are you better off than 4 yrs ago

[Kay/NC]

Christie may be crucified for embracing - literally - Obama in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, but hte truth is pretty much what Paul Poundstone  said on NPR this week.  Obama suspended his campaign, and so did Romney, in the storm's serious aftermath. 

Obama mostly flew around in a helicopter, doing what a presdient is supposed to do in the situation.  Romeny had to invent things to do that made him look like he was doing what a president would do in the situation. 

One has the powers of his office in his hip pocket, and the other had to create photo ops.  It may or may not be a subtle difference, but is it palpable.  When people are under the emergency conditions created by natural disaster, the government can ride in like the cavalry, and save the day.  Obame looked like he had ridden in wearing a big, white hat...whereas, by nature of their different roles, Romney last week was all hat and no cattle. 

[Kay/NC]

My child who passed over earlier this year had some intriguing beliefs, even from an early age.  One of the last gifts she gave me was a copy of the movie "Religulous," by Bill Maher. 

I think it was in part a way of her sharing her core beliefs with me, so I would be prepared to deal with her death in a way that she saw fit.   We honored her expressed and implied wishes in observing her passing.  In the way of many people who have eschewed organized religion, I say we gave her a spiritual sendoff, not a religious one. 

Wheterh you like Maher or not, he reveals a lot of very interesting "coincidences' between Christianity's tenets and history, and that of several earlier religions.  Much of the mystical element of the faith stems from earlier belief systems, faiths, sects, or cults, if you will. 

The date of Christ's birth, born to a virgin, crucified and resurrected, etc., and much more, all were elements of the "biographical" details of several different earlier persons of holy standing.  A lot fo this was what botheed Thomas Jefferson so much about Christianity, to the point that he re-wrote the Bible, leaving out all mystical elements. 

If you take this view of mainstream religion, then magical underwear and marriages in a Temple so secretive, Ann Romney's own parents (who were not Mormon) could not attend, are not all that odd.  I admit I've never studied Mormon tenets of faith..  It's a matter of putting ALL religious beliefs under the same amount of scrutiny. 

The main objection most people have to Mormons is the polygamous relationship known as plural marriage.  This practice is still practiced in America today.  To be honest, as long as the women are of the legal age of consent when they select this commitment, I have no real issues with it.  It's none of our business...but, Romney's father's Mexican origins pointed to a family past that made too many people too nervous. 

[sw363535]

Republican candidates------------- in 2008 it was obvious, the candidate was not very good.  His original election to the senate led one to wonder if he would have won if not for that prisoner of war thing.  His record in the senate was all over the board-----an opportunist at best.

In 2012, once again, the lineup had us shaking our heads and finally deciding this is probably the lesser of several evils.

Sometimes I think the various factions of the republican party are there because there is no place else to go.

We are primed for a new political party or maybe an anti-political party.  With that 3 billion ante fee required by the american media, we are going to have to rethink the whole process.