@Professor; yes, mixing religion and politics is something one typically finds in a saloon and politics. however, again, the clause states; congress. the 1940's decision actually muddied the waters further in my view. Your argument that 'dems do it too' professes the same argument as 'two wrongs make a right', when people of intelligence are serious, this argument does not hold water. Moral and ethical people who wish to insert their morals and ethics into other folks lives maybe should be operating from a moral and ethical standpoint, unless of course winning is the only objective then by all means...

In Texas, local people, not authorities, not the fed, not the state government and certainly not corporations; are fighting the eminant domain usage of the 'common carrier' provision in state law as it applies to Keystone. What that means for those who 'profess to know' is that real, local people don't like this out-of-country corporation coming in and taking their land. And for those who want to keep their land, yes they do indeed 'fight tooth and nail'

My, My, where do I begin.

@James wood is cool: "Texans are fighting it themselves tooth and nail..." Hardly, even the Obama Administration approved of the Oklahoma to the Gulf of Mexico segment right through Texas just this week.

Dems should watch the politics in church issue too, how many black churches in the south did Bill Clinton preach in? Sharpton & Jackson's ilk...

Also I seem to recall a politically charged battle cry by way of an editorial co-signed by Ms. Sloan durin the last session where she and other Lutheran ministers essentially called the GOP led effort in the legislature to get our budget under control a sin and used scripture to defend their views. If that isn't mixing church and politics I am not sure what is.

The bottom line here is a complete misunderstanding of the establishment clause from beginning to end. No where does the constitution say anything about a member of the Montana House of Representatives speaking to a church congregation. That whole ridiculous claim by Thackeray has nothing to do with the constitution it has to do with IRS regulations about religious exemptions on taxes and is completely overblown.

Ever heard the term preaching to the choir? That's what that is, not unconstitutional. If the audience doesn't mind the content, then so be it.

It is more than simply disagreeing James Woods

This sorry excuse for an academic actually accosts Warburton in public. He actually stalked her during the last campaign so he could repeatedly confront her as he was attending republican events held in Havre. (and why is a rabid liberal democrat going to republican meetings in the first place?) He spent hours sitting down at republican headquarters bothering the girls that worked there to the point they felt uneasy. Yea, he is one hell of a guy. I am sorry that he makes my blood run cold and turns my stomach. Why don’t you all just hang out with him with your families so he will stay away from the rest of us?

Jim
I wouldn't call disagreeing with a public servants views, 'venomous hatred' but a citizens responsibility, especially if it involves civility in the discourse.

If Wendy was campaigning at said churches, then certainly a challenge to this is acceptable in public discourse just in case a line was crossed (I certainly do not appreciate hearing politics in church), likewise with the requirement of prayer at a public event, a challenge is not out of bounds and just because an individual making that challenge goes to church is no reason to question that person's faith. Maintaining one's views in the so called separation of church and state is certainly within the boundaries of our constitutional process. I don't hold that view personally as the clause states 'congress' specifically and no other entity, however it is clear Thackery holds that view and i respect his responsibility as a citizen in challenging where he sees fit. An engaged voting populace is what America is supposed to be about, not attempts to shut voices down with insinuations about their faith.

When you state Wendy votes no to any expansion of government yet also cite her anti-choice stance, it puts the lie to the former statement. the case is simple; a women's medical decisions are between her and her doctor, her family and God, government has no place in that dynamic. How could Wendy oppose government expansion at every turn, as you claim, yet wish to place government in a women's health decision?

In the interest of gaining understanding, as Jimers writes, it would be interesting to gain reasoned understanding that particular dynamic.

Thank you Mr. Thackery for beginning this interesting dialogue.

Joe:
Our policy is that letter writers can submit letters twice a month, not one every 45 days.

Hmmmmm, wouldn't it be astronomical if we all learned not to be so nasty. We all want the same thing: To continue to be free and have free will without that age old (human nature) of some humans wanting to control all other humans. The question is interesting. Is that a human characteristic in governments or is that a divine direction inserted to show the 221 countries on this earth that they simply cannot govern themselves effectively for any length of time. ---- To fulfill the purpose of the one responsible for the insertion.
Since the discussion included something about Christianity then I felt it might be acceptable to include a blurb on that subject.
Interestingly enough, right now this very moment there are millions of Americans who are quite frustrated therefore some blame the left and some blame the right and some just get drunk and don't even vote.
A good answer to that is this : "Love thy neighbour as thyself."
Who is our neighbor? Since we are all of the same spiritual Father then we are all neighbors. Now, it would be good to get to know our neighbors as well as possible as, if prophecy is correct, we are quite likely, in the not to distant future to be ruled for 42 months (3 1/2 yrs) by the Muslims who are rapidly growing and striving for that goal all over this world. If prophecy is correct one will not be able to buy or sell without that mark in their palm or forehead. Prophecy states that will happen and most all humans will succumb to that philosophy during that time. Some won't and some will willingly die like a Lamb for their choice. Since this is the actual script written by the Father of all it is unlikely to change even a tweak, therefore good to get to know your neighbor as they might have a little extra food to share. Three and a half years is a good while although not even a drop in the bucket compared to the 40 years spent on manna, water from rocks and quail. If He can feed them for 40 yrs then He can certainly feed them for 3 1/2 yrs. (:
Truly there has never been a time more important to get along with all our neighbors. just one more interesting thought. We are taught that if we obey our Creator that He will send an unction and we will be allowed to understand all things. Good time now to make a concerted effort to find out what it really means to obey Him. Be careful who you trust as there are many many who have jumped at the first opportunity to feel important within themselves and teach hundreds of different philosophies that simply lead in circles
like the blind leading the blind.

I seem to remember two years ago Mr. Thackeray that every letter you wrote to the newspaper portrayed your venomous hatred for Wendy Warburton. Every word you spoke contained some sort of smear or insinuation against Warburton yet here you are calling her out because she refers to the Governor as Governor BS. That is a tad hypocritical isn’t it? I seem to remember that you went to the county attorney to try and get the tax-exempt status pulled from every church that allowed Warburton to give her pro-life speech because you thought it violated the separation of church and state. You even sank so low as to attempt to file a complaint against the very church you were attending. Not to mention the fact that you were the ringleader in the complaint filed by the ACLU against our university for allowing a prayer to be said at graduation. I don’t comprehend your madness. Do you just attend church to keep an eye on what Warburton is up to?

After reading your scores of letters the last couple of years droning on about Warburton I think everyone gets it. You hate Wendy Warburton. Maybe you should run for her legislative seat if you can do so much better. What choice have the Democrats given us in this race? We can choose to again vote for Warburton, who without argument is the staunchest pro-lifer I have ever met. We could vote for her opponent Karen Sloan who worked for years at Family Planning counseling girls on how to go about getting an abortion, or we can vote for Sarah Singer, wife of the tax evading Senator Jonathan Windy Boy, who works hard at expanding the number of people receiving “assistance” at her job at HRDC.

It seems to me the choices are a Pro-lifer that votes no to any expansion or government, a Pro-abortion candidate that voiced approval for every spending increase attempted last session or a tax and spend liberal that wants to expand give-away programs.

Unless someone new files I will again be voting for Warburton. However I would consider voting for you Bill if you should decide to run because all your letters make you sound so darn intelligent.

Think about it Bill. You still have time to file for the office yourself.

More incoherent babbling from the academic nut that is still living off your tax money.

Why isn’t the newspaper enforcing the only one letter every 45 days policy? Or could it be that doesn't apply when someone is complaining about people the HDN doesn't support?

Thank you, Mr. Thackeray, for your letter to the editor. It seems that you have inadvertently exposed this year's campaign strategy for those on the left. The policies of President Obama with a super majority in congress were (& are) overwhelming rejected as the results of the 2010 elections showed. President Obama and his party all the way down the ballot will not be able to run on his "accomplishments." Instead they will need to distort and attack their opponents, as Mr. Thackeray has done.

Rick Santorum was referring to the theology of earth worship. The Paul Erlichs and Al Gores who in essence share the Malthusian view that man is ruining the planet. Thus endless government controls are needed since in their twisted opinions man cannot or will not be a good steward on his own. If you listen to the context of Santorum's comments this is obvious, but that does not make for contrived soundbites.

Finally, Mr. Thackeray, Mr. Humble Haverites' comments were a bit juvenile. It should be noted, however, that by not taking the "high ground" and offering up some possibilities of Rep. Warburton's initials, you opened yourself up to his possibilities of your initials. As they say: "Live by the sword, die by the sword."

Brought to you by ALEC bill. now wendy has a lot of ground to make up, what, with Virginia now the laughing stock of the world, she lost her title.
but thats point for point.
While some may disagree with your analysis, at least you exhibited reason and civility. Humble Havreite has yet to leave the schoolyard with his; 'nyah, nyah' approach, similar to what you ascribe to wendy and co.
but hey, its either that or; drill baby drill, facts be danged. like the fact that we're drilling three times as much now as under bush, we are now a net exporter of oil... and Keystone has yet to settle on a route while Texans are fighting it themselves tooth and nail...
NYah, nyah and 'i know you are but what am i' and drill baby drill is all they got.

BS-Brian Schweitzer, BO-Barak Obama, and BJ Clinton- Bill Jefferson Clinton.

Initials are in fact quite revealing.

Thanks, BT-Boring Teacher!