smiting
the leaders of those Saracens and other Muslims that began
occupying the eastern littoral of the Mediterranean Sea 12
centuries ago.
The Muslim occupation was part of God's plan to punish the Jews for
rejecting Jesus. But now, Israel must be united to be the staging
ground for Armageddon. Duh.
|1.6.06 @ 11:23AM|#
Mk beat me to it by a few seconds. Where in Hampton Roads did you live, Mk? I grew up in Hampton, but also spent some time in college living in Norfolk and Newport News.
Captain Holly|1.6.06 @ 11:25AM|#
I'm always amused at how people use Pat Robertson's latest
stupid saying to satisfy their secret need for righteous
indignation. It's easy, cheap, it makes everybody nod their heads
and say "right" and go home and pat themselves on the back for
their goodness and virtue.
Folks, Pat Robertson is a nobody. He has no political
power, no position of authority, and he's even discredited himself
with most Christians. He's the Evangelical equivalent of Lyndon
LaRouche. Critizing Mr. Robertson for saying something stupid is
like shooting ducks in a barrel.
What is interesting to me is how the current Iranian President said
essentially the same thing yesterday, but you would be hard-pressed
to read that in any newspaper today. Yet the this man has already
called for Israel to be "wiped off the map".
Keep in mind this guy isn't some weird crank with a TV show; he's
the president of a country that already has long-range missiles
that can reach Israel and will soon (if our intelligence is
correct) possess nuclear weapons to put on said missles.
So if you're really in the mood to condemn someone for connecting
Sharon's stroke to Divine anger, how about condemning someone who
actually poses a threat to world peace and stability?
Otherwise, you're just scoring cheap rhetorical points to make
yourselves look good.
|1.6.06 @ 11:30AM|#
According to The Associated Press, Robertson spokeswoman
Angell Watts said of people who criticized the comments: "What
they're basically saying is, 'How dare Pat Robertson quote the
Bible?'"
"This is what the word of God says," Watts told the AP. "This
is nothing new to the Christian community."
I'm having trouble finding the verse where "God says, 'This land
belongs to me, and you'd better leave it alone,'".
|1.6.06 @ 11:32AM|#
Great. Armegeddon was SUPPOSED to be a total surprise but Pat
just gave the whole thing up.
Thanks, Pat. I only spent the last ten thousand years planning this
thing. No problem. You're doing a heckofa job.
|1.6.06 @ 11:32AM|#
Jennifer,
I was living in the 5 corners neighborhood of Norfolk at the time.
Remember that place? Yes I was poor. I lost a small part of my roof
in that hurricane. Sitting out a hurricane in a house that is
little more than a 60-year-old shack can be a nerve racking
experience.
I became a bit more gainfully employed a couple of months later and
was able to move to the Ghent neighborhood. I loved that place.
|1.6.06 @ 11:33AM|#
Well, God, to be fair, your Son only said that we'd know neither
the hour nor the day. That doesn't mean Pat can't figure out the
approximate year.
And Captain Holly, the President of Iran carries an automatic
presumption of evil. He's depressing and scary. Robertson is
entertaining.
|1.6.06 @ 11:34AM|#
Cap'n Holly: Never underestimate the value of "cheap rhetorical
points"!
But when you're right, you're right. Ahmadinejad is a nut job too.
Fortunately, on the Left the
Boston Globe and on the Right Human
Events have both covered this angle.
Sorry for any omission on my part.
Warren|1.6.06 @ 11:37AM|#
Cpt. H,
You concede that he has a TV show and yet you insist he is a
*nobody* with no political power, and no position of authority.
What country are you from?
|1.6.06 @ 11:39AM|#
Oh Captain My Captain,
1. How many times has Pat Robertson been invited to the White
House? I'm guess three to five. How many times has he addressed the
Republican National Convention? Again, I'm guessing three to five.
Does that describe Lyndon LaRouche? The man's not a nobody.
2. Pat Robertson gets press in American, because he is an American,
has a very popular show watched by millions of Americans, and is
considered a spokesman for a significant swath of our body politic.
The president of Iran saying something stupid about Israel isn't
news.
|1.6.06 @ 11:43AM|#
Who has more power - Oprah, The View, Dr. Phil, or Rev.
Pat?
Jennifer, have you heard the Norfolk cheer?
We don't drink and we don't smoke, Norfolk, Norfolk
We don't drink and we don't smoke, Norfolk on weekends
Larry A|1.6.06 @ 11:43AM|#
What the government of Israel should do is turn the Gaza over to Pat Robertson.
|1.6.06 @ 11:44AM|#
God,
Are you omniscient? Does this omniscience extend into the future?
If so, you do we account for free will? Or is free will an
illusion?
Please forgive me that I didn't believe in you until now when I saw
you with my own eyes on this thread. I'm a skeptical guy.
|1.6.06 @ 11:45AM|#
You don't get it. I'm actually doing you guys a favor by having
Pat go off like this. It's the same reason why I've allowed the
President of Iran to spew the lie that the Holocaust didn't exist.
I'm making it easier for you humans to see the lunatic fringe so
you won't pull a lemming act and mindlessly follow them into
damnation.
Trust me, the more this chowderhead Robertson invokes my name for
his babblings, the deeper he's going when his time comes. He's
already so deep in spiritual debt that even his
great-great-grandchildren will have a hard time getting into the
kingdom because of the stuff that he's done. You don't want to be
around in the hereafter when that little news hits them.
|1.6.06 @ 11:45AM|#
Capt. Holly,
I certainly agree with your point regarding Iran being the target
to watch in terms of real destructive power, but I'm not so sure
that I agree that Robertson has no political power. Firstly, people
(I have no idea how many, but more than 'some') listen to the guy
for guidance ... of all types. And secondly, and most tellingly, I
recall a story Robertson told describing the time that he spent
with the president on the night prior to our invasion of Iraq. Does
anyone else recall that story ... how he was down on the pres. for
seeming too smug and confident about the whole invasion thing? What
struck me was not that the president was overly confident due to
religious zeal (and a mis-guided sense of divine purpose). What
struck me was that Bush had selected (or allowed) Robertson to be
with him on that night.
I should check google to make sure that it was Robertson and not
Fallwell or some other dope.
|1.6.06 @ 11:48AM|#
I wish Tap would stop quoting me...
Oh, he isn't? Yorrs... got a little problem with ayslexid.
- Dog
Captain Holly|1.6.06 @ 11:51AM|#
Okay, so I'm fussy today. :-)
But for the life of me, I just don't understand how everything Mr.
Robertson says is passed under a microscope and held up as
significant.
Robertson really is a nobody. He might have a TV show (not
very highly rated, BTW), he might get invited to the White House,
but just how many votes did he get when he ran for President a few
elections ago? IIRC, he didn't even make it past the southern
primaries.
The man has as much chance as becoming President as, well, Pat
Buchanan.
|1.6.06 @ 11:54AM|#
OK,
I found the link. After reading it again, I don't think that
Robertson was in the White House the night befor the invasion, it
reads like Robertson was interviewed the night prior to the
invasion. (Sorry, I don't know how to create hot links):
http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/10/19/robertson.bush.iraq/
And then there is this that quotes a heavy hitter in the Southern
Baptist Convention as saying that Robertson is losing his stroke
with evangelicals:
http://www.yuricareport.com/Campaign2004/PatRobertsonWorriesBushErredOnWar.html
I guess the upshot is that I don't know what the hell I'm talking
about ...
|1.6.06 @ 11:54AM|#
Perhaps some of the rhetoric is actually aimed at the God of
Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Robertson maybe a nobody, but that
particular God is still ostensibly believed in by a billion or so
people. Robertson's assertion is silly because in our hearts we
know that in the age of science, God stopped killing people. He
wasn't responsible for Sharon's stroke, nor was he responsible for
the > 250,000 deaths lost to the tsunami on December 26th
2005.
The rhetoric isn't about making oneself look good, but pointing out
that the God of Abraham does remarkably little for an omnipotent
being. Atheists and agnostics believe in him as much as they
believe in Zeus and Thor.
|1.6.06 @ 11:54AM|#
we don't drink...
Just for anyone who doesn't know, the local pronunciation of
Norfolk sounds roughly like Norfuk. Now say the rhyme again and see
how cute it is.
|1.6.06 @ 11:56AM|#
Robertson really is a nobody. He might have a TV show (not
very highly rated, BTW), he might get invited to the White House,
but just how many votes did he get when he ran for President a few
elections ago? IIRC, he didn't even make it past the southern
primaries.
This nobody has more influence with our current administration than
does the whackjob President of Iran, which is why we pay more
attention to his inanities than to those coming from Iran.
Randolph, no, I never heard the Norfolk cheer. But I have seen some
old historical photographs with the infamous "Dogs and Sailors keep
off the grass" signs, which is pretty funny when you consider that
if the Navy were to close its bases in the area, Norfolk would have
no economy at all. None.
|1.6.06 @ 11:57AM|#
It's cool, Captain Holly. If Pat Buchanan were pres., at least our government would have a saner foreign policy.
|1.6.06 @ 12:05PM|#
God might be too nice of a guy to smite people with strokes these days, but I hear that He carries a scary revolver.
|1.6.06 @ 12:05PM|#
So God doesn't want the land divided and given away?
Was he doing pro bono work for the Institute of Justice during the
Kelo decision?
Warren|1.6.06 @ 12:16PM|#
Jennifer,
Back in the 80's when I was in the Navy I remember hearing how the
Norfolk C.O. issued a general order that no one could spend money
off base for things that were available on base. In a couple of
weeks all the 'No Sailors' signs came down and the order was
lifted.
|1.6.06 @ 12:21PM|#
Warren--Was this something that happened in the 80s, or something you heard about then? I thought the "no sailors" business was pretty much over by the early 70s.
|1.6.06 @ 12:27PM|#
God, is it possible...how is it possible that you're too busy to answer our questions??
Brian|1.6.06 @ 12:28PM|#
What will it signify to Pat Robertson's followers (however
numerous or not they might actually be) when he finally
dies?
Just asking.
|1.6.06 @ 12:30PM|#
TDS had a good take on Robertson's remarks: they showed a picture of Sharon, and Jon said, "Unless God was force-feeding Sharon knishes, I'd say it was diet, age and stress that caused his stroke".
|1.6.06 @ 12:33PM|#
Dear God:
Do you have a belly button? Or a penis? Or both?
If you have both, can you have sex with your belly button?
I'm missing a blue and crimson arguile sock. Where is it?
What's up with the platypus?
Do you still hate queers? Why did you burn black people when ya
made em?
Thanks,
Your friend Jamie
|1.6.06 @ 12:33PM|#
Just for anyone who doesn't know, the local pronunciation of
Norfolk sounds roughly like Norfuk.
Actually, the natives pronounce it something like "nah-fuk", which
sorta detracts from the impact of the rhyme.
|1.6.06 @ 12:35PM|#
"Naw-fuk", where "naw" rhymes with "saw", might be an even better way of representing the local pronunciation.
|1.6.06 @ 12:40PM|#
Local Love to Mk & Jennifer from a b&r Hamptonian!
Mr.Robertson has been waxin prophetic for a long time now but has
been making increasingly wider spirals in lucidity of late! As
someone who believes in God but prefers a more intellectual
perspective on the matter, guys like Robertson, Van Impe, Hinn et
al really twig me out! This and the whole "war on Christmas" are
really doing the overall cause of Christianity more harm than good.
In fact the very vocal Wal-Mart & country music christians who
spend their time cheering for the evengelical shift in polity are
in for a rude awakening in 06 & 08 if they don't start reeling
it in a bit!
I visit this blog every day on my lunch break (and sometimes
beyond). The posters here are execellent and I have especially
enjoyed Jennifer's comments as they are usually both clever and
correct (IMO)... I knew there was a reason... Hometown Pride!
Warren|1.6.06 @ 12:40PM|#
Jennifer,
My memory is hazy. I recall it being told to me in first person.
Which would mean it was at most, only a few years old. Which would
make late 70's early 80's.
|1.6.06 @ 12:47PM|#
Warren & Jennifer The modern day equivalent of the "no
sailors" sign is the NO JET NOISE stickers. You know.. "I move into
an expensive house in the approach path of a Navy airfield and now
the noise is a nuisance so quit it..." Oh, uh, except don't close
the base and take the money because that would hurt the local
economy!"
Geeeeezzzz!
Jeff P.|1.6.06 @ 12:47PM|#
I beleive in Jazz God. Little soul patch beard, Ray-Bans, snaps his fingers before pointing...
|1.6.06 @ 12:54PM|#
Hey, God, sorry about that whole "rather rule in Hell than serve in Heaven" business. Can I come back? Pat Robertson and my other minions are just too freakin' annoying. Say hi to Michael and Gabriel for me. Oh, and Josh is a great kid. I really enjoyed the time we spent together in the desert--no tempting him with divine power, that's for sure!
nofrontin|1.6.06 @ 12:55PM|#
Rick Barton,
How old are you that you are familiar with "what it is?" I hope it
doesn't get to the point where old white people are saying that
like they used "izzle" for a brief period of time during Snoop
Dogg's commercial heyday.
|1.6.06 @ 12:57PM|#
God will no longer be answering questions. A source close to him has informed me that God is dead.
|1.6.06 @ 1:02PM|#
Nietzche;
Are you sure God is dead? His son Jesus Effin Christ claims that
because his eyes are open and are able to follow cruise missiles,
he's still technically in charge of the universe.
Timothy|1.6.06 @ 1:02PM|#
Jeff: Does that mean that God also uses "jazz hands"? Or would
that be Show Choir God?
Nietzche: WE KILLED HIM! WE KILLED HIM! *waves lantern*
|1.6.06 @ 1:09PM|#
"[Pat Robertson] has more influence with our current
administration than does the whackjob President of Iran,"
Really? I doubt it...
Potential conversation in Jen's head:
(ring... ring)
PR: Halelluyah!
GW: Um... hi Rev. Robertson, How goes Thy Holiness?
PR: George? Curse you! God's already put a hit out on your ass for
the "Happy Holidays" atrocity!
GW: Um... I'm sorry sir... just trying to stay in people's favor so
we 'publicans can do Thine bidding in the future...
PR: Enough of your impetuousness!!! Tell me, what brings you to
bother Me, the oracle of the Lord?!?
GW: Um... I didn't mean to be a bother... I just wanted to know Thy
thoughts on what we should do with Iran...
PR: You don't need to do nothin'! See, I've got... (I mean God's
got) this bigass earthquake planned for next month. It'll send
those towelhead heathens straight to hell! I'll get on that as soon
as I finish my drought in that capital of sin, Las Vegas!
AHAHAHAHAHHAHA!!!
GW: Great strategery, sir...
(on and on...)
|1.6.06 @ 1:10PM|#
If God is dead please come to my planet, raise sheep, drink
wine, play the pipes and raise really hot chicks for me to get my
godhood on like that chick who married that dude who wrote that
book about the bird.
And bring those "hail brother" guys and gals with you when you
come, they really knew how to party!
|1.6.06 @ 1:12PM|#
Folks, Pat Robertson is a nobody. He has no political power,
no position of authority, and he's even discredited himself with
most Christians.
Where's the Christian outrage then? These insane ramblings trigger,
at best, moderate amounts of grumbling from some quarters of
Christianity. If someone were claiming my god were doing shit like
this, I'd be screaming my head off about how much of a whack-job
that person was.
What will it signify to Pat Robertson's followers (however
numerous or not they might actually be) when he finally
dies?
If there's any justice whatsoever in the world, it'll signify a
previously unknown love of male hookers and crack-cocaine.
|1.6.06 @ 1:32PM|#
nofrontin,
I think I recall "What it is" from like the early-mid 80's. But my
saying it now is different from your example cuz "what it is" is no
longer current.
I hope it doesn't get to the point where old white people are
saying that like they used...
So whatsit matter what color the old people are?
Nice libertarian political links on your blog!
|1.6.06 @ 1:41PM|#
Shem,
http://www.scrappleface.com/?p=2129
and
http://ace.mu.nu/archives/149850.php
Also, see the comments in the second link.
|1.6.06 @ 2:18PM|#
Pat Robertson is a nobody
I think of the Christian Coalition as a powerful lobbying and
direct action group. They do boycotts, they contribute $$ to
campaigns.
What I personally worry about is how Pat Robertson reinforces the
image of Americans as a bunch of religious nuts. I really want to
shut the guy up.
|1.6.06 @ 2:38PM|#
�What I personally worry about is how Pat Robertson reinforces
the image of Americans as a bunch of religious nuts.�
I agree Larry Edelstein. Sometimes it is hard to convince people
from foreign countries that most Americans are not like Pat
Robertson. I can�t believe that the Christians in America are not
embarrassed when Pat Robertson says these outrageous things.
|1.6.06 @ 2:43PM|#
Well God, if you're getting that itch to slay some annoying
fundies other than Rev. Robertson, look no further than here.
U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum (R., Pa.), conservative minister the
Rev. Jerry Falwell and Christian broadcaster James Dobson are among
those scheduled to speak at the 7 p.m. gathering at Greater Exodus
Baptist Church, which is to be aired on Christian television and
radio stations and simulcast to churches.
"Justice Sunday III: Proclaim Liberty Throughout the Land" was
organized, according to the Family Research Council, "to educate
people of faith on how the judiciary impacts their lives and to
show how activist judges seek to end all mention of God in the
public square."
Of course, you already knew that.
|1.6.06 @ 2:49PM|#
"I dearly wish God would take Pat home."
Actually, Pat crashed on my couch for a couple weeks, and it was a
total bummer.
Firstly, he has this annoying habit of claiming to know what I
"think".
"Suchandsuch is Your intention", he would say, "Blah blah blah is
Thy will"
AAAARgh! He's worse then a woman!
Plus, he totally bogarted My hair gel.
|1.6.06 @ 3:02PM|#
Om the whole issue of "you shouldn't pay that much attention to
Robertson, he's just a kook who speaks for nobody of importance"
etc., I happen to agree with Andrew Sullivan:
"Before I get emails from conservatives saying that Robertson
represents no one in the Republican coalition, let me remind you
that he was one of the religious leaders phoned by Karl Rove to
discuss Supreme Court nominees. My rule of thumb is that I will
trust the good faith of any Republican politician who is prepared
to criticize Robertson publicly. Until then, he's their
problem."
http://www.andrewsullivan.com/index.php?dish_inc=archives/2005_11_06_dish_archive.html#113165152528626608
|1.6.06 @ 3:44PM|#
Exactamente, Zeiner.
I happened to be living in London as GWB was becoming a
front-runner, and I can tell you that the Brits and Europeans
reacted to his image from the get-go. They don't like that
religious vibe.
Mind you, people are going to think of you what they will, and what
does that say about you? Maybe not much. But we have to _work_ with
these people, so if they're disinclined to trust us, we're
weaker.
|1.6.06 @ 3:57PM|#
Woe be to him who bogarts they hair gel, and maketh the Lord go forth with a flat 'do. For unto him shall be male pattern baldness, and verily, his combover shall be noticeable.
|1.6.06 @ 4:11PM|#
"Justice Sunday III: Proclaim Liberty Throughout the Land"
Why are they always making sequels to things that sucked?
|1.6.06 @ 4:13PM|#
I see some heathen slackers on a libertarian blog...and one of these godless smarty-pants has a liver problem...and God is not healing his liver problem...someone else has...has...a tumor the size of a canned ham...and God is ignoring this tumor and thumbing his nose at the filthy little atheist...
|1.6.06 @ 5:00PM|#
True fact: Pat Robertson's wife was seven months pregnant on their wedding day. I theorize that Robertson's batshit insanity is God's punishment for the sin of premarital schtupping.
|1.6.06 @ 5:33PM|#
Crazy talk'n religious wakos once amused me, but not since
we elected one president.
... Oh... oh shit.
|1.6.06 @ 5:36PM|#
Jennifer,
Maybe Pat's wife was divinely inseminated, and no I don't mean that
she really, really, enjoyed it! Maybe Pat was just the patsy who
came along after the party to clean up the mess.
|1.6.06 @ 5:44PM|#
Pat (the lord) Robertson is so far out of touch with reallity that he thinks HE is GOD, and capable of sriking down anyone he deams UNDESIRABLE. He needs to seek profesional help.
|1.6.06 @ 5:50PM|#
the whole "No Sailors or dogs" thing is an urban legend - never happened as described, but the legend did inspire the creation of signs etc. later.
|1.6.06 @ 7:02PM|#
anonymous-I wasn't talking about general Christians. I know plenty of those who think he's a kook. I'm talking about the other leaders of various sects who are supposed to be opposed to this sort of thing. Barely a peep from any of them, where one would think that they'd be howling for at least a mention of the fact that a vast majority of Christians are firmly opposed to this kind of exploitation. I know I would be.
|1.6.06 @ 7:49PM|#
Patty Robertson is a goof who perverts the Bible for his own
greed. The "Antichrist?" He's not smart enough.
L S Johnson
|1.6.06 @ 7:49PM|#
Patty Robertson is a goof who perverts the Bible for his own
greed. The "Antichrist?" He's not smart enough.
L S Johnson
|1.6.06 @ 7:55PM|#
I know plenty of those who think he's a kook. I'm talking
about the other leaders of various sects who are supposed to be
opposed to this sort of thing. Barely a peep from any of them,
where one would think that they'd be howling for at least a mention
of the fact that a vast majority of Christians are firmly opposed
to this kind of exploitation.
If Jewish religious and political leaders spoke out against this
sort of thing, I probably wouldn't know about it. Maybe they've
roundly denounced it, and I just don't know.
...but as I've watched Evangelicals become increasingly supportive
of Zionist political goals over the years, I've often wondered how
religious Jews feel about that support. ...I mean, my understanding
is that much of the Evangelical support for Israel is predicated on
the idea that the Jewish people must become firmly in control of
the promised land per Evangelical interpretations of the Book of
Revelation...
...firmly in control so that all the Jewish people can convert to
Evangelical Christianity via the Evangelical reading of the Book of
Revelation. Indeed, my understanding is that much of the support of
Evangelicals like Robertson for the political goals of Zionists is
driven by a desire and hope for the extinction of Jewish religious
tradition, more or less. (Isn't this what we're talking about when
we talk about Dispensationalism?)
If I was a religious Jew, rather, even if I wasn't particularly
religious, but Jewish, and I saw Israel as a promised land where
Jewish people could be Jewish in peace, I would find Robertson's
views (and those of likeminded Evangelicals) entirely offensive. I
might see these people as useful in the short term, but I think I
would publicly denounce Robertson on this just the same.
|1.6.06 @ 9:26PM|#
Wayne, that article had the air of the crackpot about it. The
level of bombast is extremely high. But the article doesn't present
much evidence to support the conclusion that the US has much to
worry about. Questions I'd have:
- how much business might the Iran Oil Bourse take from the
existing markets, and how quickly?
- at what rate will the dollar's value change per unit of trade
that moves from the dollar to the euro?
- what effect does the dollar value's change have on who's
prosperity? Sometimes a decline in the value of the dollar is a
good thing for Americans, right?
- how does the presumed loss of prosperity from the Iran Oil Bourse
compare to that incurred by a new war? How did the cost of the Iraq
War compare to the loss of prosperity it was (as presumed by the
article) a reaction to? And particularly how did the loss translate
into action, i.e. who was it that was going to lose big and how did
they affect the course of events?
- has there been any speculation as to why the M-3 index is going
off the public books?
|1.6.06 @ 10:45PM|#
Hey, God?
I've heard from various sources over the years that you plan on
doing some kind of Rapture thingey whereby you will remove all the
Christians from the world to live in Heaven or Paradise or
whatever. Could you, like, hurry the hell up about it?
Please?
ps. Could you maybe take the Muslims and Jews as
well? Thanks, buddy.
|1.7.06 @ 12:50AM|#
Larry,
There are a group of people who think the Federal Reserve Bank is
the devil's own invention. I have become convinced of it myself. I
believe that the banking community controls the money supply and
nothing else really matters. It is impossible to summarize this
problem here without sounding like a nut, so consider me a
nut.
The point of the article posted is that Iran, by going off the
dollar standard, has assaulted the status quo. There will be
repercussions for that assault, just as Iraq suffered repercussions
for the same offense.
The Iran Oil Bourse offers all traders the opportunity to buy and
sell oil in Euros. Many in the middle east would probably like to
make such trades in Euros because of their distaste for America,
but they are also (rightly) afraid to do so.
We will see, in time. Several months ago I was skeptical of claims
of impending military action against Iran also, but the tenor of
the "news" has changed. Have you not noticed that Iran is now a
"real threat", i.e they are "about to have nukes, they want to push
the Israelis into the sea, the holocaust was a fable, etc.". These
are all justifications for war.
|1.7.06 @ 1:14AM|#
Larry,
Sorry, I did not answer your questions. Here goes:
"- how much business might the Iran Oil Bourse take from the
existing markets, and how quickly?" The Iran Oil Bourse offers ALL
oil traders the opportunity to trade oil for Euros, hence
theoretically the market could literally change overnight. I don't
think that will happen because most probably do not want to make
such a drastic change.
"- at what rate will the dollar's value change per unit of trade
that moves from the dollar to the euro?" I don't know. I do think
the dollar is perched precariously on the edge of a cliff and that
if the "market" perceives a fundamental shift, then the rate could
be very rapid indeed.
"- what effect does the dollar value's change have on who's
prosperity? Sometimes a decline in the value of the dollar is a
good thing for Americans, right?" No, a declining dollar is not a
good thing for any American, ever. If you have $1,000 in savings
and you are planning a trip abroad, then a decline in the value of
your savings wrt to other currencies will make your trip more
expensive. If you want to buy imported goods, then your purchase
will be more expensive. If you sell goods to those outside the US
then your goods will garnish less value...
"- how does the presumed loss of prosperity from the Iran Oil
Bourse compare to that incurred by a new war? How did the cost of
the Iraq War compare to the loss of prosperity it was (as presumed
by the article) a reaction to? And particularly how did the loss
translate into action, i.e. who was it that was going to lose big
and how did they affect the course of events?" Good question, and I
have no easy answer.
"- has there been any speculation as to why the M-3 index is going
off the public books?" Yes, there has been speculation. M3 ceases
reporting at the same time that Iran opens their Euro oil trading
desk. The speculation is that M3 will explode to compensate for the
loss of foreign money that will then flow into the US to support
our glutinous ways. But since M3 will not be easily determined at
that point then our "problem" will not be so apparent. It buys a
little time.
|1.7.06 @ 1:17AM|#
Larry,
Sorry, I did not answer your questions. Here goes:
"- how much business might the Iran Oil Bourse take from the
existing markets, and how quickly?" The Iran Oil Bourse offers ALL
oil traders the opportunity to trade oil for Euros, hence
theoretically the market could literally change overnight. I don't
think that will happen because most probably do not want to make
such a drastic change.
"- at what rate will the dollar's value change per unit of trade
that moves from the dollar to the euro?" I don't know. I do think
the dollar is perched precariously on the edge of a cliff and that
if the "market" perceives a fundamental shift, then the rate could
be very rapid indeed.
"- what effect does the dollar value's change have on who's
prosperity? Sometimes a decline in the value of the dollar is a
good thing for Americans, right?" No, a declining dollar is not a
good thing for any American, ever. If you have $1,000 in savings
and you are planning a trip abroad, then a decline in the value of
your savings wrt to other currencies will make your trip more
expensive. If you want to buy imported goods, then your purchase
will be more expensive. If you sell goods to those outside the US
then your goods will garnish less value...
"- how does the presumed loss of prosperity from the Iran Oil
Bourse compare to that incurred by a new war? How did the cost of
the Iraq War compare to the loss of prosperity it was (as presumed
by the article) a reaction to? And particularly how did the loss
translate into action, i.e. who was it that was going to lose big
and how did they affect the course of events?" Good question, and I
have no easy answer.
"- has there been any speculation as to why the M-3 index is going
off the public books?" Yes, there has been speculation. M3 ceases
reporting at the same time that Iran opens their Euro oil trading
desk. The speculation is that M3 will explode to compensate for the
loss of foreign money that will then flow into the US to support
our glutinous ways. But since M3 will not be easily determined at
that point then our "problem" will not be so apparent. It buys a
little time.
|1.8.06 @ 4:09PM|#
I am getting really, really annoyed by Pat Robertson's habit of always finishing my sentences for me.
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