From today's Christian Science Monitor.

[ysobelle]

http://www.csmonitor.com/earlyed/early_usa1014.htm


"Both candidates’ most eloquent moments may have come when asked about how religion informs policy decisions. Bush responded in simple language about how he prays. "I pray a lot," he said. "I pray for strength. I pray for wisdom. I pray for our troops in harm's way. I pray for my family." But he also edged into territory that might make some voters uncomfortable – linking his religion explicitly to his foreign policy, saying he believes God wants everyone to be free.

"Kerry responded to a question about Catholic archbishops telling church members not to vote for him because of his position on abortion by saying: "I grew up a Catholic. I was an altar boy. I know that throughout my life this has made a difference to me." But, he added, "everything you do in public life has to be guided by your faith, affected by your faith, but without transferring it in any official way to other people.""




I'm definitely one of those voters made uncomfortable.



Also, from CNN:


http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/10/13/nader.pennsylvania.ap/index.html


Court throws Nader off Pennsylvania ballot
Petition signatures include 'Mickey Mouse, Fred Flintstone'

Thursday, October 14, 2004 Posted: 12:44 AM EDT (0444 GMT)

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania (AP) -- A state court knocked Ralph Nader off Pennsylvania's presidential ballot on Wednesday, citing thousands of fradulent petition signatures including "Mickey Mouse" and "Fred Flintstone."

Describing the petitions as "rife with forgeries," Commonwealth Court President Judge James Gardner Colins said that fewer than 19,000 of the more than 51,000 signatures that Nader's supporters submitted were valid. Nader needed at least 25,697 to be listed on the ballot as an independent candidate.

"I am compelled to emphasize that this signature-gathering process was the most deceitful and fraudulent exercise ever perpetrated upon this court," Colins said in a 15-page ruling that followed a two-week review in multiple courtrooms across the state.

Comments

[maskm.livejournal.com]

"I'm definitely one of those voters made uncomfortable."

Why?

[ysobelle.livejournal.com]

Because one of the reasons I'm glad to live in this particular country is that we're guaranteed not only freedom OF religion, but freedom FROM religion. It's a matter of respect of the highest order-- that my elected officials govern with the understanding that they govern for people of many creeds, and their personal religious dogma stays out of things affecting the peoples' lives. That they be ethical leaders I fully expect, but their level of or type of religion is absolutely none of my business, and I want to be sure they're not imposing it on me through their policies.

If, for example, I had a child in the military, or were sent to Iraq myself, I would be incandescent with rage at the thought that our President has sent soldiers to the Middle East because G-d told him to. Last time that happened, we had the Crusades, and you know, that didn't work out so well for some folks.

[athalia-jewel.livejournal.com]

As am I....the office of President is not a platform for shoving your beliefs down the throats of the general public. Don't recall the date of the article offhand, I believe it was in respect to gay marriage, Bush was reported as saying "Because I know it is" when asked why gay marriage is wrong. Guess what? The death of hundreds of Americans in Iraq since Saddam was removed from power is wrong. Why? Because "*I* know it is"