My counter to that is that, as an Atheist who has seen what religious groups do the second they get any power (EG: India has issued an arrest warrant on Richard Gere for kissing a rather pretty Indian actress on the cheek, because it annoyed some Hindus, the whole Middle East will merrily stone a woman to death because she may have cheated on her husband, because infidelity in women seriously annoys Muslims, and America is still debating over teaching evolution in its schools, because science annoys Christians) I wouldn’t want anybody of any firm religious grouping in control of my country.

And that includes firmly Atheist. (China anyone?)

First, you believe that a catholic candidate in your country WILL OBBEY the Pope before the people of the USA or his own interests and advisors? Frankly, you’re seriously delusional. And, you have enough religious wackos and lobbyists in your country to think that the Pope can steer the country.

Catholic church have a say in your country? Yes, but as many of your lobbyists. The NRA, the Big Oil and Big Tobacco have a comparable or bigger power. Nowadays, the Pope can’t summon a Crusade against the USA GOP, but sure lobbyists can control it.

What you need it’s a political system less driven by private money. And then, you’ll have (some) candidates that aren’t in bed with Big Money and that are eager to sell the USA people by its own interests.

…and the racist al Ceerackas would lick it off…

…with a smile…

I still have that album!!!!

I am most certainly not out to participate in any pogrom of any sort against any religion.
I was making a simple obsevation, in my own intuitive fashion.
Thanks for the background on the last few incarnations of ol’ St. Peter…. and I witnessed Ratzingers coziness with the Dubious one….

I’m old enough to remember this one, dudes:

“Tell St. Peter at the pearly gate,
I just hate to make him wait,
but I’ve just got to have another,
cigarette….”

(Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen)

Apparently, david knows so much about the Catholic church he doesn’t understand that the Pope doesn’t exactly select the cardinals himself, and that the rightwing culture of the medieval Church has been around for long enough to have their OWN Jesus. They, not the Pope, would have been PLENTY to ‘tamp down’ those liberal bishops, don’t kid yourself.

Ratzinger met with GW Bush IN PERSON one week before issuing his fatwa on candidate Kerry. Then a few months later, he was made Pope. Nothing to see there, move along.

Murder, rape, looting, and poisoning their children with uranium is just not that bad. What are you so hung up about?

“I’m washed in the blood of the innocent, and I feel fine.” — J. ‘Cain

RSS

Raven and Blue Dog…the last thing I intended was to initiate a pogram on any religious group. DO NOT use my comments to attack. You are using the exact same arguments that the right did against Kennedy in 1960. Obviously, you are way too young to remember that. I was only a little kid myself at the time, but I do remember. I will repeat the point I was ultimately trying to make. “There is only one debt that needs to be paid…and that is to each and every member of the human race on this planet. Remember what human beings are capable of doing to each other, in the name of power. DO NOT REPEAT IT!!!”

What annoys me about McCain is that he seems to be parroting what he thinks will please his base. This is, perhaps, the result of America’s bizarre two party system. People speak as if this two party system was in the Constitution; it’s not. There were no parties in 1788 and only slowly did two differing views emerge: the Federalists and the Democratic Republicans. I think the US could benefit from an overhaul of the House of Representatives (Proportional Representation?) and perhaps a presidential run off as they are having in France right now.

Personally, I don’t understand this primary business. How can a country of 300 million have only 5 or 6 candidates to choose from for President? It’s seems to all be about branding and name recognition and fundraising — and public discourse is a mere afterthought. No wonder an Australian fascist has so much power over America. It’s a twisted vision of what the Framers of the Constitution had in mind.

or, whatever/whoever are behind the pope.
The current holder of that position has the kind of creepiness that follows the neo-cons around… he just doesn’t seem to be the diplomat that John-Paul was… much more of the aura of a manipulator and a power player.

Absolutely. And, I would also point out that 4 of the 5 catholics on the Supreme court are conservative, fundamentalist catholics who, by definition, owe possibly more allegiance to the Pope than the people of the United States.

I agree 100% with you. But this is what happens when an American, by having more allegience to another country than his own, allows his own country to be put in jeopardy. We had the chance and responsiblity to save the Jews in Europe in the late thirties and early forties. We didn’t do it, until the very last year of the war. We turned Jewish refugees away from our ports for years before then. But I don’t think this generation needs to continue paying for the sins of our previous generations. The U.S. has provided Israel with billions and billions of dollars aid over the past 60 years. Both humanitarian and military (especially military). There is only one debt that needs to be paid…and that is to each and every member of the human race on this planet. Remember what human beings are capable of doing to each other, in the name of power. DO NOT REPEAT IT!!!