Deliver Us from Evil

A thought provoking article I came across today. Does it strike a chord with you, too?


Deliver Us from Evil
By Robin of Berkeley

It's funny how trivial events somehow get seared into your brain. This one is from years ago, when I was enjoying a yogurt on Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley.

Suddenly, a large exotic bug appeared and started dancing around. Its iridescent colors caught the sun and glistened like a rainbow. A crowd formed to watch its antics in shared delight.

Out of nowhere, a lunatic pushed through the crowd. I'd seen this guy before -- paranoid, menacing. His rage toward the bug slit me like a knife. The insect was getting attention, people were happy, and he was out for revenge.

The man bolted through the crowd, possessed. He jumped on the bug, over and over and again. People gasped. A child cried. And then, as quickly as it began, it was all over.

Silently, numbly, the crowd dispersed. The man, now triumphant, smiled hideously. I threw away the yogurt, which was now rendered tasteless.

I'll never forget the look of blind hatred on that man's face. It communicated this: "I want what you have."

And: "If I can't have it, I'll destroy it."

This random experience flashed in my mind recently when I was in a Berkeley bookstore. With my newfound interest in religion, I wanted to peruse that section.  

After hunting down a clerk to unearth the tiny religion area, I perused the shelves. In actuality, the area should have been called the Anti-Christianity Section. 

While there were respectful tomes on the other religions, the Christianity section was a virtual pillorying of Jesus. 

Every book denounced him, mocked him, or reinvented him as something entirely new. There were books debunking the Gospel, with each author sounding gleeful, like a wicked child.

Now, I understand that some people reject religion. But why the venom? The contempt, the need to torpedo Christ?

This campaign against Christianity isn't confined to an obscure Berkeley bookstore. And it didn't begin with Obama. There's been an active crusade for decades to try to destroy Jesus with Alinksy-like tactics: freeze the subject, humiliate, marginalize.  

But while demonizing Christianity is nothing new, it's reached a fever pitch since Obama came on the scene. It's no wonder: Obama sent out clear messages from the start.  

Obama's first interview as president was for an Arab broadcaster. Then he covered up a cross at Notre Dame and was a no-show on the National Day of Prayer. 

Lately, it seems like open season on Christians. The Pope has been subjected to unprecedented condemnation, with atheists Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens plotting ways to have him arrested. 

Comedy Central plans a cartoon show mocking Jesus. On the TV show Curb Your Enthusiasm, Larry David does something so offensive that I will only offer you a link. 

In the past I would simply put on my therapist cap with people like these. I'd probe their childhood for evidence of maltreatment. I'd label them as narcissists and antisocial personalities.

But now I have a different worldview, one that goes much deeper than just the psychological. Now I understand that this world is infused with the Divine. And that there is a competing force, one that is the polar opposite.

I now have a word for that creepy feeling deep down in my gut. And I finally understand the source.

Now I see what's really behind the campaign to banish religion; it's to render us utterly helpless. Because after all, without God, what protection is there in this brutal world?

Sadly, grievously, I look out on my country. I see the corruption and undoing. I witness the ever-growing tsunami of hate that threatens everyone in its path.   

And I see citizens oblivious to the dangers because they're mired in the slime of moral relativism. They have no language, no hiding place, no possible way to shield their children in the deep and darkest nights.

And I see that lunatic, the one with the crazy, hollow eyes. But he's not just on Telegraph Avenue. 

He's far and wide: in the hallowed halls of Congress, in the institutes of higher learning, in basement rooms where small men troll.

If you listen closely, you can hear that same diabolical cry: "I want what you have.

And if I can't have it, I'll destroy it."

The lunatic is on the grass. 

The lunatic is on the grass. 

Remembering games and daisy chains and laughs. 

Got to keep the loonies on the path. 

The lunatic is in the hall. 

The lunatics are in my hall. 

The paper holds their folded faces to the floor 

And every day the paper boy brings more. 

And if the dam breaks open many years too soon 

And if there is no room upon the hill 

And if your head explodes with dark forebodings too 

I'll see you on the dark side of the moon. 

(from "Brain Damage" by Pink Floyd)

A frequent American Thinker contributor, Robin is a licensed psychotherapist in Berkeley and a recovering liberal.  She would like to thank her friend, Joe Sellwood, for his illuminating thoughts on the subject. Due to time constraints, Robin isn't reading the comments page. If you'd like to send her a comment, feel free to e-mail her at robinofberkeley@hotmail.com.

Page Printed from: http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/06/deliver_us_from_evil_1.html at June 24, 2010 - 12:54:36 AM CDT

Deliver Us from Evil

We are pleased to introduce "Countdown To Victory", a weekly newsletter  from the Utah Republican Party. This newsletter will be released each  Wednesday until the November election.  We hope it will keep you up to  date with our Republican candidates and their progress towards the election, keep you advised of events, and give you opportunities to be actively involved  in the process. Weekly feature sections will include: "As I See It" - Dave Hansen, URP Chair.              Insight into the election and assessment on how our             candidates are doing "Down to Business" - Kitty Dunn, URP Vice Chair              All about the work of electing Republicans and how to do it "IMO"             OpEd from Guest Contributor "Upcoming Events"             Important calendar items "Stuff You Should Know"             Links to articles, videos and commentary on current issues "PermaLinks"    Links to important websites Please see the first edition of "Countdown To Victory" by clicking here. The newsletter can be accessed directly through the party website by clicking on the Weekly Newsletter button on the right hand side of the main page.   The newsletter is in PDF format.  When the PDF opens, if it does not display  at 100%, please change the display to 100%. We hope you enjoy "Countdown To Victory"! Dave                                                         Kitty Dave Hansen                                           Kitty Dunn Utah Republican Party Chair                 Utah Republican Party Vice Chair daviddhansen@msn.com                      kittydunn@utgop.org

Dear WRC of SLC Members,


As president of the WRC of SLC, I feel it necessary to publicly address the controversy surrounding Mike Lee's withdrawal from our debate.  As you are aware, the WRC of SLC, along with the UFRW (Utah Federation of Republican Women) offered to sponsor, organize and advertise a debate between U.S. Senate Republican candidates, Mike Lee and Tim Bridgewater, on Saturday, June 19th.

Two days ago, Mike Lee's campaign withdrew from the debate without offering an explanation or apology.  Obviously, it is difficult to host a debate with only one candidate.  Yesterday, it came to our attention that Mike Lee was disseminating information about his cancellation, as well as information about the WRC and UFRW, that is complete fabrication.  


There are a few things I want everyone to know:

1.  We (UFRW and WRC) never changed the venue of this debate.  The venue was secured approximately two weeks ago and was agreed upon by both campaigns. 

2.  Mike Lee's campaign never requested to have a staff member vet questions prior to the debate.  He claims that he did, and that we denied the request.  

3.  Cherilyn Eager was not involved in organizing this debate, and in fact, we would have gladly asked her not to attend if her presence there was cause for concern.  Cherilyn Eager is the VP of Media Relations for the UFRW, and has been for several years.  She simply disseminated the UFRW authored press release. 

4.  We never received any communication from Mike Lee's campaign that there was anything amiss.  I spoke with Mike Lee's campaign manager on Wednesday via a phone call that I initiated. 

5.  Finally, yesterday, I learned of Mike Lee's reasons for cancellation by reading a statement on his "Mike Lee for U.S. Senate" facebook page.  (This statement, by the way, has since been deleted off both facebook and his website.)

If you will scroll through our blog, you will see that the WRC hosted both candidates this year.  Both were treated with the utmost respect and professionalism.  Our club hosted Mike Lee on February 11th, and Tim Bridgewater on March 11th.  


The primary election is this coming Tuesday, June 22nd.  Who you vote for is your personal and private choice.  I am not trying to sway you one way or the other. Please, just vote.  It's important to exercise your right to do so.  Many women, in years gone by, fought long and hard for us to have that right.  Please don't take for granted their tremendous sacrifice.  Utah was one of the first states to grant women the right to vote.  We are proud of that heritage, as well as our heritage of being the oldest Women's Republican Club in the nation.  Established in 1899, we have weathered many a storm and will weather this one as well.


We plan to proceed with our event this Saturday night, June 19th.  Obviously, it won't be a debate.  Candidate Tim Bridgewater has committed to attend despite Mike Lee's absence.  If you haven't met him previously, this is an opportunity for you to do so.  Please join us as we celebrate being Republican women in Utah.  I'd love to see you there.  Please bring your daughters and granddaughters, your friends and neighbors, too.  If you have any questions, please let me know.

Sincerely,

Kathleen Handy 

Rolly: GOP women in the cross hairs

By Paul Rolly Tribune Columnist Salt Lake Tribune

Updated:06/17/2010 05:46:24 PM MDT

With less than a week before Tuesday's primary election, the Mike Lee campaign may have alienated a major organized bloc within the Republican Party, and now is trashing that group on his campaign's Facebook page. The Utah Federation of Republican Women and the Salt Lake City Republican Women's Club were dismayed Thursday to learn Lee had backed out of a debate they were co-sponsoring between Lee and his opponent Tim Bridgewater. The debate was scheduled for Saturday evening at the Merit Medical Complex in South Jordan and several hundred people are expected to attend. But Kathleen Handy, president of the Republican Women's Club said she began hearing Tuesday that Lee was not planning to attend. She called his campaign and got a return call Wednesday, just three days before the debate, confirming the cancellation. "It goes without saying that we are extremely disappointed in Mike Lee's decision to cancel his commitment to appear at our debate, UFRW President Darcy Kruitbosch said in a statement. " We are further dismayed that no explanation or apology was offered. Numerous volunteers have spent countless hours in preparation for this event. " Dan Hauser, Lee's deputy campaign manager, said they decided to back out after the debate format was changed and they learned Cherilyn Eagar, a Bridgewater supporter, was involved in debate planning. They also were troubled the venue was changed to Merit Medical, which is owned by Fred Lampropoulos, also a Bridgewater supporter. He said it appeared the event was being stacked against Lee. Handy said Hauser's claims are utterly false. Merit Medical was a site suggested by the Salt Lake County Republican Party after several other venues contacted by the debate organizers could not accommodate them, she said. Lampropoulos, according to GOP officials, has always been generous in making his South Jordan facility available for Republican events. Eagar's name was on the original debate announcement because she is the media relations volunteer for the UFRW, but had nothing to do with the debate, Handy said. Former Gov. Olene Walker, who had changed her travel plans to accommodate the group, had agreed to moderate the debate. Meanwhile, comments on Lee's Facebook page have suggested the debate organizers were trying to set Lee up. "We were never taking sides," Handy said. "We were trying to do something positive for the Republican Party and now we're getting trashed."

Utah Federation of 
Republican Women &

Women's Republican Club 
of Salt Lake City 

News Release

For Immediate Release

Contacts:  
Darcy Kruitbosch, President, UFRW

ufrw@hotmail.com

801-510-2349

Kathleen Handy, President, WRC of SLC 
handyk@comcast.net

801-755-9795

---

Utah Republican Women announce Tim Bridgewater's commitment to appear at debate despite opponent's unexplained cancellation

June 17, 2010, Salt Lake City, UT.  Darcy Kruitbosch, President of the Utah Federation of Republican Women, announced today that U.S. Senate Republican candidate, Mike Lee, has cancelled his commitment to appear at a UFRW/WRC sponsored debate with opponent Tim Bridgewater.  No excuse or apology was offered for the last-minute cancellation.

"It goes without saying that we are extremely disappointed in Mike Lee's decision to cancel his commitment to appear at our debate.  We are further dismayed that no explanation or apology was offered. Numerous volunteers have spent countless hours in preparation for this event.  Furthermore, we feel it important to offer an apology to former Utah Governor, Olene Walker, who changed travel plans, at her personal expense, to serve as moderator of this event,"  Mrs. Kruitbosch said.

U.S. Senate candidate, Tim Bridgewater, has committed to attend despite Mike Lee's unexplained withdrawal.  Please join us this Saturday, June 19th, from 6-7:30 PM, at the Merit Medical Complex (1600 West Merit Parkway, South Jordan, UT) as we celebrate Republican women across the State of Utah.  (To access Merit Medical Complex, enter off of Redwood Road at 9850 South.)

Utah GOP Announcement of Senate Debate

Are you one of the many voters who  want more information before  casting your vote in the U.S.  Senate Primary on June 22nd? If so, now is the opportunity to get informed.  The Utah Federation of Republican Women (UFRW) and the Women's Republican Club of Salt Lake City (WRC) are co-hosting a debate between U.S. Senatorial candidates Tim Bridgewater and Mike Lee.  This is an event you will not want to miss!   When: Saturday, June 19th, 2010 6:00PM  Reception 7-8:30PM  Debate Where: Merit Medical Complex 1600 West Merit Parkway South Jordan, UT Moderator:  Former Utah Governor Olene Walker If you could ask either candidate a question, what would it be?  Please submit your questions to us. Entrance to the public is free. Booths are available to candidates, organizations, and businesses for $50. Contact Kathleen Handy (WRC of SLC) at handyk@comcast.net or Darcy Kruitbosch atufrw@hotmail.com if you would like a booth or need  additional information.   We look forward to your questions,  and hope to see you at the debate. Debate sponsored by: Utah Federation of Republican Women Women's Republican Club of Salt Lake City

Debate Moderator

We are thrilled to announce that former Utah Governor Olene Walker will serve as moderator of the WRC/UFRW sponsored debate between Tim Bridgewater and Mike Lee.

America Rising

Wow.  Very powerful.  Double click to view full screen

What's Missing?

On May 28th, Barack Obama held a press conference to discuss, among other things, the BP oil disaster.  Anyone notice what's missing?  Where's the American Flag?  Since when does the President of the United States hold a press conference without the flag?  Every time I think I've seen it all, turns out I haven't.  There's a pit in my stomach.  Yours, too?  Is it 2012 yet?  

A Short Spelling Lesson … 

The last four letters in American = I Can 

The last four letters in Republican = I Can 

The last four letters in Democrats = Rats 

End of Lesson. Test to follow in November. 

November has been designated as rodent extermination month. 

Please Submit Debate Questions

Do you have any questions you'd like to ask Tim Bridgewater and/or Mike Lee?  Now is your chance.  We will be selecting from your questions for the June 19th debate.  Please, either comment below, or email your questions to me: handyk@comcast.net.  We will not consider questions that blatantly favor one candidate over the other.  We appreciate your participation, and look forward to receiving your questions.  Thank you.

GOP Women Dominate Primaries

What an exciting time for Republican women!  The following story is by ABCNews.

Five Primary Races Dominated by Republican Women Could Set Course for Midterm Elections (By HUMA KHAN, Washington, June 8, 2010)

In one of the most heavily contested races today, Tea Party favorite Sharron Angle surpassed more than a dozen GOP candidates to become the Republican nominee who will face off against Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in November.  Republicans in Nevada battled fiercely for a big prize: the chance to take on the Senate seat that Reid has occupied for more than two decades, and possibly render him the second Democratic party leader to be ousted by the Republicans in six years, after Tom Daschle in 2004.  Angle, a former assemblywoman, was in a neck-and-neck race with former state GOP chair Sue Lowden, who was favored by the state's Republican establishment. What started off as a shoe-string campaign for Angle morphed into a million-dollar push to derail Lowden: The so-called Tea Party Express funneled half a million dollars into Angle's campaign, with hundreds of thousands more coming from other national conservative groups such as theClub for Growth.  Angle is an anti-tax crusader and an uncompromising conservative. She favors abolishing the Departments of Education and Energy, phasing out Social Security and Medicare, and removing the United States from the United Nations.  Reid's campaign views Angle's non-mainstream platform as one that can easily be targeted in the November midterm election.  Even though several incumbents have lost in primaries -- Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons today became the first sitting governor to lose a reelection bid -- not all is lost for incumbents.


Longtime Arkansas Sen. Blanche Lincoln narrowly avoided becoming another casualty of anti-Washington sentiment, barely defeating Lt. Gov. Bill Halter, a favorite of labor unions and environmental groups in a close runoff race today.  Lincoln had slightly more than 50 percent of the votes, with Halter trailing closely behind, according to the Associated Press.  Lincoln's win is a major blow to labor unions and liberal groups, who poured millions of dollars into Halter's campaign, and in a state that normally doesn't garner this much national attention. "The vote of this senator is not for sale and neither is the vote of the people of Arkansas," Lincoln said in her victory speech, rebuking national labor groups.  Lincoln, who won the support of both President Obama and former President Bill Clinton, was blasted by national labor unions for voting for the federal bank bailout and opposing the option of a government-run insurance plan in the health care bill and the Employee Free Choice Act, or card check, a high priority for the labor movement.  The groups wanted to paint Lincoln as an example of what would happen to Democrats who crossed liberal groups.  Lincoln's win is also a victory for Obama and Clinton, who campaigned for her in the final days of the race.  Lincoln has been in the Senate since 1998, when, at 38, she became the youngest woman to be elected. She serves as chair of several important committees, including Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, and the subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources and Infrastructure.  Lincoln will face an even fiercer fight in November as Republicans take aim at her Senate record and take advantage of the anti-incumbent sentiment that has ended careers of Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pennsylvania, and Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah.


The primaries in 12 states today tested the temperature of the anti-Washington sentiment and marked the latest test for ideological movements within both major parties.  The anti-incumbent sentiment accelerated the momentum among newcomers in ousting established lawmakers in Congress. At the same time, from California to Georgia, it pitted party members against each other, exposing the ideological frays within each party.


Tea Party Favorites Take Center Stage
Tea Party favorite Nikki Haley nabbed a majority of votes in the South Carolina GOP gubernatorial primary, but stopped just shy of the 50 percent of votes needed to avoid a runoff, according to the Associated Press. Nevertheless, the South Carolina primary dealt a blow to the GOP establishment in the state: Both Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer and attorney general Henry McMaster, once considered frontrunners in the race, trailed well behind Haley and conservative Rep. Gresham Barrett.  Haley and Barrett will face off again in a runoff election two weeks from today.
The divisive South Carolina gubernatorial primary was dogged by ethnic slurs -- a GOP state senator called Indian-American Haley a "raghead" -- and allegations of marital infidelity.  But Haley's popularity has risen in recent weeks, thanks to endorsements from the Tea Party in general, and Sarah Palin in particular. The former Alaska governor campaigned with Haley and recorded a telephone message calling the allegations against Haley "made-up nonsense."  Tea Party supporters also nabbed a victory in the contested runoff in Georgia, where former state representative Tom Graves defeated former state House member Lee Hawkins in a special election for the U.S. House of Representatives. Graves was backed by the Atlanta Tea Party Patriots and the conservative Club for Growth.


Still, in another key battleground -- Virginia's fifth Congressional district -- the Republican establishment's candidate Robert Hurt flew to an easy victory with 48.4 percent of the votes. 2010 Election Maps: Follow the Senate, House and Governors' Races


California Republican Senate Primary: November Battle of 'Scrappy' Political Women?
Ex-Hewlett Packard chief executive Carly Fiorina defeated Rep. Tom Campbell and state Assemblyman Chuck DeVore in the race to challenge incumbent Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer in November.
Fiorina, as with Haley in South Carolina, received an unexpected endorsement from Palin even though DeVore has been supported by Tea Party groups.  Palin recorded a telephone message for Fiorina, urging voters to "help get our country back on track" by voting for the former executive.  Fiorina spent a lot of her own personal wealth on the campaign, a point likely to be seized upon by Democrats in the midterm elections. Campbell has struggled to keep pace, temporarily withdrawing television advertising last week. A libertarian on most social issues, Campbell has focused his rhetoric on his electability in the final days of the campaign.  All the candidates seized on the nation's anti-incumbent sentiment to attack Boxer, who has served in the Senate for 17 years.


California Gubernatorial Primary: Inheriting Schwarzenegger's Problems
Former eBay chief executive Meg Whitman beat state insurance commissioner Steve Poizner for the nomination to succeed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the moderate Republican governor whose tumultuous time in office is coming to an end.  Whitman spent more than $70 million of her money in her campaign to succeed Schwarzenegger, a moderate Republican.  In a bid to win over conservatives, Poizner made immigration the defining issue of his campaign, supporting the controversial Arizona law on illegal immigration and attacking Whitman for opposing it.
Whitman will face Democrat Jerry Brown, the state's attorney general, in the fall. Brown previously served as governor from 1975 to 1983.  Today's primaries could be the last to be held in the state.  A ballot initiative seeks to limit the general election to two members of the same party.  Proposition 14 would replace party primaries with a "top-two" election structure for congressional, statewide and state legislative elections. All candidates would be included in a single primary election open to all voters, regardless of party registration. Candidates would have the option to declare a party preference or appear on the ballot with no affiliation.  The two candidates with the highest vote totals in the primary would then advance to a general election. Write-in votes would be ignored. The November ballot thus could feature two members of the same party as the only options.


ABC News' David Chalian, Devin Dwyer, Alex Pepper and Jonathan Karl contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2010 ABC News Internet Ventures

Tim Bridgewater/Mike Lee Debate

The WRC of SLC, along with the UFRW, is pleased to sponsor a debate between U.S. Senatorial candidates Tim Bridgewater and Mike Lee on Saturday, June 19th.

Reception: 6PM

Debate: 7-8:30PM

Mingle: 8:30-9PM

Merit Medical Campus

1600 West Merit Parkway

South Jordan, UT

(enter from East side of Redwood Road, 

just south of 9800 South)

Invite your friends, families and neighbors.  Hope to see you there.  

WRC Sponsored Tim Bridgewater/Mike Lee Debate

The WRC of SLC, along with the UFRW, is sponsoring a debate between U.S. Senatorial candidates Tim Bridgewater and Mike Lee on Saturday, June 19th.  Tentative time is 7PM.  Doors will open at 6PM.  Come early to meet the candidates, browse the booths and socialize.  Location TBD.  We are very excited.  Please invite your friends and neighbors.  We hope to have a great turnout, but can only do so with your help.  If you have any questions, let me know.