Hello, all! This is a topic which both fascinates and disgusts me - just wondering what you think. Please don't think I'm consciously trying to stir up trouble...I'm honestly interested!<BR>_______________<P>Senator John Ashcroft has been nominated by George W Bush for the position of Attorney General - an enormously powerful and visible role in the US Government.<P>"What has given rise to a potential Ashcroft candidacy is the support he enjoys among social conservatives, who view Ashcroft as a fellow traveler. An active member of the Assemblies of God, Ashcroft does not smoke, drink, gamble, or dance. He's an accomplished gospel singer who endeared himself to Missouri social conservatives by performing in churches all over the st ate. Even in Washington he has kept his faith: on weekdays he holds morning prayer meetings in his office, and on Sundays he attends Assembly of God services in an underground movie theater at Union Station."<BR>- The New Republic Dec 97 <A HREF="http://www.thenewrepublic.com/archive/12/122297/zengerle122297.html" TARGET=_blank>http://www.thenewrepublic.com/archive/12/122297/zengerle122297.html</A> <P>''This guy is a straight arrow,'' said Rick Hardy, a political scientist at the University of Missouri and a Republican activist. ''He won't take a drink. He wouldn't even dance during his own inaugural.'' <BR>- By William M. Welch, USA TODAY 03/15/00 <A HREF="http://www.usatoday.com/news/e98/e1363.htm" TARGET=_blank>http://www.usatoday.com/news/e98/e1363.htm</A> <P>"PROFILE: Aschroft's Pentecostalism gives him unique perspective<BR>...Today, Ashcroft's church stands next to the turquoise-colored headquarters of the Assemblies of God, one of America's most dynamic Christian bodies. Among U.S. Pentecostal groups, only the Church of God in Christ, a black denomination, is bigger...<BR>Reflecting his church background, he has resisted tobacco and gambling, barred alcohol from the Missouri governor's mansion and declined to take to the dance floor at the inaugural ball. In times past, the Assemblies also had taboos against movies, cosmetics, coed swimming and Sunday recreation."<BR>- SPRINGFIELD, Mo. December 13, 1998 Associated Press<P>"WASHINGTON, DC -- By a vote of 76 to 22, the Senate successfully tabled an amendment to eliminate the NEA's funding in the FY99 Interior Appropriations bill, according to an AMERICANS FOR THE ARTS LEGISLATIVE UPDATE. The amendment was offered for a second consecutive year by Senator John Ashcroft. (R-MO) "<BR>- Artswire, September 22, 1998 Volume #7 No. #38<P>

John Ashcroft has already been confirmed by the Senate; for better or worse, he <I>is</I> the Attorney General, in which role he will have nothing to do with the NEA.<P>And, since his position carries no authority over arts funding, may I suggest that we consider this topic closed, before we're subjected to a barrage of left-wing and right-wing diatribes?<P>------------------<BR>Jeffrey E. Salzberg, Lighting Designer<BR>This Day in Arts History: <A HREF="http://www.suncoast.quik.com/salzberg/arthist.htm" TARGET=_blank>http://www.suncoast.quik.com/salzberg/arthist.htm</A><BR>Online portfolio: <A HREF="http://www.suncoast.quik.com/salzberg" TARGET=_blank>http://www.suncoast.quik.com/salzberg</A> <P><BR>

Yes...I think we need to close this topic. WE don't want to stray into the arena of partisan politics...sorry!

Sorry for overstepping my boundaries - my timeliness (as far as the present-past tense usage in the beginning of the post) is simply because I copy/pasted it from one made a few months ago.<P>Forgive me - no longer will I overstep.

Bree, it's certainly OK to discuss politics as it relates to the arts; it's just pointless in this case, as the AG has nothing to do with arts funding or policy. Please do keep contributing!

Yes...Bree!!! We don't want to discourge you! WE have definetly enjoyed and appreciated your postings thus far!!! (smile!) Actually, we had this topic posted a few weeks ago (don't know if you saw it) and realized then that we were getting "off topic" (we couldn't relate it to dance enough) with it, and decided to hold off at that point.<P>[Stuart has deleted multiple edit notices]<p>[This message has been edited by Stuart Sweeney (edited February 11, 2001).]

Hi Bree! We have had quite a lot of discussion on this theme in the past months.

http://forum.criticaldance.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=3&t=000134

http://forum.criticaldance.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=3&t=000200

<font size = -2><center>(Edited by salzberg to fix link)</center></font>

<small>[ 08-11-2002, 10:59: Message edited by: salzberg ]</small>