Who to support now?

Fred Thompson dropped out of the Presidential race this week. Last year I had hoped he would get into the race. He eventually declared his candidacy but he never seemed like he was seriously trying to campaign.

Who now? I’m not a McCain fan. Definitely not a supporter of Guilliani (not the he is campaigning either). Huckabee? Eh.

Romney looks like the best of what’s left. Hopefully the Democrats will keep tearing each other apart to leave an opening for us.

Run Fred, Run!

So when is Fred Thompson going to declare he is running for President in ’08? Blogs for Fred says he has made up his mind about running, he just hasn’t announced what that decision is.

I think he hasn’t announced yet because he is doing so well in the polls without actually campaigning. When he announces, he will start having to campaign which means spending money. Why spend money when you don’t have to?

Fred is podcasting!

Fred Thompson is podcasting over at ABC Radio Networks.

I’m starting to think he has a good shot at becoming the next President. He is well-spoken, is witty, and shows a good understanding of issues. I think we are seeing a politician in the vein of Ronald Reagan. Besides, he looks like a Grandfather. People aren’t put off by grandfatherly types. His persona is comfortable and sets people at ease. That gets votes.

Where can I get my “I’m with Fred” t-shirt.

Vote for a Mormon?

Paul at Thoughts of a Regular Guy wrote a post about Mitt Romney where he said:

“Are Mormons Christians?…as a Catholic, I might say the same about Protestants.”

There are great differences between Mormons and Protestants. Mormons believe that God was once a man. Protestants (like Catholics) believe God was always God. Mormons deny the Trinity. Protestants believe in the Trinity(like Catholics). Mormons believe we can become gods. Protestants (like Catholics) believe it is sinful to try to become gods (see Gen 3:5). Mormons believe that God had physical relations with Mary, Protestants hold to the Virgin Birth (like Catholics).

I am conflicted about Romney. I don’t want to support the idea that that his religion is correct. At the same time, I would rather vote for a candidate who supports my values (e.g. the sanctity of marriage, pro-life) which is more than I can say for any Catholic candidate for office. How sad is that?

Character

I found a blog post showcasing a picture of President Bush helping Democratic Senator Byrd walk during a medal ceremony for the Tuskegee airmen.

I think this is an amazing photograph that gives us a glimpse of the true measure of President Bush. In a candid moment, he is helping a political opponent. The leader of the free world showing human compassion for his political enemy. But politics do not matter when it comes to human need; he reaches out and helps the senator. A small act, but significant.

U.N. effectiveness

Israel is warning people in southern Lebanon to evacute the area. The warning is apparently is preparation of a ground invasion against Hezbollah “militants” in the area.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Anan is calling for an immediate cease-fire. Remember this is the U.N., Anan is essentially saying, “Stop or I’ll say ‘stop’ again!”

I find his criticism of Israel to be ignorant. He says they are using “excessive force.” Hezbollah forces started a war by crossing into Israel, killing Israeli soldiers and capturing two others. Now that Israel has decided they are going to finish the war Hezbollah started, they are being called excessive. This is a war. You win a war by using overwhelming force against your enemy. There is no such thing as excessive force against an enemy who is fighting against you.

Now if Hezbollah surrenders and Israel continues to bomb them, I might say that is excessive. Until Hezbollah stops aiming rockets at Israeli cities, Israel’s response can hardly be called “excessive.”

Europeans are fighting

English and German fans started brawling at the World Cup today.

It’s a Euro civil war. U.S. troops are stationed in Germany. When is John Kerry going to start calling for immediate withdrawal?

Sex abuse pandemic

Expagan has a list that shows how widespread the problem of sex abuse has become – in our public schools. And this list is only the women abusers.
This is why the Archdiocese of Denver campaigned so hard against a bill that would increase the statute of limitations and raise caps on sexual abuse judgements for private institutions only (i.e. the catholic church). There were priests that abused their position and the church did handle the problem poorly. Even so, the attention focused solely on the catholic church is giving public institutions cover for their problem that is effecting many more people.

All child abusers need to be stopped and put away for a long, long time – not just those few in the catholic church.

SF governors condemn catholic church

The San Francisco board of governors has passed a resolution criticizing catholic beliefs. The board demands the former Archbishop of San Francisco who now serves at the Vatican to withraw the directive that “Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of San Francisco stop placing children in need of adoption with homosexual households.”

In addition the board claims that the church’s position is “an insult to all San Franciscans” apparently even those San Franciscans who support the church’s position.

The resolution concludes by saying, “Archbishop Neiderauer and the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of San Francisco to defy all discriminatory directives of Cardinal Levada.”

Clearly this is an unconstitutional attack on the catholic church. No government is allowed to use its power to prevent the free exercise of religion. The city government does not have the right to demand the catholic church to change its beliefs or practices.

The resolution is non-binding. Is there any doubt that if the city did have the ability to make the resolution binding that it would?

(hat tip: Roman Catholic Blog)

Why conservative politics will win

Roman Catholic Blog asks what type of mentality leads to Germany having the lowest birthrate in Europe.

USA Today provides the answer: liberal (“progessive”) politics. Liberals are not having babies. Without babies, their ideas will eventually die out – or at least become less popular. This is why conservative ideas have a bright future in the states. Europe doesn’t seem to have that option and instead may turn into a collection of Islamic nations.

The warning signs for suicidal ideology (meaning your ideas are not sustainable because there is no future generations to continue them)? Not going to church regularly, protesting against the military or military use, being accepting of drugs, homosexuality, and euthenasia, and cohabitating instead of marrying are all signs that you may not have children.