Wisconsin Prosecutor says sex ed teachers could be charged with contributing to delinquency of a minor

I'm in topsy turvy world. Yesterday Virginia reinstated "Confederate History Month", the Utah GOP is trying to kill Utahans with AIDS and now this yahoo wants to criminalize sex ed teachers?

MAUSTON, Wis. - Juneau County's district attorney is warning school districts that sex education teachers could be charged with contributing to delinquency of a minor.

A new law takes effect this fall that requires schools with sex ed programs to teach children how to use condoms and other contraceptives.

DA Scott Southworth says the requirement encourages sex among minors, which is illegal. Southworth says it's like teaching children about alcohol use, then instructing them on how make a mixed drink.

Man sues over alleged death prayers

Good for him, he's one of my heroes. If you want to really scare yourself, try checking out some of the many diaries by Troutfishing over a Kos on the infiltration of the fundies in the Armed Services, especially the Air Force. There's a reason they're all congregated in Colorado Springs...

DALLAS, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- An Air Force Academy alumnus who has denounced Christian proselytizing in the armed forces says he is suing a Dallas group for praying that he will die.

Mikey Weinstein, founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, told Monday's Dallas Morning News he has filed suit against Gordon Klingenschmitt, a former U.S. Navy chaplain, and Jim Ammerman, the founder of the Chaplaincy of Full Gospel Churches.

In the suit, Weinstein asks that they be ordered to "stop asking Jesus to plunder my fields … seize my assets, kill me and my family then wipe away our descendants for 10 generations."

Weinstein told the newspaper that since he began an effort to expose the extent of proselytizing at the Air Force Academy and within the U.S. armed forces, he has had a swastika painted on his New Mexico home and animal carcasses left on his doorstep.

Study: Abortion doctors, clinics 'routinely targeted'

This report was completed before Dr Tiller's murder.

WASHINGTON — An abortion-rights group said Wednesday that doctors and clinics that perform abortions in six states "are routinely targeted" for legal and physical harassment, including death threats, and called on the Justice Department to do more to protect clinic workers.

In a report, the Center for Reproductive Rights said that women seeking to terminate pregnancies in those states face a dwindling supply of providers as threats and intimidation take their toll.

Nancy Northup, the center's president, said the number of physicians and clinics providing abortions has fallen by 25 percent since the 1990s.

Two of the states, Mississippi and North Dakota, have only one abortion provider. The other studied states were Missouri, with three, Alabama, with seven, Pennsylvania, with about a dozen, and Texas, with about 40.

Even in states with multiple clinics, however, most are clustered in urban areas, leaving women in less populous regions to travel long distances for the service.

Audio- Conservative Pastor Wiley Drake Prays For Obama Death

Holy shit. Haul this guy away. Via Oliver.

Obama tones down National Day of Prayer observance

Usual suspects up in arms?- Check-

"For those of us who have our doubts about Obama's faith, no, we did not expect him to have the service," said Wendy Wright, president of Concerned Women for America. "But as president, he should put his own lack of faith aside and live up to the office."

Referencing a remark the president made at a recent press conference in Turkey that Americans "do not consider ourselves a Christian nation," she added: "That was projecting his own beliefs, but not reflecting what the majority of Americans feel. It's almost like Obama is trying to remake America into his own image. This is not a rejection of Shirley Dobson; it's a rejection of the concept that America is a spiritual nation and its foundation is Judeo-Christian."

You and I both know if he had done the same or more as Bush it still wouldn't have satiated their distrust.

Family Research Council Slams GOP's New National Council for a New America

The fundies are a harsh mistress.

"If you don't know where you're going, any road will lead you there." For the Republican Party that African proverb seems incredibly apropos. In another step away from its conservative roots, Republican members of the House unveiled The National Council for a New America in hopes of recasting the Party's ailing identity. The effort only underscores the Republicans' present identity crisis, as the GOP leadership kicked off the campaign devoid of the values that once caused voters to identify with the party.

Via Dan.

Palin- Iraq is God's plan, plus he can get us that $30b gasline money

She's in full blow caricature mode now.

Speaking before the Pentecostal church, Palin painted the current war in Iraq as a messianic affair in which the United States could act out the will of the Lord.

"Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right. Also, for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending [U.S. soldiers] out on a task that is from God," she exhorted the congregants. "That's what we have to make sure that we're praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan."

Religion, however, was not strictly a thread in Palin's foreign policy. It was part of her energy proposals as well. Just prior to discussing Iraq, Alaska's governor asked the audience to pray for another matter -- a $30 billion national gas pipeline project that she wanted built in the state. "I think God's will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas line built, so pray for that," she said.

Group trying to attack Obama on abortion

If you thought the "hot button" issues wouldn't be that important this year, think again. Also, check out this interview Obama gave CBN last night after the forum- the wingers are all atwitter over that "born alive protection act" (which was a total sham) and Brody let Obama respond to the smears.

RICHMOND, Virginia (AP) — A group purporting to tell the "real truth" about Barack Obama's views on abortion wants a judge to rule it is not subject to federal election restrictions on fundraising and advertising.

The Real Truth About Obama Inc., a group formed by anti-abortion activists, is trying to establish a Web site and air radio ads. But the group's attorney says his clients fear they will be prosecuted for breaking federal rules that restrict fundraising and advertising by political action committees, or PACs.

The Richmond-based group argues it is not a PAC because it would be talking about an issue, not advocating Obama's defeat or election.

(snip)

The Real Truth About Obama wants to post ads on its Web site and on the Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity talk shows in key states during the "electioneering communication" blackout period 60 days before the general election. The ad features an "Obama-like voice" saying he would make taxpayers pay for all abortions, ensure minors' abortions are concealed from their parents, appoint more liberal Supreme Court justices and legalize the late-term procedure that abortion opponents call "partial-birth" abortion.

World's Oldest Bible Goes Online

Oh, the fundies heads will explode? Not quite as cut and dried as their Anglo versions....

The oldest surviving copy of the New Testament, a 4th century version that had its Gospels and epistles spread across the world, is being made whole again -- online.

The British Library says the full text of the Codex Sinaiticus will be available to Web users by next July, digitally reconnecting parts that are held in Britain, Russia, Germany and a monastery in Egypt's Sinai Desert.

A preview of the Codex, which also has some parts of the Old Testament, will hit the Web on Thursday -- the Book of Psalms and the Gospel of Mark.

(snip)

Handwritten in Greek more than 1,600 years ago - it isn't exactly clear where - the surviving 400 or so pages carry a version of the New Testament that has a few interesting differences from the Bible used by Christians today.

The Gospel of Mark ends abruptly after Jesus' disciples discover his empty tomb, for example. Mark's last line has them leaving in fear.

"It cuts out the post-resurrection stories," said Juan Garces, curator of the Codex Sinaiticus Project. "That's a very odd way of ending a Gospel."

James Davila, a professor of early Jewish studies at St. Andrews University in Scotland, said the Codex also includes religious works foreign to the Roman Catholic and Protestant canons -- such as the "Epistle of Barnabas" and the "Shepherd of Hermas," a book packed with visions and parables.

McCain hasn't ignited the passions of evangelicals

By Paddy


Hardly surprising considering I think Obama has sucked all the "churchiness" out of the campaign, leaving nothing for McCain. (not that he hasn't worked hard at it, see aboce) If McCain tags Mitt "Magic Underoo" Romney as veep, I doubt if it will help him with the fundies.

SIOUX CENTER, Iowa (AP) -- Stirring her morning coffee, lifelong Republican Grace Droog voiced her doubts - and those of many evangelical voters - about what she isn't hearing from John McCain in this year's presidential election.

"I look for something about his faith," she said. "It's very important, it's what our nation was founded on."

Her pal Joan Rens nodded; she, too, wants McCain to talk about his religious beliefs. "I wish he would so we would know how he stands on his religious views and where his faith lies," she said.

In this part of the country - halfway between Sioux City, Iowa, and Sioux Falls, S.D., - separating religion from politics is folly. Religious conservatives here were energized by President Bush's public declaration of faith and handed him a landslide in 2004. With growing sway in the state GOP, they recently captured a prominent party leadership post.

(snip)

"It's just kind of a tepid response," he said. "McCain really hasn't convinced them he has the same fervor about the appointment of judges, about the right to life."

In the ongoing AP-Yahoo News Poll, only 10 percent of white evangelical Christians say they are excited by this election, compared with 20 percent of Americans overall. A third of these evangelicals said they were interested in the election, but half said they were frustrated by it.

Book May Help Obama Woo Evangelical Christians

By Paddy


Man, I miss the days when a persons religion was a private matter and not a talking point to be scrutinized at every turn. Via Taeggan-

Politico got an early look at a new book by Stephen Mansfield, the conservative Evangelical biographer of both George W. Bush and Tom DeLay. "And his new book, due out this summer, may lend credibility to Senator Obama's bid to win Evangelical Christian voters away from the Republican Party."

The forthcoming volume from Mansfield, "whose sympathetic The Faith of George W. Bush spent 15 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list in 2004, is titled The Faith of Barack Obama. Its tone ranges from gently critical to gushing, and the author defends Obama-and even his controversial former minister, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright-from conservative critics, and portrays him as a compelling figure for Christian voters."

Wacky boating race pits 'O-bama,' `Billary'

By Paddy


You've got to love my former home state.

KEY WEST -- Two skippers paddled makeshift boats named after Democratic presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, pursuing blue ''superdelegate'' buoys during a wacky boat race Sunday in the Florida Keys.

The two politically themed watercraft were made of thin plywood and duct tape developed by Key West resident Rick Keith.

Keith christened one craft ''Billary'' for Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton. The other boat was named ''O-bama'' after the Illinois senator.

(snip)

The O-bama boat crossed the finish line first, but the Billary captain garnered the most superdelegate buoys.

The Billary's captain was instructed by Keith to lose. But she refused -- and she ended up with the most superdelegates.

''It was kind of ironic because the girl we picked to be Hillary was kind of like Hillary,'' Keith said. ``She didn't want to lose.''

Minister Caught in Sex Sting

By Paddy


It's been ages since there's been any hypocritical minister/politicians or whatever its seems!!! Definitely no "Two Wetsuits" read, but we take what we can get. Via Pam's House Blend, the drought has passed-

BRYAN, Texas (May 17) - A minister from a Dallas-area Baptist megachurch was caught in an Internet sex sting and charged with online solicitation of a minor, police said Friday.

Undercover officers posing as a 13-year-old girl communicated with Joe Barron, 52, of Plano for about two weeks. The online conversations were sexual in nature, police said.

On May 6, Barron suggested meeting the girl in person. He eventually made the nearly 200-mile drive to Bryan on Thursday, when he was arrested. Police said they found a web-cam and condoms in his car.

(snip)

Barron is one of 40 ministers at Prestonwood Baptist Church, one of the largest churches in the country with 26,000 members. He ministers to married adults.