It's about them installing a theocracy even more than its about lying

In support of mmoelleur's point about theocracy, see today's NY Times:

"My party is demonstrating that they are for states' rights unless they don't like what states are doing," said Representative Christopher Shays of Connecticut, one of five House Republicans who voted against the bill. "This couldn't be a more classic case of a state responsibility."

"This Republican Party of Lincoln has become a party of theocracy," Mr. Shays said. "There are going to be repercussions from this vote. There are a number of people who feel that the government is getting involved in their personal lives in a way that scares them."

We can only hope that this division between the frightening Moralist wing of the Republican Party, (those that demand government intervention into personal lives), and the irritating, but consistent, anarcho-capitalist Libertarian faction comes to a head. Perhaps it will lead to a division of party, though with such uniters as Grover Norquist, that would be very unlikely.

Well, maybe if Jesus comes back to rapture the Moralists, the Democrats will finally control the government again =P (paraphrased: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, America: The Book)

Christians are no longer welcome in Oregon, and I propose they be rounded up and escorted, at gunpoint if necessary, to internment centers in Oklahoma.

It is also about honest people projecting their own values onto others. One who doesn't lie finds it difficult to believe that others will blatantly lie to them.

Again, don't confuse the term "Christian". These people are not Christians, but rather Right-wing ideologues and fascists who want to forcibly suppress the opposition, meaning us. They are also against liberal Christians as much as they are against human rights.

By-the-way Thomas, many of us on this site are Christians.

A thought-provoking piece, larre, and thanks for the Eckman link.

I have just one semantic quibble; that's with your description of Oregon's law as "physician-assisted suicide." "Assistance" fulfills the Republican talking points goal of making the law sound as if Dr. Kevorkian has been cloned statewide. In fact, the only assistance provided is a prescription for drugs that the terminal patient must request in writing and self-administer.

Hypocrisy has always been the foundation of the states' rightists. They practice the same hypocrisy even within states. For instance, years ago in Colorado, which allows broad "home rule" for counties and municipalities, Republicans went berserk when three cities tried to impose rent control and allow renters whose landlords did not provide basics (like running water, reliable electricity and vermin-free buildings with roofs that didn't leak) to hold back some or all of their rent until repairs were made. Legislators passed a law that cut off state revenues (for roads and the like) to any city passing such a law.

As a people, social science researcher Paul Eckman suggests, the evidence is "that most people do poorly in catching lies... ."

That's for sure....Just take a look at the stenographer rightwing corporate "news" media nowadays. That is of course unless you are a Democrat...then it's all about the lying,even if those who make the false accusations against the Democrats have a lengthy track record of lying, slandering, and smearing. The media right now are the biggest dupes and are who Bush was referring to when he said,"You can fool some of the people all of the time, and those are the ones you want to concentrate on". Unfortunately for our country, I'd say he's done a good job of mastering that lesson.

You people are just too nice. Aren't you really pissed about that dumb slug in the White House and his holier-than though rabble trying to tell us all how we should live?

I wouldn't treat any animal the way poor Terri Schiavo's parents treat her. Who's got the juice to rattle the White House's cage door? Randall Terry? Why is that scum still alive?

What's the difference between Falwell and Robertson and anyof the wacked-out Muslim zealots we're supposed to be hating? Oh, I forgot! They're "civilized". They make me sick.

Thanks for letting me rant.

The Congressional behavior on both sides of the aisle has been appalling on this.

For a slightly different but compatible view, see How Long, oh,. . .Lord

Bonnie, your article is excellent. Thanks for posting it.

You people are just too nice. Aren't you really pissed about that dumb slug in the White House and his holier-than though rabble trying to tell us all how we should live?

Yes.

Nonetheless, I can empathize with the Schindlers--no matter how much I disagree with them. And I can imagine how other people might reject any "right to die" that has been expressed through third parties, or even a "right to die" at all.

I believe strongly in a right to die. I believe this right gives our lives more meaning, because we chose to go on. But the other side, though (IMHO) overly simplistic, has real arguments.

My argument is not with those who believe, in all sincerity, that life should persist before any other values may intervene. My argument is with those who insist on abusing the deeply held moral beliefs of (misguided) others in an effort to retain and to increase their power. They cheapen us all.

It's very simple. When Bush claimed that he had political capital and downplayed the 'need' for a 'defense of marriage' act the GOP threw away the fundies. Then obeying the true GOP overlords Bush set out to destroy Social Security. People fear losing a big part of their future retirement income more then they do 'dudes kissin.' Now they're trying to re-mobilize the fundies around 'right to life.' If the fundies show too many signs of waking up look out for a new terror alert or worse.

I meant to say Constitutional Amendment rather than act in the second sentence.