This will be a long post.  Its been a long week and I’ve been overcome by events caused by the fact that I actually have a full time job I have to pay attention to every so often.  Well, enough with the whining – off to the Roundup. 

Check out Article VI Guest Blogger John Mark Reynolds in Part V and Part VI of his thoughts on religion, faith and their roles in the Next Presidential Election. 

While you’re at Article VI, check out John and Lowell’s takedown of religious bigot Paul Weisberg.  Well done, gentlemen.  Also check their comparison of debate moderators (MSNBC vs. Fox).  Funny how Brit Hume and Chris Wallace managed to somehow avoid asking Mitt what he thought about Catholic Bishops. 

The Boston Globe’s Peter Canellos takes a look at the Five Brothers Blog and finds it to be contrived and lacking of substance.  Funny, I took a look at Canellos’ column and had the same impression about him. 

I’m sure these HuffPo guys have a point.  I’m not sure they know what it is and I know for certain they are unable to express it in a manner understandable to anyone outside the HuffPo sphere. 

Journal Chrétien runs a press release about an upcoming documentary on Joseph Smith.  Yes, he did run for president back in the 1840’s.  Mitt is running for that same office in 2008.  End of comparison.  You should thank me.  I just saved you the trouble of having to sit through an exceptionally dry and boring documentary.  The donation box is always open. 

The “Reverend” Al continues to dig his hole at a feverish pace.  Evidently, Mitt no longer qualifies under the title “Regular Mormon”.   Now he’s on his way to Salt Lake City for a press conference apology.  Somebody needs to tell Al he’ll be doing that show solo – LDS leaders don’t come out an mug for the cameras at his invitation. 

Mark Burkhalter, Speaker Pro-Tempore of the Georgia House, declares Mitt to be America’s best hope for a fiscally conservative president.  For those victims of the public school system, that means Mitt will be easier on your wallet than would Hillary. 

Lifenews.com’s Steven Ertelt reports good news from polls in Iowa and New Hampshire.  Mitt still wins the Hair poll. 

The Boston Herald published an AP article who’s unnamed author (might be the AP’s Glen Johnson) seemed to be surprised that Mitt publicly and fervently declared that he planned to “stand by his faith.”  How many times can they recycle this same one-note samba? 

Newsbuster’s Ken Sheppard takes Time Magazine’s Ana Marie Cox to task for her sniping at Mitt’s “gaffes” whilst ignoring those of others.  Sheppard isn’t surprised by Cox’s bias, and neither am I. 

The Deseret Morning News’ Lisa Riley Roche reports on Mitt’s “avid” Utah backers. 

During the debate, Mitt no doubt ruffled some feathers with his “double G’itmo” statement.  For those of you who have a problem with Gitmo, please contact the Department of Defense and let them know you’d like to have a “detainee” delivered to your house for safe keeping. 

The Rocky Mountain News’ M.E. Sprengelmeyer described Mitt’s post debate “peppiness”.  Compared with Tancredo’s irrelevance and Ron Paul’s tin-foil-hatted meltdown, I’ll take “peppy”. 

CBN’s David Brody has a mixed mailbag.  Some are anti-Mormon wing nuts.  Others somehow manage to think clearly. 

Point-Spreads.com has the latest odds on Mitt after the Orrin Hatch endorsement. 

Blogfather Hugh has Mitt’s statement blasting the latest “immigration” deal.  While I’m usually hesitant to criticize other candidates, John McCain’s campaign has begun to circle the drain after he delivered yet another sucker punch to the base on a core issue.  He’s a Great American, but a lousy Senator and a terrible Republican.  Watch out for that fork, John.  You’re done. 

1st Lieutenant Andrew J. Bacevich, United States Army, was an aide to Mitt before he joined the Army and was deployed to Iraq.  He was killed last Sunday by an improvised explosive device while on combat patrol in Salah Ad Din Province.  The cost of war is a high one to pay, and the cost of freedom sometimes takes the very best we have to offer.  Godspeed, Lieutenant Bacevich.