galiel

It is called Christian Reconstructionism and, unfortunately, it holds sway over large swaths of our policy-making politicos in the current administration and to a degree in Congress as well. It is the premise behind the best-selling series of books about the Rapture. Imagine having people like that in actual positions of national and international power. Well, imagine no more. From Ashcroft to Asa Hutchinson. Oh, and there is one more fellow you might have heard of - George W. Bush. Not strictly a Reconstructionist himself, but their patsy, since they supported his campaign him in return for a solemn promise to appoint Reconstructionists to positions of power. For all I know, he may by now be a sincere convert to their madness as well.

Richard Viguerie and Paul Weyrich, the two main architects of the Right's nearly uninterrupted dominance of most of the branches of federal government and an increasing number of state and local government institutions since the mid 1980's, are both prominent Reconstructionists. So is Karl Rove. So are GOP House Whip Rep. Tom Delay, whip and Bush speechwriter and author of the "Axis of Evil" and "Crusade" terminology Michael Gerson.

It is not the same old crap, because this time, they are doing more than talking about it--they are actively working to make it happen. Besides the Great Middle East war, supposedly a prelude to the End Days, they also seek to establish an actual theocracy in the US. That's right. They call their theory of justice "Theonomy", and, among other things, it calls for the elimination of democratic government and the universal enforcement of Mosaic Law, complete with stonings and branding. Oh, and legal slavery.

Sound wild? Sound like a paranoid fantasy?

A major Reconstructionist political action committee, the NRA (National Reform Association) fromed late last year with the express purpose, through their "Operation Potomac", of lobbying, developing political campaigns, and grooming potential candidates to run at the federal level.
And guess who helped them organize a "biblical worldview” conference on Capital Hill? None other than Rep. Tom Delay.

You think I am kidding? Just do a search on "Reconstructionism" "Reconstructionists in the Bush Administration", "theonomy" and "Ashcroft speeches" and read up. As I keep saying, you don't have to rely solely on the reports of opponents. Read what the Reconstructionists themselves say about their goals.

[ October 01, 2002: Message edited by: galiel ]</p>

GarColga

Man that is some scary stuff alright! Thanks for freaking me the hell out, I've never heard of this before.

sakrilege

I seem to remember James Watt of the Reagan administration saying something about not worrying about the environment because Armegeddon would occur soon enough. Bush et al is just carrying on with that sentiment.

galiel

Bingo. James Watt was, I believe, the first prominent Reconstructionist appointed to a major Cabinet position. They were present but not ubiquitous in the Reagan Administration, primarily because the REpublican party had not yet beeon completely hijacked, and some traditional conservatives in the White House harbored deep suspicions of the Christian Right's true motives-presciently, as it turns out.

Today, however, under the W. Bush administration, the Reconstructionistas' influence has reached unprecedented proportions.