State-wide Candidates Court Southside Voters Before Primary Day (updated)

While the Washington Post argues that state-wide candidates (especially the gubernatorial candidates) are focusing on vote-rich Northern Virginia, the reality is somewhat more nuanced. State-wide candidates are making plays at potential voters NOVA, through traditional direct voter strategies like advertisements, direct mailings, robocalls, and get out the vote. And, with NOVA comprising between 30-40% of the Democratic electorate, no one can fault this strategy.

Several state-wide candidates, however, have spent valuable time and energy courting Southside voters only hours before polls open Tuesday. Yesterday, Lt. Gov. candidate Mike Signer visited Red Birch Energy, outside of Martinsville, and talked green energy jobs. Today, gubernatorial candidate Brian Moran visited Martinsville, and tomorrow Creigh Deeds will hold a rally in Uptown Martinsville. Each of these stops was/will be part of a greater Southside swing.

In the golden moments before E-Day, these candidates are showing us that, while NOVA votes are important, our votes matter also.

Update: Here are the Martinsville Bulletin's article on Moran's visit, and a Washington Post article on Deeds' Southside swing.

Bradley Rees Lauds Rep. Perriello

Bradley Rees, keeping to his promise to praise Rep. Perriello when they are in agreement, thanks Perriello for his hard work to keep the D-Day Memorial open (HR 2689). Money quote:

Our brave men and women who voluntarily take up arms in defense of our great nation deserve our utmost gratitude, respect, and, most importantly, physical and mental health care. I applaud Congressman Perriello’s take-charge approach to these issues.

I appreciate that.

Religious Disengagement In Historical Context

Although a month old, today I came across an op-ed column by Michael Gerson who previews an upcoming book, American Grace: How Religion Is Reshaping Our Civic and Political Lives, by authors Robert Putnam (we discussed his other thoughts here) and David Campbell. To begin, according to Putnam and Campbell, religious adherents are very constructive and productive citizens:

Putnam asserts, "religious Americans are nicer, happier and better citizens." They are more generous with their time and money, not only in giving to religious causes but to secular ones. They join more voluntary associations, attend more public meetings, even let people cut in line in front of them more readily. Religious Americans are three to four times more socially engaged than the unaffiliated. Ned Flanders is a better neighbor.

Against the expectations of many religious believers, this dynamic has little to do with the content of belief. Theology is not the predictor of civic behavior; being part of a community is. People become social joiners and contributors when they have friends who pierce their isolation and invite their participation. And religious friends, says Putnam, are "more powerful, supercharged friends."

Yet, this level of religious engagement is on the decline. According to Putnam, this religious disengagement is the result of "one shock and two aftershocks," the historical antecedants to the current trends. The shock, the 60's and its rebellious culture:

The shock came in the 1960s. As conservatives have asserted, the philosophy of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll is an alternative to religious affiliation (though some of the rocking religious would dispute the musical part). Baby boomers were far less religious than their parents were at the same age -- the probable result, says Putnam, of a "very rapid change in morals and customs.

The first aftershock, the advent of the Religious Right:

This retreating tide of committment [sic] affected nearly every denomination equally, except that it was less severe among evangelicals. While not dramatically increasing their percentage of the American population, evangelicals did increase their percentage among the religious in America. According to Putnam, religious "entrepreneurs" such as Jerry Falwell organized and channeled the conservative religious reaction against the 1960s into the religious right -- the first aftershock.

The second aftershock, blowback against the politicization of religion from the Religious Right:

But this reaction provoked a reaction -- the second aftershock. The politicization of religion by the religious right, argues Putnam, caused many young people in the 1990s to turn against religion itself, adopting the attitude: "If this is religion, I'm not interested."

The result of these "shocks and aftershocks" is religious polarization. This polarization, however, hasn't affected the overall religious level of America; more are very religious and many not religious at all. And as we all know too well, this polarization correlates with partisan politics. Democrats must maintain their base of "nones" and unaffiliateds, while making plays into the religious base - a strategy successfully completed by Pres. Obama - and Republicans must maintain their base of constant church-goers, while making plays at those less inclined to religious engagement, currently a puzzling problem. Finally, Gerson provides Putnam's thoughts on the "nones" and how their religious views could change and re-adapt the religious landscape, a concluding message of hope:

"They are not in church, but they might be if a church weren't like the religious right. . . . There are almost certain to be religious entrepreneurs to fill that niche with a moderate evangelical religion, without political overtones."

In the diverse, fluid market of American religion there may be a demand, in other words, for grace, hope and reconciliation -- for a message of compassion and healing that appeals to people of every political background. It would be revolutionary -- but it would not be new.

Incidentally, I was talking to my friend, Tripp, tonight about the barriers to mainline faith in our First World, and while I agree with Putnam's historical conclusions, I think there are other contributing factors involved, of which two quickly come to mind. First, I think the mainstream media is complicit in the polarization of religion and politics. As I've said before:

I am most bothered by how the if-it-bleeds-it-leads conflict-generating media elevates certain (more extreme) views into the public discussion creating the general misperception that those views are both normative and majority; their skewing or mis-weighting of the plurality of theological voices leads, cognitively, to a fallacious availability heuristic. In this light, lost is the respect for the vast diversity of religious and theological thought, dismissed by the oversimplified - and perhaps dumbed-down - fault lines of conservatism versus liberalism. And when the press is only willing to cover a very narrow set of hot-button issues (i.e., abortion, homosexuality, environmentalism, school prayer), this supposed ideological binary perpetuates and exacerbates the divisiveness already inherent within those discussions. Healthy theological diversity is out, and unhealthy theological disagreeableness is in.

Second, technological interconnectivity and globalization. Our world is shrinking, via economics and technology, and in this manner, the internet provides instant exposure to a diverse set of thoughts and ideas on any and all subjects. At the end of our finger tips, we have access to virtually everything. The incorporation and assimilation of differing theological concepts, in my mind, creates an atmosphere where one questions - amplified by the results of scientific inquiry - not only his/her faith but the truth claims of all faiths.

Open Thread

Keep the good thoughts rollin'.

Evangelical Leaders Optimistic About Global Christianity, Pessimistic About American Christianity

The National Association of Evangelicals conducted a poll to gauge evangelical perception of the current state of Christianity. According to the poll, evangelical leaders are very happy with the growth of Christianity worldwide, but have a grim view of Christianity in America. Money quote:

In the latest Evangelical Leaders Survey, released Tuesday, respondents said they overwhelmingly (94 percent) believe the number of Christians worldwide will increase in the next ten years. A mere four percent of respondents said the number of Christians will stay the same, while two percent said they are unsure.
[...]
When it came to the United States, most of the U.S. evangelical respondents said they believe the number of Christians will stay the same at best, but will more likely decline. However, they expressed hope for a national spiritual awakening spurred by the current economic difficulties and political uncertainties.

NAE's president further noted that while respondents are optimistic about the number of Christians in the next ten years, they held more reserved expectations on the influence of the religion. Anderson said many of the leaders believe that even though there will be more Christians, the group will have less influence because of secularization, Islam and persecution.

Not sure about the prosecution part (at least stateside), but while I think there is some unsettling trends with religion in America, I have repeatedly said that Christianity is resilient.

Anathema: One Pastor (Unchristianly) Prays for the Death of the President (updated)

Wiley Drake, a former officer of the Southern Baptist Convention and current pastor of First Southern Baptist Church of Buena Park, California, mentioned on the Alan Combs radio show that he prays the 'imprecatory prayer,' hoping that Pres. Obama will die - utterly gut-wrenching to even type, but still important to discuss. I will not give voice to his exact words, you can click the link if you are curious. Importantly, this is a VERY abnormal view; this should not be generalized beyond the thoughts and the ideas of a very small, deranged few. Even at the height of my disagreement with Pres. Bush, I, and everybody I knew of like mind, NEVER wished him harm, just a change of heart.

Thankfully, pastors have rebuked and denounced this. First, Dwight McKissic, pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Arlington Texas, has called for Southern Baptist Leaders to repudiate Drake, and in like manner, a spokesperson for the SBC has disavowed Drake's comments. Chad, wanting to be talked down, is ashamed of being a Baptist today.

I just don't get it. I don't understand. It's like I am reading a completely different Bible than Drake, with completely different understandings of the life and the ministry of Jesus. The whole 'love your enemies' thing jumps to mind.

Update: A Faithful Reader passes on this article in which Drake is thankful for the murder of Dr. Tiller.

Obama's Cairo Speech and the 'Virgil Goode Position'

One UN blog draws a connection between Obama's speech in Cairo and an infamous letter sent to constituents by our former congressman Virgil Goode. The title, "The 'Virgil Goode Position' eschewed in Obama's speech" says it all. Money quote:

Just imagine if Goode had his way and Ellison was prevented from taking his oath of office on the Koran. How would Obama have explained that to his audience in Egypt and to Muslims around the world? Deeper still, how would this kind of bigotry have affected American strategic interests in the Middle East and beyond?

On Bradley Rees' Selective Reading of the Constitution (Guest Post)

(Roland the HTG, a guest contributor here before, offers his thoughts on a new post by Bradley Rees)

Republican candidate/blogger/Fair Tax aficionado Bradley Rees posted recently on his belief that 5^th District Congressman Tom Perriello is “breaking his oath," assumedly, though not explicitly stated, Perriello's oath to uphold the Constitution. Basically, according to Rees, Perriello broke his oath to his constituents, and they, mad as hell, should call Perriello. Included in his post is an email from Bill Hay, head honcho of the Charlottesville [tea partiers], which in turn quoted H.R. 450, legislation that would require “a concise and definite statement of the constitutional authority relied upon for the enactment of each portion” of every Act of Congress from now 'til Doomsday. Hay’s email then lists the enumerated powers of Congress that appear in Article I.

With a few glaring exceptions. While Hay/Rees list out the provisions for federal courts and post offices, they shockingly choose to forget the first and last clauses of Article I, Section 8:

“The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States;…

…[and] to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof.”

Selective constitutional memory is a dangerous thing. Rees brags on his blog of not being a lawyer; in fact it’s one of the four planks of his campaign platform. While his point about lawyers being overrepresented in the Congress, compared to their proportion of the general population, is well taken, it seems to me an absurd proposition that the makers of laws should not have some training in legal thought, legal practice, and most importantly legal writing. It’s easy to vilify the lawyers, but it isn’t intellectually honest to write them off completely.

The fact that the framers included the Necessary and Proper clause, giving the Congress the power to do what had to be done in order to “provide for the general welfare,” shows in the Constitution itself their understanding that a static document would not support a republic that was expanding its horizons, in geography, technology, and demography. But outside the Constitution, far more evidence exists of their belief in a living document. Take, for instance, my main man Thomas Jefferson (Wahoowa, Drew if you delete this part I will hurt you) [Go Hokies!]:

“A generation may bind itself as long as its majority continues in life; when that has disappeared, another majority is in place, holds all the rights and powers their predecessors once held and may change their laws and institutions to suit themselves. Nothing then is unchangeable but the inherent and unalienable rights of man.” (1824 letter to Jon Cartwright)

Ol’ TeeJ and his compadres never meant for the Constitution to last much further than their own generation. They wrote in the specific problems of the day that most urgently needed to be handled by the new Congress, but put in the escape hatch for when those needs had been taken care of.

(Brief aside—There are a lot of so-called strict constructionists who seem very willing to chuck out the Constitution when it gets in the way of their immigration policies. The issue of “anchor babies,” children born in the United States but to illegal alien parents, is not an issue that can be fixed with an Act of Congress. First sentence of the 14^th Amendment: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” You want to erase their citizenship, amend the Constitution. Good luck.)

I’m interested to see how Rees’s campaign develops. So far he’s been a single-issue candidate, just railing against federal spending and bureaucracy. I’m curious as to how his constitutional interpretational theory (quote what helps you, leave out what doesn’t) fares when tackling other issues, like job creation, infrastructure, and healthcare. He faces an uphill battle trying to claw into a race as the Republican nomination for Congress. If the only message he’s got for people to latch onto is the kind of bunk he’s backed so far, that hill becomes a mountain.

Quote of the Day

The conclusion of Pres. Obama's speech in Cairo today:

All of us share this world for but a brief moment in time. The question is whether we spend that time focused on what pushes us apart, or whether we commit ourselves to an effort -- a sustained effort -- to find common ground, to focus on the future we seek for our children, and to respect the dignity of all human beings.

It's easier to start wars than to end them. It's easier to blame others than to look inward. It's easier to see what is different about someone than to find the things we share. But we should choose the right path, not just the easy path. There's one rule that lies at the heart of every religion -- that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us. (Applause.) This truth transcends nations and peoples -- a belief that isn't new; that isn't black or white or brown; that isn't Christian or Muslim or Jew. It's a belief that pulsed in the cradle of civilization, and that still beats in the hearts of billions around the world. It's a faith in other people, and it's what brought me here today.

We have the power to make the world we seek, but only if we have the courage to make a new beginning, keeping in mind what has been written.

The Holy Koran tells us: "O mankind! We have created you male and a female; and we have made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another."

The Talmud tells us: "The whole of the Torah is for the purpose of promoting peace."

The Holy Bible tells us: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." (Applause.)

The people of the world can live together in peace. We know that is God's vision. Now that must be our work here on Earth.

Another brilliant speech, laying a hopeful foundation for peaceful interaction between our nation and the Muslim world.

What did you think of the speech?

Perriello Quick Hits

Congressman Perriello introduced legislation yesterday to save the D-Day Memorial in Bedford, making it a national park, legislation supported by Sens. Webb and Warner and Rep. Goodlatte. You can view his floor speech on the subject here. Roanoke Times' take here, Bedford Bulletin's take here, Lynchburg News & Advance's take here. Saith Perriello:

“The National D-Day Memorial is a reminder of the bravery and heroism of our American armed forces, and we must not let it fail,” said Perriello. “The men we lost were local heroes, but the freedom and security bought with their sacrifice is a national treasure. So, too, is our D-Day Memorial.”

Perriello is traveling the district encouraging first-time homeowners to take advantage of a $8k tax break.

Perriello's VET-WORK bill, a bill that would increase on-the-job training benefits to veterans, has gained the support of several prominent Veterans groups, and has moved through subcommittee, ready to come to the Veteran's Affairs Committee for a full vote.

Remember Redistricting, 5th CD Doing Our Part

While everybody's attention these days is on the Gubernatorial Primary this Tuesday, FiveThirtyEight offers another reason that Democrats must get out there and volunteer for the local races. One word: redistricting. Which ever party controls the House of Delegates after this year's election will be in the driver's seat for control of redistricting.

But as the article points out, Democrats, for various reasons, have been woefully inadequate at recruiting or offering challengers even in districts where Obama did very well (generally NOVA seats). It will still be tough for us, even if all races where challenged, to pick up the six House of Delegates seats needed for a House majority, but if we can't find - according to Lowell, strong, well-funded - challengers for all the potentially competitive seats, we do ourselves serious disservice, hamstringing our efforts to regain a majority in the House, and, again, potentially relinquishing control of redistricting to the Republicans.

538 offers a list of 40 potentially competitive seats, and though guilty of our own unopposed races, only 3 of these potentially competitive races (districts 14, 58, 60) reside here in the 5th Congressional District. With this in mind, it looks like two of these races are, at this stage, very competitive [Anderson vs. Marshall (14th) and Neff vs. Bell (58th)]. These races will still be tough, as always unseating an incumbent is a tall order, but I am currently pleased with these pick-up opportunities. Truthfully, I am not really sure how the 60th (Guill vs. Edmundson) is shaping up, but I would love to see it competitive also.

While the gubernatorial primary is currently sucking all of the oxygen out of the room, we would do well to remember that control of redistricting is also at stake this November ... as if there wasn't enough at stake already.

Constitution Party Woos Christians/Values Voters

The Constitution Party is seeking to attract both Christian and values voters to their party, obviously making a play at the Republican base:

The fastest-growing third party in America, (ballot-access.org) the Constitution Party (www.constitutionparty.com), will discuss a nationwide effort to encourage Christians to vote "like their faith depended on it." The CP will host a number of notable values-oriented speakers at its Spring National Committee meeting .... The party will gather to discuss its unprecedented growth which coincides with widespread voter dissatisfaction with the Republican and Democratic parties. The Constitution Party, the only political party in America which is 100% pro-life is challenging all Believers to put an end to the "lesser of two evils" approach to voting.

"Christians must vote their values and leave the results to God," noted Constitution Party National Committee Chairman Jim Clymer adding, "Our country was founded on Biblical principles, that's why it was so blessed. Without returning to God's law, we cannot expect America to change for the better." (emphasis mine)

Just what we need, another "party" offering their version of the revelation of God in order to win political elections.

Tangentially speaking, Virgil Goode will be one of those "notable values-oriented speakers" at the spring meeting:

Former U.S. Congressman Virgil Goode (R, VA), a one-time Democrat, whose stands against abortion, illegal immigration and gun control won him high praise from conservatives. Goode has been a vocal supporter of the Constitution Party.

A vocal supporter of the Constitution Party who is strongly (read: unanimously) rumored to want to re-challenge, under the Republican banner, current Congressman Perriello.

Palmer drops out of HoD 16 Race, Merricks Now Unopposed

The Danville Register & Bee confirms rumors I have heard, specifically that Shawn Palmer, political novice, is dropping out of the race against Del. Don Merricks (R-16). Saith Palmer:

"At this time,” Palmer said, “it’s just not in the best interest for me to start an initiative that will take time — time that I do have, but mentally I don’t have the full time and devotion that it takes to give to the voters and campaign staff."
[...]
“The fact that I came into this campaign so late in the game — I don’t have the equipment that I need to mount a serious campaign. With those odds at my back, I’ve decided to suspend my campaign indefinitely.”

As such, Merricks is now unopposed. Palmer, who still eyes a political future, will seek a Board of Supervisor's position in Pittslyvania County in 2011.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

A church service, celebrating July 4th, where church members (and the attending public) are asked to bring and showcase their firearms, where gun store owners invited, and where there will be a lesson in 2nd Amendment rights and a hand gun raffle. A church service. Money quote:

In Celebration of July 4 and our rights as Americans, New Bethel Church will be hosting an OPEN CELEBRATION CHURCH service for all who support 1st and 2nd Amendment rights. It will be held on Saturday June 27th, the weekend before July 4th. It will begin at 5PM and picnic food will be served. We are asking responsible handgun owners to attend this service openly wearing their sidearm. This will be a Cold Range Carry meaning handguns must be unloaded and in a secure holster.

Area gun store/firing range owners will be invited to attend and tell about their services. There will be patriotic music and short presentation concerning responsible gun ownership and 2nd Amendment rights.

There will also be a raffle to win a handgun. All that is asked is that you bring a sidearm, a friend who has a sidearm and a canned good for local food bank. (emphasis mine)

In the last paragraph notice how church members are asked to bring canned food for a local charity only after they are asked to bring their guns and bring friends with guns.

Un-freakin'-believable, and - to put it nicely - especially clueless in light of the Dr. Tiller's assassination, no matter your level of agreement (or lack thereof) of his profession.

And Jesus wept.

(h/t Blake Huggins)

Southside Q2 House of Delegates Fundraising Numbers

Here are Q2 (April 1 - May 27th) fundraising numbers for candidates for the House of Delegates, mostly from the Southside, but with a shout out to the hot race up in Albemarle (Bell vs. Neff). Also, there is a strong race going on in Danville (Marshall vs. Anderson). Of course, all information compiled for this table is courtesy of the Virginia Public Access Project. Importantly, for some reason, some candidates did not (yet?) have data available on-line. If you are looking for Gov, LG, or AG fundraising numbers, check out Lowell's post.

Candidate (Bold - incumbent)	Amount Raised	Expenses	Cash on Hand
District 9
Charles Poindexter	$4,242	$11,164	$13,811
Sherman Witcher	no data	no data	no data
District 10
Ward Armstrong	$53,122	$41,997	$59,530
District 14
Danny Marshall	$25,415	$8,802	$26,963
Seward Anderson	$44,218	$3,607	$20,457
District 16
Don Merricks	$2,302	$5,390	$17,068
Shawn Palmer	no data	no data	no data
District 58
Rob Bell	$55,805	$16,908	$520,532
Cynthia Neff	$89,966	$15,061	$74,904
District 60 (open seat)
David Guill	$3,592	$1,352	$2,340
James Edmunds	no data	no data	no data

If I am missing candidates, or there are races you would like me to track, please let me know in the comment section.

The Human Mind of God

Here is a great article, exploring the cognitive psychology of Christian theology, on why God has a human mind, written by Valerie Tarico. Importantly, to me, Tarico is not making theological claims, but she explores how and why our mind constructs, interprets and relates to the Divine, especially the Christian God.

To begin, our over-active minds see patterns everywhere, not necessarily because these patterns exist, but because our minds are designed in a fashion to organize information quickly and efficiently in an environment with a super-abundance of stimuli. Intriguingly, for example, our over-active facial recognition modules (our ability to recognize and discern faces, old and new) allow us to see faces in the clouds, in nature, in ink-blots, or similarly, how some Christians see Jesus in food and other human-made objects. As such, when faced with unknowns and ambiguities, our minds utilize "inborn information modules" in order to find patterns sometimes where they don't exist - patterns inherent in our mind, not necessarily in random nature - because our minds default to over-interpreting information rather than under-interpreting information (an evolved safety technique?).

Further, according to Tarico, we have developed a "theory of the mind:" we have a mind, therefore others have a mind, and derivatively, we think, therefore others think. This allows us to navigate society and our complex webs of relationships - we can think about what they are thinking - and as such, we over-assume conscious intent in situations; we are adverse to assigning randomness to events, we have to assign credit/blame. This subscription of a "mind" can be generalized beyond humanity, as we can subscribe mind and thought to inanimate objects and even to a deeper, metaphysical Divine Power; these transcendent powers have "human minds" and employ thoughts, perceptions, preferences, sometimes emotions like humanity.

Also, theologically speaking, if our mind is predisposed to utilize certain cognitive schema - mental organizing principles - we preclude other schemas:

Nowhere in the world is there a supernatural being who exists only on alternate Tuesdays, or who sees everything but forgets it all in ten minutes, or who rewards us for ignoring and disobeying him. Nowhere is there a god who knows the future, but only the next hour, or a god who starves people to death whenever he is pleased with them, or who is exactly like an ordinary person in every way. Some ideas are simply not interesting to us. They may be counter-intuitive in ways that make them forgettable instead of "sticky." Maybe they don't make good stories or maybe we don't have good places to file them in our index of memories.

Similarly, when it comes to religious belief, those most salient theological principles incorporate an interesting deviation from an expected pattern. We start with something familiar and tweak it, leaving other basic assumptions the same:

If the supernatural thing we are discussing is a conscious being, it also needs to have a basically human mind.

This piques our interest, makes it more memorable, and to makes it easier to pass along to others. Think God Among Us born of a virgin, completely human yet 100% divine.

Tarico concludes (and teases us for her next installment):

Christian beliefs are highly successful at getting retained and transmitted. They fit our information processing structures and yet are counterintuitive in intriguing ways. They capitalize on our tendency to attribute events to human-like causal agents who have minds much like our own. They allow us to take machinery that is designed for processing social information and apply it to the problems of understanding inanimate objects and natural phenomena. They leverage our tendency to see patterns in ambiguous or random events. Consequently they are intuitive and broadly applicable and are easily remembered.

But if our brains allow for a wide range of religious concepts, how come so many people believe exactly the same thing? And what makes them so sure that those ideas are not only interesting--they are true? As we shall see in future articles Christian beliefs don't just fit our mental categories. They also leverage powerful emotions and social relationships so as to become the core reality for those who believe.

I'm looking forward to her next article! You?

Appomattox News Endorses Deeds

While I am still undecided on this gubernatorial race - 3 great candidates! - I do think highlighting Southside newspaper endorsements is important. As such, Deeds scored another endorsement today; yesterday it was the Martinsville Bulletin, today it is the Appomattox News. Deeds' strong environmental stances and sound energy policies, especially his distrust of uranium mining, given the affect of the proposed mine to the Appomattox area, were important to this endorsement. Money quote:

Creigh Deeds has proven his interest time and again in Southside Virginia as well. He has been a guest speaker many times at events sponsored by the Appomattox County Democratic Committee and he always works well with his constituents in the Legislature in Washington. Deeds knows and understands the issues the fifth district faces, and how those issues may shape the entire state’s future within the next four years.
[...]
We trust that Appomattox area voters will get out the vote for Creigh Deeds on Tuesday, June 9.

NYT Q&A with Robert Wright

The New York Times has a cool question and answer session with Robert Wright, author of the newly published The Evolution of God. In the Q&A he talks about how the naivety of the New Athiests, his materialist understanding of Christianity, his understanding of the Transcendence, and, among other things, his Southern Baptist upbringing. I thought this back-and-forth was worth passing on:

Do you have any insight into President Obama’s spiritual life?
No, except that he seems to have the self-assurance of someone who believes that God is on his side.

That can be dangerous.
Thinking you’re doing God’s work is fine if you actually are serving humankind. And I think Obama has a better chance of doing that than most. He shifts between the professorial and the preacherly in a way that is reminiscent of the Apostle Paul, although Paul probably attended church more often and worked out less.

Earlier, we discussed an article Wright wrote, a glimpse into this book, on religion and globalization, and we also praised an excerpt within Andrew Sullivan's review of this book.

Rapping Conservative Principles

The "Young Cons," two college guys rapping conservative principles, are, to my knowledge, the first official pioneers of Michael Steele's hip-hop-itazation of the Republican Party.

In a "battle," a head-to-head loser-go-home rap contest, between progressives and conservatives, I'll take our skillz - with the likes of will.i.am - over theirs every day of the week.

Martinsville Bulletin Endorses Deeds

The Martinsville Bulletin endorses Creigh Deeds for the Democratic gubernatorial primary, employing both the experience and the electability (i.e., the rural candidate) memes. Money quote:

Time and time again, partisanship has blocked progress, and even common sense, in Virginia. It is time for that to end, and we believe Sen. Creigh Deeds is the person who can make that happen.
[...]
Of the three Democrats, only Sen. Deeds has served in both the state House and Senate. That gives him experience and a perspective that can be essential to bringing key players in both chambers to the table to resolve critical issues such as transportation.

Of the three, only Sen. Deeds has ties to rural Virginia. He lives in Bath County and formerly lived in Danville. Yet he was endorsed by The Washington Post on May 9 in an editorial that called Sen. Deeds the right candidate for Northern Virginia — and the rest of the state.