General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSo wow ... No Comment on DU re: Death of 'The Family's' Leader, Doug Coe?
Sorry if I missed it but a site search turned up nothing ...
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/22/us/obituary-doug-coe-fellowship-foundation.html?&moduleDetail=section-news-5&action=click&contentCollection=U.S.®ion=Footer&module=MoreInSection&version=WhatsNext&contentID=WhatsNext&pgtype=article
This strikes me as a bit of a big deal ... a major right-wing whacko ... and seemingly extremely powerful political operator has passed ... Somewhat akin to one of the Koch Brothers dying ... and not even a discussion on DU?
Again forgive me if I missed it, but otherwise ... discuss!
BumRushDaShow
(128,372 posts)Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press Published 6:48 p.m. ET Feb. 23, 2017 | Updated 11 hours ago
Family Christian, which bills itself as the world's largest retailer of Christian-themed merchandise, announced Thursday it is closing after 85 years. The non-profit company, employing more than 3,000 people in 240 stores in 36 states, said in a brief statement that the retailer had been facing declining sales since filing for bankruptcy protection in 2015 and had no choice but to shut down.
Despite improvements in product assortment and the store experience, sales continued to decline," said Chuck Bengochea, the company's president. "In addition, we were not able to get the pricing and terms we needed from our vendors to successfully compete in the market. "We have prayerfully looked at all possible options, trusting Gods plan for our organization, and the difficult decision to liquidate is our only recourse.
No timetable for the shutdown was offered in the statement. The company, based in Grand Rapids, Mich., did not return calls for comment.
<...>
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2017/02/23/retail-chain-family-christian-plans-after-85-years/98326140/
mr_lebowski
(33,643 posts)It's always unfortunate when something like this happens to a large US retailer ... even if I'd never shop there myself.
Something like this happening does kinda 'make you wonder', though, doesn't it?
I mean ... they were all 'prayerful' ... and yet ... apparently still 'forsaken'.
Oh well ... At least these folks have that whole "Mysterious Ways" meme ... to fall back upon.
rurallib
(62,373 posts)I see this as a good thing.
yeoman6987
(14,449 posts)I think mega churches having their own shops they run hurt this place at least partially.
Buns_of_Fire
(17,148 posts)If all prayers were answered in the affirmative, 45 would have fallen into a neck-deep vat of pig crap LONG ago.
HAB911
(8,867 posts)3000 jobs should be worth his consideration
get the red out
(13,460 posts)If there's a hell, say hi to Hitler Mr. Coe, Bannon would like that.
njhoneybadger
(3,910 posts)What kind of shit are you selling?
mr_lebowski
(33,643 posts)Believe me, this is no 'small deal' ...
njhoneybadger
(3,910 posts)BumRushDaShow
(128,372 posts)This organization has been intimately involved in politics since Eisenhower (sponsors the "National Prayer Breakfast" .
NBC video summary - http://www.nbcnews.com/id/21134540/vp/23943446#23943446
njhoneybadger
(3,910 posts)And I still question the motive of the original post.
BumRushDaShow
(128,372 posts)within the evangelicals that elected Drumpf, it is along the line of a Falwell or Dobson, etc., except this group is more secretive.
Coe was essentially a proponent of Hitler (and other despots') power.
njhoneybadger
(3,910 posts)BumRushDaShow
(128,372 posts)or even 20 years ago.
These posts are not directed to individuals but to the group.
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)SMH at this entire subthread. Unbelievable.
Achilleaze
(15,543 posts)and causes it to become a religion of hate, and then deceives others, it's worthy of note. Alas, we have seen a lot of that in the USA.
truebluegreen
(9,033 posts)but thank you for your concern.
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)demmiblue
(36,816 posts)Those kind of comments are always perplexing.
Demsrule86
(68,455 posts)so much to discuss with lawbreaker Trump.
BumRushDaShow
(128,372 posts)Demsrule86
(68,455 posts)BumRushDaShow
(128,372 posts)it will be interesting to see whether the group will maintain its (apparent) powerful influence over the highest elected officials in our land as it has in the past or whether something/someone else will overtake that role (and if so, who or what?).
Again notably because this group has been intertwined in U.S. Presidencies for the past 60 years.
What is it that makes it a right of passage for a President to attend a "National Prayer Breakfast", in a land where the Constitution has that clause basically prohibiting an "establishment of religion" -although I suppose the technicality is that it says "Congress shall make no law..." (vs the President).
Demsrule86
(68,455 posts)However, I have to note...we have little power, and if McConnell goes nuclear and he will...we get Gorsuch no matter what. Damned unfair...and If we could at some later date...he should be impeached...it was Obama's pick thus the GOP stole it.
BumRushDaShow
(128,372 posts)and take back our states (which will hopefully help torpedo the egregious gerrymandering that got them in there in the first place). That effort starts with this year's (state-wide) elections.
I hate to say but we have had worse in the Supreme Court (if you are a POC) -
Demsrule86
(68,455 posts)progressive policy to lose...now we could lose everything we fought for 100 years including civil rights. We really needed to win in 16 ...and things are going to get bad...but we have to more forward and mitigate the worst disasters by winning in 18 and 20.
BumRushDaShow
(128,372 posts)We can't keep skipping over the off-year (non-federal) elections.
VA and NJ have governors up this year and the winners will be in office during the 2020 census.
Demsrule86
(68,455 posts)We need to get this DNC thing wrapped up and move...we have a real chance in Georgia.
BumRushDaShow
(128,372 posts)JHB
(37,152 posts)...but the personalities involved were usually pretty faceless except for the politicians they courted.
I will, however, gently remind you that everything posted on DU is done by volunteers. If news about a murky background figure is missed, it's not because someone wasn't doing their job. If you notice something and scoop everyone else, there's no particular reason to focus on why no one else here isn't already talking about it rather than the news itself.
NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)What took you so long on this major item? Shouldn't you look within before projecting outward. Seems calling out members of this board is what is most important to you. It's a shame you feel this is so important yet wait until now to post it.
META.
SecularMotion
(7,981 posts)demmiblue
(36,816 posts)The Fellowship has way too influence in politics (and both sides support/have supported The Fellowship to differing degrees).
Here is an article written by Jeffrey Sharlet in Harper's Magazine:
https://web.archive.org/web/20090701011032/http://www.harpers.org/archive/2003/03/0079525
tanyev
(42,514 posts)muriel_volestrangler
(101,262 posts)and the powers behind the Republicans, like Bannon or the Kochs, don't seem to be kowtowing to the religious right quite as much these days. It's more just about power for themselves.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2017/02/01/thrilled-with-trumps-supreme-court-pick-heres-what-evangelicals-want-next/?utm_term=.8d3e4b9ad8ac
blogslut
(37,981 posts)So much is going on it's hard to keep up.
Separation
(1,975 posts)Thats one of the worst things right now going on. I mean, how much news arent we hearing about? Kim Jung murdering his brother is kind of a big deal right now. China has stopped coal shipments with Korea and that is 1/3 of NK export revenue. Expect more to come out of this. What else is being under reported because it is the 24 hr Trump wreck all day every day?
KittyWampus
(55,894 posts)because when you put the word "prayer' into an event politicians have to go and pretend piety.
Proud Liberal Dem
(24,391 posts)Iggo
(47,534 posts)librechik
(30,673 posts)nobody knows who Doug Coe is. I do.
They better find out before Pence is president.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/554986.The_Family