ANDREW SULLIVAN responds to my comment that Bush Administration policies haven’t exactly been theocratic by quoting (former) Republican House leader Tom Delay talking about religion. It’s a bit of a non sequitur.

At any rate, having now actually spent some time with Sullivan’s book, I think that Ryan Sager’s The Elephant in the Room does a much better job of addressing the split between evangelicals and non-evangelicals in the Republican Party. I’m clearly on the Sager / Libertarian side of that split (and I got the hatemail during the Terri Schiavo affair to prove it), but I don’t think the country is in danger of theocracy in the way Sullivan keeps proclaiming. I’m not sure what side of that split to put Sullivan on anyway, as he’s often claiming a religious basis for his own principles, and drawing up sides in a fashion every bit as apocalyptic as Tom Delay. But maybe “side” is the wrong term for Andrew, as I think he’s more of a one-man circular firing squad these days . . . .

UPDATE: Writing in the non-theocon American Prospect, Peter Steinfels is as skeptical as I about cries of impending theocracy.

ANOTHER UPDATE: On the other hand, here’s a potential theocon who I had as a guest in my own home!

And I still like him, no matter what Andrew might say.