Bush says God chose him to lead his nation
Book reveals how President's religious and political beliefs are
entwined - and claims he did pray with Blair
Paul Harris in New York
Sunday November 2, 2003
The Observer
President George W. Bush stood before a cheering crowd at a Dallas
Christian youth centre last week, and told them about being 'born again'
as a Christian.
'If you change their heart, then they change their behaviour. I know,' he
said, referring to his own conversion, which led to him giving up
drinking.
Behind Bush were two banners. 'King of Kings', proclaimed one. 'Lord of
Lords', said the other. The symbolism of how fervent Christianity has
become deeply entwined with the most powerful man on the planet could not
have been stronger.
Few US Presidents have been as openly religious as Bush. Now a new book
has lifted the lid on how deep those Christian convictions run. It will
stir up controversy at a time when the administration is keen to portray
its 'war on terror' as non-religious.
The book, which depicts a President who prays each day and believes he is
on a direct mission from God, will give ammunition to critics who claim
Bush's administration is heavily influenced by extremist Christians.
Bush is already under fire for allowing the appointment of General William
Boykin to head the hunt for Osama bin Laden. Boykin, who speaks at
evangelical Christian meetings, once said the war on terror was a fight
against Satan, and also told a Somali warlord that, 'My God was bigger
than his. I knew that my God was a real God and his was an idol.'
Bush has also been accused of a 'creeping Christianisation' of federal
government programmes. In September, the government made more than $60
billion available for religious charitable groups. Critics say the groups
will be able to use the cash to promote their religion. One group that
benefited from previous grants was an Iowa prison project that entitled
inmates to televisions, private bathrooms and computers - in return for
Christian counselling.
Now Bush is likely to face intense scrutiny. The book, The Faith of George
W. Bush, was written by Christian author Stephen Mansfield. It details
numerous incidents where Bush's faith has been shown to be at the centre
of his political thinking.
Among Mansfield's revelations is his insistence that Bush and Tony Blair
have prayed together at a private meeting at Camp David. Blair has
previously denied this.
Mansfield, however, says that, while there were no witnesses, aides were
left in little doubt as to what had happened. He told The Observer: 'There
is no question they have shared scripture and prayed together.'
The book also shows that in the lead-up to announcing his candidacy for
the presidency, Bush told a Texan evangelist that he had had a premonition
of some form of national disaster happening.
Bush said to James Robinson: 'I feel like God wants me to run for
President. I can't explain it, but I sense my country is going to need me.
Something is going to happen... I know it won't be easy on me or my
family, but God wants me to do it.'
In another incident, Mansfield recounts how, on Palm Sunday last year,
Bush was flying back from El Salvador aboard the presidential jet Air
Force One and seemed to be destined to miss church.
However, knowing that Bush hated to miss a service, some officials
suggested they worship in the air. Bush agreed, and soon 40 officials were
crammed into the plane's conference room. The service was led by National
Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, while the lesson was read by close Bush
aide Karen Hughes.
The author also proves anecdotes about Bush that had previously been
dismissed as false. Rumours that he had prayed with a young soldier who
had lost a hand in Iraq were thought to be myth, but Mansfield tracked
down witnesses and a hospital chaplain who said that Bush had prayed with
the man, ending by kissing him on the forehead and telling him he loved
him. 'For me, that sums up Bush's beliefs. He really believes Jesus is
taken up in his heart and soul,' Mansfield said.
· A woman rammed a car carrying her children, aged three, five and eight,
into a building where Bush was campaigning in Mississippi yesterday.
Betina Mixon, 29, was dragged away at gunpoint and charged with aggravated
assault.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1076026,00.html
There's been no official denial of this earlier story, and Robison has
since confirmed that Bush made these remarks to him.
His fervent belief that he's been divinely selected leads to a kind of
arrogance and recklessness in policy making. After all, it's hard to make
mistakes when God's guiding your decisions.
Doc
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| User: "Angel-n-The Whirlwind" |
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| Title: Re: God's selection of Bush - a trip back |
09 Oct 2005 12:17:25 PM |
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"Doc" <bushelsofbushrot@HellsHereNow.com> wrote in message
news:di867q01qt9@enews2.newsguy.com...
Bush says God chose him to lead his nation
Book reveals how President's religious and political beliefs are
entwined - and claims he did pray with Blair
hey, stupid! So, Bush doesn't do any more homage to his God of Gods than
Carter did or Clinton. Politicians are the worst kind of human being. If
you can't figure that out, then you're doomed to forever be "upset" over
their mechanizations.
Grow up, doc boy...leaders will always be fucking yours and everyones'
asses for as long as people keep wanting them to.
a i t w"""
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| User: "Doc" |
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| Title: Re: God's selection of Bush - a trip back |
10 Oct 2005 11:08:03 AM |
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"Angel-n-The Whirlwind" <wiccansplendor@cauldron.net> wrote in message
news:dibjba$85o$1@domitilla.aioe.org...
"Doc" <bushelsofbushrot@HellsHereNow.com> wrote in message
news:di867q01qt9@enews2.newsguy.com...
Bush says God chose him to lead his nation
Book reveals how President's religious and political beliefs are
entwined - and claims he did pray with Blair
hey, stupid! So, Bush doesn't do any more homage to his God of Gods
than Carter did or Clinton. Politicians are the worst kind of human
being. If you can't figure that out, then you're doomed to forever be
"upset" over their mechanizations.
Grow up, doc boy...leaders will always be fucking yours and everyones'
asses for as long as people keep wanting them to.
a i t w"""
Could be true that leaders will always be fucking my and your asses
forever, but it is definitely true that the worst kind of human vile *****
like you will be trying vainly to take up whatever *****-fucking slack the
politicians give us.
I suggest you "grow up" and/or get back on your meds, sonny boy.
Doc ;)
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| User: "Werewolfy" |
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| Title: Re: God's selection of Bush - a trip back |
09 Oct 2005 12:51:42 PM |
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Vile fucking angel said;-
"Grow up, doc boy...leaders will always be fucking yours and everyones'
asses for as long as people keep wanting them to.
a i t w""" "
***** you fucking useless cretin. The message I posted wasn't nearly
enough to describe you. Another ***** who thinks suicide is
funny...Another candidate for me to revile.
You are the lowest form of life imaginable. If you only knew, only
suspected just what I am feeling against you, you would sing to a very
different song.
***** you animal. Want to answer? Don't do it with fucking words..
do it in person.
Werewolfy
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| User: "Angel-n-The Whirlwind" |
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| Title: Re: God's selection of Bush - a trip back |
09 Oct 2005 01:17:29 PM |
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"Werewolfy" <thegrimreaper10@lycos.com> wrote in message
news:1128880302.725875.199440@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
Vile fucking angel said;-
"Grow up, doc boy...leaders will always be fucking yours and everyones'
asses for as long as people keep wanting them to.
a i t w""" "
***** you fucking useless cretin. The message I posted wasn't nearly
enough to describe you. Another ***** who thinks suicide is
funny...Another candidate for me to revile.
You are the lowest form of life imaginable. If you only knew, only
suspected just what I am feeling against you, you would sing to a very
different song.
***** you animal. Want to answer? Don't do it with fucking words..
do it in person.
Werewolfy
whooaaaa...you gonna' beat me up like you wanted to beat up other posters
here, sick boy?
man, you sure have a short fuse towards violence. maybe your daughter's
mental problems have been caused by a fucked-up daddy? eh?
a i t w
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