An overpass collapsed in Idaho about 10 years ago…

You don’t have to keep campaigning for Romney, DKL. California Condor’s not going to invite you on that Air Force One tour he’s expecting, no matter what he tells you in the meantime. ;-)

I live near a large Christian church. Last Sunday as I was driving to Mormon services, I noticed a handful of white people dressed in street clothes near the entrance to the Christian church, all waving Mike Huckabee signs. I rolled down my window and yelled “Romney! Romney!” a few times. I’m not sure if they understood what I was saying. Interestingly enough, a few days later I noticed a small Romney sign near the same spot that I had seen the Huckabee supporters.

P. S., judging by the vehicles I see in the parking lot of the Christian church I live by, I’d say that it’s a fairly working-class crowd.

Huckabee is a clown because he spent his life in the GOP, just like Fahey, Duke Cunningham, Craig…

Romney can’t tell the truth because he spent his life in the GOP (the party that promises tax cuts and shrinking government, until they get into office and reduce taxes only for the rich as they increase debt by growing the federal government unrestrained.)

Thats the real legacy of the GOP from Reagan to Bush Jnr.

This doesn’t even come close to the “apology” Huckabee offered to Pakistan.

CA Condor, I liked when Romney credited Huckabee’s win to his ability to get grass roots support among churches. He didn’t criticize it, but in pointing it out, it further illustrated that Huckabee’s appeal is fairly restricted to an evangelical base.

I too am surprised at how openly political many churches are. I’m glad we don’t allow political debate to infiltrate our meetings, since that’s not why we’re there and it can be distracting and divisive.

But I had a tricky verbal dance last Sunday when teaching RS as I explained the political religious climate that was the backdrop of the Restoration–a country divided by issues like abolition, European influence and temperance–that contributed to the Second Great Awakening (US protestant reformation) and the founding of other religions (e.g. Christian Church/Disciples of Christ) in addition to the First Vision and restoration. I was noting that it’s a somewhat foreign (or at least new) idea to most of us that religion and politics should be so intertwined. I found myself smirking, just a little.

Probably mine.

I for one was impressed by Huckabee’s erudition when, a few days after the debate I was reading Curzio Malaparte’s WWII memoir, Kaputt, and came across this passage:

“The Poles,” said Governor Fischer, “are convinced that Jesus Christ is always on their side, even in political matters, and that He prefers them to any other people, even to the Germans. Their religion and their politics are built upon this childish idea.”

“Luckily for Him,” said Frank with fat laughter, “Jesus Christ has too much sense to get embroiled in the polnische Wirtschaft. He would only make trouble for himself.”

C. Jones, thanks for stepping up to clarify the overpass mishap. It means that Governor Phil Batt at least as qualified as Huckabee to be president.

hawkgrrrl, yeah, the comment on Pakistan was pretty bad.

Nick, one can never play it too safe when the stakes are riding on Air Force One.

California Condor, evangelicals using their network isn’t so bad. In any case, it cuts both ways. I know Mormons who have used the evangelical network to promote their own candidacy.

Bill, you said “erudition” and “Huckabee” in the same sentence. That’s funny.

ECS, very likely, with the emphasis on slower.

hawkgrrrl -

I figured Mesa was out of the question, if the stories my missionary brother tells.

Romney may be great and all, but does he know how to fry a squirrel in a popcorn popper? It’s experience like this that makes Huckabee connect to people in the heartland.

Thanks DKL – Huckabee really does disgust me. I may actually switch my allegiance to Republican to vote in Super Tuesday for Romney, then promptly unenroll as I leave the polling station. Personally, I am ok with either McCain or Romney as the Republican nominee, then as a country we won’t be embarassed in this election if some clown like Huckabee gets the nomination

As long as all you hand-wringing Huck-haters will still vote for him if he gets the True and Everlasting Party’s nomination, all this huffing and puffing fells mostly like hot air.

Brad, I’ve already said that I’ll cast a write-in ballot for Oliver North if Huckabee gets nominated.

cj douglass, partisanship is quite different from religious-identity politics. And you can’t blame Mormonism for creating either.

It’s worth noting that without partisanship, you have a 1-party system. Jonah Goldberg was very articulate about this in an interview today:

There’s also a sort of contempt for democratic values that also comes out of this unity thing. One of the most fascistic things that kids on college campuses say is that, “If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.” In other words, there is no safe harbor. Either you agree with where the movement wants to go or you are a problem and problems need to be solved by definition…

People only say we need to move beyond ideology, we need to put partisanship aside, or the time for discussion is over, when they want to tell you to shut up and get with their program. That is a fundamentally undemocratic, quasi-fascistic way of talking about politics.

DKL,
I think you’re bringing up a good point. But I didn’t mean say that Mormon Republicans created partisanship or religious-identity politics – just fueled the fire. And don’t misunderstand me – Democrats can be just as partisan (if not more).

DKL,
I know he writes for the NR. And I agree with your/his analysis. His position seems to be that such nonsense is monopolized by the American left, as though he’s lived on another planet since 9/11. For some, moving beyond ideology is about an idyllic, lambs-and-lions future bathed in the lovely light of a benevolent state that embodies the will of the people. For others, moving beyond ideology is about surrendering critical thought, personal freedom, separation of powers, etc, in the name of supporting the president’s brave crusade to keep us safe. Here’s a recent Romney quote:

“And I hear from time to time people say, hey, wait a second. We have civil liberties we have to worry about. But don’t forget, the most important civil liberty I expect from my government is my right to be kept alive, and that’s what we’re going to have to do.”

Still, your Puritan religious freedom line is absolutely classic.

On Hannity and Colmes, Huckabee just said “The genius of the Bible is that it has ten commandments, not nine, not twelve.” Can anyone explain that to me? Seriously. I’m lost.

On Hannity and Colmes, Huckabee just said “The genius of the Bible is that it has ten commandments, not nine, not twelve.”

Apparently, Huckabee has only read a couple of verses in the Bible, then. Or else, he’s forgotten about the Great Super Two commandments, or maybe he’s just not counting all of the little commandments.

Maybe he and Romney each need to go to training on “How Better To Represent My Beliefs to a Unreligious Audience”.

Queuno: Made me think of this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOrgLj9lOwk (at 1:23)