Thompson could be the guy if he was running a more effective campaign.

Yeah, he kinda went splat, didn't he?

Dudes! Keep your religion out of my politics, and I'll keep my politics out of your religion!

There may have been actual screaming at the radio and serious thoughts of moving to, oh, any of a dozen other countries this morning. I hate it this state of affairs is so widespread that "if I leave for the Netherlands, it means my in-laws won" is an argument for not doing so.

Catholics are still Christians

I think there are a large number of people who don't consider Catholics Christians, strange as it seems to those of us who were raised Catholic.

I remember someone (Nilly?) saying that the US paid more attention to the religion of its leaders than Israel does.

Hmm.

I remember someone (Nilly?) saying that the US paid more attention to the religion of its leaders than Israel does.

But could, say, a Christian or Muslim be elected to public office in Israel? Has one?

(Not that the US is not super crazy about religion & politics.)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SUMI!!!!

I think there are a large number of people who don't consider Catholics Christians, strange as it seems to those of us who were raised Catholic.

I've seen that go both ways, fwiw. Protestants aren't in the TRUE church and all.

Though in this day and age, I'm thinking that Rudy's problems would come less from his being Roman Catholic than his being such a BAD one... the flaunted mistresses, the multiple wives, the cousin-marriage, etc. Plenty of people who Vote Christian (and even who don't) will have problems with that.

I think they'll like his image as being tough on terrorism, and they may choose electability over a better ideological fit considering that the Democrats might nominate the incarnation of Satan as their candidate.

Also known as the not-Hillary strategy. I'm hoping, whoever the nominee is on either side, that it works exactly as well for the repubs as the not-Bush strategy the dems had in 2004.

I remember someone (Nilly?) saying that the US paid more attention to the religion of its leaders than Israel does.

In Israel, it would be how observant the leader is, not what religion. They'll never have a non-Jewish prime minister.

But could, say, a Christian or Muslim be elected to public office in Israel? Has one?

I know there are Arab Knesset members, but I don't know if they are Muslims. I also don't know if there are Christians in the Knesset but there could be if they had enough votes.

But could, say, a Christian or Muslim be elected to public office in Israel? Has one?

I think it's more likely for an avowed atheist/agnostic.

Which is more flexible than the US, which seems to be all about one sort of one religion. It seems ironic, but I guess that Israel having more of a sense of ethnic unity than many other countries out there juggles their priorities some.