She is the gift that keeps on giving! I had conflicted reactions when I heard that Palin was appearing on Oprah on my birthday, November 16th, 2009. On the one hand a wave of nausea came over me…then I thought that because she truly is a gift to our efforts of exposing religious zealots in American politics that the more she parades her persecuted self around the better. So…it really is the gift that keeps on giving.
As I sit here writing this I just received another call for an interview for a radio station out of North Carolina to discuss Palin and Political Dominionism. I am preparing for speaking engagements to audiences from university political science students to democratic precinct meetings, up and down the west coast. The interest is growing, the questions are formulating and the exposure would not be available without her relentless pursuit of the limelight and never-ending accolades.
So you see, I am not being merely sarcastic. If Sarah Palin had not come onto the scene, we would not be engaged in this discussion about dominionism and the Rebiblican Party. It would instead continue to be relegated to academic discussion and the books would remain on the shelves collecting dust. I honor those researchers who have devoted much of their lives to exposing this movement and their efforts to warn us of the impending threat to our secular society.
As much as Palin is a thorn in our intellectual sides, she has brought attention to this powerful, well-funded effort to insinuate religious extremism into our institutions and legislation.
This is not simply a matter of ignoring a narcissist who would just go away if not for those of us writing about her. She won’t. Every time she speaks or “writes” it is a reminder of the millions of Americans who support her with devotion. Absurd? You betcha! But to deny their numbers is naive.
Just take a look at the audience (oops! congregation) in the background of “churches” like Joel Osteen’s in Houston, Texas where there are weekly crowds in the neighborhood of 42,000 (2008 figures) Sheeples in attendance. As painful as it is…listen to 10, 15 maybe 20 minutes of his “sermon” and tell me that the audience has not been sold a bill-of-goods! They are only a sampling of the demographic in America who will be watching Palin’s every move with adulation.
The Palin followers see themselves as the only TRUE 1) Christians; 2) patriots; 3) conservatives…and of course 4) Americans! For you cannot be one without all four.
She will continue to paint herself as just a homespun gal, mom, wife and persecuted Christian. It works! And for all of my progressive and secular republican friends out there who think she is, “yesterday’s news”; “no longer relevant”; or “too ridiculous to take seriously”…I implore you to take a closer look at the type of person who supports her. Whether it is Osteen, Haggee, Warren, Paul & Jan Crouch at CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network), and the endless list of Phalse Prophets for Profit…really absorb that this is not about what we think is legitimate, it is the hordes of indoctrinated rebiblicans who do.
So here we are, on MY day…about to be set on sensory overload due to the hugely promoted Oprah interview! And tomorrow the release of her much anticipated book, “Going Rogue: An American Life”. She will not disappoint us with her portrayal of herself as a misunderstood…just a nice gal who really just loves every life so much that she can’t do enough for the world.
I received about 120 pages from her new book, as have numerous others who are writing about it. I have skimmed (and believe me, you CAN do that with this tripe) and it is safe to say that she mentions God far more than Todd. Every thought, every action, every intent is bound to direct “instruction” from prayer. This would not be disturbing if not for the fact that she, like so many – Falwell, Robertson, Loren Cunningham, James Dobson, et al – feel that they have exclusive rights to God’s direct answer to their prayers.
Her book is full of derogatory slights against anyone who dared disagree with her and then even more for those who publicly expressed their detracting view points of not only her religious arrogance, but her basic readiness to govern. Palin, through Lynn Vincent, uses words like “co-belligerent gadflies” (pg. 353); consistently refers to the “Democrat lawmakers/party/candidate” (eg. pg. 215 and many more); she talks of a “hit squad” that was out to get her (pg. 372); and goes on at some length about the unfairness of the McCain camp stifling her…until the
“third week in September, a “Free Sarah” campaign was under way and the press at large was growing increasingly critical of the McCain camp’s decision to keep me [...]all bottled up.” (pg. 255).
“Meanwhile, the media blackout continued. It got so bad that a couple of times I had a friend in Anchorage track down phone numbers for me, and then I snuck in calls to folks like Rush Limbaugh, Laura Ingraham, Sean Hannity and someone thought I thought was Larry Kudlow’s producer but turned out to be Neil Cavuto’s producer. I had a friend call Bill O’Reilly after I was inundated with supporters in Alaska asking why the campaign was “ignoring” his on-air requests[...] I had another friend scrambling to find Mark Levin’s number.” (pg. 257)
From there she just goes on and on and on about how they suppressed her. Look at that list! Wouldn’t YOU! She makes it sound like they did everything short of hiring a defensive tackle from the Arizona Cardinals to prevent her from having any press exposure. And when you look at the walking talking disaster she was (and remains) I wouldn’t blame them if she had.
Kiss of GOLD!
I bring this point up because for a woman who cries victim, she certainly has become an expert at avoiding press directly. Aside from Oprah, which everyone knows is the kiss of gold when one launches a book sale, she has refused not only interviews…but put a media blackout on any speaking engagement she actually DOES attend.
You get my drift…it is chalked full of poor, pitiful me stories. Everything is ALWAYS everyone else’ fault. Those who oppose her have no basis in truth, fact or reality and are very likely to be influenced by the darkness of evil.
But…she will very likely garner the largest viewing on any Oprah interview, and she will sell her books, and her followers and devout Sheeples will swell in increasing numbers. Which leads me back to my original point – we owe Palin a twisted debt of gratitude! For without her…millions would not be enlightened to the antics of those who steeple-jacked the Republican Party over the past couple of decades.
Thank you, Sarah! Happy Birthday to ME!!
Scridb filter
Well first of all Leah, let me say "Happy Birthday"! I know you are right, having read "Crazy for God" and "Republican Gomorrah" the GOP was hijacked a long time ago. I hope people start taking notice because this is only going to get a lot worse. I watched about five minutes one morning of the Osteen show but really just couldn't take anymore. If you are getting invitations from North Carolina to discuss Dominionism, then progress is certainly being made. Thank you for all you do. We have a real battle on our hands but we are not giving our country over to the Palins, Dobsons, Robertsons, et al.
You have that right my friend! I don't know what country they keep saying they want back…but it is not one I recall losing. We must continue to spread the word, and it is encouraging that more and more interest is piqued! You are correct, that station in NC is in Franklin and Billy Graham's back yard and the callers make for interesting conversation.
Thanks, Leah! I have been looking forward to your take on the book. I just got through the Oprah interview – yuck. Now I'm leaving all Palin behind to watch Dancing With The Stars. I hope you are doing something enjoyable! I'm going to enjoy a piece of chocolate angel food cake from Whole Foods in your honor – Happy Birthday!!!
Go Leah! Keep up the good work. The country NEEDS people like you to spread the message that the far right will stop at nothing to achieve their goals, that they are increasing in power, and that they present an ever-growing threat to our principles of free speech and religion.
Thank you, and Happy Birthday!
First and foremost: A Very Happy Birthday to you Leah! You and my son share the same birthday.
I became an agnostic at a very early age when I saw the hypocrisy of not the church but the congregants(SP?). At that time, I figured that if the adults (and children of said adults) were so hypocritical, why should I believe their teachings?
They weren't willing to practice what was being taught and neither were the teachers! It wasn't until I was far into adulthood that I really began to question church teachings and believe me, it wasn't just christianity.
My point is, I am thankful to people like you who point out what is wrong with religion and people like Palin who use religion to either further their careers or judge people who don't think as they do. Unfortunately, I have family members who are similar.
So again, thank you and a very happy birthday to you!
This is what is so frightening about the dominionists. They say one thing, but they live in ways that are the opposite of the way they want to "sell" themselves. If they gain control of the government at the national, state, and local levels, abuse of power and abuse of citizens WILL occur. George W. Bush was only the warm-up for next step in their process. Thank goodness McCain/Palin did not win the '08 presidential election.
This is one reason why I like Leah's blog so much. She shines a bright light on their ultimate goal(s.)
Happy belated birthday, Leah, and thanks for spreading the word.
Happy birthday Leah! Keep fighting the good fight – we appreciate you more than you can know.
This from Andrew Sullivan today (quoting Hitchens):
"Sarah Palin appears to have no testable core conviction except the belief (which none of her defenders denies that she holds, or at least has held and not yet repudiated) that the end of days and the Second Coming will occur in her lifetime."
Happy Birthday! And keep up the good fight.
Happy Birthday Leah from a sister Scorpio. I've been in the dominionist theology (and now am LONG gone) and I am very happy to see you spreading the news about how this movement wants to take over America.
Happy Birthday Leah!
And great post!
Happy Birthday, Leah!!
thank you….
As I look back at my time in a Dominionist Church , I was so entrenched in the Rapture belief It was always in the forefront of my mind . While doing yard work it occured to me everything was very quiet , looking up and down the street, I saw no one outside ! Not likely in my neighborhood . My wife was inside the house ( Or so I thought ) I went into the house called for her and got no answer, outside again I walked from the front to the back of the house still could'nt find her . I was panicky and my first thought was I've been left behind . Outside once again I saw my wife coming around the side of the house ,we had just missed each other . Pretty pathetic ! However it points out the danger of thousands of people coming together and hearing things like this preached over and over until you are no longer in control of your own life.
Sorry Leah "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" I meant to say that in my comment .
The information about how these dominionists or right wing evangelists get to be the way they are is fascinating and explains a lot of what happened to me. They believe prisoners should be treated horribly and large numbers of them killed, they think they are absolved of any sins, beleive they are allowed to lie, and they wanted to shut me up(notice it did not work). The sadomasochistic effect is fascinating from their abusive childhoods.I know everyone thinks Palin is a narcissist, but she is really a socialized sociopath. Thanks for all the information, it helps a lot, I obsorb all of it.
Celia – thank you so much for sharing your story and insight. I can imagine that it is still quite painful. I am sharing an online book that went a long way to explaining much for me, but I have to warn you, some of it is shocking. It is written by a psychologist who spent 20 years researching authoritarianism. I think you will find it helpful. The author does have a sense of humor to help lighten up on such a serious subject.
http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~altemey/
Happy Birthday Leah. I have spent my life trying to figure out what happened to people with different types of pathologies to make them the way they are. I worked with mentally ill legal offenders, in prisons for a while, and in psych. Then I was tortured in Alaska by two serial workplace bullies in a village, harassed by police, wrongfully imprisoned by a an ADA and judge, had my cat starved/tortured by my so called landlord, and he stole my property. Several agencies in Alaska knew this was happening as well as several politicians, including Sarah Palin. Of course I have been quite bewildered about this as I have never encountered so many sociopathic people working in so many levels of the government, agencies, and judicial system. Birds of a feather flock together.
May this new year of your Life be a successful one…
may you continue surefooted and safe upon your Path of learning
and may your teachings reach an ever widening circle of opening minds…
Want to know why Palin is dangerous? Really dangerous??
IF you watch NOTHING else on TV tonight, watch the 1st half hour of Rachel Maddow's show and her segment with Frank Schaeffer; it's powerful stuff …. and when the video of this segment is out, please pass it around as much as you can!!