Monthly Archives: August 2011

Interview with the authors of new Parley P. Pratt biography

Posted on August 31, 2011 by Doug Gibson

As Political Surf readers know, I mentioned the new biography of early Mormon leader Parley P. Pratt, “Parley P. Pratt: The Apostle Paul of Mormonism,” Oxford University Press, 2011, by Terryl L. Givens and Matthew J. Grow, in a previous … Read More

Posted in The Political Surf | Tagged Author questions, Brigham Young, Joseph Smith, Matthew J. Grow, Oxford University Press, Parley P. Pratt, Parley P. Pratt: The Apostle Paul of Mormonism, Terryl L. Givens, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | 8 Comments

Nut, fringe pastor wants to set up registry of atheists

Posted on August 31, 2011 by Doug Gibson

I need to give a hat tip to StandardBlogs reader Bob Becker for leading me to freethoughblogs.com, where poster Ed Brayton has noted that an online preacher named Mike Stahl of Living Water, an Internet church, wants to set up … Read More

Posted in The Political Surf | Tagged Atheism, Mike Stahl, National registry, Nutty pastor, Religious hate | 29 Comments

Mormon apostle Pratt suffered a violent death at the hands of a cuckold

Posted on August 30, 2011 by Doug Gibson

To see Cal Grondahl’s cartoon that goes with this post, click here: To read an interview with the authors of the new biography of Pratt, click here. On May 13, 1857, LDS Apostle Parley P. Pratt was murdered near Van … Read More

Posted in The Political Surf | Tagged Assassination, Cuckoldry, Eleanor McComb Pratt, Hector McLean, Mormon history, Parley P. Pratt, Parley P. Pratt: The Apostle Paul of Mormonism, Polygamy, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | 16 Comments

Quest for BCS love by BYU, Utah is hypocrisy

Posted on August 29, 2011 by Doug Gibson

College football starts this week. I’m a fan and I’ll be watching BYU and Utah play. I’ve attended both schools. I’m also a fan of Alabama, my dad’s state. But I’m through paying to go to a BYU game, or … Read More

Posted in The Political Surf | Tagged Bowl Championshp Series, Brigham Young University, College football, University of Utah | 14 Comments

New York Times to press candidates on their religious beliefs

Posted on August 26, 2011 by Doug Gibson

Bill Keller of the New York Times announced that the Times is planning to ask GOP candidates for president specific questions on how their religion or religious beliefs would affect their actions as president. (Read) I think this is a … Read More

Posted in The Political Surf | Tagged 2012 Republican presidential race, Bill Keller, Candidates beliefs on religion, Jon Huntsman, Mitt Romney, New York Times, Parley P. Pratt, Questions on religion | 24 Comments

School should unsuspend teacher who slammed gay marriage

Posted on August 24, 2011 by Doug Gibson

In Florida, a public school teacher, Jerry Buell, has been suspended by the Lake County Schools district for strongly criticizing gay marriage on his personal Facebook page. The district’s flak, Chris Patton, claims that Buell has violated an ethics rule … Read More

Posted in The Political Surf | Tagged Anti-free speech, Facebook, Florida teacher, Gay marriage, Jerry Buell, Lake County Schools, Ogden School District, Suspension, The Devil's Arithmatic | 19 Comments

Then-BYU leader Wilkinson led thuggish school spy ring and lied about it

Posted on August 23, 2011 by Doug Gibson

To see Cal Grondahl’s cartoon that goes with this post, click here. It’s the Ernest L. Wilkinson Student Center, or as BYU students for nearly three generations have called it, “The Wilkinson Center.” Wilkinson, now dead 30-plus years, was a … Read More

Posted in The Political Surf | Tagged BYU student spy ring, David O. McKay, Ernest L. Wilkinson, Gary Bergera, John Birch Society, Joseph T. Bentley, Ray Hillam, Stephen Hays Russell, Utah Historical Journal | 13 Comments

Is President Obama really tied with Ron Paul and Michele Bachmann?

Posted on August 22, 2011 by Doug Gibson

One of the reasons I discount polls now is they tend to swing so far apart. The one poll I still look at is Gallup, but even those pollsters are starting to publish data that boggles the mind. A poll … Read More

Posted in The Political Surf | Tagged 2012 election, Gallup polls, Michele Bachmann, Mitt Romney, President Barack Obama, Rick Perry, Ron Paul, Voter anger | 23 Comments

Sen. Hatch remains opposed to tax increases

Posted on August 18, 2011 by Doug Gibson

Sen. Orrin Hatch was criticized for expressing outrage that half of Americans don’t pay any federal income tax, while at roughly the same time he was defending tax breaks for oil companies. In a conversation with the senator he didn’t … Read More

Posted in The Political Surf | Tagged Corporate tax rate, Federal income tax, Oil companies, Sen. Orrin Hatch, Tax breaks, Taxes | 7 Comments

Awareness of racism eased Mormon folk tales regarding Cain, Bigfoot

Posted on August 16, 2011 by Doug Gibson

To see Cal Grondahl’s post that goes with this blog, click here. Here’s the best-known LDS folklore regarding Cain as a monstrous figure roaming the earth. In 1835, LDS apostle David Patten was riding a mule in Tennessee. “I met … Read More