# Gov. Pataki and God have Breakfast with Their Pals **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 12, 2004, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-pataki-and-god-have-breakfast-with-their-pals/244777 "2004-05-12T12:57:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Mojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mojo)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-pataki-and-god-have-breakfast-with-their-pals/244777/21 "2004-05-13T14:37:01Z")
$1,000 a plate for a _breakfast_? It better not be sardines and Sunbeam. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-pataki-and-god-have-breakfast-with-their-pals/244777/22 "2004-05-13T15:12:31Z")
Damn right. It better be Merita. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-pataki-and-god-have-breakfast-with-their-pals/244777/23 "2004-05-13T15:45:25Z")
It’s just disgusting. For a number of reasons. First, I don’t buy, religiously or politically or socially, the whole evangelical Christian line. And, while this report shows Pataki et al. being careful not to endorse any particular brand of Christianity, it is unmistakeably pro-Christian in its rhetoric. Second, George Pataki doesn’t either. He knows it, you know it, and I know it. Third, even the “Christians” know it, but they don’t care. As long as he mouths the right words, it works for them. They’re all a bunch of fucking hypocrites. I say this as someone who is an observant member of a Christian denomination (not relevant which one here). And there are certainly those on the other side of the aisle who are just as bad. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-pataki-and-god-have-breakfast-with-their-pals/244777/24 "2004-05-13T17:06:38Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > Oh, I don’t think **Lib** was accusing _me_ of hypocrisy, just the politicians. You appear to be correct, Eve. My apologies to you, Lib. ---
**Author:** ![Eyke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Eyke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyke)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-pataki-and-god-have-breakfast-with-their-pals/244777/25 "2004-05-13T17:34:58Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > I’m not shocked, I’m not outraged, I’m just very, very weary . . . > > _NY Times_, May 12—Mixing piety with Republican politics, Gov. George E. Pataki welcomed Laura Bush as the guest of honor , using the occasion to praise both God and the president. “God is good to America because America is good to its people,” Somehow I missed the head lines that said we were at 100% full employment, seniors have 100% coverage of their age related illnesses, intercities have become economic redevelopment zones to the envy of even the most socialist of European countries. I sure would like to know where the good Gov is getting his reality altering drugs, because they sound wonderful! > [@Eve](#): > > Mr. Pataki said he was “very grateful to you and to the president for his tremendous leadership.” mmmm hmmmm :wally > [@Eve](#): > > The governor and Mrs. Bush said God would help lead America to victory in Iraq. You know the Republican God would never on to pass up a pre-emptive war. Especially one where the libera…errr…invaders are such well schooled and well behaved individuals. > [@Eve](#): > > In his speech, Mr. Pataki noted that the breakfast was not meant to support any one faith.[…] Each guest was given a CD produced by the American Bible Society to celebrate the occasion: “God’s Word Changes Lives: A Gospel of Mark Audio Dramatization.” We welcome ALL faith traditions here, just as long as they agree to convert to Christianity as prescribed by Pat Robinson. :rolleyes: Unlike gobear, I am a Christian. Prayer breakfasts are standard fair in most parts of the country. While they are pretty inoculous for the most part, I just don’t think we should invoke God’s name to support bad government policy, be it domestic or international. This guy is a real self pious what’s the word…oh yeah :wally ---
**Author:** ![Eyke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Eyke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyke)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-pataki-and-god-have-breakfast-with-their-pals/244777/26 "2004-05-13T17:39:13Z")
> [@Libertarian](#): > > I don’t remember Howard Dean, but I take your word for it. I’m more of the age where I remember Jimmy Carter. IMNSHO Jimmy Carter lived closer to the Christian ideal than any other President since. It’s too bad things didn’t work out, thanks to our GOP. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-pataki-and-god-have-breakfast-with-their-pals/244777/27 "2004-05-13T17:59:46Z")
You might want to read your history books a little more, regarding put upon poor Jimmy Carter. You’ll find the Soviet Union and the Iranians gave him more trouble than the GOP ever did. Well, that and his own blistering incompetence. The man did know his Bible, though. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-pataki-and-god-have-breakfast-with-their-pals/244777/28 "2004-05-13T18:14:39Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > I’m not shocked, I’m not outraged, I’m just very, very weary . . . > > _NY Times_, May 12—Mixing piety with Republican politics, Gov. George E. Pataki welcomed Laura Bush as the guest of honor at his annual prayer breakfast on Tuesday, using the occasion to praise both God and the president. “God is good to America because America is good to its people,” the governor said… I love this mentality. So, this God guy, he’s nice to Americans because the (waves hands wildly) _country_, whatever that means, is good to its people. But he couldn’t give less of a shit about Iraq or Algeria or the Sudan’s people, because their countries aren’t good to them? Wow, now there’s a great policy. Shouldn’t God be taking care of those who are stuck living under the spectre of tyrants and poverty and violence, instead of those of us who are blessed enough to live in the good ol’ US of A? I mean hey, we could probably even get by without God’s 24/7 attention, since we have St. George the Bush acting as God’s right hand. Reminds me of when people whose baby was fished out of a well cry out “Oh, God was watching over us!” How much hubris can you have? Too bad God was looking away when someone else’s baby drowned. Maybe he was busy ensuring the successes of all those pop stars and atheletes whom he favors. > [@](#): > > In his speech, Mr. Pataki noted that the breakfast was **not meant to support any one faith.** … Each guest was given a CD produced by the American Bible Society to celebrate the occasion: “God’s Word Changes Lives: A Gospel of Mark Audio Dramatization.” (Tents fingers) The irony is positively _delicious._ And before yet another person whines that we’re fighting the wrong battles – you don’t have a fucking clue, do you? We activist liberals _are_ fighting the big battles. Simply bringing some other embarrassments to light doesn’t mean that we’re not paying attention to the major issues. Just because you’re unable to care about issues big and small, don’t project your political ADD onto us. ---
**Author:** ![Eyke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Eyke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyke)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-pataki-and-god-have-breakfast-with-their-pals/244777/29 "2004-05-13T18:30:51Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > Therefore, by extension, God is bad to Iraq because America is bad to Iraq? No…no…no…God is bad to Iraq because Iraqis are bad to Americans…sheesh… You need to watch more 700 Club! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-pataki-and-god-have-breakfast-with-their-pals/244777/30 "2004-05-13T18:46:11Z")
> [@UncleBeer](#): > > You appear to be correct, Eve. My apologies to you, Lib. No problem. Heat of the moment and whatnot. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Aldebaran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Aldebaran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aldebaran)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-pataki-and-god-have-breakfast-with-their-pals/244777/31 "2004-05-13T19:06:35Z")
Well… This brings to my mind a thread I opened once questioning why a US candidate for presidency needs to spread it out that he is at the least a religious person and if a non religious candidate woyuld even have a chance. I also remember the vast amount of ad hominem attacks I received there because I dared to touch this (obviously all to visible and true) issue. Salaam. A ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-pataki-and-god-have-breakfast-with-their-pals/244777/32 "2004-05-13T19:21:18Z")
From the Book of Matthew - And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.\* ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-pataki-and-god-have-breakfast-with-their-pals/244777/33 "2004-05-13T19:35:06Z")
> [@Aldebaran](#): > > Well… This brings to my mind a thread I opened once questioning why a US candidate for presidency needs to spread it out that he is at the least a religious person and if a non religious candidate woyuld even have a chance. > > I also remember the vast amount of ad hominem attacks I received there because I dared to touch this (obviously all to visible and true) issue. > > Salaam. A What are you _talking_ about? Many of us have been saying the exact same thing for years here, and most everyone on the Board agrees! Did you slip in “oh, and your mother dresses you funny” or something? ---
**Author:** ![Aldebaran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Aldebaran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aldebaran)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-pataki-and-god-have-breakfast-with-their-pals/244777/34 "2004-05-13T19:54:03Z")
Well… I think the others might have slipped into such reasoning there 🙂 For the rest there were some postings of “US consitution” and the likes, to give solid proof that religion does not play any role in the US when it comes to choose a president and when it comes to govern the USA. I think that, together with the ad hominems and with someone taking a side steps to a mini political crisis regarding the abortion law in my late mother’s country which had even less to to with my OP then the rest, gives a good summary of the whole thread. Salaam. A ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-pataki-and-god-have-breakfast-with-their-pals/244777/35 "2004-05-13T20:15:03Z")
> [@Aldebaran](#): > > I think that, together with the ad hominems and with someone taking a side steps to a mini political crisis regarding the abortion law in my late mother’s country which had even less to to with my OP then the rest, gives a good summary of the whole thread. I have _no idea_ what that sentence means, but I do know that even the most religious members of this Board agree that an open atheist would have slim chance of getting elected President of the U.S. ---
**Author:** ![Aldebaran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Aldebaran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aldebaran)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-pataki-and-god-have-breakfast-with-their-pals/244777/36 "2004-05-13T21:08:25Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > I have _no idea_ what that sentence means, but I do know that even the most religious members of this Board agree that an open atheist would have slim chance of getting elected President of the U.S. What on earth is wrong with my sentence (except from being too long) ? I think that (= refering to what I write before) together with the ad hominems and with someone taking a side steps to a mini political crisis regarding the abortion law in my late mother’s country which had even less to to with my OP then the rest, gives a good summary of the whole thread. Maybe I should have inserted “this” after “that”… .Well, nobody is perfect. I always said that my New Aldebaran English Dictionary Style invites the readers to creative reading, no? As for your assertion: Then the majority of these members must have been “off-board” when I posted that thread. Salaam. A ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-pataki-and-god-have-breakfast-with-their-pals/244777/37 "2004-05-13T21:34:47Z")
Eve, I think what he is saying is that one problem with teraforming Mars is that it has no magnetic field, and therefore cannot obstruct the cosmic radiation that blows away its atmosphere. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-pataki-and-god-have-breakfast-with-their-pals/244777/38 "2004-05-13T22:41:58Z")
> [@Libertarian](#): > > Eve, I think what he is saying is that one problem with teraforming Mars is that it has no magnetic field, and therefore cannot obstruct the cosmic radiation that blows away its atmosphere. _Oh_–well, okay, then, I certainly can’t argue with _that_. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2004, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-pataki-and-god-have-breakfast-with-their-pals/244777/39 "2004-05-14T06:29:55Z")
> [@](#): > > $1,000 a plate for a breakfast? It better not be sardines and Sunbeam. I always wondered what the food was like at those $1000/plate deals. I mean, I get the concept and all, but I still think I’d be pretty pissed off if the food failed to blow me away. I went to an alcohol-free strip club once, where the admission was free (with a readily-obtained coupon) and there was a one-drink minimum–a Coke that cost $4.50. My Coke was flat, watered down, and warm with no ice. I was pissed off–if we’re going through the pretense of having me buy a ridiculously overprived drink, the least you can do is deliver a competent glass of Coca-Cola, like millions of shitty restaurants do every day. (The club was moderately classy, otherwise, for a nudie bar.) And a big word up to Zebra for bringing in that whole inconvenient Sermon on the Mount thing. This couldn’t be a better example. Anyone who claims to be a Christian and would attend or otherwise support this sort of thing needs to re-examine what is going on here. (Yeah, I’m talking to the Dems here, too.) ---
**Author:** ![Aldebaran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Aldebaran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aldebaran)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2004, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-pataki-and-god-have-breakfast-with-their-pals/244777/40 "2004-05-14T10:40:05Z")
Libertarian and Eve, No, in fact I was saying that the average reading skill of the Martian population seesm to be far above the average reading skill of Earthlings. Salaam. A [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-pataki-and-god-have-breakfast-with-their-pals/244777.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-pataki-and-god-have-breakfast-with-their-pals/244777.md?page=3)