On cue, the attack has begun. I’m a little surprised that they chose to go after Pete rather than Matt Gaetz, but on reflection I think it reflects the fact that they see Pete, and the cleaning up of DoD, as the greater threat to the status quo. Besides, they fully believe that Gaetz is DOA in committee and will not advance to confirmation.
After all, it’s endless war and constant emergencies that enable massive looting of treasuries and money laundering that are essential to the status quo of the credentialed “elite” that see their control slipping. It is the excuse for draconian and other “emergency” measures to “deal with this unprecedented” crisis du jour. As such, having control of the DoD becomes paramount. It is through that control that things like Biden giving Ukraine permission to fire on Russia with U.S. made weapons (despite the rather clear mandate of the last election), or Blinken stating that they will send Ukraine as many supplies and funds as they can before Trump takes office.
Also, in my opinion, it has been the goal of Obama (and he is a key player in the Biden Regency, which is basically Obama III in policy terms) to gut the U.S. military for reasons of his own. Reasons not in the best interest of the Republic.
So, the legacy/corporate media, having already tossed aside any pretense of objectivity and professionalism over the last ten or so years (and particularly the last four years), jumps in with a predictable attack. The goal is to damage Pete Hegseth, or to create a chimera of unfitness, sufficient to allow establishment republicans and other craven cowards to avoid supporting him. Note that they don’t have to openly oppose him; rather, they simply have to express concern that he is tainted such that he isn’t a viable candidate. It allows them to focus on the appearance, the chimera, rather than the facts and it puts it on an emotional level beloved of progressives and those seeking to manipulate people.
And what better way to do that than to attack an institution they loathe: Christianity. Short version is that when one wants to reshape America (and the world) into a progressive socialist/communist entity, you have to destroy the philosophical underpinnings of that society. The cornerstone of much of the philosophy that undergirds the Republic comes from Christianity. The concept of the individual being capable of choosing the right path for themselves, individual freedom and liberty, and — importantly — individual responsibility all derive in part (or in whole) from the tenets of Christianity. Even informed consent derives from same. Christianity was also the driving force behind the elimination of slavery, an institution which frankly most progressives would like to see return (and given a different name).
Now, Pete is a proud, unrepentant, Evangelical Christian. That is enough to send progressives into a frothing rage on it’s own, but combine that with other positions he holds, and a strong desire and the ability to clean up DoD and return the focus to war fighting capabilities (rather than social experimentation and losing wars), and they fear him even more than they hate him. So, two birds with one stone by attacking him via his Christianity.
The key to the attack lies in lying about two tattoos he has (which are hard to miss). The main attack seems to be against the Jerusalem Cross, which has been a symbol of Jerusalem within the Roman Catholic church for a bit over a thousand years now. Depending on which source you go with, the four Greek crosses with the larger cross represent the five wounds of Christ (hands, feet, spear); Jesus and four apostles; and, I think there may be a couple of other interpretations floating around out there. Key is, it’s been in use within the Roman Catholic church and various protestant denominations for a while now. It is used to represent the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, and is frequently used as a tattoo to signify a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and the Holy Lands by Roman Catholics and others.
It is not a major symbol of white nationalism, white supremacy, or Christian nationalism. No doubt some fringe group(s) somewhere may have used it at some time, but the same can be said for almost any other symbol out there. To claim otherwise is a bunch of bovine excrement. Yeah, watching my language a bit…
Again, the media is lying but the talking point has gone forth. The idea is to create an impression of something amiss, a chimera of unfitness, since reality is otherwise. It is all to give cover to sellouts and cowards. Make a note of those who go with it, or even flirt with it: they need to be voted out ASAP. Yes, we got a reprieve this election, but it makes it even more urgent to take care of down-ballot offices in the midterms. If those are not fought and won, the big win may not have the long-term effects needed for the health and continuation of the Republic.
To be honest, I expect worse to come. There are fractures appearing lots of interesting places, here and abroad. The landslide on November 5th has revealed some here, and it has those depending on the status quo terrified. As I’ve said before, don’t expect them to just give up and go away. They are going to lash out, and fight to try to preserve their world for as long as they can. That said, they are on the way out and while it may not be fun, nice, or painless, we can win — as Sarah Hoyt frequently notes.
My thought right now is to not fall for this, to laugh and and openly mock (with facts even) those pushing the lie. Get the truth out, and make them dance naked before the world to emphasize that they are propagandists, not journalists. Point to real journalists on X and blogs, emphasize them, and note how often they are right versus legacy/corporate media. Back those people as well, by funds. I’ve decided to spend money on X by getting a checkmark again to provide financial support for X. While it is not yet a truly free speech platform (IMO), it is the best out there for free speech and needs the support to continue.
Also, contact your congresscritters and urge them to back Pete. I would be careful about adding anything about not supporting them if they don’t, but an implication of such is not amiss IMO. The idea behind the attack is to give cover to the craven, so let them know they have your support on this confirmation. If they get the message from enough people, they will also get “the message” if you will.
We are not out of the woods yet, but we have what I regard as a very unexpected opportunity. Make the most of it. Be prepared. Keep your friends close, and your things where you can find them in the dark.
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I’m sorry the concept that the ” individual freedom and liberty”
And “following the right path” is a Jewish concept. Jesus was a Jew. Personally, I’m sick of people who somehow don’t realize that. The Pilgrims did. Huckabee does, Pete does. Zionist Christians do. Do you think Jesus made up his philosophy? Get real
Jesus is the Son of God. The Jews rejected him. Still do.
GENERAL NOTE: This comes close to crossing a line, so I want to let new readers know that I rarely use the ban hammer. Antisemitism and other related forms of bigotry will result in a ban. Do not approach the line, do not cross the line. One and only warning.
“Some” Jews rejected Him. And they paid dearly a few decades later. Some Jews embraced Him wholly, and they are glorified to this day.
It was the Jewish followers of Christ who brought the gospel to the rest of the world. I thank them for that and look forward to the day the current world knows the prints on his hands and feet.
The concepts under discussion are Jewish in origin, but transmitted into Western culture via Christianity. The Jews were always numerically weak and not about to change the values of empires; the universalism and ease of adoption of the new religion made it possible. (Full disclosure: I’m Jewish and Torah-observant, and have no brief for Christianity.)
Excellent points and thank you for making them. I’ve touched on this a bit in some older posts, along with some other points. I shake my head at those who insist — despite scripture and more — that Jesus was not a Jew and raised as such. Any time you care to chime in with thoughtful and well-considered points like this, please do so. Especially since they could spark some excellent explorations.
In the second temple period the Jews were not that numerically weak. I can’t find the reference now but I recall an estimate that Jews were about 10% of the population in parts of the eastern roman empire. I beleive many of the followers of Jesus who remained jews were killed in the destruction of Yerushalayim in 70CE (I think that cohort are called “The Jerusalem Church” in Christian literature). There’s a very interesting book “The Jews in the Roman World” by Michael Grant (Dorset Press 1973) which states there were about 8 million Jews in the classical era, of whom 7 million lived in the roman empire, and were between 6 and 9 per cent of the population. A lot changed after the defeat of the two great rebellions. I recall a comment from Marcus Aurelius “Oh Macromati, O Suebi, I have a found a people even more stuborn and difficult to rule than you”.
Hegseth is an unrepentant Christian?
I thought repentance was kinda important to Christians
Pete doesn’t repent for being Christian.
Cute