Modern day versions of crucifixion and state-sponsored revenge

 Thoughts of torture and capital punishment have been inescapable in recent years as first the Bush Administration and now the Obama Administration have sanctioned what Steve Thorngate, blogging at the Christian Century, refers to as “state-sponsored revenge.” That would include, I’m guessing, the murder on foreign soil of suspected terrorists, including American citizens, without trial.

Yes, torture, assassination of American citizens, and drone attacks that take the lives of many civilians in other nations are indeed sanctioned under the administration of Nobel Peace Prize winner, Barack Obama.

Sadly, Thorngate’s post titled “Crucifixion and the News" is appropriate reading for Good Friday 2012:

Among other things, Holy Week always brings to mind the tension between thinking doctrinally about Christ and thinking historically about Jesus. The latter is particularly poignant given the news this week: Bush State Department employee Philip Zelikow apparently wrote a memo in 2006 that advised against the use of torture. What's not news, of course, is that Zelikow's wise words were not heeded.

Read more:

Santorum’s poll numbers sink in PA making U.S. theocracy less likely

Rick Santorum’s early successes in the GOP primary have been worrisome. His determination to lead the nation toward a theocracy and his regressive opinions on the rights of women were scary. The impressive wins on Tuesday by the more moderate Mitt Romney were encouraging and the latest poll numbers from Santorum’s home state of Pennsylvania (April 24, 2012 primary) should prompt a sigh of relief from thinking members of the electorate. Public Policy Polling reports:

Mitt Romney's taken the lead in PPP's newest poll of Rick Santorum's home state of Pennsylvania. Romney has 42% to 37% for Santorum with Ron Paul at 9% and Newt Gingrich at 6%. The numbers represent a dramatic turnaround from when PPP polled the state a month ago. Romney's gained 17 points, going from 25% to 42%. Meanwhile Santorum's dropped 6 points from 43% to 37%, for an overall swing of 23 points in the last four weeks.

Pennsylvania Republicans are expressing major doubts about Santorum's viability both in the primary and the general election. Only 36% of GOP voters think Santorum has a realistic chance at the nomination to 54% who believe he does not. And when it comes to matching up against Barack Obama in the fall only 24% of Republicans think Santorum would provide their best chance for a victory while 49% think that designation belongs to Romney.

Read more:

Summing up Romney’s big wins: the delegate count

Mitt: 655 delegates

Rick: 278 delegates

Posting at The Fix (Washington Post), Aaron Blake sums up Romney’s delegate wins yesterday, April 3, compared to the few garnered by Rick Santorum:

Mitt Romney expanded his delegate lead significantly on Tuesday, taking at least 83 delegates from Wisconsin, Maryland and the District of Columbia and reinforcing that he is on a clear path for the GOP presidential nomination.

Rick Santorum, meanwhile, is projected to have won six delegates, with six yet to be determined.

Romney has expanded his delegate lead over Santorum to 655 to 278, according to the most recent AP projections. (For all the numbers, see the Post’s delegate tracker.)

The 83 delegates Romney won for sure makes Tuesday his second-biggest single-day delegate haul of the GOP primary season.

The former Massachusetts governor now has 57 percent of the delegates he needs to clinch the nomination. He only needs to win 42 percent of the remaining delegates in order to seal the victory.

Read More:

Breaking; Romney takes Wisconsin

Romney projected to win all three of today's primaries: Maryland, DC, and Wisconsin.

Sarah Palin’s Today Show appearance (watch video)

Courtesy of barracudabrigade.blogspot.com.

Well, I just couldn’t resist posting this video clip of the former Alaskan governor and GOP vice-presidential candidate in 2008:

Romney projected to win Maryland and DC, leads in Wis.

Told ya I’d be back with the Mitt and Rick primary results. Mitt is projected to win in Maryland and DC, and he’s leading in Wis. From the Huffington Post:

The former Massachusetts governor went into the {Wis.} contest leading rival candidates Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul, according to the latest polls.

HuffPost's Mark Blumenthal reports:

The Republican race enters April having just passed a significant milestone. As of the Louisiana primary on March 27, GOP presidential primaries or first-round caucuses have been held in 29 states and five territories, enough to account for just over half (52 percent) of the 2,286 delegates who will attend the Republican convention in Tampa, Fla., in August.

Click here for a rundown on who's ahead in the race.

Read more:

Kentucky Wildcats steal the spotlight (watch video)

Image courtesy of rockchalktalk.com.

I know. I know. You’re all sitting on the edge of your seats waiting for the GOP primary results today in Wisc., DC, and Maryland. Well, I’m no sports fan, but I have to tell you I’m more excited about the Kentucky Wildcats winning the 2012 NCAA championship - it's a family heritage thing  (I’ll get to Mitt vs. Rick after awhile). For now enjoy this video:

(Uploaded at YouTube by edwardlowen on Apr 2, 2012. Presentation from CBS TV of the Kentucky Wildcats victory in the 2012 NCAA Championship game!