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Subscribe to RSSHouse Speaker John Boehner, when asked about the way forward after Plan B went down to defeat, said, "God only knows."
Today, in the opening prayer at the start of the House session at noon ET, the House chaplain made a rare appeal to the heavens for compromise.
"May an imperfect compromise, when viewed from the perspective of our differences, not be undermined by a desire for political victory," House Chaplain Patrick Conroy implored.
Here's what he said in full:
"Let us pray. Eternal God, we give you thanks for giving us another day, a new year. The political struggles of the past year have revealed the divisions that exist in our nation. There are many American citizens who are angry, frustrated, and anxious for the future. This day is a day of history. Send your spirit upon the members of the people’s house. May an imperfect compromise when viewed from the perspective of our differences not be undermined by a desire for political victory. This is difficult for all. Give each member the grace and courage to forge a constructive solution for the greater good of the nation and all Americans. Help us to trust that no matter what, you will not abandon us. May all that is done this day be for your greater honor and glory. Amen."
After Plan B, Boehner pointed at the president and the Senate to get something done. "Now, it is up to the president to work with Senator Reid on legislation to avert the fiscal cliff," he said then in a statement.
Now, it is up to Boehner whether he puts the bill, which passed the Senate 89-8, on the floor for a vote.
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God blesses the rich and punishes the poor. Asking God to intervene so the rich can get more? Anyway, there is no God, just the imaginary tyrant who controls everything but never gets it right.
On this holiest of holy days, fiscal cliff day, the chaplain left out some stuff. I would add the following:
“Heavenly Father, Please bless us with even more hubris to believe that we are so important in your estimation that you would care so much about our money and politics on this holiest of days. Since we know that you consider your honor and glory to be tied to the fiscal affairs of men, please help me win the lottery. [I will honor and glorify you even more if you could do that.] And because you are a Christian God and a particularly American God, please bless us more than you bless those other guys. Please render unto Congress all that which is due to it, and, as the God who cares so much about fiscal matters, please render unto clergy, such as myself, who pray about fiscal matters and politics, your most blessed of blessings. Amen ka-ching.”
Pray, yea that will fix things. It is 2013 not 1302
Cantor and the tea republicans believe that they are a god.
How 'bout if we ask the legislators to do their job and let God do his/hers.
Cantor is just another GOPer who does nothing except what's in HIS best interest, not ours!
I'm confused. I didn't think God was welcome in the White House. Haven't we expressly forbidden Him to interfere with the wisdom of those who run the State? Haven't we told Him there is no place for Him in our schools? Haven't we made it clear we prefer other gods over Him, even placing men on a pedestal who would proclaim He doesn't exist? How about those who say that the American way is to welcome any other God from any other nation except the One God under which this nation was founded? And while I'm wondering on these things: A very wise man once asked if all men are equal, if all men are brothers, then why are the rich more equal than others?
We need action by our legislators not prayer!
You are certainly confused. This nation's leaders invoke God more often than those of any comparable country.
YUP, a lot of 'invoking' here in the US and not alot of actual working for good!
As Jamie said in the last page:
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full." - Matthew 6:5
Like most spoken prayer, the intent there was to deliver an opinion to the listeners.
Jesus was anti tax and that is why he is a republican.
Jesus was a radical communist who supported taxes "Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's".
Obvious, Obama is afraid to go over the cliff! so show him what the tea party stands for, the Republicans stand for nothing!
This whole process is Nuts I'm sick of both sides. WE all need to ask for serious reform to how we allow this to continue. The 112 th Congress will go down with the record of being the least productive congress in history. Real nice record; are they all proud of this? To fix this perhaps we could start by calling for a change that shortens their terms, say to no more than four terms. In addition how about we also send at least half of them home next election (equally from both parties). This might sent them a message that we're fed up with their performance, I should say lack of performance.
I doubt that if there's a God up there (or down there, or which direction you choose), he/she/it is choosing political sides, is choosing one country over another, or is even interested in this world. But here's the catch. If a deal gets done, according to this chaplain (and many believers), God intervened. If it doesn't get done, those same people will say how mysteriously he/she/it works. It's a total win-win when you put it in that perspective. When in reality, it's up to the republicans and democrats in the house to get it done.
The Bill has no spending cuts. It should be amended to cancel Obamacare and impeach the corrupt Chicago Democrat.
WOW! rober34...anything else while we are at it? How about we bannish the Tea Party while we are at it? Should be easy after Obamacare and impeaching!!! But leave my guns alone!!! I may need to massacre a deer or partridge in a pear tree.
Seriously, with SOCAS, why do we still promote religion in our political system like this?
Because too many people invest too much time in religion to just cut their losses and become atheists when they finally realize it's mythical.
But I agree with what the guy said, other than the God stuff.
Good luck with your gods chaplin...by all reports, if there is a god he is p-iss-d at us lately!!!
Whatever. How about appealing to the actual PEOPLE who exist to fix the dam problem. Quit praying in Government.
Lets see now the Obama democrats helped to kill two million babies this year because of the rules and laws they passed , they are bold people they took these babies out of the hand of God and helped kill them . Now this congress and our idiot president wants Gods help God these jerks are sick and twisted , but the 47% idiot voter will believe God is on there side when evil men rule good men suffer.
Pennies from Heaven, dollars from the Treasury.....free stuff for All.
Tnanks, Edd! And....Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
why are they allowed to have god there ? we cant have god in schools.
separation of church and state ? guess congress dont have to follow the rules they make.
I sincerely hope that every Democrat in the house votes against this bill. Many Republicans are going to vote against it in order to save face with their crazy-right constituents. Democrats should not give them that luxury. The American people backed raising taxes on those making 250,000 dollars a year, and Democrats should stick to that amount. Republicans have absolutely no poiwer to stop a bill with that amount from being passed.
I sincerely hope that every Democrat in the house votes against this bill. Many Republicans are going to vote against it in order to save face with their crazy-right constituents. Democrats should not give them that luxury. The American people backed raising taxes on those making 250,000 dollars a year, and Democrats should stick to that amount. Republicans have absolutely no poiwer to stop a bill with that amount from being passed.
Hey!!! doesn't anyone out there understand that God does not prefer one nation over another. The USA is going contrary to God's will. Man does not have the ability or the right to rule himself. Because God created mankind, only He has the ability and the right to rule us.
WAFJ - it's the resurrection of Eric Cantor......If God created this bigoted hypocrite in his own image, we are in deap $h!t. BUT, have no fear people, Boehner is the the true Lord, Thy God - just ask him.
God is not a voting member of the House of Representatives. Besides, He/She is in the Bahamas for a vacation and is setting up a tax shelter.
Afraid God won't help Republicans ...last time he met ewith em he tore the temple apart.
House Chaplain Patrick Conroy - THE only smart man in the house of Reps.
Hallowed be his name!