Politics: The Dark Ages edition
 

An allegedly responsible member of Congress has said that, get this, *demons* are infesting the capitol. Yes, demons. Yes, as in big, horrible monsters from the depths of Hell. Infesting the capitol.

Congressman Louie Gohmert (R-TX) had this to say against the health care reform bill:

And then, out of nowhere, Gohmert began spreading the word that underworld spirits were lurking around the Capitol building behind him.

"There's a whole lot of demon going on," he said. "There are a lot of demons around here apparently."

When oh when are we going to get to a place where nominally responsible people don't feel comfortable making such ridiculous statements in public? In any kind of *sane* country, Gohmert would be laughed out of public life. But here, his comments pass without so much as an askance look and a "whatchoo talkin' 'bout, Willis".

It reminds me of nothing so much as the witch trial scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Knight: "How do you know she is a witch."
Peasant: "She turned me into a newt."
Knight: A newt?
Peasant: Got better.

One wonders what century this guy believes he is living in.

The full story in all of its amusing horror.

Cheers
Aj

Whee...


[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp_l5ntikaU"]YouTube- monty python-witch scene[/ame]

What's scary is that others accept this as well... it's not just one "nut" but a whole bowl full.

It makes me really angry. This guy no more believes in demons than you do, Aj; he clearly wants to move up in national power, and he's shamelessly manipulating a gullible lot of people to do so. He knows just what allegations to throw out there to inflame the public, and he's cold-blooded about it; it shows in his picture.

Thanks for posting this thread, as I wouldn't have known about this jerk otherwise. So, the Teaparty is already racist and now they're "alll het up" about demons... doesn't take a genius to know who they'll be after next.

Sometimes I just wanna bury my face in my hands and scream for a while over the greed of some people and the concomitant feverish rush to ignorant prejudice of others. *shakes head in frustration*

Bit:

I hope you're right about this guy not believing a word he says about demons (although the fact that there are people who *will* believe him is just as terrifying). If he's just a cynical politician, playing cynical politics, then typically that lot can be trusted not to drive the bus off a cliff. There's always *some* reason not to take that last step. If, however, he believes what he's saying (and, quite honestly, I presume that he *does* believe it) then that's far more disturbing because True Believers will drive a bus off a cliff (or fly planes into buildings) if for no other reason than to prove their point.

I find it disturbing that in this day and age, people of power and responsibility and talk about demons in public without ANY fear that they will be laughed out of town as a loon. As a nation it seems we've jumped the cognitive shark.

Cheers
Aj

I've been out of the loop the last few days and can't believe I missed the demon commentary!

See, scarily enough, I'm kinda thinking that the guy might actually believe that there really are demons running around on Capitol Hill. I will fully own that seeing the (R) after the guys name and that he was from Texas has completely shrouded my thinking with the veil of "must be one of those zealot Republicans".

*pause for dramatic effect while I read the Wiki on this guy*

Oh HELL, he's a "Birther" too.

He also apparently thinks that repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" will lead to "Nazism and legalisation of Necrophilia, Beastiality, and Pedophilia."

It's official. I believe the guy ACTUALLY believes that "demons" are loose on the hill.

It's hard not to wonder how other countries view the asshats in our political system as anything but unevolved, hysterical morons. Now, someone please stop me before I draw a parallel between religious hystericals and Republicans.

Let's see, Gohmert is a birther (co-sponsor HR 1503), a texas baptist, the guy who figured out that we could solve the economic crisis by giving everyone a 2 month vacation from paying federal taxes, carried signs to Obama's congressional address that said “What Bill?” and “What Plan?”, thinks that the Hate Crimes act is dangerous, and represents a state that is in the process of rewriting history so that wing nut conservatives are given more space in history books than, oh, say, the guy that wrote the Declaration of Independence.

I think that he's dead serious.

More terrifying is that people voted for him, so there are a lot more out there just like him.

Edited to add that Medusa and I posted at the same time and that I have no intention of stopping her from drawing a parallel between religious hystericals and Republicans, as I can't recall seeing a whole lot of religious hysterical Democrats floating around the Capitol or Faux Newz.

He's as serious as any surfer riding the waves; choose the wrong one and you're swamped, have to swim for it... but do I think he, himself, actually personally believes the crap he's selling? No, I believe he is a user who is using other people's fears and hysteria to get him what he wants.

I have yet to come across any politician who actually believes the right-wing nonsense they spout; like cynical church leaders, they just follow the money to power. It gives politicians and church leaders who are not cynical a bad name--but then, users never care about things like that as long as there is money (and power!) in it for them.

More irony:

A government official calling for the end of government. (another Republican)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/0..._n_500995.html

:|

I'm actually a little more than disturbed by all of the fuckery in the news today.

Here is an article about Jim Bunning (the dude who wanted to put a hold on unemployment bennies for millions of folks) trying to block President Obama's nominations to a couple of different positions using some idiocy about a CANADIAN smoking law.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/0..._n_500973.html


SERIOUSLY?

Demons?

If there are demons actually around, they are the ones who decided torturing people was oK.

I am with Bit, I think he is a politician playing to his base.

So if Canada does it, it's ebil but if the FDA (yes, the US Gov't) does it it's ok? :|

No wonder the longest undefended border doesn't exist any more.

It's just insane. Insane.

Well, this is not a really far leap from "God" telling W to go to war and how to govern. If God can run the country, then so can demons?

Really the idiocy of it all is almost too much to bear.

All this magical thinking makes me sick at my stomach. And yes, this is not far at all from the Dark Ages.

Isn't it just too much? You know the strange thing is that this change happened suddenly! As late as the late 70's/early 80's if ANY politician had made such a statement on the record their career would be over and done with. Now, it's just a normal part of political discourse.

I'm waiting for someone to start claiming that witches are the cause of climate change.

Remember Paul Cellucci (R) from MA?! :P

http://www.couponclicker.com/wp-srv/...s/ma102598.htm

I'm trying to find an article talking about how he had no problem with "accosting" those who practiced Wicca or paganism. I remember reading about it wwwaaaaayyyyy back when

Totally!

Seriously, an Inquisition is right around the corner.

I so thought that when President Obama was voted in that people were ready for a huge change, that there was hope for sanity in government. But no....we have idiots coming up with insane stuff to try and stop us from making any progress. He must be so incredibly frustrated, I don't think he had any idea how bad things really are.

It's a damn good example of the state of much of our society.

Unfortunately the people like him getting elected and moving into these high positions are there because large portions of society agree with them. It's not just him, and it's scary really.

Though I've never been surprised at the things people do and think, and for a while I felt like the greater part of society had evolved slightly beyond certain blatant stupidities (for the most part at least I thought). But lately there's a lot big reminders in the news of how very very far we have to go, the "tea party"s recent emergence and their racist messages, and other similar things of late.

I'd like to think that the insanities belonged to just the individuals speaking them (Gohmert, Pat Robertson, Fred Phelps the list goes on and on)... but unfortunately those people have insane (literally) numbers of followers that raise them up to and keep them in their positions.

If they don't actually believe what they're saying, it's still disturbing because they're addressing what they know people believe and want to hear from them.

When Texas decides to leave the Union, hopefully before the next round of textbooks are published, we need to find a way to relocate Austin.

Ye, I know that there are some good people in Texas, but I come from a long line of the not so good ones, so my perspective is a little skewed.

Since you're off topic again, and since I feel a desire to wave Mahhh Texas Flag nice and high

You oughtta come to Texas. We're still givin' out paps and mammos for free

Just had one about two weeks ago as a matter o' fact (p.s. the tranny T ensures I won't be havin' no babies no time soon...thank god)

Haven't had the mammo, and I'm not really in the mood. They've been bugging me for a month to go get it...even offered to pay for a cab to come and get me, take me there, and bring me home afterwards. Yep, been calling me at least twice a week for a month to come and have this mammo. I've had to come up with new excuses as to why I'm not going.

So, I don't know what y'all are doin' up there in OR, but feel free to stop by Texas and get all your lady flowers checked out...for free. We're still givin' it away here.


Dylan

[channeling=Glen Beck]
Free?! Why, that's, that's SOCIALISM! And Texas is a RED state! And who else was associated with the color red? That's right, Communists! So let's see what we have here:

Gives necessary medical care for free? Check.
Is a 'Red' state? Check
Has red in its flag? Check
Has oil? Check

I KNEW it! The Soviet Union didn't just dry up and blow away, the USSR became TEXAS! It all fits! They're 'Red', they have socialism and their own (secret) police the Texas Rangers!

So Comrade Dylan...free mammograms, eh? Giving needed medical care free makes the Magic Baby Buddy Christ with the Kung Fu Grip (TM)* cry.

Cheers
Aj

*(Magic Baby Buddy Christ with the Kung-Fu Grip does not come with the Buddy Christ Church which is sold separately)

:| .. that was just skeery. :|

The scary thing is that I've never seen a full Glen Beck show. I tried, the FSM *knows* I tried to get through a whole show last week when he had Eric "Massage Therapy" Massa on. I think I made it to the first commercial break before I was lying on the floor, whimpering "the dumb! It burns!"

Cheers
Aj

http://ghosthauntings.org/The_Texas_Demon.aspx
http://ghosthauntings.org/images/texas%20demon.jpg

Maybe it's just Texas... ( just kidding, idiots are everywhere)..

Other messed up news out of TX

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/0..._n_497440.html

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...ryId=124515520

Here's how Texas works, Juney

We have lots o' commie stuff and programs

We don't want the whole damned country movin' to Texas, so we don't tell anyone about our commie programs (not to be confused with pogroms) (that oil pays for, including education)

In order to keep out all the folks we don't want, we send morons to the white house to say really stupid things, so the rest of y'all will think we're complete hicks

'Cuz if the rest of y'all think we're all a bunch of dumb hillbilly rednecks, y'all will stay where ya' are

That way, we have more money for our commie programs, and we can make sure Texans are taken care of first...it keeps all of those coastal liberals away...while y'all feel sorry for us <snifflezzz>

We also make sure that we really media-blitz all of our really inane news stories (it adds to our image as dumb hillbilly rednecks)


This Is Our Way Of Makin' Sure We Don't End Up Bankrupt Like California,
Dylan

AJ...Satan is also associated with the color red...hence the 'demons'

EEEEEEEEEZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzz there, Tiger


Dylan

Some idiot member of the House (I think it's the same guy in Aj's OP) said the MA Supreme Court decided that the only requirement for marriage is the establishment of intimacy......(a lie)

and he followed with this line of reasoning: some good ole boy could marry his horse because he had intimacy with his horse.....

why are they so focused on bestiality??????


thank the goddess textbooks are going digital so TX will not have the HUGE ASS influence on what is in American History textbooks.....

You may want to check out the links I added earlier. TX IS creating a huge influence on texts there. Unfortunately, that story may get buried under the "demon" junk.

Close but not quite: http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/...horse-marriage

Now that you mention it. Satan has a beard. Lenin had a beard. They even have similar beards!

http://images6.cafepress.com/product...x480_Front.jpg

http://thewiredworldofjd.files.wordp..._ve_bayrak.jpg


That just *can't* be coincidental!

Cheers
Aj

You forgot Fascist. They're all socialist fascists.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/0...42.html#s74266
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/0...42.html#s74266http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/0...42.html#s74266

Another touch of the disgusting. Go to the 50 second mark in this video and see what the anti-healthcare folks do to a man with Parkinsons.

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content...l?video=949486

If I believed in hell, I would surely believe that these folks would burn there.

Thanks for posting! I had not seen this one.

The guy who said "I decide" and threw money at the man with Parkinson's. Wow!

I just do not get how, if one believes in the Bible, this absolute lack of empathy, sympathy or any other positive feeling for one's fellow human, makes any sense. Maybe when one is illogical in the first place and believes in the Celestial Dictaphone version of the Bible, misinterpreting it to one's own gain is pretty easy?

Demons? Really? I bet dude is a deacon at his church. Who is the deamon really?

UGH.