Not something I say very often, but I agree with Rich Lowry. It's about time someone stood up to these demagogues. All interests are "special" to someone.

Thanks for the link, which following a quick surf leads here to the current top of the NRO Corner page.

Looks like a new Hoover Institute book has captured precisely why I am a leftie. The teachings of Jesus compel it.

I've no idea what you're talking about, and I doubt that you do either (as is often the case), Bill. If you're referring to this book, I doubt that it will give you the ideological solace that you might fantasize that it does.

Bill,
that " 'cause Jesus said so" line is a constant statement by pacifists, goofy vegetarians AND lefty Christians everywhere.

I'm a Christian too Bill, and my teaching doesn't include anything about accepting abortion or gay marriage or sex outside of marriage or rolling over when someone tells me I have to take down the community Nativity Scene on the Court House lawn.

The New Testament is in fact pretty much devoid of any politics except for Matthew 22:21.

Contrary wise the Old Testament is just chocked full of rules and edicts about murder, perversion, theft, worshiping false idols, etc. Of course the Ten Commandments can no longer be mentioned in America, much less be posted anywhere. Most of the OT rules call for killing the perpetrator.

I guess the lefty non-believers should be glad non-lefty Christians believe in hating the sin but loving the sinner, and that we're not carrying a bag of stones everywhere we go.

"The New Testament is in fact pretty much devoid of any politics except for Matthew 22:21."

You forgot about Jesus' condemnation of the eminent domain abuse perpetrated by the "eachers of the law," as stated in Mark 12:40 and Luke 20:47.

Actually, there's a serious point behind this. The NT preaches two ideas that serve as cornerstones of political philosophy:

1) Don't steal.

2) The rules of right and wrong apply equally to people of all stations. (If all are equals before divine law, it follows that all should be equals before human law.)

Both principles are in the OT, too. (The David and Bathsheba tale should be taught in What's Immoral For Citizens Is Immoral For Government 101.)

The OT is chock full of specific political edicts because that's when the Bible says God was handing them out - founding a theoccracy, stipulating its basic laws, placing certain requirements on Israel to maintain national autonomy, and canceling the deal after Israel committed so many breaches of contract. The Law of Moses has elements that are exclusively theocratic or which have specific symbolic value unique to Israel (the sacrifices, the "cleanliness" laws representing Israel's holiness), that Law is not a blueprint for all future governments.