While I’m on the bent about evolution I always find it interesting that those who choose not to believe in the scientific evidence to support evolution rarely have an explanation for such things as this.  I remember one time, many years ago in college, getting into a a very heated discussion in my freshman biology class about evolution.  The professor, being a scientist, was for evolution and taught it as fact.  Several student took offense at that and for one session he let us all hash it out.  I remember asking one of the more vocal students to explain the existence of evidence that can date the Earth to over 4 billion years, to explain the evidence of dinosaurs that date back millions of years.  His answer:  God put that evidence there to test out faith.  I remember chuckling and just shaking my head.

Wasn’t it interesting when the Republican candidates for president were asked if they believed in evolution and seven of the 10 candidates said yes.  Senator Sam Brownback, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, and Representative Tom Tancredo all said they did not believe in evolution.  First of all, let me say how said it is that even three of those ten said they did not believe in evolution.  Contrary to what many on the far right say, evolution and faith are not mutually exclusive.  Anyone who compares science with the Bible can see that both explanations can be true.  Regardless, there is enough real scientific evidence out to support the theory of evolution, so when people tell me they don’t believe in it I have a hard time not calling them names.  Anyway, the other seven candidates all indicated they do believe in evolution, which sets them up to lose some, if not all, of the conservative Evangelical Christian vote.  I shouldn’t say all because I know many Conservative Evangelicals who don’t fear science.

It’s not a real surprise Huckabee, Brownback, and Tancredo would say no.  They are known for being to the right of most Conservatives and are very outspoken about that belief, but I also don’t think any of those three has a chance in hell of winning the nomination or even being on the final ticket as a VP.  That leaves seven men — McCain, Giuliani, Romney, Gilmore, Hunter, Thompson, Paul — that are either unknown or not exactly darlings of the Conservative Christian faction.  I think we can all agree this is really a race between McCain, Giuliani, and Romney.  McCain has until recently spurned the far-right and they still don’t trust him.  Giuliani has always been pro-gay right and until recently a support of abortion rights.  Romney has certainly gained some Conservative cred while governing Massachusetts, but he has Liberal past that some Conservative Christians may balk at.  That leaves the Republican Party with little support from the Conservative Christian movement that has kept them in the White House for seven years, and that spells trouble for the 2008 election.  When it comes right down to it, I really think the Republicans are going to end up with some form of a Giuliani/Romney ticket and that will be hard for Conservative Christians to swallow. 

Of course, that’s all good for Democrats.

Considering the relationship Queen Elizabeth seemed to have with the late Ronald Reagan it seems a real slap in the face for President Bush to send Vice-President Cheney as America’s ambassador during the Jamestown Settlement celebration.  I mean this was the settlement that helped pave the way for the creation of the United States of America, so you’d think the president could at least show up, smile, and wave to the camera.  Also, is it me, or does the Queen look extremely uncomfortable; moreover, has something happened to Dick Cheney to make him look like the Hunchback of Notre Dame?