[dark_crystal]

Progressives DO NOT like Mayor Pete. He is getting criticized for his media coverage, his whitleblower position, his immigration position, his child care tax credit, and his frequent mentions of religion.

I have concerns about progressive calls to keep religion out of politics.

As much as that should be the ideal, religion is kicking our asses-- and has been for a couple of decades.

I feel like this is an area where there is a divide between the so-called "coastal elites" and the so-called "heartland."

I do not think progressive state people fully appreciate the influence religion has in the "heartland."

I am sure progressive state residents understand about fundamentalists and have seen JESUS CAMP and have run into Westboro and Operation Rescue at clinic defense, but all of that is kicked up about one thousand percent down here.

I do not think people who don't live/have not lived in the Bible Belt understand the intensity and ubiquity of some very extreme ideas, or the high degree of respect these ideas get even by people who don't practice them.