tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post116325334519522710..comments2024-03-10T10:54:59.776-07:00Comments on Ben Witherington: The God-Gap NarrowsBen Witheringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06017701050859255865noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-1163563723188887722006-11-14T20:08:00.000-08:002006-11-14T20:08:00.000-08:00Roger Ball, conservative writer Rich Lowry debunks...Roger Ball, conservative writer Rich Lowry <A HREF="http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=M2UwMjlhNjY1ZTMwNzc5OWM1ZDQ5YTIwOGJiZDM5MDg=" REL="nofollow">debunks the Republican talking point</A> that this election wasn't a big deal. You can argue with some of his conclusions, but it's tough to argue with the fact that we haven't seen a swing like this in the 6th year since Watergate.<BR/>"But as liberal blogger Kevin Drum points out, most of the big “itches” came prior to the past 20 years when gerrymandering got more sophisticated. Reagan lost only five seats in his sixth year, and Clinton only five (although he had already suffered a wipeout in 1994). For Democrats to win 29 seats despite all the advantages of incumbency enjoyed by the GOP is a big deal."<BR/><BR/>Dr. Witherington, what an interesting story. Are religious leaders really just another interest group to be wined, dined, wowed, and coopted? Thanks for the story, and for keeping a sense of humor about it all.Elvis Elvisberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06660367309654478106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-1163371662813967102006-11-12T14:47:00.000-08:002006-11-12T14:47:00.000-08:00I am one who voted republican and became upset tha...I am one who voted republican and became upset that they were bigger porkers than the dems. This historically is a typical mid term election swing. The party in power loses 30 or so seats in the house. If the loss had been 60, then the results would be significant. As it is, it simply shows the media's lack of knowledge of history (or ignoring it.)Roger Ballhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12550913046588744632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-1163295697320201132006-11-11T17:41:00.000-08:002006-11-11T17:41:00.000-08:00Weel Chaplain Mike, my prayers are certainly with ...Weel Chaplain Mike, my prayers are certainly with you. I have a chaplain in my Revelation class right now who is headed that way as well. Those troops need Jesus as much or more than anyone since they are in harm's way.<BR/><BR/>Blessings,<BR/><BR/>BenBen Witheringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06017701050859255865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-1163294846272184132006-11-11T17:27:00.000-08:002006-11-11T17:27:00.000-08:00Wow! That is a fascinating post. It's good to hea...Wow! That is a fascinating post. It's good to hear somewhat of an insider perspective on politics and evangelicals. Delay's actions were pretty low, but unfortunately not too surprising.C.P.O.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16880429004171251097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-1163294134603075942006-11-11T17:15:00.000-08:002006-11-11T17:15:00.000-08:00"the Values Voters of '04" (from Dobson) I can't ..."the Values Voters of '04" (from Dobson)<BR/> <BR/>I can't let that one go by. The idea that values are what determined the 2004 election is a myth. <BR/><BR/>When the exit polls were taken, the biggest vote-getter for why people voted was "values." But if you added up people who said "terrorism," the war on terror," and "Iraq," the number was much higher that "values." It's a problem of perspective: If one was an anti-war Democrat, they tended to believe that Iraq and the response to 9/11 were two distinct things, and would then vote Democrat because of Iraq. If one was a Republican, they tended to see Iraq as part of the response to Al Quaida, and then would vote Republican because of the war on terror. When asked what was the most important issue in their voting, they would naturally give seemingly different answers for the same basic question, thereby making the 24% who said "values" look like the largest group. (This all comes from a column by Charles Krauthammer.) Therefore, both social conservatives like Dobson, as well as the liberals who decried "Jesusland" and wanted the blue states to cecede from the "red state theocracy" were both fundamentally wrong in reading the election.<BR/><BR/>It has been recently pointed out that Americans have a peculiar view that sees wars as beginning or ending when they say it does. In 2004, a majority of voters said that the war would continue. In 2006, with no noticeable improvement on any front, Americans determined that the war should wind down soon. This, as well as disgust on the part of independents and conservatives for how corrupt the Republicans in Congress had become and how far they had fallen from the reform agenda of 1994 that had swept them into power. <BR/><BR/>It was not a rejection of ideology. Anti-gay marriage intitatives inspired people in some states to vote in a socially conservative way, who then turned and voted the Republican out. Minimum wage initiatives inspired people in other states to vote in an economically progressive/liberal way, who then turned and voted the Republican out. (Santorum was defeated by an ostensibly pro-life Democrat, so his loss was related more to other issues than to his social conservatism.)yuckabuckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05286909279733012915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-1163291872800325412006-11-11T16:37:00.000-08:002006-11-11T16:37:00.000-08:00I spent many nights not studying at Solomon's Porc...I spent many nights not studying at Solomon's Porch drinking coffee and chit chatting. Profit isn't everything, Ben :)<BR/><BR/>You are right, neither Ted H. nor Foley really did any harm to Repubs, it was Iraq; which I will be leaving for in app. four months for a seven month stay.Chaplain Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02424261438051170340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-1163291638102078612006-11-11T16:33:00.000-08:002006-11-11T16:33:00.000-08:00I'm with Rainsborough. While I would love to see ...I'm with Rainsborough. While I would love to see less influence and spending, I think the answer lies in more transparency and not limiting 1st Amendment rights.Neilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01351286913547309232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-1163285608416139522006-11-11T14:53:00.000-08:002006-11-11T14:53:00.000-08:00Same in Australia.Same in Australia.byron smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17938334606675769903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-1163283002258085022006-11-11T14:10:00.000-08:002006-11-11T14:10:00.000-08:00Rainsborough there is certainly a difference betwe...Rainsborough there is certainly a difference between limiting freedom of speech and having spending limits on advertizing one's campaign. Freedom of speech exists in the U.K., its alive and well but there are limits placed on both how long the campaign goes, how much one can spend, and the like. Legislation on limits to lobbying would also be good.Ben Witheringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06017701050859255865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-1163282415989764762006-11-11T14:00:00.000-08:002006-11-11T14:00:00.000-08:00Excellent post Ben. Ironic that nothing was said b...Excellent post Ben. Ironic that nothing was said by Fundamentalist Republicans about the re-centering of other Christian values such as poverty, environment, and the horrors of war by equally committed, Bible-believing Christians. Sorry, but the right-wingers do not speak for all Christians. Hopefully the face of Washington can change over the next few years, but the Powers are deeply embedded.Larry Chouinardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13847999898082698840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-1163270943123013682006-11-11T10:49:00.000-08:002006-11-11T10:49:00.000-08:00Dr. Witherington,Great post! it is indeed true we ...Dr. Witherington,<BR/><BR/>Great post! it is indeed true we need to look at each candidate individually. For the most part, it is one's character that matters. My prayer is that american evangelical chritians will learn how to make better decision in the future. <BR/><BR/>Blessings,<BR/><BR/>CelucienAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-1163267882982926612006-11-11T09:58:00.000-08:002006-11-11T09:58:00.000-08:00It seems election reform without term limits only ...It seems election reform without term limits only empowers those in office.Matthew Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14510644819251864602noreply@blogger.com