Hold it right there Ssss.

If you "respect human life", you will fight for equality and a world without prejudice.

You will create good jobs, you'll be for safety nets for all Americans, you will help the family stay out of poverty after Baby is born, you'll be for Education for all and you will not destroy worker voices.

This Pope and all other Popes in recent memory have been about lifting other human beings up & out of poverty.

Folks can pray all they like but it is what they do after that, that counts.

Very nice post Backhouse.

because we wanted to make sure that we had a healthcare system

Backhouse - Interesting he wants to make sure we have an excellent healthcare system for his children, but equal access for all Americans, well not so important as evidenced by his anti-AHCA stance.

RedDevs,

We are no other than equal. But as yoo know, we have to have the eyes to see it.

RevDevPS,

He only wants an 'excellent healthcare system' for those that can afford it. If you can't afford it, well then 'God obviously thinks you do not deserve it'.

I threw up a little bit in my mouth just thinking about that . . .

Santorum, explaining anti-abortion stance, says God looks at him as 'disabled'

lmoa, when did the god he speaks of call him a returd.

This is a good example as to why we need to end all this religious bs in America. Religion is all bs, and a tool used to manipulate and control the stupid sheeple that follow and believe in this utter nonsense.

It's time to wake up sheeple, you all have been hoodwinked by these charlatans.

TAX all church and religions, or shut them all down.

Dear Lord; Please protect me from your followers.

I look at Ricky S as disabled also...ethically disabled, with a tragically shallow sense of compassion for his fellow humans and a basic inability to understand the world around him as it really exists.

http://thefuerstshallbelast.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/rapture-allthereligiouswackosaregone.jpg?w=490

Santorum is disabled. He does have a tendency to listen to voices in his head and talks to an invisible man in the sky for guidance.

God looks at him as 'disabled'

He'll use this as an excuse to collect disability insurance or government checks I'm sure. This man is a political leech that lives off the American people's tax dollars. It';s time to end his and all other politicians of his like free ride in America.

Lets put all these politicians on hourly wages starting at $6.35 an hour, and no pension plans either for them to collect on.

Simplicio, I don't think Rick Santorum is going to win. God or no God.

This may be the saddest, most uninformed post I have ever read. Santorum will not be President. An emotionally ill man like he is should be seeking treatment, not running for the highest office in the land.

Simplicio A Mendoza Jr Are you for real? Im sorry a prayer. A hope & a prayer is not going to help santorum. Did you send this little prayer to santorum? The most interesting thing about this post is that you posted it here. Why? What's your point?

I posted this today in a response to matt, I think I'll share it with Simplicio, and Santy if he's listening...

"All your self righteousness is like filthy rags before me" Sums it up pretty good if you ask me.

A bible thumper, is a man standing before god with both hands on the good book, with a look of rapture on his face when he takes the book and beats himself over the head with it. When done, with the look of rapture still on his face he wonders, why won't it fit?

Egilman, You've shown yourself to be a far more reasonable individual than I've realized. I owe you an apology for bringing all guns to bear in an earlier discusssion of economics.

I still believe Supply Side economics as it's been misused by politicians is a fraud and a disaster, but then again Keynesian stimulus was overused to the point of harm in the 1970s also. And there's nothing wrong with agreeing to disagree.

(Yes, that was off topic for this thread, but here we are.)

Why Thank you John!

Coming from you that is much appreciated! In some ways I do agree with you and never worry about bringing all guns to bear, as long as it is civil and respectful.

Again Thank you!

newdayDAWNING...RETURNED

This may be the saddest, most uninformed post I have ever read. Santorum will not be President. An emotionally ill man like he is should be seeking treatment, not running for the highest office in the land.

You are 100% right about that. The man needs mental therapy, and now.

What, God is watching the republican primaries? I thought HE was busy helping Tebow with football games and busy answering Perry's personal line concerning his constant 'oops' moments.

If God was actually interested and following politics some of these people would have their ass cheeks welded shut by a lightening bolt right on stage before our eyes.

OMG!! Forrest! That was too funny!

Are you and Drive By collaborating?

[I thought HE was busy helping Tebow with football games...]

Well, I don't think God looks favorably upon Tebow after all...he MUST have done SOMETHING wrong to justify a loss last night.

When Elvis left the building, God went with him.

Good morning ideo...

No doubt that Tebow has talent...but that's where his "devine intervention" ends...

Good morning Mickey,

If you want to believe in God and thank Him, look at yesterdays game between the SF and NO. He didn't pick a winner, He just gave us a great game with one of the all-time endings in any sport.

Congrats to Pat in Boston on the Patriot's WIN last night!

Guess little Timmy missed God's phone call last night! ;o)

Morning Feisty ... maybe Tebow thought it was a robo call and just didn't pick up.

Good morning Feisty. Good game by NE. I don't particularly care what kind of politics Tebow practices, unless he runs for the presidency. Lots of athletes are religious. All I care about is if he's a good quarterback or not. He's not. I don't recall a quarterback having a worse playoff game than he did. And to be fair, most analysts did pick NE to beat the Broncos. But the media as a whole though should be ashamed of themselves the way they carried on about him.

I remember one late Sunday night when the Packers went to 14-0 and I put on EPSN to watch the recap of the Packers' game. Their lead story was about Tebow. I couldn't believe it.

I kind of felt sorry for Tebow last night.

Many years ago Tom Brady used to live not far from me. It was around the time he won his first Super Bowl. There is a Church a few blocks from my house that would be packed on Sunday mornings with lots of buzz. Why?

Tom Brady would attend that Church every Sunday morning.

Yet most people around the country wouldn't know that. And that's how it should be.

Best sign from last night's game -

Tebow, the end is near here. LoL.

Good Morning Ideolog & Pat!

Yet most people around the country wouldn't know that. And that's how it should be.

Amen!

You already know my thoughts on those who wear religion on their sleeves...

Tebow, the end is near here

Perfect! lol

This is what I don't understand--I can see praying to God to do one's best and for no one to be injured but praying to win? Don't both teams have religious people praying for the same outcome? Same thing as all those politicians saying God told them to run. Did He tell a lot of them to run? Did some of them get it wrong?

I respect anyone's religious views but can't help but think that this is why we have separation of church and state. I wish this could be honored.

I am kind of a "neat freak". Like everything in its proper place. Keep my sports out of politics, keep my politics out of religion, and keep religion out of sports and politics. Tidier that way.

How well do think it would be received if Tebow was a Muslim and credited Allah for his wins, what if a pulled out a prayer rug and faced east to pray during a game. The sad fact is that then the same people that praise him now would boo him and the better he played the more they would boo him, it is strange but true.

I am sure he is a good kid with good intentions but he should display his religion if he wishes too in a different manner and not on the playing field, he makes some serious coin now, he can start a foundation or some kind of charity and openly promote his religion in that venue.

As it is now I think he denigrates his religion and his athletic ability, why trivialize god by making him responsible for something as unimportant as the outcome of a game, and why trivialize his own athletic ability by suggesting it is a miracle when he completes a pass. I think the kid would do well to thank God for the for the athletic gifts and the opportunity to use them and leave it at that.

Forrest,

It was the way he was brought up. His folks are really nice people, but that is the way they are, and taught Tim that way. In a social function, though, they never preach at you or wave their faith in front of you. I am not of their faith, but respect their right to practice the way they want just as they respect mine. Just a matter of perception, I guess. (Besides, emphasizing Tim's religion is great for media hype)

Forrest - the quickest way to get the Tebow habit changed would be to allow his prayer at work practice in business across the nation. Can you imagine the loss of productivity if every welder stopped the production line to offer a prayer to God on every successful wield, every cashier paused for a prayer after every successful scan, every banker paused for a prayer on each note counted correctly? Business would outlaw religion at work on the spot. On a positive note, if the practice were allowed, it would solve the unemployment problem as it would take 2-3 more workers to offset the 'prayer' factor.

Red,

There is a Muslim that works where my husband works at. Real nice guy, very devout, says his prayers 5 times a day and has a prayer rug at work. He simply does not take a lunch since lunch is 30 minutes and his prayers take 15. Everyone is happy - administration and the employee.

Good morning phine...mighty chilly here today...all of 9 degrees and very windy this morning and I had to break out the long johns to put on under my GoreTex for my run...

I totally agree with your posts. I'm sure Tim is a great kid...he certainly is a stellar athlete. But, for me, that's where the whole "God" thing ends.

I feel sorry for the kid, it is hard enough to be a successful NFL quarterback, much less the quarterback for Christianity. It is hard enough to deal with the feelings that you let yourself, your teammates, and your fans down when a game is lost, but now you failed god as well, or is it that god failed you? It is a just a contest between athletes and the whole notion of divine intervention seems silly to me, it likens God to a football fan with face-paint and a fake block of cheese on his head or something. So like I said what do you think would happen if he pulled out a prayer rug, faced east and prayed to Allah, do you think the Broncos or the NFL would tell him to knock it off. I think you got something there about them using his religion as a marketing tool.

Praise the Lord! for that post RedDevPS, Praise the Lord!

I really believe the whole "prayer and religiion" thing is being used as a marketing tool. I just wish they would leave the kid alone (so do his parents, btw) and let him play football. If they want to play something up about him, how about the fact he doesn't get into trouble with guns and strip clubs? Or beats his wife or girlfriend. Seems to me, that would help the image of the NFL a whole lot better!

BTW RedDevPS and others, you will notice that the Devil has tempted me to commit some spelling and grammatical errors on some of my posts, I will pray on those, so that God will help me tighten up my proofreading. Now that the Broncos are out he probably has a little extra time to devote to my proofreading.

Phine - I think that is great that your husband's employer can accommodate religious needs in the workplace making everyone happy, however, that employer has now walked the fine line of setting a precedent of accommodating all religious needs for all employees and begs the question of where does that start and end. If one employee objects, do you fire the objecting employee, or do you force the religious exception to stop the practice? Do you allow an employee who needs 10 minutes of every hour for religious expression the same accommodation? And if the employer cannot find adequate accommodation for all employees, it may very well end up in court, and the court ends up deciding the matter for not just that one business, but for all business.

Religion should be checked at the door when entering the workplace.

Red,

Problem is, from management's point of view, where is the line? You have the freedom of religion guarantee and lawyers ready and able to tie up money in lawsuits for years. This is not-for-profit hospital and they don't have the money to litigate this for years.

And now, I will really tick some people off, I don't think Christmas and Easter should be federal holidays (for the record I am Catholic).

Wow Mickey you are devoted to your exercise runs to brave that kind of weather! My heart doctor is always asking me if I am doing my walking, are you walking Forrest?, you got to get outside and walk, are you doing your walking Forrest? I finally told him, hey I don't live in the fancy neighborhood you do, I live on the other side of the tracks, in my neighborhood a walk for my health could turn into a run for my life. He said well get a walking machine and I said I got one, but I found out I still have to move my own legs so I stopped using it.

Praise the Lord! for that post RedDevPS, Praise the Lord!

Forrest - I am of the Lord, from the Lord, and part of the Lord; and not to mention and insufferable hedonist, so I Praise Me!!

There was a Jehovah's Witness in my trade union that was always being laid off by various contractors because he would tell them he could not work on any churches, he could not work anywhere alcohol was served he could not work on any government buildings or defense industry plants. So when they ran out of the few places they could work him they would lay him off. He filed a grievance but I had to side with the owners because they offered him plenty of work but he refused the work on a religious basis. I respect his right to his religion and his devotion to it, but I can not punish the owners because he refuses the only work they had available, that is just not fair.

Religion and the work place - a difficult line to tread. Especially today.

[He said well get a walking machine and I said I got one, but I found out I still have to move my own legs so I stopped using it.]

Forrest, ahh...the old dreadmill...I have one as well, but prefer the outdoors...it really is good for your heart, so get cracking!

I got some exercise carrying it in the house and putting it together, and then piling stuff on it. I'll get a little more when I bring it outside for the garage sale. I would rather rake leaves or go up and down a ladder cleaning the gutters anything but the dreadmill as you aptly put it.

Good campaign move. It just makes him look somewhat human. It makes a nice story.

What makes a good campaign story is not making millions of dollars in the manner in which Romney did. Taking out cash and handing it to someone smacks of desperation considering Romney's millions while the rest of us attempt to survive.

It was a pathetic show by Romney.

If Romney would release his tax returns we would see the amount of charitable contributions he makes.

Written by Emily Friedman (h/t Obama Diary)

According to Williams, she followed the campaign bus to the Columbia airport on Wednesday, the same day Romney was arriving from New Hampshire. When Romney wasn’t on the bus, aides told her to go to the rally scheduled in Columbia later that day. When she showed up, Romney found her to say hello and pulled over South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley to say “hello” too.

The woman, 55-year-old Ruth Williams, says she has been following the Romney campaign since he arrived in the state on Jan. 11, when she said she received a message from God to track him down.

"God didn’t tell me to go to nobody else, he told me to pray for Romney,” said Williams, when asked why she has decided to support Romney. “I listened to the Lord.”

This is the woman who received the cash from Romney.

She needs a job. Not a photo opportunity for Romney.

[Hey where's the story about Romney reaching in his pocket and giving a campaign staffer who is in a tight spot all the cash he had on him?]

Raab, it's been buried under this little ditty:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9cn0M_AFWg

Quite the phake photo op for Romney, wouldn't you say?

Money. Money. Money. That's all Romney and the GOP gives a **** about. JFK didn't accept his salary when he was President of the United States.

This is what we should care about: Written by Jacob Heilbrunn

But perhaps the most troubling aspect of the GOP primary isn't the effusions of Santorum or Perry but the fact that Mitt Romney has been attacking China. Romney has stated that Obama has allowed China to "run all over us" when it comes to taking American jobs. For good measure, he's added that he would force China to appear before the World Trade Organization for manipulating its currency. Why should this be of concern? The problem is simple: Treat China like an enemy, and it will become one. And make no mistake. The Republican field, as James Traub points out in a vital essay in the January/February issue of the Washington Monthly, is doing just that.

As Traub notes, America—no, the world—needs China. China is an essential partner on the global economy and climate change. Yet Republicans are emphasizing that it's essential to confront China. But this could backfire, provoking Chinese nationalism, with no descernible benefit to America.

It is an article of faith among Republicans that the twenty-first century, like the twentieth, will be an American century—which is to say, not a Chinese one. But 'communist China' is an absurd archaism, and China is not likely to windup on the ash heap of history. Treating the world's premier rising power like the Soviet Union in the 1960s would be a mistake of historic proportions.

It would be difficult to disagree. No doubt China will often be a competitor of America; at other times, it may well have interests that are congruent with ours. But the one thing it doesn't have to be is an adversary. The truth is that there has been an unseemly search for a new enemy among conservatives ever since the end of the Cold War. In the 1990s, China was touted by some as America's enemy. Then came the 9/11 attacks. China was put on the back burner. But is it purely concidental that now that the war on terror is winding down, or at least being conducted in a more prudent fashion, that bellicosity about China has become fashionable among Republicans?

**************

Romney has exactly zero foreign policy thoughtful discussions. He is a very simple minded man who will do or say anything to win.

Where's the story about Obama's recent announcement in which he's going to shrink the size of government? Sounds like he's gonna be firing a bunch of people to save his political butt not to mention his own salary. Kind of greedy of him, don't you think?

Do let us know when President Obama makes millions of dollars for himself by downsizing government.

He is a very simple minded man

Pretty sure he was top of his class at Harvard?  Unlike a certain someone....

I wonder how Obama's personal worth is doing over the past few years on the back of federal workforce that he's about to downsize.  I think there a word for that starts with H.

Rob

At least you've seen Obamas tax return!

Pat ... an angered China may well ask to cash in the 1.2 trillion they hold in US securities ... Can you see the GOP lining up to chip in? I can't.

Here it is again. The President looks to shrink government and the right is critical. I thought the right wants a smaller government. Than the right complains when he does something they would do. Than they vilify him for it. What's wrong with this picture?

Now if mittens makes a pledge not to take a salary and not to receive benefits as President, that would be a story. If thats happens he'll make me a cabinet member to.

I heard a report that the savings will come from natural attrition and retirements--no layoffs will be necessary under President Obama's plan. So no one will lose his or her job and benefits and government will run more efficiently. What is wrong with that?

There is absolutely nothing wrong with that Steeler Fan. Not a thing. And President Obama will not make a dime from this down sizing.

You maybe right about that Rob, but he is a CEO, not part of the sales staff and at least he kept the damn store open!

Where is Mitten's tax return?

Great White North Observer ..."Where is Mitten's tax return?" ... offshore

not only Obombo but Pelosi, Reid, Kerry and all OBOMBO's big union buddies, GE,

Soylandra, GMC, Healthcare and drug makers and lobbyist, AARP, Green companies,

Wall street, Banks, Fannie and Freddie etc.... he's BIG money liberal but the left wing

liberal media will never tell you the facts! but while he's making money there's no jobs

just more people on welfare and government programs waiting for a handout! why work

when you sit and home and wait for King Obombo to throw you some crumbs and give

you free cell phones, unemployement, loans for cars, college, free housing? Socialists!

It's too bad it's true cause it would almost be funny if it weren't