More trouble ahead for Democratic presidential standard bearer Barack Obama?
We need to be careful as we drive down the road towards 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. There are new potholes that show up every so often, today being a good example.
The Times of India is reporting that Senator Obama is being presented with a two foot high gold plated idol of Lord Hanuman.
As a practicing and active church going Christian Obama accepting this token of good luck creates some problems. See the First and Second Commandment which follow:
“And God spoke all these words, saying: ‘I am the LORD your God…
ONE: ‘You shall have no other gods before Me.’
TWO: ‘You shall not make for yourself a carved image–any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.’
While we don’t wish to offend people from other Nations I am reminded of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani when he refused to accept a $10 million dollar disaster relief check from Saudi Arabia Prince Alwaleed Bib Talal (who said our foreign policy may have been responsible for the 9-11 attack). A stretch, perhaps. Being a practicing Christian and accepting a two foot gold plated (monkey God) idol is surely a bad judgment call.
“NEW DELHI: With Democrat senator Barack Obama busy in the run-up to the US presidential polls, a group of well-wishers in the capital have decided to send him a symbol of his lucky charm, Lord Hanuman, to help him emerge victorious.
Obama’s representative Carolyn Sauvage-Mar on Tuesday received a gold-plated two-feet-high idol which she will pass it on to the Obama after it is sanctified.
The idol is being presented to Obama as he is reported to be a Lord Hanuman devotee and carries with him a locket of the monkey god along with other good luck charms.
An hour-long prayer meeting to sanctify the idol was earlier organised at Sankat Mochan Dham and by Congress leader Brijmohan Bhama, Balmiki Samaj and the temple’s priests.
“Obama has deep faith in Lord Hanuman and that is why we are presenting an idol of Hanuman to him,” said Bhama.
Accepting the souvenir, Sauvage-Mar, who is chairperson of Democrats Abroad-India, said, “Obama has extended his thanks for the support.”
However, questions on Obama’s religious beliefs elicited just a smile from Sauvage-Mar, apparently to avoid controversy back home where the Democrat senator is pitted against the Republican Party’s John McCain in the Presidential polls.
The idol will be kept at the temple for 11 more days and then sent to US.
“We will perform the prayers for 11 days and then hand the idol to Carolyn who will send it to Obama,” said the temple priest.”
This story can also be found at the following link:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Hanuman_idol_for_Obama/articleshow/3160730.cms
As always your comments are truly welcome!
Swing and a miss. I don’t think your god would be upset with someone who is trying diplomacy over military action. Obama is accepting a token of appreciation, not worshiping someone else’s god.
SMS
Sarah.
The good thing about the Juice is that we can all agree to disagree. You may feel that way but I seriously doubt you speak for millions of believers in this country.
It’s not just a “new” gift. If you read the India News it states that Obama ALREADY carries the same statue/God as a good luck charm.
WWGCD?
It appears that Obama’s camp is treating someone else’s religious beliefs with respect even if they aren’t Judao-Christian. I do not take a local Indian Spokesman’s statement that Barak bleieves in Hanuman with anything more than tolerance. I’m sure that Barack will leave office with an interesting art collection the same as every other President.
Were you able to write this with a straight face?
You’re right, Sarah. What is it about this Obama that makes our rightwing friends keep swinging and missing?
Mary.
I think of Nancy Reagan’s comments to drug users.
“Just say No.”
Larry,
That worked?
Larry –
A ‘good luck charm’ you say? A WITCH! BURN HIM!
SMS
Larry,
Please stick to the property rights fight and the exposing of wrongdoing in Mission Viejo, you are so much more effective there.
I doubt you ever had any intention of voting for Obama, but if anyone is shallow(or stupid) enough to vote for McCain simply because they believe Obama broke the 1st and 2nd Commandment should be banned from voting.
Sarah and Anonyms
I know you will each host a huge block party
on Jan 20th when the moving van pulls up to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. However, it will be much smaller than the one hired by Bill and Hillary as they removed everything that was not nailed down.
i.e. From an internet story I find the following:
“This week, the Clintons returned the four items to the White House, along with other furnishings, after questions were raised about whether they actually belonged to the Clintons. Almost all the furnishings had been designated official White House property by the National Park Service in 1993.”
The message.
While I am not part of the McCain election committee you surely have seen all of the coverage relating to what his pastor said. If that can be elevated to raise questions about his candidacy than I would think that having idols of a monkey God on you key chain while professing to be a Christian will not go over too well as he tries to gain support from Christians.
However, I will let him decide what backlash, if any, this report may create.
Larry #10 –
I don’t see the connection.
SMS
Mary.
No, Nancy’s message sadly did not work. But I iwll give her credit for effort. Our federal government has blown billions of dollars in trying to stop the flow of drugs into this country. The following is from an old, but still valid, report:
”If we measure the success of the current Federal drug abuse control strategy by looking at the number of drug users and amounts of drugs entering the country,” the report said, ”we must conclude that our present strategy, which emphasizes supply reduction, is not very effective.”
Sarah. #10 applies to #4 who wrote, not you.
“I’m sure that Barack will leave office with an interesting art collection the same as every other President.”
That was anonymous’s comment, not mine
Dunno, should I get to work on some of the McCain posts I have floating around in my head? I’d kind of decided it would be a waste of my time since he’ll never take California. Plus I don’t want to alienate any readers who might wanna split their ticket *coughMcCainDebbieCookcough*
But I do have some fun ideas, seeing as how Thomas and Larry can’t quit raggin’ on Barack…. 🙂
Vern.
There is a rumor that McCain is interviewing Senator Diane Feinstein to be his “running mate!”
Running to catch the ferry to Sausalito for lunch.
you guys on the obama kool aid train .. if this guy gets in GOD HELP US .. he is going to tax everything .. capital gains tax . so on, and so on. =bad for jobs . i like his tax the oil companies more ahhhh let me think thats a good one what dose this guy stand for all i hear is CHANGE ” CHANGE ” POCKET CHANGE IS ALL WE WILL HAVE LEFT ..
Somebody is trying to make a story where there isn’t one. Could we focus on issues that actually affect us?
Larry, DiFi may be overly conservative on some issues, but she’s a very loyal Democrat. Not like Joe Liebermann. Doesn’t make sense.
What the hell are you doing in Sausalito? I remember that ferry well…
Larry, it is reported that Obama carries with him a monkey god “locket” not the same statue, but why be concerned with facts and evidence? This is said by the Indian guy to a bunch of Indian people at a ceremony in India where they are giving a Dem representative the statue.
Do you think the cleric might be playing to the home crowd (kinda like Reeps playing to their base)? Not the same as seeing whats in Obama’s pockets is it? Even if he does carry some memento in his pocket the only one who knows what it means to him is Obama.
Clearly your entire case is based on a comment by an Indian cleric to his parishioners and not on any real evidence. If this tactic wasn’t so funny, so overused by you Reeps, it would be pathetic.
Potholes on the road to 1600, HA. The pothole is in your face.
I think of Nancy Reagan’s comments to drug users.
“Just say No.”
Oh, I thought you were going to tie-in Nancy’s regular use of psychics to help her devine decisions!
Swing and a miss is right….. lol
Vern.
Sausalito is a “Kool” place, even in the summer. No, I wanted to keep Diane’s stealth meeting with John close to her S.F. District knowing that he follows a long line of US Naval officers and hopefully he is still able to swim back to the city if she turns him down.
PS: Let me know when it’s OK to mention your gig in Tiburon.
Anonyms. Nice try. You lose. Your words.
Larry, it is reported that Obama carries with him a monkey god “locket”
God’s Second Commandment is followed by multiple religions. Obama has his staff working overtime to keep from being “Swift Boated.” That said I wonder what they are saying behind closed doors about this revelation. In fact I am somewhat surprised by your comments to keep the story alive.
In closing this thread. Obama claiming to be a Christian does not enable him to carry a “monkey” god no matter where on his person he may carry it.
We are not talking about a lucky rabbit’s foot.
anonyms.
“Clearly your entire case is based on a comment by an Indian cleric to his parishioners and not on any real evidence?” Your comment.
Did you check out the picture that accompanied the actual story link? If not I will email it to you. Simply send me your email address. Let’s see if anyone else picks this story up. If not I will dig a little deeper to satisfy your curiosity.
You’re closing the thread? We need to do something about Stanley Fiala and his spam-bot. He’s such as asshole!
SMS
From a second source. Ben Smith at Politico.com
June 25, 2008
Categories: Barack Obama
Help from Lord Hanuman
More global Obamamania, from The Hindu newspaper of New Delhi:
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama can now expect help from an unexpected quarter — Lord Hanuman.
All-India Congress Committee member Brij Mohan Bhama has organised a 11-day religious ceremony at Karol Bagh here for his success in the U.S. elections.
The idea of sending an idol of Hanuman dawned on him after friends in the United States mentioned a “prominent American politician who carried a miniature Hanuman idol in his pocket for luck,” Mr. Bhama said speaking on the first day of the ceremony on Tuesday.
“After hearing that, I decided to gift Mr. Obama a larger, gold-plated version along with the wishes of thousands of his supporters in this country,” said the leader struggling to lift the 15 kg, 21-inch brass idol.
Sarah.
No, I am not closing this thread. My comment was directed only to Anonyms.
Folks. The Juice welcomes everyone’s point of view. Poor choice of a word by me. It does not extend the debate when we continue to rehash the same points without facts to back it up.
And adding “potholes in my face” accomplishes what? If you can’t win your argument you engage in a personal attack? Larry
Sorry Larry –
This Fiala thing is getting out of hand. We may have to press charges.
SMS
Great one.
Where should I begin? It is very commendable to offer “everything for everyone.” The only problem is how are we going to pay for all the programs that he has floated?
An illustration from Barack Obama is Capital Gains
“Raise capital gains tax for fairness, not for revenue. ” What a joke. You really aren’t after the money are you? You just want to be fair!
Q: You favor an increase in the capital gains tax, saying, “I certainly would not go above what existed under Bill Clinton, which was 28%.” It’s now 15%. That’s almost a doubling if you went to 28%. Bill Clinton dropped the capital gains tax to 20%, then George Bush has taken it down to 15%. And in each instance, when the rate dropped, revenues from the tax increased. And in the 1980s, when the tax was increased to 28%, the revenues went down.A: What I’ve said is that I would look at raising the capital gains tax for purposes of fairness. The top 50 hedge fund managers made $29 billion last year–$29 billion for 50 individuals. Those who are able to work the stock market and amass huge fortunes on capital gains are paying a lower tax rate than their secretaries. That’s not fair.
Q: But history shows that when you drop the capital gains tax, the revenues go up.
A: Well, that might happen or it might not. It depends on what’s happening on Wall Street and how business is going.
My thoughts. Who cares about history. It’s time for CHANGE. And as you correctly stated that may be all we have left should he get elected.
Sarah.
You do not need to extend an apology to me for anything. I enjoy debating issues with you.
Perhaps I met Stanley Fiala when we were building a church for Teen Challenge Intl in Sluknov in the Czeck Republic a few years ago. We did our best to be good Americans and left most of our clothing and tools for the young men at this facility. If Stanley wants to go back home I still have contacts that he can use.
This blog apparently functions as a private texting platform for right-wing nuts… luckily theres an unlimited supply in the OC.
rintrah try media matters or the daily kos . and the huffington post . where all the other far left loons hang out on those hateful websites .
Rintrah.
Not counting your input there are around 15 comments from those with an opposing position to this post.
That’s what makes the Orange Juice unique from the other local blogs. If you wish to drive on the left side of the road let me suggest the Liberal OC blog. And, should you ever change your mind and want to read what those on the right have to say, simply go to Red County.
The good news about Orange County is that there are more blog choices than flavors of ice cream at Baskin-Robbins for you to read.
Yes, how dare he want to restore Capital Gaines taxes to the level under the Reagan administration. Talk about drinking the “kool aid”.
“You may feel that way but I seriously doubt you speak for millions of believers in this country.”
That’s because millions of believers in this country are highly irrational, judgmental and self-righteous people.
Anon.
I am only speaking for myself. That said, believers in this country helped president Bush carry the critical state of Ohio that put him over the top in 2004. But what do we “highly irrational” and “self-righteous people” know from your glass house.
Using your logic I guess Obama should not invest any time in the southern Red states where many “believers” live. Thank you very much. We will pass on your valuable recommendations to his campaign staff as they surely need to hear what you have to say.
To the “Great One”
Great idea. Increase Capital Gains tax. Jesse Oppenheimer wrote that “a sharply reduced capital gains tax would create liquidity and increase the mobility of capital for reinvestment. This would act to stimulate the economy.”
Perhaps I have been out of the country too long and didn’t realize that our economy needs a transfusion. Even president Bush acknowledged that need by creation of the “stimulus package” that the House and Senate supported.
Hate to tell you this but you do not jump start the economy by increasing the Capital Gains tax.
larry i think you might have misunderstood me i am against the capital gains tax ?
post 34 i guess you liked being tax to death .
Where does it leave one if they carry a lucky rabbit’s foot on their key chain?
Larry, obviously I’ve misjudged you and I appologize for that. I can see you are a well traveled, well read, philanthropist who is only looking out for our well being. I’ve learned more about you from this series of posts than I knew previously. That being said I’ll keep my email private for now, I have a nagging distrust of well traveled, well read philanthropists. Sorry.
great one:
I placed my focus on the tax aspect and should have addressed the readers in general as to your comment.
For all those who support higher taxes perhaps the following facts may give you reason to pause.
Heritage Foundation. Executive Summary
Prior to the 1980s, most people assumed that if governments raised tax rates they would collect more total revenue from taxpayers. We now have dramatic evidence from the United States that a decrease in tax rates can lead to larger revenues:
During the 1980s, the highest income tax rate was reduced from 70 percent to 28 percent.
As a result, the share of income taxes paid by the top 1 percent of income earners grew from 18 percent in 1981 to 27 percent in 1989.
This study investigates the international relationship between tax rates and tax revenues. Based on an econometric analysis of taxes in 103 countries, we conclude that:
On the average, governments collect the highest possible revenue when they take about 43.2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in taxes.
If governments try to take a larger share of private sector income, the tax base will shrink so much that total tax collections will actually go down.
Your rebuttal is always appreciated. Thank you!
Les Morrals.
You need to research the foot before going forward
“First, not any old foot from a rabbit will do: it is the left hind foot of a rabbit that is useful as a charm.
Second, not any left hind foot of a rabbit will do; the rabbit must have been shot or otherwise captured in a cemetery.
Third, at least according to some sources, not any left hind foot of a rabbit shot in a cemetery will do: the phase of the moon is also important. Some authorities say that the rabbit must be taken in the full moon, while others hold instead that the rabbit must be taken in the new moon. Some sources say instead that the rabbit must be taken on a Friday, or a rainy Friday, or Friday the 13th. Some sources say that the rabbit should be shot with a silver bullet, while others say that the foot must be cut off while the rabbit is still alive.”
Hope this valuable data answers your question.
anonyms.
There is no need to apologize to me. And to call me a philanthropist is a stretch. Our church, and my family, support those young men and women who made bad choices in their lives and have taken responsibility to now become better members of society. The Ministry, Teen Challenge Intl., is celebrating it’s 50th anniversary in NYC right now
As to my posts. We do encourage readers to challenge our positions, myself included. If you have a different point of view feel free to share it with everyone else that read our Juice reports.
Larry,
My question had more to do with who really cares if someone is carting around such a charm. Having said that, thanks for the info.
Larry, it’s telling that the Heritage Foundation stats you share here say nothing, absolutely nothing, about corporate tax rates. 30 years ago, individuals were responsible for about 25% of the Federal tax burden and corporations were responsible for about 75%. Those numbers have now flip-flopped…individuals are responsible for 75% and corporations 25%. The problem isn’t that people are paying too much…it’s that corporations aren’t paying enough. But heaven forbid anyone criticize our sacred free market system and the corporate welfare it gets from government.
We are now entering some deep (corporate tax)waters.
Simply stated, as we are now deeply engaged in a global marketplace, there are multinational corporations who devote serious time looking for ways to avoid payment of taxes. In the 60’s I recall a clever tax avoidance scheme by Toyota. To avoid a 30 percent surcharge on imported trucks they did not install the truck bed until the truck arrived in Long Beach. The truck bed was shipped separately to avoid the tax obligation.
Following is part of a “Taxanalysts” statement on the topic of “transfer pricing” tax avoidance.
“On the corporate side, U.S. multinationals shift their operations, their profits, or both, to low-tax, low-wage countries. The federal government is losing its battle to stem the growing abuse of transfer pricing rules. As a result, corporate tax revenues as a percentage of profits are falling.”