“BTW, God accidently let those hijackers fly those planes into the twin towers on 9/11.”

And God said, “Whoops!”

Posted by Janis Jaquith on 31 August 2005 @ 10pm

Blessed are they who work the will of the Lord, like anti-environmentalists who like to destroy flood mitigating wetlands. How convenient for some Republicans that the Party helps lay the groundwork for environmental disasters, after which the social conservatives can come along and say, “See, God did this to punish the sinners.” Symbiosis may be a naughty concept for those who reject evolution, but they don’t seem to mind when it comes to synergizing factional agendas.

Posted by The Jaded JD on 31 August 2005 @ 11pm

JD, I know I’m preaching to the choir by telling you this, but I do think I should point out that the views of these particular Christians and Republicans are not mirrored by any other Christian or Republican bloggers elsewhere in Virginia, and I hope that nobody would construe them as such.

Posted by Waldo Jaquith on 31 August 2005 @ 11pm

Frightening and sad…

Posted by Chris Gorski on 1 September 2005 @ 8am

Interesting quotes, especially given the NYTimes quotes you published about Bush. Perhaps Bush agrees with these folks, which may explain his hesitance in calling on the American people to truly assist with the effort. I saw Rick Perry on the Today show yesterday (gov. TX), his attitude was refreshing and generous. Texas has been hit with a lot of hurricanes (Galveston), and he said basically that it could be people in his own state who might need the nation’s help in the future. Texas! Texas is taking in the victims and will have to provide schooling and possibly jobs for them in the long run. Unbelievable generosity compared to the hatemongering of the people you quoted.

Posted by Jennifer on 1 September 2005 @ 10am

A nut is a nut whether it’s hanging on the left side of the tree or the right. Or even if it’s fallen down to the ground and been pummeled into the earth, like certain nuts ought to be. I don’t understand why people seem to constantly try to attribute individual’s stupidity to general political parties. The parties do that just fine with their published platforms.

Posted by Jim on 1 September 2005 @ 10am

FYI, Jim, J.D. is a Republican. :) Nobody has attributed these comments to being emblematic of a particular political party, which is good, because they’re not. I’m with you — I have no patience for seeing random nuts quoted, identified by party affiliation, and said to represent the beliefs of millions of Americans.

Posted by Waldo Jaquith on 1 September 2005 @ 10am

Ross

Posted by Ross on 1 September 2005 @ 11am

Ummm the comment field ate my comments.

Summary: Reasonable Christians do exist, I swear!

Posted by Ross on 1 September 2005 @ 11am

This is what is wrong with the Republican Party…crazy members of the Christian Coalition keep infiltrating and killing the good things that Republicans stand for. I am a Democrat but I feel very sorry for those that call themselves Republicans and aren’t on the wacked out end of the party like these people that are saying that God is punishing the people of New Orleans. Pat Roberston and Jerry Falwell can have these wackos.

Posted by Interested observer on 1 September 2005 @ 11am

To be fair, though, these “crazy members of the Christian Coalition” aren’t just “infiltrating” the Republican party. They have been courted and recruited and now form a crucial part of the coalition that has created winning majorities for Republicans. The deal has been that the party would give support their issues (school prayer, creationism, ending legal abortion, etc.) and the religious right would support tax breaks for the wealthy and corporate protectionism.

Responsible Republicans have the choice of holding their noses and tolerating the “crazies” who talk about divine retribution in New Orleans and New York, as long as they keep winning, or walking. The problem is when the leaders walk, like Russ Potts did, they need to be prepared to accept the scorn and abuse that will surely follow. (Likewise, when Zell Miller walked from the Democrats, he got his scorn and abuse, too.)

Posted by Harry Landers on 1 September 2005 @ 11am