# Is George Bush convinced that God is on his side? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 25, 2003, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-bush-convinced-that-god-is-on-his-side/171122 "2003-04-25T14:42:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2003, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-bush-convinced-that-god-is-on-his-side/171122/41 "2003-04-27T08:24:26Z")
As did Mother Teresa. So what’s your point? ---
**Author:** ![elfje](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19b73/32.png) [@elfje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfje)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2003, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-bush-convinced-that-god-is-on-his-side/171122/42 "2003-04-27T11:25:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ElvisL1ves \* > \*\* > Bush, in contrast, does not show an iota of that same humility before God that a truly religious person, not a zealot, maintains. \*\* hear, hear ---
**Author:** ![woolly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ebca7d/32.png) [@woolly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woolly)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2003, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-bush-convinced-that-god-is-on-his-side/171122/43 "2003-04-27T13:19:19Z")
I’m sure that if the ruling neocons attest “God is on America’s side” now then surely the new Administration would also claim to be instrumental in his return from sabbatical during the Clinton “wilderness years”. Whether the deal included an immunity from prosecution or a heavy “you’re either with us or against us” is not something I’m qualified to comment on… ---
**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2003, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-bush-convinced-that-god-is-on-his-side/171122/44 "2003-04-27T14:48:48Z")
If we extend “God” in this case to mean “underlying Providence of whatever my culture’s traditional religion is”, how many leaders in history have believed “God is against me.” and “My leadership and plans are in direct opposition to the Will of God.”? At most, they would believe “God does not exist.”, then invent a new god, like “history” or “the people” or some other substitute. What appears to set Dubya apart is that he is far more openly triumphalistic about the situation than have been most leaders in quite a while. However, if one looks only at direct quotes and rejects hearsay and proxies, he could either be a personal triumphalist (my decisions are God’s decisions) or somebody who sees himself as merely the schmuck who got stuck, so he’d better make the best of it. That he surrounds himself with looney triumphalists like Ashcroft who can’t tell the difference between Holy Chrism and salad oil ([http://www.disinfo.com/pages/dossier/id755/pg1/](http://www.disinfo.com/pages/dossier/id755/pg1/)). ---
**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2003, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-bush-convinced-that-god-is-on-his-side/171122/45 "2003-04-27T14:51:01Z")
If we extend “God” in this case to mean “underlying Providence of whatever my culture’s traditional religion is”, how many leaders in history have believed “God is against me.” and “My leadership and plans are in direct opposition to the Will of God.”? At most, they would believe “God does not exist.”, then invent a new god, like “history” or “the people” or some other substitute. What appears to set Dubya apart is that he is far more openly triumphalistic about the situation than have been most leaders in quite a while. However, if one looks only at direct quotes and rejects hearsay and proxies, he could either be a personal triumphalist (my decisions are God’s decisions) or somebody who sees himself as merely the schmuck who got stuck, so he’d better make the best of it. That he surrounds himself with looney triumphalists like Ashcroft who can’t tell the difference between Holy Chrism and salad oil ([http://www.disinfo.com/pages/dossier/id755/pg1/](http://www.disinfo.com/pages/dossier/id755/pg1/)) tends to encourage one to lean towards considering GWB as a personal triumphalist. A great quote: “The Bible prescribes the specific formula of sacred anointing oil in Exodus 30:22-29. Sacred anointing oil is comprised of fine spices blended into olive oil. The spices include myrrh, cinnamon, fragrant cane, and cassia, all in a ‘fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer.’ (Exodus 30:25) John Ashcroft substituted supermarket cooking oil for sacred anointing oil. This seems appropriate for a senator distinguished for representing corporate interests.” ---
**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2003, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-bush-convinced-that-god-is-on-his-side/171122/46 "2003-04-27T14:51:01Z")
If we extend “God” in this case to mean “underlying Providence of whatever my culture’s traditional religion is”, how many leaders in history have believed “God is against me.” and “My leadership and plans are in direct opposition to the Will of God.”? At most, they would believe “God does not exist.”, then invent a new god, like “history” or “the people” or some other substitute. What appears to set Dubya apart is that he is far more openly triumphalistic about the situation than have been most leaders in quite a while. However, if one looks only at direct quotes and rejects hearsay and proxies, he could either be a personal triumphalist (my decisions are God’s decisions) or somebody who sees himself as merely the schmuck who got stuck, so he’d better make the best of it. That he surrounds himself with looney triumphalists like Ashcroft who can’t tell the difference between Holy Chrism and salad oil ([http://www.disinfo.com/pages/dossier/id755/pg1/](http://www.disinfo.com/pages/dossier/id755/pg1/)) tends to encourage one to lean towards considering GWB as a personal triumphalist. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2003, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-bush-convinced-that-god-is-on-his-side/171122/47 "2003-04-27T18:32:24Z")
I don’t know how God regards you, **Dogface**. In our many and extensive consultations, he has not mentioned you. But clearly the SDMB hamster has it in for you. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2003, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-bush-convinced-that-god-is-on-his-side/171122/48 "2003-04-27T19:07:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by vanilla \* > \*\*God , did you want Bush to be our president? > If so, why are you punishing us? > please tell us what we are doing wrong and we will stop. > Amen. \*\* “We got the president we deserve, I just don’t remember setting a nun on fire.” [sub](I whish I could remember the source of that quote, but it sounded appropriate here.)[/sub] 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2003, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-bush-convinced-that-god-is-on-his-side/171122/49 "2003-04-27T20:15:25Z")
I think its from the onion in the “What do you think?” section. The quote is “People say you get the government you deserve. I just don’t remember knife-raping any nuns.” ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2003, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-bush-convinced-that-god-is-on-his-side/171122/50 "2003-04-27T23:11:36Z")
I have been thinking of this since I ever saw the title. [http://www.bobdylan.com/songs/withgod.html](http://www.bobdylan.com/songs/withgod.html) But now we got weapons Of the chemical dust If fire them we’re forced to Then fire them we must One push of the button And a shot the world wide And you never ask questions When God’s on your side. It’s not directly applicable, maybe. But it does keep running through my head. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2003, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-bush-convinced-that-god-is-on-his-side/171122/51 "2003-04-27T23:17:42Z")
Stop that at once! You are only provoking **december** , The Anti-Christ of Scancion, to post another limerick! You have been warned! ---
**Author:** ![december](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@december](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/december)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-bush-convinced-that-god-is-on-his-side/171122/52 "2003-04-28T01:01:39Z")
The Anti-Christ poster of Scansion. Seeks limerick number expansion. …So some of the time …When words do not rhyme, He’ll misspell to get your attantion. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-bush-convinced-that-god-is-on-his-side/171122/53 "2003-04-28T14:46:14Z")
Does that mean you’re not going to tell us why you are so vehement about denying the topic of the OP? You’ve been asked already what reason there is to think otherwise. You have been provided with ample cites by those you thought could not provide any, but have not participated in the “debate” yourself so far. Either support your view or retract it, m’kay? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-bush-convinced-that-god-is-on-his-side/171122.md?page=2)