Tea Party Predictions

[Sophus]

Well, Rand Paul and Marco Rubio got in. Christine O'Donnell and Sharron Angle didn't. So it could've been worse.  
Although it does really suck that one of the first atheists elected to a political position like Senator is Rand Paul.

[jduster]

Rand Paul is not an atheist.  His opponent did make a slander ad which accused Paul of being an atheist in order to take away from his votes though.

I am disappointed O'Donnell and Angle did not win, but I am very happy with the overall results.

[Thumpalumpacus]

I am disappointed O'Donnell and Angle did not win, but I am very happy with the overall results.

Yeah, Leno, Letterman, and O'Brien are pretty down about the O'Donnell loss too.

[karadan]

Is there lots of sarcasm going on in this thread? I was led to believe O'Donnell was crazy.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Is there lots of sarcasm going on in this thread? I was led to believe O'Donnell was crazy.

Yes, the guys I listed are light night comedians.

[karadan]

Is there lots of sarcasm going on in this thread? I was led to believe O'Donnell was crazy.

Yes, the guys I listed are light night comedians.

That's what i thought.. Soooo, was Jduster being serious? I know he likes Bush but isn't O'Donnell a bit of a stretch?

[jduster]

I am an ardent atheist, but also an unabashed conservative and anti-liberal.

The two conflict with each other.  Often!

I dislike both the religious and the left-wing agendas that politicians are supporting.

I believe, eventually, atheism will be vindicated, but the most pressing issue now, I feel, is reversing the Barack Obama administration.

Yes, I do criticize Angle and ODonnell for supporting religious values in government, though, they are, by far, in my view, the lesser evils.

[Sophus]

Rand Paul is not an atheist.  His opponent did make a slander ad which accused Paul of being an atheist in order to take away from his votes though.

I am disappointed O'Donnell and Angle did not win, but I am very happy with the overall results.

An Objectivist who is not an atheist?  

[jduster]

Rand Paul is not an Objectivist.

His name is not an allusion to Ayn Rand, at all.

It is simply an abbreviation of Randal.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Yes, when the whole frat-hazing thing came out, Rand Paul immediately, and sickeningly, went on an "I'm a Christian" binge.

[DropLogic]

Well, Rand Paul and Marco Rubio got in. Christine O'Donnell and Sharron Angle didn't. So it could've been worse.  
Although it does really suck that one of the first atheists elected to a political position like Senator is Rand Paul.

Uh..He's a Presbyterian.
Just because a club he belonged to at college that "made fun of baptists" doesn't mean he's an atheist.  He is pro-life, anti-gay, and thinks small businesses should be able to restrict who their clientele is based on race.  I have yet to meet an atheist who shared 1 trait with him.
[youtube:1nsmje5a]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkumBcWAlrM[/youtube:1nsmje5a]

[Sophus]

He said he is a "big fan" of Ayn Rand, which makes it hard to believe he'.

[youtube:1ozer633]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oD-R_OeP6tU[/youtube:1ozer633]

He is pro-life, anti-gay, and thinks small businesses should be able to restrict who their clientele is based on race. I have yet to meet an atheist who shared 1 trait with him.

That's a good point. Although Ayn Rand (an atheist) was sort of anti-gay.

In her 1968 lecture, she said, "I do not approve of such practices or regard them as necessarily moral, but it is improper for the law to interfere with a relationship between consenting adults."[2] In 1971, Rand reiterated this position, then added that homosexuality "involves psychological flaws, corruptions, errors, or unfortunate premises", concluding that homosexuality "is immoral, and more than that; if you want my really sincere opinion, it's disgusting."[3]

It's possible he's a sincere Christian. But maybe he's just politiking.

[Thumpalumpacus]

From the horse's mouth:

[youtube:2t4nhrpz]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yz53WkDY8H4[/youtube:2t4nhrpz]

It might surprise you to know that there are many Christian fans of Rand because of her preachments on self-reliance.  It would appear that the faithful, too, have a sense of "enlightened self-interest."

[Sophus]

From the horse's mouth:

[youtube:h5onjj2l]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yz53WkDY8H4[/youtube:h5onjj2l]

It might surprise you to know that there are many Christian fans of Rand because of her preachments on self-reliance.  It would appear that the faithful, too, have a sense of "enlightened self-interest."

I find it hard to believe he's not lying. He won't shake hands with someone who attacks Christianity but he a fanboy of a philosopher that attacked it constantly in her works? Maybe he's truly incapable of seeing the contradiction but, it seems a bit of a stretch. I suspect it to be politics as usually, but I suppose you're right, I can'y exactly claim he's an atheist.

Ayn Rand does represent the behavior and attitude of a number of Christians, however, in my experience those Christians are no as open and honest about their "self-interest" as others. They're hypocrites that will quote Jesus on Sunday about giving unto Ceasar what is Ceaser's and complain about paying taxes to help those that can't help themselves throughout the other six days of the week. Usually they don't just come out and say "I'm selfish!" like Rand (the Ayn not the Paul).

[Thumpalumpacus]

It should also be noted that her style of writing is such as to scare off those not decided upon penetrating her philosophy; given the fact that reading in general is on the decline in America, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that many Christians are unaware of her atheism, having absorbed her philosophy at third- or fourth-hand.

Your point about his refusing to shake hands with one Christian insulter while reading an atheist author has some validity, but there are nuances as well.  I imagine that in Kentucky considerations of honor have a place in a man's heart; they sure did in Tennessee next door when I lived there. Rand, on the other hand, would be an abstract dissentient whom one could cherry-pick with ease.