so the men in charge, in order to gain the power they want are forced to hitch their wagon to one or the other of the two mainstream parties. (Should there be only two parties? I don't think so but I strongly believe that efforts to have better representation of this country through more parties and unwasted votes will never get through the hands of those who wield power now).

I've been pondering the last few days how it is that people who profess to be Christian could close their eyes to McCain's adultery, or be so cruel as to agree with Palin that there are no circumstances in which abortion is justified. Or who suddenly seem to have no problems with teen pregnancies or that it might be a family value to stay home with your kids when they're young, and particularly a Down Syndrome kid. But I've been considering this the wrong way-the people at the top who become part and parcel of the political process no longer can call themselves a religion, but instead are power mongers looking for ways to gain for themselves.  I'm going to stop thinking of them as being religious people at all.  Because they're not.

P.S. Excellent article at The Root - Has the religious right changed its mind about teen pregnancy?

The media-driven right-wing religious advocate anti-abortion policies, biblical marriage, prayers and creationism in schools, and expect the "free enterprise" policies of the government to support their ambitions. They hate all who don't agree with their narrow views, while making loving excuses for those among their number who have clay feet.

It's fully on display during the GOP convention in St. Paul. The 0ly pious wave Old Glory and invoke the Lord's Prayer, while imploring Jesus Christ to bless their calls for gun ownership, torture of detainees to keep America safe, discrimination against gays and immigrants and increased federal spending to fight reckless wars.

Woe unto anyone daring to disagree with their mockery of Christian principles, for they are the sole arbiters of family values.

But the God's truth of the matter is all this has little to do with religion and everything to do with politics.

Neither the scriptures nor moral conviction motivate these self-professed holy people. Their movement isn't God-centered; it's a political-action community dressed up in the cloth. Politically active evangelicals are more about pushing an agenda than saving souls.

And they're willing to use a pregnant 17-year-old if it serves their higher purpose.