Breaking News: Mormons are not Baptists

Mitt Romney: "Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of mankind."
Translation: "Mitt Romney does not believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of mankind."

Mitt Romney: Religions differ on their beliefs about Christ, and "each religion has its own unique doctrines."
Translation: "Mormons are not Christians"

Following this logic, let's try this one...

Bible: Jesus was baptized to fulfill all righteousness, submitting his will to God; whereupon God spoke "Behold My Beloved Son"; whereupon the the Spirit descended like a dove.
Translation: Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit are one.

Christ: "Except a man be born of the water and of spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God"
Translation: "Baptism is highly encouraged, but if your particular brand of mainstream Christianity doesn't require it, you'll probably be OK... unless your Mormon, in which case, although baptism is an essential ordinance for your salvation, and you are baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, you won't be meeting your "born again" friends in heaven."

Mormon: I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I weekly renew my promise to take upon me the name of Jesus Christ. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ.
Translation: Because I am not Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic, Mennonite, Unitarian, Easter and Christmas-ist, Evangelical, etc., I am not Christian.


OK, OK. I'll show some mercy here...

It just seems that all Mitt was admitting to was that Mormons are not Baptists, just like Methodists are not Presbytarians.

A Predictable Surprise

Fred ran a great non-campaign. Unfortunately, he did not run a great campaign. While I did not expect him to become the last surviving candidate for the Repub party, I am glad he ran. He is an idealistic man who, along with Paul and Hunter, forced conservative issues into the Republican debate. Hopefully, Mitt can convince us that he was listening.

Here's what I predict:

Mitt will benefit from Thompson's departure. Fred Heads are not McCain supporters. Fred Heads are not Giuliani folks. Most Fred Heads cannot abide Huck's fiscal, populous policies, but they do like that he is a Southerner. So he might garnish a few of their votes. But I think that Mitt, despite his "flip-flopper" label, tends to embrace the Fred Head platform more so than any other candidate, except maybe Ron Paul. I can see where Paul may pick up some of the Thompson faithful, but a practical approach will be to vote for a candidate who is at least electable. I am not saying they will love Mitt. Only that he is the most likely to reflect their values, and be in a position to do anything about it.

Now, I have not read the blogosphere to get a feel for this yet. I am only looking at this from a somewhat objective point of view. I think Fred's dropping was important, because I think the Republican party has, and still is, divided, not so much 4 ways, but 2 1/2 ways. There is Giuliani and McCain making a bid for about 40% of the Republican/Independent vote. Then there is Romney/Huck vying for another 40-50%. Then there are some smaller factions who are trying to choose between McCain/Huck or McCain/Romney or Giuliani/Huck. The larger Romney/Huck faction was also splitting its vote with Fred. With Fred gone, and Giuliani now entering the race, I think McCain will hurt and Romney will gain, possibly getting a slight edge over Huck.

King John?

John McCain won the South Carolina primary. As such, he is virtually ordained President, if the press' leaky salivary glands are any indication. While Romney picked up 17 delegates in Nevada, giving him 59 to date, it was McCain's 19 delegates from SC (giving him 33 in all, leaving him third behind the Huckster) that virtually assures his ascendancy to the Oval Office.

See, not since 1980 has a Republican candidate lost SC and won the nomination. 1980... 1980... Who was that? Any 28 year trend must have some validity to it. Let's see, that would be... uh, 3 contested primaries? I wouldn't hang my hat on that just yet.

Well, yeah, but it was important for McCain to nab a state in the South. That would show that Southerners like him. Interestingly, only about half the state's primary voters this time out were native South Carolinians. Naturally, the AP couldn't tell us where the others came from, but my sources indicate that many of those outsiders are transplanted Yanks. (Am I right, Bato?) I would be interested to see how their votes were divided. Thompson... Huckabee...

I'm not saying that McCain won't win the nomination. I'm just saying... let Republicans decide it. We don't need no stinking media creating momentum for him at the expense of the rest. I have faith that, for the most part, Repubs can make up their own minds. But whoever decided to let undeclared voters influence our nominating process had about as much sense as a bucket of water.

The First Non-Mormon President

Regardless of what happens in these primaries, the next president will be very unique. We will either have the first black president, the first female president, the first Mormon president, the oldest president, or the first non-Mormon president. Huh?!

Yes, the first non-Mormon president. Mitt Romney is an able leader. He has the experience, expertise, ideology, and demeanor to be a great president. So do most of the other Republican candidates. Even Huckabee could be a decent president (although a little populist). And if Romney were anything but a Mormon, Huckabee would still be sitting in the back of the pack. There is no doubt and virtually no argument that the Huck's Iowa win came from the evangelicals. Evangelicals do not like Mormons. Evangelicals love their neighbors, and will go fishing with them and loan them their lawn mowers, and give them a cup of sugar, until they find out that the neighbor is a Mormon. Then the neighbor is going to Hell, no questions asked. Then the neighbor gets postcards from "the Mormon temple" "on behalf of Mitt" with half-truths and misreprentations about the Mormon doctrine. Then the neighbor's kids don't get picked for the backyard pick-up game. Then the highly qualified neighbor gets passed over for neighborhood association or PTA president for someone who speaks a little more "Christian". Then the highly qualified presidential candidate gets passed over for someone who is a little more... "not Mormon".

For most people, this sounds like sour grapes. I can concede that. But many of you "know what I am talking about." I worked with a good man. We talked about morals and values and family and our faith in Christ. He was impressed with my views, and naturally asked me where I attended church. I told him I was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. His face changed. "Oh." "Still think you'll see me in Heaven?" I asked.
"No," he replied.
"Is that because you won't be there?"
"Oh, I'll be there."
"I see. So I won't?"
"Nope."
"Even though I believe in Christ and have accepted Him as my savior?"
"Yep."
"Even though I have been baptized and try to keep His commandments?"
"Yep."
"No chance, huh?"
"Nope."

Romney still stands a good chance. He has been running a smart campaign. Unfortunately, some ignorance just can't be reasoned away.

McCain may do well. Huckabee will continue to suck votes away from Romney. Interestingly, Huckabee is not the only one benefiting from the Mormon thang. Many evangelicals and other Christians are voting for McCain simply because they are more comfortable with him than with a Mormon.

~Everyone stumbles upon the truth now and then. Unfortunately, most simply pick themselves up and hurry on their way.~

Guess Who?

There are low campaign tactics. Watergate, (Dan)Rathergate, Jeffersongate(vs. John Adams) to name a few. Then there's this. How cowardly! It's one thing to publish quotes (no matter how far out of context they may be taken). It's one thing to point out a candidate's religion, even if the candidate never intended to make it an issue, even if that religion has adamantly refrained from endorsing any candidate, even if that religion has made a conscious effort to avoid politics. I suppose it's one thing, even, to make fun of that religion, regardless of how noble or tolerant that religion may be.

But this is something else entirely. All done while hiding in shadows of secrecy, forging endorsements, taking advantage of such a special holiday to ruin a candidate who professes a belief in Christ. I think what makes this particularly egregious is that it was done not so much for political purposes as for religious warfare. It is an attempt to create friction against one's neighbors, guised as a political stunt.

What is interesting most about this is its manifestation of an unfortunate parallelism between Christianity and the Republican party. Both are noble institutions whose basic tenets happen to be correct. Unfortunately, as either has gained leadership, it has done itself in by its own actions. This incident happens to be a combination of both and may prove to be a setback for both. It is certainly a black eye on Christianity.

I am interested in Huck's reaction.

Mitt Props

I found this well-written commentary on Mitt's "Religion Speech". I never saw the speech (I'll be looking for it on-line), but from various comments, it sounded like a winner.

I like the Huckster. But I learned a long time ago that the guy who goes out of his way to tell you he is a Christian is someone from whom you should flee, especially if he wants your business. Conversely, I have known some wonderful people who I knew were Christian, and with whom I would gladly do business again. Walk the walk, and that walk will talk for you.

Losing Is Everything

Today is January 1, 2008. Today, I weigh 255 pounds. Today I am 6 ft 3 inches tall. Today, I sat around, watching football and eating cheese and crackers, chips, and sodas. Today, I did very little to improve my life. Today is the last day I will ever say such a thing.

This time next year, I will weigh 215 pounds. This time next year, I will sit around and watch football, because that is what I enjoy doing. This time next year, I will not be eating cheese and crackers, chips, and sodas. This time next year, I will do something to improve my life.

I am tired of being overweight. I am tired of getting bigger. I am tired of making jokes about my jolly belly. I am tired of breathing heavily after walking up a flight of stairs. I am tired of being afraid of playing football in the Turkey Bowl because I can't run more than 15 yards. I am tired, and I am tired of being tired.

I am what I am because I have made myself what I am. For the most part, I am proud of what I am. But what I am is not necessarily what I see while shaving.

No more. I like me. My wife likes me. My kids like me. I want to be around to see if I can get some grandkids to like me.

I will keep you updated on my progress, and my set-backs, so check in every now and then.