Is The Wolves Ad Actually "Coded" Christian Symbolism?

[DrFunkenstein]

Besides looking like one of those retarded Army recruitment fantasias, I can't help but wonder if the ad is actually pointed at the Christian conservative base.

Obviously it collapses Saddam and Osama into a (almost literally) cartoonish figure representing "The Enemy" the same one that Kerry slammed Bush for during the debates.

But the imagery of wolves also plays heavily into the parables of Christ as The Good Shepherd. Is Bush suggesting that he is, himself, a Good Shepherd?

When he spoke of himself during the debates as a good tender(?) of the land (damn, I forgot the exact phrase), I was struck by the Biblical tone of the description.

I think perhaps that Bush splits the Christian community that feel inspired by the religious certainty of their leaders, and those who value both doubt and a sense of humility. I would consider myself a fairly spiritual person, but more along the lines of John Kerry.

Bush's use of Christian rhetoric and symbolism to promote himself, like his refusal to deny voters who suggest that he is the divine instrument of God, seems to directly contradict the Sermon on the Mount.

Nevertheless, it has become a real - if not central - part of his campaign, and I find it hard to discredit the use of wolves as intended religious imagery.

[flowomo]

1. hope so.... glad to see them singing (expensive songs) to the choir....

but I don't think so. Maybe it's a coded message to the Red States.... "Little Red Riding Hood".... the wolf is back! HOWWWWWLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!

[Dogmudgeon]

2. Verily, thou canst bet upon it

--bkl

[apnu]

3. I believe *ush said "steward of the land"

But its basically the same thing.

If your right in saying this, then why use it at all? Its only going to work on the evangelicals, and they are basically a given to Bush in this one so why is he preaching to the choir?

Perhaps they know its over and they are just trying to get the base "solid" for a re-run in 2008. Hmmm.....

[DrFunkenstein]

5. At This Point, It Is More About Turning Out The Base

Swing voters are pretty much non-existent, at least for Bush. People who are undecided this late into a campaign this heated are not likely to turn out to maintain the status quo.

Much more depends on getting the non-voting base to become a voting base.

"I'm a Jesus freak, and I vote!"

Something along the lines of that sort of bumpersticker...

[knowbody0]

4. absolutely. it is all they have left - fear

stock market down
jobs down
flu shots unavailable
gasoline up
truths chasing the liars

yes we are indeed the wolves

[DrFunkenstein]

6. You Sound Like Gore's Famous '92 "Up and Down" Speech!

"Everything that's up is down, everything that should be down is up, and we're going to go and turn things right side up again!"

(ok, loose paraphrase)

[Walt Starr]

7. Matthew 7:15, Matthew 10:16, Luke 10:3, Acts 20:29,

Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.



Matthew 10:16
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.



Luke 10:3
Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.



Acts 20:29
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

[DrFunkenstein]

10. Thanks A Bunch, Walt Starr!

Those are some fantastic quotes - albeit spooky in the context we are considering.

[Walt Starr]

11. Those were only the New Testament verses

Want the OT verses that metntion wolves, too? Here ya go:

Ezekiel 22:27
Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.



Habakkuk 1:8
Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat.



Zephaniah 3:3
Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.

[Union Thug]

8. Or maybe they are trying to steal from the Reagan "bear" ad? /EOM

[Supersedeas]

9. protecting those who have the analytical skills of sheeple