Comments for Thomas Umstattd Jr. http://www.thomasumstattd.com An unusual perspective on religion, politics and life. Sat, 06 Mar 2010 10:21:51 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on Why vote for Debra Medina? by Anon http://www.thomasumstattd.com/2010/02/why-vote-debra-medina/comment-page-1/#comment-1284 Anon Sat, 06 Mar 2010 10:21:51 +0000 http://www.thomasumstattd.com/?p=1165#comment-1284 P.P.S. I do however agree that by redistributing Hutchison's power to pro-lifers such as Medina, the pragmatists will be forced to see they can get more power when they are pro-life, as you put it, "thus giving us the weight we need to see real change." What has concerned me is that possibility of distracting the vote away from Perry. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of things I like about Medina (ie. she is pro-life), I'm just less thrilled about some (other) gray areas. I am also pleased to conclude that considering Hutchison is, as you clearly pointed out, "one of the best known Texas politicians ever," Medina performed pretty well. Once again, Thank You for this article, it has given me a lot to ponder. P.P.S. I do however agree that by redistributing Hutchison's power to pro-lifers such as Medina, the pragmatists will be forced to see they can get more power when they are pro-life, as you put it, "thus giving us the weight we need to see real change." What has concerned me is that possibility of distracting the vote away from Perry. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of things I like about Medina (ie. she is pro-life), I'm just less thrilled about some (other) gray areas.

I am also pleased to conclude that considering Hutchison is, as you clearly pointed out, "one of the best known Texas politicians ever," Medina performed pretty well.

Once again, Thank You for this article, it has given me a lot to ponder.

]]> Comment on Why vote for Debra Medina? by Anon http://www.thomasumstattd.com/2010/02/why-vote-debra-medina/comment-page-1/#comment-1283 Anon Sat, 06 Mar 2010 09:24:35 +0000 http://www.thomasumstattd.com/?p=1165#comment-1283 While I can't completely agree with this article (mostly because I am wondering if it might be based partly on a misunderstanding about where Medina stands on some other important issues), I still found this article to be very informative, interesting, and well written. I also think it was a rather risky move, but I appreciate the fact that in donating your vote to Medina in the primary, you ended up redistributing some of Hutchison's power, giving it to Medina and the pro-life movement. I might not agree with ALL of Medina's philosophies as I understand it (though I do agree substantially on the whole of a lot of them), however, I still wish Medina would run for another office as long as it doesn't involve trying to take Perry's place (ie. she would make a nice replacement for dog-gone-it Loyd Doggit's spot come November). P.S. "So long as tax payers are being forced to fund abortions, separation of church and state does not exist because in doing this, the government is violating the rights of the people to practice what they believe if and when they are against the practice of abortion (this being an intrusion and violation of conscience). Our government must not use OUR MONEY to violate OUR MORALS!" -Sincerely, An American Pro-life Taxpayer [PLEASE PASS IT ON] While I can't completely agree with this article (mostly because I am wondering if it might be based partly on a misunderstanding about where Medina stands on some other important issues), I still found this article to be very informative, interesting, and well written. I also think it was a rather risky move, but I appreciate the fact that in donating your vote to Medina in the primary, you ended up redistributing some of Hutchison's power, giving it to Medina and the pro-life movement.

I might not agree with ALL of Medina's philosophies as I understand it (though I do agree substantially on the whole of a lot of them), however, I still wish Medina would run for another office as long as it doesn't involve trying to take Perry's place (ie. she would make a nice replacement for dog-gone-it Loyd Doggit's spot come November).

P.S. "So long as tax payers are being forced to fund abortions, separation of church and state does not exist because in doing this, the government is violating the rights of the people to practice what they believe if and when they are against the practice of abortion (this being an intrusion and violation of conscience). Our government must not use OUR MONEY to violate OUR MORALS!" -Sincerely, An American Pro-life Taxpayer [PLEASE PASS IT ON]

]]> Comment on How to Vote Twice on Tuesday by Sarah Lanciault http://www.thomasumstattd.com/2010/03/how-to-vote-twice-on-tuesday/comment-page-1/#comment-1281 Sarah Lanciault Tue, 02 Mar 2010 04:01:36 +0000 http://www.thomasumstattd.com/?p=1208#comment-1281 Voting twice?! Who would of thought, you really can "vote early and vote OFTEN." Thanks for the invaluable info, Thomas! This is truly how we can change things for LIFE at the grassroots. Voting twice?! Who would of thought, you really can "vote early and vote OFTEN." Thanks for the invaluable info, Thomas! This is truly how we can change things for LIFE at the grassroots.

]]> Comment on March 2010 Voter’s Guide by How to Vote Twice on Tuesday | Thomas Umstattd Jr. http://www.thomasumstattd.com/2010/02/march-2010-voters-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-1280 How to Vote Twice on Tuesday | Thomas Umstattd Jr. Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:47:01 +0000 http://www.thomasumstattd.com/?p=1143#comment-1280 [...] Democrat or Republican. You can vote early or on Election Day. But you must vote in the primary to be eligible to attend your precinct convention. This is your opportunity to support pro-life candidates! [...] [...] Democrat or Republican. You can vote early or on Election Day. But you must vote in the primary to be eligible to attend your precinct convention. This is your opportunity to support pro-life candidates! [...]

]]> Comment on Rob Bell Revealed by Froboz http://www.thomasumstattd.com/2009/01/rob-bell-revealed/comment-page-1/#comment-1278 Froboz Sun, 28 Feb 2010 02:57:14 +0000 http://www.CompuChristian.com/?p=88#comment-1278 Its always evident that those that don't know the Scriptures, nor take any time to actually study them rely on 2 misquoted verses to defend their laziness to know the Word of God, those 2 verses are about loving others and not judging. You know when the Steven spoke the Word of the Lord, those that fell upon him stopped their ears. You can be all touchy feely all you want but when it comes down to it, its not what I or you say but what the Word of the Lord says about it, hence I can see why someone would want to down play the Scriptures and even down play the cannonization of the Scriptures. Perhaps a little less time in front of the TV, Facebook or whatever and a little more time in the Word and the early church fathers you would have a better ideal of what is at stake in stead of some non-sense that hell is here on this earth, universalism and all this post-modern pyscho bable. bah! Its always evident that those that don't know the Scriptures, nor take any time to actually study them rely on 2 misquoted verses to defend their laziness to know the Word of God, those 2 verses are about loving others and not judging. You know when the Steven spoke the Word of the Lord, those that fell upon him stopped their ears. You can be all touchy feely all you want but when it comes down to it, its not what I or you say but what the Word of the Lord says about it, hence I can see why someone would want to down play the Scriptures and even down play the cannonization of the Scriptures. Perhaps a little less time in front of the TV, Facebook or whatever and a little more time in the Word and the early church fathers you would have a better ideal of what is at stake in stead of some non-sense that hell is here on this earth, universalism and all this post-modern pyscho bable. bah!

]]> Comment on Why vote for Debra Medina? by Vanessa http://www.thomasumstattd.com/2010/02/why-vote-debra-medina/comment-page-1/#comment-1277 Vanessa Thu, 25 Feb 2010 22:18:29 +0000 http://www.thomasumstattd.com/?p=1165#comment-1277 hmm, so the 9/11 truther answer or lack of answer isnt an issue for you? I liked her fine before that, although I think Perry is doing a good job and there is no need to fix something if its not broken, but Medina seems like she says the right things, but the people around her are not the ones I want influencing someone in the govt. seat. hmm, so the 9/11 truther answer or lack of answer isnt an issue for you? I liked her fine before that, although I think Perry is doing a good job and there is no need to fix something if its not broken, but Medina seems like she says the right things, but the people around her are not the ones I want influencing someone in the govt. seat.

]]> Comment on Why vote for Debra Medina? by Hannah http://www.thomasumstattd.com/2010/02/why-vote-debra-medina/comment-page-1/#comment-1275 Hannah Fri, 19 Feb 2010 18:14:41 +0000 http://www.thomasumstattd.com/?p=1165#comment-1275 Excellent insights. What we're seeing from the GOP right now is an attempt to take over the Tea Party. It's happening all over the country. We just thwarted an attempt here in SC - the GOP backed off when the Tea Party planned to protest their meeting. :-) Excellent insights. What we're seeing from the GOP right now is an attempt to take over the Tea Party. It's happening all over the country. We just thwarted an attempt here in SC – the GOP backed off when the Tea Party planned to protest their meeting. :-)

]]> Comment on Why vote for Debra Medina? by Tim Anderson http://www.thomasumstattd.com/2010/02/why-vote-debra-medina/comment-page-1/#comment-1274 Tim Anderson Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:31:56 +0000 http://www.thomasumstattd.com/?p=1165#comment-1274 I will vote for Medina because I have become a single issue voter. My issue is honesty. If all three candidates were standing in front of me at the poll, I would vote for the one who has never lied to me. Only one candidate meets that criteria; Debra Medina. I will vote for Medina because I have become a single issue voter. My issue is honesty. If all three candidates were standing in front of me at the poll, I would vote for the one who has never lied to me. Only one candidate meets that criteria; Debra Medina.

]]> Comment on The future of the Tea Party by ThomasUmstattd http://www.thomasumstattd.com/2010/02/the-future-of-the-tea-party/comment-page-1/#comment-1273 ThomasUmstattd Thu, 18 Feb 2010 17:30:09 +0000 http://www.thomasumstattd.com/?p=1110#comment-1273 Hey Brian, thanks for the comment. I wanted to make it simple but not overly simple. You are right the federalists are not technically the Whigs. The Federalist Party devolved into the Whig. During the reign of Andrew Jackson. The parties were not the same but they were about as similar as the 1950s republicans are to the 1990s republicans. Lincoln talked a huge Anti-Abolition game before he was elected. He surround himself with people from all sides and ended up doing less about slavery than his republican comrades hoped. I still think it would be hard to paint Lincoln as a pragmatist. Who knows. Perhaps the Tea Party is the Anti Mason party of 2010. And Sarah Palin is John Quincy Adams. I agree about the lack of champions. The real question is which party will the new champions emerge from? Hey Brian, thanks for the comment.

I wanted to make it simple but not overly simple. You are right the federalists are not technically the Whigs. The Federalist Party devolved into the Whig. During the reign of Andrew Jackson. The parties were not the same but they were about as similar as the 1950s republicans are to the 1990s republicans.

Lincoln talked a huge Anti-Abolition game before he was elected. He surround himself with people from all sides and ended up doing less about slavery than his republican comrades hoped. I still think it would be hard to paint Lincoln as a pragmatist.

Who knows. Perhaps the Tea Party is the Anti Mason party of 2010. And Sarah Palin is John Quincy Adams. I agree about the lack of champions. The real question is which party will the new champions emerge from?

]]> Comment on The future of the Tea Party by Brian http://www.thomasumstattd.com/2010/02/the-future-of-the-tea-party/comment-page-1/#comment-1270 Brian Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:22:46 +0000 http://www.thomasumstattd.com/?p=1110#comment-1270 First, the Whigs had nothing to do with the federalist, unfortunately. Two different generations. Although revolutionaries were often viewed at "whigs," grouping the pre-civil war whigs with the post-revolution federalists is... an over simplification. BTW, the Democrats were originally the republicans (Jefferson) and then became the "Democratic Republicans" and finally just "Democrats." But that's a bunch of little details... Umm... Abe Lincoln fell very short of "uncompromising Pro-Abolition." And I think you know it, Thomas. ;-) Before getting into office, his insistence was that he would do nothing about the slaver issue. When he did pass the emancipation proclamation, it did not effect the states he actually had control over. (or even towns the Union Army currently occupied) Why? His Secretary of State wondered about this... It was pure politics, that's why! The Tea Party is good for America. Doesn't seem to be a party of champions right now, but it's good agitation and hopefully will get those pragmatists moving. I don't think Medina is a gubernatorial personality, but I'm glad she's running. Only time will tell if the Tea Party ends up being like the Republican Party or the "anti-mason" party. ><> Brian First, the Whigs had nothing to do with the federalist, unfortunately. Two different generations. Although revolutionaries were often viewed at "whigs," grouping the pre-civil war whigs with the post-revolution federalists is… an over simplification. BTW, the Democrats were originally the republicans (Jefferson) and then became the "Democratic Republicans" and finally just "Democrats." But that's a bunch of little details…

Umm… Abe Lincoln fell very short of "uncompromising Pro-Abolition." And I think you know it, Thomas. ;-) Before getting into office, his insistence was that he would do nothing about the slaver issue. When he did pass the emancipation proclamation, it did not effect the states he actually had control over. (or even towns the Union Army currently occupied) Why? His Secretary of State wondered about this… It was pure politics, that's why!

The Tea Party is good for America. Doesn't seem to be a party of champions right now, but it's good agitation and hopefully will get those pragmatists moving. I don't think Medina is a gubernatorial personality, but I'm glad she's running.

Only time will tell if the Tea Party ends up being like the Republican Party or the "anti-mason" party.

&gt;&lt;&gt; Brian

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