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Leutisha Stills, The Christian Liberal

It may have escaped your notice, but this morning during my commute, I was reading a small public interest article from the Washington Post regarding the Bushes attendance at Church during this past weekend of wedding festivities in Kennebunkport. Apparently, the Bushes decided they wanted to hear from God this past weekend, so Poppy, Barbara, Stepford-wife Laura and GeeDubya, along with six other members of the clan, were in attendance at the 8:00am service on Sunday at the hoity-toity local Episcopal church.

Now the article goes on to state that when a President or former President is in attendance at church, it's customary for the pastor to pretend the Pres is not there, or at best, acknowledge his presence with remembrance in prayer. However, this pastor, a visiting Episcopalian pastor from Shreveport, Louisiana, had the "holy boldness" to direct his sermon at Bush's family, starting with Poppy.

The pastor preached a golf parable which in effect, chided the Bush clan for their politics that have resorted in robbing the poor to give to the rich (i. e., tax breaks), as well as pointing out to Bush, Sr., that a meaningful relationship with Jesus requires shunning earthly possessions, selling your material possesions and giving alms (giving to the poor). The article concluded with the implication that the parable was not lost on Bush, Sr., but in fact, he was pissed that a little known pastor, the Very Rev. Martin Luther Agnew, was calling him on his family's business, and therefore, called GeeDubya on how his economic and foreign policies have hurt the country. Very brave and bold preaching, coming from the Rev.

Agnew. The article stated that Bush, Sr., "sat through the remainder of the story 'stone-faced' ", even though the story drew laughs from Barbara, GeeDubya and Laura.

To me, the preacher was illustrating to those who were paying attention that the "fruit does not fall far from the tree."

We marvel and respond in horror at the injustices that GeeDubya has foisted upon an unsuspecting nation in the name of patriotism, honor and national security, while we tear out our collective hair in despair and disbelief.

We now have the evidence right before us, if we choose to look: THE FRUIT DOESN'T FALL FAR FROM THE TREE.

You want more proof that GeeDubya's arrogance, manipulation, greed and avarice is coming from him, alone? He's already demonstrated he's not that intelligent to come up with the pile of lies and horse manure he's fed half of the country for the last four years. When he said, "We will never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country", the media was quick to characterize the statement as a misspeak, but we who are smart and are not drunk on the Kool-Aid, we know better. That statement was probably the most truthful statement he has made since stealing with Oval Office. And we all know that for better or worse, we are the sum total of our parents, in terms of how we were reared. If you really want an eye-opener, I recommend the book, "Bush on The Couch" by Dr. Justin Frank. His book implies more than I ever could, that the "fruit doesn't fall far from the tree."

An individual is either raised with beliefs, values and morals instilled by his parents or guardians, or he's not. And no one has demonstrated this more blatantly than GeeDubya in terms of governing our country. When he was growing up and his idea of fun was to shove firecrackers up the rectums of hapless frogs and watch them explode, where was Poppy with the strap to GeeDubya's behind, to teach him respect and compassion for those who aren't as powerful as he was? Or, as the book suggests, ol' Babs was such an emotional wreck that she shut off any nurturing she could have passed to Dubya.

I'm reminded of a period in my childhood, when my own brother tried something similar with hapless bullfrogs, only he used an electrical outlet, attached electrodes to the frogs, flipped the switch in the garage, and short-circuited our house. When my parents got through with him (back in the days of "corporal punishment", i. e. whipping, LOL) he couldn't sit for a week, he was grounded for two weeks, and he spent the rest of his childhood respecting all forms of animal life. I got a spanking for being a witness and not saying anything to the folks (six year olds aren't supposed to "squeal" on the older sibling).

I provide this illustration to point out that Poppy failed Dubya by not scheduling enough sessions in the woodshed with him when it mattered. If he had, we probably would have had a halfway decent President, instead of the airhead sock puppet we have now. And because I'm a Christian, I can't use any name calling stronger than "airhead sock-puppet".

I suspect Poppy's "stone-faced" countenance during that sermon was largely, in part, embarassment, because the preacher called out Poppy and Barbara for not doing the best job they should have in raising their firstborn, especially when they had more advantages and resources than the average family during post World War II.

I'm digressing somewhat, but I think you'll get the point I'm trying to make. The fruit doesn't fall far from the tree, and what is meant by that is consider how the Bush clan made their fortune, and the values they passed on to their children while making said fortune. They made it sleeping with the enemy (Prescott Bush and his dealings with Hitler before and probably during WWII; Poppy and Iran-Contra/Cocaine influx during the 1980's and now, GeeDubya with the Saudis), and heck, GeeDubya probably thinks it's a way of life, considering Poppy got him out of every mess he ever made in life and never forced him to give an account of his actions.

Perhaps Poppy was, in his own way, trying to make up to Dubya for his lack of parenting him as a child. However, the result is established: this is the way GeeDubya governs this country; with the idea that someone else will clean up the messes he's making! And he's asking the country for four more years to make more messes. Lord, help us, because there's at least 50% of the citizens in this country that appeared to have drank the Kool-Aid and truly believe, despite comparisons of Dubya's actions with Biblical reference; despite hard evidence to the contrary; despite the use of tactics involving fear and intimidation - that he's still the BEST MAN FOR THE JOB! Helloooo, how much Kool-Aid can they drink before these individuals realize they've been poisoned with the fruit that fell from the tree?

Good home training produces good participants of society, in most instances. Lord, have mercy on how the Bushes appear to have failed their own son, while trying to make up for those failures by giving him the Presidency as a toy to reward his bad behavior! If you ask me, Rev.

Agnew's sermon hit home and was advising Poppy and GeeDubya to "sell their possessions and give alms" while they still have time to make things right.

I'm encouraged when preachers, such as Rev. Agnew, demonstrate a "holy boldness" to tell the truth to the face of the offender, as he did yesterday. Fellow weblog readers, we all should take heart and be encouraged that not all members of the clergy are drinking the Kool-Aid like Jerry Falwell or Pat Robertson and marching lockstep to events and policies that they KNOW are in complete dereliction of fulfilling God's Word. Until next time, take care, stay focused, be encouraged and may God richly bless you!

Leutisha Stills, The Christian Liberal