Strange Bedfellows

When I heard about Pat Robertson endorsing Rudy Giuliani for President I, like so many other people who follow politics, said, "What?" Giuliani's socially liberal views run diametrically opposed to Robertson's so what's with the endorsement?

Theories run rampant. Here's two:

The mighty coalition of Evangelical Christians is fragmenting. Its leaders are old and a new generation is on the rise and it doesn't quite see eye to eye with its elders (see article). Also, some of the old guard have threatened to abandon the Republican party if a pro-choice candidate was the nominee. Hmmmm, who could they be talking about?

Robertson, whose failed predictions of destruction would render him laughable if it wasn't for his scary political views (see Wiki), has lost clout within the ranks. This could be his attempt to side with a winner and ride his coattails to glory. In polls, Rudy is seen as the only candidate who can beat Hillary, someone who the religious right can't abide the thought of being President whatsoever. But if Hillary and Rudy share some of the same views on abortion, gay marriage, evolution what other pressing social issues matter to the religious right?

Another possibility is that Pat wants the war with Islamic countries to continue. Rudy has been unflinching in his support for the Iraq war and I'm sure wouldn't flinch from lending BushCheney a hand in rattling a few sabers at Iran. But that would mean ol' Pat's bloodlust is stronger than his revulsion to Rudy's social positions, or perhaps he thinks he can sway him a bit.

Another odd endorsement was Sam Brownback endorsing John McCain for president. Brownback's views are much closer to Huckabee's so his supporters are probably wondering why he went with McCain. I have no idea. Maybe McCain promised him a cabinet position if he threw some good ol' Kansas Conservative support behind him. It's a repugnant thought to me, but I wouldn't put it past the desperate McCain.

Only another 12 more months of this. Woo hoo!

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DED