Tell me about Huckabee

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Alexander I


Yep, there are plenty. Met loads of 'em in SLC. Most practicing Mormons call these folks "less-active members" (not as a pejorative, rather the opposite).

My impression is that theyre more common in Utah than in the "diaspora", kind of an analog to Israeli secularism ("Im HERE, I can keep up my identity without doing so much")

[Alexander I]

Originally posted by lord of the mark

My impression is that theyre more common in Utah than in the "diaspora", kind of an analog to Israeli secularism ("Im HERE, I can keep up my identity without doing so much")

Well, my experience has been that "less-active" Mormons that don't live in Utah become assimilated into the surrounding culture. Examples include individuals I know in California, Texas, Kansas, and England (of all places).

In Utah they can be "culturally Mormon" without actually practicing their religion. Elsewhere, they usually just blend in.

The reason for all of this is largely that you can't be a "non-practicing member in good standing" in the church, as you can in some other denominations.

[DirtyMartini]

Originally posted by Elok


To be fair, while my extreme dislike of Mormonism has preceded me to this thread, Romney seems to be one of those inoffensively-businesslike Mormons after the style of the Marriotts. It's not like he could be super-devout, he was pro-choice for his whole Boston tenure. Huckabee is more worrisome.

Besides, what's Romney going to do that an Evangelical President wouldn't? Insist that Israel offer Cherokees and Apaches the right of return?

To clarify, I don't have a dislike of Mormonism -- I have a distrust of any organized religion when it is mixed with politics. I don't think I posted one anti-Mormon opinon. I pointed out that many voters have questions about how Romney is going to balance his religion and his politics. I agree that Romney seems "inoffensively-businesslike" -- Mormon or not, and that Huckabee is likely a nut. I'm far more likely to vote for Romney than Huckabee, I just don't know how Romney will be able to avoid being pestered with questions about his faith and I think this negatively impacts his electability.

I didn't mean to be disparaging toward Mormonism in particular with the "two thousand year semblance of authority thing" -- I personally don't see any fundamental difference between the founding mythology of Catholicism and the founding mythology of Mormonism, but I think many in the general public probably do -- that's what I was trying to convey.

[Alexander I]

Originally posted by DirtyMartini
I agree that Romney seems "inoffensively-businesslike" -- Mormon or not, and that Huckabee is likely a nut.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Alexander I


Well, my experience has been that "less-active" Mormons that don't live in Utah become assimilated into the surrounding culture. Examples include individuals I know in California, Texas, Kansas, and England (of all places).

In Utah they can be "culturally Mormon" without actually practicing their religion. Elsewhere, they usually just blend in.

Like I said, analogous. Though the Mormons probably assimilate quicker.

[Dinner]

Oh, I'm not sure. Just because someone stops going to religious services doesn't mean they suddenly change all of the beliefs or positions they had before. I'm sure there are a lot of former Mormons who no longer feel attached to the LDS but still identify with several conservative positions.

[Will9]

Originally posted by Elok


To be fair, while my extreme dislike of Mormonism has preceded me to this thread, Romney seems to be one of those inoffensively-businesslike Mormons after the style of the Marriotts. It's not like he could be super-devout, he was pro-choice for his whole Boston tenure. Huckabee is more worrisome.

He used to be a Mormon bishop. I don't know too much about the mormom hierarchy, but I would guess that most former mormom bishops are are quite devout.

[Ramo]

I don't think they've appealed to the baser instincts of the electorate. I haven't seen any of the candidates lofting rifles above their heads, after all.

I'm not sure what you're trying to say. That kick 'em out is a loftier sentiment, and you have to lead a pogrom to truly debase yourself?

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Oerdin
Oh, I'm not sure. Just because someone stops going to religious services doesn't mean they suddenly change all of the beliefs or positions they had before. I'm sure there are a lot of former Mormons who no longer feel attached to the LDS but still identify with several conservative positions.

like there are a lot of Jews who stop going to religious services, but still identify with the perfection of man and the world

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Ramo

I don't think they've appealed to the baser instincts of the electorate. I haven't seen any of the candidates lofting rifles above their heads, after all.

I'm not sure what you're trying to say. That kick 'em out is a loftier sentiment, and you have to lead a pogrom to truly debase yourself?

There are an awful lot of people, Ramo, who DONT think kicking them out is feasible, or even desirable, but who nonetheless dont think that enforcing the immigration law is a violation of human rights, or that sentiment in favor of doing so is base (misguided, to be sure, but not base) This is true EVEN if we recognize that SOME of the "I love hispanics, its only the illegals im uncomfortable with" rhetoric is not sincere.

[Ramo]

What we're talking about is dealing with peoples' economic insecurity by projecting it against a vulnerable scapegoat. It's ugly as hell. The pols who trade in this **** are either not particularly bright or very bad people.

[DanS]

I think you can have a principled objection to illegal immigration and advocate kicking the illegals out. (How about a little respect for others' views.)

The only problem I have with the position besides the impracticalities is that for many, this is code for minimizing immigration entirely -- legal and illegal.

[Ramo]

I don't see why any ignorant ass view is entitled to "respect."

[DanS]

/me chuckles

[MrFun]

Read some more about Huckabee. He's a frightening candidate, because now he seems to be trying to mask his extreme bigotry in order to appeal to more moderate voters.