Pastor Nadarkhani: Faithful To Christ, A Threat To The Mullahs, Sentenced To Death

OS hardly knows what to say, except that the Iranian diplomatic mission is located at:

2209 Wisconsin Avenue Northwest,
Washington, DC
(202) 965-4991

Apparently, the Iranians intend to hang Pastor Nadarkhani for the crime of being Christian.

And, for good measure now, they've decided he's a Zionist and a rapist, or is that a rapist Zionist? No matter, any lie will do as we hustle him to the gallows.

As Cranmer reminds us:

We were evidently even unwise to believe the written judgements of Iran's Supreme Court, which stated:

He has frequently denied the prophethood of the great prophet of Islam and the rule of the sacred religion of Islam. And he has proven his apostasy by organizing evangelistic meetings and inviting others to Christianity, establishing a house church, baptizing people, expressing his faith to others and, denying Islamic values.

OS is tempted to say at this point--the next time some 'Islamist Rights' group, such as CAIR, beats their chest about how shabbily they are treated in the West, let us inquire of them what they did, in public, loudly and unequivocally, to protest this crime by an Islamic government. We'll be waiting as the crickets chip in response.

But, above and beyond that, this is a contemporary example of the horrors that descend when the preachers and the politicians decide to get joined at the hip, so that everyone ends up unsure about where the ecclesia and the state begin and end. Both religion and politics attract a fair number of narcissists, lazy about work, hungry for power, and bereft of conscience. It's a recipe for disaster, in many forms, across the ages, when they link up. The recent examples of Hitler, Mao, the Perons, the Japanese cultists who led that nation over the cliff in the 1920's to '40's--on and on it goes--should give pause. It's being played out in Iran now, with a nuclear program underway to boot.

There are no secular messiahs.

The state or nation, when worshipped, ends up eating its faithful.

Encounter any preacher or politician who tries to convince you otherwise? Run screaming away from them as fast as your little legs will take you. These people end up bathing their worlds in blood. Like Iran is now doing.

So, in the meantime, OS, a devout Christian, urges one and all to call that phone number listed above.

And to think for themselves.

Washington Post coverage here.

Al Gore And His High-School Physics Cookie Jar: The Sound Of Credibility Swirling The Drain

HT James Delingpole.

Lawdy, have muhcy. Missah Goah may have really stepped into it this time, as Anthony Watts at WattsUpWithThat presents a close analysis and attempt to replicate a 'scientific demonstration' presented as factual truth by the former Vice President.

Long story short--if the Gore presentation is not a fabrication, it is at the very least one of the sloppiest and un-credible jobs of presentation of science imaginable.

Since the world is being pressured to change absolutely everything about the way live is lived based upon Mr. Gore's assertions of science, it is up to him to provide credible evidence. He hasn't, and can't, because his hypothesis is simply not true.

Wonder if the folks who awarded him that Oscar will ever getting around to calling him and demanding it back?

Herman Cain Swims With The Sharks: American Thinker

Admittedly, and before the first paragraph, we learn, to the author's credit, that he is an associate of Herman Cain. But given that, this article is still an excellent read.

C. Edmund Wright shares his thoughts on why Cain may not be such a long shot, and the comments from readers tend to be thoughtful, not the hysterical rants of people who are JustFedUpAndWon'tTakeAnotherMinuteOfThisNonsense.

A quick sample from the essay, which OS shares in hopes his readers will click that link above.

He says only glowing things about the people who are competing with him for the job he wants now -- which is the job of opposing Obama. He was clearly the favorite opponent of all the candidates. He no doubt would win the "he's my second choice" sweepstakes among conservatives. That is related to the "I would support him if I thought he could win" crowd. Cain wins those hands down.

OS repeats his earlier premise, yet again: In times like these, where it feels like things are coming a bit unwound, exactly what we don't need is some messianic figure riding in over the horizon on his white horse proclaiming 'I'm a' gonna' fix it all, fer' sure, and right quickly, too!!' That was Obama's ploy, and here we are. That's Rick Perry's language and manner, and Michelle Bachmann's.

As a matter of fact, that person on the white horse does not exist, except in romance novels, TV shows and movies. Those of us who were blessed to live during Reagan's terms look back with great fondness, sometimes forgetting what a hard, grim slog it was to retrieve the country from the decade of Nixon and Carter. Reagan looks messianic in retrospect, but he did not appear that way in prospect, 1980 landslide or no.

When the building is burning down around you, what's needed is a calm, experienced grown-up who knows where to hook up the fire hoses, where to tell the crew to direct the water, and where to look for the folks trapped inside. The operative words being 'calm' and 'experienced'. Hand out medals later--that's a memo to the Nobel Prize Committee, by the way. The white horse is completely optional.

So, while OS isn't just outright cheering for anyone yet, he has been interested enough in Mr. Cain's efforts to kick small amounts of cash into his till. While the question of his eventual victory remains wide open, he and his ideas deserve to be heard--and at this stage of proceedings, that's all anyone can expect.

If any of OS's readership are interested in doing likewise, that link is here.

Trader Alessio Rastani on BBC: The Markets Are Toast

Mr. Rastani's comments really rattled the normally unflappable BBC interviewer (and evidently, her colleagues) with his candor. It is shocking to listen to at first, but it is hard to disagree with much of it. His candor about his role was honest and bracing: I'm a trader, it's my job to make money.

This is no ordinary 'talking-head' moment--well worth a look.

Good news for asthmatics: Obama administration set to ban over-the-counter inhalers to save ozone layer

Good news for asthmatics: Obama administration set to ban over-the-counter inhalers to save ozone layer.

Really. That's what's proposed.

And, it does not take much digging to find that asthma afflicts a lot of kids from poorer families, where the stresses can help trigger the condition...

These people are completely out of control. November 2012 cannot come soon enough. Bachmann's proposal to turn out the lights and lock the doors of the EPA looks more and more reasonable.

OldSouth On The Road: Portland Oregon And Environs

Business has taken OS to a part of the country he hasn't visited in years, for which he truly and humbly repents in dust and ashes.

It is utterly, breathtakingly beautiful here. Words fail. The poet who penned 'America the Beautiful' caught it best: '..purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain.'

These folks know how to eat, and the local wines and beers are every bit as good as rumors describe them. OS will be back, with the lovely, sainted, and longsuffering Mrs. OS at his side next time. (He still doesn't understand why she tolerates, much less loves, OS.)

One item did surprise him, however. This has a reputation, on both sides of the Columbia River, for being a Blue State area. OS did see one 'Obama 2012' bumper sticker on the several hundred cars he encountered. He avoided speaking of politics, 'cuz a good house guest doesn't bring it up, or religion either. His hosts did, however, and they were good people he expected would be loyal Democrat voters. The only choice they now ponder is which of the GOP candidates would serve the country best.

They are still in a bit of a fog, and the prospect of Rick Perry is worrisome (which shows they have good instincts). Still unsure of Romney, but of all people, Herman Cain does hold their interest, as a person who knows how to run businesses and manage people. A grown-up who can do math.

It is beautiful here, but it is obvious the economy here is ailing seriously. Houses can't sell, because home values have dropped 30-40%, and show no sign of recovering. Foreclosures everywhere, which aren't clearing, and many more in the pipeline. Banks won't lend into a deflating market, even though they are bearing the costs of maintaining the houses they foreclosed. As one person familiar with the situation said: 'If you walk in with cash, you are golden.' OS asked him what it will take to turn it around, and all he could say was 'Time', and 'God's in charge, He'll do something on his timetable.' This guy won't be pulling the lever for Obama again, either, here in this blue-blue-blue-blue state.

Most unexpected. Most surprising aspect of the visit. But if OS sees this anecdotally, someone amongst the polling pros for the Dems have got to be seeing it as well.

Obama cannot win, he has passed the point of no return. The only question that remains is if he will run, and how much damage he'll leave behind to clean up.