Faithless Democrats

Well, it's all over but the shouting…and screaming and pleas for mercy in Arabic, Pashto, Farsi, and–yes–English from 'enemy combatants' being tortured.

The Senate just approved the Bush torture bill 65-34. That means roughly 20% of the Democratic caucus voted 'aye.' I know I'll recover before November 7, but at the moment I don't feel particularly enthusiastic about our party's leadership or our prospects for winning back Congress.

Many in the Religious Right claim that this is a 'Christian nation.' I have long felt that such a claim was tantamount to blasphemy. Today I'm certain of it. Our government's policies are so far from the teachings of Christ that we slander God every time we use his name on our currency or in our political discourse.

President Bush recently spoke of a 'third awakening,' as if the hard lurch this country has made to the Right was divinely inspired. I pray that he lives to repent of that pronouncement; otherwise I fear he's in for a horrific shock come Judgment Day.