http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/21/198481.aspx From NBC's Chuck ToddAnother edition of emptying my inbox and both actual and mental. Some additional items and thoughts that I will share as frequently as possible. Here's today's brain/email dump: -- Gallup is out with new numbers on abortion. Theen-USCommunityServer 2.0 (Build: 60608.1)http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/21/198481.aspx#198531Mon, 21 May 2007 16:46:04 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:198531Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VAThis might sound really childish, but can anyone really picture the day when we'll have a president named Huckabee? I mean, it is a pretty funny sounding name, isn't it?http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/21/198481.aspx#198568Mon, 21 May 2007 17:05:31 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:198568Amy B Portland, MESo Huckabee doesn't believe in teaching about birth control in school, AND he thinks abortion should be illegal? Does he own a chain of un-wed teen mothers' homes by chance?http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/21/198481.aspx#198608Mon, 21 May 2007 17:21:26 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:198608H P BostonDo we live in India??? Can we stil kiss in public? Has the goverment started arranged mariages? Do men only talk the talk and NEVER walk the walk? Will my 18 year old want a talk about the birds and the bees soon? Is it against the law to talk abot sex before before you graduate from high school??? Should men be blinded at birth so they can never see a woman and be tempted to lose control? Ah so many things the goverment has to ponder. Well maybe it will keep them to busy to invade other countries.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/21/198481.aspx#198611Mon, 21 May 2007 17:22:44 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:198611Gary, Franklin, WIApparently Mike Huckabee wants the teaching of sex and birth control to return to the back seat of a Chevy (circa 1955). The problem with his logic is that many radical right Christian conservatives are the least likely to teach their children about sex in the first place! Another great step backward among Republican candidates for 2008. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/21/198481.aspx#198616Mon, 21 May 2007 17:26:09 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:198616jerry/corpus christi texasCan't be any different then a president name Obama. God I am sure glad that Al Gore is really trying to come up with a solution on how to fix the enviroment. Apparently the lies he told in his movie didn't help and he pays carbon credits to a company he owns just makes me sleep better at night. Keep going Al, the only thing you are doing is adding your hot breath to the global warming problem and makes the icebergs melt faster.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/21/198481.aspx#198646Mon, 21 May 2007 17:41:55 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:198646Mary, Elk City OkWhy can't we have all the primaries on ONE day. With the age of TV and the internet and televised debates, it is really senseless to have scattered primaries. I for one AM SICK OF voting on the LEFTOVERS that the early states leave the rest of us. It would be much fairer to get to vote on all of themhttp://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/21/198481.aspx#198650Mon, 21 May 2007 17:43:09 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:198650Rick, Winston Salem, NCRight wingers love sticking their noses in our bedrooms...it was them that insisted on laws against intrerracial marriages, anal or oral sex, cohabitation, etc...but they do support the troops and godhttp://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/21/198481.aspx#198655Mon, 21 May 2007 17:45:41 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:198655H P BostonJerry go find a an iceberg an SIT on it. Don't forget your COOL KOOL-AID.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/21/198481.aspx#198678Mon, 21 May 2007 18:01:49 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:198678Steve Turner Cedar Falls IowaPat Robertson once said that his son learned about sex from the barnyard animals. Larry Flynt once claimed to have sex with a Chicken, but Pat never specified which animal his son learned from. Ah, the pitfalls of Human Language.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/21/198481.aspx#198684Mon, 21 May 2007 18:05:08 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:198684JIrby, ColoradoHuckabee thinks sex and birth control should be taught on the streets? Well, that would be so much better than anyone unfortunate enough to learn about it from Huckabee himself.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/21/198481.aspx#198758Mon, 21 May 2007 18:43:05 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:198758kim, crofton mdMaybe Governor Huckabee needs to read Al Gore's new book "The Assault on Reason" before we all end up as ignorant fundamentalists with gigantic families and a total belief in creationism. Are all of us ladies supposed to end up barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen?????? And then we have Newt, who stated that Falwell's quest to convert America to Christian fundamentalism did not die with him. Al Gore- pls run for President- your country needs you!http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/21/198481.aspx#198791Mon, 21 May 2007 19:07:51 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:198791Steve Turner Cedar Falls IowaThe day after China, we'll all be driving Chryslers.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/21/198481.aspx#198800Mon, 21 May 2007 19:11:58 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:198800DorothyLOL about Paul Miller's remark. Now I'm envisioning how the name "Huckabee" might fit into a limerick....http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/21/198481.aspx#198809Mon, 21 May 2007 19:17:07 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:198809Dave, Sun City, AZSex education in The Netherlands begins in first grade and continues through high school. They have the lowest illegimate birthrate, lowest teenage pregnancies, lowest abortion rate, lowest AIDS per capita. Too bad we can't learn anything from the Europeans as they are stupid and we are smart. Huckabee's idea about getting sex education out of the schools isn't new. Pat Paulsen running for President in 1968 said that we should get sex education out of the schools and back on the streets where it belongs and his was satire. Take sex education out of the schools and when teenage pregnancies and abortions go through the roof, who will be blamed.....the schools. The right wing agenda is to blame the schools and teachers for everything that is wrong, no responsibility isleveled at the parents. Typical right wing avoiding responsibility, just like Bush.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/21/198481.aspx#198952Mon, 21 May 2007 21:02:05 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:198952Bot, Morristown, New JerseyThe Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) is often misunderstood. Some accuse the Church of not believing in Christ and, therefore, not being a Christian religion. This article helps to clarify such misconceptions Baptism: Early Christian churches, practiced baptism of youth (not infants) by immersion by the father of the family. The local congregation had a lay ministry. An early Christian Church has been re-constructed at the Israel Museum, and the above can be verified. http://www.imj.org.il/eng/exhibitions/2000/christianity/ancientchurch/structure/index.html The Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) continues baptism and a lay ministry as taught by Jesus’ Apostles. Early Christians were persecuted for keeping their practices sacred, and not allowing non-Christians to witness them The Trinity: A literal reading of the New Testament points to God and Jesus Christ, His Son, being separate, divine beings, united in purpose. . To whom was Jesus praying in Gethsemane, and Who was speaking to Him and his apostles on the Mount of Transfiguration? The Nicene Creed”s definition of the Trinity was influenced by scribes translating the Greek manuscripts into Latin. The scribes embellished on a passage explaining the Trinity, which is the Catholic and Protestant belief that God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The oldest versions of the epistle of 1 John, read: "There are three that bear witness: the Spirit, the water and the blood and these three are one." Scribes later added "the Father, the Word and the Spirit," and it remained in the epistle when it was translated into English for the King James Version, according to Dr. Bart Ehrman, Chairman of the Religion Department at UNC- Chapel Hill. . . .He no longer believes in the Nicene Trinity. The Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) views the Trinity as three separate beings, in accord with the earliest Greek New Testament manuscripts. The Cross: The Cross became popular as a Christian symbol in the Fifth Century A.D. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) believe the proper Christian symbol is Christ’s resurrection, not his crucifixion on the Cross. Many Mormon chapels feature paintings of the resurrected Christ or His Second Coming. Christ's Atonement: But Mormons don”t term Catholics and Protestants “non-Christian”. They believe Christ’s atonement in Gethsemane and on the Cross applies to all mankind. The dictionary definition of a Christian is “of, pertaining to, believing in, or belonging to a religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ”:. All of the above denominations are followers of Christ, and consider him divine, and the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament. It”s important to understand the difference between Reformation and Restoration when we consider who might be authentic Christians. If members of the Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) embrace early Christian theology, they are likely more “Christian” than their detractors. * * * And the 2005 National Study of Youth and Religion published by UNC-Chapel Hill found that Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) youth (ages 13 to 17) were more likely to exhibit these Christian characteristics than Evangelicals (the next most observant group): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . LDS Evangelical Attend Religious Services weekly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71% . . . . 55% Importance of Religious Faith in shaping daily life – extremely important .. 52. . . . . . . 28 Believes in life after death . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 . . . . . . 62 Believes in psychics or fortune-tellers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 . . . . . . 5 Has taught religious education classes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 . . . . . . 28 Has fasted or denied something as spiritual discipline . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 . . . . . . 22 Sabbath Observance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 . . . . . . 40 Shared religious faith with someone not of their faith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 . . . . . . 56 Family talks about God, scriptures, prayer daily . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 . . . . . . 19 Supportiveness of church for parent in trying to raise teen (very supportive) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 . . . . . . 26 Church congregation has done an excellent job in helping Teens better understand their own sexuality and sexual morality . . . . . 84 . . . . . . 35 http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/21/198481.aspx#199025Mon, 21 May 2007 22:35:23 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:199025H P BostonBot who cares!http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/21/198481.aspx#199044Mon, 21 May 2007 23:03:55 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:199044Jane, Southern MississippiJust let the schools raise the children. It seems that's what many parents want these days.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/21/198481.aspx#199151Tue, 22 May 2007 01:48:52 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:199151Lee HolmesWe already are ending up as ''ignorant fundementalists'',but not for the reasons one would usually attach to a non-secular belief.The new fundementalism will be secular and environmentalist in its construct.As with all religions,it will go overboard in its doctrinal demands to the point of the ridiculous.It's LEARJET-flying high priests and priestesses will use their new-found religion to lay down a guilt-tripping jive just as effectively as anything coming from a Robertson or the late Falwell.[And they will be equally viewed as base hypocrites for their own departures from their rigid dogmas,even as they return to the pulpit to rail against ''government''[as long as it is GOP.When they are gone,and its Democrats As Far As The Eye Can See,who will they then blame when energy continues its upwards spiral to the point of massive layoffs[thus upticking unemployment which has enjoyed low levels under Bush],higher prices for food and other commodities,a shrinking dollar,and,thanks to this immigration deal that no-one can seem to get a handle on,ever more consumers of petroleum and other energy].Former Gov.Moonbeam[Ca.State AG Jerry Brown]wants to blame Bush.[as his party is now back in control of Congress].Not so fast Jerry.It is Congress that sets energy standards[as opposed to regulation,which ,with the new USSC decision,is in the hands of EPA],not the president.Brown was quick to praise Carter,but forgot to mention that his fuel additive,MTBE,was found to be an extreme carcinogen and thus billions were spent to remove it.This brings us back round to the American automakers again.The Dems quail at anything that will anger the UAW,or the TEAMSTERS,and are thus sitting on their hands in demanding greater fuel-efficiency standards.[Browns California continues its reign as the largest SUV and large truck market in the nation].Everybody talks a big show,but no-one other than the Luddites and the Naderites wants to go down the road of living in 500SF houses or driving rollerskates.[Brown,to his credit,is a walk-the-walk person of the Ed Begley Jr.stripe,[Begley attaches a bicycle to his toaster oven and peddles for browned English muffins every day and catches rainwater in cisterns.Does not fly in any aircraft.Does not drive anything not electric or over the size of a six-pack of beer].How many Americans are willing to do this who are now crying out how ''green''we must all be?http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/21/198481.aspx#199361Tue, 22 May 2007 12:58:58 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:199361Amazed, Atlanta GAAbstinence only training.. what a damn joke! Trying to teach people to abstain from sex is futile, as sex is a natural part of being a person. A better solution is to make sure our kids have all the information, including information about protecting themselves. Reality dictates that kids will engage in sex. And abstinence only training has already proved to be a huge waste of government money. Another reason NOT to vote for republicans. Their rose-colored glass views on this are astounding. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/21/198481.aspx#199437Tue, 22 May 2007 14:30:41 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:199437H P BostonWE CAN NOT ALLOW THEM TO KEEP EVERYONE AS IGNORANT AS THEY ARE, YES, YES A THOUSAND TIMES YES, SEX TAUGHT IN SCHOOL!!!!!http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/21/198481.aspx#199538Tue, 22 May 2007 15:42:23 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:199538JR, Colorado Springs, COAll those that are bashing Gov. Huckabee for his belief that schools should not teach children about sex should realize that the basis for this belief is founded upon PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. The personal responsibility for parents (a man and a woman) who brought the child into the world to teach them about sex. However, these same critics continue this line of thinking when they criticize Huckabee for his personal views regarding the Value of Life. They don't believe in PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY especially when it relates to abortion. Only a minimal amount of abortions (1-2%...if that many) are due to rape or incest cases. The other 98% happen because individuals have acted irresponsibly and want to justify it by taking a life. The fact is that in America, we need people to be more responsible for their own actions. Parents should teach their children about sex...NOT schools. AND if an individual who does not want to have a child,then should "abstain" (which is the only 100 %) method OR participate in sexual activity when they are ready to bring up a child in a loving and stable relationship. But hey, that may be too rational for many of you.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/21/198481.aspx#199650Tue, 22 May 2007 16:57:22 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:199650Ken MesleInteresting, proven science is leading us down the road to becoming ''ignorant fundementalists.'' Whoo! That's a different take. I know I'd feel more comfortable with polluters policing themselves. Yes sir, there is no need for regulation. Regulation bad...Deregulation good. The hard right is great at trying to kill the messenger with any means available. You know...half truths and innuedo. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/21/198481.aspx#199838Tue, 22 May 2007 19:38:46 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:199838Lee Holmes Dunno Ken.''Proven science''is unable to prove algores theory that NYC will be under water in twenty years.''Proven science''has done nothing to address the phony three-card-monte game of ''carbon credits''.''Proven science''has done exactly zero in demanding that algore live in a smaller house.Crow use fewer concert buses and tractor-trailers,her pals refrain from flying private jets[her Dem pals in Congress from doing the same thing],Cape Cod hypocrites who want windfarms in someone elses front yard but not theirs,and everybody from driving less[this years Memorial Day weekend,even with gas approaching four bucks a gallon,is expected to be 14%[US Dept.of Transportation] over last year when it was over a dollar less].As usual Ken,if these are ''half-truths and innuendo''you will have no problems dismantling them.Get cracking.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/21/198481.aspx#199909Tue, 22 May 2007 20:55:40 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:199909Ken Mesle Lee, Science has proved that global warming is true. I know your type like to refer to it as climate change but the data is in. Crow all you want about the paltry contributions you think my "friends" should make, as usual it avoids the truth that this is a problem that needs to be addressed. So go ahead lob your cheap irrelavent observations meant to kill the messenger. I'm kinda getting tired of pointing out your innuendo and half truths anyway. It is really odd how you ditto heads address real problems. Are all of you in denial or just the idiot in chief? You have a good day Johnny.