Just finished reading something that said Michelle Bachmann stated that the earthquake and hurricane this past week were God's way of trying to get the attention of politicians. Was she serious? No, said a spokesperson, she was joking. See the way she was laughing? Hear the way the people were laughing? She wasn't being serious.

Okay, she wasn't being serious. Still, if one simply reads her comments, they come off as being really lousy theology. But then, Ms. Bachmann never said she was an accomplished theologian (and, from reading other remarks she has made previously, not an accomplished historian either). I know there are a lot of people who think that natural disasters are God's way of punishing people for particular sins - Katrina was punishment for New Orleans being a sinful city; the destruction of the Twin Towers on 9/11 God's punishment to America for permitting abortions and homosexuality. That's just bad theology, whether it is Ms. Bachmann saying it, or some TV preachers saying it.

But give her the benefit of the doubt: she was joking, we are told.

If that is the case, then she'd better stop telling these kinds of jokes. Over 20 people lost their lives because of the hurricane. I don't see that as anything to joke about. Billions of dollars of damage have been done. Is that something to joke about as well?

Instead of making stupid comments and then having someone else cover up (she's joking), wouldn't it be nice if politicians would stop to think about what they are really saying? Dare I expect that much from our politicians?

I can still wish for those things, can't I?