Politics and Religion

Ever notice that Ron Paul does not play the religion card? Not that he isn't a Christian, just that he does not blow a trumpet when he prays...and does not pray in a stadium so 30,000 people can hear it. Yesterday in the New York Times there was an article about Tim Pawlenty, who is going after the religious vote in Iowa. Or what is left of it after that other candidate from Minnesota takes it.
It was pointed out in the Spanish press that the US is in a war to keep religious fundamentalists from taking over Afghanistan, and, um, using large stadiums for their religious meetings...
I guess since the governor of Texas did not fight in a war he did not take that into account. But he might have read the Gospel in which Christ tells people not to sound a trumpet when they pray or do alms. He commands things to be done in secret that God the Father might reward people openly.
So, if you are religious, by all means pray for Ron Paul, but do it in silence - your prayers need to be effective - the US needs all it can get.

Federal Election Results for the candidates

The NYT yesterday published the FE results for the leading candidates, with Huntsman and McCotter (McWHo?) nor required to file this quarter.
So far, Obama has $46.3 million raised, with $11.1 spent in 2nd quarter.
Then it's Romney: $18.4/$5.7; Paul: $4.5/$1.6; Pawlenty: $4.3/$2.5: Bachmann: $3.4/$0.3
Cain: $2.6/$2.1: Gingrich: $2.1/$1.8: Santorum: $0.6/$0.4: Johnson: $0.2/$0.2

It shows a candidate pacing wisely, not having to spend all his ammunition to get name recognition.
Big business seems to like Romney and Obama more, both of whom have received in general much larger donations on average, thus their large war chests do not reflect more supporters.

This shows something about the amount of support, of course, but also about the way a candidate spends -
Paul's 2nd quarter spending is about 32.5% - compared to others of 100% or nearly that.

Pawlenty vs. Bachmann

Pawlenty is starting to trail in the polls, but he has managed to get back in the media spotlight - by blasting Bachmann. He claims she did absolutely nothing in Congress. Both are from Minnesota, not a state known for sending people to the Oval Office.
Bachmann is now neck and neck with front-runner Romney in the polls.
But the election itself is light years away in political years...lots to transpire till then.
Here in New York there is an unusual election, to replace Anthony, as in Weiner...The Dems want David Weprin to replace him after he had to quit in disgrace - and this being NY, my bet in on Weprin...GOP Congressmen here are hen's teeth.
But the former mayor, Ed Koch, wants a GOP man - as a way to rebuke Obama for his stance on Israel. So Bob Turner may stand a chance, but I still would not put money on it.
However, it says something about the 2012 elections; Jews may well not vote for Obama for a number of reasons, they may well back the GOP, but only if the GOP candidate is convincing. Last time they did not vote for McCain - who seemed to have amnesia - and Palin, who does not go over well with an educated crowd.
Ron Paul is a strong choice - especially among those who remember his lone pro-Israel stand in 1981, if my own memory serves correct - when the GOP denounced Israel and he said it was a sovereign nation that had the right to defend itself. He also points out that the US gives the Arabs four times as much money than it gives Israel, and he is right. I would not be surprised if Ed Koch would support him. Pawlenty, or Bachmann, I cannot see them getting much enthusiasm among the Jewish voters.  Or the Latin, African-American voters either, they may well be restricted to the core GOP voter base which is not enough to ensure a regime change here.