Cruz: I'm a Christian first, American Second

[homersapien 11,392]

Sorry but Cruz is scary.

And Hillary and Bernie aren't? Who do you like?

Sorry, there's no way either Dem candidate can compare on the scary scale with Cruz. Quite honestly, I'm undecided, but I can tell you that I won't be voting for the Republican nominee.

Actually, I'd give Kasich hard consideration.

[homersapien 11,392]

It's one thing to say you live your life guided by your Christian faith, but for a presidential candidate to specifically subordinate America's interest to those of his God is disturbing, considering the political activism of the religious right.

What in the Christian faith subordinates America's interests. Whether you like it or not this Country was founded on Judeo-Christian Values. Throughout the Bible there are references telling Christians to follow the rule of the Land. Not exact words but Jesus says give unto Cesar what is Cesar's and give unto God what is God's. The only time you would not do something that the law said to do is if the law was morally offensive.

Many of the Jim Crowe laws were overturned because people both Black and White believed those laws were not moral and fought to change them. Including using Civil Disobedience.

Most would say that opposition to gay marriage and other homosexual rights are religious-based. Jim Crow laws were founded on a belief that blacks are not human - or at least destined (by who?) to be slaves. Religious beliefs (scripture) was often used as justification. I would say both of those subordinate America's interest (for example).

I agree with your last paragraph.

[homersapien 11,392]

Sorry but Cruz is scary.

i actually prefer Trump. Over Rubio and especially Cruz.

Are you being machiavellian?

If so, I agree.

[Guest NC1406]

Bernie needs to win to accelerate our current path. The biggest rebounds happen when you hit bottom. Bernie's politics will illustrate the benefits of a capitalist economy. Bring on Bernie. I am ready to retire and have exited the market. Let's go.

[homersapien 11,392]

Bernie needs to win to accelerate our current path. The biggest rebounds happen when you hit bottom. Bernie's politics will illustrate the benefits of a capitalist economy. Bring on Bernie. I am ready to retire and have exited the market. Let's go.

"Exit the market"? Did you go "all in" with an annuity or something? Cash buried in the back yard?

[icanthearyou 4,463]

Bernie is the only candidate that does not assure the government staying on it's "current path". I feel certain he represents the best hope for restoring democracy. He may well be the best hope for restoring capitalism.

[Mikey 16,631]

After Cruz declared on the campaign trail that he is a "Christian first, and an American second," a writer from Patheos gave a couple good points on his rather disturbing declaration.

First, the article asks what would the response be if a Muslim made this declaration about his religion? Christian Privilege?

And then to finish off the article, he concludes that Cruz is more fit to lead a Christian church than to lead a nation if the former holds his loyalty. What say you?

And Raptor, please read the article for once. Even if it requires clicking a link.

http://www.patheos.c...merican-second/

I'm late to this game, but to answer the "What say you?" question: If he's a Christian first and an American second, he should go run for a deacon position in some church. We are currently experiencing someone in the whitehouse that's something other than an American first, though his particular concern is probably not religious. Once is enough. Christian, Jew, Moslem, Hindu, whatever. If your religious sect is more important to you than this country, go home and be religious.

[alexava 6,973]

Bernie is the only candidate that does not assure the government staying on it's "current path". I feel certain he represents the best hope for restoring democracy. He may well be the best hope for restoring capitalism.

ironically, he may be the one to save capitalism.

[TheBlueVue 177]

Bernie is the only candidate that does not assure the government staying on it's "current path". I feel certain he represents the best hope for restoring democracy. He may well be the best hope for restoring capitalism.

ironically, he may be the one to save capitalism.

He wont ever have the chance. Even democrats are freakin out about the possibility of him winning. He wont, ever! Its a hoot seeing people who actually believe Bernie will be POTUS. He's way over the edge with his insanity of political revolution and his ideas about the Wall Street overlords controlling everyone's lives in America. What a frickin clown. Not even mentioning his ideas about taxation and his proposed giveaways that will almost immediately add $19 trillion to our already unsustainable debt. LOL

[quietfan 233]

We have had long discussions regarding this subject. It was interesting but nobody budged from their stances. Might as well stop.

Well heck, on that basis, we might as well eliminate internet forums entirely! ...party pooper!

[cooltigger21 0]

Bernie is the only candidate that does not assure the government staying on it's "current path". I feel certain he represents the best hope for restoring democracy. He may well be the best hope for restoring capitalism.

ironically, he may be the one to save capitalism.

He wont ever have the chance. Even democrats are freakin out about the possibility of him winning. He wont, ever! Its a hoot seeing people who actually believe Bernie will be POTUS. He's way over the edge with his insanity of political revolution and his ideas about the Wall Street overlords controlling everyone's lives in America. What a frickin clown.

If Hillary goes down, in steps uncle Joe. I just don't see Bernie getting enough states to go for him to win the nomination. It would be hilarious though if he did.

[TitanTiger 20,499]

Bernie is the only candidate that does not assure the government staying on it's "current path". I feel certain he represents the best hope for restoring democracy. He may well be the best hope for restoring capitalism.

ironically, he may be the one to save capitalism.

He wont ever have the chance. Even democrats are freakin out about the possibility of him winning. He wont, ever! Its a hoot seeing people who actually believe Bernie will be POTUS. He's way over the edge with his insanity of political revolution and his ideas about the Wall Street overlords controlling everyone's lives in America. What a frickin clown. Not even mentioning his ideas about taxation and his proposed giveaways that will almost immediately add $19 trillion to our already unsustainable debt. LOL

Democrats aren't largely scared of him being president. They are scared that he will get the Democratic nomination but can't win the general election.

Bernie as President wouldn't get most of his biggest plans through Congress, but what he will do is reframe the debate and that is much needed. The laws and regulations in this country are rigged such that the vast majority of the intended result is to benefit the people at the top of the chain at the expense of everyone else. And most mainstream Democrats and Republicans can't or won't see it or deal with that reality. The current setup is too comfortable, too lucrative for them to risk their political futures changing it.

Neither pure socialism nor unbridled capitalism is the answer to what ails this country and the world's economy and Bernie, more so than most of the candidates, seems to get that. I wish he "got" other things just as easily as that. But he's anything but a 'clown.'

[icanthearyou 4,463]

" He's way over the edge with his insanity of political revolution and his ideas about the Wall Street overlords controlling everyone's lives in America. What a frickin clown."

Sure, there is no evidence to suggest that Wall St. is the most powerful political and economic interest in this country. :-\

The clowns are the imbeciles who believe rhetoric and, ignore reality. They are sheep who unwittingly undermine democracy, freedom, and competition. They are either too stupid or, too naïve, to realize that whether the government owns the means of production or, those who own the means of production own the government, you are in the same boat.

[homersapien 11,392]

Bernie is the only candidate that does not assure the government staying on it's "current path". I feel certain he represents the best hope for restoring democracy. He may well be the best hope for restoring capitalism.

ironically, he may be the one to save capitalism.

He wont ever have the chance. Even democrats are freakin out about the possibility of him winning. He wont, ever! Its a hoot seeing people who actually believe Bernie will be POTUS. He's way over the edge with his insanity of political revolution and his ideas about the Wall Street overlords controlling everyone's lives in America. What a frickin clown. Not even mentioning his ideas about taxation and his proposed giveaways that will almost immediately add $19 trillion to our already unsustainable debt. LOL

Democrats aren't largely scared of him being president. They are scared that he will get the Democratic nomination but can't win the general election.

Bernie as President wouldn't get most of his biggest plans through Congress, but what he will do is reframe the debate and that is much needed. The laws and regulations in this country are rigged such that the vast majority of the intended result is to benefit the people at the top of the chain at the expense of everyone else. And most mainstream Democrats and Republicans can't or won't see it or deal with that reality. The current setup is too comfortable, too lucrative for them to risk their political futures changing it.

Neither pure socialism nor unbridled capitalism is the answer to what ails this country and the world's economy and Bernie, more so than most of the candidates, seems to get that. I wish he "got" other things just as easily as that. But he's anything but a 'clown.'

Well-stated Titan.

[homersapien 11,392]

" He's way over the edge with his insanity of political revolution and his ideas about the Wall Street overlords controlling everyone's lives in America. What a frickin clown."

Sure, there is no evidence to suggest that Wall St. is the most powerful political and economic interest in this country. :-\

The clowns are the imbeciles who believe rhetoric and, ignore reality. They are sheep who unwittingly undermine democracy, freedom, and competition. They are either too stupid or, too naïve, to realize that whether the government owns the means of production or, those who own the means of production own the government, you are in the same boat.

Also well-stated.

[TexasTiger 12,956]

Bernie is the only candidate that does not assure the government staying on it's "current path". I feel certain he represents the best hope for restoring democracy. He may well be the best hope for restoring capitalism.

ironically, he may be the one to save capitalism.

He wont ever have the chance. Even democrats are freakin out about the possibility of him winning. He wont, ever! Its a hoot seeing people who actually believe Bernie will be POTUS. He's way over the edge with his insanity of political revolution and his ideas about the Wall Street overlords controlling everyone's lives in America. What a frickin clown. Not even mentioning his ideas about taxation and his proposed giveaways that will almost immediately add $19 trillion to our already unsustainable debt. LOL

Democrats aren't largely scared of him being president. They are scared that he will get the Democratic nomination but can't win the general election.

Bernie as President wouldn't get most of his biggest plans through Congress, but what he will do is reframe the debate and that is much needed. The laws and regulations in this country are rigged such that the vast majority of the intended result is to benefit the people at the top of the chain at the expense of everyone else. And most mainstream Democrats and Republicans can't or won't see it or deal with that reality. The current setup is too comfortable, too lucrative for them to risk their political futures changing it.

Neither pure socialism nor unbridled capitalism is the answer to what ails this country and the world's economy and Bernie, more so than most of the candidates, seems to get that. I wish he "got" other things just as easily as that. But he's anything but a 'clown.'

Well-stated Titan.

Yes. Few of Bernie's ideas have a chance with this Congress. Still, he would offer a counter argument which would be compelling and give folks more to consider. He's a challenge to the status quo that is healthy in a democracy, just as intellectual conservativism once was.

[icanthearyou 4,463]

Agreed! Bernie's policies have zero hope in Congress. However, Bernie's primary goal is to get Americans to participate in democracy once again.

Perhaps Bernie can change the current political climate? Perhaps he can get Americans to stop parroting partisan rhetoric and, sincerely/genuinely discuss issues and policy? Perhaps, we can have practical discourse rather than the inane partisan, ideological discourse.

[alexava 6,973]

Agreed! Bernie's policies have zero hope in Congress. However, Bernie's primary goal is to get Americans to participate in democracy once again.

Perhaps Bernie can change the current political climate? Perhaps he can get Americans to stop parroting partisan rhetoric and, sincerely/genuinely discuss issues and policy? Perhaps, we can have practical discourse rather than the inane partisan, ideological discourse.

he is his own man. seems to have nothing to hide. i think he would be better off not to have proclaimed the "socialist" label. i agree he won't pass many of his ideas. i still favor him.

[TitanTiger 20,499]

Yes. Few of Bernie's ideas have a chance with this Congress. Still, he would offer a counter argument which would be compelling and give folks more to consider. He's a challenge to the status quo that is healthy in a democracy, just as intellectual conservativism once was.

I think if most people were willing to admit it, as much as they would like on paper for the party they support to have the House, Senate and Presidency under their banner, the government seems to do better when there is a division of power between the two. It seems that when Congress and the President are from the same party, they don't check each other's worst tendencies anymore and we get poor management. So having a relatively conservative Congress (the House in particular) and a Democratic president isn't always a bad thing.

[TheBlueVue 177]

Bernie is the only candidate that does not assure the government staying on it's "current path". I feel certain he represents the best hope for restoring democracy. He may well be the best hope for restoring capitalism.

ironically, he may be the one to save capitalism.

He wont ever have the chance. Even democrats are freakin out about the possibility of him winning. He wont, ever! Its a hoot seeing people who actually believe Bernie will be POTUS. He's way over the edge with his insanity of political revolution and his ideas about the Wall Street overlords controlling everyone's lives in America. What a frickin clown. Not even mentioning his ideas about taxation and his proposed giveaways that will almost immediately add $19 trillion to our already unsustainable debt. LOL

Democrats aren't largely scared of him being president. They are scared that he will get the Democratic nomination but can't win the general election.

Bernie as President wouldn't get most of his biggest plans through Congress, but what he will do is reframe the debate and that is much needed. The laws and regulations in this country are rigged such that the vast majority of the intended result is to benefit the people at the top of the chain at the expense of everyone else. And most mainstream Democrats and Republicans can't or won't see it or deal with that reality. The current setup is too comfortable, too lucrative for them to risk their political futures changing it.

Neither pure socialism nor unbridled capitalism is the answer to what ails this country and the world's economy and Bernie, more so than most of the candidates, seems to get that. I wish he "got" other things just as easily as that. But he's anything but a 'clown.'

He's a clown and he wont win the Presidency, period. Name your poison, I'll wager anything you like. Hell, what am I talking about..he wont win the nomination.

You can pontificate about the what ails the country all you want and speak in reverent tones about what Bernie would do(LOL) but it aint gonna happen. Socialism is a huge drain on the world's economy and Central and South America are good places to start in terms of seeing what it has done there. We already have enough socialistic burdens and more will not make anything a bit better. The last thing this country needs is the debate reframed around how much more socialism we can stand! The problem socialism invariably runs into is the stark reality that the State cannot create wealth. In fact, it is a proven reality that socialism destroys wealth because it kills ambition and innovation.

Maybe you could explain what you see as "unbridled capitalism". I'd love to see exactly what your view of that is. The govt is already so far into a regulatory state, Im quite amazed you think pure capitalism is even a possibility here. However, a great starting point would be a substantial loosening of the regulatory stranglehold the govt has on business in America. I've been around a long time and have never seen an administration so devotedly anti-business as this one has consistently been over the last 7 years.

One of our gravest threats, as a nation, is our unsustainable debt. The only way it will ever be addressed is through new wealth creation. You dont think the govt is going ot create that wealth do you? If you do, I would ask..how? Increasing socialistic policies that generate more regulation will only impede the very wealth creation this country currently needs to remain solvent. Our federal govt needs to refocus on the tasks originally envisioned for it, most specifically, protecting our borders, public safety, homeland security and stay out of the way of business for a while.

Anybody who envisions a 90% tax rate on the wealthiest individuals in America will never be taken seriously and is a clown,like it or not.

[icanthearyou 4,463]

Never before have the wealthy suffered as they suffer now. Wealth creation has become impossible.

Right Blue? :-\

Perhaps some economic history would benefit you? Perhaps you should familiarize yourself with the concepts of wealth concentration and market concentration? Are you familiar with "The Great Depression"? Perhaps unbridled capitalism is not the goal but rather, fostering competition?

[TheBlueVue 177]

Never before have the wealthy suffered as they suffer now. Wealth creation has become impossible.

Right Blue? :-\

Perhaps some economic history would benefit you? Perhaps you should familiarize yourself with the concepts of wealth concentration and market concentration? Are you familiar with "The Great Depression"? Perhaps unbridled capitalism is not the goal but rather, fostering competition?

If you're so well aware of "The great Depression" maybe you realize we're on the verge of another right now. Since the financial meltdown in 2008 the world has taken on an additional $58 trillion dollas in debt. Ya think that's caplitalism's fault? Im pretty familiar with what I need to know about capitalism and am confident the highest corporate tax rates in the world have cause a flight of capital like never seen before in our history. Ask Tim Cook about the money he has parked outside of America.

We're also on the cusp of negative interest rates whereby banks will charge to hold your money. Do you also think that is capitalism's fault. You really should tone down the condescension, its terribly unbecoming. The inordinate concentrations of wealth have been abetted by the Federal Reserve pumping insane amounts of liquidity into the system monetizing our debt. Carry on believing that our problems are the capitalists fault and the govt had nothing to do with it. Its very fitting for someone like you.

[TexasTiger 12,956]

Never before have the wealthy suffered as they suffer now. Wealth creation has become impossible.

Right Blue? :-\

Perhaps some economic history would benefit you? Perhaps you should familiarize yourself with the concepts of wealth concentration and market concentration? Are you familiar with "The Great Depression"? Perhaps unbridled capitalism is not the goal but rather, fostering competition?

If you're so well aware of "The great Depression" maybe you realize we're on the verge of another right now. Since the financial meltdown in 2008 the world has taken on an additional $58 trillion dollas in debt. Ya think that's caplitalism's fault? Im pretty familiar with what I need to know about capitalism and am confident the highest corporate tax rates in the world have cause a flight of capital like never seen before in our history. Ask Tim Cook about the money he has parked outside of America.

We're also on the cusp of negative interest rates whereby banks will charge to hold your money. Do you also think that is capitalism's fault. You really should tone down the condescension, its terribly unbecoming. The inordinate concentrations of wealth have been abetted by the Federal Reserve pumping insane amounts of liquidity into the system monetizing our debt. Carry on believing that our problems are the capitalists fault and the govt had nothing to do with it. Its very fitting for someone like you.

When are you predicting negative interest rates? Wall street investors are predicting a rate increase.

[JoeBags7277 734]

Since we haven't had anything resembling true capitalism in a very long time, capitalism shouldn't be blamed for our current ills.

[icanthearyou 4,463]

You are lost in the world of people who believe that finance is economics. Take heart though. You are hardly alone.

Also, you do not comprehend the difference between "capital flight" and tax avoidance.

And yes, when the most economically powerful are also the most politically powerful, I do tend to hold them more responsible. We must find a balance between the interests of the capitalists and society as a whole. It is not one or the other. The ability to produce is meaningless without the ability to consume.

No, I do not blame capitalism. I blame capitalists who wish to further their interests, not through honest competition but rather by using their economic power to purchase political power, in order to stifle competition.