tag:www.talkingpointsmemo.com,2008:/talk/blogs/panningforhope//4397 2008-10-12T20:10:46Z Movable Type Pro 4.21-en tag:tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com,2008:/talk//17.223785 2008-10-12T20:10:46Z 2008-10-12T20:10:46Z

"America will rise from the ashes of the Bushes."Hilary today in Scranton.Amazing. I've never liked her as much as I have since the DNC. She is so much better than Bill right now, her tone is dead on, she has...

panningforhope Hilary today in Scranton.

Amazing. I've never liked her as much as I have since the DNC. She is so much better than Bill right now, her tone is dead on, she has completely come into her own and I am so glad that she is my Senator. That always felt weird before, sort of out of place, but not anymore.

Further, I now believe she will truly come into her own as a Senate leader during an Obama Biden Administration. She will be able to be a most effective leader in her own right for the first time. She has proven her integrity, and interestingly, has finally left her husband in the shadows behind HER.

Words I thought I'd never say, but now I feel with my whole heart:
God Bless Hilary Clinton.
Thank you, Hilary.
Thank you.

]]> tag:tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com,2008:/talk//17.223531 2008-10-10T23:44:19Z 2008-10-10T23:44:19Z

I think there is another message being telegraphed to the base in the new McCain ad tying Obama to Acorn--a return to the Obama as AntiChrist suggestion.Josh's George Wallace McCain post highlights the specter of race in the ad. But...

panningforhope new McCain ad tying Obama to Acorn--a return to the Obama as AntiChrist suggestion.

Josh's George Wallace McCain post highlights the specter of race in the ad. But I think there is also something else going on there, something to raise the Obama = AntiChrist? question in folks of a certain disposition.

Supporting Evidence:
1. Golden Light Haloing McCain's head at beginning of ad as he APPROVES this message, segueing into...

2. Fire Explosion Background Silhouetting Obama (End of the World, anyone?)

3. Voice: "Who is Barack Obama?"
This is to subliminally raise a 'possible AntiChrist?'  answer in the viewer's mind. I know this may seem tenuous but NOT with all the emails circulating around in evangelical communities describing how he could be the AntiChrist AND when the 'Who is Obama' is followed by:

A. The WP Quote "A Political Baptism Performed at Warp Speed",  which introduces religious language and rapid rise of Obama (just like prophesied rise of the AntiChrist).

B. VAST AMBITION is the next text blasted across the screen with a background of fire (see for ex. Daniel 11:36 ...He will exalt and magnify himself above every god)

C. Next is the importance of the alliance with Acorn and Training Followers: As he consolidates his power, the AntiChrist enters into political alliances with the Whore of Babylon and others, gains unknowing followers and mobilizes them to do his increasingly evil deeds leading up to Armageddon.

D. Particular Charges against Acorn:
Disruption of Business, Intimidation Tactics, Bullying Banks are all reminiscent of the AntiChrist's imposition of a single economic system:  From Revelation 13:16-13:18 "He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name."

E. The attempts by Obama to distance himself from Acorn now are similar to the attempts by the AntiChrist to hide his true motivations and intentions until after he is in power with legions of followers for a few years.

F. End of  Ad: Who is Barack Obama? note: Fire Background is back.
Bad Judgement (read: Day)
Blind Ambition
Too Risky for America

I found some links to texts that reference the shared cultural context of Believers of the End Times mythology that is being referenced/appealed to in this ad:
From Wikipedia:
The Antichrist, (it is believed), will take center-attention on the 'world-stage' initially as a global peacemaker which Daniel mentions in Daniel 9:27. This coming prince will enter into a covenant or treaty with Israel for a period of seven years. Perhaps using global disarmament, he will promise to ensure peace in the world after a particularly destructive future war (this future war being a belief of post-tribulationists; not of Dispensationalists)..... At the midpoint of the final seven years, a world ravaged by plague and turmoil turns to the Antichrist to lead it. Their hope is that a world dictator will promise "peace and safety" and he will usher in a new age. The Antichrist, however, is possessed directly by Satan and will eventually display his true intentions. Again, in Daniel 9:27, the prophet states that at this time this "prince" will stop the daily sacrifices, (which had been resumed again on the Temple Mount). He then commits an appalling sacrilege not unlike the outrages of the Greek Seleucid ruler Antiochus IV Epiphanes. Now fully revealed as the Beast, the Antichrist assumes global dictatorial rule and establishes his economic system based upon the mark of '666'.
and from the Evangelical New International Version version of the Bible:
Deuteronomy 13:3 Worshiping Other Gods
"you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul."

What do you all think? I must admit, I've never written anything like this and it was only because it felt so clear to me that I was able to overcome my fear of sounding like a conspiracy theorist.
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