I’ve been collecting things for a while now, so if a few of these sound out of date, you know why.
If you use Logos, you can get a free commentary of Matthew and Mark if you enter the coupon “cornerstone”. For a limited time.
I enjoyed watching some of the Olympics this year. A few of the races were unforgettable, including Phelps beating Cavic at the wall. SI has a series of photos showing that MP did win.
If you teach the Bible or do serious study of it, then you probably use commentaries. As I pursue my studies in all 66 in the next few years, I am intending to purchase the best commentaries for each book. To that end, I use some commentary guides, including those written by Longman (OT), Carson (NT), Rosscup (66), and Glynn (66+). A new website is taking some of the data from these guides, and making it more useful and accessible online: http://www.bestcommentaries.com/
Here’s a 1-minute ad illustrating the perils of being late.
The attacks on Palin that I’ve read show a desperation among liberals who thought they had things wrapped up. Buchanan makes a few good points about Palin’s experience and constituency that you won’t see elsewhere.
Ramadan has begun and it’s a good time to pray for the Muslim world. Here is a guide to praying this month.
I agree on the whole Palin thing. It’s hard to attack her, because: A.) Obama himself is the father of two young girls, so you can’t use the “need to have a job where you can still be a parent” argument fails, B.) I don’t think any Democratic candidate would ever encourage their daughters to have an abortion in a similar situation, C.) Palin is an outsider, which is something the Democrats are calling for, D.) She is a woman, E.) And is hard not to like.
I like what Dobson said about Palin (http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/09/dobson-on-brist.html):
—–Dobson Quote—-
“Being a Christian does not mean you’re perfect. Nor does it mean your children are perfect. But it does mean there is forgiveness and restoration when we confess our imperfections to the Lord. I’ve been the beneficiary of that forgiveness and restoration in my own life countless times, as I’m sure the Palins have.
“The media are already trying to spin this as evidence Gov. Palin is a ‘hypocrite,’ but all it really means is that she and her family are human. They are in my prayers and those of millions of Americans.”
—-End Dobson Quote—-
Thompson and Lieberman did a great job selling me on McCain tonight. I already was pleased with his choice of Palin. And, I like that Bush pointed out that he and McCain have disagreed before. In other words, McCain is being presented as someone who will present himself as someone different than Bush —
I really want to hear how McCain:
— Plans to get us out of Iraq.
— Plans to solve the energy issues (without trying to make a profit for himself or his friends)
— Plans to tackle some of the other issues I mentioned elsewhere.
And, if he can do all that and pledge to name judges that will overturn Roe -v- Wade — I would not have a problem voting for him.
Brian,
It’s interesting that you previously dismissed the Roe vs. Wade issue as one that can’t be solved by whomever is chosen as POTUS. However, here, you seem to suggest that the “energy issues” can be. Do you think there is a single, simple plan to solve the “energy issues”? Or do you think it will be done incrementally?
Also, you previously wrote, “I also have a hard time labeling Obama as a liberal, when certain portions of his policy could easily be found in the conservative handbook — notably his favoring the drilling of ANWAR, the use of nuclear power, and a few other things that the environmentalist of his party despise.”
Actually, his answer to the League of Conservation Voters questionnaire was: “I strongly reject drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge [ANWR] because it would irreversibly damage a protected national wildlife refuge without creating sufficient oil supplies to meaningfully affect the global market price or have a discernible impact on US energy security.” That doesn’t sound favorable to drilling in ANWR to me.
I’m sure that you’ve checked up on Obama and are certain that he hasn’t personally benefitted from his political activities.
“If he can do all that AND pledge to name judges…” Why do you not put the same criteria on Obama?
“I don ‘t think any Democratic candidate would ever encourage their daughters to have an abortion in a similar situation.” – If you mean they would encourage them to do so secretly, I’m in total agreement with you.
Alternatively, if you think that all Democratic leaders (or Republican or Independents) would encourage their daughters to carry the baby full term, then I think you are naive. The craft of politics is being able to make problems go away without public fanfare. And Obama is just as crafty as the rest. Or maybe not: he’s regularly having to publicly distance himself from long time friends/associates/pastors/etc.
IIRC, prior to the Bristol Palin announcement, Obama was quoted as saying, “I wouldn’t want my daughter to be punished with a baby for making a mistake.” Perhaps I don’t remember correctly, or maybe it was a right wing smear attack.
“What the American people need now is CHANGE! So, the person I’m selecting as my running mate is an old white guy with more than 30 years experience inside the Beltway.”
I’m not saying Roe -vs- Wade can’t be overturned, but it would take more than just voting a Republican (or shall I just say pro-life conservative, since there are candidates in this election that aren’t members of the GOP that would more lineup with our Christian views). The Republicans would need to take a strong foothold in Congress, especially in the Senate, one much stronger than the one they were able to grasp in the Clinton era. Unfortunately, I just don’t see that happening, because while Feinstein might be willing to give up her seat (there is talk that she will run for governor of California if her party shows gains in the Senate in November), she likely will be replaced by another Democrat.
One of the keys to solving the energy issues will be NOT to have someone connected (in ANY way) to the oil industry, because oil IS NOT where it is at. I’m a huge supporter of alternative energy, notably nuclear (which Obama mentioned directly in his speech BTW) and solar (I don’t think I will ever forget all those solar water heaters on the top of every building in Israel). It will not be a simple problem to resolve, but I personally would support the construction of nuclear plants, utilizing the technologies being developed by General Atomics (and sold to other countries, but not to American energy comapnies). I also believe that new homes should be built with solar technology built in, as they now have panels that can pretty much blend in with the roofing material.
As for energy to power your car, well, it’s pretty much been proven that the average American drives less than 40 miles per day. Those people would benefit from cars like the Chevy Volt. For everyone else, plug-in hybrids would be beneficial.
The ANWR thing might have been a misread/misheard thing. I do know that Obama said he would support off-shore drilling, as a temporary measure to meet our needs until alternative fuels were available (to work with those plug-in hybrids of course). Palin supports drilling ANWR, though McCain does not.
A politician might allow their daughter to secretly get an abortion, but I can assure you it wouldn’t be a secret very long. The tabloids pay far too much money for juicy tidbits like that. And, I’m trying to find the interview (probably not going to be easy to find, since it was from 1992 or so) where they asked Bill what he would do if Chelsea became pregnant as a teen (and if he would want her to have an abortion). IIRC, he said he wouldn’t want her to have one.
Now, there are crafty politicians on both sides. FWIW, McCain is having to be very crafty is putting some distance between himself and Bush, while still trying to recognize that he is the sitting President and leader of the GOP. Bush still is popular with the base, though not with all Republicans.
As for “Change” — or “Reform” as the GOP is calling it — well, McCain isn’t exactly a poster child either. having been in Washington since 1983. So, in terms of experience, this becomes a moot point. Biden becomes a political advisor for Obama or McCain gives Palin on the job training for 2016.
I guess what I’m saying is — both candidates have their share of pros and cons. I think both candidates would do a fine job. I haven’t fully decided whether I would vote Obama and since the Palin announcement (and after the convention’s opening tonight) I’m very much back on the fence (and could lean to McCain after hearing Palin and McCain over the next two nights … was so looking forward to hearing Jindal, but he won’t be going).
Of course, if we are going to support the candidate that most closely fits our Christian viewpoints:
http://chuckbaldwinlive.com/
Now, if I follow what was said tonight (not voting by party, but by who you feel is the best), this wouldn’t be a bad vote.
Neither would a vote for this guy:
http://www.alankeyes.com (I voted for him in the primary and served on his campaign in 96) … who finished second to Keyes in the AIP/Constitution Party nomination
Brian,
I’m not going to take over Todd’s blog on this topic, but I will make one final response.
“As for “Change” — or “Reform” as the GOP is calling it — well, McCain isn ‘t exactly a poster child either. having been in Washington since 1983.”
Every candidate running in any election tries to nuance himself as at least somewhat different than what’s currently in place. Otherwise, there’s no need to run. “Hi I’m not candidate A, but I’m just like him. Vote for me!” isn’t much of a campaign speech.
Everybody knows that McCain is a Washington insider, and I don’t expect him to be dramatically different than the other insiders. But to my knowledge, his central theme isn’t CHANGE. On the other hand, Obama is trying to convince everybody that he isn’t business as usual – he’s all about change.
The old saying, “Actions speak louder than words,” seems appropriate here:
The candidate for change: Selects an old white guy who has been in Washington forever.
The Washington insider: Selects a woman with no Beltway experience, though ironically enough, she has more executive experience than the other three combined. -)
Now tell me: So far, whose actions are business as usual, and whose actions are at least a little bit outside the status quo of Washington? Also, whose actions are closer to their campaign theme?
Craig,
I agree with you on all of these points. I think you can find pros and cons for both candidates. I don’t think McCain is nearly as bad as some want to paint him (McBush, McSame, etc.). But, is McCain going to distance himself enough from Bush, rather than continue with the same policies? If McCain can show me that he can do that and make the necessary tweaks in policy, he has my vote.
Despite his being liberal, there are things you have to like about Obama. He does bring some of the old-school Democratic ideas (very similiar to the things I have read/heard from JFK) to the table, that in many ways are different than what his party has been espousing since LBJ. It’s important to note that at one time in this country, the Democratic Party probably better aligned itself with our Christian ideals.
There is a chance I could just vote for Baldwin, though that basically means I’m voting for Obama, since it siphons a much-needed vote from McCain. Of course, if every evangelical in this country voted for Baldwin and every liberal voted for their poster boy – Nader – what a difference the outcome would be. Only if people voted who they really liked and not what some mouse, light bulb, eyeball, British guy, or Looney Tune told them to vote for (let’s see if you can match those up with the right network).
No doubt Baldwin is the closest to my political views, very much like Ron Paul — who I wanted to win the GOP nomination.
OK, Huckabee got me going. Giuliani pumped me up. But, Palin completely sold me on the McCain-Palin ticket. They seem to have a rock solid platform, that I really didn’t see clearly before.
And, I’m growing a bit more excited about Barr, because he is basically demanding he appear at the debates, which will make things interesting.
Giuliani and Palin did a great job in their assessments of Obama. I’ve been reading and Palin is an exceptionally popular governor. I can see why.
Todd – Are you doing a composite library of paper and electronic when it comes to the commentaries you’ll be purchasing? If so, how are you going to try to balance it, and why? I’m curious as to how you’re thinking through it and planning since the rise of electronic resources is really impacting library planning and adjustments.
Gunner – I’ll try to answer that in a post in the future.