Blow really should have been reprimanded for not being able to come up with anything better than the magic underwear thing. You work at the Times, man, put your shoulder into it! Have one of your interns look up something about Mormonism that all of Twitter hasn’t adequately addressed before now.

Unfunny schoolyard cracks that Conan O’Brien’s writers would have passed on are indeed inappropriate. However, criticism based on religion is most assuredly appropriate, at least, as appropriate as criticism based on anything else.

We can’t sit here and rule things out of bounds to talk about on the basis of somebody said the word “god” and now that means we all have to stop questioning. Faith is used too often as some kind of prophylactic against criticism in public life, an instant protection against having to explain one’s positions and justify one’s actions. “I believe” has come to mean “now you can’t object, because I invoked the Jesus Pokémon, regardless of what insane shit comes out of my mouth next.”

Which is a pity, because in the best traditions of faith doctrine can be the result of long periods of learned argument and study, and talking about one’s faith doesn’t have to be a threat to that faith. Sensible criticism about a politician’s faith would, one can hope, prompt a deeper explanation of how that faith informs a candidate’s actions.

In Romney’s case, that would mean exploring a candidate’s explicit view of his campaign as some kind of affirmation that AMERICA IS TEH AWESOMEST SEZ GOD and go fuck a French mime if you think differently. So I can see why his campaign wouldn’t exactly welcome that discussion.

A.

Via a headline at Eschaton (“God Hates Atrios“) I learned the discouraging news that one of the slipperiest centrists in the Democratic Party has reconsidered his decision regarding the US Senate seat now held by the retiring Ben Nelson of Nebraska. Here’s the news:

Former senator Bob Kerrey (D-Neb.) has changed his mind and plans to run for the open Senate seat in Nebraska, according to a senior Democratic aide.

The aide said Kerrey has called Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to inform him of his plans.

Navy SEAL Team Leader at Thanh Phong!

Been a Governor and a Senator!

Dated Linda Ronstadt! And Debra Winger!

Justifying his 1999 vote for Gramm-Leach-Bliley which fundamentally recast America’s financial landscape and safeguards: “The concerns that we will have a meltdown like 1929 are dramatically overblown,”.

Headed the New School in Manhattan, and fought the NLRB and UAW on unionization! Presided over a full-scale occupation and, later, riot.

Little known tidbit: Kerrey was selected to head the MPAA but they couldn’t come to terms, leaving an opening for Chris “I’ll never lobby!” Dodd to become the biggest lobbyist in town.

But how in-character for Kerrey’s return to the arena to be marred by a betrayal: [cont'd.]

I have had the pleasure this week to work with Jane Hamsher and Lt. Dan Choi, DADT activist and superstar occupier! I have been booking travel and organizing events for Dan at 5 different occupations across the country, from Delaware to Fairbanks, AK. We started the trip off in Wilmington, Delaware (Occupy Delaware) last weekend and are picking it back up today.

Last night I spoke with Will Marshall who told me that he successfully picked up Mr. Choi from the airport. Choi starts this full week of travel in Atlanta, GA where they are occupying outside of the AT&T center. From the photos that have been submitted, it looks like Dan is meeting a ton of great people and will be hosting a celebration at the newly acquired military tent from Firedoglake Occupy Supply. Everyone in the communities I have spoken with have been very helpful in working with me to make sure that when Dan arrives he has a ride, food, shelter, and other forms of hospitality.

Without our membership program and the amazing work of our member Liaisons, we could have never dreamed of sending Lt. Dan Choi to Salt Lake City, Flint Michigan, and all of his other stops. Help ensure the sustainability of Firedoglake by joining as a member today!

What will Dan be doing? He wants to focus on meeting all of the occupiers involved, getting to know their story, then stay the night with them at their encampment. He plans to spend at least one night out in the military command tent at each location, staying warm due to some of the amazing advances in solar energy and other tactics to “get off the grid.” The work that some of these occupations are doing such, as Little Rock, Raleigh, and many others is impressive and inspiring.

In hindsight, we can hardly believe we’ve been able to accomplish all we have with Occupy Supply, but when you consider the strength and support we get from the membership program, it makes more sense and opens the door to incredible possibilities for organizing in the future.

Help to keep Firedoglake moving forward by joining our membership program during the 2012 Membership Drive.

Occupy Supply is a program of the Firedoglake Membership program where we have over 105 member liaisons nationwide. I will continue to update everyone daily on his travels. Dan is tremendously excited about visiting these occupations, and his visits are bringing hope to all the campers as they reach the 6 month mark of occupying.