Onward Christian Soldiers...

Oh what a gift would the good God give us - to see ourselves as others see us Robert Burns.

If anyone has doubts about how the rest of the world sees US politics at the moment, they should look no further than this timely analysis of the influence of the religious right from the Polish publication Polityka. All the usual suspects are there - Ralph Reed, Falwell, Robertson and his charge that "pagans, abortionists, feminists, gays and lesbians, the ACLU, and all those who provoke God's anger" were to blame for 9/11, both Grahams, the New Live Church and of course the Christian Coalition.

This Christian infantry and its leaders are full of energy. But if this army gets out in front of the civilians (i.e. most of the Republican electorate, which is far less religious and less interested in social issues) and forces its extreme right-wing program on Bush, the pendulum of public opinion will swing in the opposite direction. If Bush becomes hostage to the religious-right, he'll lose moderate Republicans and that will increase the chances for a Democratic victory in four years. In a deeply divided America you can't push too hard - even under Jesus' command.

And for those who dont give a damn what "furriners" might think, there's always John Danforth, three-time Republican Senator from Missouri and the minister chosen by Ronald Reagan to officiate at his state funeral in June 2004 -

"High-profile Republican efforts to prolong the life of Ms Schiavo, including departures from Republican principles ... can rightfully be interpreted as yielding to the pressure of religious power blocs," he wrote.

His critique of the party went far beyond Ms Schiavo yesterday, and cited the party's active opposition to gay marriage as well as attempts in his own state, Missouri, to criminalise stem cell research.

"I am and have always been pro-life," he wrote. "But the only explanation for legislators comparing cells in a petri dish to babies in the womb is the extension of religious doctrine into statutory law."

"Republicans have transformed our party into the political arm of conservative Christians."

Yup.