Eyes Right

Move Over, Christopher Reeve

Warner Brothers' new movie, "Superman Returns," brings the action hero back to Earth as a Christ figure who has returned from heaven (Krypton) to save the world from the devil (Lex Luthor, played by Kevin Spacey). At least that is the interpretation of Stephen Skelton, author of The Gospel According to the World's Greatest Superhero, who encourages using the film as a way for evangelicals to witness to their friends this summer.

Source: Stephen Skelton, "The Gospel According to the Man of Steel," New Man, May/June 2006, 21.

Team America (Not the Cartoon!)

Team America, the anti-immigration advocacy group, sure doesn't pull any punches while mobilizing the troops. That's not surprising given who is at the top: Bay Buchanan (Pat's sister) and Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO), the two-fisted guy who put the anti-immigrant movement on the map.

As the Senate was deliberating on a new immigration bill in May, Buchanan cried out (via email) to her Team America members: "It's still a national suicide pact!" and "The vote to legalize and massively increase the invasion into this country is coming in the next 7 days!! The organization is at war!"

Lest you think Team America is a stream of negativity and warlike metaphors, Buchanan also called on supporters to buy Dunkin' Donuts since the company announced it will only hire documented workers. A little sugar to go with the spice. Source: Bay Buchanan, "U.S. Senate races toward national suicide…but there is a glimmer of hope."

Source: TeamAmericaPac listserv email, May 19, 2006.

A Dog-Lover Speaks

"To speak a bit fancifully, the FBI agents are like dogs, and the CIA officers like cats. The pointer, the retriever, the hound has a definite target, and goes for it. The cat is furtive, slinks about in the dark, pounces unexpectedly at the time and place of its choosing."

Source: Judge Richard A. Posner (U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit), "The Reorganized U.S. Intelligence System After One Year," National Security Outlook, American Enterprise Institute, April 11, 2006.

Battle of the Revs

TV preacher Pat Robertson sounded like he was time transported from the 1950s in claiming that Americans United for Separation of Church and State was part of a secret conspiracy.

Robertson's ire was raised by the group's opposition to federal funding for prison ministries, and he covered the issue on the May 11th broadcast of his "700 Club." He said the American Civil Liberties Union and the Communist Internationale "pulled a secret takeover" of Americans United.

He continued with another faux fact: "[AU director and minister] Barry Lynn is so extreme, he has said that if a church is burning down, the city shouldn't bring the fire department and trucks to spray water on the church because that violates separation of church and state."

First calling for the Venezuelan president's assassination, now this. You can sure say anything when you control your own TV network.

Source: "TV Preacher Pat Robertson Launches Bizarre Attack On Americans United," Americans United for Separation of Church and State, May 11, 2006, www.au.org.