I take it Huck means he and Obama — for their very different backgrounds, politics, and policy stands — both want to uplift all Americans, rather than shunting off to the side a near-majority for the “crime” of lack of ideological purity.
I understand perfectly. And Amen to that.

I hope that Larry Parker’s comment is correct. I do think that Huck better stop falling all over himself with the other Repubs declaring that Bush is a good guy and his buddy. It’s gonna kill ‘em in the general election. I’m sure that Democratic hacks are compiling videos of these statements.

I’ve heard faith referred to as both horiz. and vert. Look at the cross – the horizontal plane is about seeing the suffering that surrounds us and being part of God’s plan to care for one another- the vertical about knowing that life is connected inexorably to God and that there is no end to a vertical line. Those who think in a more down to earth way might see faith as horizontal – take care of the suffering – trust that God is with us. Those who are more abstract might think vertically. Not a good or lucid explanation, but I am between classes with sophomores and my brain is somewhat fried today.

I’ve heard some specific preacher from a Faith Alive member talking about vertical religious practice. What I took it to mean was that nothing was going to get in the way of a direct submission sort of relationship with God. If it’s sincere and humble, fine I suppose. But, as I sort of understood, it seemed code for a set of political beliefs in God’s name.

I figured Thinker would nail it and she did, but since she doesn’t realize it I get to try and look smart. It’s a theological construct that our relationship to creation, conditions and companions happens horizontally while our relationships with the eternal and normative is vertical. We encounter God on both axes, I’d contend. I’d say not a wolf whistle but plenty pretentious.
A question to Thinker: is this construction Girardian? I think of it that way but maybe just because I learned it at the same time I was admin support to a minister writing his doctorate on mimetics.

No – I think I first heard it about 20 years ago – Fr. Richard Rohr. I’ll try to locate my original source.
However, just had a thought about why Hilary Clinton – bless her heart (as John Edwards might say) cannot get a break despite all the money and connections. She is like a mom – the kind of mom many of us had in the 50′s and the kind of energy that many of these young people are avoiding like crazy. They are breaking away from the mom who fixes everything and the dad who punishes everyone and want to live in a fashion that can make a difference in the world. It’s a healthy break.
She’s lived her ambition through an irresponsible but brilliant husband and “damn it – it’s my turn”. Reminds me of all of us in a Bible Study about 20 years ago. We outgrew the rage and resentment. I think she’s brilliant, knows politics and policy better than any two of those guys up there – she loves her country – but her simmering rage simply drives many of us crazy. Barack is like the favorite professor of all time for those of us who have always wanted a visual of our dreams. You know there’s more under the rhetoric, you trust there’s more under the rhetoric and I hope like crazy – there is more to it than inspiration.
I never mention politics to my students – stick with Jesus, but they all know my kid works for Obama. These kids – from conservative Catholic families – are ecstatic and engaged for the first time in their lives. Dozens of them have come up to me – How’s your daughter? What’s he like? Do you think he can really do it? I just tell them – gotta look at everybody carefully – gotta be involved – that’s the trick to being a voter. And don’t let anybody make you afraid. God said “Be not afraid” 368 times. And we spend all our time listening to those who would make us afraid of one another. We have had a patriarchy (sorry to sound feminist) forever and nobody wants to move directly into the kind of maternalistic energy that says -It’s OK – I’ll fix it. Don’t worry. Sorry to ramble. Gotta go check the chicken and rice – we’re having a great dinner here – I make it a point to cook at least once a month.

Thinker, I loved this: “God said ‘Be not afraid’ 368 times. And we spend all our time listening to those who would make us afraid of one another. ”
Amen, amen, amen and enjoy your arroz con pollo.

hold on while i consult my evangelical decoder ring…um…er…flippin’ thing seems to be busted. i say if david and his homies don’t catch it, it’s not very good code. maybe he needs to wink more and point to the ceiling. i feel really dumb and kind of alienated when code goes over my head. (“over my head”…did you get that? heaven? hmmmmm? *wink, wink*)

Hilary is more like the swinger spouse of the 60′s, while Obama appears faithful to his wife (a woman), (who seems to delight in her love and fidelity for him -a man-), and seems engaged in raising their own children. To me it looks like the progressive/humamist idea of family being any licentious conglomerate of individuals (a cult really) is not being grasped by “the youth” of today. It appears they are going for a family guy who is a good husband and father. But then again, he is a liberal . . .

Vertical politics: Standing up for what is right. The Evangelical laity are anything but economic conservatives. The proof being all the money really spent on helping the poor. Abortion is murder, same-sex marriage is immorality and income taxation is Godless totalitarianism. Other than that . . .

Donny, where is your proof that Hillary was a “swinger spouse”?
For a Christian, you really are fast and loose with truth…

Donny, at some point your mind was brainwashed with the negatives about Mrs. Clinton. People lied a good deal about her and you bought it. Such untruths are the result of hearing the Accusor. You should be ashamed of yourself. She is not my candidate, but the constant demonization of her by such God-fearing Christians around the country is not worthy of the name of Christ.

This is definitely evangelical-speak David. It may not be in your neck of the woods, but it definitely is in the southwest and the west where I have been, and it has been for at least a decade. I recognized the term immediately. Thinking “vertical” is about thinking from “God’s perspective”, through God’s eyes so-to-speak, about not being influenced by the culture (horizontal thinking). You even see diagrams in bible study/small group programs with horizontal arrows and vertical arrows, emphasizing that, by thinking vertical, we are “above the noise”, and seeing clearly, etc., etc.

David,
You get too excited about Republicans framing political phenomena in Evangelical terms. Remember that Jesus said his kingdom was not of this world.
For all the Evangelical-Republican rants about homosexuals and secular humanists, it’s Evangelicals themselves that are turning off people to their cause.
The Evangelicals christened and crowned Bush king of their cause. He’s a national disaster.
Evangelicals like Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell said we deserved 911.
The very politicians Evangelicals overwhelmingly support denied more kids health care under the S-Chip program.
Basically Evangelicals wed to Supply-Side Economics have rejected the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus had a preference for the poor not the rich.
Donny can rant all he wants about abortion. I’ve yet to meet an anti-choice person that has adopted. In fact it seems Evangelicals care about the fetus more than the baby.

Every administration in the history of this country has been led by men who “believed in God,” and yet look at the state of this “union.” Beseeching the hands-off deity sure hasn’t seemed to help much.
I wish we’d have one – just ONE – candidate stop playing to the mythological delusions of the populace. It’s time to face facts. Even if there is a God somewhere out there in the cosmos, (or even down here in the heart of every child and fluffy bunny) it does us, here and now, little good.
If God exists, he cares little for what goes on here. He’s a non-interventionist, so why spend SO much time and energy fighting over whether or not candidates for a secular office have had their cards punched at the Godshop?