I’m for separation of church and state: The church has no business telling the state what do to.

And someone needs to ask him "which Church"? Which Church will make the rules once this new "freedom loving" theocracy gets going? And how fast do the rest of them get labled second class citizens with the rest of us? That's how it always goes, the litmus test gets more and more narrow in defining the "true believer" or "real citizen".

I actually know a few fundementalists who think he's great-



Odd, that it is 'religion' that is used to defend prejudice in marriage equality- No one is denying the religious right to excericise their religion, but they want to impose their narrow-minded, rigid, legalistic bigotry on people who don't share their religious dogma.

as to what your friends say about him. What do they like?

He just seems downright maniacal to me, and more so all the time.

It is my belief that Rove and his ilk used the christian right to win elections, but never really believed in their causes.

OTOH, Santorum appears to actually believe all of this.

- not since the late 90's when things seemed to really turn ugly.

But we still are civil to each other. The biggest issues to them are anti-abortion, anti-gay marriage, anti-social safety net (claiming that they shouldn't be forced to give to those in need) the tea-party mantra of 'smaller-government', and the illusion the the US is a christian nation.

Santorum, despite the fact that he is "Catholic" (something they used to define as not being 'real believers') seems to offer them the next best thing to the person that was their first choice, (Perry) followed by Cain, and in prefrence to Romney (because he's a Mormon) or Gingrich, who doesn't seem to be as acceptable as Santorum.

That's as I understand it anyhow.

(they also listen to Rush)

The Republicans want to bomb Iran because they are jealous of their "freedoms".

I see this year's bumper sticker...

We already have presidential Bible-debates, days of prayer, religious exemptions from a whole host of laws, Blue laws, Sunday restrictions, Xian holidays only used as national ones, tax-payer sponsored chaplains, Christian imagery and language in our courts, enforced Christianity for punishment/re-education, mid 20th century blinders on scientific research because of Christianity, near-zero access to reproductive choice in the vast majority of the country due to Christianity, unequal rights due to Christianity, and a blanket requirement for politicians who want a snowball's chance in Gehenna of being elected to call on the Christian god's blessing due to Christianity. Its "role" is already Hamlet and Lear rolled into one; how much greater does he fucking want?

Ah Santorum. OK that makes sense - he wants a Christian version of Iran of course.