Abigail and Dolley is a record of the ponderings and interests of a Modern Woman. From faith, to hobbies, to political and social commentary; I share with you whatever is brewing around in my brain at the time. Thanks for reading!
Whenever I stumble upon a Christian writer, I try to determine early on what they believe, this is prudent. Here at Abigail and Dolley we believe in the inerrancy of the Scripture (Protestant), that the word of God is inspired and infallible, that all Scripture is useful in the teaching and reproofing of the people. We don't pick and choose which Scriptures we like, we take the Word as it was given to us. We are pretribulation Rapture dispensationalist and believe in a literal Second Coming and Millennial Reign. We believe in crucifixion of the flesh and reject the tenants of the Word of Faith heresy. We believe the age of Grace is rapidly coming to an end at that the Church will be called home to meet the Lord soon, from there a 7 year Tribulation will descend upon the World. Maranantha.
Abigail and Dolley readers it is a testament to the age we live in, where trust of the media and public officials has reached such a low level that anything is plausible. The libertarians are the absolute worst about spreading this kind of thing. There is a rumor running rampant among the Paulbots that the FEMA prison camps are opening back up and they are all going to be herded into them before the election, presumably so Ron Paul won't be elected President. They buy into this garbage with a fervor that is amazing.
Another Libertarian lie is that Newt Gingrich is a big government Progressive who believes in a New World Order. They are compiling videos of Newt speaking of historical politicians who are on their "Progressive Enemies Lists." There is no context to these videos, no more that 10 second snippets, and they prove nothing except that the compilers are out to paint Newt as an evil enemy.
If you want to look at someone's beliefs is it really necessary to dig into their nuances when the surface level behavior does not support your hypothesis? Think about it, if Newt was a Progressive wouldn't his speeches, his institutions, his books, and his movies reflect his core beliefs? I would venture a guess that in the dozen years since Newt left public office he would be free to pursue his Progressive Agenda uninhibited by the need to be reelected.
Just look at Gingrich Productions, does this site seem a Progressive media site to you? Look at the DVD titles:
A City Upon a Hill - Rediscovering American Exceptional-ism
America at Risk - Post 9/11 dangers facing the USA
Nine Days that Changed the World - The Pope and Poland and how it was the first shot in destroying the Iron Curtain
Ronald Reagan: A Rendezvous with Destiny
Rediscovering God in America Part 1 and Part 2 - Our Godly History
We Have the Power - American Energy
Does that seem like Titles a Progressive would produce? No? Me either.
Abigail and Dolley readers I am deeply disturbed by the rise and popularity of Ron Paul. The unlikely assent of an elderly, squeaky voiced, isolationist, Libertarian begs the question - why? Why have hoards of people latched on to this man and why are they all but worshiping him? Furthermore, why are they so ANGRY with everyone else? If you have run into any of them online, you will know of what I speak. They are collectively vicious tongued zealots who gleefully libel all of the other candidates and spread lies and smear, like jelly on toast.
I believe I have figured out the appeal, these folks are deeply afraid. They are afraid of what is happening to our economy. They are afraid of what is happening on the world's stage and they are afraid of where Big Government is taking us. Okay, most of us are also afraid of that, so what is the difference? The difference is, that Ron Paul preaches a gospel that there is no evil in the world other than us, if we would just behave, evil would leave us alone.
You have to admit, it is sort of enticing. I mean, if we could just behave in a certain manner and evil would disappear, that seems like a pretty good deal. The Paulian worldview, at its core, asserts that you can control evil. His followers are buying into this with a fervor and a zealotry that always attaches itself to a cultish figure that claims to have the answers and is the only one who can save them.
Unfortunately, Ron Paul and his supporters are wrong. You don't control evil by being good. It is naive and while understandable, ultimately very dangerous. Evil exists in the hearts of men and in the powers and principality, in the spiritual dark places of wickedness and the only way to defeat it is to fight it. To shine the light of righteousness on it and to go after it with everything that you have.
We as a nation are tired of fighting off the evil. We look around and see spent lives, endless war, collapsing world economies, ineffective governments and we say enough! I just want to go home and live my life! Leave me alone and I will leave you alone, okay? Have we been perfect, of course not! Have we made mistakes, yes but is it time to retreat? To stop being a global force that stands up to the evil in the world and says, "Not so fast, Buster." The results, if we were to follow the Paulian plan, would be disaster on a scale of which the world has never seen. Evil does not change, evil does not get nicer, evil only grows and seeks to destroy all that is in its path and it wants to consume all that is good and righteous in this world.
Don't fall for the lie folks, it's an old one and if you pay careful attention, it smells of fire and brimstone.
Abigail and Dolley readers, I have been a busy girl. Since declaring myself a supporter of Newt Gingrich, I have become a social media warrior for the cause. Much of my creative energy, writing, and talents have been given to persuading my fellow conservatives to join me. I believe I have been moderately successful in this endeavor. None the less, my sweet little blog has been terribly neglected and I shutter think what my once so important Google Analytics would tell me if I had the heart to look! I will strive to do better.
Now, on to the subject of the day: the consideration of political purity, changing positions, and flip flopping, all of which are playing a part in this primary season. Many will hold up their esteemed candidates and declare ideological purity. They claim that purity to cause and ideals must trump governmental compromise. They proudly proclaim that their candidate never strays from absolute purity. They fail to recognize that purity and inflexibility in our form of governance translates to ineffective and non-existent leadership. Purity of purpose leaves no room to actually accomplish the things we elect leaders to do. The purists do not seem to understand that even the Founding Fathers had to compromise, flex, and sacrifice some of their beliefs to actually get things done. The case in point, the northern delegates that were against slavery. If they followed in the "Purity" model, they would have never compromised and then where would we be? I guess speaking with English accents...
Then we have the flip floppers. These are the political animals that hold no position or conviction other than the ones help by whatever audience they are addressing at the time. They stand for everything and hence stand for nothing. The flip flopper does not hold a firmly held conviction and it is said that a double minded man is unstable in all of his ways. The flip flopper is the lukewarm drink of water that voters spit out of their mouths in disgust. These political opportunists are interested only in power and position. They care for nothing except their own personal aggrandizement and as such must be rejected completely.
Thus, we are left with the Position Changer. This is the politician who once believed, spoke, or campaigned for an issue and has since changed their mind. The purists rail against this claiming that the perfect candidate would never do such a thing. The flip floppers gladly post videos showing the perceived flip flop and accuse the Position Changer of being a pot calling the kettle black, yet therein lies the rub. People change. People grow and learn, adapt and study, they take some ideas and strengthen them and they take others and say, "No, upon further review I don't believe that anymore." Contrary to showing weakness, those who can grow and learn from their past positions show an emotional and intellectual growth that the purist lacks and the flip flopper will never know.
Given the choice between the three, I will take the position changer because at least they have thought about it. They have studied it and examined it and researched it - whatever that may be. Typically they have the intellectual honesty to say that in the past they were wrong, they made a mistake, and here is why they now believe as they do. The position changer is also in the unique position to engage with others who believe as they used to about and issue and come to a solution that solves the problem and moves the country forward. That my friends is what we elect them to do in the first place.
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