Reply #3: You won't get a single consistent answer on that one, I'm afraid

[Amerigo Vespucci]

A person like Bachmann can easily convince themselves that they've been "anointed"...remember the talk that surrounded Bush in this area, that he was "chosen" to be President?

So the first step in someone saying they've been "anointed" is to do exactly what she's doing. Then she'll gather circumstantial evidence and random unrelated events together and offer them as proof that she's been "anointed" for the task.

For me, as a Christian, it's a much quieter process. We all have an internal "compass," and we all have the option of heading to the north, south, east or west. Whenever I face a major decision and want to have the feeling I'm doing the right thing, I'll do whatever I can to tune out all the noise and reflect quietly on the options. There's a sense of peace that comes with taking the right steps. If I don't feel the peace, I don't take the steps. Sometimes I "think" I have it all dialed in and then take those first steps and it's clearly not going to work out in my favor.

So it's a "gut instinct," I'd say, but when someone tries to pair that with a firm conviction that it "came from God," things can get crazy real fast.

And since Bachmann is already crazy, Bachmann with an "anointing" will be crazy on steroids.