Brownback taps creator of new FL religious community for pres. exploratory committee

[seafan]

Some days, the nausea just overtakes you.


Brownback Committee Has Florida Link

By William March
Dec 4, 2006

Republican Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback announced an exploratory committee for a presidential run today, and the committee includes at least one member with a strong Florida connection—Domino’s Pizza founder Tom Monaghan.

Monaghan is from Ann Arbor, Mich., but having sold his interest in Domino’s, one of his major endeavors now is Ave Maria, a new town and conservative Catholic university he’s developing in Collier County east of Naples, in partnership with real estate developer Barron Collier Cos.
The town and university, to have about 20,000 people, are intended to exemplify Monaghan’s dream of a conservative religious community.

Parts of the project, now under construction, are expected to open in 2007.
The project has run into some controversy, including questions about whether it will destroy some of the last remaining habitat for the Florida panther, and plans to restrict sales of contraceptives.
The college is already operating in Naples while awaiting opening of the permanent campus. It eventually is expected to have 5,000 students, obeying strict rules including no TV’s in dorms, loyalty to the Catholic Church and celibacy.

With Sen. Bill Frist out of the race, Brownback will become one of the strongest competitors for the religious and social conservative vote in the GOP primary.

[SharonAnn]

1. OMG, the Opus Dei duo! Frightening, but they won't get far.

[GoneOffShore]

2. Oh boy!

One religious whack job allied with a seriously insane religious loon.

[Hand]

3. Run, Sam, Run!!!!!

Having that raving lunatic spouting his insane bigotry on the campaign trail in 08 would be the final nail in the religious right's coffin! :popcorn:

[sharp_stick]

4. I should switch to repuke membership

I'd love to vote this asshat into the presidential race. Then again, imagine if he actually won a fixed election. It'd be rapture makin time for the whacko xtians.

[tularetom]

5. The dumbass protestant fundies will never support him

He's a catholic and a lot of those asswipes think catholics aren't christians. BTW, I'm not surprised that nutcase Monaghan is involved in this. He's been pushing this catholic fundy shit for a long time. He's also been the subject of several lawsuits around here stemming from accidents caused by kids speeding to deliver his cardboard pizza within the 30 min limit.

[PaDem]

6. We underestimate people like this...........

and overestimate the electorate at our own peril. I can't believe the degree to which DUers are treating this guy like he's a joke on par with Lyndon Larouche or Pat Robertson even. This guy is dangerous, and it is within the realm of possibility that he wins the GOP nomination and also the general election. I certainly wouldn't predict it right now, but Brownback can't be dismissed out of hand.

[AlinPA]

7. I agree with you. From the last R convention, it was understood that most of

their delegates were right-wing evangelical- fundamentalists and that they had full control of the party. Seems he will be a sure thing. Also, he appears to me as a "polite", more well mannered Santorum.

[PaDem]

8. Not only "polite".......

but also fairly articulate. He'll come across as warm, compassionate and competent. He will connect with the conservative Christian world in ways that Bush was unable too. His voice on issues like poverty and AIDS in Africa will resonate with mainstream Christians even better than Bush's did. It's all fools gold, as this guy is as dangerous as it gets. He worries me frankly.

[GoneOffShore]

9. He was an NPR reporter for awhile.

He can communicate well. He's wacky though.

[AlinPA]

10. What about his gay-bashing and creationism and Shiavo, etc? That's the

only doubt I have. Yes, he can easily get the nomination, but blue states will see him as a zealot out to bash gays, force prayer in schools, abandon science, etc.

[PaDem]

11. I'm saying he's smooth enough to package himself in the swing states........

he's a dangerous candidate.

[AlinPA]

12. He's slimy, for sure.