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You are here: Home / Elections / My Hopes For The Obama Presidency

My Hopes For The Obama Presidency

January 20, 2009
35 Comments

Post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure statement.

While I don’t hold out much hope for what Obama will accomplish politically, I do have some sincere hopes for the next four years.

I sincerely hope that his daughters have a good experience with their father as president, that they are kept safe, and that they do not suffer personally throughout their lives because of this experience.

I sincerely hope that we do not suffer another 9-11 because terrorists are emboldened by a president who has been anything but reassuring on the topic of domestic security.

I sincerely hope that the Secret Service does their job to perfection and Obama is not assassinated. I cannot begin to fathom the fallout in this country if he were assassinated.

I sincerely hope that nothing happens to Obama because the thought of Biden (or Pelosi) as president is virtually unthinkable.

Since Obama is taking on a mess of astronomical proportions in this country, it should afford him a slightly longer honeymoon. I know that I am certainly willing to wait until at least March for my free healthcare to begin. David and I were already talking this afternoon about what we are going to do with an extra 10k a year now that we won’t have to pay for our health coverage or prescriptions or anything.

Ok, I jest. Back to my hopes.

I sincerely hope all the people who are expecting a combination of the Second Coming of Christ, Moses parting the Red Sea, and every other biblical illusion you can think of will be able to come to terms with the fact that Obama is not going to start paying their mortgage or car payment. He isn’t going to suddenly ensure that everyone makes at least 40k a year. There are some people who are in for a real shock in the next six to twelve months.

I wish I had saved the link to a comment I saw on a news article. The woman was going on and on about how Obama was going to save us. I am not exaggerating when I relate this: She said that Obama would be greater in history than Jesus Christ himself. I have thought of that person so many times since then and wondered what she was thinking. And what she will be thinking in the months ahead.

I would love to say I feel great hope today but I do not. And I felt even less when I read the closing benediction online.  I’ll put it here in case you missed it (copied from Drudge):

Benediction at Obama ‘s inauguration, Rev. Joseph Lowery: ‘Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back, when brown can stick around… when the red man can get ahead, man; and when white will embrace what is right. That all those who do justice and love mercy say Amen. Say Amen’…

It is going to be a long four years.

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Category: ElectionsTag: The Obamas

About Sallie Borrink

I’m a Christian, wife, homeschool mom, battle-seasoned blogger, and happy warrior for Christ. I discuss how Christians who don’t fit dominant institutional church and cultural narratives are already living truthfully and faithfully in the body of Christ.

“Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.” Acts 17:11

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Brandy

    January 20, 2009 at 3:12 pm

    Lowery is definitely stuck in the 60s, which doesn’t say much for “change” now does it? I try not to be easily offended, but it seems that, with benedictions like this, I can only conclude that the whiteness of myself and my children offends people like Lowery.

    Being born and raised in California, I am often surprised by the race “issue.” I went to an all-black elementary school (well, 85%…obviously my little blonde head was there), and that whole time I was treated as an equal even though I was the minority. This country has come a long ways (so much so that I wasn’t really aware there WAS a race issue growing up outside of a couple history lessons covering slavery and the Civil War), and I fear that folks in power have a desire to keep racism and racial divides alive.

    Reply
  2. Sallie @ a quiet simple life

    January 20, 2009 at 3:28 pm

    my little blonde head was there

    Blonde? I always pictured you as a brunette. I have no idea why, but I have.

    There are a lot of people who read and comment here and I have NO IDEA the color of their hair or skin. Unless they have a picture on their blog or they have specifically commented on some aspect of their color or looks, I don’t have the first idea what people look like. And I honestly like that. I just picture people based on their writing style and the substance of their comments.

    Kind of like why I like uniforms for children at school. You see the child, not the clothes.

    Reply
  3. Em

    January 20, 2009 at 3:50 pm

    On Sunday, a church friend related a recent scene she observed at the grocery store. An elderly white woman was coming in the door area, reaching for a cart. A black man stood there at the door. The elderly lady commented on the cold temps, and the black man said: “You know why it’s cold, don’t you?”

    The lady looked puzzled. The man laughingly responded: “Because the white man said it’d be a cold day in h_ll before a black man became President.”

    My friend said this wasn’t a joke, and the lady looked frightened.

    Our children, for years – including my generation, have been told that whites should be ashamed of their history. It matters not whether your ancestors owned slaves or even if you personally already embrace equality because you know Jesus Christ loves us all the same. All that matters is that you are white and you have no clue what it feels like.

    I live in the South where racism is said to still be strong, and for years, Southerners have been stereotyped as racists. My hometown has been ripped apart by racism and the implementation of Socialistic policies decades ago that were supposed to bring healing – but only resulted in increased bitterness and white exodus. . . which only led to more complaints because whites still had it better. (Nevermind, there was no attempting to fix problems within their own racial culture. No accountability. It was always the white man’s fault.)

    My kids are still in public schools, but after the last week, I am closer and closer to homeschool. The celebration of MLK Jr. day is practically a religious holiday here now. My 2nd grader came home everyday last week worshipping the man, but nary a mention of the Christian principles that influenced King’s beliefs. Yesterday, my child asked what we were going to do special to celebrate this special day. I sat him down and told him about Christ’s influence on Dr. King and that like Dr. King, he could let Jesus shine thru him to do good things, and that Jesus calls us to be servants to others, etc.

    But I dread the first few months of each year now in the public school because I see the omission of white heroes, no talk about the nameless number of diverse patriots who gave their lives for causes of freedom, etc. But what we have is a three month horn-tooting for black American culture while my kids come home and tell me how bad white people were for enslaving blacks. There’s never mention of slaves modern or ancient either. . . just the ones from our country’s early history. And we are the perpetrators still apparently.

    Even other white people who grew up learning this will tell you so if you voted for someone other than Obama or if you do not share their enthusiasm for this Hopenchange. That’s ridiculous.

    I see reverse discrimination and racism from the other side too. I can write a whole book on the things I’ve seen in my 35 years as a Southerner. I just pray for the wisdom on how to make sure my kids have discernment for their own futures and are not bullied into giving up their own convictions or made to feel they have nothing to contribute because they are white.

    I’m totally not into Hopenchange the Obama way. I have embraced RIGHT. Jesus Christ is the only right, our only hope and real change.

    Reply
  4. Zan

    January 20, 2009 at 3:55 pm

    WIth that benediction, I understand why Obama enjoyed Rev. Wright as his pastor for 20 years.

    Racism is alive and well.

    Reply
  5. Em

    January 20, 2009 at 3:59 pm

    I forgot to say that the first few months of the year in our county schools is dominated by MLK Jr. Day and Black History month. My child has learned about Rosa Parks every year since kindergarten. What he heard that first year was related to us this way verbatim: “White people were mean and wouldn’t let her sit down.”

    My children would know nothing of the Founding Fathers or our fallen, nameless war heroes if we had not taught them ourselves.

    Reply
  6. David (Sallie's husband)

    January 20, 2009 at 4:07 pm

    Lowery seems to have overlooked something: 64 million Americans voted for Obama and gave him the highest position in the country, the Presidency. What could be more anti-racial than that? My word, what blindness, Mr. Lowery!!!

    “When white will embrace what’s right.” Huh? A majority of voting Americans elected a black president and it took a lot more than the black population to do that! (And also there’s a great number of Republicans and Conservatives who wouldn’t have a problem voting for a black candidate if his/her ideas were agreeable.)

    People like Lowery need to wake up and realize it’s not the 60s anymore.

    I agree with Brandy, that “folks in power have a desire to keep racism and racial divides alive.” If they didn’t have that issue to deal with, I begin to wonder if they’d know what to do with themselves.

    Reply
  7. Sallie @ a quiet simple life

    January 20, 2009 at 4:16 pm

    Em,

    What you are describing re: your schooling experience is one of the main reasons I have become a probable homeschooler by default (even if it wasn’t by conviction). This also goes back to the other thread and the difficulties that Ann is facing with her child in kindergarten in public school.

    I can spend my time trying to undo the indoctrination Caroline receives in school (that most certainly will not be even half in line with what we would teach her at home) or I can just teach her myself and save her the confusion as a young child. It won’t take that much more time to just teach her rather than trying to unteach her and also teach her all the stuff she doesn’t get in school (like a complete history of the world and our country).

    I face the same thing with private school. I can work more hours to pay for private school at $5-9k a year or I can work less and teach her myself. We could do a pretty awesome homeschool for even just a few grand a year. And this is if I could even find a really good Christian school here. Christian schools abound in this city, but many of them are no better than the public school options.

    If anyone public schools their kids, please don’t take offense at what I’ve written. I know God leads different families down different paths. I’m just saying that for our circumstances and the best I can understand God’s will for OUR FAMILY RIGHT NOW, I might as well just homeschool Caroline and save myself a lot of trouble and extra work.

    Reply
  8. TheNormalMiddle

    January 20, 2009 at 4:57 pm

    Yep, it is truly maddening for those of us who cannot afford private and do not have the luxury of homeschool either.

    We just have to do our due-diligence at home and really fight the battles head on.

    Reply
  9. Jen C

    January 20, 2009 at 7:25 pm

    I’m Jen, a lurker who’s coming out to talk about today’s events. I’m Canadian, so maybe I shouldn’t comment on this. Likewise, please know that I do not mean to cause offense in any way.

    I was almost sick during the speech today (a bunch of us watched it at lunch at work), when Obama was talking about protecting innocents. How can someone care about justice and protecting the innocent and be so pro-choice at the same time??

    My heart is heavy today, thinking of the murdered unborn and those who will never have life. I grieve for a president who spoke of justice, yet supports murder.

    I grieve for your country, and for mine as well, as we are so intertwinned.

    Blessings, my sisters in Christ!
    Jen

    Reply
  10. Ann

    January 20, 2009 at 9:56 pm

    If anything good can come out of this, let it be that we can finally put to rest the idea that this country is racist.

    My heart is heavy today.

    Here is a 30 second video that explains my heaviness of heart. I hope President Obama sees it. I wonder if abortion had been legal in Hawaii at the time what “choice” his mother would have made.

    http://www.catholicvote.com/

    Reply
  11. Lizzie

    January 20, 2009 at 11:12 pm

    Jen summed up the thing that struck me most.
    He quoted Scripture, talked about each one’s right to pursue a life of happiness… and I sat there saying, “What about the unborn?”

    I wonder what God thinks of people quoting Scripture when their beliefs are so far afield of God’s Word.

    Also could anyone clue me in about that poem? Was I the only scratching my head and wondering what in the world she was talking about? Also she didn’t sound like she knows how to read.

    Reply
  12. Lorry

    January 21, 2009 at 8:14 am

    I agree. It is going to be a long 4 years. I pray it is only 4. I can’t help but feel like we have gotten the president our country deserves. As a nation we have not been faithful to God and this is the fruit of those past actions.

    As far as the speeches and prayers went yesterday, to me it was a testimony of God’s long-suffering with us. I couldn’t get past how offended He must be to really even consider the racism…I will say it was obvious that racism isn’t something that only white people are guilty of.

    My hopes for Obama and our nation are similar to yours; and I told our children that we must pray for this president and our country.

    Reply
  13. Ann

    January 21, 2009 at 10:11 am

    Another thought, that I woke up with this morning. It’s SO creepy how much people are into Obama. Even Obama himself must be creeped out. He’s just a man, like all of us, and flawed, like all of us.

    It was like the country, and even the world, was in this frenzy yesterday. As Sallie referenced above, there are people who think that Obama is going to be more important than Jesus. People who think he is going to take care of their bills.

    I felt like even Obama was trying to set reasonable expectations in his speech because people are expecting too much.

    I also thought it was terrible how his supporters booed President Bush as he was leaving and sang that Hey Hey Hey Goodbye song as he was boarding the helicopter.

    Reply
  14. Zan

    January 21, 2009 at 10:30 am

    A person who gets that much “hope” from a politician is one sad individual. I mean, I really admire some politicians for what they stand for and their policies, but I know that they are “POLITICIANS!!” Their job is to manipulate people to vote for them.

    Reply
  15. Sallie @ a quiet simple life

    January 21, 2009 at 10:32 am

    Like many of you, I’m still processing some of this. David and I were discussing that awful benediction again. I wonder how many white people who voted for Obama felt like it was a slap in the face? Maybe Obama didn’t say it himself, but someone approved that benediction and no one has issued a statement apologizing for it. Therefore, we can assume that it was fine by the new administration.

    So thank you for your vote and now shut up and go sit in the back of the bus until you learn to embrace what is “right”. We’re in charge now.

    That’s truly what it felt like to me.

    Reply
  16. Em

    January 21, 2009 at 12:26 pm

    Sallie, I’m still processing too.

    Did you happen to see the pic on the Drudge Report website? I think it is still there as of 12:20 EST. It’s a photo of the Mall, strewn with litter, a lady sitting in a wheelchair, some folks milling about after the inauguration. I thought this was supposed to be a “green” event? A new hope for Planet Earth. Looks like people are still waiting for someone else to do the hard work. . . certainly no signs of “green” celebrities setting an example. I guess they will pay one of the proteleriat to do it for then via “carbon credits”.

    Reply
  17. Sallie @ a quiet simple life

    January 21, 2009 at 1:03 pm

    Em,

    Now come on… Did you really think that people would take care of their own trash? I mean, that is someone else’s job, right? ***I*** don’t have to be green. I just have to tell everyone else to do it.

    I mean, these people preach saving the earth while they own multiple homes with thousands of square feet that they heat and cool year round while they travel first class or private jet between them on a weekly basis. While we lowly people live in our 1200-1800 square foot hovels and are instructed to only use two squares of toilet paper and turn off the air conditioning and dial down the thermostat to 55 at night.

    I will never take these people seriously until I see them selling all their extra homes, living in a modest home (ok, I’d even settle for one mansion at this point), driving more and flying less, and doing everything else they tell us we should be doing.

    Maybe Obama should start by rationing out toilet paper to Congress to show that he’s really serious about this.

    Ok, I gotta stop or this is definitely going to turn into an angry, irritated rant.

    Green. Right. 🙄

    Reply
  18. TheNormalMiddle

    January 21, 2009 at 1:43 pm

    Sallie said: “So thank you for your vote and now shut up and go sit in the back of the bus until you learn to embrace what is “right”. We’re in charge now. ”

    That is EXACTLY what it felt like to me. Bah!

    What really irks me is that today on talk radio I heard more people calling in raising cain about Rick Warren’s “prayer forcing people to pray the Lord’s prayer” than I did any flak about the benediction.

    Troubling times ahead. The change IS coming. Not sure it is the change we wanted or not.

    Reply
  19. Ann

    January 21, 2009 at 2:09 pm

    Speaking of celebs, you want to feel sick, watch this video.

    It’s a bunch of celebrities telling us to make a pledge to make the world a better place, and I quote, “be a servant for our new president.” Made by Demi and Ashton.

    Back to my creepy comment above, it literally sent shivers up my spine. Lots of “green” stuff in there too for you Sallie 🙂

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51kAw4OTlA0

    I am still processing all of this too. Clearly, I need more time to process. 😮

    Reply
  20. TheNormalMiddle

    January 21, 2009 at 2:27 pm

    Call me crazy, but isn’t the president supposed to be a SERVANT to the PEOPLE?

    As in, the ultimate PUBLIC SERVANT?

    Reply
  21. Jen

    January 21, 2009 at 2:32 pm

    Sorry I’m commenting a little late…..what else is new!

    I was very upset last night. I was heartbroken over how Bush was treated. For the opponent to still be getting in their digs in at the inauguration? Tasteless and rude. No matter what you think of Bush and his policies, he and Laura were a true class act.

    Second, I guess now we just hold our breath and wait for the likes of al Qaeda to test our peace loving, let’s-all-hold-hands-and-be-pals president. Do you think any of our enemies were watching their televisions thinking, “Oooo, I’m so scared of that guy. We better think twice before screwing with the Americans again!” Of course not. In fact, they no doubt have a list a mile long of all the things they want to do to us and our tragically hip, unfathomably naive new leader. I fear for our future.

    As I was watching the daytime festivities yesterday (I did not watch any of the balls or evening coverage), all I saw was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. There is something so sinister, so insincere about his expressions and demeanor that he literally makes my hair stand on end. I cannot understand the god-like status and all the worshiping. And as a self-professed born again believer in Jesus Christ, I cannot understand why Obama allows it to happen. In my mind, if he was a sincere believer, he would stop taking all the credit for his wonderfulness and help his supporters redirect their worship to the God who made him, and them. And because he doesn’t do that, and because of so many other contradictions in his character, I’m having a very hard time believing that he is a Christian. I’m not judging him, but I’m saying the pieces do not fit together.

    Reply
  22. Ann

    January 21, 2009 at 4:23 pm

    My bad. In the celeb video, someone says, “I pledge to be of service to Barack Obama.”

    Still creepy.

    Reply
  23. Ann

    January 21, 2009 at 4:41 pm

    My bad again.

    It does say ” I pledge to be a servant to this president.”

    If you can’t bear the whole video it’s at 3:54.

    Reply
  24. Micki Santiago

    January 21, 2009 at 4:57 pm

    As I’ve read these comments, I must admit I am disappointed. Only one person (#12) said anything about the fact of praying for our new President. I realize that doesn’t mean others are not praying for him, but only one person so far has said she is praying for Obama and teaching her kids to do the same. Prayer is EXACTLY what he needs right now.

    Yesterday was monumental, no matter the personal feelings toward Obama. Yesterday was American democracy and our Constitution in action. It is always cool to see a new president taking the oath of office, if nothing more than the fact it is our political process being executed. And, the beauty of the situation is that if we don’t like how things are 4 years from now, we get a chance to change it. As Obama took the oath, I stood there with tears in my eyes and prayed for the man. Prayed that God would guide him and direct him in leading this country. Prayed that if he is not a true Christian, that God would get a hold of Obama’s heart and bring Obama into a personal relationship with Him.

    I did not vote for Obama. I have my reservations about him. But, that does not mean I will not show him or the postion he holds any respect. Because I did not vote for him does not make him any less the president of this great Nation. And, it still is a great nation. People are jumping borders and still going through Ellis Island to get here. So, we still have something to offer. I was raised to respect the President, but more importantly, the Office of Presidency. Obama deserves a fair chance to lead this country. He deserves to show what he will and/or will not do as the leader of the USA. Whatever policies he puts into place or takes away or whatever he does, he will give an account for that. As will those that voted for him. But, he at least deserves the opportunity to prove himself one way or another.

    Yesterday was also monumental for me on a personal level. Obama is a mixed race individual. My husband is not caucasion. And my kids are little mixed breeds. Before November of 2008, this country had not seen anyone of any color, other than white, or any gender, other than male, run for the office of presidency. Now, both my mixed race son AND daughter could run for president…and they just might win.

    Christians, especially conservative Christians, have a great opportunity to NOT do what the radical liberals did…bad-mouth former President Bush. The radical liberals did nothing but bash Bush. Conservative Christians have the chance to show respect for President Obama and the office he holds and not bad-mouth him, but to pray for him and speak respectfully of him as the president, regardless of personal feelings toward the man.

    Reply
  25. Aunt Gail

    January 21, 2009 at 6:44 pm

    I couldn’t more proud of my daughter (Micki Santiago #24) & her comments. I applaud her & agree with every word she has said. Thank you Micki for voicing our families beliefs & feelings, and having the courage to do so.

    Reply
  26. Sallie @ a quiet simple life

    January 21, 2009 at 6:45 pm

    NormalMiddle said:

    Call me crazy, but isn’t the president supposed to be a SERVANT to the PEOPLE?

    As in, the ultimate PUBLIC SERVANT?

    Ok, Crazy. I mean that is SO eighteenth century. An elected official actually being a public servant? Someone would actually have to study real history to even have heard of that concept. But, oops, they are too busy learning to compost and do Native American rituals to actually be educated as to the founding and purpose of this country.

    I know that my sarcasm is probably bothering some people, but the sheer stupidity of what we are having to deal with in this country the past twenty years just boggles the mind.

    Jen said:

    I was very upset last night. I was heartbroken over how Bush was treated. For the opponent to still be getting in their digs in at the inauguration? Tasteless and rude. No matter what you think of Bush and his policies, he and Laura were a true class act.

    I hear you. So much for respecting the office of the president. Oh sorry. That doesn’t apply to Republicans. That only applies to Democrats. Now we will be commanded to respect the office because their man is in there. Forget the horrible treatment of the previous president.

    Ann said:

    My bad again.

    It does say ” I pledge to be a servant to this president.”

    If you can’t bear the whole video it’s at 3:54.

    That is creepy. We are to be servants of Christ.

    And ****imagine**** if conservative children had said they were pledging to be a servant to Bush??!?!??!?!?!?!? Can you ****imagine**** the outcry!??!?!?!??!

    Micki – I understand what you are saying and to a certain degree I do agree with you. In all fairness, most of the women who have commented here today have said in other threads about Obama that they are and/or will be praying for him. So even though it hasn’t been mentioned specifically in this thread, it has come up many times before. I have also personally commented elsewhere that I truly hope Obama comes to a saving knowledge of Christ because from what I can discern from observing him at a distance, I do not sense the Holy Spirit indwelling him.

    I agree that we should show respect for the office of president. I find the transfer of power an amazing thing to behold. I love my country. I love presidential history. I read American history for fun. I believe our Constitution is an amazing document. But that doesn’t mean I have to stay silent and not critique what my president says or does. I found that benediction truly appalling and offensive. It is still within my rights to discuss that in a public place. Discussing that here is not being disrespectful to the office of the president. Observing the cult-like following is not being disrespectful.

    I think a lot of what is happening here today (and the past few months) is a bunch of women finding a safe place to try to process what is happening to the country we love. If we didn’t love the USA, we wouldn’t bother.

    Reply
  27. Sallie @ a quiet simple life

    January 21, 2009 at 8:00 pm

    A few more thoughts as I’m still processing some of these comments…

    I strongly believe in God’s providential hand in the founding of America. I believe that part of what made the U.S. great was its recognition of God’s sovereignty and power.

    I believe that there are still many great Americans in this country. There are many Americans – Christian and otherwise – who work hard, provide for their family, support their community, and make the U.S. a place where people want to live.

    But I do think this country is at a crossroads. It is a country deeply divided between people who have very different ideas as to the direction it should head. Half the country believes they have found their Messiah. The other half is mourning the loss of something they can’t even maybe articulate. The next ten years may decide which way we go.

    It is also a country that is increasingly populated by people who have absolutely no fear of God. I’m not even talking Christians. I’m talking about moral and/or religious people with a fear of consequences when they do wrong. We’re in increasingly short supply of those as well. I do not think this bodes well for us on many levels.

    Personally, I think it is very likely that the U.S. has peaked and is already in permanent decline. It gives me no pleasure to say that. I have a two year old daughter and I do not believe she will live in a a great country as a middle aged adult. She may not even live in the U.S. as we think of it. I believe it becomes increasingly likely that North America will be reshaped and redivided over issues such as water rights (amongst others).

    Civilizations don’t usually flame out in a month or a year or even fifty years. It takes time. But I think we are already headed in that direction. I think the opportunity to turn this around is growing steadily smaller.

    Consider these two quotes:

    A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, (which is) always followed by a dictatorship.
    * From bondage to spiritual faith;
    * From spiritual faith to great courage;
    * From courage to liberty;
    * From liberty to abundance;
    * From abundance to complacency;
    * From complacency to apathy;
    * From apathy to dependence;
    * From dependence back into bondage.
    Alexander Tytler (a Scottish history professor at The University of Edinburgh) had this to say about “The Fall of The Athenian Republic” some 2,000 years prior in 1787.(There is some dispute about the origin of this quote according to Wikipedia.)

    and

    “The American Republic will endure until the Congress discovers it can bribe the American people with their own money.” — Comte Alexander de Tocquville, On Democracy in America, 1830

    We have a significant segment of our population that has discovered the truths of both these quotes. And we have a functionally illiterate population when it comes to the Constitution and such.

    And now we have the most liberal Senator as POTUS with the full backing of a Congress loaded with liberals. Their core policies line up completely with the quotes above. I’ll leave it to you to do the math.

    Maybe Obama will move more center than he has been as a Senator and as he campaigned. But from where I sit, unless there is a huge change of attitude and practice in this country as well as a true Holy Spirit infused revival, this country is toast and is headed the way of the Roman Empire. If you want something to keep you up nights, read about the causes of the decline of the Roman Empire and then consider the U.S.

    I’m sorry this comment is such a downer. But I wanted to explain why I feel so passionately about the things that distress me about this country. This goes way beyond just not liking Obama or respecting the office of president. It comes out of a firm belief that we are rapidly approaching the point of no return in this country and the USA that I appreciate so much is simply not going to exist in the not so distant future.

    Reply
  28. Mary

    January 21, 2009 at 10:00 pm

    This is probably the best commentary I have read on the current events.

    Reply
  29. Sallie @ a quiet simple life

    January 22, 2009 at 8:19 am

    Thanks, Mary. We usually have pretty good discussions around here. I’m blessed with a group of really great readers and commenters, a number of whom don’t agree with me but we have a good time anyway despite our differences of opinion. 😀

    Here is an article I found written by Dick Morris who is a former adviser to Trent Lott (R) and Bill Clinton (D). He lays out pretty simply and thoroughly what he expects to see Obama do in the next four years. The Obama presidency: Here comes socialism.

    Here’s a quote:

    He will begin by passing every program for which liberals have lusted for decades, from alternative-energy sources to school renovations, infrastructure repairs and technology enhancements. These are all good programs, but they normally would be stretched out for years. But freed of any constraint on the deficit — indeed, empowered by a mandate to raise it as high as possible — Obama will do them all rather quickly.

    But it is not his spending that will transform our political system, it is his tax and welfare policies. In the name of short-term stimulus, he will give every American family (who makes less than $200,000) a welfare check of $1,000 euphemistically called a refundable tax credit. And he will so sharply cut taxes on the middle class and the poor that the number of Americans who pay no federal income tax will rise from the current one-third of all households to more than half. In the process, he will create a permanent electoral majority that does not pay taxes, but counts on ever-expanding welfare checks from the government. The dependency on the dole, formerly limited in pre-Clinton days to 14 million women and children on Aid to Families with Dependent Children, will now grow to a clear majority of the American population.

    I really encourage everyone to read it. Even if Morris is only correct on half of his predictions, this country is simply not going to be the same. Many people, including a number who voted for Obama, have no idea what is about to be unleashed in this country.

    Reply
  30. Ann

    January 22, 2009 at 10:35 am

    Thank you Sallie for this space. I learn so much from reading your writing and all of the commenters, who are also excellent writers and thinkers. It is good to be challenged in our thinking. And yes, from a previous comment, a good reminder to keep praying for Obama. And to keep praying for the unborn, they are going to need it.

    Reply
  31. Carla

    January 22, 2009 at 10:43 am

    Have you ever been surrounded by smoke, then a strong breeze blows in and starts dispelling the haze?

    This whole miserable election season has been the smoke. Your post and most of the comments have been a breeze that is blowing the crud away. I have longed to hear others expressing what I am feeling.

    Thank you so much.

    I love Sean Hannity but I disagree with him and Richard Land and so many of the others who have congratulated Obama and wished him success. Wished him success?? We already know what he stands for. Not just abortion but the death of those who survive abortion! Other blogs that I have previously enjoyed reading are talking about “praying for him”, etc… I pray that he will be prevented from doing the evil to this country that he plans.

    For years we have been anesthetized in the church with “feel good” teachings. This does not prepare us for troubled times. It seems that we have huge Christian nurseries with very little emphasis on growth. “Judge not” has become the verse of choice. But Jesus also said: ” Therefore, you will [a]fully know them by their fruits. Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven.”Matthew 7:20-21 (Amplified Bible) I cannot judge what is in Obama’s heart. But I’m looking at his fruit, and it is rotten.

    As for all the adulation, here’s what Acts 12:22-24 says about a similar situation:
    “And the assembled people shouted, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man!

    And at once an angel of the Lord smote him and cut him down, because he did not give God the glory (the preeminence and kingly majesty that belong to Him as the supreme Ruler); and he was eaten by worms and died.”

    Reply
  32. Carla

    January 22, 2009 at 10:50 am

    Micki said: “Before November of 2008, this country had not seen anyone of any color, other than white, or any gender, other than male, run for the office of presidency.”

    Jessie Jackson ran for president in 1986, but did not get the nomination. Alan Keyes has run several times.

    Barak Hussein Obama is a frightening man. If Clarence Thomas had run, I would’ve voted for him in a New York minute, but thankfully, at least he is on the Supreme Court.

    The color of the man’s skin is not the issue. It’s the content of the fruit of his character.

    Reply
  33. Beth

    January 23, 2009 at 12:04 am

    Hi Sallie,
    I’m chiming in a little late. My first thoughts as I heard Rev. Lowery’s benediction was, “What country has he been living in?” I think he feeds on the idea that African-Americans are still being oppressed in this country. I think “the day” that he was praying for has certainly arrived, but I think in some ways he doesn’t really want to admit it.

    I also wanted to comment on the whole “cult of Obama” mentality. My husband was in Washington DC today for the March for Life and noticed that a shop in Union Station that used to be a regular gift shop is now entirely devoted to Barack Obama merchandise. President Obama’s picture was also printed on his Metro ticket. As he said, “this is not what we do in a democracy.” Very creepy indeed.

    In a similar vein, I have been quite frustrated with so many Christian voices around me overlooking the abortion issue so that they can “fully appreciate the historical significance of this day.” Or others who have found a way to justify their support of him and his socialist policies….policies they feel will reduce the number of abortions needed because women will be less likely to seek abortions if they feel financially secure. Canada’s abortion rate has steadily increased in spite of very strong social welfare programs. I am frustrated that so few people see abortion as THE social justice issue of our era. We are celebrating the pinnacle of the civil rights movement in America while millions of innocents are being oppressed, denied civil rights or even life. We clearly have a long way to go and it so saddens me to see people so helped along by the civil rights movement using their power to turn around and oppress another innocent group.

    I am certainly praying that God would change President Obama’s and other leader’s hearts about abortion, but it seems as if he has already made steps to further his agenda today by lifting the ban on federal funding to non-profit groups who perform and promote abortions in other parts of the world.

    Your quotes about the decline of democracy ring eerily true of our nation today. Lord, show us your mercy.

    Thanks for providing a place to vent!
    A frequent reader, but very infrequent commenter,
    Beth

    Reply
  34. Sallie @ a quiet simple life

    January 25, 2009 at 9:46 pm

    Carla and Beth,

    Thank you for your thoughtful comments.

    I would also add to Carla’s list that Geraldine Ferraro was on the Democratic ticket many years ago so Sarah Palin was the first woman nominated by the Republicans, but not the first woman.

    Reply
  35. Sallie Borrink

    August 25, 2025 at 10:02 am

    Sooooo interesting to go back and read this post and especially the comments now, sixteen years later.

    This is why I make the effort to keep all this content alive. It’s a living record of what people were seeing, feeling, and perceiving in real time.

    Reply

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Sallie Schaaf Borrink

I’m a Christian, wife, homeschool mom, battle-seasoned blogger, and happy warrior for Christ. I discuss how Christians who don’t fit dominant institutional church and cultural narratives are already living truthfully and faithfully in the body of Christ.

“Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.” Acts 17:11

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