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Dinner with Ms. Rice? I wonder why she would come to mind for so many people? Well, I'd not prefer her company... I'd be sure to get into an argument over politics, and that's no fun at dinner.

So if I could entertain any famous person of my choosing? Jon Stewart... George Carlin of Lewis Black. MAYBE Jim Carrey or Robin Williams. I have dined in the past with a few famous writers, and that ALWAYS makes for interesting conversations.

For dinner? Why not her love of music and her travel would certainly make for lovely dinner conversation without argument.

Nancy, congratulations on your interview; and thanks for the convention coverage which was exceedingly fair.

Who knows why those folks chose Condi. Maybe those men are right wing Republicans and were chomping at the bit to have dinner with one of the Bushie elitists.

Like Eric, I could think of quite a few other people to have dinner; Ruth Bell Graham, Diane Feinstein, Harriet Meyer, and Hillary Clinton to name a few.

As for the coverage of the SBC fiasco, it did not show this group for their true colors. Rather, it painted them as nice and lovely people. That has not been what has happened over the past 27 years and the SBC now is NOT the SBC of my youth/childhood. Sadly, that institution no longer exists and will never again.

Shalom

I would have said the late Katherine Hepburn (who bought me Cokes at my dad's service station many, many yaers ago), but alas...who could take her place?

Polticians bore the tears outta me, so I'd skip 'em all. If I wanted someone who played a terrific instrument, I'd say Anne-Sophie Mutter. Among writers, Joan Didion or Joyce Carol Oates. Artist: Magdalena Abakanowicz. Among thinkers: Cynthia Freeland or Kay Redfield Jamison.

But if it could be any woman, aside from my wife who always surprises me with her tremendous wit and probing mind, I suppose the invitation I most would wish to proffer would be dinner with Emma Thompson, who is funny, charming and intelligent. But I have to admit I also find her enchanting.

More hard-hitting probing of the issues of the day, I see. Why are you even in this business? How do you live with yourself?

Perhaps she was hoping to give us something fun to chew on before heading off for a vacation?

John: My questions (in the given seven minutes) were related to the convention and religion, so if asking the most powerful woman in the Bush administration (at a religious gathering) about same sex marriage, why parents of soldiers should continue to support the war, what she thinks of the fact that with all her accomplishments she still couldn't be a pastor at a Southern Baptist church, etc., then tell me, what would you have asked in the same venue?

Not on vacation after all. Cool! Nice to hear from you, Nancy!

I think the lead-in about having dinner threw a lot of people off, Nancy. After reading the texts and listening to the interview, I do think it's fair game to have her on the blog.

Most intriguing was your question about supporting the war...is it a "just war", as theologians define it?

Sec. Rice's response (or lack thereof) on same-sex marriage seemed appropriate, though, as she is not in the domestic policy ranks. But it was savvy of you to ask her, anyway, as she may be covertly gearing up for a poltical career. Local TV called her a "top politician visiting the Triad" last week on a teaser, but that really is offensive. She's supposed to be a diplomat, not a politician. She's never been elected to any public legislative or executive office. She shouldn't be in the business of political spin. Speaking at the SBC did ride a fine line between her various duties and stumping for office (her future run or the fall Republican congressional races), not to mention playing very loose with the separation of church and state.

She spoke to the ONLY RELIGIOUS group in the US to support the Bush Middle East Boondoogle. NO OHTER religious group in the US supported the unilateral military invasion of a soverign nation!

What a travesty. I am glad that I am no longer a part of that group. As a dear former seminary professor noted in a conversation once, "you've [I've] seen the Light!"

Shalom