Last time I checked, the Constitution guarantees the free exercise of religion to ALL of us — even governors.

Or all the other times during his presidency were just flat out uncalled for. I don’t think Perry really gives a rip about what pundits from both sides of the aisle have to say. He’ll make a fine president and if he wants to invoke the Almighty in prayer, more power to him and our nation.

This is what the late Fr. Richard John Neuhaus talked about when he discussed the rise of the “naked public square”. There is a set of people in this nation who will not be satisfied until every mention of God, faith, and religion is rendered persona non grata in the public arena (because they think it’s icky, or because talking about Christ gets you excluded from all the best cocktail parties on the DC circuit). Sadly, members of this set can be found across the political spectrum, though thankfully, it is nowhere close to being an even distribution.

Which, if you think about it, further drives home Perry’s point that God doesn’t have a party. You can find Republicans and Democrats alike who wish that we could just stop talking about Him. God interferes with their plans to establish Leviathan, for “[w]ho is like the Beast, and who can fight against it?” (Revelation 13:4). Answer: The Lamb.

For reasons that are obscure to me Jennifer Rubin is considered a conservative and Matacnis is considered lucid. I’m just as puzzled about what Jazz Shaw brings to Hot Air as his writing has all the gravitas of whatever Tina Korbe has written and I’m pretty sure he’s never placed in a swimsuit contest.

A few years ago, somehow I found the Below the Beltway website. All articles are written by the site owner, Doug Mataconis. At that time, the majority of articles and discussions there were about Ayn Rand, and the wonders of her brilliance, and her atheism. For the last several months, Mataconis has been writing about the wonders and brilliance of Ron Paul. Here is a small sample.

You cannot read a positive article about Rick Perry that the Ron Paul supporters don’t all coming running to in droves. I suspect that those supporters, along with Mataconis, aren’t so worried about Perry’s Day of Prayer, as they are worried that once Perry announces, Paul will have even less chance at the nomination than he does now. What else would you expect from a desperate Paulbot.

because they fear we are right.

The point is not whether God is on the side of any political party or nation but whether that political party and nation are on the side of God.

Jazz Shaw also posts (or crossposts) at Pajamas Media. There he reliably peddles his quasi-conservatism and moderate leftism on a regular basis.

Some of those so-called conservative pundits are flat out scared to death that the mere mention of God will have people running in the other direction and want to ward that off in order that we can have one of our most viable candidates to beat Obama” in the mainstream”. And in their fear, they subtly (or not) persecute Christians.

which issued a proclamation to the entire nation on October 20, 1779, which clearly contains references to Christianity:

“Whereas it becomes us humbly to approach the throne of Almighty God, with gratitude and praise for the wonders which his goodness has wrought…above all, that he hath diffused the glorious light of the gospel,whereby, through the merits of our gracious Redeemer, we may become the heirs of his eternal glory: therefore, Resolved, That it be recommended to the several states, to appoint Thursday, the 9th of December next, to be a day of public and solemn thanksgiving to Almighty God for his mercies, and of prayer for the continuance of his favor and protection to these United States.”

A year later, they issued another, thanking God for “continuing to us the enjoyment of the gospel of peace.” This expression is taken from Romans 10:15 & Ephesians 6:15. On October 18, 1783, they proclaimed gratitude to all Americans for numerous blessings bestowed by God, “and above all, that he hath been pleased to continue to us the light of the blessed gospel, and secured to us in the fullest extent the rights of conscience in faith and worship.” (references to 2 Cor. 4:4)

My opinion is that most people in Washington just don’t want to admit they are sinners because being forced to admit their shortcomings would cut into their fun. Christians know we’re all sinners, but we spend our time trying to live up to the example set by Christ, realizing that our shortcomings are covered by the grace of God.

I tried unsucessfully to leave a scathing comment on Rubin’s post, but WaPo tweaks on my computer for some reason & wouldn’t accept it. And no, I don’t swear, but I REALLY disllike Rubin. ‘Doesn’t he KNOW how much he might OFFEND some Americans?” By not insisting that every Christian event be ‘pluralistic’? She gets to whine when their right to assemble is breached and not before, and that goes for Jazz and his snark as well.

HotAir and some of their more Liberaltarian-leaning posters do very little for me, either.

What Perry did, and has done to my knowlege for some years now, is very old school, and I appreciate a man that won’t bow to the brain-washed right anymore than he’s done to the left.

Speech by Benjamin Franklin
Mr. President
The small progress we have made after 4 or five weeks close attendance & continual reasonings with each other-our different sentiments on almost every question, several of the last producing as many noes as ays, is methinks a melancholy proof of the imperfection of the Human Understanding. We indeed seem to feel our own want of political wisdom, since we have been running about in search of it. We have gone back to ancient history for models of Government, and examined the different forms of those Republics which having been formed with the seeds of their own dissolution now no longer exist. And we have viewed Modern States all round Europe, but find none of their Constitutions suitable to our circumstances.
In this situation of this Assembly, groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the Contest with G. Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the divine protection.- Our prayers, Sir, were heard, & they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending providence in our favor. To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? or do we imagine that we no longer need his assistance? I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth- that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that “except the Lord build the House they labour in vain that build it.” I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better, than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future ages. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments by Human wisdom and leave it to chance, war and conquest. I therefore beg leave to move-that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the Clergy of this City be requested to officiate in that Service-

The history of Western civilization has been a love-hate relationship with the Christian God, who comes to us as Father.  The Left’s shameless reaction to Rick Perry shows just how much the hate has festered.

billb
http://historeo.com/web/?p=1673

Some time ago I made some comment to the effect that I didn’t understand why Allahpundit linked to everything that Christopher Hitchens writes because the guy is not a conservative and is only coincidentally concerned with Islam. I got dogpiled with accusations of spouting left-wing talking points and other nonsense. I think the militant atheism is a little too noticable over there. That’s one of the major reasons I prefer RedState over most right-leaning sites.

I can’t remember who said it for proper attribution, but I read fairly recently that the Leftists love to invite debate from dissenting opinions then express shock and outrage when they find there actually IS a dissenting opinion!

We all KNOW that the Founders intended a total separation between Church and State, right?

“The only foundation for… a republic is to be laid in Religion. Without this there can be no virtue, and without virtue there can be no liberty, and liberty is the object and life of all republican governments.” – Benjamin Rush

“It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians not on religion, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ!” – Patrick Henry

“I have lived sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men. And, if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, sir, in the sacred writings, that ‘except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.;

“I firmly believe this; and I also believe, that, without his concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel;…

“I therefore beg leave to move, that henceforth prayers, imploring the assistance of heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this assembly every morning before we proceed to business: and that one or more of the clergy of this city be requested to officiate in that service.” (Benjamin Franklin as quoted by Jared Sparks, The Works of Benjamin Franklin, 1837, pp. 155-56)

“I support the doctrine of separation of church and state as traditionally interpreted to prohibit the establishment of an official national religion. But this does not mean that we should divorce government from any formal recognition of God. To do so strikes a potentially fatal blow at the concept of the divine origin of our rights, and unlocks the door for an easy entry of future tyranny. If Americans should ever come to believe that their rights and freedoms are instituted among men by politicians and bureaucrats, they will no longer carry the proud inheritance of their forefathers, but will grovel before their masters seeking favors and dispensations — a throwback to the feudal system of the Dark Ages.” (Ezra Taft Benson, “Freedom Is Our Heritage,” 10 Nov. 1970)

“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports… Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principles.” – George Washington, Farewell address

”Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty – as well as the privilege and interest – of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.” -John Jay

“God rules this world. It is the duty of nations as well as men to owe their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow… and to recognize the sublime truths that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord.” – Abraham Lincoln

“I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers, and it was not there; in her fertile fields and boundless prairies, and it was not there; in her rich mines and her vast world commerce, and it was not there. Not until I went to the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.” (Quoted in The Spirit of America, p32, Bookcraft 1998) _-Alexis de Tocqueville

“America, under the smiles of a Divine Providence, the protection of a good government, and the cultivation of manners, morals, and piety, cannot fail of attaining an uncommon degree of eminence, in literature, commerce, agriculture, improvements at home and respectability abroad.” – George Washington

Gee, Washington in in that list twice, I guess he wasn’t fit to be elected dogcatcher! The problem isn’t finding quoted to support the Founders belief that religion has an INTEGRAL part in government, but rather, which ones are the BEST! The prohibition in the First Amendment is against the ESTABLISHMENT of an ‘official’ state religion, because they knew that once a church is recognized by the government over others the members of other faiths are relegated to second class citizenship. THIS was why a Baptist minister wrote Thomas Jefferson to address concerns that since most of the men forming the government wee Episcopalian (Church of England) that the US would end up with the Episcopalian Church actually RUNNING things, to the detriment of other denominations. It was in response to THIS that Jefferson wrote about “…the wall of separation of church and state…”. THIS has been taken out of context to mean that the state should be totally divorced from ANY expression of religion, and indeed has been given the weight of Constitutional text in our courts! It is time for We the People to stand up and put people in rememberance of what this country was founded upon, and what the founding documents actually say and mean.

Note to Nancy Pelosi: We don’t need to rely on the courts and the lawyers to interpret the Constitution, I looked, it’s in ENGLISH!