Bush: Our Grand Ayatollah?

One of the interesting aspects of the growing fusion of politics and religious zealotry in the U.S. (Actually, it isn't all that new and was the foundation for politics in the slave-marred southern states where demogoguery was standard operating procedure for politicians) is that it is not considered culturally appropriate to criticize religion, so linking religion and politics provides a sort of shield for all sorts of insanity. Bush's actions are not political, but spiritual. His beliefs are not political, but spiritual. In a way, this is the most insidious form of political correctness in U.S. culture. By branding himself as an evangelical Christian, Bush insulates himself from a lot of potential criticism that his administration is neither moral, nor consistent with either the spirit or the most common interpretations of the teachings of Jesus. As long as Bush says he is an evangelical Christian and wears this as a badge granting him supernatural political authority, then anything he does becomes consistent with his "deeply held" beliefs. It's a lot of hooey, of course. I'm quite sure that Bush is NOT all that devout. The level of corruption in this administration and its willingness to enrich a handful of companies, such as (yes!) Halliburton, is hardly a sign of spiritual purity. I would be more willing to believe the rumors that he's taken to drinking again than that his actions are guided by his spiritual beliefs (not that the latter would necessarily be a good thing! --- a real religious zealot may be more dangerous than a political hack pretending to be a religious zealot). The problem is that by pretending to be our version of the grand Ayatollah, he places himself above scrutiny, particularly by those who have bought into his branding (the genuine zealots out there who see Bush as Grand Ayatollah and who become enraged at any criticism of their leader --- what politician wouldn't want a core of supporters who are unquestioning of his motives and actions?). It's clever marketing, that's all. The best thing, of course, would be to keep religious beliefs off the political table. It is a personal issue, not something to be used to buy votes. But tell that to Karl Rove.