It's difficult to imagine Paccione winning her race. The level of outrageous smear ads I've seen against her is simply amazing and the people out in eastern Colo. are hard core Repugs who gave Bush 60% approval in 2004.

But, based on the polling it might not have even been a good thing for Musgrave to do all the negative advertising. Independents are not liking it at all.

Paccione appears in her ad that just states truthfully that Mugsgrave says that her anti-gay marriage initiative is more important than the war in Iraq, more important than anything, including drought relief for her district. It's an effective ad. I would be convinced if I were an indy, but I long ago gave up thinking that logic would sway Colo. conservatives in any election. They are just hopeless for the most part - voting on insane issues like whether Bush "was a good christian man" as if that were a substitute for intelligent leadership.

Oh, well, I imagine Bush is here because his presence will rally the base voters and give Musgrave at least 2 or 3 points on election day among the right-tards out on the plains.

Inside America's most powerful megachurch with Pastor Ted Haggard
Harper's magazine
May 2005

www.harpers.org/SoldiersOfChrist-20061103288348488.html

The ones I do feel for are those he has duped and betrayed, specifically his wife. In passing as I was leaving the house last night I saw a bit where Haggard was talking to a reporter, and his wife was in the car. I watched his face, his eyes when he answered and how they automatically flicked to her. The reporter asked him a question, his wife was watching the reported & the way she turned her head toward Haggard, you just knew she dreaded his answer. Which is why his eyes flicked to her. It's her....no matter what he's done: it's her & he knows it. She is the key for him.

Anyway, they describe Haggard basically as a very much a moderate on homosexuality and many other things evangelical.

For instance, if I remember the article correctly, he supported the (I assume recent) Texas decision to srike down their anti-sodomy laws, among other relatively pro-gay statements/actions.

He also seems to feel that global warming is a bigger issue than gays in direct contrast to, and conflict with, much of the evangelical leadership, if that means anything.

he supported the (I assume recent) Texas decision to srike down their anti-sodomy laws, among other relatively pro-gay statements/actions.

Sarcasmo as usual the thrust of your argument is sound--Haggard's not quite the Ogre, after all, that many liberals in their rabid frustration have made him out to be.  But please remember that it was the United States Supreme Court (pre Roberts and Alito) that wrote Lawrence v Texas, which struck down sodomy laws in Texas.  Texas being the benighted loser.  

The idea that Texas voters would themselves do something pro civil liberties really shouldn't be spread among civilized readers, sarcasmo, expeically by someone sensible like you.

www.latimes.com/news/printedition/la-na-haggard4nov04,1,56646.story

...Though Haggard has spoken out on abortion and same-sex marriage from time to time, he is less fiery on those topics than many of his colleagues are. He has pushed, instead, for a broader concept of biblical values: He wants evangelicals to be more involved in protecting the environment and helping the poor.

Haggard has not joined other evangelicals in campaigning against a Colorado initiative to provide domestic partnership benefits to same-sex couples. He also stood out among conservative preachers for publicly praising a 2003 Supreme Court decision that struck down a Texas anti-sodomy law. ...

...Haggard's push for action on global warming raised hackles among powerful leaders on the religious right. With Haggard discredited, those leaders may be able to swing the focus back to issues such as abortion. Or the evangelical movement -- a solid GOP bloc over several election cycles -- could splinter.

"This could have quite profound implications for how evangelicals [affect] politics in the future," Green said, "long after we've forgotten the results of this coming election."

You guys are missing the story here...  So, Ted's gay, No real surprise there... He uses Meth and pays for Gay hookers... That all well and good too..

And we're not missing the point or the story. Over at Red State, there's the claim that they had never heard of Ted Haggard. They're either liars or they are not as politically savvy as they like to claim.