I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

Romney Remains Vague on Foreign Policy Details - NYTimes 

In a speech on Monday at the Virginia Military Institute, Mr. Romney will declare that “hope is not a strategy” for dealing with the rise of Islamist governments in the Middle East or an Iran racing toward the capability to build a nuclear weapon, according to excerpts released by his campaign. 

The essence of Mr. Romney’s argument is that he would take the United States back to an earlier era, one that would result, as his young foreign policy director, Alex Wong, told reporters on Sunday, in “the restoration of a strategy that served us well for 70 years.” 

But beyond his critique of Mr. Obama as failing to project American strength abroad, Mr. Romney has yet to fill in many of the details of how he would conduct policy toward the rest of the world, or to resolve deep ideological rifts within the Republican Party and his own foreign policy team. It is a disparate and politely fractious team of advisers that includes warring tribes of neoconservatives, traditional strong-defense conservatives and a band of self-described “realists” who believe there are limits to the degree the United States can impose its will. 

Each group is vying to shape Mr. Romney’s views, usually through policy papers that many of the advisers wonder if he is reading. Indeed, in a campaign that has been so intensely focused on economic issues, some of these advisers, in interviews over the past two weeks in which most insisted on anonymity, say they have engaged with him so little on issues of national security that they are uncertain what camp he would fall into, and are uncertain themselves about how he would govern. 

“Would he take the lead in bombing Iran if the mullahs were getting too close to a bomb, or just back up the Israelis?” one of his senior advisers asked last week. “Would he push for peace with the Palestinians, or just live with the status quo? He’s left himself a lot of wiggle room.” 

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Nowhere is that more a concern than with respect to Russia, she said, which Romney not long ago said remains America’s leading “geopolitical foe.” 

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Seems to be several common themes here: Vague & Confusing.  Fits Romney's meme now, doesn't it? 

I hope you're right, Linda. On Huffington Post's home page, it was a big picture of Romney with the headline "This guy could win this thing!" Gave me chills.

Mary 

Rant to folow:

My thoughts about the Catholic Church.

There are very many very flawed people in it and very many good ones too. I am deeply sorry so many of you have met mostly the flawed ones.It is not however meant to be a spot where those who have come close to perfection to sit and bask in God's glory in between doing all the good works that Catholics are also called to do. It is a place for people to grow in holiness, day by day, inch by inch; sometimes leaping ahead and sometimes slipping backwards as if down a long steep slope.

It is an organization that has done countless good works founding schools and hospitals where there were none. It is a voice crying out for immigrants and prisoners. if you don't believe me take a look at what the US Council of Catholic Bishops has said about immigration or the death penalty or the Ryan budget.

I am not saying that terrible things have not been done by priests or nuns or other people who claim to represent the Church. They have and the Church has tried to address these problems. There are child sexual abuse prevention programs and programs for people who were abused as children, whether by a representative of the Church or not, in almost every Catholic Church in the US.

When I was diagnosed, I got home cooked meals once a week from the women of the church while I was having chemo and radiation. I have gotten counseling from wise priests. My family was helped when my husband lost his job when I was a six months pregnant stay at home mom.

There are Catholic hypocrits but I bet there are atheist hypocrits also. We should all practice what we preach and it is only someone with a shallow understanding of Catholicism(usually a kid) who thinks Confession is a get out of Hell free card. I am sorry some of you were exposed to that because it is not what Confession is meant to be.

I am proud to say that every day of my life I choose to be Catholic.

Kam

That is certainly true when those in authority are wrong. There are many people now recgnized as saints by the Catholic Church who stood up to those in authority in that church when they knew that authority was wrong. Catholics will admit that their church is run by flawed people (All people are flawed) who make mistakes. I do think it is a good thing that the Catholic Church admits mistakes, even if it takes a long time, as in the case of Gallileo.

ETA:Member are not the only ones helped our church feeds about75 people every Sunday, no questions asked and helps over 100 families with gifts and food at Christmas along with utility and transportation help foe many every week.

another rant to follow

I was raised in an extremely fundamentalist religion and spent most of my life since then attempting to clear my soul of it's influence.  I have at times thought I was agnostic, at times atheist.  I've investigated Catholicism and Buddhism, Unitarians, Mormons, Suffis and Pagans.  I cannot believe there is no God, so have at long last admitted to the only thing I know I do believe - that God exists.

I think there is both good and bad in all religions.  I haven't felt comfortable in any of the organized religions I have investigated and so choose to attend none.  That stance has changed a number of times in my life, and may change yet again.

I do not, however, believe that God is hateful nor do I believe he is small minded.  I cannot see that the same God who created the complexities of life and the wonderful assortment of plants and creatures on this planet alone would then select only one way to be united with him and his love.  I rarely if ever speak of faith as I find that it tears at my fabric.  Railing at the way anyone chooses to honor life is IMO anti-love and anything anti-love is also anti-godlike.   I believe that God welcomes all.  Whether you call yourself Hindu or Muslim or Christian or any of a thousand religions or nothing at all, if you live life as honorably as possible, treat others with respect, embrace honesty and reject hate, then I believe that God accepts you.

end rant

Rosemary - congratulations on your choice and your pride in that choice.  

I don't find confession troubling for the reason you state.  I was merely stating that it could supresses the cognitive moral development of a child, a la Lawrence Kohlberg's theory of moral development.

 While on the topic of religion, I just heard Romney refer to himself as a "parttime  Pastor."  Do LDS really call them that - "pastors", or was he just being more deceptive? 

He's trying to sound more mainstream....i.e. deception.  "Stake Presidents" or "Bishops."  They can also hold the "Priesthood."  Pastor, not so much.  I hate his deception.

Rosemary-As a former Catholic myself, it just wasn't for me. I agree that the Catholic church does wonderful things for other people. I'm glad you're happy there. 

Here's my Christian faith in a nutshell. I believe in Jesus Christ, and I believe he died for my sins. I believe I will go to heaven when I die. What I don't believe is that God is like a magic vending machine-that if I pray hard enough in the right way, that I will get what I want. I believe in the laws of nature. I don't believe God gave me cancer, nor do I believe he cured me because I prayed hard enough, or that he didn't cure me because I didn't pray hard enough. I believe God is there to comfort me through whatever life may send my way. I believe in trying to live my life to help others-to be a good example to others. I believe in treating other people the way I want to be treated.

Mary 

Oh susieq

Happy Anniversay!!!

Another???? moment-Donald Trump for Secretary of Commerce.

Mary, please tell me this isn't real. Even if  you have to lie, tell me it isn't real!!

"So....yay!" I have no idea whether that video is real or a spoof. Particularly jaw-dropping is the part where she says Obama is going to take away her Catholic religion(Rosemary-are you worried?) and "Like, Kennedy was hot, but we all know how that turned out..."

Mary 

It's got to be a spoof, but isn't it sad that we really don't know??? There really are people out there who think like that.

Mary 

OMG....Mary, sorry I turned that video off.  She said something about not having a "hot" I think Pres. since Kennedy ( actually she was hard to understand ) and then said....and we all know how that turned out.  Made me wonder if the thought may have crossed the mind ( that didn't totally seem to be there ) that the same could happen to Romney.  

Well, not sure I want this one to be representing me.  I mean she has got some real growing up to do.

ducky.....glad that you saw what I tried to describe....INHO God is everywhere and he is LOVE.  I myself believe there are many roads and the God that I know doesn't care just which one you use, Catholic, Buddist, Baptist, or if you ever set foot inside one of the designated buildings.....it is your heart and God knows exactly what is there.

Kam I saw that article. I think I've read a couple like that and my impression is that the speech just didn't quite get there. 

Well, a little bounce here or there in numbers, but one debate ( usually won by the challenging candidate ) is not enough for me.  Of course, I feel concern......but there is much more to see and hear as yet. 

Got to go feed some hungry critters, but I'll be back later. 

Jackie