95 Comments
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NOGODZ20's avatar

STILL not a single (R). Not even an Independent. I guess reason is not their forte.

Joe King's avatar

It's kind of hard to impose theocracy while keeping church and state separate.

Jerry Bier's avatar

Way back in 1964 Barry Goldwater tried to warn us about the Jesusfuckers’s trying to take over the spineless GOP and now they’ve succeeded — and with their 40 year plan written by the Heritage Foundation and the judges that they’ve nominated and installed — the country is on the verge of becoming a dictatorship run by a theocratic ass-kissing oligarchy!

Lynn Veit's avatar

Aren't we already there? That's what keeps me awake at night. The fear that we're already too far in with the demolition of the Voter Rights Act of 1964 to ever get out again. What with Louisiana delaying its election until it can get its districts better rigged for white supremacy voters and all the other gerrymandering we're bound to see in other states....

Before that, I at least had some faint hope once again, even after numerous crushing disappointments. The tide of public opinion seemed to be shifting as a result of the Iran War, which finally seemed a bridge too for even for some of the MAGA base.

Now....?

Linda's avatar

Yes, we are living in the aftermath. Whatever stage of grief this is.

Chris Cohlmeyer's avatar

I liked his messages back then but using nukes on Hanoi was likely a step too far for the adults.

Jerry Bier's avatar

Yeah, the Nukes on Hanoi was pretty extreme.

Whitney's avatar

The current Republican party would consider Barry Goldwater a woke liberal RINO. He'd get tossed out on his butt in the blink of an eye.

kevin oldham's avatar

It's clear to me that congressional Republicans and Republicans in general have given up any notions of free thought or reason.

Maltnothops's avatar

It’s “1984” to them and they are happy about it.

Crowscage's avatar

Their thoughts are too full of treason for reason to have any space to reside.

BJW's avatar

I can remember a time when the GOP was the party of science! What a complete disgrace.

Lynn Veit's avatar

but it was Democrats that finally sent someone to the moon wasn't it?

Too bad they couldn't have included Nixon in that payload and left him on the lunar surface.

John Smith's avatar

That is not right, leaving Nixon on the lunar surface would be Luna littering. What would the aliens think of humanity if we left trash like republicans on other worlds. Already the aliens have reasons not to come and visit humanity, let not give them more reasons! 😇

Lynn Veit's avatar

Basic humanity is not their forte.

larry parker's avatar

I counted 22 with an r in their name.

Zizzer-Zazzer-Zuzz's avatar

Railroad crossing, watch out for the cars. Can you say that without any R's?

NOGODZ20's avatar

Sure. If you're Elmer Fudd.

NOGODZ20's avatar

How about the 35 R's (Rep). 😉

oraxx's avatar

Not a Republican to be found, which isn't exactly shocking. Republicans pander to the preachers while viewing human decency as 'woke' and a character flaw.

Linda's avatar

This is why the “both sides” people can shut right up forever. Whiny little bitches. I’m just cynical now.

Maltnothops's avatar

OT: The red sash wearing Catholic RWNJ group showed up to protest against freedom of religion at the TST Satanic Revival in Baltimore yesterday. They banged drums and chanted for a few hours across the street.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Society_for_the_Defense_of_Tradition,_Family_and_Property

John Smith's avatar

To the goddamm jesusfuckers, where is your outrage over the Catholic Church numerous sexual abuse cases. Oh, yeah you jesusfuckers don’t care! So in that case, I say to the jesusfuckers: GO FUCK YOUR IMAGINARY DEAD JESUS’S SCAWNY ASS!

You have NO right to claim ANY MORAL HIGH GROUND until you and your pedophile church deals with the sexual abuse of children, and all the other CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY!

Chris Cohlmeyer's avatar

Back in the 1960's there seemed to be hypocrisy between the clergy and the members. Then in the 1980's I saw the lengths that the Catholic Church would go to in denying any responsibility or liability for sexual abuse - I then understood why some friends chose suicide or drug overdose. Then seeing the hardline of the clergy to doctrine while the members support birth control, often abortion, LGBTQ rights, etc. It's like the "Church" exists in the 1300's where they had full absolute control but so many of the members and former members have moved on.

Jerry Bier's avatar

Great comment. I couldn’t have said it better myself. Jesus fuckers lol

Lynn Veit's avatar

So much for THEIR view of religious freedom, which is "whatever *we* say it is!"

Maltnothops's avatar

Their most prominent sign was “Satan has NO rights”

Well, neither does Jesus.

Lynn Veit's avatar

Neither does his band of flying howler monkeys. At least not the ones they THINK they have or are entitled to.

Joan the Dork's avatar

I'm surprised it wasn't bells. Catholics 𝘥𝘰 love to remind everyone that they're in the neighborhood by clanging their churchbells, as if we'd somehow forget they were there without the racket every hour on the hour. Maybe they couldn't find any that were small enough to carry but big enough to be a nuisance?

Charles Newman's avatar

"clanging their churchbells" Wait until Muslim minarets start popping up in many hoods in the United States. Calling to prayer five times a over loud speakers. With the US being big on religious freedom (RUPLA) Islam can win any argument preventing them from doing so. 😟

Allahu Akbar?

Joan the Dork's avatar

Having grown up across the street from a sizeable Catholic church, and having traveled to the Middle-East several times, I can honestly say I'd far rather listen to the Muslim call to prayer than Catholics and their damned churchbells. For one, Muslims (at least in the places I've been that had minarets and calls to prayer; YMMV) generally put some actual effort into making their calls aurally pleasing, whereas most Catholic churches I've encountered settle for a cacophany of clanging with no consideration to the musical quality of the noise. For another, the Muslims only do it five times a day; Catholic churches sound their bells 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘳- and even more often when there's a wedding, a funeral, or a holiday service on the day's agenda. Makes it very damned difficult to sleep in on weekends. I'd rather hear 𝘯𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, of course, but if it came down to a choice between one religion's noise pollution and another's, the Catholics would 𝘯𝘰𝘵 win that contest. At least the Muslim call to prayer doesn't share any DNA with the ringer in my 𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘮 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬.

But that's really neither here nor there, considering that a Muslim call to prayer are not a thing one is likely to hear outside the 𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘺 small number of Muslim-majority communities in this country. I do not see that changing within my lifetime, nor that of anyone currently drawing breath.

Charles Newman's avatar

"currently drawing breath" Agreed, nothing will change anytime soon or until the day comes when the United States hits rock bottom and splits apart. Personally don't approve or apologize for any of religions that use controlling fear and superstitions.

IMO with any organized and politically active religions in the United States all lead to a sad outcome. In most cases there is almost nothing that can stop them from doing what they want. They know how to play the freedom of religion cards. From discrimination to persecution. Its all about big money and unlimited power.

At this time religions in the U.S. have the upper hand. ♠️♣️

Thanks

Lynn Veit's avatar

Their lack of creativity and imagination is the cross they have to burn, er, bear.

Guerillasurgeon's avatar

I was woken up one Sunday morning while on a university course by church bells. Found out it wasn't even bells, just a recording of bells. That's not very traditional.😄

Daniel Rotter's avatar

Society For People Who Have Too Much Time On their Hands

Zizzer-Zazzer-Zuzz's avatar

Ticking away with their sanity.

Daniel Rotter's avatar

It's no paradise theater and certainly not the best of times when right-wing Catholic nutcases are involved.

Maltnothops's avatar

I actually know about this particular group. They drove about an hour to protest yesterday. A few years ago they drove 90 minutes to my town to protest a local school district policy that treated trans kids like human beings. In fact, they came from a different state.

They seriously have too much time on their hands.

Charles Newman's avatar

"Catholic RWNJ" Another scarry cult infesting the United States. 😱

Thanks

Joe King's avatar

𝑇𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑟, 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑠𝑛’𝑡 𝑎𝑛 “𝑎𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑠𝑡 𝑐𝑙𝑢𝑏” 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠, 𝑎𝑠 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑐𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑠 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑔𝑔𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑑.

...

𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒’𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑛𝑜 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑦𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑏𝑒 𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠.

So why is it all Democrats and no Republicans?

𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑎 𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑝 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑎𝑤𝑚𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑑𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 ... 𝑘𝑒𝑒𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑐ℎ𝑢𝑟𝑐ℎ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒, 𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑐𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑡 𝑛𝑜𝑛-𝑟𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒.

Oh yeah. The Republicans want to combine church and state, which is inherently discriminatory against non-religious people.

oraxx's avatar

The people who would break down the barriers between church and state always seem to operate under the assumption it will be their tribe calling the shots for everyone else. They should imagine the tribe they hate most having control over their lives because that would definitely be someone's reality. If the preachers ever acquired the power they seem to think they’re entitled to, they would be killing one another almost immediately over doctrinal errors.

Lynn Veit's avatar

I've often wondered why that never occurs to them. Maybe because they assume Gawd is on their side so how can they possibly lose or something.

John Smith's avatar

That is exactly how Christians think; goddybitch is on there side, and Satan is working with those others. So they can’t conceive the idea that another group could assume power. Well, can you imagine their surprise if another group took control, the Christians would just shit themselves thinking about all the horrible things that might happen to them.

Remember that to Christians introspection; reflection; self awareness are considered sins, and ignorance; blind faith, and obedience (especially to the clergy and leadership) are considered virtues to a Christians!

Troublesh00ter's avatar

After so many posts like this, it's hard to know if there's anything new to say, other than I'm pleased to see two new members of the Congressional Freethought Caucus. It's always good news.

What would really be good news is to learn of a Republican joining the ranks of the CFC. Sadly, I don't expect that anytime soon.

Joan the Dork's avatar

They'd have to rediscover 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 before they could make their way to 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦thought.

Lynn Veit's avatar

And that is unlikely. *Thought* of any kind is an anathema to them, especially that (gasp!!) Free thought. An open door to SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNN!!!!!

Joe King's avatar

Maybe next century.

Lynn Veit's avatar

If there's anybody left alive. Some days, I just can't be that optimistic.

Joan the Dork's avatar

I want a miniature version for my desk. Simply the most inspired work of statuary in the whole of modern history!

Daniel Rotter's avatar

There'd be nothing wrong about there being an atheist club in Congress.

Troublesh00ter's avatar

Except that it would scare the shit out of the Republicans! 😈

Joan the Dork's avatar

Sounds like a feature, not a bug!

Troublesh00ter's avatar

Ya THINK?!? 🤣🤣🤣

Joan the Dork's avatar

If we could get those numbers up to 10% of the House, I feel like that might be the critical tipping point. 10% would be enough influence to meaningfully affect any legislation passing through Congress, if and when they voted as a bloc.

S. Arch's avatar

Very brave of them, considering they will probably be among the first to be executed once the Christian fascist regime begins asserting its totalitarian agenda.

Jerry Bier's avatar

More good news from the side of science and reason.

Boreal's avatar

If this shift continues, we will hopefully see more freethought members.

https://ibb.co/m5z81LzX

Randy J Henderson's avatar

I really doubt that "Republicans" (pretend GOP) even know what Freethought means. They would have to use a dictionary and they reject any expert evidence or intelligent inquiry. They are the mindless leading the mindless.

Guerillasurgeon's avatar

I don't know. I suspect that a few at least Republican politicians are atheists but simply realise that if they ever admit it, they'd be out of office, and on Fox News – and not in a good way.

John Smith's avatar

I am glad that two more politicians joined the Free thought Caucus, but I am disappointed that no independent has joined. I don’t expect any republican to joined, thinking for oneself is too hard for some of them!

Maltnothops's avatar

At the moment, there is only one independent in the House (and caucuses are strictly a House thing).

Linda's avatar

Why do we even need a “caucus” for this? I know the answer, but it’s still depressing. In looking at the state of the country, can we also replace every democrat who doesn’t agree with this necessity?

Linda's avatar

It’s now or never, my love can’t wait

Maltnothops's avatar

It might be necessary to get 4 or 5 Repubs to join the caucus simultaneously so they can provide cover to each other. I wonder if the Freethought Caucus members do any solicitation.