Tag Archives: Mormon

Live and Let Live?

Posted on March 9, 2012 by Terry| 2 Comments

There are a series of stories today that bug me.  There’s no one “side” in the set of stories that’s to blame.  This is pretty much an indictment against people of ALL religious beliefs who feel the need to impose their beliefs on others.

In the past few weeks, there have been stories about the Mormon church performing posthumous baptisms on Jews and others.  There’s a national atheist group that’s attempted to post billboards in Jewish and Muslim neighborhoods.  You have Catholics going nuts about people even SUGGESTING that people who want birth control insurance coverage should have that option.  Why?  Why do people feel the need to always try to impose their beliefs on others? 

I was raised a Christian.  I believe in what Christianity teaches about morality and how you treat your fellow man.  But I’m not a Christian at this stage, I’m an atheist.  I admit I get frustrated when people wave their religious faith in other people’s faces.  But what this national atheist group did is no better.  Seriously, paying for a BILLBOARD in a Muslim or Jewish neighborhood that promotes atheism?  The only potential purpose of such a billboard is to provoke someone who doesn’t believe what you believe. 

What is the point?

Posted in Culture Wars, Deep Thoughts

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One Word Description for GOP Candidates

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Terry| Leave a comment
Pew Research Center Poll

There's a lot more for Herman Cain to be encouraged about in this poll, than for Rick Perry or Mitt Romney.

The Pew Research Center asked respondents what was the one word that comes to mind when you think about the major GOP presidential candidates.  Maybe Herman Cain does have a chance in hell. 

By far, the word most commonly associated with Mitt Romney was “Mormon”.  First of all, I find that very disappointing, from a human nature standpoint.  Given Romney’s political exposure as a governor and two-time presidential candidate, I would have hoped people knew more about his politics than his religion.  Perhaps some do, but from the huge number of people defining Romney by his faith and not his politics, it is unfortunate, but obvious, that his faith could indeed cost him in the primaries.   It’s also quite obvious why Rick Perry has refused to denounce his allies who have focused on Romney’s faith.  Perry obviously WANTS Romney’s faith to play a role in the election.  If I’m Romney and I see this poll…I’m worried.

As for Rick Perry…the word most associated with him, by far, was “Texas”.  I find that as less of a surprise, as Perry was more of an unknown for most Americans, and Perry certainly revels in his Texas heritage.  But there’s a LOT for Perry to worry about in this poll.  Given the debacle of the Bush presidency, it’s not encouraging for Perry that so many voters associate him as (yet another) Texas governor.  Even worse for Perry are the other words associated with him.  Let’s see…in the top 10 words, we have “Idiot”, “Ass”, “Crook”, “Dislike”, and “Scary”.  I’m assuming Pew lumps similar words, as the first word that ALWAYS comes to mind for me when I think of Perry is “Jackass”.  It appears I’m not alone!   With Perry having such a strong association with “Texas” and very negative personal terms, if I’m Perry…I’m worried.

As for Cain…the “word” most often associated with him is “9-9-9″.  It’s VERY interesting that the political neophyte is the only one of the three whose name is primarily associated with his political views.  No matter how ridiculously stupid those views are.  Voters know very little about Cain, and the primary reason people say they can relate to Cain’s 9-9-9 plan is because “it’s simple”.   Unfortunately the 9-9-9 plan and voters both share that primary characteristic.  Politically, it’s easier for a rather uneducated voter to relate to Cain right now, as 9-9-9 is easier to understand at face value than Romney’s 59-point economic plan.  9-9-9 had about a week in the sun before the true nature of the plan was discussed in the media.  When “Occupy Wall Street” protests are spreading throughout the globe, Cain isn’t going to be able to cruise through the primaries based on 9-9-9, not when it’s become quite obvious that his plan would drastically cut taxes for the rich, while raising the tax burden on lower income people.

Still, if I’m Cain, I find this poll very encouraging.   Right now, Cain is cruising on a sea of voter ignorance.   I hope to god that changes, but one thing you can never seem to do is underestimate the ignorance of the American voter.  No matter what, enough voters have negative views of Romney and Perry that Cain will get a certain level of support.

Posted in Politics

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Perusin’ and Musin’

Posted on October 11, 2011 by Terry| Leave a comment

Perusing and MusingSome random thoughts from perusin’ the web…

Obama’s accomplishments – I saw an article today comparing Obama to Jimmy Carter, with the point being that both are supposedly incredibly ineffective presidents.  Pardon my language, but bullshit.  And pardon the language here, but check out whatthefuckhasobamadonesofar.com.   As a card-carryin’, tree-huggin’, liberal wacko, I recognize some disappointments in the Obama administration, but I also recognize 1) the cards he’s been dealt, including an impossible to work with Congress, and 2) the remarkable accomplishments he HAS achieved that seem to get little press.  Even Bin Laden’s capture is hardly ever mentioned (and is also why Republicans seem scared to touch Obama much on foreign policy any more, except in a really shallow and meaningless way). 

Slovakia’s Parliament Rejects Euro Bailout – GOD DAMN IT OBAMA!!  Yet another indication of the bumbling Obama administration’s poor handling of the economy!!  Well, OK, Obama can’t control the Slovakian parliament, but that’s my point.  Obama, and government in general, get WAY too much credit or blame for economic issues.  Look at U.S. markets over the past several months.  They react almost daily to the latest news regarding a Greek bailout, austerity measures in Spain or Italy, etc.   In a globally integrated economy, there’s only so much one government can do to try and improve economic conditions.  And that’s in a BEST case scenario, where the government isn’t so hopelessly partisan and unproductive as ours.

Rick Perry Refuses to Condemn Anti-Morman Rant – Rick Perry said he will not repudiate a Texas pastor who last week called Mormonism “a cult”, something which voters should take into account when considering Mitt Romney.   Perry says he won’t repudiate it because it’s just “a distraction” that Romney is trying to capitalize on.  My thought…Perry will make up every excuse he can not to repudiate it, because he knows that the “Christian Right” (aka, bible-thumpin’, hate-mongerin’ wackos) agree with the Texas pastor, and he can score political points with them if Romney’s faith stays in the headlines.

Kim Kardashian Wedding draws 10.5 million on E! – Over 10 million viewers watched part one of the Kim Kardashian wedding on E!.  I honestly don’t know a single thing that Kim Kardashian has ever done in her life.  But yet, I wonder how many people in America know more about her than they do about the Republicans debating tonight?  As I noted in a post a few days ago, 46% of Americans can’t even name ONE of the Republican candidates.  I wonder if a higher percentage of Americans know about this “star’s” wedding, even though there’s not a single real accomplisment of any importance that I think you could attribute to Kardashian.

Ice Loss in Greenland Continues to Accelerate – The Greenland ice sheet is rapidly losing mass, and the rate of decline has been accelerating.  If you are a climate change idiot skeptic, PLEASE take the time to check out SkepticalScience.com and educate yourself.  Be it there or elsewhere, I could literally post a story like this just about every day.  But of course, climate change is all one very well-executed conspiracy by we scientists, right?

Senate Republicans Block Jobs Bill – Thanks to the mechanics of the Senate and the wonderful filibuster, 46 Republicans voted against continuing debate on Obama’s jobs bill, effectively tabling it.  I LOVE this last line of the article…”Republicans opposed the measure over its spending to stimulate the economy and its tax surcharge on millionaires“.  That pretty much sums up the Republican stance right now…keep the economy as weak as possible before next year’s election, and protect their sugar-daddies deep financial pockets.

Posted in Climate Change, Perusin' & Musin', Politics

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