Remember this magazine cover at left? Heh. I recalled it today when I read Governator Schwarzenegger has–in an ironic twist– announced today he will buck convention, and decline an invitation to speak at the 47th Annual Capitol Prayer Breakfast in Sacramento, and instead attend an “environmentally-themed” conference with the McCain machine in Santa Barbara.
The irony is the gov’s announcement comes on the same day news outlets are reporting the 2008 U.S. Religious Landscape Survey shows religion is not as important to Californians as the rest of the nation (48% California, 56% rest of country). Personally I am mystified as to why the gov would skip the prayer breakfast. With a record budget deficit, soaring gas prices, insane inflation, plummeting home prices, dwindling fish supply, the drought, and that little annoyance regarding some 600 fires burning at this moment in Calfornia, you would think most of his day would consist of robust prayer. [Tongue firmly in cheek]
McCain has his own problems. His campaign is still doing damage control after a campaign staffer told the press yesterday “Yes, another terror attack would definitely benefit John McCain.” Oops. Guess they read verbatim right out of the “101 Recipes for Inducing Fear” best seller that got Bush elected.
Either way it is good to see McCain concerned about the environment. His “$300 million” prize for the company that can invent a “super car” is about the most forward-thinking thing to come from a politician’s mouth since Arnold–in the midst of his battle to overthrow Gray Davis–assured Caleeforneeayans he would never need to collect contributions from people, then promptly went on to collect $127 million in contributions to date– $45 million of which he will use to sell his forthcoming “redistricting” plan.
The good news is this: Arnold hasn’t actually turned away from God. In fact, according to the San Jose Mercury News, yesterday he pledged to continue pushing for health care reform in California for his remaining 2 1/2 years in office, “even if it takes praying 20 rosaries. Every day, I will be on my knees praying the 20 rosaries, but we are going to get the job done” (Just not at payer breakfasts).
As a practicing Catholic I can testify that praying 20 rosaries is not something that can be accomplished over breakfast; in fact, if one were to pray 20 rosaries every day, they would have little time for much else. So hey, we’re still in good shape, California. Ya gotta give Arnold credit for trying, and God knows it’s wonderful to see his acting skills are almost Oscar-worthy after all these years.
