I’m not the only one pointing this out, but here’s the breakdown on Romney’s speech:
1. Religious tolerance is a central value in American life
2. Secularism is a religion
3. Secularism is worthless and has no place in American life
4. The President shouldn’t defend any particular religion*
5. *As long as he insists on the centrality of Christianity to American political life
6. P.S. Mormons are totally Christians, dude.
Oddly enough, one of those nutters (R candidates, not any other group of nutters) is going to win the nomination and might end up as president. I think Romney’s flip-floppery and, to a somewhat lesser extent, his Mormonism will keep him from getting the R nomination. I think that Mike “releasing rapists and murderers for partisan advantage since 1999” Huckabee is toast. I think McCain is yesterday’s news. I think “Sex on the City” does it for Giuliana. And I think Paul is too weird even for the Rs. But doggone it, one of them is going to win it, probably in the next two months. Who?
How about Fred “I’m just taking a snooze in my hammock, wake me when it’s over” Thompson?
Giuliani is actually the only one of them that profoundly scares me, and not just for the ugly, frightening ideas he’s selling on this year’s campaign trail, but for his demonstrated approach to political leadership in the past–the secrecy, the paranoia, the high tolerance for sleaze and malfeasance as long as he’s got unswavering loyalty, etcetera.
I think that part of the reason G. got out of the Senate race in 2000 is that he knew he was going to get beaten. I think Hillary would clean his clock but good in a presidential election.
Like Tim, I certainly hope somebody clean’s Giuliani’s clock, but I think it’s wonderful that the republican’s are now arguing over who loves Jesus the most.