WHY DO PEOPLE WORRY MORE ABOUT ROMNEY'S MORMONISM THAN KENNEDY'S CATHOLICISM?

I really don't see it. I am speaking without bias or favoritism. I have yet to see a strong surge of ANY faith due to the discipleship of the President of the US. I am incredibly curious as to why Evangelicals think that Romney's faith would have ANY implication whatsoever. Did we all become catholic converts after Kennedy became president? I can safely say that we did not. Why would the same occur under Romney?

"Many evangelicals do not want to see Mormonism mainstreamed," said Matthew Wilson, a political scientist at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071121/lf_nm/usa_politics_romney_dc;_ylt=AuYOVa4mvkQcn4rXTBKNWWY7Xs8F

let me tell you this, President Hinckley of the LDS faith has NOTHING to do with the Presidential candidacy nor will Romney take or request help from the Mormon President, in order to do his job. If mormonism goes mainstream, which it PROBABLY will not do anyway, it will NOT be due to President Romney at all.

The Church is growing at 5.3% in the South. Not only do many Southern Baptists regard the Mormon church as a cult, they also regard it as a competitor that is winning -- or poaching -- converts from among the evangelical flock.


so WHAT IS A CULT: according to Webster it is as follows:
Etymology: French & Latin; French culte, from Latin cultus care, adoration, from colere to cultivate
1: formal religious veneration : worship
2: a system of religious beliefs and ritual; also : its body of adherents

Well if this religion (AS ALL RELIGIONS ARE CULTS BY DEFINITION) cultivates, cares and adores Christ and brings souls unto the Savior, I have YET to see what the problem is.

Also, if you look at what a cult typically is, Heaven's Gate, FUNDAMENTAL MORMONS (NOT LDS! BUT FLDS), Branch Davidians. These sects are/were SMALL and typically meet in small meetinghouses. The LDS faith has nearly 13 million members who have been baptized worldwide and there are more OUTSIDE the US than within.

13 Million may be a small number in comparison to the Buddhist or Catholic faith standards who have over a Billion members, but 13 Million is roughly the size of Los Angeles proper and more than most cities.

The fact is, the reason that Evangelicals may rest uneasy, may not be due to the Mormon Politician gaining the presidential seat, but that IF there IS an influence, it WILL impact their wallets. The Church of Latter Day Saints does NOT have a paid clergy as most faiths do. Most pastors and reverends are NOT as concerned about whether the LDS (Mormon) faith is a cult or not. It is a GREAT cover story, but the fact is, that if people are leaving their faiths and are paying tithing in the LDS faith, it is money that goes toward the growth of the LDS Church and NOT in anybody's pocket within the Evangelical faiths. Tithing and Offerings within the baskets of the Catholic, Protestant and Evangelical faiths is what keeps them running. Obviously the absence of this money has affected them.

"In America some of its fastest growth has been in Southern Baptist strongholds, notably the South, according to data provided by the Mormon church.

In the United States overall its membership grew by 3.2 percent from 2004 to 2006. But in 13 states of the South its numbers grew over the same period by 5.3 percent.

Evangelical soil can be fertile ground for Mormon growth.

Mormons and Southern Baptists take similar conservative stances on social issues and tend to vote Republican, so their cultural and political outlooks are not really in conflict.

"Some Southern Baptists will live near Mormon communities functioning at their best, where they will see in practice the kind of family-oriented, sober, diligent, and disciplined lives that Southern Baptists preach but do not always display," said Mark Noll of the University of Notre Dame."

We are ALWAYS afraid of that which we do not know. Romney could very well be the best candidate that the Republican party and its constituents let go, once the Primary election comes up and MOST of the reason why Romney may not make it, is due to people NOT knowing him and to some extent fearing his religion. They SIMPLY DO NOT KNOW enough about it. The biggest problem, is their reluctance to LEARN about it. it is a level of, for lack of a better word, ignorance, that people do not mind retaining. People also have a level of comfort in NOT going to the LDS faith to learn about the LDS faith. They don't know THOSE people...so they will go to their pastor or reverend. Well, honestly, this man gets paid by you WEEKLY or monthly...what do YOU think their answer is going to be? If I want to learn about the Lutheran Church, do I go to the Methodist Church to do so? So why do people fear talking to the LDS missionaries who want nothing more than to help people in any way that they can? Because they know that the LDS Church is a high volunteered faith where everyone does their part and everybody depends on one another to do so.

I actually have to think that if people do NOT vote for Romney based SOLELY upon religion, if that is not a form of bigotry. I am NOT saying that if you don't vote for Romney, that you are a bigot. I AM saying that if you cannot separate his religion, from the work that he did in Massachusetts or at the 2002 Olympics, and the ONLY reason you are NOT voting for him is due to his faith, that you know NOTHING about..besides what your OWN church says...well consider the source and re-evaluate what IS true from the horse's mouth.

Bigotry: a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices; especially : one who regards or treats the members of a group (as a racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance.
http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/bigot

If this form of discrimination exists; then the LDS Church, which may not be an ethnic or racial group, it IS a LARGE group of people (approximately 5-6 MILLION US members) who are being singled out and will be able to confirm that due to their religion, they can NEVER be elected as a President of the US if their professional ambitions led them that way.

If I choose Giuliani or Clinton or even Obama over Romney, it will have NOTHING to do with religion. I am NOT voting for a pastor or a bishop. I am voting for a Presidential Candidate and I am judging his work SOLELY on what he has done.

"If you are not going to support Republican Mitt Romney for president because you don't think he is the guy to win the war on terror, that is your call. If you are pro-life and you do not buy his abortion conversion story, it's a free country. But if you are not going to support Mitt Romney for president because he is Mormon, or because you think he will not be elected president because he is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, say your prayers for America."
-Kathryn Lopez

Do the NE PATS get an asterisk for a perfect season?

I think not...let's consider what the Patriots have done to this point. Don Shula, who was the head coach of the 1972 Miami Dolphins made the comment that, "The Spygate thing has diminished what they've accomplished," Shula told the paper. "You would hate to have that attached to your accomplishments. They've got it."

There is also New England's 21-game win streak over the course of the 2003 and '04 seasons that some Patriots players tried to equate to the Dolphins 17-0 season, which Shula at that point claimed wasn't the same.

The New England Patriots have manhandled every team they have faces with the exception of the Indianapolis Colts who they cam from behind to win last Sunday.

If the New England Patriots were to go 19-0 will Shula go away even though the Patriots have won 5 more games than the 1972 Dolphins did? Or is it just not the same?

I am willing to say that if the Patriots have a 19 game winning streak, a ring resulting from that 19-0 run and they had a 21 game winning streak, then yes it is MUCH MORE impressive than just 14 games...we get 15-1 teams every once in a while, so winning 14 games is good, but it is not rare. Being undefeated with a ring IS rare, but has been done and will be done again, whether it is the Patriots or any other team.

Spygate will NOT keep the Patriots from playing their A game and it will not lessen the need for their opposition to keep them out of the endzone in order to NOT have the score run up on them.

Gundy v. The Oklahoman's Carlson

I am not laughing at Gundy…I am laughing at the amateurish column left by the Oklahoman and I DO question her credibility as well as that of her editor. When I read this article, things stuck out to me that I would NEVER use in an article whether the Oklahoman is willing to man up to this or not. who uses phrases as “I suppose”, “It seems…”, “Word is”…these phrases which were spread throughout the article are that of a 3rd party assumption. “When you assume, you make an ass of u and me. It is, in my mind, the ONLY job of a sportswriter, to go to the source. Do not adlib, do not paraphrase or put words in the mouths of others or assume that YOU have the knews based on heresay comments that this athlete told this person or that person which also occurred twice at least that I counted. When you go directly to the source without equivocation, it takes out ANY doubt and both sides of the story are aware at what will be printed. It is after the fact, to ask a coach of what the “factual errors” are..they SHOULDN’T have existed from the beginning and an emailed interview or a phone call would have clarified the situation. I am 100% behind Mike Gundy and as a father of two kids, I would have my kids play under him regardless of what you think of him. Mike Gundy is a PARENT’S coach…he is NOT a babysitter, but he is a good man who I could feel 100% comfortable having my kids play for his program without blinking twice. Parents want this type of a coach for their kids. A coach who will publically go to bat for their kids against a columnist What does Ms. Carlson want anyway? Coach Gundy told her a couple of points in his rant as far as where she goofed and said what wasn’t true, did she pay attention at all to what he said? As far as getting meal from his mom, he IS still a kid. How many of you were athletes whether in HS or college? in a 4 hour game you CAN get some hunger strikes…so the hell what? Are you better than that athlete because you don’t? his mom is in the stands and he is on the sidelines..you are making a MUCH bigger issue about this than is needed. Everybody makes Coach Gundy to be enraged, I gotta say, I thought that he was direct, forward and brunt. there are times where that is called for. If I talked about anybody’s kids the way Ms. Carlson talked about Bobby Reid- I would EXPECT to get creamed as well. Ms. Carlson, what will you do when your kid is playing Little League and someone BOOS him off the field?? Are you ready to deal with that? Probably NOT! People who write about sports, should be at LEAST athletes, so they have perspective as an athlete and as a team member. Gundy, I applaud you..people say what they want. You HAVE no explaniation to do, you gave two examples which were MORE than needed. A columnist should be able to read through their article and pinpoint where they went to the source, where they may have hit too hard or where they may not have reliable sources. An Editor should be twice as vigilent in that respect. If anything, this amateur athlete got a raw deal by an amateur columnist. Hopefully, people do NOT take Gundy’s rant out of context to benefit their own opinions. Hopefully, people will read it in the spirit and the letter of intent that he meant it.

The very fact that YOUR paper backs you up as well as your editor, means they are in line with your comments (especially the twice mentioned chicken comment) means that the Oklahoman has NO problem with articles that fail to go to the source. They are ok with all of the many discrepancies that you fail to see the need to correct, OR CHOOSE to not correct.

I found it humerous that this was KILLED OFF and deleted and would NOT be surprised to see this deleted as well…of course..ANYTHING served up as a critique to your professional credibility will be discounted and thrown away as being negative energy..

well if it were JUST me..that would be one thing..but I am OBVIOUSLY not the only one who feels this way!

HC Mike Gundy-A PARENT AND ATHLETE'S COACH!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoMmbUmKN0E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoMmbUmKN0E

HC Mike Gundy-A PARENT AND ATHLETE'S COACH!

> Did you see Coach Gundy defend his QB Bobby Reid?
> That was AWESOME!!!

> Wow...I LOVE coaches like that...if I am a player on a bad day...and
> my coach goes to bat for me the way he did calling the editor and
> columnist out like that?? I almost don't even care what their
> record is...the coaching that they get can be so much more about
> life in general than just what happens within the gridlines.
>
> INTENSE...and spot on! If my son does play football and could play
> for Gundy...I would have NO problems with that at all...THAT is a
> parent's coach! Not just for football, but in ANY sport. My hopes
> are that my son DOES have coaches like that! He may not play
> football but...hopefully in baseball or whatever he likes.
> I hope too that when he DOES have that big
> game (I had quite a few)where he may have a bad day or not have the best
> stats...that my wife and I can help him look at what he has done GOOD
> to get his team where they are.
>
> I hope I can coach Little League or High school teams after the
> military. I will take that as an exemplar way of handling the
> situation. That was awesome...he said he wished he could say
> more...I can only imagine how much more poignant or direct he could
> be.

Jena 6

"Three white students were suspended but not criminally prosecuted. LaSalle Parish District Attorney Reed Walters has said he could find no state law covering the act."-AP

are we sure he COULD not find, or preferred NOT to find?


The first irrational and ridiculous action occurred with the nooses being hung from the tree. That was not done by African Americans, that hatred was done by Caucasians and 3 days and probation is NOT nearly enough punishment. I would call into question the hatred level of those district leaders as well! They should have the proper education to know the difference between a prank and a hate crime. That is what THAT was..a hate crime and to the best of MY knowledge (unless Louisiana law is different) is a criminal offense...if NOT...it should be!

To 911 Families and Those Who Have Lost Loved Ones in the War

On that miserable and sobering day in 2001, every American knows where they were at that moment. We all felt useless and all of our hearts fell deep into our souls knowing that there was not nearly enough empathy or compassion that we could share with the families of those who lost members of their families. Whether those members were within the towers, firemen or policemen they will be remembered by all Americans. If some Americans wish to forget that day, it is NOT for lack of patriotism or the desire to forget what you have gone through as families. They want to stop the hurting that we all feel.

Thousands of families have sent their sons and daughters into the military and thousands of those members have since given their lives as a reminder that we, as Americans, will never forget. Thousands of military members still remain in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world with a single eye's focus on ending the war against Terrorism and against those who have raised themselves against the USA for whatever reason.

No presidential administration can or will be able to fill the void that was created on that day. No amount of perfect hindsight or prevention may keep it from happening again. None of us will be able to erase the memories that have been burned into your minds or even those in our own minds with what we saw. While it hurts all of us inside, it also reminds us to remain vigilent and to always be ready. In my military service, we use the phrase Semper Paratus which means just that. The only thing we can do is to continue the fight against our enemies and do our part to redeem and avenge the loss of our innocent as well as our warriors. Our innocent Americans who passed away in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania will never be forgotten. Our soldiers and sailors who work around the clock 24/7 regardless of their feelings or ours regarding the management of US efforts against this war, are there to keep us safe whether they are in the Coast Guard, Navy, Air Force, Marines or Army...WE, your military will fight for you, your families, your memories, your hurt, your prayers, your hopes and for all that is good in this country. May God bless this country on this day that we will all be cognizant of those who cannot be with their families on this day, for whatever reason. I would hope that we may hug our children with the thought in mind that military families may be separated or that those who have lost their loved ones permanently, and that we may feel compassion and as much empathy for those who are unable to do the same. it should not be a moment of pride, as much as an awareness that we, as a country are able to still be one united country.

MY HOPE IS THAT, WE CAN BE ONE IN THE SAME UNITED AND PATRIOTIC WAY THAT WE WERE FOR MONTHS FOLLOWING 9/11. MAY THE LORD BLESS THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE FELT LOSSES IN YOUR FAMILIES AND KNOW THAT WE ARE DOING OUR BEST TO FEEL YOUR PAIN AND LOSS ON THIS DAY. WE SEND OUR CONDOLENCES TO YOU AND YOURS ON THIS DAY AND WILL CONTINUE TO REMIND OURSELVES HOW BLESSED WE ARE AS A COUNTRY. FOR THOSE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR SOLDIERS AND/OR SAILORS, WE ALSO FEEL YOUR LOSS AND WISH THE SAME FOR YOU AND THAT YOU KNOW THAT THE FIGHT TO FULFILL WHAT YOUR SONS/DAUGHTERS/HUSBANDS/
WIVES/BROTHERS/SISTERS AND PARENTS HAVE FOUGHT FOR OUR FREEDOM. IT IS TRUE THAT FREEDOM ISN'T FREE AND WE ARE DOING ALL THAT WE CAN TO ASSURE YOU OF THE FREEDOM AND SAFETY THAT YOU ENJOY. MAY WE ALL REMEMBER THIS DAY AS OUR DEDICATION TO AVENGE THE LOSS OF THOSE WHO DIED DUE TO TERRORISM AND RELIGIOUS EXTREMISM.

To The Everett Family

Kevin Everett...we know you can't read this, but our hope, faith and prayers from those of us on this board are with you.

I have repeatedly said that risk and recognition of said risk as far as sports may not gain the sympathy that may or may not be deserved. Kevin, you have paid that ultimate and most undeserving price that may cost you your life and/or the ability to walk. We do not say that to discourage you, in fact we hope that your quality of life is not highly altered by this accident and that you WILL walk again.

Everyone here, regardless of our religion or lack thereof wishes the best for you and your family so that you may survive the imminent surgeries and treatment that you are going through. We are not interested in whether you will play football again. That is almost ideal at this point...or beyond what our immediate hopes are for you. We hope that you can survive the difficulties that have been placed before you and hope that your family can keep the faith and hope alive that you WILL indeed walk again.

Kevin, as you fight and progress through this ordeal, we will continue with eagerness to learn of your progress and listen attentively rto your health updates. Again, we wish the best for you , your family and for those friends and teammates of yours within the Buffalo Bills organization at all levels.

Barry Bonds Birthday 24July64

To all of the haters who do not like Barry Bonds for whatever reason, you may feel justified in your decision to prejudge someone, just keep in mind that your decision to not forgive the guy puts you on the same level as God. This is the level where you get to decide whether you will forgive him or not..and over something like this...I just don't see the reason for it. Whether he did it or not, there are worse things in life. That goes for his mistress as well. Apparently she is set out to throw him under the bus as well...I may say this to her in response to her comment on Yahoo sports:

"If I had more self-esteem when I was younger," she said, "I wouldn't have been caught up with such a rotten man."

My response: Ms. Bell, Mr. Bonds too, had a lapse of judgement as well by getting involved with you and the only reason for your response and need to thwart his efforts at this time is because he left you in 2003 and you are ticked that you are not with him now. I would hope that Liz Watson would not get concerned about this as Ms. Bell is simply trying to coattail her way and create as much discomfort for Bonds and his family as she possibly can, especially NOW with Barry being right on the cusp of the all-time homerun record. Her ploy includes a future spread in Playboy magazine where she will again, throw Barry underneath the bus..because he is an easy target. The media has dumped on him for most of his career, whether it is of his doing or not..so why would Ms. Bell act differently?


Baseball is a game. We will never know when the steroid era began nore will we ever know if it started with Mr. Canseco or he was simply the most prolific.

No matter whether Barry took the clear or cream knowingly or not, the results cannot be changed nor will the record books. We are all aware of that. There are far too many asterisks to go around.

I will be honest, i do not expect Barry to get 3 HRs tonight (he is already 0 for 1. But I would like to see one homerun tonight..there is no better way to help yourself and your team out on such a great occasion in this record breaking year.

If you want to hate Barry Bonds for what he has accomplished, remember that he was a HOFer long before the steroid scandal began. And if it makes you feel better...provided A-Rod and Pujols do not get injured...they will overtake his record in roughly a decade...so...enjoy..you will probably get your man sooner than waiting another 3 decades..

As far as I am concerned the NBA scandal involving Tim Donaghy is a MUCH bigger story as is the NFL's Michael Vick indictment...THOSE to me warrant more of a "hate' than anything Bonds has done to this point. Donaghy compromised the NBA and its validity of the last 13 years. Vick has knowingly had dogs abused and murdered on his property by people within his family..whether he was involved or not. it is his house and ignorance is NO excuse. As long as it happened in his home, he is liable and SHOULD be held as such.

Michael Vick and His Dogdays

Whoever thinks this is ONLY about race, they're wrong. Whoever thinks that this is about ONLY celebrities or athletes, they're wrong. Whoever thinks that this is anything more or less than the abuse of animals is wrong. C rime was committed and it just happens that the FEDS have convicted him. The Federal Govt. does not convict unless they have a good reason to do so and have the evidence to show that the convicted will NOT get off...a D.A like Nifong may convict without merit or morals (didn't he get disbarred for that among other things?) but Vick is gonna go down on this one and he has no recourse...no one to throw the scapegoat on...look..there are really no surprises about the kids in this Vick Family...I am NOT really all that surprised. In fact if ANYTHING..I feel for his mom and dad...I CANNOT see how parents could actually raise their children to grow up and make these decisions. They HAVE to just be suffering inside as parents. yes Michael Vick is an adult as is his brother Marcus-both of which had issues at VTech and Marcus had his fair share of fun on some guy's calf muscle...thankfully and reasonably so..he was NOT picked up in the draft and his attempt to try out was dismal...he screwed himself out of more money in one stomping than I will EVER make...I also feel for the guy that got stomped on..but HE'LL go into the NFL knowing that neither Vick will be there...If Vick gets less than 5 years...I would consider the whole thing a travesty....ANY CRIME where you take away the free agency or life of another human being or animal should be seen as a murderer. Again, I feel bad for Vick's family...they have to tolerate this crap...

I LOVED THIS...THIS WAS HYSTERICAL....TALK ABOUT A GUY WHO DOESN'T GET IT....

"I feel like it's the Nazi regime coming in here, talking away all of our rights, said Tim Main, as he cleaned up Mike's Ten-Pin Lounge in Alton. "First they make it so you have to wear seat belts, and now they want to put a stop to smoking. What's next?"


HEAVEN FORBID THAT THE GOVERNMENT WANTS TO KEEP YOU ALIVE AND HEALTHY!!!!

DON'T GET THE WRONG IDEA THOUGH...IT ISN'T THAT YOU ARE ALL THAT IMPORTANT...REMEMBER THE ONLY TWO SURE THINGS ARE TAXES AND DEATH....AND THEY'RE GONNA TAX YOU AS LONG AS THEY CAN...SO THEY'LL KEEP YOU ALIVE IN ORDER TO DO SO!!!!