Intentional Conservative

Rush’s Rant about Michael Flynn

January 4, 2019February 15, 2017 by debisimons

I mentioned yesterday that Rush Limbaugh had given a tortured defense of Michael Flynn. So I decided to analyze it somewhat, as it contains some classic ways to defend the indefensible. In short, it’s simply a piece of propaganda. I’ve gotten this material off of Breitbart, and since I’m using/quoting extensively from it I do feel I have to give the link, which I will do at the end of the article.

Let me make a general point first: You can tell a lot about the motives of someone by their tone and vocabulary. If you have to talk about “chum in the water” and being “”pig-sticking mad” and “political assassinations,” then you’re probably not on the side of sweet reasonableness.

Spin, Spin, Spin!

January 4, 2019February 14, 2017 by debisimons

I’ve been thinking since the inauguration took place, and it started to become clear that this Presidency was in deep, deep trouble, that there was no way for Trump to last for four years. As the inimitable David Brooks has said, “After all, the guy will probably resign or be impeached within a year.” So, I thought, the AlwaysTrumpers will have to admit that they were wrong, right? And then maybe we can go about the business of rebuilding the tattered remnants of the Republican Party, or perhaps start a whole new one built upon true conservative principles.

“Put Not Your Trust in Princes.”

January 4, 2019February 8, 2017 by debisimons

I keep hearing the following:

“Now that he’s our President we need to give him a chance to govern.””We’re supposed to respect our government.”

“The Bible tells us to obey our rulers.”

Yes, This IS Appalling.

April 26, 2017February 5, 2017 by debisimons

Ronald Reagan must be spinning in his grave. I would encourage anyone who still thinks that we haven’t entered into some kind of alternate universe to read the following articles. Let me point out that this is on video and is an interview with a noted Water Carrier for Trump. There is no possible defense for these statements from our President.

Dangers of Whataboutism, Pt. 2

January 4, 2019February 4, 2017 by debisimons

The subject for today is another episode concerning Whataboutisn, a fast-spreading disease that is eroding our ability to think logically and rationally.

Let me start with a hypothetical example. Let’s say that you went into a store planning to steal something. Just as you tuck the item inside your coat a security officer comes up and nabs you.“Wait a minute!” you say. “I’m not the only one who steals! What about that guy over in the next aisle? I just saw him take something, too!”

The Source of Our Religious Liberty Is Not the President.

January 4, 2019February 3, 2017 by debisimons

In his address at the National Prayer Breakfast yesterday morning, President Trump made one clear policy declaration: “I will get rid of and totally destroy the Johnson Amendment.”

There are multiple issues with this one sentence from this woefully ignorant man we have so unwisely elected President.

1. He seems to think that he can just “get rid of” a law, not seeming to understand that he is in the executive branch of the government, not the legislative branch.

Neil Gorsuch seems to be a great guy.

January 4, 2019February 2, 2017 by debisimons

Too bad he’s been nominated by Donald Trump. And too bad he’s the replacement nominee for Merrick Garland.

The Trump administration is shaping up to be such a flaming disaster that anyone associated with it is going to be tarred with the same brush. In addition, Republicans are now going to pay the price for the hissy fit they pitched about a year ago when they refused to give Garland a hearing. What nonsense! They didn’t have to approve the guy, but they did owe him, and the President, an up-or-down vote. Now the question is, Will the Democrats respond in kind? It would be great if they didn’t, if they decided to act like grownups, but good luck with that!

My Own Experience with Trumpism

January 4, 2019February 1, 2017 by debisimons

As I look on the current political scene, mouth agape, I’m reminded of a similar situation I found myself in over 25 years ago when I was a teacher at a Christian school. Some of my readers will know perfectly well who the players involved are; there is nothing confidential in what I’m going to say. I think it’s instructive to look at an analogous situation and draw some lessons from it for the wider mess that is now enveloping our country.

We had had an excellent principal at this school who had served faithfully and well for 20 years. He was one of the finest Christian gentlemen it has been my privilege to know and the best boss I’ve ever had. But 20 years is a long time to deal with the constant headaches of being in his position, and he had wisely and proactively made plans to go on to a second career, that of college history professor. So the day came when he announced that the current school year would be his last. The hunt was one for his replacement.

Didn’t President Trump See “Hillary’s America”?

January 4, 2019January 24, 2017 by debisimons

So, on the Wednesday before the Inauguration (hereafter to be described as the “National Day of Patriotic Devotion”) at-that-point-still-President-Elect Trump and VP-Elect Mike Pence appeared somewhere, and Trump mentioned that admirers were telling him, “There hasn’t been anything like this since Andrew Jackson.” He has issued statements saying that Jackson was “an amazing figure in many ways.”

Wait, what? Wasn’t it just this summer that the great Dinesh D’Souza epic “Hillary’s America” hit the multiplexes, in which Andrew Jackson is portrayed as a total villain? As the founder of the . . . Democratic Party? I’m confused. So I took a look back at a review on that peerless purveyor of news, WND.com, in which Chuck Norris lays out the ten best things about the movie. One of them is: “The Democratic Party was the original pro-slavery and anti-minority party, and still is, when one understands its underlying motives and tactics. From Andrew Jackson’s suppression of slaves and slaughter of Indians . . .” (from July 31, 2016) So my memory isn’t playing tricks on me. That was Andrew Jackson in the film, whipping slaves (when he wasn’t coercing comely females ones into bed) and driving Native Americans off their lands.

So why isn’t Pres. Trump insulted that people are comparing him to Andrew Jackson? Beats me.
Could it be (this is just a suggestion) that American history lessons don’t figure bigly on cable news? Just askin’!

Praying Properly for President Trump.

January 4, 2019January 20, 2017 by debisimons

I’m linking to an article below by the estimable Russell Moore, the president of the Southern Baptist Committee on Ethics and Religious Liberty, who refused to support Donald Trump during his candidacy and, like many other honorable and thoughtful conservatives (and in his case, also a Christian), has paid a personal and professional price for that refusal.

So when he says to pray for Donald Trump, now, as of noon today, President Trump, well, I guess I’d better listen. Even more important, I guess I’d better listen when Moore quotes Scripture. I’ve addressed this issue before in a couple of posts last year—one in November and one in December—but now that we truly do have a President Trump I guess I’d better do some more pondering about my responsibilities as a Christian citizen.