I used to be disgusted
And now I try to be amused


Gus Powell, Statue of Liberty

* Top ten conservative idiots. excerpt:

7. Mitt Romney

"Mitt Romney didn't seem particularly bothered about the NIE last week - but that's probably because he was too busy trying to convince Christian conservatives (and I use the term "Christian" loosely in this context) that he's not going to take the country on some crazy Mormon rollercoaster ride to Outer Hades.

"Romney gave a speech last week at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library which was intended to conjure up the spirit of John F. Kennedy's famous 1960 address to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association. The only difference of course being that in Kennedy's case the purpose was to put religion where it belongs in a presidential campaign - off the table - whereas in Romney's case the purpose was to put a big flashing neon sign over his head which read "HOT FRESH RELIGION RIGHT HERE!! COME AND GET IT!!"

"Romney's line of attack appeared to be to avoid much discussion of his own particular faith and instead talk about 'a topic which I believe is fundamental to America's greatness: our religious liberty.' As such Romney managed to use the word 'Mormon' just once: 'I believe in my Mormon faith and I endeavor to live by it.' So come on fundamentalists, pay no attention to the magic underpants.

"But really, who cares? Who cares if the president is a Mormon, or a Jew, or a Muslim, or a Wiccan, or a Pastafarian? That is one of the things that makes America great - that people can believe what they want without persecution. That's freedom, baby! And as long as the president understands that his (or her) job is to defend the Constitution, that religion should not be injected into public policy, and that the separation of church and state is of utmost importance, then it's all good.

"Which is why, when it comes to Mitt Romney, it's all bad. Here are a few more excerpts from his oh-so-inclusive speech:

"'Americans do not respect believers of convenience. Americans tire of those who would jettison their beliefs, even to gain the world.'

"And...

"'...in recent years, the notion of the separation of church and state has been taken by some well beyond its original meaning. They seek to remove from the public domain any acknowledgment of God. Religion is seen as merely a private affair with no place in public life. It is as if they are intent on establishing a new religion in America - the religion of secularism. They are wrong.'

"And perhaps most egregious of all...

"'Freedom requires religion.'

"So there you have it: Mitt's plan to win over the fundies involves deflecting their attention from his own beliefs by holding up people who aren't religious as the common enemy. Disgusting."

* Rock Groupies of the 1970s: where they are now.

* "One has to believe in what one is doing, one has to commit oneself inwardly, in order to do painting. Once obsessed, one ultimately carries it to the point of believing that one might change human beings through painting. But if one lacks this passionate commitment, there is nothing left to do. Then it is best to leave it alone. For basically painting is idiocy." -- Gerhard Richter