I finally got around to reading Mitt Romney’s December “Faith in America” speech, in which he talked about religion. It’s very good, and I fully respect what he said. Christianity is kind of the “dominant” religion of the US, and when you’re “in charge,” you don’t need to ask many philosophical questions about your place in the scheme of things. But as a Mormon, a minority religion, Romney has had to defend his faith and think deeply about religious issues as they affect citizenship.

Here are a few excerpts. Nothing earth-shaking, but good stuff. Good stuff for us evangelicals, who became addicted to political power when the Moral Majority came to power (though I think we’re getting over it).

Let me assure you that no authorites of my church, or of any other church for that matter, will ever exert influence on presidential decisions. Their authority is theirs, within the province of church affairs, and it ends where the affairs of the nation begin.

There are some for whom these commitments are not enough. They would prefer it if I would simply distance myself from my religion, say that it is more a tradition than my personal conviction, or disavow one or another of its precepts. That I will not do. I believe in my Mormon faith and I endeavor to live by it.

Americans do not respect believers of convenience. Americans tire of those who would jettison their beliefs, even to gain the world.

No candidate should become a spokesman for his faith.

I believe that every faith I have encountered draws its adherents closer to God. And in every faith I have come to know, there are features I wish were in my own: I love the profound ceremony of the Catholic Mass, the approachability of God in the prayers of the Evangelicals, the tenderness of spirit among the Pentecostals, the confident independence of the Lutherans, the ancient traditions of the Jews, unchanged through the ages, and the commitment to frequent prayer of the Muslims. As I travel across the country and see our towns and cities, I am always moved by the many houses of worship with their steeples, all pointing to heaven, reminding us of the source of life’s blessings.

The establishment of state religions in Europe did no favor to Europe’s churches. And though you will find many people of strong faith there, the churches themselves seem to be withering away.

Any believer in religious freedom, any person who has knelt in prayer to the Almighty, has a friend and ally in me.

There are a few points which invite quibbling. One is his line, “Freedom requires religion, just as religion requires freedom.” I agree with the first part, but not the second. Religion has often thrived–or, at least, shined with the most genuine of light–when officially banned. But I suppose it makes sense in the context of the Mormon religion; Brigham Young and Company migrated west to find a place where they could freely practice this new religion.

Tonight was our monthly tournament night in the Three Rivers Table Tennis club. I never do well in these tournament. One two and lost one tonight. I left just after 9 p.m., and on the radio, John McCain was just starting his victory speech. I listened for about ten minutes, then found myself drifting off. He just wasn’t holding my attention. I’d come back, then drift away again.

Finally, after about 20 minutes, my mind went back to the radio and I mused, “Is he still talking?”

I’m a McCain fan, and I’m delighted he won. But I tell you–his speechmaking abilities don’t exactly qualify as captivating. Maybe it was better on TV.

Wednesday morning postscript: On Morning Joe with Joe Scarborough, they savaged McCain’s speech. A clip showed that it definitely was not better on TV.

That was quite a speech by Obama. I like him. Rudy can be quite a speaker, too. I don’t like him. Can’t imagine Hillary or Mitt giving a speech that stirs me in any way. Way too scripted, cautious…boring. And yet, both might make decent presidents.

I’m still hoping McCain charges forth. In recent years, he seems to have softened, to be compromising, certainly to be backend-kissing George the Younger. And yet, at the core, McCain is still a maverick. He’s a man of character and conviction. I’d love to see him in the White House. But it’ll take some doin’ to get him there, and I don’t think it’ll happen. And besides, when it comes right down to it, I might prefer one of the Democrats anyway.

Huckabee? Interesting guy. Slightly more experienced than Obama, slightly less articulate. More than slightly, actually, but still can talk circles around most of the field. Obama, Huckabee, Rudy, and Edwards know how to move crowds. We’ve not had a real orator-president since Kennedy. I can’t imagine sitting through a State of the Union speech by Hillary or Mitt.

I’m definitely in the independent camp right now. Living in Indiana, I’m also irrelevant, because the state always goes Republican. But I could easily vote for Obama or McCain, somewhat easily vote for Edwards or Huckabee. Rudy, man of no morals, makes me wretch (and thank you for endorsing him, Pat Robertson, on behalf of Christians everywhere).

The blogosphere is the cyber equivalent of Speaker’s Corner in London’s Hyde Park, a place where any idiot can stand on a box and spout silliness. I have a blog. Therefore I spout.

This morning I voted in the city elections. I never much care about local stuff, even though it more directly affects me than national politics. Pam told me to vote for Henry for mayor, because Kelty intentionally lied on some kind of form (election form, IRS form–I don’t know, but since Pam is an accountant, I’m sure it involved financial figures). So I voted for Henry, the Democrat. It was not totally mindless voting, because I did consult my wife about who I should vote for, and she does take interest in local politics.

There were a dozen people running for city council, and I needed to select three. I chose one Republican, one Democrat, and one Libertarian. A fair and balanced philosophy. I wanted to choose a woman Democrat, but the only one had a hyphenated name, and I find hyphenated names cumbersome.

So that was my voting experience today. As I said on Twitter, it was a case of “voting without conviction.”