Mitt Romney’s Family Converted His Dead, Atheist Father-In-Law to Mormonism

A Mormon baptism in the 1850s

This is a strange one. After someone is dead and gone, religious conversion would seem to be a bit difficult. It would also seem to be a little late.

Mitt Romney’s father-in-law, Edward Davies, was a committed atheist who considered all religions a fake. After Romney became involved with Davies daughter, Ann, the Romney family sought to convert the Davies family. All three Davies children were converted. In addition, Ann’s mother also made a deathbed conversion. That left only Ann’s father as unsaved in the eyes of the Mormon Church. He died without giving up his atheist beliefs.

That appears to have been just a minor detail because his soul was saved from hellfire a year after he died as Gawker explains:

Davies was baptized as a Mormon at a “special family meeting” 14 months after his death: “All ordinances except sealing to spouse performed in Salt Lake Temple on 19 Nov 1993 in special family meeting.”

Mormonism does have a concept of hell where one can be rescued before final judgment. Presumably, this is where Davies was spending time for the 14 months before the Romney family baptized him.

This must be some comfort to the Romneys and the rest of the Davies family but it sounds like a complete disregard for Edward Davies beliefs. It also seems to turn on its head the notion that person’s life is to be measured by his or her deeds. A lifetime of denying a Supreme Being would seem to preclude becoming a Mormon or a member of any other religion long after death. Of course, Davies has no say in this matter.

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Tennessee Lawmaker Compares Homosexuality to Rape, Murder, Overeating

John Ragan

A Middle Tennessee State University student, Kristin Johnson, sent a letter to state Rep. John Ragan, asking that he oppose HB 1153, considered by many to be a “license to bully” bill against those of same-sex orientation.

The response that Johnson received was long and detailed but appalling. Ragan compared homosexuality to overeating, murder, pedophilia, prostitution and any other social ill that popped into his mind as he was writing. Ragan’s view is that homosexuality is a behavioral choice like choosing which clothes to wear in the morning.

Here are Ragan’s words, and his amazingly distorted thinking process:

Logically, homosexuality is defined by behavior, i.e., unless one engages in sexual activity with a member of the same sex, he, or she, is not a homosexual. (The term sexual orientation is a description of feelings.) Feelings do not control the behavior of a mentally healthy adult human being.

By way of emphasis, let’s examine a few questions: If a person “feels” so angry with another that he or she “feels” like killing the object of their anger, is that person “controlled” by that “feeling?” Alternatively, can the possessor of that “feeling” choose not to act on it? If that person fails to act on that “feeling,” is he or she still referred to as a “murder?”

Can a person feel so much lust toward another that he “feels” like committing rape? If such is a possibility, is that person “controlled” by that “feeling” or can he choose not to engage in that action? If that person fails to act on that “feeling,” is he still referred to as a “rapist?”

Can a slender person “feel” like overeating, but choose not to do so? Is that person still called “fatty?” Can someone “feel” like not going to work, but get up and go anyway? Is that person still called “lazy?” Can a nun “feel” like engaging in sexual relations, but choose to remain celibate? Is she called a “whore?” Can someone “feel” like committing adultery, but choose not to do so? Is that person still called an “adulterer?”

Can a parent feel so upset with the misbehavior of a child, that he or she “feels” like “beating” that child? Alternately, can a distraught parent choose to merely “discipline” a child with a lecture, a “time-out” or a “grounding” (dependent upon age) to reinforce a prohibition against poor, or dangerous, behavior.

The list of questions about “feelings” that do not control people could go on and on. However, the point is sufficiently made. Mentally healthy adult human beings are not “controlled” by their “feelings.”

Please note that I did not contend that people do not take “feelings” into account when deciding on how to behave. Rather, it is my position that mentally healthy adult human beings use many criteria in addition to “feelings,” and, in numerous cases, consciously over-ride “feelings” when determining how they will behave.

Ragan, trained as an aeronautical scientist, seems to think that he is an expert on “feelings.” Right from the beginning his premises are wrong.

This line sums up his wrongheaded thinking: “Feelings do not control the behavior of a mentally healthy adult human being.”

Feelings are not the result of mental illness. A couple who stay faithful to each other do it because of the intensity of their feelings (love) to one another. People get married on the basis of their feelings. Perhaps Ragan is advocating going back to arranged marriages based on status and wealth. Most Americans will stick with the mentally unhealthy process of falling in love.

There are all kinds of things that we do that are dictated by feelings: eating, entertainment, reading, etc. Yet, Ragan wants to use only feelings that are connected to something negative to prove his point. For a man who starts out praising logic, his blinders have shielded half the field of reason.

Homosexuality is behavioral. So is heterosexuality. So is sleeping, eating and breathing. While sex can be split between preferences of homosexuality and heterosexuality, that doesn’t mean those preferences are any more a choice than when people choose to go to sleep and some sleep well while others have insomnia. Some people love certain foods and hate others. Even though all people have taste receptors, the food doesn’t taste the same to everyone. Even though all of us have sex drives, it doesn’t register the same way in whom we want to love.

Ragan doesn’t understand that behavior is both innate and learned. It is innate in a honey bee to search for nectar to make honey. It can’t change its behavior and become carnivorous because it wasn’t born that way.

Studies have increasingly shown that genetics and hormones play the primary role in sexual orientation. Being gay isn’t something that someone wakes up with the thought one morning and decides to do.

Ragan has the concept of feelings convoluted. A rapist feeling like raping is not the same the same thing as a gay or lesbian seeking love. Some people are psychopaths and only their feelings matter. I don’t know how anyone can compare two people making love to someone being raped as the same thing.

If Ragan thinks overeating is solely the result of losing control of one’s feelings, he may be partially right. We all have overeaten at times. Yet, there are people who are born with the genetic predisposition to becoming overweight. This is a perfect example that some things are controlled by bad behavior, as Ragan points out, but sometimes it is just the way we are born, as Ragan refuses to admit.

Johnson’s letter specifically referred to the suicide of gay and lesbian children from bullying. Ragan has an answer for that too.

As a fitting critical thought question, it could be asked if other identifiable groups that engage in behavior of which “others may disapprove” commit suicide at similar rates? In other words, do prostitutes, pedophiles, polygamists, murders, etc., commit suicide at the same, or similar, rates to homosexual behavior practitioners? If similar rates were hypothetically so (not proven to be the case), do these behavior practitioners commit suicide at a higher rate because someone may have disapproved of their behavior or for other reasons? Should society avoid disapproving of pedophilia, prostitution, murder, etc., because practitioners of those behaviors may commit suicide at higher rates?

Isn’t that interesting that Ragan lumps homosexual behavior in with criminal behavior that “others may disapprove.” For Ragan, homosexuality is interchangeable with murder as a social ill. Forget minority rights, if a majority disapproves something then there should be a law against it — or so it seems that Ragan is thinking that way.

People disapprove the behaviors of others all the time. Most of it is needless gossip. Ragan doesn’t appear to have bought into the idea of a diverse country with diverse lifestyles and ideas. The point is that if those who live different lifestyles can be harassed and hounded into suicide. With this thinking, American society is not safe for anyone who lives a life different from that of the majority. That means all of us are at risk because we all have little quirks that make us unique individuals.

It will be nice when the day comes that consenting adults can do whatever they want, people can put into their body whatever they want and people can live anyway they want as long as they don’t bother another’s rights. In the meantime, we have to live with ignoramuses like Ragan who wants everyone to live a lifestyle approved by him.

Posted in John Ragan | 2 Comments

Congressional Candidate’s Video has Obama Captaining a Slave Ship

Although some are calling this ad racist, that may be a stretch. The purpose is to portray Obama as leading the nation’s budget over a waterfall while enslaving children to the growing federal debt. Besides, the man who produced the ad is African-American. Race is not the intent here, although it does cross close to some dangerous boundaries.

Mark Oxner is running for Congress in one of the new Florida Congressional districts. His opponent will likely be former Congressman Alan Grayson, who is also known for doing some colorful things.

One thing that the campaign season always brings are entertaining, creative ads. Whether you like the videos or not, it seems the Republicans come up with far more intriguing ones than the Democrats.

Posted in Governments, Mark Oxner | Leave a comment

Jester’s Court — January 26, 2012

jesterscourt.

Newt Gingrich in Second Life.

The crazies at Westboro Baptist Church prefer Obama over Romney or Gingrich.

In 1996, Newt Gingrich proposed the death penalty for anyone caught importing two ounces of marijuana into the country.

Former Louisiana Governor Buddy Roemer is pinning his hopes on a third party run for the presidency.

Rick Perry is a lot less popular in Texas now with 45% saying that he has hurt the state’s image.

Alec Baldwin still wants to run for office.

A mayor disputed that Arizona Governor Jan Brewer and Barack Obama argued on an airport tarmac.

Mitt Romney being photographed doing his laundry because the tank Dukakis rode in was not available.

Romney: “If I’m fortunate to become the next president of the United States, it is my expectation that Fidel Castro will finally be taken off this planet.”

Romney who said he doesn’t discriminate against gays has backed groups that advocate just that.

Joe Biden seems to like Indian accents.

Security officers dragged Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard out of a Canberra restaurant after an angry mob of protesters surrounded the building during a luncheon ceremony.

Britain’s defense minister said that Argentina doesn’t have the military ability to invade the Falklands.

A British council put up a sign on a park tree warning residents not to attach things to the trees.

After a German parliament staffer accidentally sent an email to thousands of her colleagues, their responses overloaded Bundestag computers.

John Tyler, the 10th President of the United States in 1841, still has two grandchildren alive.

Forty-one Obama White House aides owe the IRS $831,000 in back taxes.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood’s son has been told by the Egyptian government that he cannot leave the country.

Illinois to consider legislation on background checks and online dating.

A bill allowing for the teaching of creationism in public schools is moving through the Indiana legislature.

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Jailed and Disgraced Ex-Congressman Cunningham Endorses Gingrich

It looks like Newt Gingrich has the inmate vote locked up (sorry, unintended pun).

Former Congressman Randy “Duke” Cunningham is serving eight years in prison for taking $2.4 million in bribes, plus a host of other federal offenses. Cunningham still has an interest in politics. He and his jail buddies have been watching the debates. He sent this message onto Gingrich:

Newt, a voice out of the past. Down but not out and still fighting. First I do not want anything from you but have been watching the debates. I have 80% of inmates that would vote for you. They might not be able to but their extended families will.

Cunningham served for nine years in Congress with Gingrich. He also offered to give his advice on prison reform to Gingrich.

It looks like Gingrich finally found a demographic that is not bothered by his $300,000 fine for unethical behavior in Congress or his numerous affairs.

Posted in Quote of the Day, Randy Cunningham | Leave a comment

Birthers Go to Court in Georgia Without Obama

Orly Taitz and her entourage went to court in Georgia to keep Barack Obama off the Georgia primary ballot. Of course, she claims that Obama was not born in the United States and is using a stolen Social Security number as well.

Several days ago, Judge Michael Malihi refused to rule in favor of an attempt by Obama’s lawyer Michael Jablonski to have the case tossed out of court. Malihi noted that Jablonski failed to present evidence on why Obama could not be called to testify. Malihi allowed to the case to go forward, but Jablonski announced beforehand that neither he nor Obama would attend.

Malihi has been a judge since 1995 and has a good reputation but one that has sometimes upset the status quo. He is an unlikely candidate to make a controversial ruling in favor of Taitz. Although the trial was a one-sided affair, Malihi did not rule in favor of Taitz. He made no ruling at this time. If Malihi was inclined to rule against the President, he would have taken advantage of the defendant or his counsel not being present. Instead, Malihi kept Taitz on a straight path. When she tried to discuss evidence that was not before the court, Malihi questioned if she was testifying. When she turned her attention towards the media and gallery, he redirected her to address the court.

Taitz’s allies also called for Malihi to act since Obama’s absence was “contempt for the judicial branch.” Malihi quickly shut that down too.

Jablonski had tried to skirt around the trial by appealing directly to Secretary of State Brian Kemp. Kemp refused to take the bait, turning the matter back to Malihi’s court and warning Jablonski of the risks if he failed to appear for the hearing.

“If you and your client choose to suspend your participation … please understand that you do so at your own peril.”

There are a few interesting points in this hearing. First, Jablonski appears to have done a poor job presenting his case to Malihi. He also is taking considerable risk by possibly reigniting the birther movement. However, nothing that happens in the court will affect Obama’s presidency. This is only about getting on the ballot in Georgia. Obama is the only candidate there on the Democratic side. He can still get the nomination with ease without being on the Georgia ballot.

In the end, this is just another trick and pony ride by Taitz that won’t go anywhere. The ultimate proof is that Hawaii has stated multiple times that the birth certificate is valid. One state can’t charge official documents from another state as false without upsetting the foundation that the union rests upon.

Posted in Birthers, Georgia (U.S. State), Orly Taitz | Comments Off

Connecticut Mayor on What He Will do for Latinos: “I’ll have Tacos Tonight”

This has been drifting around the internet for the last couple of days, but I haven’t given it much attention until now. After having watched the video, an interview with East Haven, Connecticut, Mayor Joseph Maturo, it can only be described as appalling.

Maturo was being questioned about the arrest of four officers for racial profiling of Latinos. Apparently, it isn’t a big deal to him. When asked by a reporter what he will do for the Latino community, Maturo said, “I might have tacos when I go home, I’m not quite sure yet.”

Maturo apologized later for his “dumb, off the cuff, stupid remark.”

It is not so easy to dismiss that “remark.” That is because it is not a single remark but multiple comments over several minutes. Maturo keeps digging a hole for himself by going back to the “taco” comment. He accuses the reporter of twisting his words as he keeps reiterating the he might have tacos at a Mexican restaurant.

Maturo sounds like a guy who thinks authentic Mexican food is found on the value menu at Taco Bell. This guy is dripping racism.

The taco comment is in the first minute, but it is well worth it to listen to the full four minutes.

Posted in Joseph Maturo | 3 Comments

Jester’s Court — January 25, 2012

jesterscourt.

Japan just had its first trade deficit since 1980.

The Indian government is upset over a joke by Jay Leno comparing a Mitt Romney home to the Sikh religion’s Golden Temple.

Two decades after evicting U.S. forces from their biggest base in the Pacific, the Philippines is in talks with the Obama administration about expanding the American military presence.

Kazakhstan is fighting back against Borat.

The U.N. pointed out that 10 years later Guantanamo Bay is still an illegal detention center according to international law.

Orange stickers with an image of rifle crosshairs were found on the office doors of several Democratic state senators in Missouri.

The Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer and Barack Obama’s airport argument.

Robert F Kennedy feared his children would be blinded by the mafia in an acid attack as revenge for investigating the mob.

The Secret Service arrested a man outside of George W. Bush’s residence who claimed to have a “spiritual message” to deliver to the former president. The man had a gun in his car.

Looks do matter in politics.

Some Republican Congressmembers are defending the right to drop out of school.

Sex offenders are complaining that an attempt to remove Occupy protesters from their site near Idaho’s state capitol will leave them homeless.

Utah Democrats are complaining about paying for free public records.

A bomb scare over a cookie closes a courthouse.

A New York lawmaker wants to make it a felony to cheat on college entrance exams.

Georgia is considering a nursing home for sex offenders.

Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie and the NFL have a small disagreement.

Newt Gingrich tells Nancy Pelosi: “Spit it out.”

Gingrich promised that if elected president he will have set up a permanent moon base by the end of his second term.

Mitt Romney said Barack Obama took his ideas and used them in the SOTU address.

Michele Bachmann is seeking a fourth term in Congress.

Barack Obama avoids getting lipstick on him from a Congresswoman after the SOTU address.

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Presidential Candidate Swag

Yahoo! has a story on “The best, worst and weirdest swag of the 2012 campaign.” Ron Paul has it won hands down in all categories.

If you are feeling a little chilly, then head on over to RonPaulSwag.com where you can pick up a homeboy hoodie. This is the first time that a presidential candidate has ever been called a homeboy. If you are so inclined you can get the “RON PAUL IS MY HOMEBOY” hoodie for just $39.99. The sales pitch urges you to get one fast because it is a limited item.

This charcoal gray hoodie sweater features the best selling “Ron Paul is my Homeboy” design by Liberty Maniacs. This is a limited run item and will sell out fast! Stay warm and let everyone know who you support with this stylish piece of winter wear.

Besides, when you think of Ron Paul, isn’t homeboy the first thing that comes to mind?

In case you’re not into electing homeboys president, there is the “BUNNIES for RON PAUL” T-Shirt. You may not know it, but according to this site, bunnies are libertarians. This one is a bargain for $29.99.

Someone must be buying this stuff, at least for the laughs.

In case clothing is not your style, here’s something for the kid in us all. Available from RonPaulActionFigures.com. There you have a choice of Ron Paul as commander-in-chief or as a super hero. They aren’t cheap at $94.95 a pop but with a touch of the button you can hear a recording with “I’m Ron Paul, and I’m a champion of the Constitution.”

What a deal.

As expensive as the Ron Paul action figures are, nothing rips a hole in the wallet like the “Cup of Joe” coffee mug with Biden’s picture on it. The Obama campaign wants $22.50 for it.

At least the Paul action figures have a voice, and they are 12 inches tall. A kid can spend time fighting against the evil Fed or something. The coffee mugs don’t even come with coffee. I didn’t think it was possible, but the overpriced Starbucks’ blends look like a deal.

What happened to the days when there were simple yard signs, bumper stickers and campaign buttons? The answer is that they disappeared when running for president became a billion dollar enterprise.

It’s all about the buying and selling of the president.

 

 

Posted in Joe Biden, Ron Paul, United States | Leave a comment

Castro Calls Republican Presidential Race “Idiocy and Ignorance”

Fidel Castro has repeatedly criticized Barack Obama and every other president who has been in office since Kennedy. Now he is taking aim at those who want to be president, namely the Republican presidential field.

“The selection of a Republican candidate for the presidency of this globalized and expansive empire is and I mean this seriously the greatest competition of idiocy and ignorance that has ever been.”

Castro, who has seen and brought his share of idiocy and ignorance to Cuba, just might be right this time.

Posted in Fidel Castro, Quote of the Day | Leave a comment

NYPD Used Video with Flag of Islam Flying Over White House as Training Aid

It was the idea of a New York Police Department sergeant to use the heavily propagandized movie “The Third Jihad” as the backdrop for a training of NYPD officers. The video was shown from October to December 2010 and seen by 1,480 officers being instructed on counter-terrorism tactics.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said that neither he nor Police Commissioner Ray Kelly knew of the unauthorized use of the film.

“This was never used in training, period. It was never authorized for use in training, period,” Deputy Police Commissioner Paul Browne said.

That training claim is suspect since it played in a continuous loop at training events. Browne is right that it was never authorized for that purpose.

“It had been put on a loop on a TV, in a room which officers used to fill in paperwork during down time,” Browne said in an e-mail. “As soon as an officer complained about it, it was removed.”

The film portrays American Muslims as terrorists with a plan to turn North America into an Islamic state by 2050. Most disturbing is the black Islamic flag briefly shown flying over the White House with a crowd and a sign declaring “Islam will Dominate.”

This is the kind of repeated smearing of Obama found in the birthers who claim he was born in Kenya, that he is a Nazi (a black man as a Nazi, come on!) and that he is secretly a Muslim.

The movie tries to rile up fears of a Muslim takeover of American democracy by a hardcore group of Islamists. The real threat to America comes from distortions like this film that try to undermine American freedoms and tolerance.

Here’s the trailer for the movie, with the White House pictures.

Posted in Michael Bloomberg, New York | Leave a comment

Did Obama Use Wrong Speech at State of the Union Address?

The Republican National Committee quickly put out a mashup of highlights from Barack Obama’s speech last night with portions from his previous SOTU speeches.

Of course, they are different speeches, but the President is borrowing heavily from his previous speeches right down to the exact words. I’m not sure how this relates to a “failed” record as the RNC charges. If Obama is around to give another of these, then he should use a fresh speech writer.

Posted in Barack Obama, U.S. President | Leave a comment