Countdown to Extinction: The 2016 Presidential Election

[Ken B]

I think he simply misspoke, but I bet if you heard me talk about "my Christian faith" you'd assume I was a christian. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKGdkqfBICw

To clarify, I think he meant " my putative muslim faith" or "my supposed muslim faith" or words to that effect.

[Pat B]

While not conceding that the whole topic has an iota of validity, for the sake of argument, if Obama IS a Muslim, so what? AT least at this point (no telling what the future holds, beyond my (fortunate) demise), the Constitution doesn't mandate being a Xtian as a qualification for POTUS...  So WTF anyway?

There was a poll earlier this year where 57% of Republicans supported establishing Christianity as the National Religion.

Earlier today, Carson said we can have Muslims in Congress but not as President. It's not clear how many people he represents, but my hunch is that he won't lose much support over it.

I think we're a long way of from saying "so what if he's a Muslim?" And probably even further from "so what if he's an Atheist?"

[Ken B]

There was a poll earlier this year where 57% of Republicans supported establishing Christianity as the National Religion.

Earlier today, Carson said we can have Muslims in Congress but not as President. It's not clear how many people he represents, but my hunch is that he won't lose much support over it.

I think we're a long way of from saying "so what if he's a Muslim?" And probably even further from "so what if he's an Atheist?"

Nor should he. Religions are ideas, bad ones, and it's perfectly correct to judge candidate's on their opinions and ideas. Isn't Carson a creationist? I know a lot of people who would never support a creationist for president. Would you? How about a member of a cult that thinks the apocalypse is near? You want someone like that with nuclear codes? I don't.

[Gurn Blanston]

There was a poll earlier this year where 57% of Republicans supported establishing Christianity as the National Religion.

Earlier today, Carson said we can have Muslims in Congress but not as President. It's not clear how many people he represents, but my hunch is that he won't lose much support over it.

I think we're a long way of from saying "so what if he's a Muslim?" And probably even further from "so what if he's an Atheist?"

Although I'VE been saying it for most of my (rather lengthy) adult life.

Puritanism lives on and on. The funny part is: they came here to escape religion controlled by the government, and have spent the 400 years since then trying to get the government to control religion. What's wrong with this picture...? 

[Ken B]

Although I'VE been saying it for most of my (rather lengthy) adult life.

Puritanism lives on and on. The funny part is: they came here to escape religion controlled by the government, and have spent the 400 years since then trying to get the government to control religion. What's wrong with this picture...? 

Puritanism is flourishing, but not where you are pointing. Have you seen what's happening on campus? Or the calls to ban sex robots, or the kind of travesty The Six linked to about sexters? And I recall you arguing prostitution should be illegal. Is my memory faulty?

[Daverz]

Puritanism is flourishing, but not where you are pointing. Have you seen what's happening on campus? Or the calls to ban sex robots, or the kind of travesty The Six linked to about sexters? And I recall you arguing prostitution should be illegal. Is my memory faulty?

Oh FFS, nobody is going to ban your sex robots.

[Pat B]

Religions are ideas, bad ones...

That's another thing I don't expect to hear from any Republican candidate any time soon. (Or a Democrat for that matter, though this is slightly less unplausible.)

Isn't Carson a creationist? I know a lot of people who would never support a creationist for president. Would you? How about a member of a cult that thinks the apocalypse is near? You want someone like that with nuclear codes? I don't.

Creationism is not the same as anti-evolutionism. Creationism itself is not a big deal. Many people believe in a creator and also believe that evolution was a mechanism of the creator. To reject evolution, at this point, is to gratuitously ignore the available evidence, which is not something I want the President to do.

I am adamantly opposed to teaching creationism as science. Unfortunately even Kasich is on the wrong side of this, though I'm not sure how hard he has actually pushed for it.

Your comment about the apocalypse reminds me of John Hagee, who wants the U.S.A. to attack Iran in order to fulfill some prophesy and bring about the Rapture. If he endorses anybody for 2016 I will consider that a huge red flag.

[Ken B]

Oh FFS, nobody is going to ban your sex robots.

There are those who are trying, which is the point. http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/feminism/2015/09/should-we-ban-sex-robots

[Gurn Blanston]

Puritanism is flourishing, but not where you are pointing. Have you seen what's happening on campus? Or the calls to ban sex robots, or the kind of travesty The Six linked to about sexters? And I recall you arguing prostitution should be illegal. Is my memory faulty?

Yes, your memory is faulty on that topic.

No, I haven't seen what's happening on campus; thousands said the same in the late '60's though, when I was part of all that. In the end, it all blended in to the big picture. As will this.

Sex robots? Really? So, um, are they expensive? Wait, I'll ask Sean.... 

[Pat B]

There are those who are trying, which is the point. http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/feminism/2015/09/should-we-ban-sex-robots

As you wrote earlier: "Amongst 300 million you can find someone who believes anything."

[Todd]

First they came for the sexbots, and I did not speak out—because I was not a sexbot . . .

[Ken B]

First they came for the sexbots, and I did not speak out—because I was not a sexbot . . .

Unkind, to those of us who are.

[Ken B]

As you wrote earlier: "Amongst 300 million you can find someone who believes anything."

Oh I don't think they will succeed. But the question is, are puritans popping up all over. And they are. I am old enough to remember when it was only the religious who objected to dildos. Ah, the good old days.

[Gurn Blanston]

I see Scott Walker is fixin' to withdraw from the race. Announcement later today. Now, if just 16 more will do the right thing, maybe we can find a Repub to run against Hillary.... 

[Todd]

I see Scott Walker is fixin' to withdraw from the race. Announcement later today.

The poor little meat puppet.  Now, how to dump Trump?

[Gurn Blanston]

The poor little meat puppet.  Now, how to dump Trump?

I still feel he will eventually pour a bucket of water on himself and melt...  0:)

[Ken B]

I still feel he will eventually pour a bucket of water on himself and melt...  0:)

Because he makes comments that lower the tone of debate?

[Gurn Blanston]

Because he makes comments that lower the tone of debate?

No, I don't give much of a hoot about tone. I do believe, however, that you can only shoot yourself in the foot just so many times before you can't walk anymore, let alone run...

[Karl Henning]

No, I don't give much of a hoot about tone. I do believe, however, that you can only shoot yourself in the foot just so many times before you can't walk anymore, let alone run...

But, there are so many cheering, each time you hit one of your feet!

[Gurn Blanston]

But, there are so many cheering, each time you hit one of your feet!

Yes, it sort of could make the most swollen head turn. And that head is all swole up like a ole toad-frog. With a thing on top of it.