Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Conservative Dictionary Project (M)

2011-10-11T01:20:48Z

DouglasL: "mainstream media", plus some edits

: '''[[Machismo]]'''
:''True conservative meaning'' - Being able to stand by your actions and words, not being afraid to [[debate]] against people with different ideas.
: ''False liberal redefinition'' - Disrespect or [[violence]] against [[women]].

: '''[[Mainstream media]]'''
:''True conservative meaning'' - A conglomerate of unreliable "news" sources heavily laden with [[liberal media bias|liberal bias]], known to push leftist causes. Often better known as ''lamestream media''.
:''False liberal redefinition'' - Collective term for reliable sources of news.

: '''[[Marriage]]'''
:''True conservative meaning'' - A lifelong union between one man and one woman under [[God]], as defined in the [[Bible]].
: ''False liberal redefinition'' - A legally-binding domestic relationship based on human-defined wants and needs and subject to termination at will; could include marriage among two or [[polygamy|more]] partners or officially condoned sin in the form of [[same-sex marriage]].

: '''[[Man]]'''
:''True conservative meaning'' - Spiritual offspring of God created in His image.
:''False liberal redefinition'' - The oppressor of women.

: '''[[McCarthyism]]'''
:Date: 1950
:''True conservative meaning'' - going after [[communism|communists]] to prevent [[deceit]] and [[treason]] in the [[government]] and [[society]]
: ''False liberal redefinition'' - to harass or intimidate people and accuse them of treason without good [[evidence]], merely because they hold [[left-wing|leftist]] views

: '''[[meritocracy]]'''
:[[Essay:Best New Conservative Words|Conservative word]]
:Date: 1958
:''True conservative meaning'' - A system where a person's place in [[life]] is decided by merit and talent (See [[Conservapedia]])
:''False liberal redefinition'' - N/A (don't believe in merit)

: '''[[Minutemen]] (historic)'''
: ''True conservative meaning'' - A group of elite [[America|American]] fighters during the [[Revolutionary War]]. Possibly the first commandos.
: ''False liberal redefinition'' - Americans that were able to quickly be armed (within a minute) to repel [[Great Britain|British]] attacks.

: '''Minutemen (present)'''
: ''True conservative meaning'' - A group of volunteers who valiantly defend [[United States|our country]] and its values from [[Mexico|Mexican]] influence by stopping [[illegal immigration|illegals]] from crossing the border.
:'' False liberal redefinition'' - Crazy, violent vigilantes.

: '''moving the goalposts'''
:Date: late 1980s
:''True conservative meaning'' - accusation [[evolution|evolutionists]] use to avoid answering questions
: ''False liberal redefinition'' - a [[fallacy]] where agreed upon conditions for determining an argument are arbitrarily changed after the conditions have been met

:'''[[mobocracy]]'''
:[[Essay:Best New Conservative Words|Conservative word]]
:Date: 1754
:''True conservative meaning'' - rule by mob (see [[Wikipedia]])
:''False liberal redefinition'' - a [[democracy|democratic]], co-operative, participatory and anti-hierarchical system

: '''[[moral majority]]'''
:[[Essay:Best New Conservative Words|Conservative word]]
:Date: 1979
:''True conservative meaning'' - a [[Christian]] [[conservative]] movement
:''False liberal redefinition'' - a far-right, religious fanatic organization that wishes to establish a [[theocracy]] in the United States

{{ConservativeDictionary}}

United States presidential election, 2012

2011-10-11T01:13:01Z

DouglasL: Mention atheism and obesity

''This article is about the '''U.S. Presidential Election 2012'''. See [[Presidential Election 2012 (disambiguation)]]'' for other presidential elections.

'''''The next presidential debate is on October 11, 2011, in [[New Hampshire]]'''''.

The '''Presidential Election 2012''' is on Tuesday, November 6, 2012. [[Obama]], with his [[Barack Obama approval ratings|declining popularity]], is unlikely to win reelection unless he can carry [[Florida]], which he only narrowly won last time.

For the Republican nomination, the leaders are [[Mitt Romney]] (likely to win [[New Hampshire]]) and [[Rick Perry]] (likely to win the South).<ref>The order of the early primaries is not yet finally determined. For estimated dates, see http://www.thegreenpapers.com/P12/events.phtml?s=c</ref> Neither seems to have broad enough support to win the nomination. [[Ron Paul]] has a solid base of about 10% and his ideas are being adopted by other candidates. Additional candidates (perhaps [[Jeb Bush]]) are possible.
__NOTOC__
== Ranking of Potential Republican Candidates by Likelihood of Winning Nomination ==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Candidate
!Pros
!Cons
!Trending ...
|-
|[[Mitt Romney]]
|First runner-up in 2008, business experience, Republican governor of a Democratic state, cut taxes and the deficit, prodigious fundraiser and tireless campaigner, polling at 40% in the key early primary state of [[New Hampshire]], credited for helping [[Scott Brown]] win an upset victory for the seat long held by [[Ted Kennedy]]. Likely to be endorsed by [[Chris Christie]], [[Marsha Blackburn]], [[Jim Talent]]. Only 26% of voters said they would '''''never''''' vote for him, which is the lowest negative of any major Republican candidate.<ref name="Quinnipiac">http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1295.xml?ReleaseID=1595</ref> Out with a new jobs plan.
|Refuses to sign the same [[pro-life]] pledge that all other major [[Republican]] candidates signed;<ref>http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0611/57256.html</ref> continues to believe in [[liberal]] propaganda claiming [[global warming]]; Romney once supported [[abortion]] and [[civil unions]], is criticized by the [[Tea Party Express]] chairwoman and others due to his [[ObamaCare]]-like health plan in [[Massachusetts]], which featured "the mandate" and taxpayer-funded abortion; struggles in Iowa and won only 15% in the South Carolina primary in 2008.
|He has lost ground despite winning most of the debates so far, finished only 5th in the straw poll at the Republican Leadership Conference, and received only 4% in the [[Values Voter Summit]] [[straw poll]] in October 2011.
|-
|[[Jeb Bush]]
|The opportunity for Jeb to win is now, not in 2016 when another Republican would be the incumbent; Jeb is sure to win Florida and Obama cannot win reelection without Florida; [[George W. Bush]]'s book sold far better than expectations, making the name an asset again; Jeb could unite the Republican Party with a late candidacy; is more conservative than his brother [[George W. Bush]]; Jeb has already criticized Palin as a rival candidate might;<ref>In a Newsmax interview in February 2010, Jeb criticized Palin by saying, "my belief is in 2010 and 2012, public leaders need to have intellectual curiosity." [http://www.newser.com/story/81720/jeb-bush-sarah-palin-not-intellectual-enough.html]</ref> Jeb published an editorial on Jan. 3, 2011 taking credit for saving Florida [[public schools]] with vouchers.<ref>http://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2011/jan/03/jeb-bush/jeb-bush-touts-education-gains-wall-street-journal/</ref>
|In February Jeb polled unusually poorly (54-34%) against [[Barack Obama]];<ref>http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/02/14/obama-would-beat-jeb-bush-big-says-poll/</ref> Jeb says he does not intend to run in 2012, when he could still be tagged with negatives via George; not liked by many Tea Partiers; would be seen by many as the "third" Bush.
|With unemployment high (9.1%), it is more likely a Republican will win in 2012, and Jeb might not wait until 2020 when he's old,
|-
|[[Ron Paul]]
|Won the [[CPAC]] poll, terrific on economic issues, can raise the money needed to win; people may look to an anti-war Republican; appeals to many social liberals.
|Voted twice to repeal [[DADT]], which the vast majority of Republican primary voters support; his age (76 in 2012) will be used against him; has never won statewide office; his views on the war on drugs and the military also alienate many Republicans.
|Surprisingly won the Values Voter Summit [[straw poll]] in a landslide in Oct. 2011. Obama's support is lowest when Paul is his opponent. Was the clear crowd favorite in the [[Iowa]] debate on Aug. 10. Finished only 1% behind Michele Bachmann in the Ames straw poll; In an online poll, Paul easily won the [[MSNBC]]-sponsored candidates' debate at the [[Reagan Library]] on September 7.
|-
|[[Herman Cain]]
|Polls the highest on the issue of trust, and seems less scripted than other candidates. A former successful Godfathers Pizza CEO, conservative radio host, Tea Party favorite, tremendous speaker, triumphed over a health problem. Cain has lots of momentum. Won a stunning landslide victory in the Florida [[straw poll]] on September 24.
|Has gotten much more exposure and recognition since winning the Florida straw poll.
|Finished second in the Values Voter Summit in Oct. 2011; has improved significantly in recent polls.
|-
|[[Rick Perry]]
|Announced his candidacy late, on August 13. His support is primarily in the Old South. He is a conservative-talking governor who has run [[Texas]] for a decade (since [[George W. Bush]] became president); crushed [[RINO]] [[Kay Bailey Hutchison]] in the 2010 primary and then won a landslide in the general election, carrying others to victory on his strong coattails; has an excellent jobs record in his State and which he can contrast with liberal-run states. Strong religious faith that he is not afraid to show. Understands the concept of [[states' rights]]. Is a formidable fundraiser.
|It can be argued is more conservative in his rhetoric than his policies; endorsed [[RINO]] [[Rudy Giuliani]] in 2008; tried by executive order to force all schoolgirls (except for parental opt-outs) to receive the [[HPV vaccine]]; raised business taxes while governor; supports exceptions for allowing [[abortion]]; and continues to champion a Texas policy that allows in-state tuition for illegal immigrants. ''Could simply block [[Mitt Romney]] from winning the nomination, without winning it himself''.
|Stumbled in his first major statements on [[abortion]] and [[same-sex marriage]], and then lost support by declaring that he is opposed to building a fence to reduce illegal immigration. May be focusing on a southern strategy that is unlikely to give him the delegates needed to win. Was ahead in national polls after his declaration of candidacy, then fell behind Romney.
Did well in the first debate that he participated in, but seemed awkward or uncomfortable during his second and especially his third debates, causing second thoughts about his electability. Did poorly in the Values Voter Summit [[straw poll]].
|-
|[[Michele Bachmann]]
|A [[movement conservative]] who "knocked the ball out of the park" with her nationally televised response to Obama's [[State of the Union]] address in January 2011, Bachmann is popular with the [[Tea Party movement]]; she is a strong fundraiser and won a stunning 52-40% landslide in 2010 in a liberal-leaning district in [[Minnesota]]. Did very well at [[CPAC]] in Feb. 2011. Bachmann's beliefs are similar to [[Ron Paul]]'s, but she is more of a conservative than libertarian, and is trying to appeal to Ron Paul's fanbase<ref>http://www.lewrockwell.com/politicaltheatre/2011/06/dont-read-that-dangerous-mises/</ref>, thus a Bachmann candidacy could unite Tea Party conservatives.
|As with [[Ronald Reagan]], [[liberal bias]] is at its worst against her; has never won statewide office.
|Did extremely well in the first debate and jumped to #1 in Zogby poll of primary voters. Won the [[Ames Straw Poll]] but was upstaged by Rick Perry's declaration of candidacy on the same day. Has slipped badly in the polls since Perry's entrance.
|-
|[[Newt Gingrich]]
|Articulate, credited with 1994 landslide, balanced the federal budget in the Clinton era, leader in fundraising, likely to obtain endorsement of older "right to life" groups against Mitt;<ref name="April%252525202010%25252520Fundraising">http://www.usnews.com/blogs/robert-schlesinger/2010/04/19/sarah-palin-lags-in-2012-fundraising-primary.html</ref> has one-sided promotion by the [[Fox News Channel]] and the [[WSJ]], who will likely criticize his opponent [[Mitt Romney]]; Gingrich's record of passing [[conservative]] legislation as [[Speaker of the House]] is remarkably strong, including welfare reform, [[DOMA]], the [[Solomon Amendment]], and even [[term limits]]. He also had the courage to shut down the government.
|Has previously endorsed [[liberal]] ideas like "[[cap-and-trade]]" ([[global warming]] hoax) and a [[Con Con]], but when the presidential debates turned instead to illegal immigration, national defense, and Obamacare, Newt came across as knowledgeable and strong. Resigned as Speaker rather than follow through with the impeachment of [[Bill Clinton]]; divorced twice and married three times, most recently to a woman 23 years younger than he; has never won statewide office. Since 9/11, Newt has come to adopt more big-government and pro-regulatory [[neoconservative]] views, unlike the push for limited-government and [[deregulation]] he spearheaded during the 1990s.
|Lost ground when his senior staff jumped ship on June 9th, but may be making a modest comeback. Finished third behind Perry and Romney in a major poll released in late September.
|-
|[[Chris Christie]]
|Led [[Barack Obama]] in Zogby's polling as of January 2011 and again in October; takes on the [[public school]] teachers' unions and is a fiscal reformer who puts liberals in their place; is liked for his budget cuts, particularly to [[Planned Parenthood]]; has an unscripted style and appearance that is a refreshing alternative to the Teleprompter President. Widely discussed as a potential center-right candidate to overtake the Republican primary field with no clear frontrunners. <ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/why-christie-should-run-for-president/2011/09/24/gIQAE3B2yK_story.html Why Christie Should Run For President] Washington Post, retrieved Sept. 26th 2006.</ref> Well liked in his home state, unlike Sarah Palin.
|Significantly overweight and [[atheism and obesity|thus connected with atheists]], Picked a [[pro-abortion]] running mate when he ran for governor, and has little experience with national issues; repeatedly says he is not running; campaigned for [[RINO]] [[Mike Castle]] in [[Delaware]] who was then defeated; neither added [[New Jersey]] to one of the lawsuits against [[ObamaCare]] nor joined an [[amicus brief]] against it; ''will probably support [[Mitt Romney]]''.
|Announced, in a press conference called for the purpose on October 4, his presumably final decision to serve out his term as governor of New Jersey rather than seek the presidency in 2012.
|-
|[[Rick Santorum]]
|Outspoken supporter of conservative values as a senator, well-received by Iowan evangelicals at campaign-like event in March 2010, strongly conservative across the board.
|His all-out support of [[RINO]] and now-Democrat [[Arlen Specter]] prevented [[Pat Toomey]] from defeating him in 2002, although he has regretted it at CPAC 2010; could simply be a [[stalking horse]] for Romney, who he endorsed in 2008.
|Was fabulous in the Iowa debate August 10th, and has won praise for his performance in more recent debates, but has been slow to climb in the polls
|-
|[[Jon Huntsman, Jr.]]
|Has foreign policy and executive experience. Appealing to moderates, although this is because he holds numerous liberal stances.
|Worked in the Obama administration; Criticized the [[economic stimulus package]] as not being big enough, favors Comprehensive Immigration Reform, supports civil unions, and is a believer in man-made global warming; the "civility" candidate adored by the media for being more willing to attack his fellow Republicans than the Democrats; could simply be a [[Utah]] decoy used by [[Team Newt]] to siphon support from [[Mitt Romney]]
|Getting only minimal support, except among the media and multiple Democrats
|-
|[[Marco Rubio]]
|A [[movement conservative]] who could unite the Party, he is the most charismatic speaker in politics today; in the general election he would pull [[Florida]] and many Hispanic voters away from the Democrats. Both of his parents were Cuban exiles seeking asylum in the U.S. at the time of his birth in Miami, making him an inspiring, uniquely American success story. Many Republican voters think he would be the ideal candidate for Vice President.
|Could face the liberal [[double standard]] on two fronts: 1) what's OK for Obama (e.g., inexperience) is somehow not OK for a [[conservative]]. 2) Liberals who have been deriding the strict definition of "natural born citizen" which some conservatives have been applying to Obama might also turn around and use the same logic with Rubio, claiming that his non-citizen parents invalidate his natural-born status. 
|Declared on October 5 that he will not be a candidate for Vice President
|-
|[[Sarah Palin]]
|Empathetic, attracts crowds, personally [[pro-life]], fiscal conservative, popular, track record of supporting upset victories in primaries; had a popular television series and book tour that emphasizes the grassroots rather than the "inside the Beltway" mentality.
|It's difficult to take seriously someone who relies so heavily on [[Facebook]]; even [[liberal]] [[Hollywood]] preferred ''The King's Speech'' at the [[Oscars]]. Her taxation policies were somewhat liberal.<ref>http://community.adn.com/node/112712</ref> Appointed a former [[Planned Parenthood]] board member to the [[Alaska]] Supreme Court and inexplicably resigned early as governor; lags in fundraising despite publicity,<ref name="April%252525202010%25252520Fundraising"/> came in a disappointing fifth in the [[Values Voter Summit]] in September 2010 and fared badly at [[CPAC]]. Several of her prominent 2010 candidates (Ken Buck, Joe Miller, Christine O'Donnell) struck out on Nov. 2nd, and many Republicans from [[George W. Bush]] (allegedly) to [[Peggy Noonan]] have been critical of her running for president.<ref>http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Election-2010/Vox-News/2010/1106/Republican-establishment-takes-on-Sarah-Palin</ref> 58% of American voters in a May poll said they would '''''never''''' vote for her.<ref name="Quinnipiac"/>. Frequently mocked by the [[liberal media]].
|Announced on October 5 that she would not be a candidate for president in 2012. Marist poll conducted September 13-14, 2011 showed gains but also that a large majority of Republicans still didn't want her to run.
|-
|[[Mike Huckabee]]
|Pro-life in rhetoric, pro-Second Amendment and pro-Bible; strong in polling, particularly among evangelicals
|Announced on May 14th that he's not running; was stuck at 20-30%; as governor raised taxes and state spending; released man who later killed officers; disliked by [[CPAC]]-types and by [[Club for Growth]]; supported the cave-in by the Republican leadership to continue funding [[Planned Parenthood]] (the nation's largest [[abortion]] provider) as part of the budget deal in April 2011. Has ruled himself out of contention.<ref>http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2011-05-15-republican-huckabee-president_n.htm</ref>
|Losing relevancy
|-
|[[Donald Trump]]
|Tied for first in [[Gallup Poll]];<ref>As of April 22, 2011.</ref> forced Obama's to take seriously voters' concerns over his birth certificate, and is also willing to criticize liberal media; has business savvy and resources as a billionaire; is well-known.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/10/05/trump-seriously-considering-presidential-bid/?test=latestnews Trump 'Seriously Considering' 2012 Presidential Bid, FOXNews, October 5, 2010]</ref> His unscripted, abrasive and arrogant style may be just what voters want. Not a career politician helps his cause.
|Said he's not running.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/05/16/trump-declines-run-president/</ref> Criticized for his ego and has never held elected office. Needs to explain his previous support of liberal policies such as socialized medicine,<ref>http://www.slate.com/id/2291263/</ref> as well as donating to various Democrats including [[Harry Reid]] in the past. A reliable poll (Quinnipiac) found that 58% of voters said they would '''''never''''' vote for Trump.<ref name="Quinnipiac"/>
|Declining in support
|-
|[[Thad McCotter]]
|Congressman from Michigan who is sometimes promoted by [[Fox News]], and does not need to read from a [[teleprompter]] to give a speech.
|''Thad who?'' Not enough people know who he is yet. Twice this year voted against ending the preference for union labor in government construction projects. Could be seeking name recognition rather than the Republican nomination.<ref>http://apps.detnews.com/apps/blogs/watercooler/index.php </ref>
|Never rose above 1% in polls. Ended his campaign on September 22, 2011 and endorsed Romney.
|-
|[[Rand Paul]]
|Could be the next [[Ronald Reagan]]; is the heir-apparent to massive support for [[Ron Paul]]; won the [[U.S. Senate]] seat by a 56-44% landslide in 2010, despite an intense effort by [[liberals]] to smear and defeat him; is 100% [[pro-life]]. Failure of Congress to cut spending enhances likelihood that voters will turn to someone strong on reducing government.
|Rand, immensely popular after his landslide victory for Senate, will not run for president unless his dad drops his own campaign for the same office. Time is running out for Rand to assert himself as the candidate in 2012.
|Will almost certainly be supporting his dad's run for President.
|-
|[[Allen West]]
|'America First' conservative patriot, Lt. Col West knows leadership from experience. He won the Florida [[U.S. House of Representatives]] seat in the [[2010 Midterm Elections]], and kept a high profile ever since. Sports a crew cut, usually rises above petty [[inside the Beltway]] bickering, and carries a camouflage bag rather than a briefcase
|New to national politics, not well known and maybe a future presidential candidate beyond 2012.
|A terrific congressman
|-
|[[Jim DeMint]]
|Strong support by social conservatives, libertarians,<ref>Jim Demint has the best favorable-unfavorable rating of anyone at CPAC 2010.</ref> Tea Party, and evangelicals; a tenacious advocate willing to criticize Obama
|Stated at a conservative conference in July 2010 that he is not running for president, but after [[Mike Pence]] pulled out in Jan. 2011 Jim DeMint is showing interest again, before announcing again in late March that he is not running; as a Southern conservative, he would need to work hard to gain support in Iowa and New Hampshire, the key early primary states<ref>http://politics.theatlantic.com/2010/02/the_2012_dark_horse_is.php</ref>
|Definitely not running now
|-
|[[Ken Cuccinelli]]
|Has won statewide office. Leader in challenging [[ObamaCare]], advancing [[pro-life]] principles, and opposing the [[global warming]] hoax, including investigating Liberal [[University of Virginia]]'s involvement in the [[Climategate]] scandal. Wants to stop the homosexual agenda prevalent at the University of Virginia and other Virginia universities.
|Only 42 years old, he'll probably become governor of Virginia before running for president. Not as frequent a speaker at Tea Party events as others, such as Steve King and Michele Bachmann. Also, Cuccinelli may be more influential on domestic policy in his current position than a president is.
|Busy achieving good things in his current job
|-
|[[Bobby Jindal]]
|Conservative Governor of [[Louisiana]], strong critic of [[Obama]]'s handling of the [[Gulf oil spill]] in the summer of 2010.
|Says he's not running for president. Has endorsed Perry.
|Made a good statement on birth certificate issue
|-
|[[Tim Pawlenty]]
|Young; popular in his home state of [[Minnesota]]; Had a surprisingly good record on immigration.
|Still not well known outside of Minnesota; signed $893 million in meddlesome fees/taxes including a "health fee" for cigarette smokers (which was ruled unconstitutional), a harvest fee for farmers, a 9-1-1 fee on all telephone lines, a fee for traditional marriage, and large increase in parking fees;<ref>[http://tinyurl.com/3k4p8jf ''Duluth News Tribune'': Fees soar as state taxes hold steady] (2006)</ref> supported the liberal [[cap and trade]]; accepted stimulus funds after arguing against them; lacks a socially conservative base; arranged a meeting with a liberal medical society in 2003 in order to cave into the pro-[[abortion]] side by downplaying medical harm caused by abortion,<ref>http://www.lifenews.com/2003/12/30/state-281/</ref> despite hard-fought passage of the Woman's Right to Know Act mandating disclosure. Came off as as drab and uncompelling. He endorsed Mitt Romney after he ended his own bid.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/09/12/pawlenty-endorses-romney-for-president/</ref>
|Lost ground after a perception of underachieving in the first debate June 13; then his criticism of Michele Bachmann seemed to backfire with her rebuttal in the second debate. Pawlenty finished third in the Iowa Straw Poll and quickly announced that he was ending his bid for the nomination.
|-
|[[Mitch Daniels]]
|Signed a law that defunds [[Planned Parenthood]], has been an effective [[Rust Belt]] governor and critic of the Obama administration, promoted heavily by [[neoconservatives]]
|Stated in May 2011 that he's not running for president. Sided with [[Democrats]] in 2011 in opposing [[right-to-work laws|right-to-work legislation]], is little known nationally, was criticized when he tried to downplay significance of social issues, is not telegenic, lacks a socially conservative base, and his state budget relies heavily on [[gambling]] revenue. Has chastised conservatives for calling Obama a [[socialist]].
|Although not a candidate for President, he has declined to rule out accepting the nomination for Vice President.
|-
|[[Steve King]]
|A conservative Iowa congressman who could win the [[Iowa caucuses]]; resonates well with independents; recommended by Bachmann<ref name="Bachmann">http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/app/blogs/politically_speaking/?p=1205</ref>
|Not well known yet; has never won statewide office.
|Likely to endorse Michele Bachmann, and stay in the House
|-
|[[Mike Pence]]
|Communicates a very strong conservative message: "a Christian, a conservative and a Republican, in that order." Won straw poll held at the [[Values Voter Summit]] in September 2010. On Nov. 3rd, gave up his House leadership position. Has since announced a run for Governor of Indiana in 2012.
|Announced on Jan. 27, 2011 that he's not running for president; previously he unsuccessfully proposed a "comprehensive" immigration plan that was widely criticized by conservatives; lacks legislative achievements; not well-known and has never won statewide office; either he or Huckabee could become a stalking horse for Newt Gingrich with respect to evangelical voters in Iowa
|Focusing on the Indiana governorship
|-
|[[Todd Akin]]
|A [[movement conservative]] from Missouri, which he serves as a congressman
|Running to win a [[U.S. Senate]] seat from a [[liberal]] instead
|Gaining in ability to defeat an incumbent liberal senator
|-
|[[Bob McDonnell]]
|Won landslide election as [[Virginia]] governor; has Obama's height
|Not widely known yet, but gave Republican response to State of the Union in 2010; seemed more conservative as a candidate than as governor
|Falling into obscurity
|-
|[[Gary Johnson]]
|Former [[libertarian]] two-term governor of [[New Mexico]], he has been recommended by [[Ron Paul]], Johnson is a strong advocate of a libertarian belief system.
|Like other libertarians but unlike most Republicans, Johnson favors legalizing marijuana, expanding legal [[immigration]] and allowing same-sex unions. Given Ron Paul's run, there seems to be little support for Gary Johnson in this election cycle.
|Cannot get much support with Ron Paul in the same race, but he did quite well in the second debate that he was allowed to appear in.
|-
|[[Rudy Giuliani]]
|Widely respected for his post-9/11 leadership in New York City
|Struck out completely as a candidate in 2008; very weak on important social issues; cross-dressing for comedic purposes when it suited him
|A throwback to an era and issues that matter less now
|-
|[[Dick Cheney]]
|Prominent and consistent opposition to Obama
|Of dubious health; has explicitly disavowed interest in running
|Not running
|-
|[[John Bolton]]
|Expert on foreign policy and national security issues <ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9I4TTT82&show_article=1 POLITICAL INSIDER: John Bolton weighs a WH run, Breitbart, September 10, 2010]</ref>
|Polarizing figure that Democrats refused to appoint to permanent UN position
|Has ruled out running
|-
|[[Fred Thompson]]
|Former Republican Senator from [[Tennessee]], former presidential candidate, has a loyal following
|Hollywood type, sided with McCain in campaign finance laws that the Supreme Court overturned.
|
|-
|[[Scott Brown]]
|Proven ability to appeal to moderate voters even in a blue state
|Inexperience; already voting with the Democrats in the Senate; voted to repeal [[DADT]], will not repeal [[Obamacare]].
|
|-
|[[Haley Barbour]]
|Rose in ranking based on the victory of his choice as the new [[RNC]] chairman;<ref>http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jan/14/barbour-defeats-boehner-proxy-battle-control-rnc-s/</ref> has a [[conservative]] record as governor of [[Mississippi]]; was a consummate lobbyist and could raise many tens of millions for a campaign.
|Announced in late April 2011 that he is not running; also, rarely seen at conservative conferences, and a Republican from the [[Deep South]] may have trouble attracting independent voters.
|Isn't running
|-
|[[John Thune]]
|Defeated [[Tom Daschle]], relatively conservative voting record for a senator; also taller than Obama, and enjoys broad support
|Announced on Feb. 22, 2011 that he's not running; may lack an essential "fire in the belly";<ref>http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/eye-on-2012/assessing-john-thunes-2012-cha.html?referrer=emaillink</ref> voted for TARP financial bailout<ref>http://hoghouseblog.com/2009/09/01/thune-wants-to-end-bailout-he-voted-for/</ref> and McCain-Feingold campaign finance; no-show at some conservative events; hasn't effectively criticized Obama; could simply become a stalking horse candidate for Gingrich, brought 100 million worth of earmarks in a spending bill, then awkwardly claimed he backed the projects but opposed the bill.
|Not running
|-
|[[Jan Brewer]]
|In 2010, stood up to [[Hillary Clinton]] and [[Barack Obama]] on issue of [[illegal aliens]]
|Caved in to the [[liberals]] in vetoing legislation requiring a birth certificate to get on the presidential ballot for Arizona in 2012; if Brewer ever was conservative, she seems increasingly less so
|Not even conservatives support her after all her vetoes of good bills this year
|-
|[[George Pataki]]
|Well known former 3-term Gov. of New York. Has a track record of tax cuts
|[[RINO]] candidate, [[Pro-abortion]], had health issues in the past, not very compelling
|Not running
|-
|[[Peter King]]
|Conservative congressman from New York that supports [[Pro-life]], energy independence, free trade, expand border fence, battles Muslim extremists in the USA by Homeland Security position.
|Fiscal conservatism lacking: voted for TARP, Cash for Clunkers, CHIP
|Seems more focused on his Homeland Security position in the House than any Presidential aspirations
|-
|}

=== The Chess Game for the Republican Party ===

====Short form====

The short form analysis is this: it probably requires a minimum of $25 million in campaign funds to win the nomination, and more if the candidate lacks a strong [[conservative]] base. Many of the candidates are probably looking to big fundraisers for support, but they are unsure of whom to back. Karl Rove, with all of his contacts from the Bush years, may be able to raise $20 million for a candidate; Haley Barbour might be able to raise even more. Fox News and its allies can raise eight figures also, as they helped reelect [[John McCain]] as senator in 2010.

The fundraising obstacle is no problem for Mitt Romney. Michelle Bachmann could reach that goal also, and benefits from having a strong conservative base too. Ron Paul could sustain his campaign as he did in 2008, relying heavily on the internet. But others lacking in a strong base will struggle unless they can obtain the support of either the Bush/Rove group, or Barbour's network, or Fox News and its allies.

====Long form====
[[File:Ronpaul.jpg|thumb|Ron Paul.]]
There are three key steps to the Republican nomination: Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina. Mitt can win only one out of the three (New Hampshire), leaving an opening for another candidate to win the other two.

There are four basic components of the Republican Party. '''To win the nomination, a candidate needs to obtain the support of at least two out of four''':<ref>Traditionally commentators have referred to the three legs of the Republican Party: the values voters, the small businessmen, and the national security supporters. While that model still has support, it fails to account for recent shifts (such as the Tea Party Movement) and the impact of new media (such as FoxNews).</ref>

#social conservatives (pro-life, pro-marriage, pro-Republican Party platform)
#libertarians (lower taxes, less government, pro-market, anti-union)
#religious voters (Baptists, Presbyterians, Catholics, evangelicals, Mormons)
#neoconservatives (foreign intervention, "better" government)

In 2008, John McCain won the nomination by capturing the support of 1 and 4 above. Ron Paul had the support of 2. Mitt Romney enjoyed support by 2 and part of 3. Mike Huckabee had support of 1 and part of 3. The division of 3 by Romney and Huckabee caused them to block each other: Huckabee blocked Romney in Iowa, and Romney returned the favor in New Hampshire. This dynamic prevented either from winning the nomination.

In 2000, George Bush won with the support of 1 and 3. But John McCain enjoyed the support from 2 and 4 and this enabled him to win the New Hampshire and Michigan primaries, giving Bush a close contest. Some felt McCain mishandled his victory in Michigan.

In 1980, Ronald Reagan had the support of 1 and 2.

== Potential Democratic Candidates ==

McClatchy-Marist survey after the [[2010 Midterm elections]] revealed 46% of Democrats and Democratic leaning independent voters said they don't want President Obama to face a Democratic primary challenge, with 45% saying they do want such a challenge to occur. 40% of Democrats and independents who lean towards the Democrats say they prefer a more conservative challenger, while 39% say they want a challenger who is more liberal. The Marist poll says,
{{Cquote|Interestingly, a plurality of Democrats – 42 percent – would like to see a more liberal challenger while half of Democratic leaning independents – 50 percent – would like to see a more conservative one.}}
The McClatchy-Marist poll indicates that 48 percent of registered voters nationwide plan to vote against the president in 2012, with 36 percent saying they'll vote to re-elect Obama.

A Quinnipiac University survey released after the [[2010 Midterm elections]] indicated that a plurality of Americans don't think Obama deserves to be re-elected to a second term, and an Associated Press-GfK survey in the same time span indicates that 54% believe Obama should be voted out of office in 2012.<ref>http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/11/24/poll-democrats-split-on-2012-obama-primary-challenge/</ref> Former DNC chairman [[Ed Rendell]] suggested on [[MSNBC]], liberal anger over Obama's escalation of the war in Afghanistan could lead to a primary challenge.<ref>http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20011923-503544.html</ref>

The ''[[New York Times]]'' reported many [[liberal]]s are so upset over recommendations by the Deficit Reduction Commission which President Obama himself created after the Democratic controlled Congress voted the idea down,<ref>http://peoplesworld.org/senate-defeats-deficit-commission/</ref> "if Mr. Obama were to embrace its major parts, he would invite a primary challenge in 2012."<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/12/us/politics/12fiscal.html</ref> Clarence B. Jones, who was a personal advisor, legal counsel, and close friend of Dr. [[Martin Luther King, Jr.]], has called for a primary challenge to President Obama.<ref>http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/former-mlk-advisor-calls-primary-chal</ref>

Also Obama's [[Libya#Libyan_uprising_2011|Libyan intervention]] has raised the ire of many prominent leftists who question the [[wisdom]] and [[legal]]ity of the president's actions.<ref>http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0311/51595.html</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Candidate
!Pros
!Cons
![[MSNBC]] exposure
|-
|[[Barack Obama]]
|Ability to compromise and act in a spirit of bi-partisanship when his back's against the wall and career on the line; he's not Hillary Clinton, and he receives endearing support from the media.
|He depends on a teleprompter to speak, and has run the nation into the ground. Numerous broken<ref>http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/rulings/promise-broken/</ref> and unfulfilled<ref>http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/rulings/stalled/</ref> campaign promises, implementation of socialist [[Obamacare]] program. Maybe uphill without help from [[ACORN]].
|Heavily promoted on MSNBC.
|-
|[[Hillary Clinton]]
|Her criticism of Obama's massive deficits hinted at a possible run against him in 2012, and [[Ted Kennedy]] cannot interfere with her nomination this time; moreover, waiting until 2016 is unattractive because she will be 71 then. A recent Bloomberg poll shows she has a 64% approval rating, higher than any other national political figure.<ref>[http://yourjewishnews.com/11198.aspx Hillary Clinton approval rating jumps to 64%.], September 17, 2011. October 1, 2011.</ref> Tested the waters with Bill backing a challenger to Obama's Colorado Senate candidate (who then lost), and by Hillary saying she won't serve a second term as Obama's Secretary of State. The chances of Hillary running and winning the nomination increase with every decline in Obama's approval ratings.
|Has stated numerous times that she will not seek an elected position once she leaves her current position as Secretary of State. Her [[feminism]] is disliked by conservatives, but is popular with liberal women. She'd lose the general election as [[Martha Coakley]] did.
|Disfavored on MSNBC.
|-
|[[Randall Terry]]
|Pro-life, and ardently so, unlike most Democrats. Will make this issue, which most Americans agree with, the cornerstone of his campaign. Is a conservative, and argued in favor of Terri Schavio's family in the case to allow her to live.
|Only recently joined the Democrats, in order to run against Obama in the primary; largely seen as a 'joke' candidate by most people; no media attention, and he likely will never get a chance to go up against Obama in a debate.
|Disfavored on MSNBC, when he's mentioned
|-
|[[Russ Feingold]]
|His dedication to [[progressive]] causes rivals that of Obama, Feingold now has the time to run since his defeat in the 2010 midterms.<ref>http://usforruss.com/?p=55</ref>
|Considered a maverick and [[reform]]er within the Democratic party.
|Disfavored on MSNBC.
|-
|[[Howard Dean]]
|Liberal media personality, politician with physician's license and a former Vermont governor. Opposed [[Obamacare]] in its current form, and declared that government cannot force people to buy health insurance.
|Progressive/Socialist/Marxist philosophy combined with numerous public gaffes. Dean ran in the 2004 presidential elections.
|Heavily promoted on MSNBC.
|-
|[[Bernie Sanders]]
|Has pledged to "do whatever I can" to thwart compromise and thinks the President's legislative proposals are "an absolute disaster and an insult to the vast majority of the American people."
|Genuine out-of-the-closet [[Socialist]], will need to formally register as a Democrat.
|Has appeared on MSNBC.<ref>http://www.thestatecolumn.com/blog/2010/12/sen-bernie-sanders-issues-a-challenge-to-president-obama/</ref>
|-
|[[Evan Bayh]]
|Democratic base sees Bayh's retirement from the Senate as "a symbol of what's wrong with the party" as moderates are increasingly marginalized. <ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/15/evan-bayh-for-president-s_n_463202.html?view=screen Evan Bayh For President? Senator May Be Eyeing White House Run,] Ryan Grim, ''Huffington Post'', 02-15-10.</ref>
|Lags behind Obama in fundraising. [http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00003762&cycle=2010]
|Has appeared on MSNBC.
|-
|[[Dennis Kucinich]]
|Outspoken critic of Obama's escalation of the War in Afghanistan, sellout of the public option and tax cuts for the rich.
|Perennial favorite of special interests, particularly [[AFSCME]], lacks popular support and a wider appeal.
|Promoted on MSNBC.
|-
|[[Alan Grayson]]
|Could do well to rally the progressive base in the anti-war early primary and caucus states of Iowa and New Hampshire.<ref>[http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/12/28/an-anti-war-challenge-to-obama-in-2012-the-case-for-alan-grayso/ "An Anti-War Challenge to Obama in 2012: The Case for Alan Grayson"], ''Politics Daily'', 12-28-2010.</ref>
|Ethical concerns over his 2010 failed reelection bid for the House.
|Heavily favored on MSNBC.
|}

== Independent Candidacy by Mike Bloomberg ==

The man who spent $185 per vote to garner 51% of the vote to remain as Mayor of [[New York City]] in 2009, [[Mike Bloomberg]], is increasingly looking like an independent, self-funded candidate for president in 2012.

$185 per vote times 50 million voters equals $9.25 billion, which he can easily afford as one of the richest men in the world. The catch is that 50 million Americans are not as likely to be persuaded by self-funded campaign ads as 51% of New Yorkers were. Also, it is possible that money is becoming ''less influential'' in campaigns, not more so. The most likely result from a Bloomberg candidacy would be a split in the [[pro-abortion]], pro-[[homosexual agenda]] vote with the [[Democratic]] nominee, facilitating election of the Republican nominee.

==References==
{{reflist}}

== See also ==

*[[Gubernatorial elections, 2010]]

[[Category: United States]]
[[Category: United States Presidential Elections]]
[[Category: United States Presidential Election, 2012]]

United States presidential election, 2012

2011-10-11T01:10:26Z

DouglasL: typo

''This article is about the '''U.S. Presidential Election 2012'''. See [[Presidential Election 2012 (disambiguation)]]'' for other presidential elections.

'''''The next presidential debate is on October 11, 2011, in [[New Hampshire]]'''''.

The '''Presidential Election 2012''' is on Tuesday, November 6, 2012. [[Obama]], with his [[Barack Obama approval ratings|declining popularity]], is unlikely to win reelection unless he can carry [[Florida]], which he only narrowly won last time.

For the Republican nomination, the leaders are [[Mitt Romney]] (likely to win [[New Hampshire]]) and [[Rick Perry]] (likely to win the South).<ref>The order of the early primaries is not yet finally determined. For estimated dates, see http://www.thegreenpapers.com/P12/events.phtml?s=c</ref> Neither seems to have broad enough support to win the nomination. [[Ron Paul]] has a solid base of about 10% and his ideas are being adopted by other candidates. Additional candidates (perhaps [[Jeb Bush]]) are possible.
__NOTOC__
== Ranking of Potential Republican Candidates by Likelihood of Winning Nomination ==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Candidate
!Pros
!Cons
!Trending ...
|-
|[[Mitt Romney]]
|First runner-up in 2008, business experience, Republican governor of a Democratic state, cut taxes and the deficit, prodigious fundraiser and tireless campaigner, polling at 40% in the key early primary state of [[New Hampshire]], credited for helping [[Scott Brown]] win an upset victory for the seat long held by [[Ted Kennedy]]. Likely to be endorsed by [[Chris Christie]], [[Marsha Blackburn]], [[Jim Talent]]. Only 26% of voters said they would '''''never''''' vote for him, which is the lowest negative of any major Republican candidate.<ref name="Quinnipiac">http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1295.xml?ReleaseID=1595</ref> Out with a new jobs plan.
|Refuses to sign the same [[pro-life]] pledge that all other major [[Republican]] candidates signed;<ref>http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0611/57256.html</ref> continues to believe in [[liberal]] propaganda claiming [[global warming]]; Romney once supported [[abortion]] and [[civil unions]], is criticized by the [[Tea Party Express]] chairwoman and others due to his [[ObamaCare]]-like health plan in [[Massachusetts]], which featured "the mandate" and taxpayer-funded abortion; struggles in Iowa and won only 15% in the South Carolina primary in 2008.
|He has lost ground despite winning most of the debates so far, finished only 5th in the straw poll at the Republican Leadership Conference, and received only 4% in the [[Values Voter Summit]] [[straw poll]] in October 2011.
|-
|[[Jeb Bush]]
|The opportunity for Jeb to win is now, not in 2016 when another Republican would be the incumbent; Jeb is sure to win Florida and Obama cannot win reelection without Florida; [[George W. Bush]]'s book sold far better than expectations, making the name an asset again; Jeb could unite the Republican Party with a late candidacy; is more conservative than his brother [[George W. Bush]]; Jeb has already criticized Palin as a rival candidate might;<ref>In a Newsmax interview in February 2010, Jeb criticized Palin by saying, "my belief is in 2010 and 2012, public leaders need to have intellectual curiosity." [http://www.newser.com/story/81720/jeb-bush-sarah-palin-not-intellectual-enough.html]</ref> Jeb published an editorial on Jan. 3, 2011 taking credit for saving Florida [[public schools]] with vouchers.<ref>http://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2011/jan/03/jeb-bush/jeb-bush-touts-education-gains-wall-street-journal/</ref>
|In February Jeb polled unusually poorly (54-34%) against [[Barack Obama]];<ref>http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/02/14/obama-would-beat-jeb-bush-big-says-poll/</ref> Jeb says he does not intend to run in 2012, when he could still be tagged with negatives via George; not liked by many Tea Partiers; would be seen by many as the "third" Bush.
|With unemployment high (9.1%), it is more likely a Republican will win in 2012, and Jeb might not wait until 2020 when he's old,
|-
|[[Ron Paul]]
|Won the [[CPAC]] poll, terrific on economic issues, can raise the money needed to win; people may look to an anti-war Republican; appeals to many social liberals.
|Voted twice to repeal [[DADT]], which the vast majority of Republican primary voters support; his age (76 in 2012) will be used against him; has never won statewide office; his views on the war on drugs and the military also alienate many Republicans.
|Surprisingly won the Values Voter Summit [[straw poll]] in a landslide in Oct. 2011. Obama's support is lowest when Paul is his opponent. Was the clear crowd favorite in the [[Iowa]] debate on Aug. 10. Finished only 1% behind Michele Bachmann in the Ames straw poll; In an online poll, Paul easily won the [[MSNBC]]-sponsored candidates' debate at the [[Reagan Library]] on September 7.
|-
|[[Herman Cain]]
|Polls the highest on the issue of trust, and seems less scripted than other candidates. A former successful Godfathers Pizza CEO, conservative radio host, Tea Party favorite, tremendous speaker, triumphed over a health problem. Cain has lots of momentum. Won a stunning landslide victory in the Florida [[straw poll]] on September 24.
|Has gotten much more exposure and recognition since winning the Florida straw poll.
|Finished second in the Values Voter Summit in Oct. 2011; has improved significantly in recent polls.
|-
|[[Rick Perry]]
|Announced his candidacy late, on August 13. His support is primarily in the Old South. He is a conservative-talking governor who has run [[Texas]] for a decade (since [[George W. Bush]] became president); crushed [[RINO]] [[Kay Bailey Hutchison]] in the 2010 primary and then won a landslide in the general election, carrying others to victory on his strong coattails; has an excellent jobs record in his State and which he can contrast with liberal-run states. Strong religious faith that he is not afraid to show. Understands the concept of [[states' rights]]. Is a formidable fundraiser.
|It can be argued is more conservative in his rhetoric than his policies; endorsed [[RINO]] [[Rudy Giuliani]] in 2008; tried by executive order to force all schoolgirls (except for parental opt-outs) to receive the [[HPV vaccine]]; raised business taxes while governor; supports exceptions for allowing [[abortion]]; and continues to champion a Texas policy that allows in-state tuition for illegal immigrants. ''Could simply block [[Mitt Romney]] from winning the nomination, without winning it himself''.
|Stumbled in his first major statements on [[abortion]] and [[same-sex marriage]], and then lost support by declaring that he is opposed to building a fence to reduce illegal immigration. May be focusing on a southern strategy that is unlikely to give him the delegates needed to win. Was ahead in national polls after his declaration of candidacy, then fell behind Romney.
Did well in the first debate that he participated in, but seemed awkward or uncomfortable during his second and especially his third debates, causing second thoughts about his electability. Did poorly in the Values Voter Summit [[straw poll]].
|-
|[[Michele Bachmann]]
|A [[movement conservative]] who "knocked the ball out of the park" with her nationally televised response to Obama's [[State of the Union]] address in January 2011, Bachmann is popular with the [[Tea Party movement]]; she is a strong fundraiser and won a stunning 52-40% landslide in 2010 in a liberal-leaning district in [[Minnesota]]. Did very well at [[CPAC]] in Feb. 2011. Bachmann's beliefs are similar to [[Ron Paul]]'s, but she is more of a conservative than libertarian, and is trying to appeal to Ron Paul's fanbase<ref>http://www.lewrockwell.com/politicaltheatre/2011/06/dont-read-that-dangerous-mises/</ref>, thus a Bachmann candidacy could unite Tea Party conservatives.
|As with [[Ronald Reagan]], [[liberal bias]] is at its worst against her; has never won statewide office.
|Did extremely well in the first debate and jumped to #1 in Zogby poll of primary voters. Won the [[Ames Straw Poll]] but was upstaged by Rick Perry's declaration of candidacy on the same day. Has slipped badly in the polls since Perry's entrance.
|-
|[[Newt Gingrich]]
|Articulate, credited with 1994 landslide, balanced the federal budget in the Clinton era, leader in fundraising, likely to obtain endorsement of older "right to life" groups against Mitt;<ref name="April%252525202010%25252520Fundraising">http://www.usnews.com/blogs/robert-schlesinger/2010/04/19/sarah-palin-lags-in-2012-fundraising-primary.html</ref> has one-sided promotion by the [[Fox News Channel]] and the [[WSJ]], who will likely criticize his opponent [[Mitt Romney]]; Gingrich's record of passing [[conservative]] legislation as [[Speaker of the House]] is remarkably strong, including welfare reform, [[DOMA]], the [[Solomon Amendment]], and even [[term limits]]. He also had the courage to shut down the government.
|Has previously endorsed [[liberal]] ideas like "[[cap-and-trade]]" ([[global warming]] hoax) and a [[Con Con]], but when the presidential debates turned instead to illegal immigration, national defense, and Obamacare, Newt came across as knowledgeable and strong. Resigned as Speaker rather than follow through with the impeachment of [[Bill Clinton]]; divorced twice and married three times, most recently to a woman 23 years younger than he; has never won statewide office. Since 9/11, Newt has come to adopt more big-government and pro-regulatory [[neoconservative]] views, unlike the push for limited-government and [[deregulation]] he spearheaded during the 1990s.
|Lost ground when his senior staff jumped ship on June 9th, but may be making a modest comeback. Finished third behind Perry and Romney in a major poll released in late September.
|-
|[[Chris Christie]]
|Led [[Barack Obama]] in Zogby's polling as of January 2011 and again in October; takes on the [[public school]] teachers' unions and is a fiscal reformer who puts liberals in their place; is liked for his budget cuts, particularly to [[Planned Parenthood]]; has an unscripted style and appearance that is a refreshing alternative to the Teleprompter President. Widely discussed as a potential center-right candidate to overtake the Republican primary field with no clear frontrunners. <ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/why-christie-should-run-for-president/2011/09/24/gIQAE3B2yK_story.html Why Christie Should Run For President] Washington Post, retrieved Sept. 26th 2006.</ref> Well liked in his home state, unlike Sarah Palin.
|Significantly overweight, Picked a [[pro-abortion]] running mate when he ran for governor, and has little experience with national issues; repeatedly says he is not running; campaigned for [[RINO]] [[Mike Castle]] in [[Delaware]] who was then defeated; neither added [[New Jersey]] to one of the lawsuits against [[ObamaCare]] nor joined an [[amicus brief]] against it; ''will probably support [[Mitt Romney]]''.
|Announced, in a press conference called for the purpose on October 4, his presumably final decision to serve out his term as governor of New Jersey rather than seek the presidency in 2012.
|-
|[[Rick Santorum]]
|Outspoken supporter of conservative values as a senator, well-received by Iowan evangelicals at campaign-like event in March 2010, strongly conservative across the board.
|His all-out support of [[RINO]] and now-Democrat [[Arlen Specter]] prevented [[Pat Toomey]] from defeating him in 2002, although he has regretted it at CPAC 2010; could simply be a [[stalking horse]] for Romney, who he endorsed in 2008.
|Was fabulous in the Iowa debate August 10th, and has won praise for his performance in more recent debates, but has been slow to climb in the polls
|-
|[[Jon Huntsman, Jr.]]
|Has foreign policy and executive experience. Appealing to moderates, although this is because he holds numerous liberal stances.
|Worked in the Obama administration; Criticized the [[economic stimulus package]] as not being big enough, favors Comprehensive Immigration Reform, supports civil unions, and is a believer in man-made global warming; the "civility" candidate adored by the media for being more willing to attack his fellow Republicans than the Democrats; could simply be a [[Utah]] decoy used by [[Team Newt]] to siphon support from [[Mitt Romney]]
|Getting only minimal support, except among the media and multiple Democrats
|-
|[[Marco Rubio]]
|A [[movement conservative]] who could unite the Party, he is the most charismatic speaker in politics today; in the general election he would pull [[Florida]] and many Hispanic voters away from the Democrats. Both of his parents were Cuban exiles seeking asylum in the U.S. at the time of his birth in Miami, making him an inspiring, uniquely American success story. Many Republican voters think he would be the ideal candidate for Vice President.
|Could face the liberal [[double standard]] on two fronts: 1) what's OK for Obama (e.g., inexperience) is somehow not OK for a [[conservative]]. 2) Liberals who have been deriding the strict definition of "natural born citizen" which some conservatives have been applying to Obama might also turn around and use the same logic with Rubio, claiming that his non-citizen parents invalidate his natural-born status. 
|Declared on October 5 that he will not be a candidate for Vice President
|-
|[[Sarah Palin]]
|Empathetic, attracts crowds, personally [[pro-life]], fiscal conservative, popular, track record of supporting upset victories in primaries; had a popular television series and book tour that emphasizes the grassroots rather than the "inside the Beltway" mentality.
|It's difficult to take seriously someone who relies so heavily on [[Facebook]]; even [[liberal]] [[Hollywood]] preferred ''The King's Speech'' at the [[Oscars]]. Her taxation policies were somewhat liberal.<ref>http://community.adn.com/node/112712</ref> Appointed a former [[Planned Parenthood]] board member to the [[Alaska]] Supreme Court and inexplicably resigned early as governor; lags in fundraising despite publicity,<ref name="April%252525202010%25252520Fundraising"/> came in a disappointing fifth in the [[Values Voter Summit]] in September 2010 and fared badly at [[CPAC]]. Several of her prominent 2010 candidates (Ken Buck, Joe Miller, Christine O'Donnell) struck out on Nov. 2nd, and many Republicans from [[George W. Bush]] (allegedly) to [[Peggy Noonan]] have been critical of her running for president.<ref>http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Election-2010/Vox-News/2010/1106/Republican-establishment-takes-on-Sarah-Palin</ref> 58% of American voters in a May poll said they would '''''never''''' vote for her.<ref name="Quinnipiac"/>. Frequently mocked by the [[liberal media]].
|Announced on October 5 that she would not be a candidate for president in 2012. Marist poll conducted September 13-14, 2011 showed gains but also that a large majority of Republicans still didn't want her to run.
|-
|[[Mike Huckabee]]
|Pro-life in rhetoric, pro-Second Amendment and pro-Bible; strong in polling, particularly among evangelicals
|Announced on May 14th that he's not running; was stuck at 20-30%; as governor raised taxes and state spending; released man who later killed officers; disliked by [[CPAC]]-types and by [[Club for Growth]]; supported the cave-in by the Republican leadership to continue funding [[Planned Parenthood]] (the nation's largest [[abortion]] provider) as part of the budget deal in April 2011. Has ruled himself out of contention.<ref>http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2011-05-15-republican-huckabee-president_n.htm</ref>
|Losing relevancy
|-
|[[Donald Trump]]
|Tied for first in [[Gallup Poll]];<ref>As of April 22, 2011.</ref> forced Obama's to take seriously voters' concerns over his birth certificate, and is also willing to criticize liberal media; has business savvy and resources as a billionaire; is well-known.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/10/05/trump-seriously-considering-presidential-bid/?test=latestnews Trump 'Seriously Considering' 2012 Presidential Bid, FOXNews, October 5, 2010]</ref> His unscripted, abrasive and arrogant style may be just what voters want. Not a career politician helps his cause.
|Said he's not running.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/05/16/trump-declines-run-president/</ref> Criticized for his ego and has never held elected office. Needs to explain his previous support of liberal policies such as socialized medicine,<ref>http://www.slate.com/id/2291263/</ref> as well as donating to various Democrats including [[Harry Reid]] in the past. A reliable poll (Quinnipiac) found that 58% of voters said they would '''''never''''' vote for Trump.<ref name="Quinnipiac"/>
|Declining in support
|-
|[[Thad McCotter]]
|Congressman from Michigan who is sometimes promoted by [[Fox News]], and does not need to read from a [[teleprompter]] to give a speech.
|''Thad who?'' Not enough people know who he is yet. Twice this year voted against ending the preference for union labor in government construction projects. Could be seeking name recognition rather than the Republican nomination.<ref>http://apps.detnews.com/apps/blogs/watercooler/index.php </ref>
|Never rose above 1% in polls. Ended his campaign on September 22, 2011 and endorsed Romney.
|-
|[[Rand Paul]]
|Could be the next [[Ronald Reagan]]; is the heir-apparent to massive support for [[Ron Paul]]; won the [[U.S. Senate]] seat by a 56-44% landslide in 2010, despite an intense effort by [[liberals]] to smear and defeat him; is 100% [[pro-life]]. Failure of Congress to cut spending enhances likelihood that voters will turn to someone strong on reducing government.
|Rand, immensely popular after his landslide victory for Senate, will not run for president unless his dad drops his own campaign for the same office. Time is running out for Rand to assert himself as the candidate in 2012.
|Will almost certainly be supporting his dad's run for President.
|-
|[[Allen West]]
|'America First' conservative patriot, Lt. Col West knows leadership from experience. He won the Florida [[U.S. House of Representatives]] seat in the [[2010 Midterm Elections]], and kept a high profile ever since. Sports a crew cut, usually rises above petty [[inside the Beltway]] bickering, and carries a camouflage bag rather than a briefcase
|New to national politics, not well known and maybe a future presidential candidate beyond 2012.
|A terrific congressman
|-
|[[Jim DeMint]]
|Strong support by social conservatives, libertarians,<ref>Jim Demint has the best favorable-unfavorable rating of anyone at CPAC 2010.</ref> Tea Party, and evangelicals; a tenacious advocate willing to criticize Obama
|Stated at a conservative conference in July 2010 that he is not running for president, but after [[Mike Pence]] pulled out in Jan. 2011 Jim DeMint is showing interest again, before announcing again in late March that he is not running; as a Southern conservative, he would need to work hard to gain support in Iowa and New Hampshire, the key early primary states<ref>http://politics.theatlantic.com/2010/02/the_2012_dark_horse_is.php</ref>
|Definitely not running now
|-
|[[Ken Cuccinelli]]
|Has won statewide office. Leader in challenging [[ObamaCare]], advancing [[pro-life]] principles, and opposing the [[global warming]] hoax, including investigating Liberal [[University of Virginia]]'s involvement in the [[Climategate]] scandal. Wants to stop the homosexual agenda prevalent at the University of Virginia and other Virginia universities.
|Only 42 years old, he'll probably become governor of Virginia before running for president. Not as frequent a speaker at Tea Party events as others, such as Steve King and Michele Bachmann. Also, Cuccinelli may be more influential on domestic policy in his current position than a president is.
|Busy achieving good things in his current job
|-
|[[Bobby Jindal]]
|Conservative Governor of [[Louisiana]], strong critic of [[Obama]]'s handling of the [[Gulf oil spill]] in the summer of 2010.
|Says he's not running for president. Has endorsed Perry.
|Made a good statement on birth certificate issue
|-
|[[Tim Pawlenty]]
|Young; popular in his home state of [[Minnesota]]; Had a surprisingly good record on immigration.
|Still not well known outside of Minnesota; signed $893 million in meddlesome fees/taxes including a "health fee" for cigarette smokers (which was ruled unconstitutional), a harvest fee for farmers, a 9-1-1 fee on all telephone lines, a fee for traditional marriage, and large increase in parking fees;<ref>[http://tinyurl.com/3k4p8jf ''Duluth News Tribune'': Fees soar as state taxes hold steady] (2006)</ref> supported the liberal [[cap and trade]]; accepted stimulus funds after arguing against them; lacks a socially conservative base; arranged a meeting with a liberal medical society in 2003 in order to cave into the pro-[[abortion]] side by downplaying medical harm caused by abortion,<ref>http://www.lifenews.com/2003/12/30/state-281/</ref> despite hard-fought passage of the Woman's Right to Know Act mandating disclosure. Came off as as drab and uncompelling. He endorsed Mitt Romney after he ended his own bid.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/09/12/pawlenty-endorses-romney-for-president/</ref>
|Lost ground after a perception of underachieving in the first debate June 13; then his criticism of Michele Bachmann seemed to backfire with her rebuttal in the second debate. Pawlenty finished third in the Iowa Straw Poll and quickly announced that he was ending his bid for the nomination.
|-
|[[Mitch Daniels]]
|Signed a law that defunds [[Planned Parenthood]], has been an effective [[Rust Belt]] governor and critic of the Obama administration, promoted heavily by [[neoconservatives]]
|Stated in May 2011 that he's not running for president. Sided with [[Democrats]] in 2011 in opposing [[right-to-work laws|right-to-work legislation]], is little known nationally, was criticized when he tried to downplay significance of social issues, is not telegenic, lacks a socially conservative base, and his state budget relies heavily on [[gambling]] revenue. Has chastised conservatives for calling Obama a [[socialist]].
|Although not a candidate for President, he has declined to rule out accepting the nomination for Vice President.
|-
|[[Steve King]]
|A conservative Iowa congressman who could win the [[Iowa caucuses]]; resonates well with independents; recommended by Bachmann<ref name="Bachmann">http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/app/blogs/politically_speaking/?p=1205</ref>
|Not well known yet; has never won statewide office.
|Likely to endorse Michele Bachmann, and stay in the House
|-
|[[Mike Pence]]
|Communicates a very strong conservative message: "a Christian, a conservative and a Republican, in that order." Won straw poll held at the [[Values Voter Summit]] in September 2010. On Nov. 3rd, gave up his House leadership position. Has since announced a run for Governor of Indiana in 2012.
|Announced on Jan. 27, 2011 that he's not running for president; previously he unsuccessfully proposed a "comprehensive" immigration plan that was widely criticized by conservatives; lacks legislative achievements; not well-known and has never won statewide office; either he or Huckabee could become a stalking horse for Newt Gingrich with respect to evangelical voters in Iowa
|Focusing on the Indiana governorship
|-
|[[Todd Akin]]
|A [[movement conservative]] from Missouri, which he serves as a congressman
|Running to win a [[U.S. Senate]] seat from a [[liberal]] instead
|Gaining in ability to defeat an incumbent liberal senator
|-
|[[Bob McDonnell]]
|Won landslide election as [[Virginia]] governor; has Obama's height
|Not widely known yet, but gave Republican response to State of the Union in 2010; seemed more conservative as a candidate than as governor
|Falling into obscurity
|-
|[[Gary Johnson]]
|Former [[libertarian]] two-term governor of [[New Mexico]], he has been recommended by [[Ron Paul]], Johnson is a strong advocate of a libertarian belief system.
|Like other libertarians but unlike most Republicans, Johnson favors legalizing marijuana, expanding legal [[immigration]] and allowing same-sex unions. Given Ron Paul's run, there seems to be little support for Gary Johnson in this election cycle.
|Cannot get much support with Ron Paul in the same race, but he did quite well in the second debate that he was allowed to appear in.
|-
|[[Rudy Giuliani]]
|Widely respected for his post-9/11 leadership in New York City
|Struck out completely as a candidate in 2008; very weak on important social issues; cross-dressing for comedic purposes when it suited him
|A throwback to an era and issues that matter less now
|-
|[[Dick Cheney]]
|Prominent and consistent opposition to Obama
|Of dubious health; has explicitly disavowed interest in running
|Not running
|-
|[[John Bolton]]
|Expert on foreign policy and national security issues <ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9I4TTT82&show_article=1 POLITICAL INSIDER: John Bolton weighs a WH run, Breitbart, September 10, 2010]</ref>
|Polarizing figure that Democrats refused to appoint to permanent UN position
|Has ruled out running
|-
|[[Fred Thompson]]
|Former Republican Senator from [[Tennessee]], former presidential candidate, has a loyal following
|Hollywood type, sided with McCain in campaign finance laws that the Supreme Court overturned.
|
|-
|[[Scott Brown]]
|Proven ability to appeal to moderate voters even in a blue state
|Inexperience; already voting with the Democrats in the Senate; voted to repeal [[DADT]], will not repeal [[Obamacare]].
|
|-
|[[Haley Barbour]]
|Rose in ranking based on the victory of his choice as the new [[RNC]] chairman;<ref>http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jan/14/barbour-defeats-boehner-proxy-battle-control-rnc-s/</ref> has a [[conservative]] record as governor of [[Mississippi]]; was a consummate lobbyist and could raise many tens of millions for a campaign.
|Announced in late April 2011 that he is not running; also, rarely seen at conservative conferences, and a Republican from the [[Deep South]] may have trouble attracting independent voters.
|Isn't running
|-
|[[John Thune]]
|Defeated [[Tom Daschle]], relatively conservative voting record for a senator; also taller than Obama, and enjoys broad support
|Announced on Feb. 22, 2011 that he's not running; may lack an essential "fire in the belly";<ref>http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/eye-on-2012/assessing-john-thunes-2012-cha.html?referrer=emaillink</ref> voted for TARP financial bailout<ref>http://hoghouseblog.com/2009/09/01/thune-wants-to-end-bailout-he-voted-for/</ref> and McCain-Feingold campaign finance; no-show at some conservative events; hasn't effectively criticized Obama; could simply become a stalking horse candidate for Gingrich, brought 100 million worth of earmarks in a spending bill, then awkwardly claimed he backed the projects but opposed the bill.
|Not running
|-
|[[Jan Brewer]]
|In 2010, stood up to [[Hillary Clinton]] and [[Barack Obama]] on issue of [[illegal aliens]]
|Caved in to the [[liberals]] in vetoing legislation requiring a birth certificate to get on the presidential ballot for Arizona in 2012; if Brewer ever was conservative, she seems increasingly less so
|Not even conservatives support her after all her vetoes of good bills this year
|-
|[[George Pataki]]
|Well known former 3-term Gov. of New York. Has a track record of tax cuts
|[[RINO]] candidate, [[Pro-abortion]], had health issues in the past, not very compelling
|Not running
|-
|[[Peter King]]
|Conservative congressman from New York that supports [[Pro-life]], energy independence, free trade, expand border fence, battles Muslim extremists in the USA by Homeland Security position.
|Fiscal conservatism lacking: voted for TARP, Cash for Clunkers, CHIP
|Seems more focused on his Homeland Security position in the House than any Presidential aspirations
|-
|}

=== The Chess Game for the Republican Party ===

====Short form====

The short form analysis is this: it probably requires a minimum of $25 million in campaign funds to win the nomination, and more if the candidate lacks a strong [[conservative]] base. Many of the candidates are probably looking to big fundraisers for support, but they are unsure of whom to back. Karl Rove, with all of his contacts from the Bush years, may be able to raise $20 million for a candidate; Haley Barbour might be able to raise even more. Fox News and its allies can raise eight figures also, as they helped reelect [[John McCain]] as senator in 2010.

The fundraising obstacle is no problem for Mitt Romney. Michelle Bachmann could reach that goal also, and benefits from having a strong conservative base too. Ron Paul could sustain his campaign as he did in 2008, relying heavily on the internet. But others lacking in a strong base will struggle unless they can obtain the support of either the Bush/Rove group, or Barbour's network, or Fox News and its allies.

====Long form====
[[File:Ronpaul.jpg|thumb|Ron Paul.]]
There are three key steps to the Republican nomination: Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina. Mitt can win only one out of the three (New Hampshire), leaving an opening for another candidate to win the other two.

There are four basic components of the Republican Party. '''To win the nomination, a candidate needs to obtain the support of at least two out of four''':<ref>Traditionally commentators have referred to the three legs of the Republican Party: the values voters, the small businessmen, and the national security supporters. While that model still has support, it fails to account for recent shifts (such as the Tea Party Movement) and the impact of new media (such as FoxNews).</ref>

#social conservatives (pro-life, pro-marriage, pro-Republican Party platform)
#libertarians (lower taxes, less government, pro-market, anti-union)
#religious voters (Baptists, Presbyterians, Catholics, evangelicals, Mormons)
#neoconservatives (foreign intervention, "better" government)

In 2008, John McCain won the nomination by capturing the support of 1 and 4 above. Ron Paul had the support of 2. Mitt Romney enjoyed support by 2 and part of 3. Mike Huckabee had support of 1 and part of 3. The division of 3 by Romney and Huckabee caused them to block each other: Huckabee blocked Romney in Iowa, and Romney returned the favor in New Hampshire. This dynamic prevented either from winning the nomination.

In 2000, George Bush won with the support of 1 and 3. But John McCain enjoyed the support from 2 and 4 and this enabled him to win the New Hampshire and Michigan primaries, giving Bush a close contest. Some felt McCain mishandled his victory in Michigan.

In 1980, Ronald Reagan had the support of 1 and 2.

== Potential Democratic Candidates ==

McClatchy-Marist survey after the [[2010 Midterm elections]] revealed 46% of Democrats and Democratic leaning independent voters said they don't want President Obama to face a Democratic primary challenge, with 45% saying they do want such a challenge to occur. 40% of Democrats and independents who lean towards the Democrats say they prefer a more conservative challenger, while 39% say they want a challenger who is more liberal. The Marist poll says,
{{Cquote|Interestingly, a plurality of Democrats – 42 percent – would like to see a more liberal challenger while half of Democratic leaning independents – 50 percent – would like to see a more conservative one.}}
The McClatchy-Marist poll indicates that 48 percent of registered voters nationwide plan to vote against the president in 2012, with 36 percent saying they'll vote to re-elect Obama.

A Quinnipiac University survey released after the [[2010 Midterm elections]] indicated that a plurality of Americans don't think Obama deserves to be re-elected to a second term, and an Associated Press-GfK survey in the same time span indicates that 54% believe Obama should be voted out of office in 2012.<ref>http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/11/24/poll-democrats-split-on-2012-obama-primary-challenge/</ref> Former DNC chairman [[Ed Rendell]] suggested on [[MSNBC]], liberal anger over Obama's escalation of the war in Afghanistan could lead to a primary challenge.<ref>http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20011923-503544.html</ref>

The ''[[New York Times]]'' reported many [[liberal]]s are so upset over recommendations by the Deficit Reduction Commission which President Obama himself created after the Democratic controlled Congress voted the idea down,<ref>http://peoplesworld.org/senate-defeats-deficit-commission/</ref> "if Mr. Obama were to embrace its major parts, he would invite a primary challenge in 2012."<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/12/us/politics/12fiscal.html</ref> Clarence B. Jones, who was a personal advisor, legal counsel, and close friend of Dr. [[Martin Luther King, Jr.]], has called for a primary challenge to President Obama.<ref>http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/former-mlk-advisor-calls-primary-chal</ref>

Also Obama's [[Libya#Libyan_uprising_2011|Libyan intervention]] has raised the ire of many prominent leftists who question the [[wisdom]] and [[legal]]ity of the president's actions.<ref>http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0311/51595.html</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Candidate
!Pros
!Cons
![[MSNBC]] exposure
|-
|[[Barack Obama]]
|Ability to compromise and act in a spirit of bi-partisanship when his back's against the wall and career on the line; he's not Hillary Clinton, and he receives endearing support from the media.
|He depends on a teleprompter to speak, and has run the nation into the ground. Numerous broken<ref>http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/rulings/promise-broken/</ref> and unfulfilled<ref>http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/rulings/stalled/</ref> campaign promises, implementation of socialist [[Obamacare]] program. Maybe uphill without help from [[ACORN]].
|Heavily promoted on MSNBC.
|-
|[[Hillary Clinton]]
|Her criticism of Obama's massive deficits hinted at a possible run against him in 2012, and [[Ted Kennedy]] cannot interfere with her nomination this time; moreover, waiting until 2016 is unattractive because she will be 71 then. A recent Bloomberg poll shows she has a 64% approval rating, higher than any other national political figure.<ref>[http://yourjewishnews.com/11198.aspx Hillary Clinton approval rating jumps to 64%.], September 17, 2011. October 1, 2011.</ref> Tested the waters with Bill backing a challenger to Obama's Colorado Senate candidate (who then lost), and by Hillary saying she won't serve a second term as Obama's Secretary of State. The chances of Hillary running and winning the nomination increase with every decline in Obama's approval ratings.
|Has stated numerous times that she will not seek an elected position once she leaves her current position as Secretary of State. Her [[feminism]] is disliked by conservatives, but is popular with liberal women. She'd lose the general election as [[Martha Coakley]] did.
|Disfavored on MSNBC.
|-
|[[Randall Terry]]
|Pro-life, and ardently so, unlike most Democrats. Will make this issue, which most Americans agree with, the cornerstone of his campaign. Is a conservative, and argued in favor of Terri Schavio's family in the case to allow her to live.
|Only recently joined the Democrats, in order to run against Obama in the primary; largely seen as a 'joke' candidate by most people; no media attention, and he likely will never get a chance to go up against Obama in a debate.
|Disfavored on MSNBC, when he's mentioned
|-
|[[Russ Feingold]]
|His dedication to [[progressive]] causes rivals that of Obama, Feingold now has the time to run since his defeat in the 2010 midterms.<ref>http://usforruss.com/?p=55</ref>
|Considered a maverick and [[reform]]er within the Democratic party.
|Disfavored on MSNBC.
|-
|[[Howard Dean]]
|Liberal media personality, politician with physician's license and a former Vermont governor. Opposed [[Obamacare]] in its current form, and declared that government cannot force people to buy health insurance.
|Progressive/Socialist/Marxist philosophy combined with numerous public gaffes. Dean ran in the 2004 presidential elections.
|Heavily promoted on MSNBC.
|-
|[[Bernie Sanders]]
|Has pledged to "do whatever I can" to thwart compromise and thinks the President's legislative proposals are "an absolute disaster and an insult to the vast majority of the American people."
|Genuine out-of-the-closet [[Socialist]], will need to formally register as a Democrat.
|Has appeared on MSNBC.<ref>http://www.thestatecolumn.com/blog/2010/12/sen-bernie-sanders-issues-a-challenge-to-president-obama/</ref>
|-
|[[Evan Bayh]]
|Democratic base sees Bayh's retirement from the Senate as "a symbol of what's wrong with the party" as moderates are increasingly marginalized. <ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/15/evan-bayh-for-president-s_n_463202.html?view=screen Evan Bayh For President? Senator May Be Eyeing White House Run,] Ryan Grim, ''Huffington Post'', 02-15-10.</ref>
|Lags behind Obama in fundraising. [http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00003762&cycle=2010]
|Has appeared on MSNBC.
|-
|[[Dennis Kucinich]]
|Outspoken critic of Obama's escalation of the War in Afghanistan, sellout of the public option and tax cuts for the rich.
|Perennial favorite of special interests, particularly [[AFSCME]], lacks popular support and a wider appeal.
|Promoted on MSNBC.
|-
|[[Alan Grayson]]
|Could do well to rally the progressive base in the anti-war early primary and caucus states of Iowa and New Hampshire.<ref>[http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/12/28/an-anti-war-challenge-to-obama-in-2012-the-case-for-alan-grayso/ "An Anti-War Challenge to Obama in 2012: The Case for Alan Grayson"], ''Politics Daily'', 12-28-2010.</ref>
|Ethical concerns over his 2010 failed reelection bid for the House.
|Heavily favored on MSNBC.
|}

== Independent Candidacy by Mike Bloomberg ==

The man who spent $185 per vote to garner 51% of the vote to remain as Mayor of [[New York City]] in 2009, [[Mike Bloomberg]], is increasingly looking like an independent, self-funded candidate for president in 2012.

$185 per vote times 50 million voters equals $9.25 billion, which he can easily afford as one of the richest men in the world. The catch is that 50 million Americans are not as likely to be persuaded by self-funded campaign ads as 51% of New Yorkers were. Also, it is possible that money is becoming ''less influential'' in campaigns, not more so. The most likely result from a Bloomberg candidacy would be a split in the [[pro-abortion]], pro-[[homosexual agenda]] vote with the [[Democratic]] nominee, facilitating election of the Republican nominee.

==References==
{{reflist}}

== See also ==

*[[Gubernatorial elections, 2010]]

[[Category: United States]]
[[Category: United States Presidential Elections]]
[[Category: United States Presidential Election, 2012]]

Conservative Dictionary Project (A)

2011-09-05T23:55:58Z

DouglasL: add 'atheism', an important word for understanding the ugly roots of liberalism

:'''[[Abstinence]]'''
:''True conservative meaning'' - Choosing to remain true to one's values and refraining from sexual behaviour until marriage
:''False liberal redefinition''- Denying one's true impulses

:'''[[acid rain]]'''
:''True conservative meaning'' - Possibly true idea that pollution returns to earth in the harmful rain.
:''False liberal redefinition''- An excuse to stifle industry with government regulation.

:'''[[Ad Hominem]]'''
:''True conservative meaning'' - A debate tactic where the opponent is attacked instead of their ideas, frequently used by foolish liberals.
:''False liberal redefinition'' - Accurately pointing out that someone is not qualified or informed enough to give a relevant opinion, sometimes used by conservatives and objected to by liberals.

:'''[[Affirmative Action]]'''
:Date: 20th century
:''True conservative meaning'' - Reverse discrimination.
:''False liberal redefinition'' - A way of helping [[people of color]].

:'''[[altruism]]'''
:''True conservative meaning'' - Self sacrifice in the model of Jesus.
:''False liberal redefinition'' - No definition (Liberals frequently argue that altruism doesn't exist.)

:'''[[Amendment]]'''
:''True conservative meaning'' - An alteration to a bill or constitution.

:'''[[Anarchist]]'''
:''True conservative meaning'' - Far left extremists who use terrorism to promote the failed concept of communism.
:''False liberal redefinition'' - Someone who supports the [[free market]].

:'''[[animal]]'''
:''True Conservative meaning'' - One of the creatures of the land, earth, and sea given to man to have dominion over.
:''False liberal redefinition'' - Simply a scientific term for one of the kingdoms of life, a definition which does not lift humans above others.

:'''[[atheism]]'''
:''True Conservative meaning'' - Denial of God's existence, a discredited and failing liberal worldview known to cause mass murder, immorality, uncharitableness, obesity and other negative consequences.
:''False liberal redefinition'' - a religion based on the belief in science rather than in a supreme being

:'''[[Autocracy]]'''
:''True conservative meaning'' - The rule of a single person with unlimited authority. This is the system liberals want.
:''False liberal redefinition'' - Dictatorship of the proletariat.

:'''[[Axis of Evil]]'''
:''True conservative meaning'' - A group of countries who are sworn enemies of the US: [[North Korea]], [[Iran]], [[Iraq]].
:''False liberal redefinition'' - A term made up by [[George W. Bush]] to get support to go to war.
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Conservative Dictionary Project (Z)

2011-09-05T23:48:47Z

DouglasL: fix red link

: '''zebra'''
:Date: 1600s
: ''True conservative meaning'' - an African member of the horse [[baramin]], notable for its black or dark brown stripes

American Heroism

2011-08-30T07:26:08Z

DouglasL: Sally Ride supported Barack Hussein Obama for president; add a few heroes; spelling

'''American heroes''' are men who represent American values.

==Heroes==
*[[Neil Armstrong]]
*[[John Ashcroft]]
*[[Glenn Beck]]
*[[George W. Bush]]
*[[Dick Cheney]]
*[[Frederick Douglass]]
*[[Benjamin Franklin]]
*[[Barry Goldwater]]
*[[Sean Hannity]]
*[[Mike Huckabee]]
*[[Michael Jordan]]
*[[Martin Luther King]]
*[[Robert E. Lee]]
*[[Rush Limbaugh]]
*[[Abraham Lincoln]]
*[[Joseph McCarthy]]
*[[Chuck Norris]]
*[[Bill O'Reilly]]
*[[Thomas Paine]]
*[[Rick Perry]]
*[[Ronald Reagan]]
*[[Donald Rumsfeld]]
*[[Antonin Scalia]]
*[[User:Aschlafly|Andrew Schlafly]]
*[[Clarence Thomas]]
*[[Pat Tillman]]
*[[Booker T. Washington]]
*[[George Washington]]
*[[John Wayne]]
*[[Rudy Giuliani]]
*[[Michael Savage]]
*[[Newt Gingrich]]

==Heroines==
American heroines are women who exemplify American values while maintaining their traditional role in the home.
*[[Sharron Angle]]
*[[Susan B. Anthony]]
*[[Michele Bachmann]]
*[[Clara Barton]]
*[[Ann Coulter]]
*[[Amelia Earhart]]
*[[Helen Keller]]
*[[Sarah Palin]]
*[[Phyllis Schlafly]]
*[[Sojourner Truth]]
*[[Harriet Tubman]]
*[[Condoleeza Rice]]

Conservative media

2011-06-01T17:08:58Z

DouglasL: /* Conservative News */ add one

'''Conservative media''' refers to [[media]] which tends to be geared to the American political right in content. Leaders of America's conservative movement have rightfully claimed that the liberals have control of what is said in the national media. The internet, AM talk radio and Fox News Channel led to an explosion of popular conservative news sources. As conservative media has grown, [[liberal media]] is suffering from dwindling advertising, popularity and credibility. You'll hear prominent [[liberal]] politicians lamenting liberal media's demise and offering support for [[censorship]] through legislative means, by the [[Fairness Doctrine]] or financial assistance by means of taxpayer bailouts.

==Conservative News==

*[[Fox News]]
*[[Breitbart]]
*[[NewsMax]]
*[[CNSNews]]
*[[Town Hall]]
*[[American Thinker]]
*[[Red State]]
*[[The Daily Caller]]
*[[Drudge Report]]
*[[Human Events]]
*[[Right Wing News]]
*[[Canada Free Press]]
*[[Free Republic]]
*[[WorldNetDaily]]
*[[OneNewsNow.com]]
*[[The Hill]]
*[[Catholic Edition]]
*[[Washington Times]]
*[[Hot Air]]
*[[Newsbusters]]
*[[LifeNews.com]]
*[[Pajamas Media]]
*[[National Review Online]]
*[[Gateway Pundit]]
*[[National Catholic Reporter]]
*[[Washington Examiner]]
*[[Military Times]]
*[[RIGHTNETWORK]]
*[[Voice of America]]
*[[The Blaze]]
*[[United Press International]]
*[[Patheos]]
*[[Catholic News Service]]
*[[The New Media Journal]]
*[[Spero News]]
*[[LifeSiteNews]]
*[[Conservative News and Views]]

==Conservative Talk Radio==

*[[Rush Limbaugh]]
*[[Glenn Beck]]
*[[Mark Levin]]
*[[Hugh Hewitt]]
*[[Sean Hannity]]
*[[Laura Ingraham]]
*[[Dana Loesch]]
*[[G. Gordon Liddy]]
*[[Dennis Prager]]
*[[Monica Crowley]]
*[[Michael Reagan]]
*[[Phyllis Schlafly]]
*[[Tammy Bruce]]
*[[Herman Cain]]
*[[Dennis Miller]]
*[[Neal Boortz]]
*[[Michael Savage]]
*[[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]]
*[[Mark Davis]]
*[[Greg Garrison]]
*[[Steve Malzberg]]
*[[Tom Sullivan]]
*[[Michael Medved]]
*[[Howie Carr]]
*[[Jay Severin]]
*[[Mark Davis]]
*[[Mike Rosen]]
*[[Jay Sekulow]]
*[[Mike McConnell]]
*[[Chris Baker]]
*[[Cal Thomas]]
*[[Michael Berry]]
*[[Lee Rodgers]]
*[[Ben Shapiro]]
*[[John Gibson]]
*[[Mancow | Mancow Muller]]
*[[Mike Gallagher]]
*[[Roger Hedgecock]]
*[[Bill Cunningham]]
*[[Lars Larson]]
*[[Curtis Sliwa]]
*[[Ed Morrissey]]
*[[Michael Koolidge]]
*[[Scott Hennen]]
*[[Larry Elder]]
*[[Michael Graham]]
*[[Andrew Wilkow]]
*[[Rusty Humphries]]
*[[Tony Katz]]

==Conservative Newspapers / Magazines==

*[[Wall Street Journal]]
*[[The Weekly Standard]]
*[[Washington Times]]
*[[American Spectator ]]
*[[Christian Science Monitor]]
*[[Forbes]]
*[[The Hill]]
*[[NY Post]]
*[[Human Events]]
*[[National Review]]
*[[National Journal]]
*[[Investors Business Daily]]
*[[American Conservative Magazine]]
*[[Modern Age]]
*[[The New American]]
*[[Chronicles (magazine)]]
*[[Soldier of Fortune]]
*[[Army Times]]
*[[Commentary Magazine]]
*[[Reason (magazine)]]
*[[Townhall]]
*[[Libertas]]
*[[Whistleblower]]
*[[NewsMax]]
*[[Tea Party Review]]
*[[City Journal]]
*[[Commentary]]
*[[Imprimis]]
*[[The Advocate]]

==Conservative Media Watchdogs==

*[[NewsBusters]]
*[[Accuracy in Media]]
*[[Media Research Center]]
*[[Parents Television Council]]
*[[Media Fairness Caucus]]
*[[Family Research Council]]
*[[American Family Association]]
*[[American Decency Association]]
*[[Culture and Media Institute]]
*[[Morality in Media]]

==Conservative Media Personalities==

*[[Bill O'Reilly]]
*[[Chris Wallace]]
*[[Brit Hume]]
*[[Ann Coulter]]
*[[Sarah Palin]]
*[[Elizabeth Hasslebeck]]
*[[Charles Krauthammer]]
*[[Patrick J. Buchanan]]
*[[Megyn Kelly]]
*[[Dana Perino]]
*[[Dick Morris]]
*[[Bernie Goldberg]]
*[[Bill Kristol]]
*[[Oliver North]]
*[[Sean Hannity]]
*[[Glenn Beck]]
*[[Steve Forbes]]
*[[James Dobson]]
*[[Andrew Napolitano]]
*[[Dr. Laura Schlessinger]]
*[[Lou Dobbs]]
*[[David Limbaugh]]
*[[Greg Gutfeld]]
*[[Karl Rove]]
*[[Mike Huckabee]]
*[[S.E. Cupp]]
*[[John Stossel]]
*[[Newt Gingrich]]
*[[Rick Santorum]]
*[[Bret Baier]]
*[[Brent Bozell]]
*[[Lynne Cheney]]
*[[Fred Barnes]]
*[[Neil Cavuto]]
*[[John Bolton]]
*[[Larry Kudlow]]
*[[Dennis Miller]]
*[[Jedediah Bila]]
*[[Ralph Reed]]
*[[Tony Perkins]]
*[[Mitt Romney]]
*[[Bill Bennett]]
*[[Ken Blackwell]]
*[[Kimberly Guilfoyle]]
*[[Dinesh D'Souza]]
*[[Gerald Celente]]
*[[Frank Luntz]]
*[[Rick Santelli]]
*[[Ari Fleischer]]
*[[Michael Barone]]
*[[Daniel Pipes]]

==Conservative Journalists==

*[[Andrew Breitbart]]
*[[James O'Keefe]]
*[[Jason Mattera]]
*[[Michelle Malkin]]
*[[Debbie Schlussel]]
*[[Jill Stanek]]
*[[Matt Drudge]]
*[[Gary Bauer]]
*[[Joseph Farah]]
*[[Thomas Sowell]]
*[[Cal Thomas]]
*[[Mark Steyn]]
*[[Tucker Carlson]]
*[[Steven Crowder]]
*[[Jerome Corsi]]
*[[Pamela Geller]]
*[[Peter Hitchens]]
*[[Major Garrett]]
*[[Ben Shapiro]]
*[[Lila Rose]]
*[[David Horowitz]]
*[[Hannah Giles]]
*[[Dana Loesch]]
*[[Erick Erickson]]
*[[Mike Flynn]]
*[[Byron York]]
*[[John Nolte]]
*[[Mary Katharine Ham]]
*[[Ed Driscoll]]
*[[Aaron Klein]]
*[[Andrea Tantaros]]
*[[Nina Easton]]
*[[Stanley Kurtz]]

==Hollywood Conservatives==
*[[John Walsh]]
*[[R. Lee Ermey]]
*[[Kathryn Bigelow]]
*[[Fred Thompson]]
*[[Pat Boone]]
*[[Jon Voight]]
*[[Chuck Norris]]
*[[Gary Sinise]]
*[[Kelsey Grammer]]
*[[Stephen Baldwin]]
*[[Robert Davi]]
*[[Ben Stein]]
*[[David Zucker]]
*[[James Caan]]
*[[Victoria Jackson]]
*[[Bruce Willis]]
*[[Lou Ferrigno]]
*[[Kirk Cameron]]
*[[Scott Baio]]
*[[Bill Cosby]]
*[[Dwayne Johnson]]
*[[Andy Garcia]]
*[[Janine Turner]]
*[[Shirley Jones]]
*[[Robert Conrad]]
*[[Wayne Newton]]
*[[Jamie Farr]]
*[[Adam Sandler]]
*[[Sylvester Stallone]]
*[[Drew Carey]]
*[[Patricia Heaton]]
*[[Pat Sajak]]
*[[Tony Danza]]
*[[Dean Cain]]
*[[Rachel Hunter]]
*[[James Woods]]
*[[Tom Selleck]]
*[[James Earl Jones]]
*[[Dennis Frantz]]
*[[Rick Schroeder]]
*[[Robert Duvall]]
*[[Cheryl Ladd]]
*[[Jessica Simpson]]
*[[Kim Alexis]]
*[[Sarah Michelle Gellar]]
*[[Susan Lucci]]
*[[Bo Derek]]
*[[Dr. Phil]]
*[[Kathy Ireland]]
*[[Jackie Mason]]
*[[Shannon Doherty]]
*[[Danny Aiello]]
*[[Tom Clancy]]
*[[Angie Harmon]]
*[[Clint Eastwood]]
*[[Richard Kiel]]
*[[Clint Howard]]
*[[Morgan Brittany]]
*[[Harry Shearer]]
*[[James Belushi]]
*[[Jim Caviezel]]

[[Category: Conservative]]
[[Category: Conservative Media]]
{{Conservatism}}

Essay:New Liberal Terms

2011-05-20T17:30:35Z

DouglasL: correct the count by century

== Rate of Generation of Liberal Terms ==

The rate of generation of liberal terms is increasing, but not with the enduring value of the conservative terms and not with their geometric rate of increase. A remarkably high percentage of new liberal terms originated in the 1960s, suggesting that new liberal terms arise in a sporadic manner heavily influenced by culture:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Century
!# New Liberal Terms
|-
|1600s
|4
|-
|1700s
|3
|-
|1800s
|13
|-
|1900s
|37 (10 in the 1960s)
|-
|2000s
|10
|-
|}

== New Liberal Terms ==

New liberal words often have deceptive, or nonsensical, meanings. Here are some new words created by liberals to combat [[conservatism]]:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!New Term
!Origin date
!Comments
|-
|[[agnosticism|agnostic]]
|1860
|someone who claims to not know whether [[God]] exists but still lives like an [[atheist]]
|-
|[[atheism|atheist]]
|1571
|useful and often deceptive alternative name for an anti-Christian
|-
|[[Big Bang theory|big bang]]
|1948
|term invented by the leading [[British]] physicist Sir [[Fred Hoyle]] to ''mock'' this suggestion of how the universe was formed, but later accepted as a serious term rather than mockery;<ref>Compare this migration with that of "politically correct," which started out as a serious term but then adopted a sense of mockery</ref> it's liberal because it trivializes the beauty and the [[faith]] of the moment
|-
|bilingual education
|1972
|a euphemism describing a costly and hurtful program that hinders the learning of English by foreign-born children in American [[public school]]s, which hurts their future opportunities
|-
|[[carbon footprint]]
|1999<ref>http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/carbon%20footprint</ref>
|this term indicates an individual human's effect on the environment by production of carbon dioxide
|-
|chairperson
|1971
|even Alice Sturgis, the leading parliamentarian of the 20th century, rejected this cumbersome form of political correctness.
|-
|check-off
|1911
|automatic deduction of union dues by the employer from the employee's paycheck, so he has no choice
|-
|[[class warfare]]
|
|first entered the political lexicon primarily as an attack by liberals against conservatives. <ref>[http://www.spinsanity.org/columns/20030115.html The art of "class warfare"], Ben Fritz, Spinsanity.org, January 15, 2003</ref>
|-
|[[communism]]
|1840
|
|-
|compassionate-care clinics
|2008
|a term describe pot-shops that dispense medical marijuana <ref>[http://money.cnn.com/2009/09/11/magazines/fortune/medical_marijuana_legalizing.fortune/?postversion=2009091116 How marijuana became legal, CNN, September 11, 2009]</ref>
|-
|compassion fatigue
|1968
|liberals, driven by materialistic self-interest, are likely to suffer from this.
|-
|[[condescension]]
|1647
|treating another person as though they are inferior
|-
|[[creationism]]
|1880
|like most "isms", creationism is a derogatory term coined preferred most by opponents of it.
|-
|[[Dark Ages]]
|1730
|a term coined in the so-called [[enlightenment]] to disparage the period between the fall of the [[Roman Empire]] and c.1000, when the Christian faith, and its learning and culture, spread across Europe.
|-
|[[Dead white males|dead white males]]
|
|a disparaging term used of significant figures from previous generations by those who wish to undermine [[Cultural Literacy|cultural literacy]]
|-
|deconstruction
|1973
|a style of interpretation of texts that looks beyond the plain meaning of the text in order to infer or accuse the writers of social bias
|-
|diva
|1883
|modern use to describe female Hollywood/media personalities
|-
|[[Détente|detente]]
|1970s
|a euphemism referring to pacifist policy re. the Soviet Union
|-
|displaced foreign traveler <ref>[http://www.moonbattery.com/archives/2010/07/bureaucrats-now.html Bureaucrats Now Call Illegal Aliens "Displaced Foreign Travelers", Moonbattery.com, July 21, 2010]</ref>
|2010
|another politically correct term for [[illegal alien]].
|-
|distributive justice
|
|a term used to redefine socialist abridgment of rights as "just"
|-
|divided government
|1975
|a pejorative term used by liberals to insist on control of all of government, as when they used the term to urge the election of the Democrat [[Jimmy Carter]] to work with the Democratic-controlled Congress
|-
|[[enlightenment]]
|1669
|Used to describe the movement in the 18th-century which sought to replace God with atheism.
|-
|[[Environmentalist|environmentalism]]
|1922
|a mixture of [[pseudoscience]] and neo-[[paganism]] used to justify the imposition of [[socialist]]ic controls.
|-
|[[exclusionary rule]]
|1964
|an invented rule that requires censoring and withholding from the jury certain incriminating evidence about a criminal defendant, simply based on how the evidence was obtained.
|-
|[[family planning]]
|1939
|planning intended to determine the number and spacing of one's children through birth control <ref>[http://mw1.m-w.com/dictionary/family%20planning Family Planning, Merriam-Webster]</ref>
|-
|freethinker
|1692
|the euphemism "free" hides the hostility towards faith, which is not free
|-
|[[fundamentalism]]
|1922
|"a movement in 20th century Protestantism emphasizing the literally interpreted Bible as fundamental to Christian life and teaching"<ref>http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fundamentalism</ref> From a series of pamphlets called "The Fundamentals" which outlined the movement. Perjorative usage started when the liberal [[Harry Emerson Fosdick]] began using the term in a straw man attack against [[Conservative Christianity]].
|-
|[[feminism]]
|1895
|notionally, "the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes"; in reality, the attempt to destroy traditional family, societal and religious values by erasing or undermining natural gender differences.
|-
|[[gay rights]]
|1969
|the movement for civil rights for homosexuals
|-
|glass ceiling
|1984
|the notion that an invisible barrier prevents women and ethnic minorities from reaching high office; an excuse for [[feminist]]s and others to demand [[affirmative action]]
|-
|[[global warming]]
|1969
|the baseless [[environmentalist]] mantra that the earth's temperature is rising, and that human intervention is the cause.
|-
|[[goth]]
|?
|"a style of rock music, noted especially for somber or ethereal tones and lugubrious lyrics", or someone who performs or listens to this style of music.<ref>Dictionary.com, ''goth'' [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/goth]</ref> Goths often "dress in black with heavy jewelry".<ref>Dictionary.com, ''goth rock'' [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/goth%20rock]</ref> The term is taken from the name of "a Germanic people who invaded the Roman Empire in the early centuries of the Christian era".<ref>Dictionary.com, ''goth'' [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/goth]</ref>
|-
|gun control
|1969
|a euphemism for restricting the right to keep and bear arms
|-
|[[homophobia]]
|1969
|used by Liberals to describe a failure to subscribe 100% to the [[homosexual agenda]].
|-
|[[humanism]]
|1808 <ref>http://newhumanist.org.uk/1740</ref>
|
|-
|[[human security]]
|1941
|A vague [[socialist]] concept of "freedom from want" and "freedom from fear' championed by FDR, latter by the UN.
|-
|[[illegal war]]
|1960's
|A war not authorized by the United Nations. Prior to the UN, America's involvement in WWI and the U.S. declaring war on Germany in WWII can be considered an illegal war by liberals. America was never attacked.
|-
|[[imperialism]]
|1851
|a clever term later used by liberals to interfere with Christian missionaries and stopping anti-Christian tyranny
|-
|[[isolationism]]
|1922
|a pejorative term that is critical of American politicians putting America first in priorities
|-
|Keynesianism
|1946
|advocacy of 'tax and spend' policies as elaborated by the economist [[John Maynard Keynes]]; a [[euphemism]] for back-door [[Socialism]].
|-
|landmark decision
|1950
|a major court decision, used to promote the idea that values are dictated by liberal elites
|-
|[[Living Constitution]]
|2000
|a continually evolving Constitution (first used by presidential candidate Al Gore, title of a 1936 book by Howard McBain)
|-
|main squeeze
|1968
|one's romantic partner, typically in an unmarried relationship
|-
|McCarthyism
|1950
|originally, investigations by Sen. Joe McCarthy of Communists working in sensitive USA government jobs. Later, it more broadly refers to holding radical leftists accountable for their beliefs and loyalties.
|-
|[[metrosexual]]
|1994
|fashion and glamour man
|-
|moderate
|late 1900s
|the original term dates from the French Revolution, but its meaning today is a euphemism for someone who favors abortion and/or supports censorship of Christianity in some ways.
|-
|[[moving the goalposts]]
|late 1980s
|a sports analogy designed to avoid answering a logical follow-up question; this is a favorite term of evolutionists to avoid addressing obvious deficiencies in their theory
|-
|nationalize
|1800
|a euphemism for the government taking over ownership and control of a large company or entire industry, as in socialism
|-
|natural selection
|1857
|a misleading and euphemistic term for the theory that genetic advantages and conflict dictate survival
|-
|[[Nihilism]]
|1817
|a rejection of the values system, independently anarchist from society norms.
|-
|[[population control]]
|1968
|the issue of population dates back to Confucius. Liberals promoted the term after the book The Population Bomb by Paul R. Ehrlich
|-
|[[pro-choice]]
|1975
|a euphemism for insisting on taxpayer-funded [[abortion]]; people who claim to be pro-choice typically oppose ''informed'' choice, which makes the "choice" meaningless
|-
|[[progressivism]]
|1892
|the progressive movement was not entirely liberal; it was started by a Republican and shared some goals with conservatives, and still does
|-
|[[psychoanalysis]]
|1906
|contributed to de-spiritualization of human beings
|-
|public option
|2009
|obfuscate rewording of government control
|-
|[[quote mining]]
|non-existent
|a term used by [[evolutionists]] to describe taking quotes out of context in order to damage the position of the quoted party.
|-
|reproductive health
|1994 <ref>defined by the United Nations (UN) in 1994 at the Cairo International Conference</ref>
|abortion supporters jargon for rights/justice for pregnant women, no rights/justice for the child.
|-
|[[Sexual Discrimination|sexism]]
|1968
|That which is practiced by those who do not give total support to [[feminism]].
|-
|shovel-ready <ref>[http://skylineviews.typepad.com/skyline_views/2009/04/is-it-time-to-add-shovelready-to-the-dictionary.html Is it time to add shovel-ready to the dictionary? Skyline Views, April 24, 2009]</ref>
|2008
|jobs and people ready to work if funded
|-
|situation ethics
|1955
|a euphemism for denying fixed ethical standards
|-
|stimulus packages
|2009
|used by government(s) to be perceived as taking unprecedented measures to stimulate aggregate economic demand; during a crisis on economic growth and private jobs, liberal government entities are known to deceptively take advantage of its subject in the form of "stimulus packages," as an opportunity to pursue policies that further social and environmental agendas.<ref>[http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/12/62/42555546.pdf For a stronger, cleaner, ''fairer'' world economy], ''Organisation For Economic Co-Operation and Development'' (OECD), 2010.</ref>
|-
|strict liability
|1869
|court-imposed liability even when there is no evidence of any fault by the defendant
|-
|sustainability
|1727
|[[environmentalism|environmentalist]] buzzword
|-
|Swift-Boating
|2004
|allegations of unfair campaign tactics.
|-
|transforming society
|2008
|Obama, Rahm and Axelrod use this term. It dates to [[Saul Alinsky]] and Chicago politics. <ref>[http://marklevinshow.com/sectional.asp?id=32930# Mark Levin Show, July 7, 2009]</ref>
|-
|transnationalist
|2006
|popularized by Yale Law School Dean Harold Koh in a 2006 law review article: "The transnationalists view domestic courts as having a critical role to play in domesticating international law into U.S. law ...."<ref>Penn State Law Review (2006).</ref>
|-
|undocumented immigrant
|2000
|a [[politically correct]] replacement for illegal alien.
|-
|unfair
|1700
|
|-
|union shop
|1904
|
|-
|[[Unitarian]]
|1687
|
|-
|VIP
|1933
|Very Important Person, a person with special privileges, [[elitism]]. Unknown to liberals, everyone is very important to God.
|-
|will to power
|1907
|[[Nietzsche]]'s concept of the drive of a superman to perfect himself by exercising creative power; it didn't catch on
|-
|woman's rights
|1833
|women equal to men; the defining movement to justify aborting babies in the 20th century
|-
|}

== References ==

<references/>

Chordata

2011-05-20T17:26:03Z

DouglasL: Echinodermata are the closest to chordata, because they both have an endoskeleton

'''Chordata''' is a [[phylum]] of [[animal]]s, named after their common feature - possession of a [[spinal cord]].

The phylum includes several [[class (biology)|classes]]:
*'''Mammalia''' - the [[mammal]]s
*'''Aves''' - the [[bird]]s
*'''Reptilia''' - The [[reptile]]s
*'''Amphibia''' - the [[amphibian]]s (such as [[frog]]s, [[newt]]s and [[salamander]]s)
*'''Pisces''' - the [[fish]]

There are also several obscure animals including the [[acorn worm]], [[lancelet]] and [[hagfish]].

Apart from the spinal cord, other common features include a single [[brain]] and a zig-zag [[muscle]] structure in the [[torso]].

Scientists believe that the chordata are closest to the [[arthropoda]] (shelled, joint-legged animals such as [[insect]]s and [[crustacean]]s), [[echinodermata]] (spiny-skinned animals such as [[starfish]] and [[sea urchin]]s), and [[annelida]] (earthworms) in biology, due to common features such as [[segment]]ation, which are not seen in other phyla such as the [[mollusca]] (molluscs) or [[coelenterata]] ([[jellyfish]] and [[sea anemone]]s).

==See also==
*[[Scientific Classification]]

[[category:Chordata| ]]

Eukaryota

2011-05-20T17:19:50Z

DouglasL: Redirect to Eukaryote - they're identical

#REDIRECT [[Eukaryote]]

Rapture

2011-05-20T17:10:08Z

DouglasL: Revert liberal vandalism

'''Rapture''' is a noun meaning ''"A state of being carried away by overwhelming emotion"''.

Most modern Christian ministries imply that "rapture" means "harpazo," which specifically points to being "caught up" in 1 Thessalonians 4:17.
:''Then we which are alive and remain shall be '''caught up''' together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.''
The word '''rapture''' is not found in the Bible, but rather taken from the New Greek word "harpazo" (pronounced har-pad'-zo). "Harpazo" is found 13 times in the New Testament including Revelation 12:5 which addresses Jesus' ascent described in the Book of Acts. "Harpazo" means "to seize (in various applications): - catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force)." according to Strong's Greek Dictionary.

'''The Rapture''' (from the Greek word έκσταση, ekstasi) is an event expected to take place in the [[Last Days]] as was first explained by a mid-19th century preacher, John Nelson Darby. John Nelson Darby interpreted 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 in the New Testament of the Bible as the occasion on which future believers in Jesus Christ will be suddenly taken away prior to the events of the war of Armageddon and the ushering in of the Millennial Kingdom.

:''But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.''
:''For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.''
:''For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.''
:''For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:''
:''Then we which are alive and remain shall be '''caught up''' together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.''
:''Wherefore comfort one another with these words.'' (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

Some Evangelical commentators '''suggest''' that the following events need to occur prior to the Rapture taking place:
* Lawless conditions in the world, as in the days of Noah (Matthew 24:36-41)
* The rise of a powerful government in Europe with its origins in the Roman Empire (Daniel 9, Revelation 13)
* The rise of powerful countries to the north, south, and east of Israel (Daniel 11)
* Israel living in peace with its neighbors (Ezekiel 38)
* A peace treaty between Israel and the Arabs for seven years (Daniel 9)
* The commencement of the rebuilding of the Jewish temple on it's original site in Jerusalem.

The website 'Rapture Ready'<ref>[http://www.raptureready.com/rap2.html Rapture Ready]</ref> maintains an index of how close we are claimed to be to the Rapture.

There is some debate in such circles over whether the Rapture will occur before, during or after the reign of the [[Antichrist]], but the original reference by St [[Paul]] that "we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air" at I Thessalonians 4:17 clearly dates it to the time of the [[Second Coming]], and does not suggest in any way that it will result in Christians being spared in advance the horrors of the [[Last Times]], as is sometimes proposed. Matthew 24:29-35 seems to favor the post-tribulation position, however:

{{Bible quote|Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer [is] nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, [even] at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.|book=Matthew|chap=24|verses=29-35|version=KJV}}

* [[Premillennial Dispensationalism]]<ref>[http://www.nyu.edu/fas/projects/vcb/ChristianMedia/prophecy_premdisp.html Prophecy and the End-Times]</ref>
* [[Postmillennial Dispensationalism]]
* [[Midmillennial Dispensationalism]]

== Timing ==

Throughout history, many people have tried to determine when the rapture (end of the world) will happen, mainly by analyzing the Bible and correlating what it says to events that were happening around them. A recent analysis by Harold Camping, a radio evangelist and founder of eBible Fellowship<ref>[http://www.ebiblefellowship.com/ Bible Fellowship]</ref> has computed May 21, 2011 as the day of the rapture.

==References==
<references/>

==See Also==
* [[Pretribulation rapture]]
* [[Posttribulation rapture]]

==Sources==
* Armstrong, K., ''The Battle for God'' (Harper Perennial, 2000)
* Cruden, A., ''Complete Concordance to the Old and New Testaments'' (Lutterworth, 1930)
* ''The Holy Bible'' (King James Version)
* ''The New English Bible'' (Oxford & Cambridge University Presses, 1970)
* ''The New Jerusalem Bible'' (Darton, Longman & Todd, 1990)
* Peake, A.S., ''Commentary on the Bible'' (Nelson, 1962)
* Young, R., ''Analytical Concordance to the Holy Bible'' (Lutterworth, 1939)

[[Category:Christian Theology]]

College Entrance Examination Board

2011-05-11T16:53:29Z

DouglasL:

The '''College Entrance Examination Board''' ("College Board", or "CEEB") is a non-profit organization based in New York City which administers the [[SAT]], [[Advanced Placement|AP]], [[CLEP]] and other exams for college-bound high school students.

== Sources ==

*Official site: [http://www.collegeboard.com College Board]
[[category:education]]

Hosni Mubarak

2011-05-09T17:21:31Z

DouglasL: spelling

[[File:Obama Netanyahu and Mubarak.jpg|thumb|Sept. 1, 2010, during the Middle East negotiations; The Oval Office.]]
'''Hosni Mubarak''' was the longtime president of [[Egypt]] from 1981-2011, and the fourth man to hold the office. He assumed office in October 1981 after the assassination of [[Anwar Sadat]] and has maintained the peace with [[Israel]] established under his predecessor. The [[Muslim]] [[terrorist]] organization [[CAIR]] actively lobbied against Mubarak.<ref>http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=259409</ref>

Mubarak has been criticized for his persecution of the [[Coptic Church]], and for his government's twenty nine year state of emergency, which allows him to imprison and hold his political opponents indefinitely without trial and cancel elections. During the presidency of [[George Bush]], Secretary of State [[Condoleeza Rice]] called for the state of emergency to be lifted and and the Mubarak regime to commit itself to democracy.

Since [[Barack Obama]] has become president, the United States has been less willing to criticize Egypt's lack of democracy.

==2011 Protests==

In January 25, 2011, protests began against Mubarak's rule. Although the forces behind the movement have not been clear, it is likely that the protest is led by groups such as the radical [[Islamist]] [[Muslim Brotherhood]] and [[Iran]]. [[Liberal]]s claim that [[Mohammed ElBaradei]], one of the protest leaders, is a moderate, but many experts fear that the rebellion aims to install [[Sharia]] law and a government opposed to [[Israel]] and the [[United States]]. Although the Brotherhood's terrorist military wing, al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya, has recently begun taking part in the protests, U.S. Secretary of State [[Hillary Clinton]] has still given speeches supporting the protests. <ref>http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=261069</ref>

[[George Soros]]' [[International Crisis Group]] and [[Barack Obama]] may have had a hand in the beginning of the protests, and Obama's unwillingness to support U.S. ally Mubarak's government may show that, in private, Obama supports the radical Islamist protestors. In fact, Obama and Soros may even be attempting to install pro-Iran Muslim regimes in the Middle East and destabilize Israel, "[ceding] the power of the
Judaeo-Christian west to Islamic tyrants". <ref>http://www.michaelsavage.wnd.com/files/filesSavage/Savage-ObamaGivingMiddleEastToIslamistRadicals-Rev03.pdf"</ref>

The ICG, which also supports dialogue with terrorist organization [[Hamas]], in 2008 urged Mubarak to allow the radicals in the Muslim Brotherhood to establish a political party. <ref>http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=261337</ref> Clearly, it is likely that Soros' goal is to legitimize radical Islam and make it the main political force in the Middle East, destabilizing the region and removing Western influence.

On 10 February, the protesters succeeded in toppling Mubarak. Egypt is now ruled by a military junta.

==References==
<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mubarak, Hosni}}

[[Category:Heads of State]]
[[Category:Egypt]]

Ragnar Danneskjöld

2011-05-09T17:08:23Z

DouglasL: /* The Privateer */ Repair redundancy by fixing the redundancy

'''Ragnar Danneskjold''', in [[Ayn Rand]]'s novel ''[[Atlas Shrugged]]'', was a philosopher who became a [[privateer]]. Alone he defied the might of the [[United States Navy]] (not as difficult a task as one might imagine, given the [[Atlas Shrugged#Time setting|probable period]] of the novel's action) in order to be, as he famously said, "the friend of the friendless."

{{spoiler}}
== Background ==
Ragnar Danneskjold studied [[physics]] and [[philosophy]]—a highly unusual double major—at the [[Patrick Henry]] University, in [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]]<ref name=history>"History of Atlas Shrugged," The Ayn Rand Institute, n.d. Accessed May 5, 2009. <http://atlasshrugged.com/book/history.html></ref> (not to be confused with the real-life [[Patrick Henry College]] in Chesapeake, [[Virginia]]). His nationality was never revealed, but he seems to have descended from one of the aristocratic families of either [[Sweden]], [[Norway]], or [[Denmark]].

What at PHU, he made two lasting friendships that were to change his life forever, though he did not know it at the time. One of these friends was [[Francisco d'Anconia|Francisco Domingo Carlos Andres Sebastian d'Anconia]], who also was an aristocrat of sorts, though [[Latin America]]n rather than European. The other was [[John Galt]], who was anything but aristocratic, and came to PHU with barely a penny to his name. These disparities in background and circumstances did not matter to any of these three. All three shared a love of the natural world, how it actually worked, and how one should function within it.

When they graduated, each made a different plan. Francisco d'Anconia planned to take over his father's great [[copper]] company, D'Anconia Copper SA of [[Argentina]]. John Galt planned to go to work as an engineer and an inventor. Ragnar planned to teach philosophy and perhaps to remain at PHU, though this part of his plan is never made clear.

Though each of the three began to implement is respective plan, all three would receive a rude interruption.

== The Strike ==
About four years following their graduation, Ragnar received a summons from John Galt to meet him at his home in Starnesville, [[Wisconsin]]. Francisco d'Anconia received a similar summons. John Galt then told his two friends what had happened to him.

He had gone to work for the [[Twentieth Century Motor Company]] in Starnesville, named after Gerald "Jed" Starnes, the company's founder. There he had built the prototype of the first-ever practical [[John Galt#The electrostatic motor|electrostatic motor]]. But Gerald Starnes had died, and his three children inaugurated a plan to have everyone at the factory work according to his ability, but be paid according to his need. Ragnar probably recognized that principle at once, from [[The Communist Manifesto]] by [[Karl Marx]].

John Galt had refused to work under such a plan. He not only quit the factory, but also announced to the three heirs that he would "stop the motor of the world." He began, of course, by wrecking his prototype and carrying away with him those portions of his notes that would enable any future investigator to duplicate his work. And now he was asking his two friends to join him in what he called the [[strike]] of the men of the mind, and recruit others to do the same. The rules were simple: anyone having savings to retire on, would do so; the rest would take the lowest jobs that they could find, so that they would not give society the benefit of their talents.

Ragnar found the plan elegant and logical—but incomplete. In truth, Ragnar was infuriated with what John Galt had told him. Or perhaps the business plan of the Starnes children struck Ragnar as a prize example of a much larger social and political problem. This problem had long filled him with righteous indigation, and now this indignation boiled over. As Ragnar saw it, society was guilty of armed robbery—and if that society would not police itself, then the men of the mind must not only withdraw from it, but ''make war against it'' to reclaim what was rightfully theirs. Ragnar decided then and there to fight that war and carry it directly to what all three called "the looters."

== The Privateer ==
Ragnar Danneskjold's solution came from the heritage and tradition of his [[Viking]] forebears. How he acquired or captured a ship and outfitted it as a ship of war, or recruited and trained a crew to navigate and fight that ship, the novel never makes clear. From the descriptions given of his activities, Ragnar had a fast ship that nevertheless carried guns capable of bombarding either another ship or a shore target at long range. Ragnar also had at his disposal at least one aircraft: a cargo carrier with which Ragnar would later transport large quantities of the [[gold]] he collected in his activities. The novel provides confusing clues as to whether or not this aircraft launched from and landed aboard his ship. Ragnar does boast at one point of "defying the law of [[gravitation]]," but that is a specific reference to his carrying a record load of gold, more in fact than the aircraft was rated to carry. Though he launches from the Mid-Atlantic, he might possibly have seized control of an island in the Portuguese Azores and turned that into a berthing place and air station.

And so he became a [[privateer]], and in fact became known as the scourge of the high seas (chiefly the [[Atlantic Ocean]] and occasionally the [[Caribbean Sea]]). He was careful never to kill a member of another ship's crew if he could avoid it; if he ever had to sink another vessel, he would put the crew adrift in lifeboats. He never attacked any private vessel, nor seized private property. With one exception: at Francisco d'Anconia's specific request, he attacked D'Anconia Copper ships and sank them with their loads. Francisco had decided to destroy D'Anconia Copper systematically, so that no one would benefit from his talents ''or'' those of his father and grandfather and ancestors.

Ragnar's actual targets were what he called the "loot carriers." These were "humanitarian" cargoes paid for with taxpayers' money and sent by order of the Bureau of Global Relief. This was the best method available to Ragnar to recover the substance that was taken from men of the mind by force. Eventually, not a single such cargo could ever sail from an American port to any of several "People's States" throughout the world and hope to reach its destination. Ragnar Danneskjold was always waiting, and always found his targets. From the description given of some of his other activities, one may infer that he had an espionage network unrivalled for effectiveness and avoidance of compromise.

Ragnar would take these cargoes to various smugglers throughout Europe and Africa (whether he ever penetrated the Straits of [[Gibraltar]] with one of his prizes, the novel never says) and sell them. He always demanded payment in [[gold]]. He would never accept any fiat [[currency]], be it [[Federal Reserve]] notes or the scrip of any People's State.

== Galt's Gulch ==
At first, Ragnar had no plan for making restitution to John Galt and his fellow strikers, except to hide the gold in a secure cove until John Galt declared the strike over. But the defection of Michael "Midas" Mulligan changed that. [[Midas Mulligan]], after losing a lawsuit brought by an unsuccessful loan applicant, liquidated his [[Chicago]] bank and converted all his worldly assets into land and food. The land was a secluded valley in the [[Rocky Mountains]], to which Mulligan intended a permanent retirement. Soon after Midas built his house in the valley, [[Judge Narragansett]], the trial judge who had found in his favor only to be reversed on appeal, came to rent some land from him. Perhaps at this point, John Galt then built a very large electrostatic powerplant to provide electricity for the valley. This made life in the valley attractive to other strikers, and soon they established a working, even a thriving town where they could use their talents for the benefit of themselves and one another.

And so Midas Mulligan re-established his bank in what was now known widely as [[Galt's Gulch]] (though Galt himself called it Mulligan's Valley, in recognition of the actual owner of the land). Now Ragnar could make a more definite plan to restore the spoils he had recovered. He opened accounts with the New Mulligan Bank in the names of all the strikers, and in the names of those persons still on the outside whom John Galt and Francisco d'Anconia were laboring the hardest to recruit. He then asked his spies to ferret out those people's [[income tax]] returns, with the intention of refunding, in full and in gold, the income taxes that these persons paid.

The establishment of Galt's Gulch complicated Ragnar's life in another way, though a pleasant one. Actress Kay Ludlow left the theater on the outside and came to the Gulch to live. Perhaps Ragnar attended one of her performances in one of his annual trips to the Gulch with his cargo of gold for deposit in the Mulligan Bank. In any event, he fell in love with her, and she with him. They were married in a civil ceremony, with Judge Narragansett presiding.

== Henry Rearden ==
The last full year of the strike saw an event that would drive him to take the greatest risk of his career, a risk that even he must have recognized as foolhardy. The Bureau of Economic Planning and Natural Resources had issued [[Directive 10-289]], by which all persons were to remain attached to their jobs and all intellectual property was to be surrendered to the government. From his spy network, Ragnar learned that [[Henry Rearden]] had been forced, by blackmail, to surrender his right to the new [[copper]] and [[iron]] [[alloy]], called Rearden Metal, that he had invented. He also learned that a rival firm, Associated Steel, headed by Orren Boyle, would attempt to make Rearden Metal at one of its factories on the coast of [[Maine]].

Ragnar stood off from the coast and addressed Orren Boyle's workforce over a powerful and probably directional megaphone. The novel never says how this megaphone was deployed, nor did the witnesses ever figure this out; perhaps it was carried by an [[Unmanned Aerial Vehicle]]. Ragnar simply identified himself and ordered them to evacuate the facility within ten minutes. Then he leveled the factory, and all of its blast furnaces, using his ship's guns.

The foolhardy part was what he did next. He had himself taken ashore and accosted Henry Rearden as he was walking home along a lonely road. He handed Rearden a gold ingot, probably one Troy pound in weight, and described it as "a small repayment on a very large debt," that being "the money that was taken from you by force." Rearden was shocked to hear Ragnar identify himself by name, and even more shocked to hear Ragnar's description of his activities. Rearden told Ragnar that if he now was to be defended only by a "[[pirate]]," then he did not wish to be defended any longer.

Then a highway-patrol cruiser pulled up to the two men. The lead officer asked Rearden whether he was in any danger, and Rearden said no. Then the officer asked who Ragnar was, and Rearden referred to him as his bodyguard. In short, Henry Rearden could have handed Ragnar over to the authorities, but did not.

Ragnar thanked Rearden for this consideration, and predicted that he and Rearden would meet again, and that sooner than Rearden might think.

== Dagny Taggart ==
Later that year, Ragnar made another of his summer trips to Galt's Gulch, with an unusually large cargo of gold. The Bureau of Global Relief had been very active in sending "relief cargoes" to various People's States, but of course none of them reached their intended ports. It was in this context that Ragnar boasted of having "defied the law of [[gravitation]]."

He called on his friend John Galt, and then discovered [[Dagny Taggart]] staying in John's house. Dagny puzzled him by saying that she was still a [[scab]], and had not committed to joining the strike. She in fact was in the Gulch after a mishap: she had tried to follow one of John Galt's recruitment flights and had had her engine shorted out by the refractor-ray screen that provided the Gulch with its concealment.

He described his activities to her as well, and perhaps sensed that she did not approve of them. He then started to tell John about his exciting encounter with Henry Rearden, but John did not allow him to continue. Perhaps he learned later why John Galt did not want Ragnar to speak about Henry Rearden in Dagny Taggart's presence just then.

== The rescue ==
Ragnar continued his privateering activities throughout that summer and into the fall. His last mission to sink one of Francisco d'Anconia's cargoes probably came in the end of August, because on September 2 the People's State of Argentina tried to nationalize D'Anconia Copper, but Francisco destroyed every remaining asset that the company had on that date. One month later, Ragnar received word that Henry Rearden had at last agreed to quit and join the strike, and that a large number of Rearden's regular employees followed him to the Gulch.

Then on November 22, John Galt made his famous three-hour speech to the world. Ragnar never learned the full extent of the spontaneous strike activity that John Galt's speech inspired. But he did learn that John Galt himself was arrested by the American authorities, and that Dagny Taggart had somehow been involved in that arrest.

If Ragnar actually believed that Dagny Taggart had betrayed John Galt to the other side, his disappointment would be short-lived. Francisco d'Anconia definitely knew the truth of the matter—that John had encouraged Dagny to ''pretend'' to have sold him out in order to protect herself. Francisco even gave Dagny a direct telephone number to him, that she was to call when, as, and if she had information that John Galt was in danger of losing his life. Dagny ultimately made that call, after the abortive presentation of the obviously factitious "John Galt Plan for Peace and Prosperity," and then joined the strike herself, swearing the Oath of the Men of the Mind before Francisco:{{cquote|I swear, by my life and my love of it, that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine.}}

Between Ragnar's spy network and the information Dagny had provided to Francisco, Ragnar learned that John Galt had been taken to the secret installation of "Project F" of the State Science Institute for "enhanced interrogation." Ragnar, Francisco, Dagny, and Henry Rearden all staged a commando raid on "Project F" and rescued John Galt before the authorities could do him any permanent injury. Ragnar had half the male population of the Gulch, in addition to his own ship's crew, to back him up. He held those forces in reserve, under the command of [[Ellis Wyatt]], in case the smaller-scale raid failed. The raid succeeded, and Ragnar gave orders to evacuate to the valley.

== The return ==
This marked the end of Ragnar's privateering activities. With John Galt set free, the American government and economy abruptly degenerated into anarchy and chaos. The one project that could have threatened a continuation of the United States government ([[Project X]]) was destroyed when the project's nominal inventor struggled with another factional leader who had seized control of it, and in the process triggered the destruction of the project and everything within a hundred miles of it. As Ragnar's rescue plane overflew the Eastern seaboard, it was plunged into darkness as the entire electrical grid failed.

Ragnar disbanded his crew and suggested that they settle in the Gulch. He beached his ship in another secluded cove, and planned eventually to strip it of most of its armament and convert it into either a freighter or a passenger liner. He himself looked forward to following the career he had intended to pursue before John Galt had called him to go on strike: to teach philosophy.

However, he would likely be called upon, once again, to act instead of teach. From the anarchy that followed the final collapse of the American government, came a loosely organized [[republic]] consisting mainly of regional [[militia]]s, all of which had organized themselves after John Galt's three-hour speech. This republic would inevitably attempt a restoration of [[Constitution of the United States|Constitutional]] government, but would ''also'' need to prosecute certain politicians and collaborators. Ragnar might well have received an appointment as either attorney general or as a special prosecutor.
{{endspoiler}}

== Typology ==
In his own words, Ragnar Danneskjold is simply carrying out a philosophical imperative. Because he pursues this imperative without regard to the good or bad opinions of others, he is an [[anti-villain]] rather than a true hero. He also is [[Ayn Rand]]'s idea of a larger-than-life champion of justice. In fact, Rand specifically intended that Ragnar be the avenger, the one who strikes back at unjust people who are getting away with that injustice.<ref name=history/>

Rand did provide a vital clue to Ragnar as an allegorical [[literary type]]. In his introduction of himself to Henry Rearden, Ragnar mentions [[Robin Hood]], the legendary [[Saxon]] gentlemen who stole from the rich allies of Prince John and shared his loot with the poor peasant farmers who labored under John's oppressive rule. Ragnar complains that the legend has been distorted. Robin Hood took money from a government that had robbed people and gave that money back to its victims. But as the legend survives, he simply stole from the rich ''because'' they were rich, and gave to the poor ''because'' they were poor. Ragnar decides to reverse the process, but in fact he is acting in a manner that recalls the original legend. Thus he seizes certain goods paid for by exorbitant taxes, and shares those goods, or at least the gold that he sells them for, with the payers of those taxes. If he then appears to "steal from the poor and give to the rich," that is only because the taxes in his day are ''pro''gressive, whereas the taxes in the days of the original Robin Hood were ''re''gressive.

Ragnar Danneskjold's privateering activities illustrate another common libertarian theme: that "taxation is theft." In other essays published in ''The Objectivist'' and other magazines and newsletters that she published from time to time, Ayn Rand actually proposed that taxation be placed on a voluntary basis, and suggested that a government-run lottery might be one workable method of voluntary taxation.

Ragnar Danneskjold is a type of another sort of person whom Miss Rand did not describe in any great detail: a [[militia]]man. In fact, his rescue of John Galt from the State Science Institute is a prize example of militia in action. The armed forest camps that the spontaneous "strikers" set up after John Galt makes his famous speech are another militia example.

== Feasibility ==
The spectacle of a twentieth-century [[pirate]] struck many critics as preposterous at the time of the writing of this novel. To be sure, the novel provided few clues to how Ragnar Danneskjold was able to recruit and train a crew and then take possession of what effectively was a ship of war. The following discussion will consider each issue separately.

=== Recruitment and training ===
The first and foremost consideration is where Ragnar Danneskjold could have found his crew. The novel never says that Ragnar Danneskjold ever moved in the sort of circle that would bring him into contact with sailors, machinists, water tenders, boatswains, coxswains, and all the other specialists that a ship's crew requires. To complicate this issue further, Ragnar Danneskjold commanded a ship of war, so that he also needed gunners, which are not normally part of a merchant crew and are typically found only in naval services.

But in considering how Ragnar could find such a crew, one must not consider Ragnar in a vacuum. He did, after all, have a very close associate who knew exactly what he intended and indeed sympathized: [[Francisco d'Anconia]]. As head of D'Anconia Copper SA, Francisco had his own [[merchant marine]], and thus knew where to recruit merchantman crews and have them trained. He therefore would be able to determine who, among the many men who sailed his ships, was willing not only to join John Galt's famous strike but also to join the only thing similar to a militant arm that the strike had. That out of thousands, or tens of thousands, of employees, Francisco d'Anconia would be able to select enough men to crew one large ship on the most secretive of missions and cruises, cannot be placed beyond the realm of possibility.

The recruitment of gunners and other naval specialists would be more difficult. But one must also consider the geo-political situation in which the novel must have taken place, in which ''all the nation-states of the world'' had become "People's States," i.e. [[Communist]] countries, with the single exception of the [[United States of America]]. And the United States might have downsized its [[United States Navy|Navy]], a policy that would turn out to be disastrous (see below). Therefore, Francisco might well have been able to recruit all the specialists that Ragnar would need from the ranks of:

# Defectors from the various People's State Navies, and
# Demobilized seamen and petty officers from the United States Navy.

Finding officers would be the most difficult of all, but perhaps Ragnar ''did'' have enough good friends in his native Scandinavia (whichever nation he came from) whom he could recruit for that purpose. He would, of course, need an executive officer and first lieutenant (either of whom could act as a navigator), a gunnery officer, a chief engineer, a communications officer, and an assistant for each. Any officer he could not find, presumably Francisco could find for him.

=== Acquisition and refit of a ship ===
The description of Ragnar Danneskjold's vessel, as mentioned, was sorely lacking. One can infer the type of vessel that Ragnar commanded only from his activities. His ship would have to be fast but also heavily armed. With regard to this last: armaments sufficient to stop another ship and take it as a prize are of one type. But armaments capable of ''shore bombardment'' are quite another. In one memorable episode, Ragnar Danneskjold fires shells at a factory and leaves not a brick standing, according to the accounts of the men who witness it. The minimum armament that could accomplish such an operation is that of a [[destroyer]], or better still a [[cruiser]].

The quickest method by which Ragnar Danneskjold could acquire such a ship would be to steal it from either the [[Brooklyn Navy Yard]] or the [[San Francisco Navy Yard]]. He could accomplish this most easily in the case of a ship brought into one of those yards for decommissioning. But he would have to accomplish this seizure ''before'' any of the armaments were removed from it. More to the point, he would have to train his crew specifically to seize a ship out of dock, a highly specialized mission that he would never have to run again.

Far more likely, he could rely on Francisco d'Anconia to commission a ship, ostensibly for his merchant marine, and then refit that ship as a ship of war. As easily as Ragnar would later find smugglers to buy his spoils, he or Francisco might find arms dealers seeking to profit from the demobilization of the world's navies through the sale of ship's armaments that had been ordered destroyed. The most formidable obstacle to such an operation would be security, and specifically how Francisco d'Anconia could hide this activity from other D'Anconia Copper employees, government officials, and the public. But this might not be much more difficult than the concealment of a deliberate campaign of financial and physical sabotage that Francisco d'Anconia carried out against his own company for twelve years.

=== Logistics ===
Ragnar Danneskjold would face two logistical challenges: refueling and rearmament. Fueling need not have been an issue, if Danneskjold decided to ask [[John Galt]] to help him by converting the existing ship's engines to an [[John Galt#The electrostatic motor|electrostatic]] powerplant. Ammunition would be a much more difficult challenge. The descriptions given of the industries in [[Galt's Gulch]] did ''not'' include an armaments industry. But the "black market" in armaments and ammunition, even for warships of destroyer size, exists today and, by all accounts, is thriving. Furthermore, corruption was a constant problem in the [[Union of Soviet Socialist Republics]] and other member nations of the [[Warsaw Pact]], so perhaps Ragnar could keep himself in ammunition as easily as he could find men to buy his spoils (and pay in gold).

=== Intelligence and counterintelligence ===
Ragnar never revealed the nature of his spy system, or how he could determine not only how much [[income tax]] any given striker or prospect had been assessed, but even ''what amount of tax he paid on income derived from particular sources.'' This last became relevant as Ragnar considered the case of [[Dagny Taggart]], who derived some of her income as a straight [[salary]] but derived other income from [[stock]] dividends. Ragnar considered the latter source of income tainted on account of [[James Taggart]]'s policies as President of the [[Taggart Transcontinental Railroad]], and therefore determined ''not'' to refund the income tax paid on those stock dividends. More to the point, Ragnar never revealed how he could search for, track, and locate any government "relief ship, subsidy ship, loan ship, gift ship," or other ship carrying a "humanitarian" cargo to one People's State or another.

Much of what Ragnar knew was, no doubt, public knowledge. The American news media would naturally trumpet the sending of any such cargo as a "nice gesture." In addition, the detailed intelligence could have come from Francisco d'Anconia's associates. Francisco definitely alerted Ragnar whenever he was shipping a load of copper, because he wanted Ragnar to send that cargo to the bottom of the sea. Perhaps Francisco provided a much more comprehensive intelligence product than merely the locations and schedules of his own shipments.

=== Eluding detection and capture ===
That Ragnar Danneskjold, or any other pirate, could elude the [[United States Navy]] for twelve years might seem incredible. But if the novel's action was supposed to take place during the years 1917-1929 (as seems likely from various [[Atlas Shrugged#Time setting|internal clues]]), this would be entirely plausible. The [[United States Navy]] would not become a force powerful enough to suppress piracy on the high seas on its own until during and after the [[Second World War]]. And in the [[alternate history]] of the novel, there would have ''been'' no Second World War, nor even any armed conflict after the [[First World War]]. This was because ''all of the nation-states of the world'' except the United States had become People's States of This-or-that, and the United States supported those People's States with the handouts that became Ragnar Danneskjold's chief targets.<ref name=nosov>Also, in this version of history, the basic Russian world-domination imperative did not operate. Never in any scene in ''Atlas Shrugged'' did a Soviet agent, overt or covert, appear.</ref> In this scenario, no nation would have any incentive to maintain a standing Navy. Thus if the United States Navy could not deal effectively with Ragnar Danneskjold, that was probably because the [[liberal]] clique in [[Washington, DC]] had downsized it almost to total disbanding, a thing that many liberal commentators would in fact like to do today.

=== Modern-day piracy ===
Piracy on the high seas does exist and in fact has seen a resurgence today, chiefly in the [[Gulf of Aden]] off the coast of [[Somalia]]. In fact, piracy has ''always'' existed, and very few navies, even superpower navies, have been able to deal with it effectively. [[Pompey|Pompey the Great]] dealt with it by literally stationing troops in every cove or other inlet in the [[Mediterranean Sea]], and then sweeping the sea clean from the Straits of [[Gibraltar]] all the way to ancient Judea and [[Syria]]. During the [[Age of Exploration]], piracy was the favored means of surrogate warfare, and most pirates operated, if cynically, under [[privateer]]ing licenses. This is probably why today "letters of marque and reprisal," i.e. privateering licenses, are forbidden in international law.

=== Privateering v. piracy ===
Ragnar Danneskjold's activities are more properly described as privateering rather than piracy. Pirates typically seize ships and cargoes, and hold people for ransom, for their own gain. Privateers almost always operate in the service of some cause larger than themselves. All that a privateer is, is either a ship of war owned, outfitted, and maintained privately rather than at government expense, or the commander or other officer of such vessel, or a member of its crew.

=== Summary ===
Thus Ragnar Danneskjold's career and activities are in fact more feasible than one might suppose from a superficial scan of the text of ''Atlas Shrugged''. Whether someone like Ragnar Danneskjold would be able in the ''actual'' geo-political context ''today'' to engage in such privateering is another question altogether.

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{nb Atlas}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Danneskjold, Ragnar}}
[[Category:Literary Figures]]

Essay:Worst Liberal Movies

2011-04-26T18:31:39Z

DouglasL: /* Political */ V for Vendetta

While many [[Essay:Greatest_Conservative_Movies|great conservative movies]] are produced every year, [[Hollywood values|Hollywood]] continues to create many movies which promote, normalize and aggrandize bad behavior and poor values. Below is a list of some of the more egregious examples:

==Political==
#''[[Frost/Nixon]]'' - A liberal movie meant to further tarnish the reputation of [[Richard Nixon]].
#''W'' - A movie designed to denigrate the role of Christianity in US politics and particularly in the life of George W. Bush.
#''Fahrenheit 9/11'' - A Michael Moore movie, which distorts the tangential link between the Bush family and the Bin Laden family.
#''The Motorcycle Diaries'' - A fawning monument to communist [[Che Guevara]].
#''The Contender'' - Political movie turned into pro-[[Al Gore]] propaganda by liberal studio executives and [[Hollywood values]].
#''V for Vendetta'' - Blatantly glorifies [[anarchism]], [[socialism]], [[communism]] and [[homosexuality]].

==Social==
#''Ferris Bueller's Day Off'' - Promotes the message that skipping school, education and general dishonesty is somehow "cool".
#''Dazed and Confused'' - Promotes promiscuity and drug abuse.
#''Blow'' - Glorifies the life of drug dealer, and suspected murderer, George Jung.
#''Scarface'' - Glorified drug use and gangsterism, whilst glossing over the Cuban plan to send all their scum to America, in the guise of refugees.
#''Pineapple Express'' - Shows drug abuse to be "cool".
#''Natural Born Killers'' - Riddled with violence, drug abuse and sexual references, this movies main characters are brutal serial killers who are viewed as heroes.
#''[[Brokeback Mountain]]'' - Showing that [[liberals]] will shoehorn the homosexual agenda into anything, even cowboys.
#''Boogie Nights'' - Made the porn industry and exploitation of women look cool.
#''The Social Network'' - Glorifies the gossip website [[Facebook]], which feeds narcissism and destroys marriages. Also portrays drug use and misogyny in a positive light.
#''The Day After Tomorrow'' - Overdramatic, nonsensical portrayal of the consequences of fictional [[climate change]].
#''The People vs. Larry Flynt'' - Idealizes [[pornography]] mogul [[Larry Flynt]] and argues that pornography is protected by the [[First Amendment]].

==Schlockumentary==
# ''[[Sicko]]'' - [[Michael Moore]]'s attack on the U.S. health care system, in which he conveniently forgets things such as long waiting lists when comparing it to the socialistic NHS system of [[Great Britain]].
# Almost any movie by [[Michael Moore]], in fact.
# ''[[An Inconvenient Truth]]'' - [[Al Gore]]'s [[global warming]] alarmist [[schlockumentary]].
# ''Super Size Me'' - Blames obesity on great capitalist paragons like [[McDonald's]] and [[Sodexo]].
# ''[[Religulous]]'' - "Comedian" Bill Maher tries to convince the audience of the folly of all religion, with special focus on Christianity.
#''[[Jesus Camp]]'' - Baselessly attacks Conservative Christianity; incited liberal vandalism of the Bible camp shown in the film.

==Religious==
#''Dogma'' - mocks religion and [[Catholic]]ism in particular, with cheap smutty jokes and portraying [[God]] as female.
#''The Golden Compass'' - based on the atheistic ''His Dark Materials'' series.

please add more!

Soybean

2011-04-22T21:38:00Z

DouglasL: Controversy

{{Taxonomy|image=Soybeans.jpg|200px|kingdom = Plantae|phylum = Spermatophyta|subphylum = Magnoliophyta|class = Magnoliopsida|subclass Rosidae|order = Fabales|suborder = |family = Fabaceae|genus = Glycine|species = max}}

The '''soybean''', also known as the '''soya bean''', is a plant native to Eastern [[Asia]]. It is often used in the production of [[vegetarian]]-safe foods, such as soy milk or infant [[formula]]. It is also a source of [[vitamin E]]. Soy milk is used as a mild alternative for people suffering from [[lactose intolerance]] or chronic [[heartburn]], and soybeans are the primary ingredient in a foodstuff called [[tofu]], frequently used in East Asian cuisine. Soy sauce, made from [[fermentation|fermented]] soya beans, is important as a condiment and ingredient in East Asian cooking.

Raw soybeans (known as edamame) are also used as a feed for [[livestock]], especially [[pig]]s and [[poultry]]. Soy has become a major crop in the United States but is not as commonly cultivated in [[Africa]], [[Europe]] or [[South America]].

==Controversy==
In the US, soybeans and tofu are favorite foods of liberals and radical environmentalists. The radicals in [[PETA]], for example, have promoted eating "soy turkeys" on [[Thanksgiving]].

Soy contains large quantities of phytoestrogens, which can have similar effects to human estrogen. Feeding soy milk to babies and children can interfere with the endocrine system, making girls reach puberty much earlier and making boys take years for puberty. In excess, soy can lead to feminization and [[homosexuality]] in boys. <ref name="homosexuality">http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=53327</ref>

In addition, soy has been linked to thyroid problems that may cause fat buildup<ref name="homosexuality"/> - with the amount of tofu eaten by [[liberal]] [[atheism|atheists]], maybe that explains [[atheism and obesity|the high rate of obesity among atheists]]?

==Footnotes==
<references/>
==Further reading==
* http://www.bats.ch/trace/?file5=coreforms/taxonomy.php&record_number=3
* [http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=GLMA4 USDA » Natural Resources Conservation Service » PLANTS database]
* [http://www.iasoybeans.com/ Iowa Soybean Association]

[[Category:Plants]]

Charles Manson

2011-04-20T03:12:34Z

DouglasL: grammar and global warming

'''Charles Manson''' was a 1960s [[serial killer]] and [[cult]] leader whose most famous murder was ordering the killing of [[Sharon Tate]]. He [[brain-wash]]ed a devoted group of followers into various murders, with the hope of starting a race war and being the leader of the post-apocalyptic world he said the war would create.<ref>Borsella, C. ''On Persecution, Identity and Activism: Aspects of the Italian-American Experience from the Late 19th Century to Today''; Dante University Press; Boston. p. 110, (2005) [http://books.google.com/books?id=hWkQNm6MOxQC&lpg=PA110&dq=%22Charles%20Manson%22&pg=PA2#v=onepage&q=%22Charles%20Manson%22&f=false]</ref> He held notions commonly regarded by most as ludicrous; for example, he believed that the [[Beatles]] were his disciples, and their song "Helter Skelter" inspired his idea. He has since come up for parole many times, but has been denied each time this has occurred.
In April 2011, Manson broke a 20-year silence to give nonsensical remarks about the [[global warming]] scam and supposed human damage to the environment. <ref>http://nation.foxnews.com/charles-manson/2011/04/18/charles-manson-breaks-20-year-silenceto-speak-out-about-global-warming#ixzz1JvxUz9EH</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

== See also ==

*[[Scientology]]

==External links ==
*[http://www.charliemanson.com/tom-snyder-1981.htm 1981 Tom Snyder interview with Charles Manson], Transcribed by Aaron Bredlau. CharlieManson.com. Retrieved 26 April 2007.
*[http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/manson/manson.htm The Trial of Charles Manson] at Famous Trials

{{DEFAULTSORT:Manson, Charles}}

[[Category:Serial Killers]]
[[Category:Anti-war Movements]]

User talk:Lollipop

2011-04-19T02:50:46Z

DouglasL: /* Hello! */ reply

D'un canadien a un autre, bienvenue! Comment ca va dans le grand nord? Apres avoir passé plusieurs annés aux E-U, le Canada me manque énormement!. [[User:LloydR|LloydR]] 21:45, 18 April 2011 (EDT)
:Canadians speak English too. --[[User:Lollipop|Lollipop]] 21:52, 18 April 2011 (EDT)
::One of the great things about the country -- it's so easy to master two languages from an early age. Really gives us an edge in the international job market, n'est-ce-pas? Bonne visite!!! [[User:LloydR|LloydR]] 21:55, 18 April 2011 (EDT)

==Hello!==
I'm not an administrator. [[User:Aschlafly|Aschlafly]] is the founder and owner of Conservapedia (and an admin). [http://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Special:ListUsers&group=sysop This] should list the other admins too. I still might be able to answer questions you have, though. [[User:DouglasL|DouglasL]] 21:53, 18 April 2011 (EDT)
{{welcome|sig=[[User:DouglasL|DouglasL]] 21:54, 18 April 2011 (EDT)}}
:Thanks. Is it true that homeschooled American children use this as a fact website? --[[User:Lollipop|Lollipop]] 22:09, 18 April 2011 (EDT)
::Some of them do. Conservapedia (Andy Schlafly) teaches homeschool classes. [[User:DouglasL|DouglasL]] 22:50, 18 April 2011 (EDT)

User talk:Lollipop

2011-04-19T01:54:18Z

DouglasL: and welcome template

User talk:Lollipop

2011-04-19T01:53:02Z

DouglasL: reply

Kim Jong Il

2011-04-19T01:47:42Z

DouglasL: atheist

{{Dictator bio
| image =[[Image:Bvdy76.jpg|200px]]
| name =Kim Jong Il
| birth =February 16, 1941 Vyatskoye, Russian SFSR, [[Soviet Union]]
| parents =[[Kim Il-sung]] Kim Jong-suk
| religion =Atheist
| education =Kim Il-sung University
| spouse =Kim Young Sook Song Hye-rim Ko Young-hee Kim Ok
| children =Kim Sul-song Kim Il-soon Kim Jong-nam Kim Jong-chul Kim Jong-un
| death =n/a
| deathmanner =n/a
| burial =n/a
| country =[[North Korea]]
| military =n/a
| rank =None
| polbeliefs =Communism
| party =Workers' Party of Korea
| dictatordate =July 8, 1994
| war =Minor skirmishes with South Korea
| deathnumber =2,000,000 to 3,000,000+
}}
'''Kim Jong Il''' ([[Hangul]]:김정일; [[Hanja]]:金正日) (born February 16, 1941 in Vyatskoye, Russia) has been the dictator of [[North Korea]] since coming to power in 1994. He is also the leader of the [[Communist Party]] of North Korea. He has been criticized for extensive [[human rights]] abuses in North Korea. Over one million people in North Korea have starved to death as a result of his corrupt government, disastrous agricultural polices and refusal to accept international aid.

He came into power in 1994, after his father [[Kim Il Sung]] died, and has remained the North Korean leader ever since. He is an [[atheism|atheist]] and an intense persecutor of [[Christians]] and other organized religions. He is in conflict with the world community over the building of nuclear weapons, but seems to relish the attention. Kim claims North Korea has built a nuclear weapon.

Kim is only 5 feet 3 inches tall,<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1907197.stm</ref> but styles his hair in an exaggerated fashion to appear to be taller leading some to speculate he has a [[Napoleon Complex]].

Kim Jong Il is also thought to be a hypochondriac, as well as his chronic fear of flying. He travels by a custom built armored train. He is also famous also for his lavish lifestyle, having been known to have at one time abducted a Japanese sushi chef for the sole purpose of making sushi for his "high exaltedness".{{fact}}

==Cult of personality==
Although not to the same extent as [[Kim Il Sung]], North Koreans venerate Kim Jong Il under a similar cult of personality. Some examples of Kim Jong Il's personality cult:

*He was born under a double rainbow on the sacred Baektul Mountain in 1942. At the moment of his birth, a bright star lit up the sky, the seasons spontaneously changed from winter to spring and a double rainbow appeared in the sky. (In truth, he was born in Vyatskoye, Siberia in 1941.)<ref>http://asianhistory.about.com/od/profilesofasianleaders/p/BioKimJongil.htm</ref>
*At the age of four, "he smeared a Japanese map with black ink, then a stormy rain poured down on Japan."

== Also See ==
* [[Kim Il Sung]]

== References==
<references/>

== Links ==
[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1907197.stm BBC Profile]

[[Category:Mass Murderers]]
[[Category:Dictators]]
[[Category:Communists]]
[[Category:Korea]]
[[Category:Atheists]]
[[Category:Lunatics]]

Kim Jong Il

2011-04-19T01:44:19Z

DouglasL: Personality cult

{{Dictator bio
| image =[[Image:Bvdy76.jpg|200px]]
| name =Kim Jong Il
| birth =February 16, 1941 Vyatskoye, Russian SFSR, [[Soviet Union]]
| parents =[[Kim Il-sung]] Kim Jong-suk
| religion =Atheist
| education =Kim Il-sung University
| spouse =Kim Young Sook Song Hye-rim Ko Young-hee Kim Ok
| children =Kim Sul-song Kim Il-soon Kim Jong-nam Kim Jong-chul Kim Jong-un
| death =n/a
| deathmanner =n/a
| burial =n/a
| country =[[North Korea]]
| military =n/a
| rank =None
| polbeliefs =Communism
| party =Workers' Party of Korea
| dictatordate =July 8, 1994
| war =Minor skirmishes with South Korea
| deathnumber =2,000,000 to 3,000,000+
}}
'''Kim Jong Il''' ([[Hangul]]:김정일; [[Hanja]]:金正日) (born February 16, 1941 in Vyatskoye, Russia) has been the dictator of [[North Korea]] since coming to power in 1994. He is also the leader of the [[Communist Party]] of North Korea. He has been criticized for extensive [[human rights]] abuses in North Korea. Over one million people in North Korea have starved to death as a result of his corrupt government, disastrous agricultural polices and refusal to accept international aid.

He came into power in 1994, after his father [[Kim Il Sung]] died, and has remained the North Korean leader ever since. He is an intense persecutor of [[Christians]] and other organized religions. He is in conflict with the world community over the building of nuclear weapons, but seems to relish the attention. Kim claims North Korea has built a nuclear weapon.

Kim is only 5 feet 3 inches tall,<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1907197.stm</ref> but styles his hair in an exaggerated fashion to appear to be taller leading some to speculate he has a [[Napoleon Complex]].

Kim Jong Il is also thought to be a hypochondriac, as well as his chronic fear of flying. He travels by a custom built armored train. he is also famous also for his lavish lifestyle having been known to have at one time abducted a Japanese sushi chef for the sole purpose of making sushi for his "high exaltedness".{{fact}}

==Cult of personality==
Although not to the same extent as [[Kim Il Sung]], North Koreans venerate Kim Jong Il under a similar cult of personality. Some examples of Kim Jong Il's personality cult:

*He was born under a double rainbow on the sacred Baektul Mountain in 1942. At the moment of his birth, a bright star lit up the sky, the seasons spontaneously changed from winter to spring and a double rainbow appeared in the sky. (In truth, he was born in Vyatskoye, Siberia in 1941.)<ref>http://asianhistory.about.com/od/profilesofasianleaders/p/BioKimJongil.htm</ref>
*At the age of four, "he smeared a Japanese map with black ink, then a stormy rain poured down on Japan."

== Also See ==
* [[Kim Il Sung]]

== References==
<references/>

== Links ==
[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1907197.stm BBC Profile]

[[Category:Mass Murderers]]
[[Category:Dictators]]
[[Category:Communists]]
[[Category:Korea]]
[[Category:Atheists]]
[[Category: Lunatics]]

Kim Il Sung

2011-04-19T01:40:41Z

DouglasL: /* Cult of Personality */ remove fact about Kim Jong-il, add some facts about Kim Il-sung

[[File:Kim Il Song.jpg|thumb|alt=atheism|right|225px|Kim Il Sung was a [[communism|communist]] dictator and an [[Atheism and obesity|obese atheist]] who died of a heart attack.<ref>http://www.moreorless.au.com/killers/kim-il-sung.html</ref>
 
 
(Source of photo of portrait can be found [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kim_Il_Song_Portrait-2.jpg here], see: [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kim_Il_Song_Portrait-2.jpg license agreement])]]

'''Kim Il Sung''' (1912-1994) was the dictatorial leader of [[Communist]] [[North Korea]] (the ''Democratic People's Republic of Korea'') from 1948 until his death. He led the country into the [[Korean War]] of 1950-53 by his invasion of [[South Korea]]. Kim created an absolutist tyranny in North Korea. Within the country he was officially known as the "Great Leader", and, despite having died, occupies the position of "Eternal President" in the North Korean Constitution. He was succeeded as leader by his son [[Kim Jong Il]], who is officially known as the "Dear Leader". Kim Il Sung was an [[Atheism and obesity|obese atheist]] who died of a heart attack.<ref>http://www.moreorless.au.com/killers/kim-il-sung.html</ref>

[[Wesley Pruden]] calls him the "chief architect of the misery in North Korea."<ref>http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080304/NATION01/197625500/1002/NATION&template=nextpage</ref>

==Cult of Personality==
The North Korean state maintains an intense cult of personality surrounding Kim. All North Koreans wear badges with his image, and portraits of the deceased leader are ubiquitous throughout the nation. The capital city of [[Pyongyang]] has over 600 statues of Kim, including a 25-meter-tall bronze statue built in 1972 for his sixtieth birthday.

Kim's personality cult is largely based on historical revisionism and many absurd claims of his extraordinary (often supernatural) abilities and power. Some examples:

*The North Korean calendar begins in 1912, the year of Kim's birth, and his birthday (April 15) is a major holiday.
*During the Japanese colonial rule of Korea, he fought in more than 100,000 battles in 15 years (over 20 battles a day). (While Kim was in the Soviet army, he never participated in actual combat.)<ref>http://www.fortunecity.com/meltingpot/champion/65/pers_cult.htm</ref>
*While "fighting" against Japan, he performed such miracles as turning sand into rice and crossing rivers on leaflets.
*He scored eleven holes-in-one the first time he ever played a game of golf.<ref>http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/02/16/kim.birthday.reut/</ref>
*He invented the hamburger.<ref>http://listverse.com/2010/05/30/top-10-crazy-facts-about-kim-jong-il/</ref>

==U.S. Nemesis==
Kim was a vocal opponent of U.S. society, government and freedoms. Despite being the aggressor in the [[Korean War]], he blamed the U.S. for the conflict and openly advocated the destruction of American society. In a 1972 interview, he told the ''[[New York Times]]'' that the "most important thing in our war preparations is to teach all our people to hate U.S. imperialism."{{fact}}

== Also See ==
* [[Kim Jong Il]]

==References==
{{reflist|1}}

[[Category:Atheists]]
[[Category:Korea]]
[[Category:Heads of State]]
[[Category:Communists]]

Soccer

2011-04-19T01:32:06Z

DouglasL: /* Soccer and socialism */ 100-word vocabulary

[[Image:2010 World Cup.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Pictured is [[Miroslav Klose]], a star Polish-born player competing for the highly ranked German team, during the 2010 World Cup]]
'''Soccer''' is a popular sport played with a round ball propelled mainly by kicks from a player's foot. Outside the USA, it is generally called "football" (Spanish: ''fútbol'').
In soccer, players are not allowed to intentionally touch the ball with their hands or arms while it is in play, with the exception of goalkeepers in a restricted area. The goal of the game is to kick the ball into the opposing team's goal; each goal gives that team a point and the team with the most points at the end of the 90 minute game is the winner.

==Rules of the Game==
[[Image:Soccer pitch.gif|right|thumb|300px|left|Dimensions of a soccer pitch]]
The game is played between two teams of 11 players (10 out-field players and one goalkeeper each). In official play, there are two 45 [[minute]] halves separated by a break known as half-time which according to the rules of the game must last less than 20 minutes. Unlike most sports, the clock does not always stop when the ball is not in play. When the ball is knocked out of bounds or a penalty is committed, the clock runs continuously. If a player is injured then the [[referee]] makes up that lost time by adding minutes onto the end of the half. This is known as [[stoppage]] or injury time. If both scores are even at the end of regulation time, the game is usually declared a draw. However, in knockout cup games, there is often an additional period of play consisting of two 15-minute halves. In some competitions, the first goal in this period (golden goal) wins the game. If the scores are still level, the result is decided with a [[penalty shootout]]. The set of rules used in soccer are called the [[Laws of the Game]].

The game is played on a [[grass]] (or artificial grass) pitch with dimensions 90-120 m (100-130 yards) in length and 45-90 m (50-100 yards) in width.
<ref>[http://www.fifa.com/documents/fifa/laws/LOTG2006_e.pdf FIFA Laws of the Game 2006] ''Official FIFA website''</ref>
A goal is scored when the ([[spherical]]) ball is propelled into the opposition net. The side scoring the most goals is the winner. Infringements include playing the ball with any part of the body other than the feet or head; pushing or blocking an opposing player and stepping outside the playing area while the ball is in play.

Accuracy in kicking is very important to make sure that one can kick the ball around opponents, manage it in tight spaces, and make long passes to other players in better positions. Expert players have trained to kick from a variety of angles, both forward and back and to the side, and also to use their chests and heads to maneuver a high-flying ball.

==Origins==

The word ''soccer'' derived in England as slang for "Association Football", <ref>[http://london.usembassy.gov/rss/transcripts/worldcup2006a.html] ''US Embassy, London'' </ref>, much like "rugger" is slang for [[rugby|rugby]]. Football games have been popular in [[England]] since the [[middle ages]], but the modern game of soccer derives from formalizations of the rules during the mid nineteenth century. The [[Football Association]] (FA) was founded in 1863 and continues to be the game's governing body within the [[UK]]. "Association Football" (later shortened to soccer) meant the version of football approved by the Football Association's rules. The rules were published at [[Cambridge University]] in 1847, as many private schools were playing each other with different rules. In the middle ages the game had no rules. The match was played between villages and the goals were in each village. The game was often violent and was banned by [[Edward III]] and [[Henry IV]] not for its violence but as it distracted archers from military work. Medieval football is still played in the East Midland city of [[Derby]] on [[Shrove Tuesday]].

==Soccer Around the World==
[[Image:800px-Soccer goalkeeper.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Goalkeeper leaping to make a save]]
It is the most popular [[team sport]] in the world, described by the legendary Brazilian player, [[Pele]], as "The Beautiful Game". Its governing body is [[FIFA]] (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). In most countries it is the most popular sport or at least among the most popular (the [[United States]] being a notable exception). Though it is often not a high-scoring game, its popularity comes from the often dramatic saves from goalkeepers and incredible shots from skilled players in attempts to score a goal. In the United States soccer was associated with communism during the Thirties, as several communist organizations used soccer in an attempt to recruit recent European immigrants to their cause.

Every four years there is an international competition known as the [[World Cup]], where countries send their best players to compete for the title of best national soccer team. Every four years in Europe there is the European Championship in June and July when the leagues finish which is a 16 team competition for members of UEFA, the European governing body. Each other continent also has a competition, such as the African Nations Cup, which is every two years in January.

Many soccer fans are extremely passionate about their favorite teams, traveling to other countries to support them. Several countries have had problems controlling over-excited fans, with the crowd sometimes spilling onto the pitch, fighting with themselves, disliked referees and even players. [[England]] once had a poor reputation from its soccer [[hooligan]]s who got into drunken fistfights with fans of other teams. This situation has largely changed, with much better behavior at English football matches and considerably increased violence in several other countries, especially [[Italy]].

In most European countries each large town will have at least one football team who play in leagues, which last August to May in most of Europe but March to October in others. Unlike most American sports, the top teams in each league go up a league to be replaced by the last teams in the league above. The top teams in the top division of each European country enter the UEFA Champions League, a league and knockout competition played on Tuesdays and Wednesdays around the season.

==Soccer and socialism==

The nature and rules of soccer very much resemble [[socialism]] in many ways:<ref>http://blog.american.com/?p=16158</ref><ref>http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/06/soccer_the_perfect_socialist_s.html</ref>

* The "no hands" rule can be compared to socialist tax policies.
* The "off-sides" rule prohibits using certain aggressive ("unfair") tactics in the game.
* The game forbids frequent stops, which can be compared to "carbon footprint" efforts to fight supposed [[global warming]].
* Soccer is very bureaucratic, and teams are very much tied to their countries.
* The US is often treated unfairly by other nations in the game, one reason being soccer's lack of popularity in the US - socialism always claimed to favor the absolute will of the majority rather than personal and economic freedom of the individual.
* The World Cup trophy resembles [[Hollywood values|socialist Hollywood's]] Emmy Award.
* In youth leagues, everyone gets a trophy for their efforts regardless of achievement, and there is no scoring in the game.
* Even the World Cup encourages "achievement" by holding a third-place game for the two losers in the semifinals.
* [[Union]] [[strikes]], even during the playing season, are a major issue with soccer.
* Riots caused by "hooligans" - fans of a team which lost a game - often include violent crimes, such as infringement on private property rights.
* Participants are known to behave dishonestly and illegally and act against the interests of their team in order to gain financially themselves.<ref>http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/62773.html</ref>
* Soccer coaches only need a vocabulary of about 100 words to coach their teams <ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8448287/How-to-coach-a-football-team-with-100-words.html</ref>, which is reminiscent of socialist pandering to the lowest common denominator. At least twice as many ''conservative'' words alone originated in the 20th century.

==Great Players==

* [[Ferenc Puskas]], a forward for [[Real Madrid]] and [[Hungary]] in the 1950s, introduced 'total football' and destroyed the old-fashioned English team of the time.
* [[Lev Yashin]] of the USSR in the 1960s is reputed to be the best-ever goalkeeper.
* [[Pele]], [[Brazil]]ian player active from 1956-1974, often considered to be the greatest soccer player to ever kick the ball.
* [[Alfredo di Stéfano]], [[Argentinia]]n midfielder who played for [[Real Madrid]]. considered by Maradona to be the greatest.
* [[Bobby Moore]], captain of England in the 1966 World Cup Finals and one of the finest ever center halves.
* [[George Best]], of [[Manchester United]] and [[Northern Ireland]] in the 1960s, was possibly the best player never to have played in the World Cup Finals.
* [[Franz Beckenbauer]] played for [[West Germany]] in the 1960s and 70s. Defenders rarely gain the limelight in football but Beckenbauer's performances against the great teams of England in 1970 and Holland in 1974 were exceptional.
* [[Johann Cruyff]], captain of Holland in 1974 and 1978: why his Dutch team's brand of Total Football never won them the World Cup is an enduring mystery.
* [[Diego Maradona]], [[Argentinia]]n midfielder of the 1980s, often mentioned alongside Pele as one of the greatest.
* [[Zinedine Zidane]], [[French]] player, retired shortly after the World Cup final match between France and [[Italy]] in 2006.
* [[Cristiano Ronaldo]], a [[Portuguese]] contemporary player for [[Real Madrid]].
* [[Lionel Messi]], [[Argentina]]n forward, currently plays for [[Barcelona]].

==A note on terminology==

{{football meaning}} In many other languages, a [[phonics|phonetic]] equivalent to the English word "football," such as the Portuguese word "futbol" is used to denote the sport.

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Sports]]
[[Category:Football soccer]]
[[Category:Soccer]]

Essay:Worst Liberal Movies

2011-04-07T03:03:21Z

DouglasL: add two more

While many [[Essay:Greatest_Conservative_Movies|great conservative movies]] are produced every year, [[Hollywood values|Hollywood]] continues to create many movies which promote, normalize and aggrandize bad behavior and poor values. Below is a list of some of the more egregious examples:

==Political==
#''[[Frost/Nixon]]'' - A liberal movie meant to further tarnish the reputation of [[Richard Nixon]].
#''W'' - A movie designed to denigrate the role of Christianity in US politics and particularly in the life of George W. Bush.
#''Fahrenheit 9/11'' - A Michael Moore movie, which distorts the tangential link between the Bush family and the Bin Laden family.
#''The Motorcycle Diaries'' - A fawning monument to communist [[Che Guevara]].
#''The Contender'' - Political movie turned into pro-[[Al Gore]] propaganda by liberal studio executives and [[Hollywood values]].

==Social==
#''Ferris Bueller's Day Off'' - Promotes the message that skipping school, education and general dishonesty is somehow "cool".
#''Dazed and Confused'' - Promotes promiscuity and drug abuse.
#''Blow'' - Glorifies the life of drug dealer, and suspected murderer, George Jung.
#''Scarface'' - Glorified drug use and gangsterism, whilst glossing over the Cuban plan to send all their scum to America, in the guise of refugees.
#''Pineapple Express'' - Shows drug abuse to be "cool".
#''Natural Born Killers'' - Riddled with violence, drug abuse and sexual references, this movies main characters are brutal serial killers who are viewed as heroes.
#''[[Brokeback Mountain]]'' - Showing that [[liberals]] will shoehorn the homosexual agenda into anything, even cowboys.
#''Boogie Nights'' - Made the porn industry and exploitation of women look cool.
#''The Social Network'' - Glorifies the gossip website Facebook, which feeds narcissism and destroys marriages. Also portrays drug use and misogyny in a positive light.
#''The Day After Tomorrow'' - Overdramatic, nonsensical portrayal of the consequences of fictional [[climate change]].

==Schlockumentary==
# ''[[Sicko]]'' - [[Michael Moore]]'s attack on the U.S. health care system, in which he conveniently forgets things such as long waiting lists when comparing it to the socialistic NHS system of [[Great Britain]].
# Almost any movie by [[Michael Moore]], in fact.
# ''[[An Inconvenient Truth]]'' - [[Al Gore]]'s [[global warming]] alarmist [[schlockumentary]].
# ''Super Size Me'' - Blames obesity on great capitalist paragons like [[McDonald's]] and [[Sodexo]].
# ''[[Religulous]]'' - "Comedian" Bill Maher tries to convince the audience of the folly of all religion, with special focus on Christianity.
#''[[Jesus Camp]]'' - Baselessly attacks Conservative Christianity; incited liberal vandalism of the Bible camp shown in the film.

==Religious==
#''Dogma'' - mocks religion and [[Catholic]]ism in particular, with cheap smutty jokes and portraying [[God]] as female.
#''The Golden Compass'' - based on the atheistic ''His Dark Materials'' series.

please add more!

Essay:Worst Liberal Movies

2011-04-07T02:48:58Z

DouglasL: /* Schlockumentary */ correct word usage

While many [[Essay:Greatest_Conservative_Movies|great conservative movies]] are produced every year, [[Hollywood values|Hollywood]] continues to create many movies which promote, normalize and aggrandize bad behavior and poor values. Below is a list of some of the more egregious examples:

==Political==
#''[[Frost/Nixon]]'' - A liberal movie meant to further tarnish the reputation of [[Richard Nixon]].
#''W'' - A movie designed to denigrate the role of Christianity in US politics and particularly in the life of George W. Bush.
#''Fahrenheit 9/11'' - A Michael Moore movie, which distorts the tangential link between the Bush family and the Bin Laden family.
#''The Motorcycle Diaries'' - A fawning monument to communist [[Che Guevara]].

==Social==
#''Ferris Bueller's Day Off'' - Promotes the message that skipping school, education and general dishonesty is somehow "cool".
#''Dazed and Confused'' - Promotes promiscuity and drug abuse.
#''Blow'' - Glorifies the life of drug dealer, and suspected murderer, George Jung.
#''Scarface'' - Glorified drug use and gangsterism, whilst glossing over the Cuban plan to send all their scum to America, in the guise of refugees.
#''Pineapple Express'' - Shows drug abuse to be "cool".
#''Natural Born Killers'' - Riddled with violence, drug abuse and sexual references, this movies main characters are brutal serial killers who are viewed as heroes.
#''[[Brokeback Mountain]]'' - Showing that [[liberals]] will shoehorn the homosexual agenda into anything, even cowboys.
#''Boogie Nights'' - Made the porn industry and exploitation of women look cool.
#''The Social Network'' - Glorifies the gossip website Facebook, which feeds narcissism and destroys marriages. Also portrays drug use and misogyny in a positive light.

==Schlockumentary==
# ''[[Sicko]]'' - [[Michael Moore]]'s attack on the U.S. health care system, in which he conveniently forgets things such as long waiting lists when comparing it to the socialistic NHS system of [[Great Britain]].
# Almost any movie by [[Michael Moore]], in fact.
# ''[[An Inconvenient Truth]]'' - [[Al Gore]]'s [[global warming]] alarmist [[schlockumentary]].
# ''Super Size Me'' - Blames obesity on great capitalist paragons like [[McDonald's]] and [[Sodexo]].
# ''[[Religulous]]'' - "Comedian" Bill Maher tries to convince the audience of the folly of all religion, with special focus on Christianity.
#''[[Jesus Camp]]'' - Baselessly attacks Conservative Christianity; incited liberal vandalism of the Bible camp shown in the film.

==Religious==
#''Dogma'' - mocks religion and [[Catholic]]ism in particular, with cheap smutty jokes and portraying [[God]] as female.
#''The Golden Compass'' - based on the atheistic ''His Dark Materials'' series.

please add more!

Essay:Worst Liberal Movies

2011-04-06T17:15:58Z

DouglasL: Michael Moore is pretty communist anyway

Libya

2011-03-24T17:44:57Z

DouglasL: /* Libyan uprising 2011 */ Soros

{{country
|name=''الجماهيرية العربية الليبية الشعبية الاشتراكية العظمى '''al-jamāhīriyyatu l-`arabiyyatu l-lībiyyatu š-ša`biyyatu l-ištirākiyyatu l-`uZmà''
|map=Libya rel 93.JPG
|map2=Libya location.png
|flag=Flag of Libya.png
|arms=Arms of Libya.png
|capital=Tripoli
|government=Authoritarian
|language=Arabic, Italian, English
|president-raw=[[Muammar al-Gaddafi|Col. Muammar Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi]]
|area=679,359 sq. mi.
|pop=6,036,914
|pop-basis=(2007 estimate)
|gdp=72.7 billion
|gdp-year=(2007 estimate)
|gdp-pc=$12,300
}}
'''Libya''' (Arabic الجماهيرية العربية الليبية الشعبية الإشتراكية العظم ''Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya'') is a country in northern [[Africa]]. The country is officially a [[Democracy]], has been described as a [[Socialism|Socialist state]], and is in practice a [[Military Junta]]. The country borders the [[Mediterranean Sea]] to the north, [[Egypt]] to the east, [[Sudan]] to the southeast, [[Chad]] and [[Niger]] to the south, [[Algeria]] to the west, and [[Tunisia]] to the northwest. The country has been led by [[Muammar al-Gaddafi]] since 1969, who seized power in a military coup.

==People==
[[File:Lybian people.jpg|left|280px]]
Libya has a small population in a large land area. Population density is about 50 persons per sq. km. (80/sq. mi.) in the two northern regions of Tripolitania and Cyrenaica, but falls to less than one person per sq. km. (1.6/sq. mi.) elsewhere. Ninety percent of the people live in less than 10% of the area, primarily along the coast. More than half the population is urban, mostly concentrated in the two largest cities, Tripoli and Benghazi. Thirty-three percent of the population is estimated to be under age 15.

Native Libyans are primarily a mixture of Arabs and Berbers. Small Tebou and Touareg tribal groups in southern Libya are nomadic or semi-nomadic. Among foreign residents, the largest groups are citizens of other African nations, including North Africans (primarily Egyptians and Tunisians), West Africans and Sub-Saharan Africans.
*Population (July 2007 est.): 6,036,914 (includes non-nationals, of which an estimated 500,000 or more are sub-Saharan Africans living in Libya).
*Annual growth rate (2007 est.): 2.262%. Birth rate (2007 est.)--26.09 births/1,000 population. Death rate (2007 est.)--3.47 deaths/1,000 population.
*Ethnic groups: Berber and Arab 97%; Greeks, Maltese, Italians, Egyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, and Tunisians.
*Religion: Sunni Muslim 97%.
*Languages: Arabic is the primary language. English, French, and Italian are understood in major cities.
*Education: Years compulsory--9. Attendance--90%. Literacy (age 15 and over who can read and write)--total population 82.6%; female 72% (2003 est.).
*Health (2007 est.): Infant mortality rate--22.82 deaths/1,000 live births. Life expectancy--total population 76.88 yrs.; male 74.1 yrs.; female 78.58 yrs.
*Work force (2006 est.): 1.787 million, an estimated 500,000 of whom are sub-Saharan African foreign workers.

==Government and Political Conditions==
Libya's political system is in theory based on the political philosophy in Qadhafi's Green Book, which combines socialist and Islamic theories and rejects parliamentary democracy and political parties. In reality, Qadhafi exercises near total control over major government decisions. For the first seven years following the revolution, Colonel Qadhafi and 12 fellow army officers, the Revolutionary Command Council, began a complete overhaul of Libya's political system, society and economy. In 1973, he announced the start of a "cultural revolution" in schools, businesses, industries, and public institutions to oversee administration of those organizations in the public interest. On March 2, 1977, Qadhafi convened a General People's Congress (GPC) to proclaim the establishment of "people's power," change the country's name to the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, and to vest, theoretically, primary authority in the GPC.
[[File:Muammar Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi in Dimashq.jpg|thumb|left|Muammar Gaddafi.]]
The GPC is the legislative forum that interacts with the General People's Committee, whose members are secretaries of Libyan ministries. It serves as the intermediary between the masses and the leadership and is composed of the secretariats of some 600 local "basic popular congresses." The GPC secretariat and the cabinet secretaries are appointed by the GPC secretary general and confirmed by the annual GPC congress. These cabinet secretaries are responsible for the routine operation of their ministries, but Qadhafi exercises real authority directly or through manipulation of the peoples and revolutionary committees.

Qadhafi remained the de facto chief of state and secretary general of the GPC until 1980, when he gave up his office. Although he holds no formal office, Qadhafi exercises power with the assistance of a small group of trusted advisers, who include relatives from his home base in the Sirte region, which lies between the traditional commercial and political power centers in Benghazi and Tripoli.

In the 1980s, competition grew between the official Libyan Government and military hierarchies and the revolutionary committees. An abortive coup attempt in May 1984, apparently mounted by Libyan exiles with internal support, led to a short-lived reign of terror in which thousands were imprisoned and interrogated. An unknown number were executed. Qadhafi used the revolutionary committees to search out alleged internal opponents following the coup attempt, thereby accelerating the rise of more radical elements inside the Libyan power hierarchy.

In 1988, faced with rising public dissatisfaction with shortages in consumer goods and setbacks in Libya's war with Chad, Qadhafi began to curb the power of the revolutionary committees and to institute some domestic reforms. The regime released many political prisoners and eased restrictions on foreign travel by Libyans. Private businesses were again permitted to operate.

In the late 1980s, Qadhafi began to pursue an anti-Islamic fundamentalist policy domestically, viewing fundamentalism as a potential rallying point for opponents of the regime. Qadhafi's security forces launched a preemptive strike at alleged coup plotters in the military and among the Warfallah tribe in October 1993. Widespread arrests and government reshufflings followed, accompanied by public "confessions" from regime opponents and allegations of torture and executions. The military, once Qadhafi's strongest supporters, became a potential threat in the 1990s. In 1993, following a failed coup attempt that implicated senior military officers, Qadhafi began to purge the military periodically, eliminating potential rivals and inserting his own loyal followers in their place.

The Libyan court system consists of three levels: the courts of first instance; the courts of appeals; and the Supreme Court, which is the final appellate level. The GPC appoints justices to the Supreme Court. Special "revolutionary courts" and military courts operate outside the court system to try political offenses and crimes against the state. "People's courts," another example of extrajudicial authority, were abolished in January 2005. Libya's justice system is nominally based on Sharia law.

===Principal Government Officials===
*De facto Head of State--Mu'ammar Abu Minyar al-Qadhafi ("the Brotherly Leader and Guide of the Revolution")
*Secretary General of the General People's Committee (Prime Minister)--Dr. Al-Baghdadi Ali al-Mahmudi
*Secretary of the General People's Committee for Foreign Liaison and International Cooperation (Foreign Minister)--Abd al-Rahman Shalgham
*Charge d'Affaires, Libyan Embassy, Washington, DC--Ambassador Ali Aujali

===Foreign Relations===
Libya was the first nation to recognize the [[United States]] in 1790.

Since 1969, Qadhafi has determined Libya's foreign policy. His principal foreign policy goals have been Arab unity, elimination of Israel, advancement of Islam, support for Palestinians, elimination of outside--particularly Western--influence in the Middle East and Africa, and support for a range of "revolutionary" causes.

After the 1969 coup, Qadhafi closed American and British bases on Libyan territory and partially nationalized all foreign oil and commercial interests in Libya. He also played a key role in promoting the use of oil embargoes as a political weapon for challenging the West, hoping that an oil price rise and embargo in 1973 would persuade the West--especially the United States--to end support for Israel. Qadhafi rejected both Soviet communism and Western capitalism, and claimed he was charting a middle course.
[[File:Oasis in Libya.JPG|left|280px]]
Libya's relationship with the former Soviet Union involved massive Libyan arms purchases from the Soviet bloc and the presence of thousands of east bloc advisers. Libya's use--and heavy loss--of Soviet-supplied weaponry in its war with Chad was a notable breach of an apparent Soviet-Libyan understanding not to use the weapons for activities inconsistent with Soviet objectives. As a result, Soviet-Libyan relations reached a nadir in mid-1987.

After the fall of the Warsaw Pact and the Soviet Union, Libya concentrated on expanding diplomatic ties with Third World countries and increasing its commercial links with Europe and East Asia. Following the imposition of UN sanctions in 1992, these ties significantly diminished. Following a 1998 Arab League meeting in which fellow Arab states decided not to challenge UN sanctions, Qadhafi announced that he was turning his back on pan-Arab ideas, which had been one of the fundamental tenets of his philosophy.

Instead, Libya pursued closer bilateral ties, particularly with North African neighbors Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco. It has also sought to develop its relations with Sub-Saharan Africa, leading to Libyan involvement in several internal African disputes in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Somalia, Central African Republic, Eritrea and Ethiopia. Libya has also sought to expand its influence in Africa through financial assistance, ranging from aid donations to impoverished neighbors such as Niger to oil subsidies to Zimbabwe, and through participation in the African Union. Qadhafi has proposed a borderless "United States of Africa" to transform the continent into a single nation-state ruled by a single government. This plan has been greeted with skepticism. Libya has played a helpful role in facilitating the provision of humanitarian assistance to Darfur refugees in Chad.

One of the longest-standing issues in Libya's relationship with the European Union and the international community was resolved in July 2007 with the release of five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor who had been convicted in 1999 of deliberately infecting over 400 children in a Benghazi hospital with the HIV virus. The six medics were sentenced to death in 2004, a sentence that was upheld by the Libyan Supreme Court but commuted in July 2007 by the Higher Judicial Council to life in prison. Under a previous agreement with the Bulgarian Government on the repatriation of prisoners, the medics were allowed to return to Bulgaria to finish their sentence, where upon arrival the Bulgarian president pardoned all six. The Benghazi International Fund, established by the United States and its European allies, raised $460 million to distribute to the families of the children infected with HIV, each of whom received $1 million.

====Terrorism====
[[File:Cockpit Nose section of Clipper Maid of the Seas.jpg|thumb|250px|Cockpit of Clipper "Maid of the Seas" (Pan Am 103).]]
Libya has taken significant steps to mend its international image and formally renounced terrorism in a letter to the UN Security Council in August 2003. In 1999, the Libyan government surrendered two Libyans suspected of involvement in the Pan Am 103 bombing, leading to the suspension of UN sanctions. On January 31, 2001, a Scottish court seated in the Netherlands found one of the suspects, Abdel Basset al-Megrahi, guilty of murder in connection with the bombing, and acquitted the second suspect, Al-Amin Khalifa Fhima. Megrahi's conviction was upheld on March 14, 2002, but an appeals hearing was granted in June 2007 by the Scottish High Court.

UN sanctions were lifted on September 12, 2003 following Libyan compliance with its remaining UNSCR requirements on Pan Am 103, including acceptance of responsibility for the actions of its officials and payment of appropriate compensation. Libya paid compensation in 1999 for the death of British policewoman Yvonne Fletcher, a move that preceded the reopening of the British Embassy in Tripoli, and paid damages to the families of the victims in the bombing of UTA Flight 772. With the lifting of UN sanctions in September 2003, each of the families of the victims of Pan Am 103 received $4 million of a maximum $10 million in compensation. After the lifting of U.S. IEEPA-based sanctions on September 20, 2004, the families received a further $4 million.

On November 13, 2001, a German court found four persons, including a former employee of the Libyan embassy in East Berlin, guilty in connection with the 1986 La Belle disco bombing, in which two U.S. servicemen were killed. The court also established a connection to the Libyan government. The German Government demanded that Libya accept responsibility for the La Belle bombing and pay appropriate compensation. A compensation deal for non-U.S. victims was agreed to in August 2004. U.S. victims continue to pursue their claims in federal court.

By 2003, Libya appeared to have curtailed its support for international terrorism, although it may have retained residual contacts with some of its former terrorist clients. In August 2004, the Department of Justice entered into a plea agreement with Abdulrahman Alamoudi, in which he stated that he had been part of a 2003 plot to assassinate Saudi Crown Prince Abdallah (now King Abdallah) at the behest of Libyan government officials.

In 2005, the Saudi Government pardoned the individuals accused in the assassination plot. During the 2005 UN General Assembly session, Foreign Minister Shalgam issued a statement that reaffirmed Libya's commitment to the statements made in its letter addressed to the Security Council on August 15, 2003, renouncing terrorism in all its forms and pledging that Libya will not support acts of international terrorism or other acts of violence targeting civilians, whatever their political views or positions. Libya also expressed its commitment to continue cooperating in the international fight against terrorism. On June 30, 2006, the U.S. rescinded Libya's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism.

===Relations with the United States===

The United States supported the UN resolution providing for Libyan independence in 1951 and raised the status of its office at Tripoli from a consulate general to a legation. Libya opened a legation in Washington, DC, in 1954. Both countries subsequently raised their missions to embassy level.
[[File:Tripoli Libya.JPG|thumb|left|300px|Tripoli.]]
After Qadhafi's 1969 coup, U.S.-Libyan relations became increasingly strained because of Libya's foreign policies supporting international terrorism and subversion against moderate Arab and African governments. In 1972, the United States withdrew its ambassador. Export controls on military equipment and civil aircraft were imposed during the 1970s, and U.S. embassy staff members were withdrawn from Tripoli after a mob attacked and set fire to the embassy in December 1979. The U.S. Government designated Libya a "state sponsor of terrorism" on December 29, 1979.

In May 1981, the U.S. Government closed the Libyan "people's bureau" (embassy) in Washington, DC, and expelled the Libyan staff in response to a general pattern of conduct by the people's bureau contrary to internationally accepted standards of diplomatic behavior.

In August 1981, two Libyan jets fired on U.S. aircraft participating in a routine naval exercise over international waters of the Mediterranean claimed by Libya. The U.S. planes returned fire and shot down the attacking Libyan aircraft. In December 1981, the State Department invalidated U.S. passports for travel to Libya and, for purposes of safety, advised all U.S. citizens in Libya to leave. In March 1982, the U.S. Government prohibited imports of Libyan crude oil into the United States and expanded the controls on U.S.-origin goods intended for export to Libya. Licenses were required for all transactions, except food and medicine. In March 1984, U.S. export controls were expanded to prohibit future exports to the Ras Lanuf petrochemical complex. In April 1985, all Export-Import Bank financing was prohibited.

Due to Libya's continuing support for terrorism, the United States adopted additional economic sanctions against Libya in January 1986, including a total ban on direct import and export trade, commercial contracts, and travel-related activities. In addition, Libyan Government assets in the United States were frozen. When evidence of Libyan complicity was discovered in the Berlin discotheque terrorist bombing that killed two American servicemen, the United States responded by launching an aerial bombing attack against targets near Tripoli and Benghazi in April 1986 (Operation El Dorado Canyon).<ref>Historical Atlas of the U.S. Navy, by Craig L. Symonds, the Naval Institute, 1995</ref> Subsequently, the United States maintained its trade and travel embargoes and brought diplomatic and economic pressure to bear against Libya. This pressure helped to bring about the Lockerbie settlement and Libya's renunciation of WMD and MTCR-class missiles.
[[File:Libya Muammar-Gaddafi-and-President-Obama.jpg|right]]
In 1991, two Libyan intelligence agents were indicted by federal prosecutors in the U.S. and Scotland for their involvement in the December 1988 bombing of Pan Am flight 103. In January 1992, the UN Security Council approved Resolution 731 demanding that Libya surrender the suspects, cooperate with the Pan Am 103 and UTA 772 investigations, pay compensation to the victims' families, and cease all support for terrorism. Libya's refusal to comply led to the approval of UNSC Resolution 748 on March 31, 1992, imposing sanctions designed to bring about Libyan compliance. Continued Libyan defiance led to passage of UNSC Resolution 883--a limited assets freeze and an embargo on selected oil equipment--in November 1993. UN sanctions were lifted on September 12, 2003, after Libya fulfilled all remaining UNSCR requirements, including renunciation of terrorism, acceptance of responsibility for the actions of its officials, and payment of appropriate compensation to the victims' families.

On December 19, 2003, Libya announced its intention to rid itself of WMD and MTCR-class missile programs. Since that time, it has cooperated with the U.S., the U.K., the International Atomic Energy Agency, and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons toward these objectives. Libya has also signed the IAEA Additional Protocol and has become a State Party to the Chemical Weapons Convention.

In recognition of these actions, the U.S. began the process of normalizing relations with Libya. The U.S. terminated the applicability of the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act to Libya and the President signed an Executive Order on September 20, 2004 terminating the national emergency with respect to Libya and ending IEEPA-based economic sanctions. This action had the effect of unblocking assets blocked under the Executive Order sanctions. Restrictions on cargo aviation and third-party code-sharing have been lifted, as have restrictions on passenger aviation. Certain export controls remain in place.

U.S. diplomatic personnel reopened the U.S. Interest Section in Tripoli on February 8, 2004. The mission was upgraded to a U.S. Liaison Office on June 28, 2004, and to a full embassy on May 31, 2006. The establishment in 2005 of an American School in Tripoli demonstrates the increased presence of Americans in Libya, and the continuing normalization of bilateral relations. Libya re-established its diplomatic presence in Washington with the opening of an Interest Section on July 8, 2004, which was subsequently upgraded to a Liaison Office in December 2004 and to a full embassy on May 31, 2006.

On May 15, 2006, the State Department announced its intention to rescind Libya's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism in recognition of the fact that Libya had met the statutory requirements for such a move: it had not provided any support for acts of international terrorism in the preceding six-month period, and had provided assurances that it would not do so in the future. On June 30, 2006, the U.S. rescinded Libya's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism. In July 2007, Mr. Gene Cretz was nominated by President Bush as ambassador to Libya.

==Economy==
The government dominates Libya's socialist-oriented economy through complete control of the country's oil resources, which account for approximately 97% of export earnings, 75% of government receipts, and 54% of the gross domestic product. Oil revenues constitute the principal source of foreign exchange. Much of the country's income has been lost to waste, corruption, conventional armaments purchases, and attempts to develop weapons of mass destruction, as well as to large donations made to developing countries in attempts to increase Qadhafi's influence in Africa and elsewhere. Although oil revenues and a small population give Libya one of the highest per capita GDPs in Africa, the government's mismanagement of the economy has led to high inflation and increased import prices. These factors resulted in a decline in the standard of living from the late 1990s through 2003.
*Real GDP (2000$, 2006): $46.451 billion.
*GDP per capita (PPP, 2006): $12,204.
*Real GDP growth rate (2006): 5.6%.
*Natural resources: Petroleum, natural gas, gypsum.
*Agriculture: Products--wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus, vegetables, peanuts, soybeans; cattle; approximately 75% of Libya's food is imported.
*Industry: Types--petroleum, food processing, textiles, handicrafts, cement.
*Trade: Exports (2006 est.)--$37.02 billion f.o.b.: crude oil, refined petroleum products. Major markets (2005)--Italy (38%), Germany (15.1%), Spain (9.3%), Turkey (6.2%), France (6.2%), U.S. (5.2%). Imports (2006 est.)--$14.47 billion f.o.b.: machinery, transport equipment, food, manufactured goods. Major suppliers (2003)--Italy (21.2%), Germany (10.2%), Tunisia (5.9%), Turkey (4.8%), U.K. (4.8%), France (4.7%), South Korea (4.6%), China (4.5%).
[[File:Home in Lybia.jpg|right|200px|Habitat.]]
Despite efforts to diversify the economy and encourage private sector participation, extensive controls of prices, credit, trade, and foreign exchange constrain growth. Import restrictions and inefficient resource allocations have caused periodic shortages of basic goods and foodstuffs.

Although agriculture is the second-largest sector in the economy, Libya imports most foods. Climatic conditions and poor soils severely limit output, while higher incomes and a growing population have caused food consumption to rise. Domestic food production meets about 25% of demand.

On September 20, 2004, President Bush signed an Executive Order ending economic sanctions imposed under the authority of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). U.S. persons are no longer prohibited from working in Libya, and many American companies are actively seeking investment opportunities in Libya. The government has announced ambitious plans to increase foreign investment in the oil and gas sectors to significantly boost production capacity. The government is also pursuing a number of infrastructure projects such as highways, railways, telecommunications backbones, and irrigation.

==History==
[[File:Leptis Magna Lybia.jpg|thumb|290px|Roman circus at Leptis Magna.]]
For most of their history, the peoples of Libya have been subjected to varying degrees of foreign control. The Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Vandals, and Byzantines ruled all or parts of Libya. Although the Greeks and Romans left impressive ruins at Cyrene, Leptis Magna, and Sabratha, little else remains today to testify to the presence of these ancient cultures.

The Arabs conquered Libya in the seventh century A.D. In the following centuries, most of the indigenous peoples adopted Islam and the Arabic language and culture. The Ottoman Turks conquered the country in the mid-16th century. Libya remained part of their empire--although at times virtually autonomous--until Italy invaded in 1911 and, in the face of years of resistance, made Libya a colony.

In 1934, Italy adopted the name "Libya" (used by the Greeks for all of North Africa, except Egypt) as the official name of the colony, which consisted of the Provinces of Cyrenaica, Tripolitania, and Fezzan. King Idris I, Emir of Cyrenaica, led Libyan resistance to Italian occupation between the two World Wars. From 1943 to 1951, Tripolitania and Cyrenaica were under British administration, while the French controlled Fezzan. In 1944, Idris returned from exile in Cairo but declined to resume permanent residence in Cyrenaica until the removal in 1947 of some aspects of foreign control. Under the terms of the 1947 peace treaty with the Allies, Italy relinquished all claims to Libya.

On November 21, 1949, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution stating that Libya should become independent before January 1, 1952. King Idris I represented Libya in the subsequent UN negotiations. When Libya declared its independence on December 24, 1951, it was the first country to achieve independence through the United Nations and one of the first former European possessions in Africa to gain independence. Libya was proclaimed a constitutional and a hereditary monarchy under King Idris.

The discovery of significant oil reserves in 1959 and the subsequent income from petroleum sales enabled what had been one of the world's poorest countries to become extremely wealthy, as measured by per capita GDP. Although oil drastically improved Libya's finances, popular resentment grew as wealth was increasingly concentrated in the hands of the elite. This discontent continued to mount with the rise throughout the Arab world of Nasserism and the idea of Arab unity.

On September 1, 1969, a small group of military officers led by then 28-year-old army officer Mu'ammar Abu Minyar al-Qadhafi staged a coup d'état against King Idris, who was exiled to Egypt. The new regime, headed by the Revolutionary Command Council (RCC), abolished the monarchy and proclaimed the new Libyan Arab Republic. Qadhafi emerged as leader of the RCC and eventually as de facto chief of state, a political role he still plays. The Libyan government asserts that Qadhafi currently holds no official position, although he is referred to in government statements and the official press as the "Brother Leader and Guide of the Revolution."

The new RCC's motto became "freedom, socialism, and unity." It pledged itself to remedy "backwardness", take an active role in the Palestinian Arab cause, promote Arab unity, and encourage domestic policies based on social justice, non-exploitation, and an equitable distribution of wealth.

An early objective of the new government was withdrawal of all foreign military installations from Libya. Following negotiations, British military installations at Tobruk and nearby El Adem were closed in March 1970, and U.S. facilities at Wheelus Air Force Base near Tripoli were closed in June 1970. That July, the Libyan Government ordered the expulsion of several thousand Italian residents. By 1971, libraries and cultural centers operated by foreign governments were ordered closed.

In the 1970s, Libya claimed leadership of Arab and African revolutionary forces and sought active roles in international organizations. Late in the 1970s, Libyan embassies were redesignated as "people's bureaus," as Qadhafi sought to portray Libyan foreign policy as an expression of the popular will. The people's bureaus, aided by Libyan religious, political, educational, and business institutions overseas, exported Qadhafi's revolutionary philosophy abroad.

Qadhafi's confrontational foreign policies and use of terrorism, as well as Libya's growing friendship with the U.S.S.R., led to increased tensions with the West in the 1980s. Following a terrorist bombing at a discotheque in West Berlin frequented by American military personnel, in 1986 the U.S. retaliated militarily against targets in Libya, and imposed broad unilateral economic sanctions.
[[File:Benghazi University Libya.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Benghazi, where mass protests against Gaddafi occurred in February 2011.]]
After Libya was implicated in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, UN sanctions were imposed in 1992. UN Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs) passed in 1992 and 1993 obliged Libya to fulfill requirements related to the Pan Am 103 bombing before sanctions could be lifted. Qadhafi initially refused to comply with these requirements, leading to Libya's political and economic isolation for most of the 1990s.

In 1999, Libya fulfilled one of the UNSCR requirements by surrendering two Libyans suspected in connection with the bombing for trial before a Scottish court in the Netherlands. One of these suspects, Abdel Basset al-Megrahi, was found guilty; the other was acquitted. Al-Megrahi's conviction was upheld on appeal in 2002. In August 2003, Libya fulfilled the remaining UNSCR requirements, including acceptance of responsibility for the actions of its officials and payment of appropriate compensation to the victims' families. UN sanctions were lifted on September 12, 2003. U.S. International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)-based sanctions were lifted September 20, 2004.

On December 19, 2003, Libya publicly announced its intention to rid itself of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR)-class missile programs. Since that time, it has cooperated with the U.S., the U.K., the International Atomic Energy Agency, and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons toward these objectives. Libya has also signed the IAEA Additional Protocol and has become a State Party to the Chemical Weapons Convention. These were important steps toward full diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Libya.

== Libyan uprising 2011 ==
[[File:Libya Rebels Gaining Momentum.jpg|thumb|Libyan rebels gaining momentum in March, 2011 (Photo:Reuters).]]
The unrest in Libya started as a series of protests following uprisings in [[Tunisia]] and [[Egypt]]. The scale of the violence contrasts markedly with North Africa's largely peaceful uprisings. The uprising is trying to reclaim Libya from the world's longest-ruling leader. Eastern Libya has fallen to the uprising, which began on 16 February in the wake of revolutions which toppled the long-serving leaders of neighboring Tunisia and Egypt. Al-Qaeda’s branch in North Africa has vowed to do everything in its power to help an uprising against Libyan strongman Moamer Kadhafi, according to a statement posted Thursday by the SITE monitoring group. <ref> [http://www.dawn.com/2011/02/24/al-qaeda-in-n-africa-backs-libya-uprising-site.html Al Qaeda in N. Africa backs Libya uprising: SITE] </ref>

<blockquote>
Libya's rebel commanders have freed two MI6 officers and six SAS soldiers captured by farm guards on Thursday morning, after the British government vouched for their identities. The group was immediately flown to the frigate HMS Cumberland, which remains stationed off the coast of Libya.
Seven of the group had been dropped by helicopter into farmland near the rebel capital Benghazi on a mission to establish contact with anti-regime forces. <ref> [http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2011/mar/07/libya-uprising-live-updates Libya uprising.] </ref>
</blockquote>

The Obama administration has emphatically called for Libyan dictator Moammar Kadafi to step down and has pledged assistance to the rebels seeking to overthrow him. Yet the U.S. has far less clarity on a key issue: Who's in charge of the Libyan revolution? <ref> [http://articles.latimes.com/2011/mar/02/world/la-fg-libya-opposition-20110303 U.S. wants to know who's in charge of Libyan revolution.] </ref>

The [[United Nations]] has authorized military intervention in Libya as part of a plan by [[George Soros]] to dissolve national borders. <ref>http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=278685</ref>
{{Clear}}

== External links ==

*[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/americas-secret-plan-to-arm-libyas-rebels-2234227.html America's secret plan to arm Libya's rebels.] ''The Independent'', UK.
*[http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2055251,00.html Why Libya's Uprising Is Bad for the World Economy.]

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:African Countries]]
[[Category:Libya]]

Talk:Secularized Language

2011-03-09T20:10:20Z

DouglasL: /* Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras */ edit

I'd like to organize these into categories - not divided up, maybe - with secularized expressions at the top (e.g., Thank God => thank goodness). Terms indicating a total shift of concept like Bible Study => fundamentalism might come later. Everyone okay with this? --[[User:Ed Poor|Ed Poor]] [[User talk:Ed Poor|Talk]] 08:43, 22 February 2011 (EST)

: Sounds good to me! How about giving it a try and let's see how it looks.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 09:32, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::To be fair, many more conservative Christians (my mother, for example), use some of the so-called "secular expressions" because they take a strict line on taking the Lord's name in vain. She would, for example, rather not say "Thank God" unless she was quite literally thanking the deity. Indeed, I believe that is how the "thank goodness" construction originally evolved. --[[User:Jdixon|Jdixon]] 12:57, 22 February 2011 (EST)

:::That might well be, Jdixon--certainly, it's laudable to take seriously the commandment not to take the Lord's name in vain--but I don't think very many Christians would see a heartfelt "Thank God!" as inappropriate in many circumstances. Thus, while your mother's conscientiousness is admirable, I don't think such conscientiousness is a sufficient explanation for the systematic removal of religious language from the public square. Certainly, I think that some people choose "Thank goodness" out of a concern for propriety, but I think many more choose it out of a desire to avoid giving offense, or simply because it's what they're most used to hearing. Perhaps a section on differing reasons for using these terms could be included in the article; after all, this is supposed to be an examination of the issue. --[[User:Benp|Benp]] 13:34, 22 February 2011 (EST)

== Washington's Birthday/President's Day ==

While this is a case of P.C., it's not a case of secularized language. Last I checked, George Washington was not a sacred personage. [[User:Martyp|Martyp]] 13:47, 22 February 2011 (EST)

:Washington was a prominent Christian whose habit of praying and appealing to God for assistance is well-known. He was a kind of saint, and the downplaying of his (indisputable) significance is due to his Christianity. If he had been an atheist then you'd see the opposite effect.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 14:20, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::What kind of a saint was George Washington? --[[User:JohannesZ|JohannesZ]] 15:52, 22 February 2011 (EST)

:::The kind that wins wars. There have been other examples. Have you ever heard of [[Joan of Arc]]?--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 16:02, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::::Canonized in 1920, right? When did the Church recognize Washington as a saint? [[User:Martyp|Martyp]] 16:17, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::::@Andy: Aye. She still needed miracles credited to her. [http://www.stjoan-center.com/novelapp/joaap04.html] --[[User:JohannesZ|JohannesZ]] 16:20, 22 February 2011 (EST)

:::::I don't think all Christian churches have the same rules.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 16:23, 22 February 2011 (EST)
::::::Undoubtedly. So which churches DO recognize Washington as a saint or other type of sacred being? [[User:Martyp|Martyp]] 16:26, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::::::: Perhaps the church of Satan does, or perhaps atheists simply dislike Washington. Wouldn't that be enough to explain the misnaming of the holiday as described in the entry?--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 16:31, 22 February 2011 (EST)
:::::::::I'm pretty sure that The Church of Satan does not acknowledge George Washington as divine. If there's any evidence -- a tract from an angry atheist decrying a celebration of the Christian Washington and demanding a holiday that accommodates the Presidents that were not Christians, I've yet to find one. [[User:Martyp|Martyp]] 16:37, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::::::::::Marty, bias doesn't work that way. You're not likely to find such an angry tract about ''any'' of the items on the list.

::::::::::Atheistic bias, like other forms of bias, seeks to downplay and minimize Christianity. Washington was a leading, accomplished Christian. Lincoln far less so, other presidents even lesser still, and the office of president not Christian at all. An atheistic bias pushes language from the Christian recognition to the more atheistic substitute.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 18:15, 22 February 2011 (EST)

:::::::::::I agree with Andy here; the greater the Christianity of an historical figure, the more the atheistic revisionists will try to downplay his significance. [[User:PeterUker|PeterUker]] 18:24, 22 February 2011 (EST)

:::::::::::: How can President's Day even be considered remotely secularized as it was never a religiously themed event to begin with? The reason we have President's Day is due to the hesitation and the unwillingness of conservatives in the southeast to celebrate Lincoln's birthday as vilified he was as in infringing on "state's rights," and removing their "Peculiar institution." This contrasts to other locations in the country who celebrated both Washington's birthday and Lincoln's birthday in two different events. Furthermore, the Federal Government was disinterested in granting two Monday's off for federal employees, so came the compromise of celebrating a day between Lincoln's and Washington's birthday.[[User:JustinU|JustinU]] 21:46, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::::::::::::: Lincoln never had a stature comparable to Washington, and it's not merely because southerners disliked Lincoln. The attempt to equate Lincoln to Washington as a joint federal holiday was a farce and never got off the ground.

::::::::::::: But atheists downplay Washington just as they downplay other accomplished Christians. It's irrelevant whether the holiday was ever "religiously themed." A day honoring a prominent Christian has been diluted and even misnamed. It's the same secularization seen in replacing "Merry Christmas" with "Happy Holidays."--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 22:27, 22 February 2011 (EST)

:::::::::::::: Mr. Aschlafly, I am unsure if you are purposefully misapplying my point so that your argument appears to be stronger, but I feel that your point is less than successively argued. In fact, the reason that Lincoln is trumpeted as being one of the greatest Presidents to have ever had the honor of holding the office is because, pointedly, history holds him comparable to George Washington in regards to leadership and vision for the country. I am also at ends with your rather presuming statement of Washington's Christianity, considering the well documented Enlightenment-era beliefs he held associated with his principles as a Freemason, a largely deist organization.[[User:JustinU|JustinU]] 00:44, 23 February 2011 (EST)
:::::::::::::::JustinU, it is well documented in Washington's own writings as well as the writings of those who knew him that he was a committed Christian within the Episcopalian Church. The "deist" allegation is from the late-20th century only. [[User:Karajou|Karajou]] 00:57, 23 February 2011 (EST)
[[Image:C log-dancer.gif|thumbnail|right|150px|Maybe we should have a annual parade for St. George Washington like we do for St. Patrick. :)]]
:::The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia correctly declares and supports the doctrine that every true Christian believer is a saint.[http://eastonsbibledictionary.com/saints.htm] The [[Apostle Paul]] wrote: "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the <big>'''saints'''</big> which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." (Ephesians 1: 1-6) Washington appears to have been a true Christian.[http://www.christiananswers.net/q-wall/wal-g011.html] Therefore, George Washington was a saint. Maybe we should have a annual parade for St. George Washington like we do for St. Patrick. :) [[User:Conservative|conservative]] 04:33, 23 February 2011 (EST)

== A few questions ==

A few of the words here don't really seem to fit in the list.
For example:
*'''Resurrection Sunday''' -> '''Easter'''
::"Easter" does have pagan origins, but the Pope says "Easter Sunday", not "Resurrection Sunday" - see[http://www.vatican.va/liturgical_year/liturgico_en/easter.html] and [http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/calendar/ns_liturgy_calendar_en.html#APRIL_2011]. In fact, a Google search of the Vatican website doesn't find "Resurrection Sunday" at all, except a few times with commas in between.

*'''Washington's Birthday''' -> '''President's Day'''
::It's not secularization as far as I can tell. And President's Day honors Lincoln as well. Silly political correctness, maybe. Secularization, no.

*'''Pagan''' -> '''Secular'''
::Pagan usually refers to belief in multiple gods, while secular refers to something separate from religion (e.g. the Turkish government is secular because there is no state religion).

*'''God bless you''' -> '''Gesundheit'''
::Gesundheit is what Germans have always said after a sneeze. Many European countries have the same kind of response. Nobody ever says "God bless you" in German. "Gesundheit" is as old as "God bless you", and the people who say it got the idea from German-Americans.

[[User:DouglasL|DouglasL]] 14:18, 22 February 2011 (EST)

:Pagan definition: one who has little or no religion. Secular definition: not overtly or specifically religious. --[[User:Jpatt|Jpatt]] 14:31, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::Merriam-Webster Online: [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pagan?show=0&t=1298483529 Pagan] [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/secular Secular]
::The first definition for "pagan" is ''a follower of a polytheistic religion'' - notice "polytheistic religion". Secular is ''not overtly or specifically religious''. There's a difference, and in order to claim that "secular" is a redefinition of "pagan" you have to completely ignore the ''first'' definition of "pagan". There's probably another word that could be used as the precursor of "secular" (Atheist?), but it's not "pagan". [[User:DouglasL|DouglasL]] 12:58, 23 February 2011 (EST)
:::To clarify: I '''do''' think that the word "secular" and maybe "pagan" belong on this list, but not together. Maybe "atheist" -> "secular" and "pagan" -> "Wiccan" or such? [[User:DouglasL|DouglasL]] 18:28, 23 February 2011 (EST)

== The Saint's Days ==
* Valentine's Day is no longer officially the feast day for St. Valentine, which definitely explains on some level why the "St" has been dropped from the name. February 14th is now the feast day for Cyril and Methodius, this changed in 1969 under Pope Paul the V, I think.

*Paddy for St. Patrick's Day makes logical sense in that Paddy is a celtic diminutive for Padrig, which is Anglicized to Patrick. I've never actually heard it as Paddy's Day, I've always heard it as "St. Paddy's Day"

*Resurrection Sunday has been called Easter since at the very least the AD 600s. St. Bede's ''Ecclesiastical History of the English People'' written in the early 700s refers to it as Easter, although he does admit it is tied to the Pagan festival of Eostre he still uses the term Easter. I don't think it is logical to use Easter as an example of modern society trying to erase Christian influence from daily life, I think it is simply a continuation of a name that is well over 1,000 years old.

just my thoughts, good luck.--[[User:IScott|IScott]] 19:13, 22 February 2011 (EST)

:Interesting comments, but they don't contradict the observation of bias. Practicing Catholics are a small minority in the United States and Western Europe, so the relevance of the Church's changing of the feast day for St. Valentine hardly seems dispositive. As to your second point, the "logical sense" is very strained in denying credit where it is due. As to your third point, Christians refer to Easter as Resurrection Sunday to this day, just fewer of them. And there was bias in 600 A.D. too.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 21:13, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::I too have never heard paddy's day, it is always proceeded by the "St.". While catholics may be a minority in the west one exception to that is Ireland (the only country in the EU with out abortion) and I think the secular consciousness still associates Ireland with Catholicism. --[[User:AlaskanEconomy|AlaskanEconomy]] 21:50, 22 February 2011 (EST)

: I agree that the actual Saint's days have been marginalized, and that the meaning of the holidays hold almost no religious meaning anymore. Irish-Americans celebrate St. Patrick's Day not as a saint's feast but as a day to meaninglessly celebrate their Irish-ness and dye rivers green and over-indulge in drinking alcohol, and Valentine's Day is a day to celebrate love and has very little to do with the old saint's feast.
: However, I stand firm on my third point, I find it highly unlikely that '''Saint Bede''', venerated in both the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion, who is also considered a '''Doctor of the Church''' to be biased towards an unchristian term. In the 700s Bede refers to it as Easter and it has been called Easter by the English people and English speakers since at least then. For well over 1,000 years the majority of devout English Christians have called it Easter, and thus its use cannot be a modern attempt to try to obscure Christian origins.--[[User:IScott|IScott]] 23:22, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::I agree that the use of Easter is not a ''modern'' secularization, but I still wonder whether its use was influenced by pagan tendencies in the first millennium. I have no quarrel with Saint Bede but am not sure he named it. He may well have been an expert about God but that does not make one an expert about bias. Quite the contrary: Jesus said the people of [[faith]] do not quickly recognize the tricks of the worldly.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 23:45, 22 February 2011 (EST)

A small correction about one of my role models. Bede is not a saint although, as IScott pointed out, he is a Doctor of the Church. His tomb, in Durham Cathedral, is worth a visit! [[User:Rafael|Rafael]]

:Thanks for correcting that!--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 01:05, 1 March 2011 (EST)

::I don't mean to be harsh, but you are mistaken Rafael, Bede is a Saint. He is often refered to as just "the venerable" but he is a Saint so I can see where you might be confused. He is venerated in the Anglican Communion as well as the Roman Catholic Church. Even Conservapedia's own entry on [[Bede]] has an icon that says "St. Bede." Furthermore a google search of Saint Bede shows that there are a variety of churches named in his honor, in Williamsburg, VA there is a Catholic Church called St. Bede's Catholic Church, as well as an Anglican Church of St. Bede in Scarborough, ON, Canada, and a variety of churches and Parish schools in England. In the Episcopal Church Bede's feast day is May 25th. Bede is very much a Saint. Hope that clears up the Sainthood of Bede!--[[User:IScott|IScott]] 16:42, 2 March 2011 (EST)

== Perversion diversity ==

As I understand it this is a list of words that are backward compatible to former religious meanings. We could stop saying Happy Holidays as a society and say Merry Christmas. I'd hate to think of what bigots we would appear to be if we started calling diversity perversion. "Have a lot of people off all different races, creeds, and colors working at your company, you are perverted!" or "A black man marrying a white woman, that's a perverted couple!" Since I doubt that anyone here thinks that way (and if they do maybe they should find somewhere else to be) then I think that should be pulled from the list for now. --[[User:AlaskanEconomy|AlaskanEconomy]] 20:01, 22 February 2011 (EST)
:'Diversity' is a word used often by liberals and others who push the [[homosexual agenda]], claiming that ongoing [[homosexualization]] is in the name of diversity. As a conservative and one who reads the Bible daily, I find same-sex marriage perverse, yet liberals such as yourself would refer to such things as diverse. Hence, your non-sequiturs aside, I feel the entry should remain. [[User:PeterUker|PeterUker]] 20:10, 22 February 2011 (EST)
::A) You didn't address my point
::B) Perversion isn't a religious word any more than right and wrong. Are math teachers helping to keep Christianity vibrant and alive by assigning problems which are later graded as right and wrong?
::C) How ever often you claim to read the bible doesn't really matter here. This is the internet, anyone can claim to read the bible. however much they want. --[[User:AlaskanEconomy|AlaskanEconomy]] 20:32, 22 February 2011 (EST)
:::I'd have to weigh in with [[User:AlaskanEconomy|AE]] on this. Although, specifically, "diversity" is ''becoming'' a by-word, diversity is an [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/diversity old word] and refers to more than ''just'' homosexualization, by keeping it as is '''gives''' those advocates legitimacy and (in the end) we end up losing a serviceable word. [[User:DevonJ|DevonJ]] 21:06, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::::We could make several categories of terms which have normal vs. liberal counterparts. Not all such pairs are examples of secularization. Some merely reflect the liberal worldview. --[[User:Ed Poor|Ed Poor]] [[User talk:Ed Poor|Talk]] 22:57, 22 February 2011 (EST)

:::::Diversity is more an example of liberals distorting the meaning of a word, the way I see it. I wouldn't call the original meaning of "diversity" an example of perversion, but advocates of the homosexual agenda ''try'' to make it into a different word. [[User:DouglasL|DouglasL]] 18:40, 23 February 2011 (EST)

== Dead/Passed ==

I'm not quite sure this fits. While "passed" or "passed on" is certainly a euphemism for "dead," surely it carries with it the connotation of passing on to God's judgment? It seems to me like, if anything, "dead" is the more atheist-friendly term, since they're fond of claiming that once you're dead, you're dead. --[[User:Benp|Benp]] 22:52, 22 February 2011 (EST)
:You seem to be correct, perish->dead maybe? Do what you feel is right.--[[User:Jpatt|Jpatt]] 22:57, 22 February 2011 (EST)

== Use of Christian Language in non-Religious Context ==

Based on the introduction to this page, the list is supposed to contain Christian expressions that have been replaced by secular expressions. But some examples are Christian expressions that are being used in non-Religious context. (Examples on this page include "Saintly"/"Well-behaved" and "Angelic"/"Pretty." Other examples I thought of are "Oh my God!" instead of "Oh no!" and calling something "divine" instead of "delicious" or "in excellent taste.") Maybe this page can have one list of Christian expressions that are being replaced with different secular terms, and one list that contains Christian expressions that have been inappropriately adopted by the secular crowd for non-religious use. Does this make sense? Or do you think this all belongs in the same list? --[[User:Toadaron|Toadaron]] 12:25, 24 February 2011 (EST)

== Gesundheit means "God Bless you!" in German==
Gesundheit litterally translates to "God Bless you!" in German. I don't think there is any malice or Secularized Language in this phrase. I think it was just a custom started by German-American Immigrants that caught on. As a descendant of German-American immigrants I feel obliged to point this out. Thank you, --[[User:Davidkon|Davidkon]] 14:30, 24 February 2011 (EST)
:As a speaker of German, I can tell you that Gesundheit means "Health". Gott segne dich! [[User:EricAlstrom|EricAlstrom]] 15:03, 24 February 2011 (EST)
:Sorry to disagree with you, Davidkon, but "geshundheit" means "good health" as this entry[http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gesundheit] states. The German word for God is "Gott", and this word is not part of gesundheit. [[User:Karajou|Karajou]] 15:07, 24 February 2011 (EST)

== Changes ==

I made a start at the categories Ed suggested, and organized the terms alphabetically within each category. I did remove the example of "Jesus!" to "Gee whiz!", as I really think that's primarily a case of people trying not to use the Lord's name in a profane fashion. --[[User:Benp|Benp]] 13:10, 26 February 2011 (EST)

: Your improvements are superb. But I didn't know that "Gee whiz" was a secularization of "Jesus"! I'd be inclined to leave that in for informative purposes, even though you're reason for deleting it is probably. Perhaps with a footnote?--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 13:19, 26 February 2011 (EST)

:: I can certainly see your point as far as the informative value, and this isn't, after all, just supposed to be an article about language that was secularized for malicious reasons. It seems like we really do need a section exploring possible reasons for the secularization of language, and the ways in which even benign motives can contribute to the trend. --[[User:Benp|Benp]] 15:20, 26 February 2011 (EST)

:::Hmm...that being the case, should similar euphemistic alterations like "Jeepers Creepers" be added in, too? --[[User:Benp|Benp]] 15:23, 26 February 2011 (EST)

:::: You win. Let's keep that junk out. :-) --[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 15:45, 26 February 2011 (EST)

== Government ==

Hello,
I was wondering wondering what the rational of "State -> Government", along with "Govern -> Rule". I don't particularly see how either is Christian or secular, and beyond that, it seems like these to contradict each other. Just wanting to hear some thoughts. [[User:EricAlstrom|EricAlstrom]] 18:52, 26 February 2011 (EST)

:Seems straightforward: the more atheistic one is, the more he views government as the church, and officials in government as rulers. In contrast, the term "state" includes the people (e.g., "State of Rhode Island"), and governing connotes an element of service rather than purely ruling.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 19:04, 26 February 2011 (EST)

== Christmas/Xmas ==

I would like to point out that the English letter X looks exactly like the Greek letter Chi, which is the first letter of 'Christ' in Greek. That is the origin of 'Xmas' and it is not an attempt to take Christ out. I submit that 'Xmas' should be removed from this list.
--[[User:Lordofthemarsh|Lordofthemarsh]] 11:51, 2 March 2011 (EST)

:That's a slippery slope: referring the "X" to "Christ". Let's keep it in for now.

:Eventually, we can expand this topic, branching out to all sorts of language differences between conservatives and liberals. The religious-secular division is just one such difference.

:By the way, I'd prefer you to use your real name (unless Andy has given you specific permission to use a pseudonym). --[[User:Ed Poor|Ed Poor]] [[User talk:Ed Poor|Talk]] 14:50, 2 March 2011 (EST)

::The transliteration of Christ in Greek is Χριστός, for what it is worth.
::I thought the point of the article was how we all talk about the same things but that the sacredness has been removed by substituting a synonym to remove the holiness of the original words.
::I suppose, conversely, one could make the point that LORD is a "secularized" version of the tetragrammaton. This was done for the reason that YHWH was too sacred to be uttered. [[User:DevonJ|DevonJ]] 17:37, 2 March 2011 (EST)

== "Notes" section ==

I added a "notes" section for things myself and others in the Talk page have pointed out. Let me know what you think. -[[User:Danq|danq]] 23:50, 2 March 2011 (EST)

== Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras ==

"Mardi Gras" is the '''''only''''' way to say "Shrove Tuesday" in French. Shrove Tuesday is a specific English tradition of a confessional before Lent. In French culture, the last day before Lent is ''Mardi Gras'', '''''never''''' a French translation of "Shrove Tuesday". The Vatican liturgical calendar doesn't even include the day before Ash Wednesday. [http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/calendar/ns_liturgy_calendar_en.html#MARCH_2011] [[User:DouglasL|DouglasL]] 15:04, 9 March 2011 (EST)

Talk:Secularized Language

2011-03-09T20:04:45Z

DouglasL: /* Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras */ new section

I'd like to organize these into categories - not divided up, maybe - with secularized expressions at the top (e.g., Thank God => thank goodness). Terms indicating a total shift of concept like Bible Study => fundamentalism might come later. Everyone okay with this? --[[User:Ed Poor|Ed Poor]] [[User talk:Ed Poor|Talk]] 08:43, 22 February 2011 (EST)

: Sounds good to me! How about giving it a try and let's see how it looks.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 09:32, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::To be fair, many more conservative Christians (my mother, for example), use some of the so-called "secular expressions" because they take a strict line on taking the Lord's name in vain. She would, for example, rather not say "Thank God" unless she was quite literally thanking the deity. Indeed, I believe that is how the "thank goodness" construction originally evolved. --[[User:Jdixon|Jdixon]] 12:57, 22 February 2011 (EST)

:::That might well be, Jdixon--certainly, it's laudable to take seriously the commandment not to take the Lord's name in vain--but I don't think very many Christians would see a heartfelt "Thank God!" as inappropriate in many circumstances. Thus, while your mother's conscientiousness is admirable, I don't think such conscientiousness is a sufficient explanation for the systematic removal of religious language from the public square. Certainly, I think that some people choose "Thank goodness" out of a concern for propriety, but I think many more choose it out of a desire to avoid giving offense, or simply because it's what they're most used to hearing. Perhaps a section on differing reasons for using these terms could be included in the article; after all, this is supposed to be an examination of the issue. --[[User:Benp|Benp]] 13:34, 22 February 2011 (EST)

== Washington's Birthday/President's Day ==

While this is a case of P.C., it's not a case of secularized language. Last I checked, George Washington was not a sacred personage. [[User:Martyp|Martyp]] 13:47, 22 February 2011 (EST)

:Washington was a prominent Christian whose habit of praying and appealing to God for assistance is well-known. He was a kind of saint, and the downplaying of his (indisputable) significance is due to his Christianity. If he had been an atheist then you'd see the opposite effect.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 14:20, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::What kind of a saint was George Washington? --[[User:JohannesZ|JohannesZ]] 15:52, 22 February 2011 (EST)

:::The kind that wins wars. There have been other examples. Have you ever heard of [[Joan of Arc]]?--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 16:02, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::::Canonized in 1920, right? When did the Church recognize Washington as a saint? [[User:Martyp|Martyp]] 16:17, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::::@Andy: Aye. She still needed miracles credited to her. [http://www.stjoan-center.com/novelapp/joaap04.html] --[[User:JohannesZ|JohannesZ]] 16:20, 22 February 2011 (EST)

:::::I don't think all Christian churches have the same rules.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 16:23, 22 February 2011 (EST)
::::::Undoubtedly. So which churches DO recognize Washington as a saint or other type of sacred being? [[User:Martyp|Martyp]] 16:26, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::::::: Perhaps the church of Satan does, or perhaps atheists simply dislike Washington. Wouldn't that be enough to explain the misnaming of the holiday as described in the entry?--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 16:31, 22 February 2011 (EST)
:::::::::I'm pretty sure that The Church of Satan does not acknowledge George Washington as divine. If there's any evidence -- a tract from an angry atheist decrying a celebration of the Christian Washington and demanding a holiday that accommodates the Presidents that were not Christians, I've yet to find one. [[User:Martyp|Martyp]] 16:37, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::::::::::Marty, bias doesn't work that way. You're not likely to find such an angry tract about ''any'' of the items on the list.

::::::::::Atheistic bias, like other forms of bias, seeks to downplay and minimize Christianity. Washington was a leading, accomplished Christian. Lincoln far less so, other presidents even lesser still, and the office of president not Christian at all. An atheistic bias pushes language from the Christian recognition to the more atheistic substitute.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 18:15, 22 February 2011 (EST)

:::::::::::I agree with Andy here; the greater the Christianity of an historical figure, the more the atheistic revisionists will try to downplay his significance. [[User:PeterUker|PeterUker]] 18:24, 22 February 2011 (EST)

:::::::::::: How can President's Day even be considered remotely secularized as it was never a religiously themed event to begin with? The reason we have President's Day is due to the hesitation and the unwillingness of conservatives in the southeast to celebrate Lincoln's birthday as vilified he was as in infringing on "state's rights," and removing their "Peculiar institution." This contrasts to other locations in the country who celebrated both Washington's birthday and Lincoln's birthday in two different events. Furthermore, the Federal Government was disinterested in granting two Monday's off for federal employees, so came the compromise of celebrating a day between Lincoln's and Washington's birthday.[[User:JustinU|JustinU]] 21:46, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::::::::::::: Lincoln never had a stature comparable to Washington, and it's not merely because southerners disliked Lincoln. The attempt to equate Lincoln to Washington as a joint federal holiday was a farce and never got off the ground.

::::::::::::: But atheists downplay Washington just as they downplay other accomplished Christians. It's irrelevant whether the holiday was ever "religiously themed." A day honoring a prominent Christian has been diluted and even misnamed. It's the same secularization seen in replacing "Merry Christmas" with "Happy Holidays."--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 22:27, 22 February 2011 (EST)

:::::::::::::: Mr. Aschlafly, I am unsure if you are purposefully misapplying my point so that your argument appears to be stronger, but I feel that your point is less than successively argued. In fact, the reason that Lincoln is trumpeted as being one of the greatest Presidents to have ever had the honor of holding the office is because, pointedly, history holds him comparable to George Washington in regards to leadership and vision for the country. I am also at ends with your rather presuming statement of Washington's Christianity, considering the well documented Enlightenment-era beliefs he held associated with his principles as a Freemason, a largely deist organization.[[User:JustinU|JustinU]] 00:44, 23 February 2011 (EST)
:::::::::::::::JustinU, it is well documented in Washington's own writings as well as the writings of those who knew him that he was a committed Christian within the Episcopalian Church. The "deist" allegation is from the late-20th century only. [[User:Karajou|Karajou]] 00:57, 23 February 2011 (EST)
[[Image:C log-dancer.gif|thumbnail|right|150px|Maybe we should have a annual parade for St. George Washington like we do for St. Patrick. :)]]
:::The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia correctly declares and supports the doctrine that every true Christian believer is a saint.[http://eastonsbibledictionary.com/saints.htm] The [[Apostle Paul]] wrote: "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the <big>'''saints'''</big> which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." (Ephesians 1: 1-6) Washington appears to have been a true Christian.[http://www.christiananswers.net/q-wall/wal-g011.html] Therefore, George Washington was a saint. Maybe we should have a annual parade for St. George Washington like we do for St. Patrick. :) [[User:Conservative|conservative]] 04:33, 23 February 2011 (EST)

== A few questions ==

A few of the words here don't really seem to fit in the list.
For example:
*'''Resurrection Sunday''' -> '''Easter'''
::"Easter" does have pagan origins, but the Pope says "Easter Sunday", not "Resurrection Sunday" - see[http://www.vatican.va/liturgical_year/liturgico_en/easter.html] and [http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/calendar/ns_liturgy_calendar_en.html#APRIL_2011]. In fact, a Google search of the Vatican website doesn't find "Resurrection Sunday" at all, except a few times with commas in between.

*'''Washington's Birthday''' -> '''President's Day'''
::It's not secularization as far as I can tell. And President's Day honors Lincoln as well. Silly political correctness, maybe. Secularization, no.

*'''Pagan''' -> '''Secular'''
::Pagan usually refers to belief in multiple gods, while secular refers to something separate from religion (e.g. the Turkish government is secular because there is no state religion).

*'''God bless you''' -> '''Gesundheit'''
::Gesundheit is what Germans have always said after a sneeze. Many European countries have the same kind of response. Nobody ever says "God bless you" in German. "Gesundheit" is as old as "God bless you", and the people who say it got the idea from German-Americans.

[[User:DouglasL|DouglasL]] 14:18, 22 February 2011 (EST)

:Pagan definition: one who has little or no religion. Secular definition: not overtly or specifically religious. --[[User:Jpatt|Jpatt]] 14:31, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::Merriam-Webster Online: [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pagan?show=0&t=1298483529 Pagan] [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/secular Secular]
::The first definition for "pagan" is ''a follower of a polytheistic religion'' - notice "polytheistic religion". Secular is ''not overtly or specifically religious''. There's a difference, and in order to claim that "secular" is a redefinition of "pagan" you have to completely ignore the ''first'' definition of "pagan". There's probably another word that could be used as the precursor of "secular" (Atheist?), but it's not "pagan". [[User:DouglasL|DouglasL]] 12:58, 23 February 2011 (EST)
:::To clarify: I '''do''' think that the word "secular" and maybe "pagan" belong on this list, but not together. Maybe "atheist" -> "secular" and "pagan" -> "Wiccan" or such? [[User:DouglasL|DouglasL]] 18:28, 23 February 2011 (EST)

== The Saint's Days ==
* Valentine's Day is no longer officially the feast day for St. Valentine, which definitely explains on some level why the "St" has been dropped from the name. February 14th is now the feast day for Cyril and Methodius, this changed in 1969 under Pope Paul the V, I think.

*Paddy for St. Patrick's Day makes logical sense in that Paddy is a celtic diminutive for Padrig, which is Anglicized to Patrick. I've never actually heard it as Paddy's Day, I've always heard it as "St. Paddy's Day"

*Resurrection Sunday has been called Easter since at the very least the AD 600s. St. Bede's ''Ecclesiastical History of the English People'' written in the early 700s refers to it as Easter, although he does admit it is tied to the Pagan festival of Eostre he still uses the term Easter. I don't think it is logical to use Easter as an example of modern society trying to erase Christian influence from daily life, I think it is simply a continuation of a name that is well over 1,000 years old.

just my thoughts, good luck.--[[User:IScott|IScott]] 19:13, 22 February 2011 (EST)

:Interesting comments, but they don't contradict the observation of bias. Practicing Catholics are a small minority in the United States and Western Europe, so the relevance of the Church's changing of the feast day for St. Valentine hardly seems dispositive. As to your second point, the "logical sense" is very strained in denying credit where it is due. As to your third point, Christians refer to Easter as Resurrection Sunday to this day, just fewer of them. And there was bias in 600 A.D. too.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 21:13, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::I too have never heard paddy's day, it is always proceeded by the "St.". While catholics may be a minority in the west one exception to that is Ireland (the only country in the EU with out abortion) and I think the secular consciousness still associates Ireland with Catholicism. --[[User:AlaskanEconomy|AlaskanEconomy]] 21:50, 22 February 2011 (EST)

: I agree that the actual Saint's days have been marginalized, and that the meaning of the holidays hold almost no religious meaning anymore. Irish-Americans celebrate St. Patrick's Day not as a saint's feast but as a day to meaninglessly celebrate their Irish-ness and dye rivers green and over-indulge in drinking alcohol, and Valentine's Day is a day to celebrate love and has very little to do with the old saint's feast.
: However, I stand firm on my third point, I find it highly unlikely that '''Saint Bede''', venerated in both the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion, who is also considered a '''Doctor of the Church''' to be biased towards an unchristian term. In the 700s Bede refers to it as Easter and it has been called Easter by the English people and English speakers since at least then. For well over 1,000 years the majority of devout English Christians have called it Easter, and thus its use cannot be a modern attempt to try to obscure Christian origins.--[[User:IScott|IScott]] 23:22, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::I agree that the use of Easter is not a ''modern'' secularization, but I still wonder whether its use was influenced by pagan tendencies in the first millennium. I have no quarrel with Saint Bede but am not sure he named it. He may well have been an expert about God but that does not make one an expert about bias. Quite the contrary: Jesus said the people of [[faith]] do not quickly recognize the tricks of the worldly.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 23:45, 22 February 2011 (EST)

A small correction about one of my role models. Bede is not a saint although, as IScott pointed out, he is a Doctor of the Church. His tomb, in Durham Cathedral, is worth a visit! [[User:Rafael|Rafael]]

:Thanks for correcting that!--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 01:05, 1 March 2011 (EST)

::I don't mean to be harsh, but you are mistaken Rafael, Bede is a Saint. He is often refered to as just "the venerable" but he is a Saint so I can see where you might be confused. He is venerated in the Anglican Communion as well as the Roman Catholic Church. Even Conservapedia's own entry on [[Bede]] has an icon that says "St. Bede." Furthermore a google search of Saint Bede shows that there are a variety of churches named in his honor, in Williamsburg, VA there is a Catholic Church called St. Bede's Catholic Church, as well as an Anglican Church of St. Bede in Scarborough, ON, Canada, and a variety of churches and Parish schools in England. In the Episcopal Church Bede's feast day is May 25th. Bede is very much a Saint. Hope that clears up the Sainthood of Bede!--[[User:IScott|IScott]] 16:42, 2 March 2011 (EST)

== Perversion diversity ==

As I understand it this is a list of words that are backward compatible to former religious meanings. We could stop saying Happy Holidays as a society and say Merry Christmas. I'd hate to think of what bigots we would appear to be if we started calling diversity perversion. "Have a lot of people off all different races, creeds, and colors working at your company, you are perverted!" or "A black man marrying a white woman, that's a perverted couple!" Since I doubt that anyone here thinks that way (and if they do maybe they should find somewhere else to be) then I think that should be pulled from the list for now. --[[User:AlaskanEconomy|AlaskanEconomy]] 20:01, 22 February 2011 (EST)
:'Diversity' is a word used often by liberals and others who push the [[homosexual agenda]], claiming that ongoing [[homosexualization]] is in the name of diversity. As a conservative and one who reads the Bible daily, I find same-sex marriage perverse, yet liberals such as yourself would refer to such things as diverse. Hence, your non-sequiturs aside, I feel the entry should remain. [[User:PeterUker|PeterUker]] 20:10, 22 February 2011 (EST)
::A) You didn't address my point
::B) Perversion isn't a religious word any more than right and wrong. Are math teachers helping to keep Christianity vibrant and alive by assigning problems which are later graded as right and wrong?
::C) How ever often you claim to read the bible doesn't really matter here. This is the internet, anyone can claim to read the bible. however much they want. --[[User:AlaskanEconomy|AlaskanEconomy]] 20:32, 22 February 2011 (EST)
:::I'd have to weigh in with [[User:AlaskanEconomy|AE]] on this. Although, specifically, "diversity" is ''becoming'' a by-word, diversity is an [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/diversity old word] and refers to more than ''just'' homosexualization, by keeping it as is '''gives''' those advocates legitimacy and (in the end) we end up losing a serviceable word. [[User:DevonJ|DevonJ]] 21:06, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::::We could make several categories of terms which have normal vs. liberal counterparts. Not all such pairs are examples of secularization. Some merely reflect the liberal worldview. --[[User:Ed Poor|Ed Poor]] [[User talk:Ed Poor|Talk]] 22:57, 22 February 2011 (EST)

:::::Diversity is more an example of liberals distorting the meaning of a word, the way I see it. I wouldn't call the original meaning of "diversity" an example of perversion, but advocates of the homosexual agenda ''try'' to make it into a different word. [[User:DouglasL|DouglasL]] 18:40, 23 February 2011 (EST)

== Dead/Passed ==

I'm not quite sure this fits. While "passed" or "passed on" is certainly a euphemism for "dead," surely it carries with it the connotation of passing on to God's judgment? It seems to me like, if anything, "dead" is the more atheist-friendly term, since they're fond of claiming that once you're dead, you're dead. --[[User:Benp|Benp]] 22:52, 22 February 2011 (EST)
:You seem to be correct, perish->dead maybe? Do what you feel is right.--[[User:Jpatt|Jpatt]] 22:57, 22 February 2011 (EST)

== Use of Christian Language in non-Religious Context ==

Based on the introduction to this page, the list is supposed to contain Christian expressions that have been replaced by secular expressions. But some examples are Christian expressions that are being used in non-Religious context. (Examples on this page include "Saintly"/"Well-behaved" and "Angelic"/"Pretty." Other examples I thought of are "Oh my God!" instead of "Oh no!" and calling something "divine" instead of "delicious" or "in excellent taste.") Maybe this page can have one list of Christian expressions that are being replaced with different secular terms, and one list that contains Christian expressions that have been inappropriately adopted by the secular crowd for non-religious use. Does this make sense? Or do you think this all belongs in the same list? --[[User:Toadaron|Toadaron]] 12:25, 24 February 2011 (EST)

== Gesundheit means "God Bless you!" in German==
Gesundheit litterally translates to "God Bless you!" in German. I don't think there is any malice or Secularized Language in this phrase. I think it was just a custom started by German-American Immigrants that caught on. As a descendant of German-American immigrants I feel obliged to point this out. Thank you, --[[User:Davidkon|Davidkon]] 14:30, 24 February 2011 (EST)
:As a speaker of German, I can tell you that Gesundheit means "Health". Gott segne dich! [[User:EricAlstrom|EricAlstrom]] 15:03, 24 February 2011 (EST)
:Sorry to disagree with you, Davidkon, but "geshundheit" means "good health" as this entry[http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gesundheit] states. The German word for God is "Gott", and this word is not part of gesundheit. [[User:Karajou|Karajou]] 15:07, 24 February 2011 (EST)

== Changes ==

I made a start at the categories Ed suggested, and organized the terms alphabetically within each category. I did remove the example of "Jesus!" to "Gee whiz!", as I really think that's primarily a case of people trying not to use the Lord's name in a profane fashion. --[[User:Benp|Benp]] 13:10, 26 February 2011 (EST)

: Your improvements are superb. But I didn't know that "Gee whiz" was a secularization of "Jesus"! I'd be inclined to leave that in for informative purposes, even though you're reason for deleting it is probably. Perhaps with a footnote?--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 13:19, 26 February 2011 (EST)

:: I can certainly see your point as far as the informative value, and this isn't, after all, just supposed to be an article about language that was secularized for malicious reasons. It seems like we really do need a section exploring possible reasons for the secularization of language, and the ways in which even benign motives can contribute to the trend. --[[User:Benp|Benp]] 15:20, 26 February 2011 (EST)

:::Hmm...that being the case, should similar euphemistic alterations like "Jeepers Creepers" be added in, too? --[[User:Benp|Benp]] 15:23, 26 February 2011 (EST)

:::: You win. Let's keep that junk out. :-) --[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 15:45, 26 February 2011 (EST)

== Government ==

Hello,
I was wondering wondering what the rational of "State -> Government", along with "Govern -> Rule". I don't particularly see how either is Christian or secular, and beyond that, it seems like these to contradict each other. Just wanting to hear some thoughts. [[User:EricAlstrom|EricAlstrom]] 18:52, 26 February 2011 (EST)

:Seems straightforward: the more atheistic one is, the more he views government as the church, and officials in government as rulers. In contrast, the term "state" includes the people (e.g., "State of Rhode Island"), and governing connotes an element of service rather than purely ruling.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 19:04, 26 February 2011 (EST)

== Christmas/Xmas ==

I would like to point out that the English letter X looks exactly like the Greek letter Chi, which is the first letter of 'Christ' in Greek. That is the origin of 'Xmas' and it is not an attempt to take Christ out. I submit that 'Xmas' should be removed from this list.
--[[User:Lordofthemarsh|Lordofthemarsh]] 11:51, 2 March 2011 (EST)

:That's a slippery slope: referring the "X" to "Christ". Let's keep it in for now.

:Eventually, we can expand this topic, branching out to all sorts of language differences between conservatives and liberals. The religious-secular division is just one such difference.

:By the way, I'd prefer you to use your real name (unless Andy has given you specific permission to use a pseudonym). --[[User:Ed Poor|Ed Poor]] [[User talk:Ed Poor|Talk]] 14:50, 2 March 2011 (EST)

::The transliteration of Christ in Greek is Χριστός, for what it is worth.
::I thought the point of the article was how we all talk about the same things but that the sacredness has been removed by substituting a synonym to remove the holiness of the original words.
::I suppose, conversely, one could make the point that LORD is a "secularized" version of the tetragrammaton. This was done for the reason that YHWH was too sacred to be uttered. [[User:DevonJ|DevonJ]] 17:37, 2 March 2011 (EST)

== "Notes" section ==

I added a "notes" section for things myself and others in the Talk page have pointed out. Let me know what you think. -[[User:Danq|danq]] 23:50, 2 March 2011 (EST)

== Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras ==

"Mardi Gras" is the '''''only''''' way to say "Shrove Tuesday" in French. Shrove Tuesday is a specific English tradition of a confessional before Lent. In French culture, the last day before Lent is ''Mardi Gras'', '''''never''''' a French translation of "Shrove Tuesday". [[User:DouglasL|DouglasL]] 15:04, 9 March 2011 (EST)

Talk:Secularized Language

2011-02-23T23:40:33Z

DouglasL: /* Perversion diversity */ reply

I'd like to organize these into categories - not divided up, maybe - with secularized expressions at the top (e.g., Thank God => thank goodness). Terms indicating a total shift of concept like Bible Study => fundamentalism might come later. Everyone okay with this? --[[User:Ed Poor|Ed Poor]] [[User talk:Ed Poor|Talk]] 08:43, 22 February 2011 (EST)

: Sounds good to me! How about giving it a try and let's see how it looks.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 09:32, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::To be fair, many more conservative Christians (my mother, for example), use some of the so-called "secular expressions" because they take a strict line on taking the Lord's name in vain. She would, for example, rather not say "Thank God" unless she was quite literally thanking the deity. Indeed, I believe that is how the "thank goodness" construction originally evolved. --[[User:Jdixon|Jdixon]] 12:57, 22 February 2011 (EST)

:::That might well be, Jdixon--certainly, it's laudable to take seriously the commandment not to take the Lord's name in vain--but I don't think very many Christians would see a heartfelt "Thank God!" as inappropriate in many circumstances. Thus, while your mother's conscientiousness is admirable, I don't think such conscientiousness is a sufficient explanation for the systematic removal of religious language from the public square. Certainly, I think that some people choose "Thank goodness" out of a concern for propriety, but I think many more choose it out of a desire to avoid giving offense, or simply because it's what they're most used to hearing. Perhaps a section on differing reasons for using these terms could be included in the article; after all, this is supposed to be an examination of the issue. --[[User:Benp|Benp]] 13:34, 22 February 2011 (EST)

== Washington's Birthday/President's Day ==

While this is a case of P.C., it's not a case of secularized language. Last I checked, George Washington was not a sacred personage. [[User:Martyp|Martyp]] 13:47, 22 February 2011 (EST)

:Washington was a prominent Christian whose habit of praying and appealing to God for assistance is well-known. He was a kind of saint, and the downplaying of his (indisputable) significance is due to his Christianity. If he had been an atheist then you'd see the opposite effect.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 14:20, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::What kind of a saint was George Washington? --[[User:JohannesZ|JohannesZ]] 15:52, 22 February 2011 (EST)

:::The kind that wins wars. There have been other examples. Have you ever heard of [[Joan of Arc]]?--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 16:02, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::::Canonized in 1920, right? When did the Church recognize Washington as a saint? [[User:Martyp|Martyp]] 16:17, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::::@Andy: Aye. She still needed miracles credited to her. [http://www.stjoan-center.com/novelapp/joaap04.html] --[[User:JohannesZ|JohannesZ]] 16:20, 22 February 2011 (EST)

:::::I don't think all Christian churches have the same rules.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 16:23, 22 February 2011 (EST)
::::::Undoubtedly. So which churches DO recognize Washington as a saint or other type of sacred being? [[User:Martyp|Martyp]] 16:26, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::::::: Perhaps the church of Satan does, or perhaps atheists simply dislike Washington. Wouldn't that be enough to explain the misnaming of the holiday as described in the entry?--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 16:31, 22 February 2011 (EST)
:::::::::I'm pretty sure that The Church of Satan does not acknowledge George Washington as divine. If there's any evidence -- a tract from an angry atheist decrying a celebration of the Christian Washington and demanding a holiday that accommodates the Presidents that were not Christians, I've yet to find one. [[User:Martyp|Martyp]] 16:37, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::::::::::Marty, bias doesn't work that way. You're not likely to find such an angry tract about ''any'' of the items on the list.

::::::::::Atheistic bias, like other forms of bias, seeks to downplay and minimize Christianity. Washington was a leading, accomplished Christian. Lincoln far less so, other presidents even lesser still, and the office of president not Christian at all. An atheistic bias pushes language from the Christian recognition to the more atheistic substitute.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 18:15, 22 February 2011 (EST)

:::::::::::I agree with Andy here; the greater the Christianity of an historical figure, the more the atheistic revisionists will try to downplay his significance. [[User:PeterUker|PeterUker]] 18:24, 22 February 2011 (EST)

:::::::::::: How can President's Day even be considered remotely secularized as it was never a religiously themed event to begin with? The reason we have President's Day is due to the hesitation and the unwillingness of conservatives in the southeast to celebrate Lincoln's birthday as vilified he was as in infringing on "state's rights," and removing their "Peculiar institution." This contrasts to other locations in the country who celebrated both Washington's birthday and Lincoln's birthday in two different events. Furthermore, the Federal Government was disinterested in granting two Monday's off for federal employees, so came the compromise of celebrating a day between Lincoln's and Washington's birthday.[[User:JustinU|JustinU]] 21:46, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::::::::::::: Lincoln never had a stature comparable to Washington, and it's not merely because southerners disliked Lincoln. The attempt to equate Lincoln to Washington as a joint federal holiday was a farce and never got off the ground.

::::::::::::: But atheists downplay Washington just as they downplay other accomplished Christians. It's irrelevant whether the holiday was ever "religiously themed." A day honoring a prominent Christian has been diluted and even misnamed. It's the same secularization seen in replacing "Merry Christmas" with "Happy Holidays."--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 22:27, 22 February 2011 (EST)

:::::::::::::: Mr. Aschlafly, I am unsure if you are purposefully misapplying my point so that your argument appears to be stronger, but I feel that your point is less than successively argued. In fact, the reason that Lincoln is trumpeted as being one of the greatest Presidents to have ever had the honor of holding the office is because, pointedly, history holds him comparable to George Washington in regards to leadership and vision for the country. I am also at ends with your rather presuming statement of Washington's Christianity, considering the well documented Enlightenment-era beliefs he held associated with his principles as a Freemason, a largely deist organization.[[User:JustinU|JustinU]] 00:44, 23 February 2011 (EST)
:::::::::::::::JustinU, it is well documented in Washington's own writings as well as the writings of those who knew him that he was a committed Christian within the Episcopalian Church. The "deist" allegation is from the late-20th century only. [[User:Karajou|Karajou]] 00:57, 23 February 2011 (EST)
[[Image:Clog-dancer.gif|thumbnail|right|150px|Maybe we should have a annual parade for St. George Washington like we do for St. Patrick. :)]]
:::The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia correctly declares and supports the doctrine that every true Christian believer is a saint.[http://eastonsbibledictionary.com/saints.htm] The [[Apostle Paul]] wrote: "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the <big>'''saints'''</big> which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." (Ephesians 1: 1-6) Washington appears to have been a true Christian.[http://www.christiananswers.net/q-wall/wal-g011.html] Therefore, George Washington was a saint. Maybe we should have a annual parade for St. George Washington like we do for St. Patrick. :) [[User:Conservative|conservative]] 04:33, 23 February 2011 (EST)

== A few questions ==

A few of the words here don't really seem to fit in the list.
For example:
*'''Resurrection Sunday''' -> '''Easter'''
::"Easter" does have pagan origins, but the Pope says "Easter Sunday", not "Resurrection Sunday" - see[http://www.vatican.va/liturgical_year/liturgico_en/easter.html] and [http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/calendar/ns_liturgy_calendar_en.html#APRIL_2011]. In fact, a Google search of the Vatican website doesn't find "Resurrection Sunday" at all, except a few times with commas in between.

*'''Washington's Birthday''' -> '''President's Day'''
::It's not secularization as far as I can tell. And President's Day honors Lincoln as well. Silly political correctness, maybe. Secularization, no.

*'''Pagan''' -> '''Secular'''
::Pagan usually refers to belief in multiple gods, while secular refers to something separate from religion (e.g. the Turkish government is secular because there is no state religion).

*'''God bless you''' -> '''Gesundheit'''
::Gesundheit is what Germans have always said after a sneeze. Many European countries have the same kind of response. Nobody ever says "God bless you" in German. "Gesundheit" is as old as "God bless you", and the people who say it got the idea from German-Americans.

[[User:DouglasL|DouglasL]] 14:18, 22 February 2011 (EST)

:Pagan definition: one who has little or no religion. Secular definition: not overtly or specifically religious. --[[User:Jpatt|Jpatt]] 14:31, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::Merriam-Webster Online: [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pagan?show=0&t=1298483529 Pagan] [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/secular Secular]
::The first definition for "pagan" is ''a follower of a polytheistic religion'' - notice "polytheistic religion". Secular is ''not overtly or specifically religious''. There's a difference, and in order to claim that "secular" is a redefinition of "pagan" you have to completely ignore the ''first'' definition of "pagan". There's probably another word that could be used as the precursor of "secular" (Atheist?), but it's not "pagan". [[User:DouglasL|DouglasL]] 12:58, 23 February 2011 (EST)
:::To clarify: I '''do''' think that the word "secular" and maybe "pagan" belong on this list, but not together. Maybe "atheist" -> "secular" and "pagan" -> "Wiccan" or such? [[User:DouglasL|DouglasL]] 18:28, 23 February 2011 (EST)

== The Saint's Days ==
* Valentine's Day is no longer officially the feast day for St. Valentine, which definitely explains on some level why the "St" has been dropped from the name. February 14th is now the feast day for Cyril and Methodius, this changed in 1969 under Pope Paul the V, I think.

*Paddy for St. Patrick's Day makes logical sense in that Paddy is a celtic diminutive for Padrig, which is Anglicized to Patrick. I've never actually heard it as Paddy's Day, I've always heard it as "St. Paddy's Day"

*Resurrection Sunday has been called Easter since at the very least the AD 600s. St. Bede's ''Ecclesiastical History of the English People'' written in the early 700s refers to it as Easter, although he does admit it is tied to the Pagan festival of Eostre he still uses the term Easter. I don't think it is logical to use Easter as an example of modern society trying to erase Christian influence from daily life, I think it is simply a continuation of a name that is well over 1,000 years old.

just my thoughts, good luck.--[[User:IScott|IScott]] 19:13, 22 February 2011 (EST)

:Interesting comments, but they don't contradict the observation of bias. Practicing Catholics are a small minority in the United States and Western Europe, so the relevance of the Church's changing of the feast day for St. Valentine hardly seems dispositive. As to your second point, the "logical sense" is very strained in denying credit where it is due. As to your third point, Christians refer to Easter as Resurrection Sunday to this day, just fewer of them. And there was bias in 600 A.D. too.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 21:13, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::I too have never heard paddy's day, it is always proceeded by the "St.". While catholics may be a minority in the west one exception to that is Ireland (the only country in the EU with out abortion) and I think the secular consciousness still associates Ireland with Catholicism. --[[User:AlaskanEconomy|AlaskanEconomy]] 21:50, 22 February 2011 (EST)

: I agree that the actual Saint's days have been marginalized, and that the meaning of the holidays hold almost no religious meaning anymore. Irish-Americans celebrate St. Patrick's Day not as a saint's feast but as a day to meaninglessly celebrate their Irish-ness and dye rivers green and over-indulge in drinking alcohol, and Valentine's Day is a day to celebrate love and has very little to do with the old saint's feast.
: However, I stand firm on my third point, I find it highly unlikely that '''Saint Bede''', venerated in both the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion, who is also considered a '''Doctor of the Church''' to be biased towards an unchristian term. In the 700s Bede refers to it as Easter and it has been called Easter by the English people and English speakers since at least then. For well over 1,000 years the majority of devout English Christians have called it Easter, and thus its use cannot be a modern attempt to try to obscure Christian origins.--[[User:IScott|IScott]] 23:22, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::I agree that the use of Easter is not a ''modern'' secularization, but I still wonder whether its use was influenced by pagan tendencies in the first millennium. I have no quarrel with Saint Bede but am not sure he named it. He may well have been an expert about God but that does not make one an expert about bias. Quite the contrary: Jesus said the people of [[faith]] do not quickly recognize the tricks of the worldly.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 23:45, 22 February 2011 (EST)

== Perversion diversity ==

As I understand it this is a list of words that are backward compatible to former religious meanings. We could stop saying Happy Holidays as a society and say Merry Christmas. I'd hate to think of what bigots we would appear to be if we started calling diversity perversion. "Have a lot of people off all different races, creeds, and colors working at your company, you are perverted!" or "A black man marrying a white woman, that's a perverted couple!" Since I doubt that anyone here thinks that way (and if they do maybe they should find somewhere else to be) then I think that should be pulled from the list for now. --[[User:AlaskanEconomy|AlaskanEconomy]] 20:01, 22 February 2011 (EST)
:'Diversity' is a word used often by liberals and others who push the [[homosexual agenda]], claiming that ongoing [[homosexualization]] is in the name of diversity. As a conservative and one who reads the Bible daily, I find same-sex marriage perverse, yet liberals such as yourself would refer to such things as diverse. Hence, your non-sequiturs aside, I feel the entry should remain. [[User:PeterUker|PeterUker]] 20:10, 22 February 2011 (EST)
::A) You didn't address my point
::B) Perversion isn't a religious word any more than right and wrong. Are math teachers helping to keep Christianity vibrant and alive by assigning problems which are later graded as right and wrong?
::C) How ever often you claim to read the bible doesn't really matter here. This is the internet, anyone can claim to read the bible. however much they want. --[[User:AlaskanEconomy|AlaskanEconomy]] 20:32, 22 February 2011 (EST)
:::I'd have to weigh in with [[User:AlaskanEconomy|AE]] on this. Although, specifically, "diversity" is ''becoming'' a by-word, diversity is an [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/diversity old word] and refers to more than ''just'' homosexualization, by keeping it as is '''gives''' those advocates legitimacy and (in the end) we end up losing a serviceable word. [[User:DevonJ|DevonJ]] 21:06, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::::We could make several categories of terms which have normal vs. liberal counterparts. Not all such pairs are examples of secularization. Some merely reflect the liberal worldview. --[[User:Ed Poor|Ed Poor]] [[User talk:Ed Poor|Talk]] 22:57, 22 February 2011 (EST)

:::::Diversity is more an example of liberals distorting the meaning of a word, the way I see it. I wouldn't call the original meaning of "diversity" an example of perversion, but advocates of the homosexual agenda ''try'' to make it into a different word. [[User:DouglasL|DouglasL]] 18:40, 23 February 2011 (EST)

== Dead/Passed ==

I'm not quite sure this fits. While "passed" or "passed on" is certainly a euphemism for "dead," surely it carries with it the connotation of passing on to God's judgment? It seems to me like, if anything, "dead" is the more atheist-friendly term, since they're fond of claiming that once you're dead, you're dead. --[[User:Benp|Benp]] 22:52, 22 February 2011 (EST)
:You seem to be correct, perish->dead maybe? Do what you feel is right.--[[User:Jpatt|Jpatt]] 22:57, 22 February 2011 (EST)

Talk:Secularized Language

2011-02-23T23:28:32Z

DouglasL: /* A few questions */ clarify

I'd like to organize these into categories - not divided up, maybe - with secularized expressions at the top (e.g., Thank God => thank goodness). Terms indicating a total shift of concept like Bible Study => fundamentalism might come later. Everyone okay with this? --[[User:Ed Poor|Ed Poor]] [[User talk:Ed Poor|Talk]] 08:43, 22 February 2011 (EST)

: Sounds good to me! How about giving it a try and let's see how it looks.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 09:32, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::To be fair, many more conservative Christians (my mother, for example), use some of the so-called "secular expressions" because they take a strict line on taking the Lord's name in vain. She would, for example, rather not say "Thank God" unless she was quite literally thanking the deity. Indeed, I believe that is how the "thank goodness" construction originally evolved. --[[User:Jdixon|Jdixon]] 12:57, 22 February 2011 (EST)

:::That might well be, Jdixon--certainly, it's laudable to take seriously the commandment not to take the Lord's name in vain--but I don't think very many Christians would see a heartfelt "Thank God!" as inappropriate in many circumstances. Thus, while your mother's conscientiousness is admirable, I don't think such conscientiousness is a sufficient explanation for the systematic removal of religious language from the public square. Certainly, I think that some people choose "Thank goodness" out of a concern for propriety, but I think many more choose it out of a desire to avoid giving offense, or simply because it's what they're most used to hearing. Perhaps a section on differing reasons for using these terms could be included in the article; after all, this is supposed to be an examination of the issue. --[[User:Benp|Benp]] 13:34, 22 February 2011 (EST)

== Washington's Birthday/President's Day ==

While this is a case of P.C., it's not a case of secularized language. Last I checked, George Washington was not a sacred personage. [[User:Martyp|Martyp]] 13:47, 22 February 2011 (EST)

:Washington was a prominent Christian whose habit of praying and appealing to God for assistance is well-known. He was a kind of saint, and the downplaying of his (indisputable) significance is due to his Christianity. If he had been an atheist then you'd see the opposite effect.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 14:20, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::What kind of a saint was George Washington? --[[User:JohannesZ|JohannesZ]] 15:52, 22 February 2011 (EST)

:::The kind that wins wars. There have been other examples. Have you ever heard of [[Joan of Arc]]?--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 16:02, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::::Canonized in 1920, right? When did the Church recognize Washington as a saint? [[User:Martyp|Martyp]] 16:17, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::::@Andy: Aye. She still needed miracles credited to her. [http://www.stjoan-center.com/novelapp/joaap04.html] --[[User:JohannesZ|JohannesZ]] 16:20, 22 February 2011 (EST)

:::::I don't think all Christian churches have the same rules.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 16:23, 22 February 2011 (EST)
::::::Undoubtedly. So which churches DO recognize Washington as a saint or other type of sacred being? [[User:Martyp|Martyp]] 16:26, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::::::: Perhaps the church of Satan does, or perhaps atheists simply dislike Washington. Wouldn't that be enough to explain the misnaming of the holiday as described in the entry?--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 16:31, 22 February 2011 (EST)
:::::::::I'm pretty sure that The Church of Satan does not acknowledge George Washington as divine. If there's any evidence -- a tract from an angry atheist decrying a celebration of the Christian Washington and demanding a holiday that accommodates the Presidents that were not Christians, I've yet to find one. [[User:Martyp|Martyp]] 16:37, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::::::::::Marty, bias doesn't work that way. You're not likely to find such an angry tract about ''any'' of the items on the list.

::::::::::Atheistic bias, like other forms of bias, seeks to downplay and minimize Christianity. Washington was a leading, accomplished Christian. Lincoln far less so, other presidents even lesser still, and the office of president not Christian at all. An atheistic bias pushes language from the Christian recognition to the more atheistic substitute.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 18:15, 22 February 2011 (EST)

:::::::::::I agree with Andy here; the greater the Christianity of an historical figure, the more the atheistic revisionists will try to downplay his significance. [[User:PeterUker|PeterUker]] 18:24, 22 February 2011 (EST)

:::::::::::: How can President's Day even be considered remotely secularized as it was never a religiously themed event to begin with? The reason we have President's Day is due to the hesitation and the unwillingness of conservatives in the southeast to celebrate Lincoln's birthday as vilified he was as in infringing on "state's rights," and removing their "Peculiar institution." This contrasts to other locations in the country who celebrated both Washington's birthday and Lincoln's birthday in two different events. Furthermore, the Federal Government was disinterested in granting two Monday's off for federal employees, so came the compromise of celebrating a day between Lincoln's and Washington's birthday.[[User:JustinU|JustinU]] 21:46, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::::::::::::: Lincoln never had a stature comparable to Washington, and it's not merely because southerners disliked Lincoln. The attempt to equate Lincoln to Washington as a joint federal holiday was a farce and never got off the ground.

::::::::::::: But atheists downplay Washington just as they downplay other accomplished Christians. It's irrelevant whether the holiday was ever "religiously themed." A day honoring a prominent Christian has been diluted and even misnamed. It's the same secularization seen in replacing "Merry Christmas" with "Happy Holidays."--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 22:27, 22 February 2011 (EST)

:::::::::::::: Mr. Aschlafly, I am unsure if you are purposefully misapplying my point so that your argument appears to be stronger, but I feel that your point is less than successively argued. In fact, the reason that Lincoln is trumpeted as being one of the greatest Presidents to have ever had the honor of holding the office is because, pointedly, history holds him comparable to George Washington in regards to leadership and vision for the country. I am also at ends with your rather presuming statement of Washington's Christianity, considering the well documented Enlightenment-era beliefs he held associated with his principles as a Freemason, a largely deist organization.[[User:JustinU|JustinU]] 00:44, 23 February 2011 (EST)
:::::::::::::::JustinU, it is well documented in Washington's own writings as well as the writings of those who knew him that he was a committed Christian within the Episcopalian Church. The "deist" allegation is from the late-20th century only. [[User:Karajou|Karajou]] 00:57, 23 February 2011 (EST)
[[Image:Clog-dancer.gif|thumbnail|right|150px|Maybe we should have a annual parade for St. George Washington like we do for St. Patrick. :)]]
:::The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia correctly declares and supports the doctrine that every true Christian believer is a saint.[http://eastonsbibledictionary.com/saints.htm] The [[Apostle Paul]] wrote: "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the <big>'''saints'''</big> which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." (Ephesians 1: 1-6) Washington appears to have been a true Christian.[http://www.christiananswers.net/q-wall/wal-g011.html] Therefore, George Washington was a saint. Maybe we should have a annual parade for St. George Washington like we do for St. Patrick. :) [[User:Conservative|conservative]] 04:33, 23 February 2011 (EST)

== A few questions ==

A few of the words here don't really seem to fit in the list.
For example:
*'''Resurrection Sunday''' -> '''Easter'''
::"Easter" does have pagan origins, but the Pope says "Easter Sunday", not "Resurrection Sunday" - see[http://www.vatican.va/liturgical_year/liturgico_en/easter.html] and [http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/calendar/ns_liturgy_calendar_en.html#APRIL_2011]. In fact, a Google search of the Vatican website doesn't find "Resurrection Sunday" at all, except a few times with commas in between.

*'''Washington's Birthday''' -> '''President's Day'''
::It's not secularization as far as I can tell. And President's Day honors Lincoln as well. Silly political correctness, maybe. Secularization, no.

*'''Pagan''' -> '''Secular'''
::Pagan usually refers to belief in multiple gods, while secular refers to something separate from religion (e.g. the Turkish government is secular because there is no state religion).

*'''God bless you''' -> '''Gesundheit'''
::Gesundheit is what Germans have always said after a sneeze. Many European countries have the same kind of response. Nobody ever says "God bless you" in German. "Gesundheit" is as old as "God bless you", and the people who say it got the idea from German-Americans.

[[User:DouglasL|DouglasL]] 14:18, 22 February 2011 (EST)

:Pagan definition: one who has little or no religion. Secular definition: not overtly or specifically religious. --[[User:Jpatt|Jpatt]] 14:31, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::Merriam-Webster Online: [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pagan?show=0&t=1298483529 Pagan] [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/secular Secular]
::The first definition for "pagan" is ''a follower of a polytheistic religion'' - notice "polytheistic religion". Secular is ''not overtly or specifically religious''. There's a difference, and in order to claim that "secular" is a redefinition of "pagan" you have to completely ignore the ''first'' definition of "pagan". There's probably another word that could be used as the precursor of "secular" (Atheist?), but it's not "pagan". [[User:DouglasL|DouglasL]] 12:58, 23 February 2011 (EST)
:::To clarify: I '''do''' think that the word "secular" and maybe "pagan" belong on this list, but not together. Maybe "atheist" -> "secular" and "pagan" -> "Wiccan" or such? [[User:DouglasL|DouglasL]] 18:28, 23 February 2011 (EST)

== The Saint's Days ==
* Valentine's Day is no longer officially the feast day for St. Valentine, which definitely explains on some level why the "St" has been dropped from the name. February 14th is now the feast day for Cyril and Methodius, this changed in 1969 under Pope Paul the V, I think.

*Paddy for St. Patrick's Day makes logical sense in that Paddy is a celtic diminutive for Padrig, which is Anglicized to Patrick. I've never actually heard it as Paddy's Day, I've always heard it as "St. Paddy's Day"

*Resurrection Sunday has been called Easter since at the very least the AD 600s. St. Bede's ''Ecclesiastical History of the English People'' written in the early 700s refers to it as Easter, although he does admit it is tied to the Pagan festival of Eostre he still uses the term Easter. I don't think it is logical to use Easter as an example of modern society trying to erase Christian influence from daily life, I think it is simply a continuation of a name that is well over 1,000 years old.

just my thoughts, good luck.--[[User:IScott|IScott]] 19:13, 22 February 2011 (EST)

:Interesting comments, but they don't contradict the observation of bias. Practicing Catholics are a small minority in the United States and Western Europe, so the relevance of the Church's changing of the feast day for St. Valentine hardly seems dispositive. As to your second point, the "logical sense" is very strained in denying credit where it is due. As to your third point, Christians refer to Easter as Resurrection Sunday to this day, just fewer of them. And there was bias in 600 A.D. too.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 21:13, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::I too have never heard paddy's day, it is always proceeded by the "St.". While catholics may be a minority in the west one exception to that is Ireland (the only country in the EU with out abortion) and I think the secular consciousness still associates Ireland with Catholicism. --[[User:AlaskanEconomy|AlaskanEconomy]] 21:50, 22 February 2011 (EST)

: I agree that the actual Saint's days have been marginalized, and that the meaning of the holidays hold almost no religious meaning anymore. Irish-Americans celebrate St. Patrick's Day not as a saint's feast but as a day to meaninglessly celebrate their Irish-ness and dye rivers green and over-indulge in drinking alcohol, and Valentine's Day is a day to celebrate love and has very little to do with the old saint's feast.
: However, I stand firm on my third point, I find it highly unlikely that '''Saint Bede''', venerated in both the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion, who is also considered a '''Doctor of the Church''' to be biased towards an unchristian term. In the 700s Bede refers to it as Easter and it has been called Easter by the English people and English speakers since at least then. For well over 1,000 years the majority of devout English Christians have called it Easter, and thus its use cannot be a modern attempt to try to obscure Christian origins.--[[User:IScott|IScott]] 23:22, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::I agree that the use of Easter is not a ''modern'' secularization, but I still wonder whether its use was influenced by pagan tendencies in the first millennium. I have no quarrel with Saint Bede but am not sure he named it. He may well have been an expert about God but that does not make one an expert about bias. Quite the contrary: Jesus said the people of [[faith]] do not quickly recognize the tricks of the worldly.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 23:45, 22 February 2011 (EST)

== Perversion diversity ==

As I understand it this is a list of words that are backward compatible to former religious meanings. We could stop saying Happy Holidays as a society and say Merry Christmas. I'd hate to think of what bigots we would appear to be if we started calling diversity perversion. "Have a lot of people off all different races, creeds, and colors working at your company, you are perverted!" or "A black man marrying a white woman, that's a perverted couple!" Since I doubt that anyone here thinks that way (and if they do maybe they should find somewhere else to be) then I think that should be pulled from the list for now. --[[User:AlaskanEconomy|AlaskanEconomy]] 20:01, 22 February 2011 (EST)
:'Diversity' is a word used often by liberals and others who push the [[homosexual agenda]], claiming that ongoing [[homosexualization]] is in the name of diversity. As a conservative and one who reads the Bible daily, I find same-sex marriage perverse, yet liberals such as yourself would refer to such things as diverse. Hence, your non-sequiturs aside, I feel the entry should remain. [[User:PeterUker|PeterUker]] 20:10, 22 February 2011 (EST)
::A) You didn't address my point
::B) Perversion isn't a religious word any more than right and wrong. Are math teachers helping to keep Christianity vibrant and alive by assigning problems which are later graded as right and wrong?
::C) How ever often you claim to read the bible doesn't really matter here. This is the internet, anyone can claim to read the bible. however much they want. --[[User:AlaskanEconomy|AlaskanEconomy]] 20:32, 22 February 2011 (EST)
:::I'd have to weigh in with [[User:AlaskanEconomy|AE]] on this. Although, specifically, "diversity" is ''becoming'' a by-word, diversity is an [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/diversity old word] and refers to more than ''just'' homosexualization, by keeping it as is '''gives''' those advocates legitimacy and (in the end) we end up losing a serviceable word. [[User:DevonJ|DevonJ]] 21:06, 22 February 2011 (EST)

::::We could make several categories of terms which have normal vs. liberal counterparts. Not all such pairs are examples of secularization. Some merely reflect the liberal worldview. --[[User:Ed Poor|Ed Poor]] [[User talk:Ed Poor|Talk]] 22:57, 22 February 2011 (EST)

== Dead/Passed ==

I'm not quite sure this fits. While "passed" or "passed on" is certainly a euphemism for "dead," surely it carries with it the connotation of passing on to God's judgment? It seems to me like, if anything, "dead" is the more atheist-friendly term, since they're fond of claiming that once you're dead, you're dead. --[[User:Benp|Benp]] 22:52, 22 February 2011 (EST)
:You seem to be correct, perish->dead maybe? Do what you feel is right.--[[User:Jpatt|Jpatt]] 22:57, 22 February 2011 (EST)

Secularized Language

2011-02-23T18:18:40Z

DouglasL: grammar, add

While [[Essay:Best New Conservative Words|the development of conservative words increases at an exponential rate]], those with an [[antichristian]] and [[anti-American]] agenda, such as [[liberal]]s, [[homosexual]]s, [[atheist]]s, [[evolutionist]]s and [[leftist]]s, have attempted to remove the [[Christian]] origins of our '''[[language]]''' by replacing common phrases with '''[[secular]]ized''' versions. By appealing to [[tolerance]] and [[political correctness]], they have succeeded in propagating these secularized versions, even among those who don't share their views. Such [[deceit]]ful tactics are a prime example of [[Liberal redefinition]] and other [[Liberal tools]].

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Original expression
!Secularized version
|-
|Thank God!
|Thank Goodness!
|-
|God bless you
|Gesundheit
|-
|Praise the Lord
|Praise be
|-
|Thank heavens
|Thank goodness
|-
|Merry Christmas
|Happy Holidays
|-
|Christmas Holy Day
|Winter Break
|-
|Easter Holy Day
|Spring Break
|-
|B.C./A.D.
|B.C.E./[[C.E.]]
|-
|[[Saint Valentine's Day]]
|Valentine's Day
|-
|Resurrection Sunday
|Easter
|-
|[[Hell]] (or Heaven)
|Afterlife
|-
|Sin
|Crime
|-
|Sin
|Lifestyle Choice
|-
|Abomination
|Mistake
|-
|Holy Day
|Holiday
|-
|Mother
|Parent
|-
|Father
|Old man
|-
|Son/Daughter
|Offspring
|-
|With child
|Pregnant
|-
|Bible study
|Fundamentalism
|-
|Blasphemy
|Secular opinion
|-
|Miraculous
|Amazing
|-
|Heresy
|Scientific theory
|-
|Abortion
|Birth control
|-
|Pro-abortion
|Pro-choice
|-
|Anti-life
|Pro-choice
|-
|Immoral
|Personal choice
|-
|Perversion
|Diversity
|-
|Husband or wife
|Significant other/life partner
|-
|prayer/blessing
|moment of silence
|-
|Washington's Birthday
|President's Day
|-
|Holy matrimony
|Civil union
|-
|Providence
|Lucky break
|-
|Possessed
|Crazy
|-
|Possessed
|Influenced
|-
|Pagan
|Secular
|-
|Hallowed Eve
|Halloween
|-
|Shrove Tuesday
|Fat Tuesday
|-
|Thanksgiving
|Turkey Day
|-
|The Reverend Martin Luther King Day
|MLK Day
|-
|Saint Patrick's Day
|Paddy's Day
|-
|Unborn baby
|Fetus
|-
|Creation
|Abiogenesis
|-
|Covetousness
|Inequality
|-
|Contraception
|Protection
|-
|Curse
|Bad luck
|-
|Rebuke
|Hate speech
|-
|The State
|The Government
|-
|God
|A higher power
|-
|Harlot
|Sex worker
|-
|Religion
|Spirituality
|-
|Fertile
|Breeder
|-
|Adultery
|Cheating
|-
|Act of God
|Natural disaster
|-
|Living in sin
|Shacking up/cohabitation
|-
|Thank the Lord
|Give thanks
|-
|Saintly
|Well-behaved
|-
|Angelic
|Pretty
|-
|Christmas
|Xmas
|-
|Sodomy
|Relations
|-
|Islamic Terrorism
|Man-made disaster
|-
|Godspeed
|Be good
|-
|God be with you
|Good luck
|-
|Independence Day
|The Fourth of July
|-
|Wicked
|Antisocial
|-
|Righteous
|Law-abiding
|-
|Pray
|Plead
|-
|Witchcraft
|Wicca
|-
|Solemn
|Dignified
|-
|Christchurch
|New Zealand city [http://articles.cnn.com/2011-02-22/world/new.zealand.earthquake_1_prime-minister-john-key-new-zealand-quake?_s=PM:WORLD]
|-
|Homosexual
|Gay
|-
|}

==See Also==
*[[Politically correct]]
*[[Liberal creep]]
*[[Opposition to Christianity]]
* Contrast with [[Essay:Best New Conservative Words]]

{{liberalism}}

[[Category:Liberalism]]
[[Category:Language]]

Talk:Secularized Language

2011-02-23T17:58:34Z

DouglasL: /* A few questions */ reply

Talk:Secularized Language

2011-02-22T19:18:46Z

DouglasL: /* A few questions */ new section

Politically correct

2011-02-22T18:18:41Z

DouglasL: /* The Language Police */ The book does mention Texas as well, and the boards covered are both liberal and conservative (although there's clearly more liberal influence)

'''Politically correct''' restrictions on what we can say and how we say it have been imposed by leftists on the American public to restrict debate and silence opposition. [http://www.theobamafile.com/_opinion/PoliticalCorrectness.htm]

{{cquote|'''...is the communal [[tyranny]] that erupted in the 1980s. It was a spontaneous declaration that particular ideas, expressions and behaviour, which were then legal, should be forbidden by law, and people who transgressed should be punished. (see [[Newspeak]]) It started with a few voices but grew in popularity until it became unwritten and written law within the community. With those who were publicly declared as being not politically correct becoming the object of persecution by the mob, if not prosecution by the state.'''}}
-Philip Atkinson <ref>[http://ourcivilisation.com/pc.htm Atkinson; "The Origin and Nature of Political Correctness"]</ref>

[[Image:PC-PILGRIM.JPG|thumb|400px|Horsey cartoon 11-22-2007 parodies PC]]

The modern politically correct movement began at the [[University of Wisconsin-Madison]]; one of the most liberal institutions in the United States and is often viewed as a liberalist degrading of the [[First Amendment|freedom of speech]]. George Orwell's ''Nineteen Eighty-Four'' famously incorporated the notion of limiting thought through language (see [[Newspeak]]). Words or actions that violate '''political correctness''' are called politically incorrect.

At American universities, liberals began imposing '''political correctness''' to prevent recognition of differences among gender, religion, belief system, sexual orientation and nationality. In the 1960s, [[feminists]] began to demand that the neutral pronouns ''he'', ''him'' and ''his'' be replaced with expressions like "he or she", "him or her", "them", etc. They argued that no one would be able to understand that the masculine gender included the feminine gender in neutral contexts. But this was just part of their campaign to redefine the social roles traditionally associated with masculinity and femininity.

'''Political correctness''' or '''P.C.''' also means the alteration of ones choice of words in order to avoid either offending a group of people or reinforcing a stereotype considered to be disadvantageous to the group. More specifically, groups which (or whose putative "leaders" or other activists) claim some status as systemically oppressed or discriminated against will periodically attempt to change the terms by which they are referred to and demand that society as a whole change its usage of words as well.

==Examples==

An example of political correctness is the changing terminology used to described handicapped people. In the past the term "crippled" was perfectly acceptable and not considered offensive. At some point, Americans like Senate Republican leader [[Bob Dole]] decided "crippled" was degrading and the preferred term changed to "handicapped". This, too, was eventually deemed offensive and "disabled" became the preferred term. Today, "disabled" is now considered degrading and "differently abled" and "physically challenged" are now the politically correct terms.

The same can be said for the changing uses of terms for Black Americans: "Negro" and "colored", once perfectly acceptable terms, became offensive during the 1970s and "Afro-American" and "Black" came into use, which in turn gave way to "[[African Americans|African-American]]", and in broader usage, "people of color".

The question of politically correct language has spilled over from the use of racially descriptive words and affected the use of traditional language. In 1999, an aide to the mayor of Washington DC described a budget decision as "niggardly" (a word meaning "stingy," unrelated to the racial slur). The aide immediately came under criticism and was forced to resigned even though he had not said anything racially charged. However, his name was cleared within a matter of days and was offered to return to his previous position. <ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/longterm/williams/williams020499.htm</ref>

As well as language, political correctness discourages the use of racial or stereotypes in fiction out of concern that these stereotypes may become self-perpetuating. For example, frequently seeing the image black gang-members decked out in gold chains, carrying guns and listening to rap may pressure young black people into seeing this lifestyle as the more 'acceptable' choice for their racial group. The common image of female-dominated occupations (nurses, secretaries, care workers, etc) and of male-dominated occupations (IT workers, military, machinery operators, mechanics, etc.) can discourage individuals of either gender from considering those occupations traditionally belonging to the other. Additionally films like "The Siege" and "True Lies" have been criticized by pro-Islamic groups as having Muslims portrayed as terrorists, despite the fact that most current terrorists are in fact Muslims. Thus political correctness becomes the consideration of all public statements and media for their unintentional social impact.

Political correctness can even affect terminology that's viewed by secularists as too "pro-religion" or an alleged "violation of the separation of church and state" in the United States. The best example of this is the active promotion of the use of C.E. and B.C.E. as the abbreviations used after dates (instead of the commonly and traditionally used A.D. and B.C.).

==Differing Opinions==

Demands for politically correct language usage are rooted in the notion widely promoted among left-wing academics and sociologists that Western culture promotes systemic oppression against some groups by marginalizing them and excluding them from the "norm"; the groups thus supposedly systemically marginalized are referred to as "the Other" by these left-wing academics. The implication is that these groups are systemically excluded from the mainstream. "Colored people" is therefore deemed offensive because the order of words puts "colored" first, emphasizing their difference from the mainstream, while "people of color" is acceptable because putting the term "people" first emphasizes that they are people and thus does not emphasize their difference from the "norm".

Some people allege that instead of encouraging supposedly marginalized groups to integrate with and assimilate into the mainstream of Western culture, political correctness ironically encourages them to emphasize and indeed to wallow in their marginalization from society, and to make a public display of such. This is known as [[identity politics]]. According to this view, gays and lesbians are therefore encouraged to label themselves as "queer" and make public displays of "queerness" calculated to disturb the sensibilities of mainstream people, rather than integrate into the mainstream themselves; Black Americans are encouraged to adopt [[Afrocentrism]] and convert to [[Islam]] or to conform to stereotypical black behavior, etc.

==The Language Police==
Conservative scholar [[Robert Bork]] has charged that the educational system is a battleground where the future of America is being undermined and ill-served. He has counseled against the troubles which will ensue as a result of anti-religious policies in the schools, permissive attitudes toward [[homosexuality]] and [[abortion]], as well as welfare policies that have destroyed families since [[Lyndon B. Johnson]]'s War on Poverty. <ref> Slouching Towards Gomorrah: Modern Liberalism and American Decline. by Robert Bork published by Harper Collins (c) 1997</ref>

In her book "[[The Language Police]]", [[Diane Ravitch]] documents just how easy it is to get a word, phrase or idea banned from modern textbooks and references. Ravitch asserts that textbook producers are beholden to small non-elected educational boards in a few key states such as New York, Texas and California and that few citizens know anything about these boards or who holds the seats of power on these boards. It's not difficult for an interest group to mobilize a campaign to bombard the educational board. Meanwhile, the public is not even aware that their words or values are under attack from this corrupt system, while many ''elected'' Conservatives have rallied against this policy.

Presently, however, this may not be the case. In 2010, a group of conservatives on the Texas State Board of Education pushed the state to adopt educational standards that emphasized the role Christianity played in America's founding. Those educational standards also sought to counteract political correctness by removing parts of the curriculum that espoused political correctness and contradicted conservative values. As one of the largest states in the Union, Texas represents one of the largest markets for textbook publishers. <ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/14/magazine/14texbooks-t.html</ref>

Once a big state makes a textbook purchase, it's very difficult for a small state or any municipality to make any changes. Thus, profound changes can be inserted into textbooks and reference books by putting pressure on a handful of educational administrators. The work of textbook selection committees is sometimes done privately, to avoid politicizing textbooks, but the reverse has happened. <ref>The Language Police: How Pressure Groups Restrict What Children Learn by [[Diane Ravitch]] (c) 2003 published by Knopf</ref> Ravitch has documented "''bias guidelines''" for major publishers of texts and tests. These "guidelines" consist of advice to writers and editors about words and topics that must be avoided.<ref>http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110003695</ref>

==Totalitarianism and Political Correctness==

The comprehensive and detailed control of all ideas, beliefs, and statements is one of the most problematic features of [[totalitarian]] regimes.[http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0022-3816(196002)22%3A1%3C68%3ATIAP%3E2.0.CO%3B2-W]

Political correctness can trace its origins back to the world of 1920's Germany, where [[Communist]] academics sought to impose their [[Marxist]] views on students. It is now acceptable in many Universities to have courses on gender, [[homosexual]] and [[African American]] studies, which, in fact, encourage the mainstream public to become different to avoid criticism.

==Notes==

<references/>

==See also==
* [[Postmodernism]]
*[[Racial censorship]]

==External Links==
*[http://www.capc.co.uk The Campaign Against Political Correctness]
*[http://books.google.com/books?id=8olE_futZogC&pg=PA378&lpg=PA378&dq=communist+%22socially+correct%22&source=web&ots=DYD85Lsf1G&sig=pkoUxDOLFJZsme40QO13zakFZw4 The Chinese Have A Word For It]
*[http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/viewSubCategory.asp?id=218 DiscoverTheNetworks.org - Political Correctness, Appeasement and Speech Codes in Academia]
*[http://www.theobamafile.com/_opinion/PoliticalCorrectness.htm Political correctness] The Obama File
[[Category:Political Terms]]
[[Category: Marxist terminology]]

Liberal myths

2011-02-22T18:14:38Z

DouglasL: Re-fix the grammar, better this time

== Liberal myths are heavily promoted falsehoods motivated by a destructive belief system ==

Liberal beliefs:<ref>http://www.twilightslastgleaming.com/myths.htm</ref> They include:

*The claim that “The failed economic policies of George W. Bush" caused the recession and high unemployment. <ref>[http://www.examiner.com/conservative-in-national/let-s-discuss-the-failed-economicy-policies-of-president-george-w-bush Let's discuss the "failed economicy policies" of President George W. Bush, Washington Examiner, December 9, 2010]</ref>
*The claim that unemployment benefits stimulate the economy. <ref>[http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/30660 The unemployment ‘benefits’ compassion sham, CanadaFreePress, December 3, 2010]</ref>
*The claim that Democrats lost the [[2010 Midterm elections]] because [[Barack Obama]] was not liberal enough.
*The claim that human beings are beginning to overpopulate. (This myth is used as an attempt to justify abortion and anthropogenic global warming)
*The claim that people today are more knowledgeable than in prior centuries.
*The claim that the [[George W. Bush|Bush]] tax cuts substantially reduced 2006 revenues and expanded the [[budget]] deficit.
*The claim that the Bush tax cuts have not helped the economy.
*Anthropogenic [[Global Warming]]. <ref>[http://www.nowpublic.com/some-exasperating-liberal-myths Some Exasperating Liberal Myths] NowPublic.com, August 27, 2007</ref>
*The claim that a [[fetus]] is not a living person.
*The claim the [[embryonic stem cell]]s will provide many cures. Unlike adult stem cells, embryonic cells have provided no known cures.
*The claim that [[gun control]] reduces crime.
*The claim that [[abortion]] and [[breast cancer]] are unrelated.
*The claim that [[abortion]] and mental depression are unrelated.
*The claim that [[gambling]] financially benefits state school systems <REF>[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/09/17/cbsnews_investigates/main3269456.shtml Is The Lottery Shortchanging Schools?] CBS News, September 17, 2007</ref>
*The claim to support the rights of women, never mention the oppressed women in Muslim countries. <ref>[http://www.aclu.org/womensrights/index.html About the Women's Rights Project] ACLU</ref>
*The claim that the [[media]] is not biased toward the liberal agenda.
*The claim that enabling [[oil]] drilling will not reduce long-term [[energy]] prices. <ref>[http://rightwingnews.com/mt331/2008/07/nancy_pelosis_energy_policy.php?comments=show Nancy Pelosi's Energy Policy] Rightwingnews.com, July 8, 2008</ref>
*The claim that enabling oil drilling will not provide [[energy]] security.<ref>[http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=33767 Oil Money May Buy Drilling Vote, Liberal Says] CNSNews.com, August 7, 2008</ref>
*The claim that same-sex couple adoptions can replace the [[love]] from a mother and a father. <ref>[http://lesbianlife.about.com/cs/families/a/adoption_2.htm Lesbian and Gay Adoption Rights] About.com</ref>
*The claim that an individuals [[sexual]] preference needs to be a protected civil right. <ref>[http://www.civilrights.org/research_center/civilrights101/sexualorientation.html GAYS AND LESBIANS] Civilrights.com</ref>
*That there is a [[vast right-wing conspiracy]] <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,359741,00.html THE VAST LEFT-WING CONSPIRACY] Fox News, May 29, 2008</ref>
*The claim that opposing the [[homosexual agenda]] is [[bigotry]]. <ref>[http://www.boycottmcdonalds.com/detail.aspx?id=102 Boycott McDonald's!] American Family Association</ref>
*The claim that the US acted unilaterally in Iraq (The USA and Britain led a 30-nation coalition in Iraq)<ref>[http://www.heritage.org/Research/Europe/wm558.cfm The Myth of U.S. Isolation] The Heritage Foundation, September 7, 2004 </ref>
*The claim that [[President Bush]] stole the 2000 elections. <ref>[http://archive.democrats.com/display.cfm?id=239 Floridagate] Democrats.com</ref>
*The claim that [[President Bush]] lied about WMD in [[Iraq]] to grab [[oil]].
*The claim that [[Saddam Hussein]] was not seeking to buy yellowcake Uranium. <ref>[http://thinkprogress.org/2007/05/14/tenet-niger/ Tenet Agrees To Cooperate With Congressional Investigation Into Niger Fraud] ThinkProgress, May 14, 2007</ref>
*The claim that the [[9/11]] terrorists attacks were an inside job by the [[USA]].
*The claim that Foreign Intelligence & Surveillance Act (FISA) is for spying on Americans. <ref>[http://www.aclu.org/safefree/general/35928prs20080709.html Senate Passes Unconstitutional Spying Bill] ACLU, July 9, 2008</ref>
*The claim that [[big government]] will benefit its' citizens. <ref>[http://www.newsmax.com/politics/candidates_public_service/2008/09/11/130009.html McCain, Obama Discuss Views on Public Service] Ap, September 11, 2008</ref>
*The claim that [[military]] recruits are poor and uneducated. <ref>[http://www.heritage.org/research/nationalsecurity/cda05-08.cfm Who Bears the Burden? Demographic Characteristics of U.S. Military Recruits] Heritage Foundation, November 7, 2005</ref> <ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3827/is_200612/ai_n17197505 Rangel Is Wrong About Recruits] Human Events, December 4,2006</ref> <ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/10/31/kerry.mccain/ Bush on Kerry remark: U.S. troops are 'plenty smart'] CNN, November 1, 2006</ref>
*The claim that [[government]] run [[healthcare]] is better than a capitalist healthcare system. <ref>[http://www.pslweb.org/site/News2?JServSessionIdr009=j7lglh8nq9.app5b&page=NewsArticle&id=9238&news_iv_ctrl=1283 Free, universal health care must be a right!] VotePSL.org, may 30, 2008</ref>
*They claim that going on the offense against [[terrorists]] creates more terrorists. <ref>[http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2008/03/madeleine-albright-we-created-more.html Madeleine Albright: "We Created More Terrorists... Our Soldiers Are the Problem"] Gateway Pundit, March 27, 2008</ref>
*They claim that terrorism should be handled by [[law]] enforcement. <ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/29/AR2008072902041.html Strategy Against Al-Qaeda Faulted] Washington Post, July 30, 2008</ref> <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,406901,00.html Bush: War on Terror is Not Law Enforcement Matter] AP, August 20, 2008</ref>
*They claim that the USA should negotiate with rogue [[nations]] and terror groups.
*They claim that [[socialism]] is superior to [[capitalism]].
*They claim that there is a [[gene]] which causes people to be gay, despite the fact that the scientific community rejects this view
*They claim that [[humans]] and [[ape]]s have a common ancestor
*They claim that the [[death penalty]] does not deter [[crime]], despite the overwhelming evidence showing that the death penalty does deter crime
*They claim that [[atheists]] are just as moral as [[Christians]] who regularly go to a church, or, in some cases, claim atheists are morally superior.
*They claim that all [[religions]] teach the same thing.
*They claim that [[intelligent design]] is not a science and has no evidence.
*They claim that no [[climatologist]] or [[physicist]] rejects global warming, despite the fact that the founder of The Weather Channel rejects global warming, as do thousands of other scientists.
*They claim Hitler was a [[Catholic]].
*They claim opposition to [[Obama]] is racism.
*They claim the general welfare clause in the Constitution gives government the right to force you to buy government-run healthcare.
*They claim Jesus was the first [[socialist]].
*They claim [[affirmative action]] works.
*They claim the [[Old Testament]] is immoral.
*They claim that the [[Jews]] aren't the Jews of the Bible.
*They claim that [[feminism]] has no bias.
*They claim [[homosexuals]] do not try to convert [[heterosexuals]].
*They claim that [[gay marriage]] will not result in [[polygamy]] also being written into law.
*They claim that the [[Bible]] is fictional.
*They claim that [[Liberal Christianity]] is compatible with the teachings of [[Jesus Christ]].
*They claim that proper tire inflation can replace the need for additional oil drilling.
*That we should eat less red meat in order to combat [[climate change]].<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,418801,00.html</ref>
*They claim Jesus was a liberal, or that Jesus was left-wing<ref>[http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/bernstein/works/1895/cromwell/09-communism.htm The 'Diggers' movement is held up as an example of good Christianity]</ref>.
*The claim that the [[Nation of Islam]] is unrelated to Islam the religion.
*The claim that portable school vouchers would destroy [[public schools]], yet send their own children to private schools.
*The claim that if you are [[pro-life]], you don't care about people after they're born. <ref>[http://twitter.com/movingleft Obnoxious supporter of Obama Twitter Account @MovingLeft (Warning:Vulgar)]</ref>
*The claim that more black people died in wars of [[America]] than in [[abortion]]. 1,786 blacks are killed '''daily''' by abortion, one of two [[pregnant]] women will be suckered into pro-choice genocide. [http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/1685410938.html]
*The claim that renaming [[War on Terror]] to Overseas Contingency Operation will reduce the threats facing America.
*The claim to cutback our country's missile defenses will some how make us more secure than we were.
*The claim that the nation will go bankrupt if we don't spend more tax dollars.
*We as a nation must switch to unproven technologies for the environments sake, such as wind or solar power. Yet, proven clean energy generated by nuclear power is not an option.
*The claim that you are not pro-life if you are [[pro-gun]].
*The claim that guns are responsible for deaths. (by that same logic, pencils are responsible for misspelled words.)
*The claim that 47 million Americans don't have health insurance. (Actual number is between 10 and 15 million) <ref>[[Essay:47 million Americans without health insurance lie‎]]</ref>
*The claim that homosexuality cannot be overcome by therapy and prayer.

==Patriotism==
The liberal belief that an individual can claim to support our military, just not the mission and still be considered a 'Patriot'. In fact, the exact opposite is the truth. A liberals patriotism, party-specific position, cannot support the troops if they are an a impediment to their political left-wing strategy. The main reason for this has to due with passionate, partisan hatred for George Bush as commander n chief, the [[President of the United States of America]]. Liberals claim to support the military, claim not to support the mission and refuse to support the Commander. The extremist left discounts the counter effect of troop morale. Understanding the true liberal mindset when it comes to supporting our U.S. troops, observe the often tried protest march. Though frustration boils over, actions lead from protest to outright sabotage or anarchism. <ref>[http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/09/01/anti-war-protest-at-gop-convention-turns-violent/ Anti-War Protest at GOP Convention Turns Violent] Fox News, September 1, 2008</ref> Liberal credibility fails and lack of concern for the support of America shows. The left-wing cares so much for our military they condone and actually prop up politicians that abuse troops with reckless accusations <ref>[http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/0907/Federal_judge_order_Murtha_to_testify_in_Haditha_defamation_case.html Federal judge orders Murtha to testify in Haditha defamation case] Politico, September 28, 2007</ref>, negative media coverage and ego trips <ref>[http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/images/blpic-kerrystuckiniraq.htm Political Humor] About.com</ref>. Liberal protesters look the other way as war memorials are vandalized. Liberals protest our severely injured soldiers at the Walter Reed Medical Center.<ref>[http://www.crosswalk.com/1347570/ Anti-War Protests Target Wounded at Army Hospital] Crosswalk.com</ref> Liberal protesters harass, damage or block military recruitment centers from operating business as-usual. <ref>[http://mfvov.com/blog/?p=505 Recruiting Center Attacks Coast to Coast] Military Families Voice of Victory, March 19, 2008</ref> This leftwing position, the myth is successful in feeding media driven discontent and mediocrity shame. If the news is bad, a liberal is spoon fed. If the news is good, the spoon fed liberal is oblivious. e.g. "a complete suspension of disbelief".

Patriotism, to your brother, who volunteers and risks the ultimate sacrifice out of love, will never be diminished. True patriots will always be in our gratitude and held in the highest light.

==America Perceived==
The myth liberals give says we need to restore America's image in the world. Again, this mostly has to do with liberals' negative view of [[President Bush]]. Liberals want the two linked even though the myth is false. They blame Bush and Iraq for the bad USA image but the truth is that the credibility of the American left is a worse image than America's image abroad. The main need for liberals to propagate this myth is the fact that [[socialist]] governments of Europe oppose the policy of [[Iraq]]. This further fuels liberals' political agenda to remove [[Republicans]] from power. Liberals love Europeans and cite their false socialist utopia at every chance. European opposition automatically reinforces their belief that America's image is damaged. As of 2008, most of the [[European]] leaders that opposed Iraq are no longer in positions of power. The result, European [[conservatives]] were elected who publicly aligned themselves with America.

Those [[liberals]] that use the myth and regularly bash the USA are often called the "Blame America First" crowd. Though they never seem to mention that America gives more in donations, in total dollars, than any other country on Earth. <ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-06-25-charitable_N.htm Americans give record $295B to charity] USA Today, 6/25/2007</ref> A sure way to change America's image in the world is to show the world we respect life. The repeal of Roe Vs. Wade would be a start.

Reasons why [[America]] was hated prior to 2003 include wealth, women's rights, support for our democratic ally [[Israel]], democratic government, capitalist economy and exporting immorality.

==Bad Successful Companies==
In the attempt to point fingers and lay blame, the liberals produce the myth that profits made by successful companies are bad for America. Only a select group of companies are targeted for public shame. This is a false myth because successful corporations actually create jobs and [[tax]] revenue. Retirement funds and municipal bonds rely heavily on the profits from these companies. Also, the reason these companies flourish is because the capitalist system rewards their hard work. The liberals will try to create sympathy, that they care for the average American, they are the ones going after wrongdoers to make it right.

[[Liberals]] have demonized such companies as RJ Reynolds, Walmart, Halliburton and Blackwater. Their latest target is Exxon Mobil for their enormous profits and futures market oil speculators. Most of their accusations are absurd. Liberals in [[Congress]] don't blink an eye when it comes time to spend all that tax revenue generated. Liberals in Congress have been called on their [[hypocrisy]] for owning stocks in those companies. Which in turn, they divest their portfolios like nothing was ever wrong. For years, for decades, these companies have lobbied members of Congress, they have worked together for their common goals. In return, hefty [[campaign]] donations are their reward. Then for opportune reasons, liberals will publicly ridicule and verbally attack these bad, greedy capitalists. Corporate heads are brought before congress for a sideshow grilling to explain their actions. <ref>[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/01/MNU7VU217.DTL Congress asks Big Oil to justify big profits] The SF Chronicle, April 2, 2008</ref> The Windfall Tax is just another example of the sham created by this liberal myth. Those companies make enough money, they should now be forced to give some back. They are threatened with nationalization <ref>[http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=65111 Congresswoman threatens to nationalize oil industry] Worldnetdaily.com, May 23, 2008</ref>
and further government regulation, a socialist scheme. As the price of gas fell, Congress just pretended like nothing ever happened, Big Oil off the hook.

==The Economy From The Previous 8 Years==
In an attempt to spread Bush hatred without mentioning his name, it is common for liberals to lie and say ''"we're in this economic mess because of the policies over the previous eight years."'' This is a myth, perpetuated by the corrupt in order to link bad economics with [[Conservatism]] and Bush policy. These liberals are the very same individuals that would not recognize George W. Bush's economic successes when the economy was creating jobs. Bush, [[McCain]], [[Alan Greenspan]] are all on record as trying to fix the corrupt lending policies and government mismanagement for the past eight years. <ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMnSp4qEXNM&NR=1 Financial Meltdown Video]YouTube</ref> All the while Democrats were lining their pockets with [[Fannie Mae]] and [[Freddie Mac]] donations. Democrats are overwhelmingly responsible if they should point fingers. Democrats [[Barney Frank]], [[Chris Dodd]], [[John Kerry]], [[Charles Schumer]] and even [[Barack Obama]] are as much, if not directly, indirectly responsible for the failed economics of this country over the past eight-years. The same people who got us into this mess are now responsible for getting us out of financial meltdown. Blame can go all around on this one, both Republicans and Democrats. This was the result of many bad decisions over a long period of time. Then out of nowhere, financial calamity that nobody saw coming, except congressmen and women who were privy to bank collapses. They made good money while the rest of America suffered. <ref>[http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2009/06/members_of_us_house_financial.html Members of U.S. House Financial Services Committee snapped up or dumped bank stocks as bottom fell out of market Cleveland.com June 25, 2009]</ref>

{{cquote|The truth of the matter; Bush-era 4.5% unemployment, Obama-era will it go higher than 10%?}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{Liberalism}}

[[Category:Deceit]]
[[Category:liberals]]

User talk:DouglasL

2011-02-22T18:13:13Z

DouglasL: /* Government and economics */ late reply

Hi Douglas, with regards to your edit to [[Great Achievements by Teenagers]], during my research on this subject I found that the issue at hand had already been debated here long before I even knew about this project. As it was agreed by people far more knowledgable on this subject than me (see Mr Schlafly's posts on [[Talk:Essay:Advantages of Large Classes|this discussion]]) I think it is fair to revert your edit, although it definitely wasn't 'stupid'! Thanks. [[User:BobG|BobG]] 20:20, 7 January 2011 (EST)

As the list illustrates, it's fair to say that most great achievements are by teenagers, relative to any other comparable age period in life. But these typically are not [[public school]] teenagers.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 20:30, 7 January 2011 (EST)

==Democrats and anti-Semitism==

I didn't understand [http://conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Anti-Semitism&diff=prev&oldid=845495 this edit comment], so I reverted your edit. Please explain on the talk page. --[[User:Ed Poor|Ed Poor]] [[User talk:Ed Poor|Talk]] 13:51, 1 February 2011 (EST)

==Government and economics==

Are socialism and capitalism types of government, or economic systems? --[[User:Ed Poor|Ed Poor]] [[User talk:Ed Poor|Talk]] 23:41, 11 February 2011 (EST)
*Mostly economic systems, but both ''can'' be forms of government. The issue I had was with the grammar - "They claim that [[socialism]] is a better than [[capitalism]]" is inarguably incorrect grammar. I've changed it to "*They claim that [[socialism]] is superior to [[capitalism]]," which shouldn't have any problems. [[User:DouglasL|DouglasL]] 13:13, 22 February 2011 (EST)

World treasures

2011-02-11T18:09:24Z

DouglasL: /* Australasia */ Formatting looks a bit weird now, but "Barriere corail" *is* the Great Barrier Reef.

<CENTER> World Treasures

Gallery
 </CENTER>

=== [[Africa]] ===
<center>
<gallery perrow="5">
Image:Kasbah of Algiers Mosque.jpg|'''Kasbah of Algiers Mosque''' [[Algeria]]
Image:5457e.jpg|'''The Sphinx and Khafra Pyramid ''' [[Egypt]]
Image:Mt Nimba.jpg|'''Mt. Nimba''' [[Guinea]]
Image:Royal Palaces of Abomey.jpg|'''Royal Palaces of Abomey''' [[Benin]]
Image:Elephant Jose Tello.jpg|'''Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park''' [[Central African Republic]]
</gallery>

[[File:Avenue of Sphinxes Egypt.jpg|440px]]

'''Avenue of Sphinxes''' [[Egypt]].
</center>

=== [[Americas|The Americas]] ===
<center>
<gallery perrow="5">

Image:Stuart George Washington portrait.jpg|[[George Washington]] '''portrait by''' [[Gilbert Stuart]] [[US]]
Image:DcLincMor.JPG|'''Lincoln Memorial''' [[US]]
Image:Golden Gate Bridge.jpg|'''Golden Gate Bridge''' [[US]]
Image:Statue of Liberty.jpg|'''[[Statue of Liberty]]''' [[US]]
Image:Grand Canyon2.jpg|'''[[Grand Canyon]]''' [[US]]
Image:Alaska Mt. McKinley.jpg|'''Mt. McKinley''' [[US]]
Image:Calakmul 2.jpg|'''[[Calakmul]]''' [[Mexico]]
Image:Uxmal 2.jpg|'''Uxmal''' [[Mexico]]
Image:Kukulcan3.jpg|'''[[Chichen Itza]]''' [[Mexico]]
File:Reforma - Mexico City.jpg|'''[[Mexico City]]''' [[Mexico]]
Image:Canada-cn-tower.jpg|'''[[CN Tower]]''' [[Canada]]
Image:Tikal.JPG|'''[[Tikal]]''' [[Guatemala]]
Image:Cartegna Colombia.jpg|'''Cartagena''' [[Colombia]]
Image:AMAZONAS Venezuela.png|'''Jungle region''' [[Venezuela]]
Image:Galapagos islands Ecuador.JPG|'''[[Galápagos Islands|Galapagos islands]]''' [[Ecuador]]
Image:Cristo Redentor Río de Janeiro.jpg|'''[[Cristo Redentor|Christ the Redeemer]]''' [[Brazil]]
Image:Iguazu Falls.jpg|'''Iguazu Falls''' [[Argentina]] / [[Brazil]]
Image:Machu Picchu.jpg|'''[[Machu Picchu]]''' [[Peru]]
Image:Andes chilenos.gif|'''Andes''' [[Chile]]
File:Monument of the Martyrs of the Battle of Iquique Chile.jpg|'''Monument of the Martyrs of the Battle of Iquique''' [[Chile]]

</gallery>
</center>

=== [[Asia]] ===
<center>
<gallery perrow="5">
Image:Meenakshi temple.jpg|'''Meenakshi temple''' [[India]]
File:Brihadeeswarar Temple India.jpg|'''Brihadeeswarar Temple''' [[India]]
Image:China Wall.jpg|'''Great Wall of [[China]]'''
Image:Daibutsu - Buddha.jpg|'''Daibutsu - [[Buddha]]''' [[Japan]]
Image:Japan Miyajima s.jpg|'''The gate of [[Itsukushima Shrine]] ''' [[Japan]]
Image:Buddha Korea.jpg|'''[[Buddha]]''' [[Korea]]
Image:Siem Reap, Cambodia.jpg|'''Angkor temples''' [[Cambodia]]
Image:Silver Pagoda Cambodia.jpg|'''Silver Pagoda''' [[Cambodia]]
Image:Lak Muang Bangkok.jpg|'''Lak Muang''' [[Thailand]]
Image:Petronas towers at night.jpg|'''Petronas towers''' [[Malaysia]]
Image:Petra.jpg|'''El Khazneh - Petra''' [[Jordan]]
Image:Fatima al Masouma.jpg|'''Fatima al Masouma''' [[Iran]]
Image:Omayyad Mosque Damascus Syria.jpg|'''Omayyad Mosque''' [[Syria]]
Image:Saint Sophia.jpg|'''Saint Sophia''' [[Turkey]]
Image:Nazareth.jpg|'''Basilica of the Annunciation''' [[Israel]]
</gallery>

[[File:Jahangiri Mahal - Agra Fort India.jpg|440px]]

'''Agra Fort''' [[India]].
</center>

=== [[Australasia]] ===
<center>
<gallery perrow="5">
Image:Sidney opera house.jpg|'''Sydney Opera House''' [[Australia]]
Image:Great Barrier Reef.jpg|'''Great Barrier Reef''' [[Australia]]
Image:Barriere corail.jpg|'''Great Barrier Reef''' [[Australia]]
Image:Royal exhibition building.jpg|'''Royal Exhibition Building''' [[Australia]]

Image:Te Papa.jpg|'''Te Papa, Museum of New Zealand''' [[New Zealand]]

</gallery>
</center>

=== [[Europe]] ===
<center>

[[File:El Escorial Spain.jpg]]

'''El Escorial''' [[Spain]].

<gallery perrow="5">

Image:The Tower of Belem.jpg|'''The Tower of Belem''' [[Portugal]]
Image:Valencia.jpg|'''[[Valencia]]''' [[Spain]]
Image:Gutenburg1.jpg|'''[[Gutenberg Bible]]''' [[Germany]]
Image:Cosmographia.jpg|'''Map from [[Ptolemy]]'s Geographia''' [[Greece]]
Image:Acropolis.gif|'''[[Acropolis]]''' [[Greece]]
Image:Colosseum.jpg|'''[[Colosseum]]''' [[Italy]]
Image:Michelangelopieta.jpg|'''[[Pieta]]''' [[Italy]]
Image:Da Vinci The Last Supper.jpg|'''[[Last Supper|The Last Supper, Da Vinci]]''' [[Italy]]
Image:Tower of Pisa.jpg|'''[[Tower of Pisa]]''' [[Italy]]
Image:Rembrandt Nightwatch.jpg|'''Nightwatch Rembrandt''' [[Netherlands]]
Image:Notre Dame.jpg|'''[[Notre Dame Cathedral]]''', [[France]]
Image:Tour - Eiffel.jpg|'''[[Eiffel Tower]]''' [[France]]
Image:Miranda.jpg|'''Miranda''' [[John William Waterhouse|Waterhouse]] [[United Kingdom]]
Image:Tower bridge London.jpg|'''[[London Tower Bridge|Tower bridge]]''' [[United Kingdom]]
Image:Big Ben - England.jpg|'''[[Big Ben]]''' [[United Kingdom]]

</gallery>
</center>

== Guest treasure ==
[[File:Great Mosque Xi an China.jpg|400px]]

'''Great Mosque in Xi'an''' [[China]]
{{Clear}}

:::::::::::::::::::::: [[World treasures II|Continue to Part II]] and [[World treasures III]]

== See also ==
[[Image:Basilica of San Vicente, Avila.jpg|thumb|Basilica of San Vicente, Avila, [[Spain]].]]
*[[List of World Heritage Sites in Africa]]
*[[List of World Heritage Sites in the Americas]]
*[[World Heritage Site]]
*[[Famous Architects]]
*[[Famous American artists]]
*[[Famous Cathedrals]]
*[[Famous Sculptures]]

== External links ==

*[http://www.nla.gov.au/worldtreasures/html/intro.html National Library of Australia]
*[http://www.worldtreasures.org/ Museum of World Treasures]
*[http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/world/world-record.html World Treasures of the Library of Congress]
*[http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/splash.htm Timeline of Art History] The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
*[http://whc.unesco.org/en/list World Heritage List] UNESCO.

[[File:Saladins grave Damaskus.jpg|thumb|Saladin's tomb, [[Syria]]]]
[[File:Azambuja, Portugal.jpg|thumb|290px|left|Azambuja, [[Portugal]].]]

[[Category:Art]]
[[Category:Culture]]
[[Category:History]]
[[Category:Geography]]
[[Category:Tourist Attractions]]
[[Category:Featured articles]]

Liberal myths

2011-02-09T18:48:36Z

DouglasL: /* Liberal myths are heavily promoted falsehoods motivated by a destructive belief system */ grammar

== Liberal myths are heavily promoted falsehoods motivated by a destructive belief system ==

Liberal beliefs:<ref>http://www.twilightslastgleaming.com/myths.htm</ref> They include:

*The claim that “The failed economic policies of George W. Bush" caused the recession and high unemployment. <ref>[http://www.examiner.com/conservative-in-national/let-s-discuss-the-failed-economicy-policies-of-president-george-w-bush Let's discuss the "failed economicy policies" of President George W. Bush, Washington Examiner, December 9, 2010]</ref>
*The claim that unemployment benefits stimulate the economy. <ref>[http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/30660 The unemployment ‘benefits’ compassion sham, CanadaFreePress, December 3, 2010]</ref>
*The claim that Democrats lost the [[2010 Midterm elections]] because [[Barack Obama]] was not liberal enough.
*The claim that human beings are beginning to overpopulate. (This myth is used as an attempt to justify abortion and anthropogenic global warming)
*The claim that people today are more knowledgeable than in prior centuries.
*The claim that the [[George W. Bush|Bush]] tax cuts substantially reduced 2006 revenues and expanded the [[budget]] deficit.
*The claim that the Bush tax cuts have not helped the economy.
*Anthropogenic [[Global Warming]]. <ref>[http://www.nowpublic.com/some-exasperating-liberal-myths Some Exasperating Liberal Myths] NowPublic.com, August 27, 2007</ref>
*The claim that a [[fetus]] is not a living person.
*The claim the [[embryonic stem cell]]s will provide many cures. Unlike adult stem cells, embryonic cells have provided no known cures.
*The claim that [[gun control]] reduces crime.
*The claim that [[abortion]] and [[breast cancer]] are unrelated.
*The claim that [[abortion]] and mental depression are unrelated.
*The claim that [[gambling]] financially benefits state school systems <REF>[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/09/17/cbsnews_investigates/main3269456.shtml Is The Lottery Shortchanging Schools?] CBS News, September 17, 2007</ref>
*The claim to support the rights of women, never mention the oppressed women in Muslim countries. <ref>[http://www.aclu.org/womensrights/index.html About the Women's Rights Project] ACLU</ref>
*The claim that the [[media]] is not biased toward the liberal agenda.
*The claim that enabling [[oil]] drilling will not reduce long-term [[energy]] prices. <ref>[http://rightwingnews.com/mt331/2008/07/nancy_pelosis_energy_policy.php?comments=show Nancy Pelosi's Energy Policy] Rightwingnews.com, July 8, 2008</ref>
*The claim that enabling oil drilling will not provide [[energy]] security.<ref>[http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=33767 Oil Money May Buy Drilling Vote, Liberal Says] CNSNews.com, August 7, 2008</ref>
*The claim that same-sex couple adoptions can replace the [[love]] from a mother and a father. <ref>[http://lesbianlife.about.com/cs/families/a/adoption_2.htm Lesbian and Gay Adoption Rights] About.com</ref>
*The claim that an individuals [[sexual]] preference needs to be a protected civil right. <ref>[http://www.civilrights.org/research_center/civilrights101/sexualorientation.html GAYS AND LESBIANS] Civilrights.com</ref>
*That there is a [[vast right-wing conspiracy]] <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,359741,00.html THE VAST LEFT-WING CONSPIRACY] Fox News, May 29, 2008</ref>
*The claim that opposing the [[homosexual agenda]] is [[bigotry]]. <ref>[http://www.boycottmcdonalds.com/detail.aspx?id=102 Boycott McDonald's!] American Family Association</ref>
*The claim that the US acted unilaterally in Iraq (The USA and Britain led a 30-nation coalition in Iraq)<ref>[http://www.heritage.org/Research/Europe/wm558.cfm The Myth of U.S. Isolation] The Heritage Foundation, September 7, 2004 </ref>
*The claim that [[President Bush]] stole the 2000 elections. <ref>[http://archive.democrats.com/display.cfm?id=239 Floridagate] Democrats.com</ref>
*The claim that [[President Bush]] lied about WMD in [[Iraq]] to grab [[oil]].
*The claim that [[Saddam Hussein]] was not seeking to buy yellowcake Uranium. <ref>[http://thinkprogress.org/2007/05/14/tenet-niger/ Tenet Agrees To Cooperate With Congressional Investigation Into Niger Fraud] ThinkProgress, May 14, 2007</ref>
*The claim that the [[9/11]] terrorists attacks were an inside job by the [[USA]].
*The claim that Foreign Intelligence & Surveillance Act (FISA) is for spying on Americans. <ref>[http://www.aclu.org/safefree/general/35928prs20080709.html Senate Passes Unconstitutional Spying Bill] ACLU, July 9, 2008</ref>
*The claim that [[big government]] will benefit its' citizens. <ref>[http://www.newsmax.com/politics/candidates_public_service/2008/09/11/130009.html McCain, Obama Discuss Views on Public Service] Ap, September 11, 2008</ref>
*The claim that [[military]] recruits are poor and uneducated. <ref>[http://www.heritage.org/research/nationalsecurity/cda05-08.cfm Who Bears the Burden? Demographic Characteristics of U.S. Military Recruits] Heritage Foundation, November 7, 2005</ref> <ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3827/is_200612/ai_n17197505 Rangel Is Wrong About Recruits] Human Events, December 4,2006</ref> <ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/10/31/kerry.mccain/ Bush on Kerry remark: U.S. troops are 'plenty smart'] CNN, November 1, 2006</ref>
*The claim that [[government]] run [[healthcare]] is better than a capitalist healthcare system. <ref>[http://www.pslweb.org/site/News2?JServSessionIdr009=j7lglh8nq9.app5b&page=NewsArticle&id=9238&news_iv_ctrl=1283 Free, universal health care must be a right!] VotePSL.org, may 30, 2008</ref>
*They claim that going on the offense against [[terrorists]] creates more terrorists. <ref>[http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2008/03/madeleine-albright-we-created-more.html Madeleine Albright: "We Created More Terrorists... Our Soldiers Are the Problem"] Gateway Pundit, March 27, 2008</ref>
*They claim that terrorism should be handled by [[law]] enforcement. <ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/29/AR2008072902041.html Strategy Against Al-Qaeda Faulted] Washington Post, July 30, 2008</ref> <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,406901,00.html Bush: War on Terror is Not Law Enforcement Matter] AP, August 20, 2008</ref>
*They claim that the USA should negotiate with rogue [[nations]] and terror groups.
*They claim that [[socialism]] is a better system of government than [[capitalism]].
*They claim that there is a [[gene]] which causes people to be gay, despite the fact that the scientific community rejects this view
*They claim that [[humans]] and [[ape]]s have a common ancestor
*They claim that the [[death penalty]] does not deter [[crime]], despite the overwhelming evidence showing that the death penalty does deter crime
*They claim that [[atheists]] are just as moral as [[Christians]] who regularly go to a church, or, in some cases, claim atheists are morally superior.
*They claim that all [[religions]] teach the same thing.
*They claim that [[intelligent design]] is not a science and has no evidence.
*They claim that no [[climatologist]] or [[physicist]] rejects global warming, despite the fact that the founder of The Weather Channel rejects global warming, as do thousands of other scientists.
*They claim Hitler was a [[Catholic]].
*They claim opposition to [[Obama]] is racism.
*They claim the general welfare clause in the Constitution gives government the right to force you to buy government-run healthcare.
*They claim Jesus was the first [[socialist]].
*They claim [[affirmative action]] works.
*They claim the [[Old Testament]] is immoral.
*They claim that the [[Jews]] aren't the Jews of the Bible.
*They claim that [[feminism]] has no bias.
*They claim [[homosexuals]] do not try to convert [[heterosexuals]].
*They claim that [[gay marriage]] will not result in [[polygamy]] also being written into law.
*They claim that the [[Bible]] is fictional.
*They claim that [[Liberal Christianity]] is compatible with the teachings of [[Jesus Christ]].
*They claim that proper tire inflation can replace the need for additional oil drilling.
*That we should eat less red meat in order to combat [[climate change]].<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,418801,00.html</ref>
*They claim Jesus was a liberal, or that Jesus was left-wing<ref>[http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/bernstein/works/1895/cromwell/09-communism.htm The 'Diggers' movement is held up as an example of good Christianity]</ref>.
*The claim that the [[Nation of Islam]] is unrelated to Islam the religion.
*The claim that portable school vouchers would destroy [[public schools]], yet send their own children to private schools.
*The claim that if you are [[pro-life]], you don't care about people after they're born. <ref>[http://twitter.com/movingleft Obnoxious supporter of Obama Twitter Account @MovingLeft (Warning:Vulgar)]</ref>
*The claim that more black people died in wars of [[America]] than in [[abortion]]. 1,786 blacks are killed '''daily''' by abortion, one of two [[pregnant]] women will be suckered into pro-choice genocide. [http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/1685410938.html]
*The claim that renaming [[War on Terror]] to Overseas Contingency Operation will reduce the threats facing America.
*The claim to cutback our country's missile defenses will some how make us more secure than we were.
*The claim that the nation will go bankrupt if we don't spend more tax dollars.
*We as a nation must switch to unproven technologies for the environments sake, such as wind or solar power. Yet, proven clean energy generated by nuclear power is not an option.
*The claim that you are not pro-life if you are [[pro-gun]].
*The claim that guns are responsible for deaths. (by that same logic, pencils are responsible for misspelled words.)
*The claim that 47 million Americans don't have health insurance. (Actual number is between 10 and 15 million) <ref>[[Essay:47 million Americans without health insurance lie‎]]</ref>
*The claim that homosexuality cannot be overcome by therapy and prayer.

==Patriotism==
The liberal belief that an individual can claim to support our military, just not the mission and still be considered a 'Patriot'. In fact, the exact opposite is the truth. A liberals patriotism, party-specific position, cannot support the troops if they are an a impediment to their political left-wing strategy. The main reason for this has to due with passionate, partisan hatred for George Bush as commander n chief, the [[President of the United States of America]]. Liberals claim to support the military, claim not to support the mission and refuse to support the Commander. The extremist left discounts the counter effect of troop morale. Understanding the true liberal mindset when it comes to supporting our U.S. troops, observe the often tried protest march. Though frustration boils over, actions lead from protest to outright sabotage or anarchism. <ref>[http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/09/01/anti-war-protest-at-gop-convention-turns-violent/ Anti-War Protest at GOP Convention Turns Violent] Fox News, September 1, 2008</ref> Liberal credibility fails and lack of concern for the support of America shows. The left-wing cares so much for our military they condone and actually prop up politicians that abuse troops with reckless accusations <ref>[http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/0907/Federal_judge_order_Murtha_to_testify_in_Haditha_defamation_case.html Federal judge orders Murtha to testify in Haditha defamation case] Politico, September 28, 2007</ref>, negative media coverage and ego trips <ref>[http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/images/blpic-kerrystuckiniraq.htm Political Humor] About.com</ref>. Liberal protesters look the other way as war memorials are vandalized. Liberals protest our severely injured soldiers at the Walter Reed Medical Center.<ref>[http://www.crosswalk.com/1347570/ Anti-War Protests Target Wounded at Army Hospital] Crosswalk.com</ref> Liberal protesters harass, damage or block military recruitment centers from operating business as-usual. <ref>[http://mfvov.com/blog/?p=505 Recruiting Center Attacks Coast to Coast] Military Families Voice of Victory, March 19, 2008</ref> This leftwing position, the myth is successful in feeding media driven discontent and mediocrity shame. If the news is bad, a liberal is spoon fed. If the news is good, the spoon fed liberal is oblivious. e.g. "a complete suspension of disbelief".

Patriotism, to your brother, who volunteers and risks the ultimate sacrifice out of love, will never be diminished. True patriots will always be in our gratitude and held in the highest light.

==America Perceived==
The myth liberals give says we need to restore America's image in the world. Again, this mostly has to do with liberals' negative view of [[President Bush]]. Liberals want the two linked even though the myth is false. They blame Bush and Iraq for the bad USA image but the truth is that the credibility of the American left is a worse image than America's image abroad. The main need for liberals to propagate this myth is the fact that [[socialist]] governments of Europe oppose the policy of [[Iraq]]. This further fuels liberals' political agenda to remove [[Republicans]] from power. Liberals love Europeans and cite their false socialist utopia at every chance. European opposition automatically reinforces their belief that America's image is damaged. As of 2008, most of the [[European]] leaders that opposed Iraq are no longer in positions of power. The result, European [[conservatives]] were elected who publicly aligned themselves with America.

Those [[liberals]] that use the myth and regularly bash the USA are often called the "Blame America First" crowd. Though they never seem to mention that America gives more in donations, in total dollars, than any other country on Earth. <ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-06-25-charitable_N.htm Americans give record $295B to charity] USA Today, 6/25/2007</ref> A sure way to change America's image in the world is to show the world we respect life. The repeal of Roe Vs. Wade would be a start.

Reasons why [[America]] was hated prior to 2003 include wealth, women's rights, support for our democratic ally [[Israel]], democratic government, capitalist economy and exporting immorality.

==Bad Successful Companies==
In the attempt to point fingers and lay blame, the liberals produce the myth that profits made by successful companies are bad for America. Only a select group of companies are targeted for public shame. This is a false myth because successful corporations actually create jobs and [[tax]] revenue. Retirement funds and municipal bonds rely heavily on the profits from these companies. Also, the reason these companies flourish is because the capitalist system rewards their hard work. The liberals will try to create sympathy, that they care for the average American, they are the ones going after wrongdoers to make it right.

[[Liberals]] have demonized such companies as RJ Reynolds, Walmart, Halliburton and Blackwater. Their latest target is Exxon Mobil for their enormous profits and futures market oil speculators. Most of their accusations are absurd. Liberals in [[Congress]] don't blink an eye when it comes time to spend all that tax revenue generated. Liberals in Congress have been called on their [[hypocrisy]] for owning stocks in those companies. Which in turn, they divest their portfolios like nothing was ever wrong. For years, for decades, these companies have lobbied members of Congress, they have worked together for their common goals. In return, hefty [[campaign]] donations are their reward. Then for opportune reasons, liberals will publicly ridicule and verbally attack these bad, greedy capitalists. Corporate heads are brought before congress for a sideshow grilling to explain their actions. <ref>[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/01/MNU7VU217.DTL Congress asks Big Oil to justify big profits] The SF Chronicle, April 2, 2008</ref> The Windfall Tax is just another example of the sham created by this liberal myth. Those companies make enough money, they should now be forced to give some back. They are threatened with nationalization <ref>[http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=65111 Congresswoman threatens to nationalize oil industry] Worldnetdaily.com, May 23, 2008</ref>
and further government regulation, a socialist scheme. As the price of gas fell, Congress just pretended like nothing ever happened, Big Oil off the hook.

==The Economy From The Previous 8 Years==
In an attempt to spread Bush hatred without mentioning his name, it is common for liberals to lie and say ''"we're in this economic mess because of the policies over the previous eight years."'' This is a myth, perpetuated by the corrupt in order to link bad economics with [[Conservatism]] and Bush policy. These liberals are the very same individuals that would not recognize George W. Bush's economic successes when the economy was creating jobs. Bush, [[McCain]], [[Alan Greenspan]] are all on record as trying to fix the corrupt lending policies and government mismanagement for the past eight years. <ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMnSp4qEXNM&NR=1 Financial Meltdown Video]YouTube</ref> All the while Democrats were lining their pockets with [[Fannie Mae]] and [[Freddie Mac]] donations. Democrats are overwhelmingly responsible if they should point fingers. Democrats [[Barney Frank]], [[Chris Dodd]], [[John Kerry]], [[Charles Schumer]] and even [[Barack Obama]] are as much, if not directly, indirectly responsible for the failed economics of this country over the past eight-years. The same people who got us into this mess are now responsible for getting us out of financial meltdown. Blame can go all around on this one, both Republicans and Democrats. This was the result of many bad decisions over a long period of time. Then out of nowhere, financial calamity that nobody saw coming, except congressmen and women who were privy to bank collapses. They made good money while the rest of America suffered. <ref>[http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2009/06/members_of_us_house_financial.html Members of U.S. House Financial Services Committee snapped up or dumped bank stocks as bottom fell out of market Cleveland.com June 25, 2009]</ref>

{{cquote|The truth of the matter; Bush-era 4.5% unemployment, Obama-era will it go higher than 10%?}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{Liberalism}}

[[Category:Deceit]]
[[Category:liberals]]

Longest liberal denials

2011-02-09T18:47:00Z

DouglasL: add a couple

[[Liberal denial]] is a familiar phenomenon. What are the ''longest'' liberal denials in history? Here's a growing list:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Denial'''
|'''Beginning of denial'''
|'''Ending of denial'''
|'''Length of denial'''
|-
|[[Piltdown Man]] hoax
|1912
|1953
|41 years
|-
|[[Lenin]] and [[Leon Trotsky|Trotsky]] being as genocidal as Stalin
|1917
|present
|92 years and continuing
|-
|[[Alger Hiss]] as a communist spy
|1947
|1998
|51 years
|-
|[[Joseph Stalin]] starving millions
|1930?
|1980?
|50? years
|-
|[[Population bomb]] hoax
|1968
|1987
|19 years
|-
|[[global warming]] hoax
|
|present
|
|-
|Effectiveness of [[supply-side economics]]
|1975
|present
|34 years and counting
|-
|How Reagan caused the fall of [[communism]]
|1991
|present
|18 years and counting
|-
|Harm caused by the [[New Deal]] during the Depression
|1933
|present
|76 years and counting
|-
|The falsehood of [[Charles Darwin]]'s theory of [[evolution]]
|1859
|present
|151 years and counting
|-
|That [[materialism]] and evolutionary thought played a role in [[Hitler]]'s rise to power
|1933
|present
|77 years and counting
|}

(please add)

[[Category:Liberalism]]

Muslim agenda of the Obama administration

2011-02-09T18:33:45Z

DouglasL: /* Obama Presidency Year Three */ more

[[Barack Obama]] and his administration has taken the following actions relating to ''Muslims.''

*Obama’s first interview, within days of inauguration, was with the [[Dubai]]-based Al-Arabiya Networks. In it he stressed his own Muslim ties and his hopes for a Palestinian state. His message was “U.S. is not your enemy.”

*One of Obama's first acts as president, he decided to close [[Guantanamo Bay|GITMO detention center]] and bring Muslim terrorists to [[American]] soil.

*In February, Obama ordered the expenditure of $20.3 million in migration assistance to the [[Palestinian]] refugees and conflict victims in Gaza. In addition, he pledged to provide $900 million in aid for rebuilding the [[Hamas]]-controlled Gaza Strip.

*Obama sets a withdrawal date for U.S. troops in [[Iraq]] of 2010

*Obama orders additional [[U.S.]] troops to [[Afghanistan]] to fight the [[Taliban]].

*On March 19th, Obama delivered a customary speech to the Iranian people on their New Year referring to the Islamic Republic of [[Iran]] which amounted to an acceptance of the regime.

*Obama submits resolution to the U.N. Human Rights Council which would subordinate U.S. free speech rights to U.N. oversight standards. This has been a key demand by Muslims to punish others for speaking against Islam. <ref>[http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=39266 White House at Confab with Muslim Brotherhood, Human Events, October 4, 2010]</ref>

*Obama has lifted some sanctions on Syria and intends to meet personally with [[Bashar al-Assad]]. <ref>[http://www.jcpa.org/JCPA/Templates/ShowPage.asp?DBID=1&LNGID=1&TMID=111&FID=442&PID=0&IID=2905 Obama administration reaches out to Syria] Jerusalem Center For Public Affairs, March 18, 2009</ref>

*Obama cancels the use of the term Global [[War on Terror]] in favor of Overseas Contingency Operation, so as not to offend Muslims.

*In March, Barack Obama said he was open to the idea of reaching out to moderate elements of the [[Taliban]]. <ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE52U2EC20090331 Clinton offers olive branch to Taliban] Reuters, March 31, 2009</ref>

*March 31st, U.S. Secretary of State [[Hillary Clinton]] said those "who abandoned [Muslim] extremism must be granted an honorable form of reconciliation." <ref>[http://www.thefoxnation.com/politics/2009/03/31/hillary-offers-olive-branch-taliban Hillary offers olive branch to Taliban] The Fox Nation, March 31, 2009</ref>

*Obama arrives in [[Turkey]] to proclaim the [[U.S.]] is not at war with Islam.

*Obama signs order to release documents from President [[Ronald Reagan]]'s White House and President [[George H.W. Bush]]’s presidential library records on the topic of [[Saudi Arabia]]. <ref>[http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0409/21121.html Obama releases Reagan records] Politico, April 10, 2009</ref>

*Obama requests emergency war funds for Afghanistan and [[Iraq]].

*Obama orders the successful rescue of American Capt. [[Richard Phillips]] from Muslim Somali pirates.

*Obama nominated Dalia Mogahed to the President’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. She has ties to the U.S. Muslim Brotherhood. <ref>[http://familysecuritymatters.org/publications/id.2987/pub_detail.asp Esposito Protégé Appointed To Obama Advisory Council] Family Security Matters, April 14, 2009</ref>

*April 21, Obama meets with [[Jordanian]] King Abdullah in the Oval Office.

*Obama said that despite the hate speech by [[Ahmadinejad]] at Monday's [[U.N.]] racist conference, the administration is "serious about engagement with Iran with no illusions." <ref>[http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/obama-iran-diplomacy-to-continue-despite-appalling-speech-2009-04-21.html Obama: Iran effort continues despite 'appalling' talk] TheHill.com, April 21, 2009</ref>

*The Obama administration declassifies Bush administration harsh interrogation methods used against Muslim terrorists

*Barack Obama has approved plans for the U.S. to help the [[United Arab Emirates]] become the first Arab nation with a nuclear power industry. <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/05/20/obama-approves-plans-uae-nuclear-power-deal/?test=latestnews Obama Approves Plans for U.S.-UAE Nuclear Power Deal] Fox News, May 20, 2009</ref>

*Obama State Department issues U.S. ambassadors abroad to invite Iranian diplomats to embassy events celebrating the July 4 U.S. Independence Day. <ref>[http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-06-02-voa64.cfm US Inviting Iranians to July 4 Embassy Events] Voice of America, June 2, 2009</ref>

*The Obama administration refused to help pro-democratic protesters in Iran.<ref>http://newledger.com/2009/06/say-goodbye-to-cairo-obamas-inaction-on-iran-clashes-with-his-words/</ref>

*Obama celebrates [[Ramadan]] at the White House 09/01/09

9/09 through 6/10 content needed

==Obama Presidency Year Two==
*Obama pushes for and gets a new constitution passed for [[Kenya]]. The new constitution creates Islamic courts for 12% of the population that are Muslim. <ref>[http://weaselzippers.us/2010/08/06/obama-congratulates-kenya-for-passing-constitution-he-bankrolled-implements-sharia-in-non-muslim-country-liberalizes-abortion/#comment-263165 Obama Congratulates Kenya for Passing Constitution He Bankrolled, Implements Sharia in Non-Muslim Country, Liberalizes Abortion, WeaselZippers.us, August 6, 2010]</ref>

*Obama hosts an Iftar dinner celebrating [[Ramadan]] in the State Dining Room 09/13/2010

*Obama endorses a [[Ground Zero Mosque|victory mosque]] to be built near Ground Zero in [[New York City]]. <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/08/13/obama-backs-mosque-near-ground-zero/ Obama Endorses Mosque Project Near Ground Zero Site, FOXNews, August 13, 2010]</ref>

*Obama allows his supporters Muslim [[Louis Farrakhan]] and The [[New Black Panthers]] to meet in New York with rogue-state leader of Iran [[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad]]. <ref>[http://www.postchronicle.com/news/breakingnews/article_212324822.shtml Ahmadinejad, Farrakhan In Sit-Down, Post Chronical, September 28, 2010]</ref>

*Obama's [[Department of Justice]] asks for terror charges to be dropped against Islamic terrorist detainee, brother-in-Law of [[Osama Bin Laden]]'s bodyguard. <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/09/30/feds-want-drop-charges-man-brother-law-usama-bin-ladens-bodyguard/ Feds Ask Terror Charges Be Dropped Against Brother-in-Law of Bin Laden's Bodyguard, FOXNews, September 30, 2010]</ref>

*White House appointee Dalia Mogahed attends The Organization of the Islamic Conference in Chicago. Also in attendance, Siraj Wahhaj an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center. <ref>[http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=39266 White House at Confab with Muslim Brotherhood, Human Events, October 4, 2010]</ref>

*A Somali-born Muslim and a naturalized Canadian citizen who trained at an [[Al Qaeda]] camp and attended lectures by [[Osama bin Laden]] has been deported to Canada. <ref>[http://liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/10/08/feds-deport-al-qaeda-associate-to-canada/#ixzz11nZxEaqB Feds Deport Al Qaeda Associate To Canada, FOXNews, October 8, 2010]</ref>

*Obama announces a visit to Muslim [[Indonesia]] in early November.

*Obama administration invites diplomats from Iran to [[NATO]] talks regarding Afghanistan. <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/10/19/iranian-weapon-shipment-afghan-taliban-raises-alarm/ Iranian Weapon Shipment to Afghan Taliban Raises Alarm, FOXNews, October 19, 2010]</ref>

*Obama administration announces a multibillion-dollar sale of fighter jets and military helicopters to Saudi Arabia. <ref>[http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5izOFXzR8BOYgLwf2lxo7i1d-8IhQ?docId=4883358 AP sources: US to notify Congress Wednesday of multibillion-dollar arms sale to Saudi Arabia, AP, October 20, 2010]</ref>

*Obama's Homeland Security Director [[Janet Napolitano]] appoints Muslim Mohamed Elibiary to the Homeland Security Advisory Council. <ref>[http://bigpeace.com/ipt/2010/10/23/new-dept-of-homeland-security-advisor-is-an-islamist/ New Dept. of Homeland Security Advisor is an Islamist, BigPeace.com, october 23, 2010]</ref>

*In a letter to Congress, Obama announced that he will allow an additional 80,000 immigrants – - mostly from Islamic countries – - to resettle in the United States during fiscal year 2011. <ref>[http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/29096 Obama authorizes additional 80,000 “refugees” to entry country, Canada Free Press, October 22, 2010]</ref>

*Obama's State Department offers Iran's leader Ahmadinejad a happy birthday. <ref>[http://www.theblaze.com/stories/palin-slams-u-s-state-department-for-ahmadinejad-birthday-wish/ PALIN SLAMS U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT FOR AHMADINEJAD BIRTHDAY WISH, TheBlaze, October 29, 2010]</ref>

*The Obama's paid visit to Indonesia's largest mosque, the Istiqlal Mosque. <ref>[http://dailycaller.com/2010/11/09/obama-first-lady-visit-indonesias-largest-mosque/ Obama, first lady visit Indonesia’s largest mosque, The Daily Caller, November 9, 2010]</ref>

*Obama announces an additional year of sanctions on Iran, first imposed by [[Jimmy Carter]]. <ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.6a15c993418c0f7af374e67ccc15a8fb.81&show_article=1 Obama extends freeze on Iranian assets, Breitbart.com, November 10, 2010]</ref>

*Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announces an additional $150 million to boost the Palestinian Authority. <ref>[http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/WBT014236.htm U.S. gives $150 mln to Palestinian Authority, Thompson-Reuters, November 10, 2010]</reF>

*Obama defends civilian trial for Muslim terrorists after Ahmed Ghailani was convicted on one count, while 280 charges were dropped. <ref>[http://dailycaller.com/2010/11/18/white-house-undeterred-after-ghailani-terror-case-verdict/ White House undeterred after Ghailani terror case verdict, The Daily Caller, November 18, 2010]</ref>

*Obama takes a surprise visit to the troops in Afghanistan. A meeting with President Karzai was cancelled due to weather.

*Obama's ambassador to the United Kingdom, Louis B. Susman visited an extremist mosque in London and invited Muslim youths to travel to the United States by enrolling in the U.S. embassy's cultural and interfaith program. <ref>[http://www.moonbattery.com/archives/2010/12/us-ambassador-t.html US Ambassador to UK Praises Terror-Tied Mosque, Offers Taxpayer Money, Moonbattery.com, December 3, 2010]</ref>

*Obama wins legal fight authorizing a targeted assassination of [[Anwar Al-Awlaki]], a Muslim American cleric and terror agent of [[Al Qaeda]]. <ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/judge-approves-obama-administrations-authority-targeted-assassination-al/story?id=12333259 Judge Throws Out Challenge to Targeted Assassination, ABC News, December 7, 2010]</ref>

*The [[Obama Administration]], by means of the Treasury Department, quietly amended a counterterrorism sanction so that accused Muslim [[terrorist]]s can pay for their defense with assets frozen by the government. <ref>[http://www.judicialwatch.org/blog/2010/dec/u-s-lets-terrorists-use-frozen-assets-hire-attorneys U.S. Lets Terrorists Use Frozen Assets To Hire Attorneys, Judicial Watch, December 12, 2010]</ref>

*[[Eric Holder]] addresses Muslim Advocates in San Fransisco to reiterate his resolve to prosecute hate crimes while standing behind the methods used in anti-terrorism cases. <ref>[http://www.theblaze.com/stories/holder-reassures-muslims-of-dojs-anti-bias-focus/ HOLDER REASSURES MUSLIMS OF DOJ’S ANTI-BIAS FOCUS, TheBlaze, December 11. 2010]</ref>

*Once again, Barack Obama calls for reconciliation with those [[Taliban]] who break ties with al Qaeda. <ref>[http://gatewaypundit.rightnetwork.com/2010/12/once-again-obama-extends-hand-to-taliban-once-again-taliban-vows-to-continue-to-fight/ Once Again, Obama Extends Hand to Taliban… Once Again, Taliban Vows to Continue to Fight, RIGHTNETWORK, December 17, 2010]</ref>

*Obama calls Saudi King Abdullah on December 26th to wish him well as he recovers from two recent back surgeries. <ref>[http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/ObamaAbdullah/2010/12/26/id/381045 Obama Extends Well Wishes to Saudi King, NewsMax, December 26, 2010]</ref>

*Homeland Security director [[Janet Napolitano]] arrives in Kabul, Afghanistan to discuss international and regional security.

*In a "major concession to the Syrian regime," Obama uses a recess appointment to select Robert Ford as the new ambassador to [[Syria]]. <ref>[http://www.cleveland.com/nation/index.ssf/2010/12/republicans_denounce_obama_ove.html Republicans denounce Obama over his 'recess appointments', Cleveland.com, December 30, 2010]</ref>

==Obama Presidency Year Three==
*Vice President [[Joe Biden]] will visit [[Pakistan]] in January and announce the Obama administration plans to increase financial aid. <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/01/07/report-increase-help-pakistan/ Report: US to increase help for Pakistan, Fox News, January 7, 2011]</ref>
*Algerian national who was held at [[Guantanamo]] and cleared of terror suspicions by a US judge more than a year ago was repatriated January 6th. <ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.5283ba0c8f02c1d6912c2e65666fa351.bb1&show_article=1 Guantanamo detainee sent home against his will, Breitbart, January 6, 2011]</ref>
*Hillary Clinton makes a surprise visit to [[Yemen]] and meets with President Saleh. <ref>[http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2011/0111/Why-Hillary-Clinton-made-a-surprise-stop-in-Yemen Why Hillary Clinton made a surprise stop in Yemen, Christian Science Monitor, January 11, 2011]</ref>
*Surprise, [[Joe Biden]] makes his seventh trip to Iraq since taking office. <ref>[http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0111/47513.html Biden makes surprise visit to Iraq, Politico, January 12, 2011]</ref>
*Obama's State Department upgraded the PLO status in D.C. from a representative office to a general delegation. For the first time ever, the [[Palestinian]]s fly their flag in Washington DC. <ref>[http://weaselzippers.us/2011/01/18/obama-regime-allows-palestinians-to-fly-their-flag-for-first-time-in-washington-dc/ Obama Regime Allows Palestinians to Fly Their Flag For First Time in Washington DC…, Weasel Zippers, January 18, 2011]</ref>
*Obama applauded "the courage and dignity of the Tunisian people" in their revolt against the government. <ref>[http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=54137 Obama Applauds People, Urges Calm, IPS News, January 14, 2011]</ref>
*Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is urging the Egyptian government not to prevent peaceful protests or block communications as deadly riots are held against the government. <ref>[http://www.bostonherald.com/news/us_politics/view/20110126hillary_rodham_clinton_calls_for_calm_restraint_in_egypt/srvc=home&position=recent Hillary Rodham Clinton calls for calm, restraint in Egypt, Boston Herald, January 26, 2011]</ref>
*Obama announces at the [[State of the Union]] ''"that American Muslims are a part of our American family."''
*Barack speaks to Mubarak, tells him to allow peaceful protests and turn the internet back on in Egypt.
*[[Robert Gibbs]] said Egypt's new government will have to include a "whole host of important non-secular actors", minus the obfuscation- religious parties. <ref>[http://www.lucianne.com/thread/?artnum=593895 Obama Stands by Muslim Brotherhood Endorsement, Lucianne.com, February 2, 2011]</ref>
*February 4th, In a huge gamble affecting the peace process, our relations with [[Israel]], the stability of ally Egypt- Obama is pressuring Mubarak to step aside now. <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/02/04/obama-calls-attacks-egypt-unacceptable-urges-transition-begin/ Obama Calls for Egypt Transition to Begin Now, Urges Mubarak to Make 'Right Decision, Fox News, February 4, 2011]</ref>
*February 5th, Obama's special envoy for Egypt, Frank Wisner says President Mubarak must stay for now. <ref>[http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2011/02/egypt-president-mubarak-must-stay-us-envoy-says.html EGYPT: President Mubarak must stay for now, U.S. envoy says, LA Times, February 5, 2011]</ref>
*February 5th, Saturday evening the Obama Administration said Mubarak should step aside. <ref>[http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2011/02/obama-administration-distances-self-from-own-envoy-to-mubarak.html Obama Administration Distances Self From Own Envoy to Mubarak, ABC News, February 5, 2011]</ref>
*February 6th, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Mubarak must stay in power. <ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/07/world/middleeast/07diplo.html?_r=1 Warning Against Hasty Exit for Mubarak, NY Times, February 6, 2011]</ref>
*Bill O’Reilly interviews Obama and asks him if the [[Muslim Brotherhood]] is a threat to the [[U.S.]], Obama addressed the answer without a yes or no but with [[liberal obfuscation]] instead. <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2011/02/06/oreilly-obama-interview-shows-obama-changed-course/ O'Reilly Obama Interview Shows That President Still Hasn't Changed Course, Fox News, February 6, 2011 ]</ref>
*Washington bureaucrats mandate the Mansfield Texas school district teach Arabic "language of the future," and involves embedding Arabic culture in all facets of school activities. This was made possible by a $1.3 million dollar Foreign Language Assistance Program (FLAP) federal grant. <ref>[http://www.onenewsnow.com/Education/Default.aspx?id=1290896 Flap over feds funding Arabic culture curriculum, One News Now, February 8, 2011]</ref>
*Hillary Clinton gave tacit approval to the Muslim Brotherhood's involvement in Egyptian politics. <ref>http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=261069</ref>

===References===
{{Reflist|2}}
[[Category:Obama Administration]]
[[Category:Islam]]

Hosni Mubarak

2011-02-09T18:29:31Z

DouglasL: still more protest information

[[File:Obama Netanyahu and Mubarak.jpg|thumb|Sept. 1, 2010, during the Middle East negotiations; The Oval Office.]]
'''Hosni Mubarak''' is the current president of [[Egypt]], and the fourth man to hold the office. He assumed office in October 1981 after the assassination of [[Anwar Sadat]] and has maintained the peace with [[Israel]] established under his predecessor. The [[Muslim]] [[terrorist]] organization [[CAIR]] actively lobbied against Mubarak.<ref>http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=259409</ref>

Mubarak has been criticized for his persecution of the [[Coptic Church]], and for his government's twenty nine year state of emergency, which allows him to imprison and hold his political opponents indefinitely without trial and cancel elections. During the presidency of [[George Bush]], Secretary of State [[Condoleeza Rice]] called for the state of emergency to be lifted and and the Mubarak regime to commit itself to democracy.

Since [[Barack Obama]] has become president, the United States has been less willing to criticize Egypt's lack of democracy.

==2011 Protests==

Since January 25, 2011, protests against Mubarak's rule have continued. Although the forces behind the movement are not entirely clear, it is likely that the protest is led by groups such as the radical [[Islamist]] [[Muslim Brotherhood]] and [[Iran]]. [[Liberal]]s claim that [[Mohammed ElBaradei]], one of the protest leaders, is a moderate, but many experts agree that the rebellion aims to install [[Sharia]] law and a government opposed to [[Israel]] and the [[United States]]. Although the Brotherhood's terrorist military wing, al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya, has recently begun taking part in the protests, U.S. Secretary of State [[Hillary Clinton]] has still given speeches supporting the protests. <ref>http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=261069</ref>

[[George Soros]]' [[International Crisis Group]] and [[Barack Obama]] may have had a hand in the beginning of the protests, and Obama's unwillingness to support U.S. ally Mubarak's government may show that, in private, Obama supports the radical Islamist protestors. In fact, Obama and Soros may even be attempting to install pro-Iran Muslim regimes in the Middle East and destabilize Israel, "[ceding] the power of the
Judaeo-Christian west to Islamic tyrants". <ref>http://www.michaelsavage.wnd.com/files/filesSavage/Savage-ObamaGivingMiddleEastToIslamistRadicals-Rev03.pdf"</ref>

The ICG, which also supports dialogue with terrorist organization [[Hamas]], in 2008 urged Mubarak to allow the radicals in the Muslim Brotherhood to establish a political party. <ref>http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=261337</ref> Clearly, it is likely that Soros' goal is to legitimize radical Islam and make it the main political force in the Middle East, destabilizing the region and removing Western influence.

==References==
<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mubarak, Hosni}}

[[Category:Heads of State]]
[[Category:Egypt]]

Hosni Mubarak

2011-02-04T18:13:49Z

DouglasL: fix code

[[File:Obama Netanyahu and Mubarak.jpg|thumb|Sept. 1, 2010, during the Middle East negotiations; The Oval Office.]]
'''Hosni Mubarak''' is the current president of [[Egypt]], and the fourth man to hold the office. He assumed office in October 1981 after the assassination of [[Anwar Sadat]] and has maintained the peace with [[Israel]] established under his predecessor.

Mubarak has been criticized for his persecution of the [[Coptic Church]], and for his government's twenty nine year state of emergency, which allows him to imprison and hold his political opponents indefinitely without trial and cancel elections. During the presidency of [[George Bush]], Secretary of State [[Condoleeza Rice]] called for the state of emergency to be lifted and and the Mubarak regime to commit itself to democracy.

Since [[Barack Obama]] has become president, the United States has been less willing to criticize Egypt's lack of democracy.

==2011 Protests==

Since January 25, 2011, protests against Mubarak's rule have continued. Although the forces behind the movement are not entirely clear, it is likely that the protest is led by groups such as the radical [[Islamist]] [[Muslim Brotherhood]] and [[Iran]]. [[Liberal]]s claim that [[Mohammed ElBaradei]], one of the protest leaders, is a moderate, but many experts agree that the rebellion aims to install [[Sharia]] law and a government opposed to [[Israel]] and the [[United States]].

[[George Soros]]' [[International Crisis Group]] and [[Barack Obama]] may have had a hand in the beginning of the protests, and Obama's unwillingness to support U.S. ally Mubarak's government may show that, in private, Obama supports the radical Islamist protestors. In fact, Obama and Soros may even be attempting to install pro-Iran Muslim regimes in the Middle East and destabilize Israel, "[ceding] the power of the
Judaeo-Christian west to Islamic tyrants". <ref>http://www.michaelsavage.wnd.com/files/filesSavage/Savage-ObamaGivingMiddleEastToIslamistRadicals-Rev03.pdf"</ref>

==References==
<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mubarak, Hosni}}

[[Category:Heads of State]]
[[Category:Egypt]]

Hosni Mubarak

2011-02-04T18:05:21Z

DouglasL: references section

[[File:Obama Netanyahu and Mubarak.jpg|thumb|Sept. 1, 2010, during the Middle East negotiations; The Oval Office.]]
'''Hosni Mubarak''' is the current president of [[Egypt]], and the fourth man to hold the office. He assumed office in October 1981 after the assassination of [[Anwar Sadat]] and has maintained the peace with [[Israel]] established under his predecessor.

Mubarak has been criticized for his persecution of the [[Coptic Church]], and for his government's twenty nine year state of emergency, which allows him to imprison and hold his political opponents indefinitely without trial and cancel elections. During the presidency of [[George Bush]], Secretary of State [[Condoleeza Rice]] called for the state of emergency to be lifted and and the Mubarak regime to commit itself to democracy.

Since [[Barack Obama]] has become president, the United States has been less willing to criticize Egypt's lack of democracy.

==2011 Protests==

Since January 25, 2011, protests against Mubarak's rule have continued. Although the forces behind the movement are not entirely clear, it is likely that the protest is led by groups such as the radical [[Islamist]] [[Muslim Brotherhood]] and [[Iran]]. [[Liberal]]s claim that [[Mohammed ElBaradei]], one of the protest leaders, is a moderate, but many experts agree that the rebellion aims to install [[Sharia]] law and a government opposed to [[Israel]] and the [[United States]].

[[George Soros]]' [[International Crisis Group]] and [[Barack Obama]] may have had a hand in the beginning of the protests, and Obama's unwillingness to support U.S. ally Mubarak's government may show that, in private, Obama supports the radical Islamist protestors. In fact, Obama and Soros may even be attempting to install pro-Iran Muslim regimes in the Middle East and destabilize Israel, "[ceding] the power of the
Judaeo-Christian west to Islamic tyrants". <ref>http://www.michaelsavage.wnd.com/files/filesSavage/Savage-ObamaGivingMiddleEastToIslamistRadicals-Rev03.pdf"

==References==
<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mubarak, Hosni}}

[[Category:Heads of State]]
[[Category:Egypt]]

Hosni Mubarak

2011-02-04T18:04:50Z

DouglasL: More protest information

[[File:Obama Netanyahu and Mubarak.jpg|thumb|Sept. 1, 2010, during the Middle East negotiations; The Oval Office.]]
'''Hosni Mubarak''' is the current president of [[Egypt]], and the fourth man to hold the office. He assumed office in October 1981 after the assassination of [[Anwar Sadat]] and has maintained the peace with [[Israel]] established under his predecessor.

Mubarak has been criticized for his persecution of the [[Coptic Church]], and for his government's twenty nine year state of emergency, which allows him to imprison and hold his political opponents indefinitely without trial and cancel elections. During the presidency of [[George Bush]], Secretary of State [[Condoleeza Rice]] called for the state of emergency to be lifted and and the Mubarak regime to commit itself to democracy.

Since [[Barack Obama]] has become president, the United States has been less willing to criticize Egypt's lack of democracy.

==2011 Protests==

Since January 25, 2011, protests against Mubarak's rule have continued. Although the forces behind the movement are not entirely clear, it is likely that the protest is led by groups such as the radical [[Islamist]] [[Muslim Brotherhood]] and [[Iran]]. [[Liberal]]s claim that [[Mohammed ElBaradei]], one of the protest leaders, is a moderate, but many experts agree that the rebellion aims to install [[Sharia]] law and a government opposed to [[Israel]] and the [[United States]].

[[George Soros]]' [[International Crisis Group]] and [[Barack Obama]] may have had a hand in the beginning of the protests, and Obama's unwillingness to support U.S. ally Mubarak's government may show that, in private, Obama supports the radical Islamist protestors. In fact, Obama and Soros may even be attempting to install pro-Iran Muslim regimes in the Middle East and destabilize Israel, "[ceding] the power of the
Judaeo-Christian west to Islamic tyrants". <ref>http://www.michaelsavage.wnd.com/files/filesSavage/Savage-ObamaGivingMiddleEastToIslamistRadicals-Rev03.pdf"

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mubarak, Hosni}}

[[Category:Heads of State]]
[[Category:Egypt]]

Hosni Mubarak

2011-02-03T18:50:02Z

DouglasL: add some basic information about protests

'''Hosni Mubarak''' is the current president of [[Egypt]], and the fourth man to hold the office. He assumed office in October 1981 after the assassination of [[Anwar Sadat]] and has maintained the peace with [[Israel]] established under his predecessor.

Mubarak has been criticized for his persecution of the [[Coptic Church]], and for his government's twenty nine year state of emergency, which allows him to imprison and hold his political opponents indefinitely without trial and cancel elections. During the presidency of [[George Bush]], Secretary of State [[Condoleeza Rice]] called for the state of emergency to be lifted and and the Mubarak regime to commit itself to democracy.

Since [[Barack Obama]] has become president, the United States has been less willing to criticize Egypt's lack of democracy.

Since January 25, 2011, protests against Mubarak's rule have continued. Although the forces behind the movement are not entirely clear, it is likely that the protest is led by groups such as the radical [[Islamist]] [[Muslim Brotherhood]] and [[Iran]]. [[Liberal]]s claim that [[Mohammed ElBaradei]], one of the protest leaders, is a moderate, but many experts agree that the rebellion aims to install [[Sharia]] law and a government opposed to [[Israel]] and the [[United States]].

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mubarak, Hosni}}

[[Category:Heads of State]]
[[Category:Egypt]]

Fahrenheit

2011-02-03T18:22:08Z

DouglasL: Replace the alternate conversion, it's accurate too

'''Fahrenheit''' is the name of the [[temperature]] scale used in the [[United States of America]] for ordinary purposes. It was used in most [[English]]-speaking countries until the 1960s. Most other countries use [[Celsius]] (which was known as Centigrade until 1960), which is part of the ''International System of Units'' (the "[[metric system]]").

The Fahrenheit temperature scale was invented by [[Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit]] in 1724. He decided that the zero point should be the temperature of a mix of ammonium chloride and ice, because this was the very coldest temperature he could achieve in his laboratory. He decided to set 100 at the temperature of the human body. (Either he made his measurement inaccurately, or he was running a very slight fever at the time). On this scale, it turns out that water freezes at 32 degrees and boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit.

To convert a temperature expressed in Celsius to Fahrenheit, multiply by 9/5 and add 32.

To convert a temperature in Fahrenheit to Celsius, subtract 32 and multiply the result by 5/9.

The temperature -40 is the same in both scales. This gives an alternative conversion rule: to convert in ''either'' direction, first add 40; then multiply by 5/9 for °F->°C or 9/5 for °C->°F; then subtract 40.

[[Category:Units of Temperature]]

Talk:Fahrenheit

2011-02-03T18:20:53Z

DouglasL: /* Removal of untrue statement */ indent fix

I removed the following:
<blockquote>''[[Fahrenheit 451]],'' the title of a famous science-fiction novel by [[Ray Bradbury]], refers to the temperature at which book paper supposedly burns. (Bradbury is said obtained this figure simply by calling a local fire station on the telephone).<nowiki>{{fact}}</nowiki>. The novel concerns a dystopian future in which imaginative fiction is considered subversives, and the job of "firemen" is to locate and burn books.</blockquote>
It doesn't belong on this page, but on [[Farenheit 451]], which is where I moved it :) [[User:Jazzman831|Jazzman831]] 14:47, 29 July 2007 (EDT)

== Removal of untrue statement ==

"To convert a temperature in Fahrenheit to Celsius, subtract 32 and multiply the result by 5/9.

The temperature -40 is the same in both scales. This gives an alternative conversion rule: to convert in either direction, first add 40; then multiply by 5/9 for °F->°C or 9/5 for °C->°F; then subtract 40."

The first paragraph quoted and the first sentence of the second paragraph quoted are true. The second sentence of the second paragraph is not.

Consider conversion of 100 degrees Fahrenheit into Celsius.

Using the first calculation:

(100-32) * (5/9) = 37.8 degrees Celsius

Using the second calculation:

(100+40) * (5/9) = 77.8 degrees Celsius

Body temperature is approx 100 degrees Fahrenheit and approx 38 degrees Celsius. I will remove the untrue part.

[[User:Barclay|Barclay]] 16:15, 2 February 2011 (EST)

*Incorrect. Let's start with the first rule: "To convert a temperature in Fahrenheit to Celsius, subtract 32 and multiply the result by 5/9." So if we start with a temperature of °F:
:::(°F - 32) * (5 / 9)
:::°F * (5 / 9) - 32 * (5 / 9)
:::°F * (5 / 9) - (32 * 5) / 9
:::°F * (5 / 9) - (160 / 9)

::With the second rule: "first add 40; then multiply by 5/9 for °F->°C or 9/5 for °C->°F; then subtract 40."
:::°F + 40
:::(°F + 40) * (5 / 9)
:::((°F + 40) * (5 / 9)) - 40
:::°F * (5 / 9) + 40 * (5 / 9) - 40
:::°F * (5 / 9) + 40 * (5 / 9) - 40 * (9 / 9)
:::°F * (5 / 9) - 40 * (4 / 9)
:::°F * (5 / 9) - (40 * 4) / 9
:::°F * (5 / 9) - (160 / 9)

::They're mathematically equivalent.

::Or just plug it in:

::Using the first calculation and 212 °F (because it's exactly 100 °C):
:::(212 - 32) * (5 / 9) = 100 °C
::Using the second calculation:
:::((212 + 40) * (5 / 9)) - 40 = 100 °C

::Looks like you forgot to subtract 40 in the second conversion. I've replaced the second formula. [[User:DouglasL|DouglasL]] 13:20, 3 February 2011 (EST)

Talk:Fahrenheit

2011-02-03T18:20:28Z

DouglasL: /* Removal of untrue statement */ reply, I've replaced it

I removed the following:
<blockquote>''[[Fahrenheit 451]],'' the title of a famous science-fiction novel by [[Ray Bradbury]], refers to the temperature at which book paper supposedly burns. (Bradbury is said obtained this figure simply by calling a local fire station on the telephone).<nowiki>{{fact}}</nowiki>. The novel concerns a dystopian future in which imaginative fiction is considered subversives, and the job of "firemen" is to locate and burn books.</blockquote>
It doesn't belong on this page, but on [[Farenheit 451]], which is where I moved it :) [[User:Jazzman831|Jazzman831]] 14:47, 29 July 2007 (EDT)

== Removal of untrue statement ==

"To convert a temperature in Fahrenheit to Celsius, subtract 32 and multiply the result by 5/9.

The temperature -40 is the same in both scales. This gives an alternative conversion rule: to convert in either direction, first add 40; then multiply by 5/9 for °F->°C or 9/5 for °C->°F; then subtract 40."

The first paragraph quoted and the first sentence of the second paragraph quoted are true. The second sentence of the second paragraph is not.

Consider conversion of 100 degrees Fahrenheit into Celsius.

Using the first calculation:

(100-32) * (5/9) = 37.8 degrees Celsius

Using the second calculation:

(100+40) * (5/9) = 77.8 degrees Celsius

Body temperature is approx 100 degrees Fahrenheit and approx 38 degrees Celsius. I will remove the untrue part.

[[User:Barclay|Barclay]] 16:15, 2 February 2011 (EST)

**Incorrect. Let's start with the first rule: "To convert a temperature in Fahrenheit to Celsius, subtract 32 and multiply the result by 5/9." So if we start with a temperature of °F:
:::(°F - 32) * (5 / 9)
:::°F * (5 / 9) - 32 * (5 / 9)
:::°F * (5 / 9) - (32 * 5) / 9
:::°F * (5 / 9) - (160 / 9)

::With the second rule: "first add 40; then multiply by 5/9 for °F->°C or 9/5 for °C->°F; then subtract 40."
:::°F + 40
:::(°F + 40) * (5 / 9)
:::((°F + 40) * (5 / 9)) - 40
:::°F * (5 / 9) + 40 * (5 / 9) - 40
:::°F * (5 / 9) + 40 * (5 / 9) - 40 * (9 / 9)
:::°F * (5 / 9) - 40 * (4 / 9)
:::°F * (5 / 9) - (40 * 4) / 9
:::°F * (5 / 9) - (160 / 9)

::They're mathematically equivalent.

::Or just plug it in:

::Using the first calculation and 212 °F (because it's exactly 100 °C):
:::(212 - 32) * (5 / 9) = 100 °C
::Using the second calculation:
:::((212 + 40) * (5 / 9)) - 40 = 100 °C

::Looks like you forgot to subtract 40 in the second conversion. I've replaced the second formula. [[User:DouglasL|DouglasL]] 13:20, 3 February 2011 (EST)