The Death of the Religious Right -- It Took Long Enough

Special Commentary: How the Religious Right lost its ‘Religion’, lost its way and went wrong

Requiem for the Religious Right

Two good articles that detail my big complaints against the "religious right." The movement has failed immensely and do far more harm than good.

How to nearly cause International Incident for no good reason

Bud Selig once again reared his ugly head of mismanaging something into the ground yet again. This time it was over $900,000.00. Here's what happened, basically last December the Boston Red Sox reluctantly agreed to play two games in Japan against the Oakland A's. Boston made sure to include a provision that not only the players get compensation but so would the coaching staff. About a week ago, Terry Francona began calling the A's about their deal to make sure it was similar. Much to his dismay, he realized that not only was Oakland getting pimped but there was a good chance Boston was as well. Two days ago, he found out that MLB had no intention of compensating the coaching staff in an absolutely disgraceful move. Keep in mind these coaches make between 80K and 175K per year so a trip to Tokyo is going to hurt their bottom line a little if they go out drinking (as I learned all too well over there) or shopping (something tells me Ginza and parts of Ikebukuro were out of the coaches' price range). As a result, Boston protested and refused to play their spring training game and threatened to not board the plane to Narita. Luckily at 12:30 MLB caved and everything was right.

However, this points to a greater issue about MLB. It's small things like this and baseball's permissive attitude toward steroids that make Bud Selig a terrible commissioner. For the compensation attitude to come to this when the commish is making 14 million per year and merchandise sales are going to be off the charts during the Japan series is pathetic. MLB should be ashamed that the Japan games nearly didn't happen due to 20 trainers/coaches not getting what they were promised.

Catholics and the 2008 Election

For those Catholics out there, here are some pieces to chew on while you discern for whom you should vote in this upcoming election.

I Voted for Obama. Will I Go Straight to. . . ?

Heaven Help Us

Catholics at the Ballot Box

DOCTRINAL NOTE on some questions regarding The Participation of Catholics in Political Life


Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States

McCain Foreign Policy Madness

Antiwar Voters Trust McCain to Make Decisions About 'War on Terror'

McCain's "Spiritual Guide" Calls for Destruction of Islam

He cultivates a myth of an elder statesmen while being endorsed (and endorsing) individuals with views that leave one wondering whether or not he is simply old.

The ultimate in double standards

If anyone had ever doubted that the Clintons seem to think rules apply to everyone but themselves, let's examine two recent cases. If you'll recall about a week ago, foreign policy wonk Samantha Power got in trouble for calling Hillary a monster (thank god, I don't work for the Obama campaign). The Clinton campaign's response? Power must go. The Obama campaign responded by firing the eminently respected Power.

Now fast forward one week later to Geraldine Ferraro who said this

If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman (of any color) he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept.

Aside from the sheer stupidity of the comment, Ferraro was rightly attacked for the thinly veiled racism. Now did Ferraro apologize for her comments? Of course not, in fact she went farther:

Any time anybody does anything that in any way pulls this campaign down and says let's address reality and the problems we're facing in this world, you're accused of being racist, so you have to shut up. Racism works in two different directions. I really think they're attacking me because I'm white. How's that?

No Geraldine, they're not attacking because you're white. They're attacking you because your comments seemed to come out of 1960's Alabama. That's how the world works. You make a stupid comment. You get called on it. That's called life.

Now any reasonable campaign would figure it's time to cut ties with a rogue surrogate at this point in the interest of consistency regarding Powergate. However, when has Clinton's campaign been reasonable or consistent? Their response:

[W]e reject these false, personal and politically calculated attacks on the eve of a primary. This campaign should be about the leadership we need for a better future and these attacks serve only to divide the Democratic Party and the American people.

That's right. It's Obama's fault that he got pissed at a blatantly racist and utterly stupid comment. Of course, it did open up a huge gap for Obama to take advantage of with this:

"With Senator Clinton's refusal to denounce or reject Ms. Ferraro, she has once again proven that her campaign gets to live by its own rules and its own double standard, and will only decry offensive comments when it's politically advantageous to Senator Clinton. Her refusal to take responsibility for her own supporter's remarks is exactly the kind of tactic that feeds the American people's cynicism about politics today and it's why Barack Obama's message of change has resonated so strongly in every corner of the country," said Obama spokesman Bill Burton.

So the lesson from the Clinton campaign is call a Hillary a monster, lose your job. Make a blatantly racist comment about her opponent, we'll defend you. In retrospect, Samantha Power got fired for telling the truth.

McCain Recieves A Freaky Endorsement

In case you haven't heard, John McCain has received the endorsement of Pastor John Hagee of the 19,000(!) member Cornerstone Baptist Church down in San Antonio, TX. Pastor Hagee is a controversial religious figure who has made statements that could be perceived, and rightfully so, as anti-Catholic. And he's a Christian Zionist who believes America has a biblical duty to support Israel and has stated that Hurricane Katrina was a preemptive punishment from God for future homosexual activities. And John McCain is happy to have his endorsement.

Here's a youtube from TPMtv.

Why do you support Hillary Clinton? Why do you support John McCain?

To those who support either of those candidates, I ask why? On what grounds can you legitimately and truthfully distinguish between the two candidates?

For those left-leaning individuals who support Clinton over Obama: why? Is it because you believe that she has more "experience" than Obama (a myth that Brian has shattered in previous postings)? If you are attracted to her policies, then to which policies and why are you attracted? Are you a pragmatist who does not want the Republicans to win? If that is the case, I think your arguments are weakest. In numerous polls Obama is shown not only to defeat McCain more soundly than Clinton; but, Obama is relatively more popular than Clinton, as results have shown. In either case pragmatic arguments would favor Obama over Clinton.

For the right-leaning individuals: I have no questions nor words for you but simply to state that you are lost souls.

Why I don't Support John McCain

The emergence of John McCain as the de facto Republican Party nominee tickles me the wrong way. Unlike Brian, this is purely policy-oriented, as there is no threat of a "third term" from the McCain camp. I'll only address a couple of issues:

1. His health care reform plan does not go far enough. An effective alternative to the current system would involve the expansion of the public health care system such as those found in other industrialized countries. Instead McCain's reform plan rests on more traditional conservative free market ideology which has gone far to place us in this mess. On another level, a broader public health care system better serves the common good and improves society; and, to add to that, it improves the competitiveness of American businesses by shifting the economic burden associated with health care from them to the state.

2. His foreign policy is a continuation of the Bush policies. He has spoken of his intention to remain in Iraq, which includes an increase on the troop deployment to the area, as opposed to a withdrawal. He utilizes the tired conservative rhetoric to frame American policy within the heretofore ineffective war on terror; he adopts the qusetionable conservative rhetoric and positions on other middle eastern regimes, particularly Syria and Iran. His policy positions do not reflect the dangerous, ineffective and destructive consequences to American credibility and security of the Iraq War and the War on Terror. Rather, he embraces the War on Terror and seems to import and graft upon our contemporary security policy that obsolete paradigm (missile defense and increasing the size of the military may have been relevant during the Cold War, but in this era they seem misapplied). And let's not forget about the greatest "existential threat" to our time... no thanks.

Because of a stale and dangerous foreign policy paradigm which continues the Bush Administration's wrong-headed policies, McCain should not become president.

Jimmy Kimmel Gets back at Sarah Silverman

My biggest problem with Hillary (a Constitutional dilemma)

As anyone who reads this blog knows, I have a major problem with Hillary. However, I don't think I've ever explained my reasons. They start with a Constitutional issue that has been bugging me. I think all of the following are safe assumptions:

1. If she hadn't married Bill and became first lady, she never becomes a New York Senator. Just imagine, Hillary Rodham Arkansas lawyer moving to New York to challenge Democratic Congresswoman Nita Lowey for the nomination. She would've been lucky to hit 10%.

2. If she doesn't become a Senator from New York, her credentials for President are slightly better than Laura Bush.

3. As first lady, she had zero security clearance. As a result, that 3 A.M. phone call ad tried to remind people that Bill's her husband.

4. In fact, the most qualified person in a Clinton White House would be the first gentleman.

Conclusion: I can't help but think that people are trying to essentially elect Bill to a de facto 3rd term which would be an end run around the 22nd amendment.

I also think this is insulting to other female politicians who have earned their spot due to reasons other than marriage (Kathleen Sebelius, Janet Napolitano, Debbie Stabenow, Olympia Snowe, etc).

Yes, Mr. Buckley, RIP

I concur with Brian's homage to Mr. Buckley. He was a brilliant mind who laid the oundation for the conservative movement. While unfortunate that he is no longer here, that he did not have to witness the complete destruction of the movement for which he was so important by the aliens who have stolen its name, is a silver lining in the otherwise dark cloud. It is with hope that his ideas and his example will live far past his physical time on this planet. God bless and God speed.