Santorum Talks Satan
Rick Santorum is a good man, but that doesn't mean he'd be a good candidate, much less a good president -- or even a member in good standing here at Ricochet.
Consider the following quotes from Drudge and the Spectator, pasted after relevant clauses from the Code of Conduct:
1. Anything that makes the Ricochet Community look like a bunch of radical fruitcakes: "Satan has his sights on the United States of America!"
2. Personal attacks on an individual, group, or class: "We look at the shape of mainline Protestantism in this country and it is in shambles, it is gone from the world of Christianity as I see it."
3. Imagine you're a guest at a dinner party with a group of seemingly nice people you don't know... how would you handle yourself?: "If you were Satan, who would you attack in this day and age. There is no one else to go after other than the United States..."
The nominee of the Republican Party?
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Comments:
Apr '11
Re: Santorum Talks Satan
Rick makes bold statements on important topics like "Freedom" and then doesn't run away from them. I like that in a man.
Dec '10
Re: Santorum Talks Satan
I have deep respect for Sarah Palin's political instincts. Sometimes they make her misstep, however.
Her first misstep in the 2011 campaign was to assume that Rick Perry had foreclosed on the "Commonsense Conservative" vote and made it impossible for her to run successfully this time. However, once she made her decision, she didn't waver and jump in too late to make a proper run.
Her latest misstep was when she said a couple of weeks ago that it was "unrealistic" to think anyone other than Romney or Gingrich would be the nominee. However, she's recognized that the facts on the ground have changed, and she doesn't try to run Santorum down to "prove" she was right before.
I am an unabashed Palin fan.
Nov '10
Re: Santorum Talks Satan
That's perfect.
My left-liberal friends who dismiss her out of hand are missing so much...
Nov '10
Re: Santorum Talks Satan
If Rick's comments about Satan are interpreted symbolically as opposed to literally, I think few opponents of the liberal left would take issue with them.
I do like the way Rick flatters his American audience by asserting (or appearing to assert) that Satan is singling out their great nation. Here in Little Britain, Satan ignores us, and let us go to wrack and ruin by ourselves.
Has the media considered the possibility that Rick may not believed what he said, but have been tailoring his remarks to his audience? I think politicans do that sometimes. How uncynical of them!
May '10
Re: Santorum Talks Satan
After a few hours of reflection I am thinking more and more about how Drudge pushed the hit on Newt in South Carolina. I am thinking perhaps Drudge has a horse in this race. Picking up a 2008 church speach as big news with big headlines?Yes, I'm concerned that Santorum would make the election about social issues rather than a referendum on Obama. But, I might have greater reservations about Romney's core beliefs and lack of vision.
May '10
Re: Santorum Talks Satan
You think?
May '10
Re: Santorum Talks Satan
I saw Satan drinking a piña colada at Trader Vic's - and his hair was perfect. Oops! My bad. That's Werewolves of London. Carry on. (Note to Warren Zevon: your royalty check is in the mail.)
Nov '10
Re: Santorum Talks Satan
Tristans' use of Santorum's phrase "no one else to go after other than the United States..." as if it were to imply that Satan has no interest in other countries is silly. It's either ignorance of a straightforward English colloquial device or deliberate manipulation.
Suppose a gossip columnist were to say "...and during the bust who did the police find half-naked in the house of ill repute? None other than the mayor himself!" Does the phrase "none other" imply that the mayor was the only John caught in a compromising position, or is it a rhetorical device used to focus on the particular importance to the listener of that particular John? I can't believe the fuss being kicked up over a simple rhetorical flourish whose intent is obvious to any English speaker..
May '10
Re: Santorum Talks Satan
Tristan Abbey:
2. Personal attacks on an individual, group, or class: "We look at the shape of mainline Protestantism in this country and it is in shambles, it is gone from the world of Christianity as I see it."
If there's one thing we don't want in a president, it's tunnel vision, and Santorum has it in spades. He knew he would run for president in 2008. He was a public figure and big talking head back then, so the speech is fair game. Santorum also should realize that a lot of Protestants (particularly those in South) feel that mainline Catholicism has "gone from the world of Christianity as I see it." I live in a very Catholic, very blue state and that quote is just about the biggest "pot calling the kettle black" accusation I've heard in a while. He's picking a fight with Protestants on this and that's just stupid. There are plenty of Protestant theologians waiting in the wings ready to explain to us how heretical Catholicism is. Let's not go there.
Nov '10
Re: Santorum Talks Satan
What seems perfectly clear to me is that there are some who believe that one's religious beliefs are ok in the public square as long as they aren't very weird. And "weird" is such and objective term that we can obviously all agree that Santorum is, and therefore shouldn't even be considered by serious thinkers.Katievs, you pointed out that the battle isnt against "powers and principalities", and you are correct. What is increasingly obvious is that there are many conservatives and republicans who are on the opposite side of the battle from you and I.
Nov '10
Re: Santorum Talks Satan
Also I would say the only thing wrong with Santorums quote number 2 is that he used the term Protestantism rather than Christianity. I would say the term applies to the whole group.
Jun '11
Re: Santorum Talks Satan
Karen
Santorum also should realize that a lot of Protestants (particularly those in South) feel that mainline Catholicism has "gone from the world of Christianity as I see it." I live in a very Catholic, very blue state and that quote is just about the biggest "pot calling the kettle black" accusation I've heard in a while. He's picking a fight with Protestants on this and that's just stupid. There are plenty of Protestant theologians waiting in the wings ready to explain to us how heretical Catholicism is. Let's not go there. · 35 minutes ago
Dear Karen,
The statement is not against protestantism per se. Note the key modifier "mainline." This is a standard reference to the large denominations that have become thoroughly liberal (e.g., PCUSA, UMC, UCC, ELCA). They are marked by what theologians call "higher criticism," they generally allow their clergy to deny the deity of Christ and other basic Christian doctrines such as the virgin birth, bodily resurrection of Christ, the Trinity, etc. They ordain women, embrace homosexuality and abortion, etc.
Most evangelicals would agree with Santorum's statement, and my own church body (LCMS) would as well.
Jun '11
Re: Santorum Talks Satan
Ken,
See my comment #152. He's talking about mainline Protestantism, which is something very different.
May '10
Re: Santorum Talks Satan
R. Craigen: Tristans' use of Santorum's phrase "no one else to go after other than the United States..." as if it were to imply that Satan has no interest in other countries is silly. It's either ignorance of a straightforward English colloquial device or deliberate manipulation.
Suppose a gossip columnist were to say "...and during the bust who did the police find half-naked in the house of ill repute? None other than the mayor himself!" Does the phrase "none other" imply that the mayor was the onlyJohn caught in a compromising position, or is it a rhetorical device used to focus on the particular importance to the listener of that particular John? I can't believe the fuss being kicked up over a simple rhetorical flourish whose intent is obvious to any English speaker.. · 3 hours ago
You made the point better than I was able to do. Tristan just didn't want to concede the point, no matter what.
Let's learn to do better at making a point than to twist people's words around into a caricature, then shoot down the caricature as ridiculous. That's a straw man argument, and it's weak.
Edited on February 22, 2012 at 5:38pmJan '12
Re: Santorum Talks Satan
I'll cop to that. Out here in the Bay Area, I'd hear them popping all around me. But I'd rather have Obama out of office. (Not saying the two are mutually exclusive. I'm not much of a fan of any of the current R crop.)
May '11
Re: Santorum Talks Satan
Count me in as another that generally agrees with what Rick said. During the Bush years, I became more politically active but ultimately, I've come to recognize how my worldview does not fit with most of my fellow conservative friends.
Feb '12
Re: Santorum Talks Satan
DrewInWisconsin: Not that I wish to question the wisdom of our esteemed Ricochet-Admins, buthow is this thread worthy of the main feed?
Don't make me regret foregoing my lattés! · 19 hours ago
Amen, Drew. I don't see how stringing together a few out-of-context quotations in an obvious effort to make a candidate look bad, deserves general attention on the main feed. A more thoughtful post on the same topic would be fine.
Dec '10
Re: Santorum Talks Satan
Sigh (again). Another waste of energy by my fellow Richocheters on a candidate who HAS NO CHANCE in the general election. I said that about Newt weeks ago when he was surging and I was right.
I'm saying it now about Santorum, and I'll be right again. He would get slaughtered in the general as the MSM mocks all his social views relentlessly and finds more and more of the "Satan" stuff in his past. Forget about it folks. He needs to take his love of assessing America's cultural failings on the road as a culture warrior. Not going to get him to the White House, though.
Dec '10
Re: Santorum Talks Satan
BKelley14: Sigh (again). Another waste of energy by my fellow Richocheters on a candidate who HAS NO CHANCE in the general election. I said that about Newt weeks ago when he was surging and I was right.
I'm saying it now about Santorum, and I'll be right again. He would get slaughtered in the general as the MSM mocks all his social views relentlessly and finds more and more of the "Satan" stuff in his past. Forget about it folks. He needs to take his love of assessing America's cultural failings on the road as a culture warrior. Not going to get him to the White House, though. · 0 minutes ago
Shouldn't be a problem. Mitt Romney is such a strong candidate that he won't have any trouble winning the nomination.
Of course, there's the possibility, however slender, that Mitt Romney is such a weak candidate that Rick Santorum will defeat him for the nomination. After all, if the weak candidate Rick Santorum is able to beat him, that conclusively proves that Romney is an even weaker candidate. Right?
Feb '12
Re: Santorum Talks Satan
BKelley14: Sigh (again). Another waste of energy by my fellow Richocheters on a candidate who HAS NO CHANCE in the general election. I said that about Newt weeks ago when he was surging and I was right.
I'm saying it now about Santorum, and I'll be right again. He would get slaughtered in the general as the MSM mocks all his social views relentlessly and finds more and more of the "Satan" stuff in his past. Forget about it folks. He needs to take his love of assessing America's cultural failings on the road as a culture warrior. Not going to get him to the White House, though. · 1 minute ago
Counseling fear of the MSM will never get any conservative candidate to any office.