# Newt stares into crystal ball, sees atheist Islamists. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 29, 2011, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newt-stares-into-crystal-ball-sees-atheist-islamists/576330 "2011-03-29T00:39:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newt-stares-into-crystal-ball-sees-atheist-islamists/576330/41 "2011-03-29T15:28:28Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > That would explain all those Koran Bibles being left around in Arizona. What you can do is line the border with koreans so that you have to step on a Korean to get into the country. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newt-stares-into-crystal-ball-sees-atheist-islamists/576330/42 "2011-03-29T15:29:33Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > Sorry. It is accurate. It’s _ **what he said** _. Yeah but Starving Artist knows what he MEANT to say. He can read Newt’s mind. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newt-stares-into-crystal-ball-sees-atheist-islamists/576330/43 "2011-03-29T15:32:57Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > What you can do is line the border with koreans so that you have to step on a Korean to get into the country. That works in Korea: you have so many Koreans on the border that no one can go from north to south, or from south to north. If it works there, it can work in Arizona too. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newt-stares-into-crystal-ball-sees-atheist-islamists/576330/44 "2011-03-29T15:55:46Z")
The statement “we’re a [description of the nation that plays to your audience] potentially dominated by [description of a bogyman that scares your audience]” is not inherently contradictory. I don’t agree with Newt’s statement, nor see it as much more than book-selling/speaking tour-promoting pandering, nor do I see it as remotely plausible. However, it’s not a contradiction. Say candidate JimmyJohn Bakkerfallwellgrahmphelps is running extraordinarily high in the polls, particularly among the extremely motivated fundamentalist/evangelical segment of the population. Extremely motivated doesn’t translate into an actual majority of the populace, but an actual majority of the voting population. His opposition (no incumbent that year) is Alfred E. Snoopynewman, who as election day approaches commits gaffe after gaffe and turns out to be an incompetent campaigner. So someone here makes the statement that America is founded largely on secular principles, but it’s potentially about to be dominated by fundamental Christians. They back this statement up by pointing to the likelihood (at that time) of three Supreme Court vacancies and the candidate’s previous administration (as governor) habit of appointing hard right/bible-based idealogs to positions of power. “The government of our mostly secular population is about to be dominated by fundamental Christians.” Versus “[Liberalism is winning over our children; we’re losing our faith and will become] a secular atheist country, potentially one dominated by radical Islamists [because without any motivation to vote good Christians into office, the government is susceptible to being taken over/run by people of a different faith]” Again, I’m not defending the rather repugnant ideology behind it or the likelihood thereof, or saying that such blatant scare tactics are not worth pitting themselves, but am saying that as intended, there is no contradiction. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newt-stares-into-crystal-ball-sees-atheist-islamists/576330/45 "2011-03-29T16:12:54Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > You miss the point, such as it were. **Starkers** relys on the proven fact of liberal effete pussification and corruption. A thoroughly liberal government could be taken over by a small band of militant Campfire Girls. Right. Secular liberals are such cowards and pussies that when they take over, a small cadre of radical Muslims will be able to walk in and push them around. Of course, if Liberals are such cowards and pussies, how the fuck are they going to take over the country? Won’t a large cadre of radical Christians be able to walk in and push them around? Of course, the answer the the conundrum is that conservatives don’t believe people are actually secular. They think liberals just hate Christianity. And so the idea that secular atheist liberals would team up with radical Muslims makes perfect sense, because secular liberals hate Christians and radical Muslims hate Christians. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newt-stares-into-crystal-ball-sees-atheist-islamists/576330/46 "2011-03-29T16:16:45Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > Sorry. It is accurate. It’s _ **what he said** _. Said, schmed. You want rational analysis or something? You’re talking to **Starving Artist** here, and there is no conservative dribble so tortuous or insane that he won’t slap a bow on it and add it to the mounting pile of evidence that liberals have been destroying America since the 1960s. Why pay attention to what Gingrich actually said, when it’s so easy to simply create what you want him to mean out of whole cloth? I mean, it’s not like Gingrich is one of the few nationally-prominent politicians with a Ph.D., so he can’t be expected to be articulate enough to express his thoughts in actual words and stuff. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newt-stares-into-crystal-ball-sees-atheist-islamists/576330/47 "2011-03-29T16:17:21Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > “The government of our mostly secular population is about to be dominated by fundamental Christians.” The USA is a very Christian nation, practically unique in the West for taking religion seriously in fact. A nation of christians about to be dominated by fundamentalist christians does not translate into ‘nation of christians (or even athiests) about to be dominated by radical islamists’ as an analogy. He was talking purposeful, button pushing idiocy for political gain. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newt-stares-into-crystal-ball-sees-atheist-islamists/576330/48 "2011-03-29T16:28:37Z")
> [@tagos](#): > > He was talking purposeful, button pushing idiocy for political gain. I agree. No, wait … we’re in the Pit. Lemme try that again. No shit Sherlock! Ahem. I wholly agree that the underlying premises are problematic and that he’s fearmongering to sell books and tickets to the latest Newtaganza. What I disagree with is that his statement is inherently contradictory as many of the earlier posts suggested. The analogy easily falls apart if you lose sight of its intent, but then that’s a straw man. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newt-stares-into-crystal-ball-sees-atheist-islamists/576330/49 "2011-03-29T17:31:45Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > Yeah but Starving Artist knows what he MEANT to say. He can read Newt’s mind. I’m starting to wonder if he IS Newt. ---
**Author:** ![SeldomSeen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@SeldomSeen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeldomSeen)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newt-stares-into-crystal-ball-sees-atheist-islamists/576330/50 "2011-03-29T17:47:20Z")
Quote:\*\* Steve MB\*\* > [@](#): > > Newt stares into crystal ball > > …and smacks it a couple times in a futile attempt to get it to show the Playboy Channel. :D:D Thanks, I needed a new keyboard anyway…and the coffee stains will come off the monitor eventually… ---
**Author:** ![loshan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce73a5/32.png) [@loshan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/loshan)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newt-stares-into-crystal-ball-sees-atheist-islamists/576330/51 "2011-03-29T18:17:21Z")
> [@Long\_Time\_First\_Time](#): > > Newt is a grifter. Nothing more or less. He’s intelligent enough to know how to get people to open up their checkbooks. > > He will never actually run for the presidency. He will form exploratory committees (Do not have to report income) but always decide that the time isn’t right and not actually declare a himself a candidate (Do have to report income). This could be written about a number of potential Republican predsidential candidates. Bachmann and Palin are two others who spring immediately to mind. It should be made into [insert name here] flyers and plastered all over the red states. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newt-stares-into-crystal-ball-sees-atheist-islamists/576330/52 "2011-03-29T19:06:47Z")
There’s a man from the funny papers we all know! (Newty Newt Newt…Newt…NewtNewt) Brain turned to cheese a long time ago! (Newty Newt Newt…Newt…NewtNewt) He spreads lies on the radio! (Newty Newt Newt…Newt…NewtNewt) Then he’s the slime from your video! (Newty Newt Newt…Newt…NewtNewt) ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newt-stares-into-crystal-ball-sees-atheist-islamists/576330/53 "2011-03-29T20:19:57Z")
> [@loshan](#): > > This could be written about a number of potential Republican predsidential candidates. Bachmann and Palin are two others who spring immediately to mind. It should be made into [insert name here] flyers and plastered all over the red states. The difference is that Newt actually has a reputation for intellect, which makes his scare-pandering about the Secular Theocratic Atheist Muslim Menace stand out from the more run-of-the-mill examples of political cynicism. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newt-stares-into-crystal-ball-sees-atheist-islamists/576330/54 "2011-03-29T21:16:16Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Is there a meme among the Right that worshiping a false god is equivalent to atheism? I mean, if you squint, you can kinda see how someone could think that way. They don’t worship the REAL god, so they don’t in fact worship any god, so they are atheists? > > As a non-Islamic atheist, I’m offended by the idea, but whaddayagonnado? I know the other direction exists: atheists are really worshiping Satan. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newt-stares-into-crystal-ball-sees-atheist-islamists/576330/55 "2011-03-29T22:04:02Z")
And I am convinced that if we do not decisively win the struggle over the nature of America, by the time my grandchildren are my age they will be in a partly theocratic country, potentially one dominated by radical evangelists. And I already know it will suck for them. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newt-stares-into-crystal-ball-sees-atheist-islamists/576330/56 "2011-03-30T01:40:31Z")
> [@](#): > > He was talking purposeful, button pushing idiocy for political gain. Only half true, in my opinion. In the current climate getting your talking head covered on the news means you have say something more outrageous than the last boob, to get on CNN. Sarah kind of ratcheted up the outlandish, raised the stupid bar so high, that the rest of the field is just trying to catch up. Why? Because even if you hate the speaker, and all they stand for you’ll tune in, with disbelief, to hear it with your own two ears. That increases ratings, which raises advertising rates and income for the networks. The stupider, more outrageous, more egregious, the better. Sadly it’s not the bonehead talking head that’s driving it, it’s us. It works on us, we’re all talking about it, the news heads will talk about it, back and forth, milking it for all it’s worth. Pointing out it’s idiocy or condemning it, makes no difference, in the end. It worked, as long as it gets a rise out of us. News channels no longer care one iota if it’s true, newsworthy, accurate, or meaningful, as long as it drives ratings, there is nothing they won’t cover. Witness the Westborough Baptist Church, 12 people at most, talking nothing but stupid, hateful, nonsense = endless coverage! I can’t wait to see what shit Sarah’s going to have to come up with to get some attention! ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newt-stares-into-crystal-ball-sees-atheist-islamists/576330/57 "2011-03-30T03:17:45Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > Yeah but Starving Artist knows what he MEANT to say. He can read Newt’s mind. That’s the beautiful thing about static: listen hard enough and you can hear anything you want. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newt-stares-into-crystal-ball-sees-atheist-islamists/576330/58 "2011-03-30T05:09:03Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > You guys are seeing contradictions that do not exist. > > This country’s society for the last forty years has been dominated by liberalism. > > This does not mean that the government enforces liberalism. > > And it does not mean that ideologies contrary to liberalism have no power. > > Thus, a society of the future might be predominately secular and atheistic, but still vulnerable to agitation from other quarters…such as Islam. > > Gingrich’s concerns are two-fold: One, that the U.S. in a generation or two will be dominated socially by liberals (hence secularism and atheism); and two, given that liberals are almost always willing to bend over and take it up the butt in order to claim the moral high ground, they will allow aggressive, radical Islam to overtake society rather than stand up to it and be perceived as “racists”. > > So he’s predicting a progression in which America, having become secular and atheistic (i.e., liberal), will begin to be overrun by Islam because of a liberal lack of will to resist it. > > Now, we can debate whether that will ever happen (and for the record, Gingrich’s beliefs are not necessarily my own), but it’s not accurate to try to portray Gingrich’s comments as saying that in the future we will be governed by atheists, except that at the same time we will be governed by Muslims. > > So again it’s a “progression”, rather than conflicting ideologies predominating at the same time. [Even Newt (or his people) recognized the idiocy of his comment.](http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20048494-503544.html) Later, his spokesman Rick Tyler claimed that Newt simply left out the word “or”. What he intended to say was that either secular atheists or Islamic fascists would be in charge. Since this is the Pit, I am safe to go ahead and say you are a fucking moron for your bizarro interpretation. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newt-stares-into-crystal-ball-sees-atheist-islamists/576330/59 "2011-03-30T05:35:12Z")
Only thing that changes is the atheists and Islamists fighting it out over who gets the Volvo. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2011, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newt-stares-into-crystal-ball-sees-atheist-islamists/576330/60 "2011-03-30T05:48:07Z")
> [@OttoDaFe](#): > > That’s the beautiful thing about static: listen hard enough and you can hear anything you want. OK, who’s job was it to tell **Otto** to stay away from the brown acid? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newt-stares-into-crystal-ball-sees-atheist-islamists/576330.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newt-stares-into-crystal-ball-sees-atheist-islamists/576330.md?page=4)