In this book, the presidential debates of 2000, 2004, and 2008 are analyzed in terms of linguistics, rhetoric, and religious context to offer a unique perspective on the styles, beliefs, and strategies of the two major parties and their candidates. In The Podium, the Pulpit, and the Republicans: How Presidential Candidates Use Religious Language in American Political Debate, a veteran minister analyzes the religious metaphors Republicans use at the podium and alleges that the party deliberately employs blaming tactics, fear metaphors, and coded references to apocalyptic judgment to sway undecided voters. Over the past 40 years, Frederick Stecker charges, the Republican Party has created fear for political expediency. Stecker's book traces the development of the Republican rhetoric of polarization and applies the linguistics-based "nation-as-a-family" political typology of George Lakoff to an analysis of the presidential debates of 2000, 2004, and 2008. He demonstrates how Republican candidates select their language and metaphors to signal adherence to rigid belief systems and simple, black-and-white choices in domestic and foreign policy.

This book introduces political science of religion – a coherent approach to the study of the political role of religion grounded in political science. In this framework, religion is viewed as a political ideology providing legitimation for power and motivating political attitudes and behaviors of the public. Religious organizations are political actors negotiating the political system in the pursuit of their faith-based objectives. Religion is thus interpreted as a power resource and religious groups as political players. The theoretical framework developed in the first part is applied to the study of theocracies and contemporary democracies, based on the case studies of Poland and the USA. The empirical analysis of resources, strategies and opportunities of religious actors demonstrates their ability to influence the politics of democracies and non-democracies alike. Using a multilevel approach, the book seeks to explain this tremendous political potential of religion.

In this book, the presidential debates of 2000, 2004, and 2008 are analyzed in terms of linguistics, rhetoric, and religious context to offer a unique perspective on the styles, beliefs, and strategies of the two major parties and their candidates. In The Podium, the Pulpit, and the Republicans: How Presidential Candidates Use Religious Language in American Political Debate, a veteran minister analyzes the religious metaphors Republicans use at the podium and alleges that the party deliberately employs blaming tactics, fear metaphors, and coded references to apocalyptic judgment to sway undecided voters. Over the past 40 years, Frederick Stecker charges, the Republican Party has created fear for political expediency. Stecker's book traces the development of the Republican rhetoric of polarization and applies the linguistics-based "nation-as-a-family" political typology of George Lakoff to an analysis of the presidential debates of 2000, 2004, and 2008. He demonstrates how Republican candidates select their language and metaphors to signal adherence to rigid belief systems and simple, black-and-white choices in domestic and foreign policy.

As the linkage of Republican Conservatism to the church destroys the church’s credibility, Fox News has become the campaign headquarters of Republican Conservative Propaganda. Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, and Sean Hannity are fighting daily to cover up the lecherousness, licentiousness, nepotism and corruption of the kleptocratic and plutocratic Republican system of the past twenty years. They have made a mark on society by broadcasting and speaking only half -truths that never touch the deep roots of the American problem but continue to deceive the American public. They have turned real issues—such as national debt, defense, foreign policy, immigration, health care, education, homosexuality, abortion, and limited government—into issues of deception. Part of the game plan is to use the Tea Party to recycle failed, inept politicians such as Sarah Palin in order to keep the kleptocracy going. The Office of the President of the United States has been held by a Republican for twenty of the last thirty years, with no significant accomplishments. For hypocritical Republican conservatives, twenty years was not enough to reform health care, immigration, education, and defense or to regulate the financial system and bring down the national debt. The American problem is real, and there are no quick fixes. On the whole, the problem is not a Republican or Democratic problem; it is an American problem. Every Democratic or Republican idea is not necessarily bad. The great conservative Republican lie is that only one party has the solution to America’s problem. But, America has never operated as a one-party state. The ideas of both parties make sense and nonsense at the same time.

Healing His Wounded Church exposes the "roots" of the problems in the Catholic Church, and brings fresh thinking to bear for "laying the axe" to those "roots." It is plainspoken, authentically Catholic, and rich in content. Having a vision of healing come from the spiritual journey of a common layman provides new and innovative thinking. It serves a pressing need in today's Church. Couples have been led into sinful practices in their marriages. Two generations no longer know their Faith. Few understand the spiritual life and how to pray. This formation is presented with practical simplicity for clergy and "lay apostles", as well as for couples and families. It leans heavily on John Paul II's "Theology of The Body" and teachings on family and spiritual life. There are several deeply personal "surprises" included, which are an inspiration. According to the author, Catholic Culture has run aground and must rise from the ashes of Pagan Modernism spawned in a "camp of death." The book calls for fidelity to Christ and to the teachings of his Church. Only the salve of Truth will "Heal His Wounded Church" setting us free from sin and error."

Focusing on the broken friendship between Teddy Roosevelt and his chosen successor, William Howard Taft, revisits the Progressive Era during which Roosevelt wielded the Bully Pulpit to challenge and triumph over abusive monopolies, political bosses, and corrupt money brokers only to see it compromised by Taft.

While South Carolina's preemptive strike on Fort Sumter and Lincoln's subsequent call to arms started the Civil War, South Carolina's secession and Lincoln's military actions were simply the last in a chain of events stretching as far back as the early 1750s. Increasing moral conflicts and political debates over slavery--exacerbated by the inequities inherent between an established agricultural society and a growing industrial one--led to a fierce sectionalism which manifested itself through cultural, economic, political and territorial disputes. This historical study reduces sectionalism to its most fundamental form, examining the underlying source of this antagonistic climate. From protective tariffs to the expansionist agenda, it illustrates the ways in which the foremost issues of the time influenced relations between the North and the South.