Yea, Members will get very excited over the possibilities and think that the millennium will happen just after the next inauguration lol.

Na, I think that Reed’s and Romney’s roles are to open up the possibilities for more LDS to hold office. I really don’t give either a chance, though I appreciate their contributions to the debate.

Rice is impressive as a Sec of State. Read between the lines, look at the agreements she has gotten from governments that like to be difficult, the respect other countries have for her, and the difficult problems her boss has caused her. She is very good with foreign countries, and a hard worker who isn’t after the limelight. I believe she is also the cause of some of Bush’s recent policy shifts, and a softening of his attitudes. I don’t know if she practically has a chance, but she would be a good president in my book. She is tough, and I believe she could explain herself better than her boss does. I do hope the GOP becomes desperate enough to run her instead of the usual Bob Dole type. I admit she is under qualified, but I still like her style. And we have had worse.

We have the same barrier to break though that RFK did with his Catholicism. I hope this election helps us move closer to the trust of the American people.

But this contest has really become a no-contest since the emergence of two very strong Mormon candidates who are now poised to wage Holy War on one another to gain the presidency of our great country. So long ladies, its time for the apocalypse.

From the left comes senior senator Harold Reid out of the state with a very high Mormon population in spite of having Sin City as its most populous city, legalized prostitution, loose liquor laws and a growing population of heathen liberals. Senator Reid has become a vocal critic of the Bush administration, of Bush himself and most importantly of Crawford and life on the Bush ranch. (not to be offensive but what if Harry Reid’s son married one of W’s daughters and gave their first born son the first name of grandpa Reid and the last name of grandpa Bush) Harry is the new face of the democratic revolution that is sweeping across not only traditionally liberal states but even into many traditionally republican states especially those with high concentrations of Mormons. Mormons around the globe are being challenged by how such a “devout Mormon” can be such a democrat and can bash the conservative president with so much efficacy. Inner conflict has reached new levels and in fact, most wards in the church have now used a 5th Sunday combined priesthood / relief society lesson to address this specific topic. If the excitement about Reid continues it is expected that the legalization of marijuana, gay marriage and driving without a temple recommend will be approved in Utah and Idaho within the next 5 years.

On the right political superstar and governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney sits poised to make his own move into the white house. While on the outside this classic Republican candidate and hero of the disgraced Mormon Olympics appears to just be another pretty face with close ties to people with lots of money, inside this former stake president is a brilliant political strategist with a killer instinct and a fondness for fine cheese. As Mitt’s son Matt put it “my dad has more connections than the Internet”. Granted that was stated in 1991 when the internet didn’t have that many connections at all but if we can extrapolate that Mitt’s connections have grown since 1991 in the same way that internet connections have, we know that he has lots of connections and that is important in politics. Mitt has beaten the odds in Massachusetts as a conservative, Mormon governor in a state that already has legalized a bunch of stuff that most people in Utah and Idaho still don’t know even exists, let alone is legal.

While W. is pissing off America and trying to use big words such as kerfuffle to confuse and impress, these two political gurus are in the background working their way towards the showdown of showdowns. Never before has the Mormon church or the US (or even the entire globe) experienced the type of showdown of power grabbing and religious mudslinging that this upcoming election will provide. Both of these men have defied the odds time and time again and one of them will ultimately come out the victor in the fight for the biggest political prize in the world (unless you count the coveted role as German ambassador to Fiji). It will be an epic battle between the people’s candidate Reid and the ultra-suave Romney.

Who will win this heated battle? Who will wield the sword of Laban and slay his foe? Both candidates have a lot in common with the last popular president of the US, Bill Clinton. Reid comes from the same party as Bill, is from a small state (politically) and they are both members of the same secret political society that is so secret that I can’t say anything else about it for fear of having my true identity revealed. Mitt is a governor (like Bill was), has a wife that people remember when they meet her, and has the hair and good looks that people want in a president, none of this nerdy, frazzled professor look like Reid, he’s polished, smooth and a “churro” like the Latin girls like to say. In addition, Romney has publicly stated that he knows the truth about Cain’s color which Reid has, to date, not been willing to do. In both cases their political experience and stand on the issues is irrelevant (as it was with Clinton) besides since they are both Mormon they will be perceived to be the same since all Mormons are the same and who cares about issues anyway.

I’ve taken a straw poll and can tell you that the consensus position is that Romney will win the election. Several key factors will play into this success story. Before the election, Ted Kennedy will convert to Mormonism and endorse Romney because he’s from Massachusetts. Illicit photos of Reid at the Mustang Ranch will surface on the internet and quickly disappear before anyone sees them. He will claim they are the works of an amateur kid with an old version of Kai Power Goo photo editor and provide some nice family photos which will quickly become the least popular downloads ever on the internet. The Red Sox will win the pennant again in 2008 right before the election. Reid will spill the beans about Area 51 and admit that he is actually an alien who landed there in the 70’s but who escaped before the government reached his downed ship. He will ask to borrow his space ship so he can go and visit the family.

Even if none of these things happen, Romney will win because cyclically its time for us to have another president with a 2 syllable last name. The pattern since 1980 has been – 2 syllables (Reagan), 1 syllable (Bush), 2 syllables (Clinton), 1 syllable (Bush) – next up is anther bisyllabic presidential name…Romney 2008 – window decals are now available
Romney 2008 “Choose the Right”

There is still an outside chance that a dark horse candidate could win the election. Rumor has it that Sheri Dew is considering running as a Green Party candidate with Nadar as veep. Sister Dew’s success, unmarried status, diplomacy and cooking skills are seen as key factors that could help her win this election. Will she be able to defy the odds and win the election as she defied the odds to rise to CEO of Deseret Book as a woman? Whatever the outcome, 2008 will surely be a fantastic year for Mormons and politics.

Ever the optimist, I think that the Democrats are best on the church principle of caring for others, and the GOP is better on personal responsibility, the Libertarians are better on free agency, and the greens are better on, hmmm some one might need to help me here hehe.

As such, members can support ideas of each party. The problems arise when, running for public and especially national office, members are forced to accept the party line. Al Gore as an example ran for state office as anti abortion, but when he had a chance at national importance, switched sides. Joseph Liebermann also showed some signs of caving into the party line when he ran for VP, but I am glad to say he is once again his own man.

Currently the GOP is more politic in that they choose moderates for their presidential candidates based on who can win. The Democrats pick the more extreme candidates based on who can raise the most money. The GOP seems to have middle class America backing them. I.e. the money for the last election came mostly from middle and upper middle class. The Democrats had a lot of big time donors in the form of the very rich, lawyers, and unions. Their chosen class of the lower middle class and the poor don’t have as much money to give so they have to improvise.

The Democrats have more party discipline: toe the party line or no special appointments for you. The GOP has several rogue members that still hold their committee chairs.

So my point was to have more LDS get involved in politics, really in both parties. The loosing party may be more open to giving more significant work to you. And just being a moderate in either party may be closer to the Gospel than what we have now. Sure on single issue things, one party may be better than another.

I am reminded that when the Nauvoo Saints voted in block for one party or another, we lost all influence with the other party, and the first party took our vote for granted. Our roll of being a light to the world won’t work in that circumstance. We need to influence all the parties, (possibly even the greens,) and get them back on track.

I know the Church loves America but no so much that its willing to be taxed, even where such church enterprises deserve to be levied. Billions have to made and preserved. So the membership will just have to pretend that the LDS Church have offically sanctioned the GOP so everyone can sleep at night.

I’m surprised the Utah Republican party would consider this official statement to be a threat to their almost complete domination of Utah politics.”

I’m sorry but I can’t let this slide. Republican domination in Utah is a result of Utahns NOT voting on the issues. The same could be said for Utah if it was dominated by the Democrats or any party and it is exactly why the FP letter will have no effect on the way individuals vote.

Seth,
You’re not hinting the GA’s should tell us how to think?

Until they outright tell us what parts of the Republican platform are spawn-of-Satan, we’re not going to see much of a shake-up in Utah.

Oh yeah, they can condemn the libertarians too while they’re at it.

But it’s not going to happen.