Tom DeLay may be under attack; however, he is still most powerful HAMMER/power broker to descend upon House of Reps. in decades . . . and, a close study of DeLay's is his match among Christians, Tim LaHaye . . . Politics & Religion--go figure!

TOM & TIM...DeLay and LaHaye

or

Why The Dems Can’t Stand Tom DeLay & Tim LaHaye

Part I (Note: These articles appeared during height of Tom DeLay's ever-increasing problems involving past political practices in State of Texas. The "problems" just won't go away...but are his junkets paid by deep-pocketed lobbyists any different than scores of critics who feed at same tables as DeLay? Makes for interesting reading . . .

By Doug Krieger

THE MORAL OF THE STORY

Lou Dubose and Jan Reid’s new book, THE HAMMER, a biography on House of Representatives Majority Whip Tom DeLay, is allegedly a story of God, Money, and Rise of Republican Congress—and just how Tom DeLay took advantage of Newt Gingrich and fellow Texan Dick Armey’s Republican ascendancy and became himself most powerful man in House of Representatives. We’ll get into “God part” a lot more than money and political parts for now—but just to warn you, King of Tyre (money) and King of Babylon (political power) have a whole lot to do about this most interesting story. This is all more fascinating now that powerful Congressman has collected a whole lot of chips from fellow Reps. for past support and, consequently, has gotten House GOP caucus (Nov. 18, 2004) to vote to end its rule requiring leaders to step down if indicted (which it now appears that DeLay will be for past indiscretions brought against him in Texas). The political intrigue is mounting, big time!

Now, plot of this political-religious thriller intensifies as “moral of story” is discovered—enter Tim LaHaye (kind of a neat little rhyme going on here with Tom and Tim, DeLay and LaHaye). You see, DeLay eventually walked right into an evangelical church that had gotten a whole lot more “politicized” by folks like LaHaye—so, when we get into “God part” of DeLay, you’ll understand why we brought LaHaye along.

LaHaye will act as Chairman of Board for Jerry Falwell’s newly energized FAITH AND VALUES COALITION. The Faith and Values Coalition, according to most beloved Baptist brother on planet, Rev. Barry Lynn (mouth for Americans United for Separation of Church and State), is nothing more than “just another fund-raising vehicle.” Furthermore, Lynn so abhors these religious/political efforts that he likens them to “an old horror movie—every time they bring Frankenstein’s monster back, it just gets worse!”

One might be hearing “sour grapes” a bit—check out Barry’s remarks, and comments on his remarks:

"Some things should be left dead and buried," Lynn said. He noted that recent analysis of election results debunked early claims that "values voters" re-elected President Bush. In fact, Lynn pointed out, voter's main concerns were terrorism, national security and war in Iraq.

"The people do not share Jerry Falwell's repressive vision of an America where church and state are merged and views of intolerant TV preachers form basis of our laws," Lynn said. "I welcome Falwell's new organization to debate. I feel confident it will meet same fate as Moral Majority." (see above for source)

Sure, I bet Lynn welcomes Falwell and LaHaye to debate—I bet he just can’t wait! Apparently, Falwell believes in resurrection—I wonder if Barry does? But then, again, nothing like another “Son of Frankenstein” movie!

THE BOBSIE TWINS – FIRST, LaHAYE

DeLay and LaHaye do have some interesting things in common. For one, they know how to wield political clout and marshal conservative religious forces in America, while amassing vast sums of money for their causes (most of which are mutual). LaHaye co-founded Falwell’s original Moral Majority back in late ‘70s. He and his wife, Beverly, started campaigning for pro-life causes through their Baptist marriage counseling company, Family Life Seminars. In 1979 Bev founded Concerned Women for America—a sort of counter weight to National Organization for Women (NOW). Furthermore, LaHaye’s famous “Left Behind” series—whose sales are off charts, approaching (if not surpassing) over 100 million copies (and, catapulting LaHaye’s literary fortunes close to that same figure)—makes him one of wealthiest evangelicals in America, if not world.

Although Falwell held center stage in galvanizing conservative Christians to polls and, ipso facto, to Republican cause, LaHaye (as Falwell puts it) “ran under radar.” In 1981 LaHaye founded Council for National Policy—claiming, at one time, some 600,000 members. In 1980s, CNP was quite political/religious machine; spawning countless campaigns and organizations. Included among its members were Ed Meese, John Ashcroft, Pat Robertson and, of course Falwell—as well as key think tanks, and activists like Grover Norquist and Oliver North. A lot of “right-wing jihad” against President Clinton in 1990s was funded by CNP supporters like Texas oilman and silver manipulator, Nelson Bunker Hunt, Richard DeVos of Amway and beer magnate Joseph Coors (the same crowd that funded contras in Central America).

Impeaching Clinton was allegedly conceived by CNP in Montreal in June of 1997. Falwell touts CNP for helping raise hundreds of millions for ventures like Liberty University (the second largest Evangelical Christian University in America—surpassed only by Baylor (Baptist) University in Waco, TX). President Bush attended a CNP meeting at start of his 1999 presidential campaign, and Rumsfeld took part in group’s gathering last April in Washington, D.C. Republican political strategist, Paul Weyrich, once said: “Without [LaHaye], what we call religious right would not have developed way it did, and as quickly as it did.”

(Note: This article was written as a response to Charles Krauthammer's presentation on "Democratic Globalism" in 2004 . . . its immediate reflections are all more significant, given on-going geopolitic realities we face nearly a 1.6 years later.)

DEMOCRATIC GLOBALISM by Doug Krieger

The United States of America is no longer hiding her claws—no rival or United Nations or allied opinion can resist this colossus that struts her stuff across planet. The economic disintegration, and political demise of former Soviet Union, established sole super power upon globe in 1991. This hegemonic expression “found herself” inheritor of all that exemplifies Western Civilization, be it dregs of Sodom, culture of Egypt, international trading empire of Tyre, mystical religions of Babylon, and especially organizational and military genius of Pax Romana.

She is unchallenged. Termed “New Roman Empire” by Russia’s President Vladimir Putin in midst of pending unilateral and pre-emptive action against Iraq, without UN or French, German and Russian support, she waged her war of national interest, cloaked in guise of geo-political realism, and justified by what syndicated columnist Dr. Charles Krauthammer calls “democratic globalism” (DG), a term he coined during a speech given before American Enterprise Institute, Annual Public Policy Research Council in February 2004 when he received Irving Krystal Award for public policy.

DG (according to Krauthammer) is realpolitik of Twenty-First Century and only resolution to “anti-realism” and self-hate of “liberal internationalism” embraced by Democrats, which see no redeeming elements within “national interest” policies of geo-political realism; instead, liberal internationalism (i.e., Democrats) seek to undermine American national interests by taking moral high ground only through “humanitarian intervention” on behalf of hurting peoples like in Haiti, Bosnia, Somalia, etc. – “while deriding “selfishness” they see in unilateralism of Bush’s foreign policy.

The selective self-interest policies of today’s DGs, in their inadvertent, newly-discovered unipolar world, where realism and economic self-interest can result in aggressive, pre-emptive wars that can be justified through “morality” (e.g., spreading “democratic freedoms” whereby civilization tames barbaric, medieval religious cultures of Middle East), is interventionist policy of world’s never-before seen Commercial Republic. But, according to Krauthammer, we are NOT an empire in classical sense of term—we are “custodian of international system.” We will not be bound by what Krauthammer calls “the Gulliver Effect” wherein colossus is tied down by international midget organizations like UN, nor likes of those unwilling to become members of “Coalition of Willing” (e.g., France, Germany, Canada, Russia, etc.).

THE COMMERCIAL EMPIRE

No, today’s export-driven economies, massive population flows and 9-11 realities have made isolationism obsolete, liberal internationalism (i.e., multi-lateralism) unrealistic, as well as anti-American; and, realism too harsh—leaving selective Democratic Globalism our only recourse. We, again according to Krauthammer, are a benign, reluctant but powerful COMMERCIAL REPUBLIC, not an exploitive and land-hungry empire of antiquity or recent colonialism. And, as custodian of international system, we will decide preemptively, and if need be, unilaterally, and in our own self-interest, when, where and how to defeat our immediate problem, Islamic totalitarianism (secular or religious).

Hence, obsession with earth’s oil reserves—in name of Democratic Globalism—perfectly suits our Commercial Republic’s goals of Middle East democratization (while picking up spoils of territorial conquest, and, simultaneously initiating such conquests with immediate “exit strategies”—later to be discarded “now that we’re in there.”). Pax Americana’s military, in name of fighting global terrorism will crush all others who are not for her. Her monopolistic and obdurate economic policies (euphemistically entitled “Free or Fair Trade”) are not designed to enslave bodies and souls of men, nor will they heap up riches for Merchants of Earth who are made rich through trading with her—no, trust us, we mean well in freeing peoples of earth in this manner; and, yes, I’m being facetious!

Krauthammer’s claim that this Commercial Republic bears no resemblance to any empire of past is not altogether accurate. She is not Rome, nor Medo-Persia, not Charlemagne, Holy Roman Empire, British, French, Spaniards nor Tsars, Nazis or Communists. Yet, new unipolar world of America’s hegemony (i.e., “foreign benefactors” of her Commercial Republic) does share an uncanny reflection to another international trading empire: Phoenicians; and, ipso facto, biblical King of Tyre’s imprint endures yet another resurrection to collide in prophetic fulfillment as commercial Babylon of Last Days!

Going forth “conquering and to conquer” upon a white horse is done in name of democratization, on behalf of extending freedom to all peoples tyrannized by despots and implacable religious tyrants who demean name of liberty and violate conscience of thinking and free peoples everywhere. The planet awaits its greatest hour, so we are told, and preemptive aggression (rather, “liberation”) by world’s only unipolar power has made his purposes known—you are either for us or against us; and, since we epitomize best blue planet can offer, we alone will or, for that matter, are capable to decide who should be free or neglected.

Yes, Democratic Globalism is a moral crusade between good and evil, between freedom and tyranny. Hence, this purely political resolve demands an interior motivation that can only be supplied by that which espouses, defines and provides moral covering for Gulliver in his travels. Arise, new and implacable Right—comprised of a distorted, prophetically motivated bastion of evangelical, southern Protestants (as well as leaders of America’s mega-churches and compatriots amongst so-called pro-family elements within religious America—e.g., Mormons, Moonies, Anti-abortionist Catholics, etc.) in league with American neo-cons. Together, they salute aggressive policies of a Presidency determined to rid world of terrorism—and in so doing, rule earth. These, religious and profane, are greeted with enthusiasm by their benefactors who gloat over oil bounty secured through this new aggressive policy of international economic hegemony through military conquest and subjugation, all in name of global democratization, freedom, liberty and elimination of “evil doers” from planet.