President

45 Things I Want in a Presidential Candidate

Brett McCracken — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 13:37:41 -0800

A year from now we will (very possibly) have a new president-elect in the U.S. As a registered voter in California, I will have zero influence in deciding the election. But that doesn’t keep me from having opinions about what kind of candidate I’d like to see succeed in becoming America’s 45th president. If I did happen to live in a state like Iowa, New Hampshire, or one of the other “primary” battlegrounds where my vote might feasibly matter, I would be looking to cast a vote for a presidential candidate who fit the following qualifications. Are there any good candidates out there?

Someone who…

Is ethical and principled.
Is eloquent, nuanced, and good with the media.
Is well-read and can speak the “intellectual” language without sounding aloof.
Can relate to working people, NASCAR folks and the NPR crowd without seeming inauthentic
Has a record of being nice to and working with members of the opposing party for the sake of getting things done for the people.
Stands by convictions, but isn’t afraid of compromise.
Can give “moderate” a better name and can build consensus and temper the intensely partisan nature of Washington.
Is a Christian. The authentic, “I think about everything through the lens of Christ-following” kind.
In list of favorite books, films, TV shows, music, etc… has at least a few things that are bold and/or unpredictable.
Reads Grantland.com, and could feasibly write for them.
Saw The Tree of Life and found at least some value in it.
Is generally in favor of lower taxes, but willing to compromise and isn’t shouting “no new tax hikes EVER!” from the rooftops (we need to be reasonable).
Has read a Cormac McCarthy novel.
Can find Kazakhstan on a map.
Is a good politician in the “I have great relational skills and can win friends of all stripes” sort of way.
Does not believe that the Garden of Eden was in Jackson County, Missouri.
Favors smaller, streamlined government, but doesn’t see government as a n’er-do-well bogeyman either. Rather, looks for what government does well and has done well historically and what states & the private sector do best, and budgets accordingly.
Genuinely, passionately, actively cares about the poor and suffering.
Has a reasonable plan to simplify the tax code and shrink federal bureaucracy.
Recognizes that America needs to be weaned off of oil; seeks policies that are friendly to clean energy and alternative fuel research/development.
Can be articulate and impressive on Meet the Press.
Hated the term “freedom fries.”
Cares about human rights and is against torture.
Doesn’t want American to be more like Europe, except in having a less car-reliant culture.
Policies are friendly to business and favor job creation.
Has the leadership style and familial demeanor of Coach Taylor on Friday Night Lights.
Is pro-life on abortion, stem cells, cloning, etc.
Also pro-life on things like helping the poor, reducing global misery, ending slavery/trafficking, etc.
Has experience as an executive (preferably in business and government).
Cares for his or her spouse and children.
Sees the separation of church and state for what it was originally intended to be: a protection for religion (against government meddling), not the other way around.
Favors policies to protect the rights of private schools and private businesses on matters of religious preference.
Reads constantly.
Supports gradual draw-down of troops abroad and perhaps a slight reduction in military spending.
Supports reforming TSA and Homeland Security to make them more efficient.
In general does not have an “America is the police of the world” attitude, but isn’t isolationist either.
Doesn’t believe in bailouts.
Can reasonably articulate “The Bush Doctrine” and situate it within history.
Has a favorite Radiohead song. Or at least knows who Radiohead is.
Would consider asking someone other than John Williams to compose music for the inauguration.
If elected, won’t spend half of his or her time in office fundraising and campaigning for reelection.
Values intellectual nuance, complexity, and avoids simplistic black & white binaries.
Favors faith-based charities and boosting the non-profit and volunteer sectors.
Wants the world to flourish, but not because America is the “last, best hope” for mankind.
Isn’t perfect.

President Obama on Easter and his "Risen Savior"

Christian Buckley — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 19:39:32 -0700

One of the things I HATE...YES HATE...is when we think we know something that we really have no idea about.

I HATE that conservatives love to HATE Obama and consider him the end of America.

I HATE that liberals HATED Bush and considered him the end of America.

On those notes, a friend of a friend attended President Obama's Easter Prayer Breakfast on April 6th and sent his speach along for me (and others) to read. You can read it if you want at the White House Press Page, but I thought I would post some very interesting chunks.

I don't know that I like Obama and I don't know that I don't. But I do know that much of what he said is down right true and frankly not even being said (let alone) preached by many of the people who should know better...

...today, I’m particularly blessed to welcome you, my brothers and sisters in Christ, for this Easter breakfast.
...I wanted to join you for a brief moment today to continue the Easter celebration of our risen Savior, and to reflect on the work to which His promise calls all of us.
...For even after the passage of 2,000 years, we can still picture the moment in our mind’s eye. The young man from Nazareth marched through Jerusalem; object of scorn and derision and abuse and torture by an empire. The agony of crucifixion amid the cries of thieves. The discovery, just three days later, that would forever alter our world -- that the Son of Man was not to be found in His tomb and that Jesus Christ had risen.

We are awed by the grace He showed even to those who would have killed Him. We are thankful for the sacrifice He gave for the sins of humanity. And we glory in the promise of redemption in the resurrection. And such a promise is one of life’s great blessings, because, as I am continually learning, we are, each of us, imperfect. Each of us errs -- by accident or by design. Each of us falls short of how we ought to live. And selfishness and pride are vices that afflict us all. It’s not easy to purge these afflictions, to achieve redemption. But as Christians, we believe that redemption can be delivered -- by faith in Jesus Christ. And the possibility of redemption can make straight the crookedness of a character; make whole the incompleteness of a soul. Redemption makes life, however fleeting here on Earth, resound with eternal hope.

Of all the stories passed down through the gospels, this one in particular speaks to me during this season. And I think of hanging -- watching Christ hang from the cross, enduring the final seconds of His passion. He summoned what remained of His strength to utter a few last words before He breathed His last breath. “Father,” He said, “into your hands I commit my spirit.” Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. These words were spoken by our Lord and Savior, but they can just as truly be spoken by every one of us here today. Their meaning can just as truly be lived out by all of God’s children.

So, on this day, let us commit our spirit to the pursuit of a life that is true, to act justly and to love mercy and walk humbly with the Lord. And when we falter, as we will, let redemption -- through commitment and through perseverance and through faith -- be our abiding hope and fervent prayer.

The Contradictions of our President

Sean McDowell — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 10:41:03 -0700

While my first passion (and formal training) is in theology and philosophy, I do love following politics. For balance, I regularly read the HuffingtonPost.com (liberal) Townhall.com (conservative) and watch CNN and Fox News to try and get multiple sides of every issue. For the past couple weeks, I’ve decided to pay even closer attention to the words of President Obama. In doing so, I’m amazed at how many times he directly contradicts himself. Yet what’s more amazing is that the mainstream media doesn’t pick up on these. Consider a few…

President Obama: Can we emphasize your Muslim roots or not? During the presidential campaign you strongly downplayed your Islamic background (strong criticism was leveled at those who included your middle name “Hussein.”) Yet in your recent speech in Cairo you emphasized your background and sympathy for Islam. In fact, you boasted of having “known Islam on three continents.” Which is it? And how far does your sympathy for Islam go? Why did you speak out immediately against the killing of Dr. Tiller, but were very slow in response to the murder at the recruiting office by an American Muslim?

President Obama: Are you a Christian, or not? You have claimed to be a Christian, and I give you the benefit of the doubt (as I would anyone else). Something you said recently, however, raised some concern. In your Cairo speech you said you look forward to the day, “…when Jerusalem is a secure and lasting home for Jews and Christians and Muslims, and a place for all of the children of Abraham to mingle peacefully together as in the story of Isra, when Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed (peace be upon them) joined in prayer." The term “peace be upon them” is used by Muslims to bless deceased holy men. According to Islam, Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed are dead prophets. Yet, of course, to Christians Jesus is the living and immortal Son of God. You may think I am making too big of a deal about this, but remember, you have recently claimed to be deeply versed in Islam.

President Obama: Will you step down from your presidency, since your race is being used as a recruiting tool for white supremacist groups? Last night CNN had a program about the recent barrage of “hate” crimes (the death of Dr. Tiller, the murder at the Holocaust museum, and the killing of the military recruiter by an American Muslim). A CNN expert pointed out that Barack Obama’s presidency, since he is an African-American, is being used as a recruiting tool for white supremacist groups and that there will likely be a significant increase in such attacks. Given that your primary justification for shutting down Guantanamo is that it is being used as a recruiting tool for terrorists, will you step down as president for the sake of consistency? You seem like a team player, so why not take one for the team? I actually don’t think you should step down. You won fairly and deserve the right to serve your term(s). But is consistency too much to ask?

President Obama: Are you against nations working unilaterally or not? In a recent speech to international leaders you said that no individual nation should work alone—it must work in partnership with other nations. However, you also recently told Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu that Israel needs to stop building settlements in the West Bank, as the U.S. would not tolerate such actions. Your Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, chimed in, calling for a “stop to settlements—not some settlements, not outposts, not natural growth exceptions” from Israel in the West Bank (The Week, June 12, 2009, p. 21). In other words, Clinton is making unique demands that apply solely to Israel. Please clarify, for there seems to be a contradiction. If you are against nations making individual demands, then how can you level unilateral criticism at Israel? Are you reserving special condemnation for Israel that you won’t extend to Muslim nations? Sure, many Islamic nations would support your criticism of Israel, but that was not your justification.

It’s amazing to me that the mainstream media doesn’t pick up on these contradictions (except Sean Hannity picked up on the first one). Why not? The only explanation I can think of is its liberal bias. Check out this link for some recent stats that clearly show the media’s bias towards Obama. If anyone has another explanation, I would love to hear it.

David Letterman recently said that he doesn’t make jokes of Obama because he doesn’t provide any good material. Is he serious? This is hard to believe, especially since Obama claimed there are 57 states and also made derogatory comments about the Special Olympics. The media love for Obama is absolutely astonishing. It was best summed up by Newsweek editor Evan Thomas in an interview on MSNBC: "I mean in a way Obama’s standing above the country, above – above the world, he’s sort of God."

Obama, Prophecy, and a Voice from the Past

John Barry — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 22:33:11 -0800

What will the spiritual environment of the U.S. look like in the coming year? How will the world be different now that there is a new, African-American President sitting in the oval office? A man who has claimed that our country will see change: financially, diplomatically and even spiritually. Aside from your political allegiances (or lack thereof), you may be wondering the same thing. Let’s talk about the book—the Bible—the President-elect will place his hand on when he is sworn in, and what the voices of the ancient prophets, recorded in that book, tell us about this historic day.

Many claim that we can interpret world events with the Bible in one hand, and a newspaper in the other, but I disagree. The prophetic accounts in the Bible shed light on what is happening, but they must be understood in their own historical era before we jump light years ahead to our generation.

Even though prophecy rarely (if ever) foretold today’s events (it was usually about the events in the prophet’s era), it can help us understand our world because God, our needs, and human nature in general, are the same. Through reading prophecy, we learn to speak with our own prophetic voice, and speak true spiritual change into our generation. Change just at the economic or diplomatic level will never be enough. This is the prophetic message: We must all change who we are to be more like God.

On the brink of this new voyage for the U.S., I would like for our conversation on "The Infinite in Everything" to turn a new corner. I want us to re-discover the ancient way of looking at prophecy together. Let's converse over one of the most important prophetic books of all time: Isaiah; especially Isaiah 53:10–12 in light of Isaiah 40–56 . Through this book, God has transformed who I am. I now want to learn from you, and hear what you think about the book. To begin, here is my own translation of the passage from the traditional Hebrew text, known as the Masoretic Text:

10 Yet Yahweh was pleased to crush him; he afflicted [him] (with sickness). When she makes his life a guilt offering, he will see offspring, he will prolong days and the will of Yahweh will succeed in his hand. 11 From the trouble of his life he will see. He will be satisfied by his knowledge. My righteous servant shall make many righteous and he will bear their iniquities.

12 Therefore I will divide him among [the] many, and with [the] strong ones he shall divide bounty, because he exposed his life to death and was counted with transgressors, and he carried [the] sin of many and will intercede for transgressors.

Please drop a comment if you are interested in discussing this passage in light of Isaiah 40–56—my plan is to start blogging on Isaiah 40–56 almost daily—the more people who tell me they are interested, the more likely I am to post everyday. Furthermore, if you have any insights on the passage, please feel free to dialogue with others, as well as me, right here. Let your voice be heard. Your words have the power to change.