Romney, Gingrich & Obama: The World, The Flesh, and The Devil

[Valin]

PJ Media:

Belladonna Rogers
1/23/12

Barring yet another unexpected twist in the plot over the next nine months, the American electorate has a choice of three candidates for president. All are flawed. The presidential campaign between now and Election Day will be devoted to exposing and highlighting these failings. For those inclined to televised news networks, long evenings beckon, filled with an endless loop of “political observers” repeating their penetrating insights into the obvious from now till November 6th.

The campaign for the presidency of 2012 is best understood not by the pundits of today but by a drama written in 1485.

In that year, 527 years ago, a new production opened in England. Entitled Everyman, this morality play became an instant hit, and has enjoyed remarkable staying power — and relevance — to this day.

(Snip)

[Argyle58]

As George Clooney’s character asks in Up In the Air,“Whose backpack is the lightest?”

 

One of the things I like about Newt is the fact that this statement doesn't apply to him. The more baggage that is tossed onto his back, the stronger he seems to become. The manner in which he defends himself against his attackers, as long as he sticks to the issue and remains positive while campaigning, seems to endear him with the electorate.

[Valin]

As George Clooney’s character asks in Up In the Air,“Whose backpack is the lightest?”

 

One of the things I like about Newt is the fact that this statement doesn't apply to him. The more baggage that is tossed onto his back, the stronger he seems to become. The manner in which he defends himself against his attackers, as long as he sticks to the issue and remains positive while campaigning, seems to endear him with the electorate.

 

 

As many have noted Newts problem is when things are going well. The Hubris kicks in, and up pops The Bad Newt.

 

I've been read about Churchill lately, I can see similarities. I am NOT saying he is our Churchill.....

History doesn't repeat itself, but it does rhyme.

Mark Twain

[righteousmomma]

This was a very interesting read to me since I love reasoning, philosophizing and morality plays etc etc.

 

Some observations though re the modern day interpreters conclusions:

Romney made it sound as if anyone who works as hard as he has will be similarly rewarded. Coal miners and plumbers work hard and are not similarly rewarded. This is true of many industrious Americans. Personally, I don’t oppose economic disparities, which would make as much sense as opposing clouds, oxygen and sunsets. But it might have made him a more sympathetic figure if he had, while celebrating the wonders of free markets and his own successful participation in them, at least expressed empathy for those who have worked every bit as hard as he has, yet have so much less to show for their efforts.

 

My ears never heard Romney "sound like" he believed that anyone who works hard as he will be similarly rewarded. I don't think political correctness of pandering palaver "sympathy" sentiments would have made one bit of difference for Romney to people watching the debate who will be voting Republican.

 

unlike the Iowans for Christian Leadership in Government, whose very name suggests their intolerance, 40 percent of South Carolinians were willing to accept Newt’s penitence and give him their votes. It wasn’t as if he was tempted by Satan himself.

Another huge misreading/misunderstanding (?) of the term "Christian leadership", the South, Evangelical Christians, forgivenes etc by the writer.

 

THE CONCLUSION OF THE MORALITY PLAY

 

In Everyman, the protagonist attempts to persuade others to accompany him on his journey to the grave, but all forsake him but one: the character known as Good Deeds. Everyman wails,

 

“O all thing faileth, save God alone;

Beauty, Strength, and Discretion;

For when Death bloweth his blast,

They all run from me full fast.”

 

Beauty, strength, discretion, and the five senses can, indeed, diminish over time: all that remains at the end of our lives are our good deeds, represented in the play by the character of that name. Finally, at peace with himself, Everyman dies with no one but Good Deeds to speak for the life he led when he meets his Maker. That is the message of the play.

 

True, excellent summary of a morality play written in a good works oriented midieval time.

However In Biblical terms "the World, the Flesh and the Devil" are the same temptations that Jesus faced. The same the early Christians faced. The same we face today. Christians also call the same concept "Sin, Self and Satan".

I think Romney and Newt were and will continue to be tempted by Satan (the devil). I think they each are and were and will continue to be tested by God. Such is human life here on little planet Earth.

 

God tests to grow and strengthen our faith and knowledge and character.

 

Satan tempts

Obama was/is tempted. Enough said.

[Valin]

This was a very interesting read to me since I love reasoning, philosophizing and morality plays etc etc.

 

Some observations though re the modern day interpreters conclusions:

Romney made it sound as if anyone who works as hard as he has will be similarly rewarded. Coal miners and plumbers work hard and are not similarly rewarded. This is true of many industrious Americans. Personally, I don’t oppose economic disparities, which would make as much sense as opposing clouds, oxygen and sunsets. But it might have made him a more sympathetic figure if he had, while celebrating the wonders of free markets and his own successful participation in them, at least expressed empathy for those who have worked every bit as hard as he has, yet have so much less to show for their efforts.

 

My ears never heard Romney "sound like" he believed that anyone who works hard as he will be similarly rewarded. I don't think political correctness of pandering palaver "sympathy" sentiments would have made one bit of difference for Romney to people watching the debate who will be voting Republican.

 

 

Income inequality is at the very heart of capitalism. It drives me right up the wall when I hear talk about income inequality, and how it is growing and it's a bad thing! It shows A. a total misunderstanding of how markets work, that you find ony in 6 year olds...and not particularly bright 6 year olds or B. Marxist ideologues playing the class envy game. It's based on the ridiculous idea that there is only so much money, and if the (evil) rich have more than I have less, and the enlightened will balance everything so we are all equal.

"The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries."

W Churchill (dead white guy)