“Hegel remarks somewhere that all great world-historic facts and personages appear, so to speak, twice. He forgot to add: the first time as tragedy, the second time as farce.” This one is done tongue in cheek.
Karl Marx on the Election Read More »
Readers in California, please don’t forget that as you attempt to chose a pro-Life candidate for President of the US you are also being called to defend marriage by voting Yes on Proposition 8. Whether they are beloved friends, co-workers or relatives, we all probably all know gays and lesbians that we love and care deeply about; many of
Defend Marriage. Defend Life. Protect the Future. Read More »
There was considerable debate among Catholics leading up to the war in Iraq in 2002-2003. With respect to the election, however, I find myself continually puzzled by references to this or that candidate’s “support for an unjust war” or the existence of U.S. forces in Iraq in terms of an illegal occupation.
Which "unjust war"? Read More »
Pop quiz: what is the difference between a) giving directly to the poor, b) donating to a charity, and c) surrendering taxes that go to help the needy? While you ponder that, here’s another one. Question: if you could receive, free of charge, a) generic drugs or b) name-brand drugs, which would you choose?
Mystery writer, apologist, and Dante scholar Dorothy Sayers once said of her fictional creation Lord Peter Wimsey something along the lines of, “Peter is not really Christian. He would have considered it impolite to hold such strong beliefs.” (If someone knows of the exact quotation — I believe it was from one of Sayers’ published
Tomorrow is election day. I am going to make a prediction that will come true. As in 2004, the exit polls are going to show that the Democrat candidate for President is beating the Republican candidate for President by a very wide margin.
Peter Suderman has another provocative essay at Culture 11 bearing the above title, with the more interesting (and in the case of his actual essay, accurate) subtitle, “Why we care too much about politics”, in which he echoes some themes found in Ryan’s previous post on slippery slopes.
The Case For Not Voting? Read More »
The most accurate poll from the 2004 Election, the Investors Business Daily (IDB) Poll, has been showing a trend of Catholic voters moving away from Senator Obama and into Senator McCain’s camp. Since I first reported this a little over a week ago I can now say that this trend is real and Catholics are
Catholic Vote: 51-38% For Senator McCain Read More »
The Knights of Columbus remind us that among the most important issues at stake Nov. 4 is FOCA [“Freedom of Choice Act”]: As the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops declared recently: “Abortion rights groups and their allies in Congress are promoting a radical bill called the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA). If this extreme measure
Knights of Columbus: "Remember FOCA on November 4th" Read More »
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hdi4onAQBWQ] Obama doesn’t believe we should use coal to generate power. “So if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can; it’s just that it will bankrupt them because they’re going to be charged a huge sum for all that greenhouse gas that’s being emitted.” I guess under an Obama administration coal miners, bitterly
Obama to Coal States: Drop Dead! Read More »
Think the rates that you are paying currently for electricity are too high? If Obama is elected you will feel nostalgic for these rates. That is not a prediction by me. That is a promise from Senator Obama.
An Obama Promise You Can Believe Read More »
Senator Obama has called for a Civilian National Security Force. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt2yGzHfy7s] Hmmm. Considering we already have the US military, the state National Guards, and police to protect us, just what would be the role of the C.N.S.F.? At any rate I am confident that it would not have the same role as the civilian army
Civilian National Security Force? Read More »
While we haven’t quite wrapped up the 2008 election yet, something which escapes the notice of much of the media, the New York Post helpfully has a look back from 2012 on Obama’s term in office. I hope it remains a piece of fiction.
Kerry Picket of NewsBusters posted a 1995 video of Barack Obama talking about his book, “Dreams From My Father”. In it Senator Obama says of Reverend Jeremiah, “wonderful man” and “the best of what the black church has to offer“. In the video excerpt Senator Obama gives high praise and further positive commentary to the bigot Reverend
Video: Senator Obama Praising Jeremiah Wright Read More »
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?emb=0&aq=0&v=vIv1PRQWbRk&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fvideo.google.com%2Fvideosearch%3Fq%3Dmodern+major+general+song&oq=modern+majoriurl%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fi3.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FvIv1PRQWbRk%2Fhqdefault.jpg] Something for the weekend. From the Pirates of Penzance by Gilbert and Sullivan. The song a Modern Major General was intended as a lampoon of Queen Victoria’s best general Garnet Wolseley. Wolseley found the song amusing and would often sing it for friends.
Granting that this isn’t exactly a substance-heavy topic, I’m curious about the politically-oriented commentary (i.e. not hard news) blogs and websites that the contributors and commenters of AC visit. My first visits after I wake up on the 5th (and probably the last before I go to the night before) will most likely be:
What Blogs & Sites Will You Visit First on Nov. 5th? Read More »
Last week I linked to a Deal Hudson article on Inside Catholic where he threw out the claim that 61 bishops had thus far issued “clarifications” of Faithful Citizenship in which they emphasized the preeminance of the abortion issue in this upcoming election. Michael Iafrate of Vox Nova responded with a post entitled “Misleading numbers,
In this election there have been a spate of conservatives who have endorsed Obama, including Christopher Buckley, the son of William F. Buckley, founder of National Review. Most of these Obamacons have chastised Senator McCain for choosing Governor Palin as his running mate. I have been struck by how much of the Palin hatred is simple class snobbery.
Class and Classless Read More »
Helen Jones-Kelley, pictured above, supports Senator Obama for President.
The Continuing War on Joe the Plumber Read More »
The latest poll* that came out today, the Fox News Poll, show’s that Catholics are still trending away from Senator Obama and towards Senator McCain. The poll today show’s whiteCatholics are now evenly split, 46-46%, between Senator Obama and Senator McCain. Previously in the Fox News Poll it showed Senator Obama with an 11 point lead among white Catholic
Catholics Continue Trending Toward McCain Read More »
In many ways, I find that I wear the label “conservative” rather well, both by temperament and according to where the political and moral needs of our current time drive me. However one area in which I find myself at odds with much of the conservative movement is in immigration policy, though in this particular
Send Me Your Poor… Read More »
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1fLxy4qQeU&eurl=http://hotair.com/archives/2008/10/27/video-jessen-responds/] Senator, give it up. When you tangle with abortion survivor Gianna Jessen, you truly are fighting “above your paygrade”.
Gianna Jessen Responds to Obama Read More »
We seem to be teetering on the edge, and there is fear that a President Obama will push us over into the long descent into the night. Those of us who value life and cling (bitterly or not) to our religion are, if not terrified, at least horrified at what Obama intends to do in
On These Slippery Slopes Read More »
What if the polls this year are wrong, or more wrong than they tend to be in most presidential election years?
Polls and polls and polls and polls and polls Read More »
Whether the next four years are spend under an Obama administration or a McCain administration, one thing that may be said with certainty is that conservatives are going to have to do some serious thinking over that time in order to come up with an agenda that can bring conservatives back into political success —
The drug problem in the United States, specifically cocaine, is very severe. The U.S. is the number one user of this drug in the entire world. Hollywood continues to glamorize the drug and the American public has an insatiable desire for it. Greed and gluttony play prominent roles in creating this epidemic. Many Americans seeking
Cocaine, Cardinal Ocampo, and the Drug Wars Read More »
Some time ago I wrote a post in which I tackled the claim that Democratic administrations are better at reducing abortion than Republican ones because they reduce poverty more. I had hoped I’d have a chance to do a second round looking specifically at the unexpected pregnancy rate and abortion rate for women in poverty.
Data on the Effect of Legal Restrictions on Abortions Read More »
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l46t_nrySg4&eurl=http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/16200/] With apologies to Dolph Lundgren. Another tune for the Obama kid singers?
Michael Iafrate of Vox Nova condemns the United States for a brutal act of “terrorism” in conducting a strike into Syria against an al Qaeda facilitator. In typical fashion, Michael likewise insinuates that Sarah Palin approves abortion bombings and alleges that, by virtue of the fact that nobody at American Catholic has yet commented on
Did the U.S. Commit "Terrorism" in Syria? Read More »
I’m sure everyone’s response to the title of this post is a variation, more or less, of “well, duh!”. But remember who it’s coming from: the guy who is always insisting on the importance of moderate rhetoric, reasonable discourse, etc. I just want to be clear that I recognize that sometimes, it’s all for nought.
Being Reasonable Doesn't Always Work Read More »
The recent personal attacks and invasive investigation of Joe the Plumbers personal life is a scary thing. Joe the plumber represents the everyday American, striving to better his lot in society. By sheer coincidence Joe the Plumber was able to ask an innocent question to the Democratic candidate for president that seemed to put Senator
Political Intimidation and Persecution Read More »
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iivL4c_3pck&eurl=http://michellemalkin.com/] “If you look at the victories and failures of the civil rights movement and its litigation strategy in the court. I think where it succeeded was to invest formal rights in previously dispossessed people, so that now I would have the right to vote. I would now be able to sit at the lunch
Is Obama a Socialist? You be the Judge. Read More »
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSEaDov37R0&eurl=http://richleonardi.blogspot.com/] Courtesy of Rich Leonardi at Ten Reasons, Catholic Answers’ voter’s guide for serious Catholics.
Serious Catholics Only Read More »
Today — Sunday, October 26, 2008 — is World Priest Day, in which Catholic parishes celebrate and affirm those men who are call to commit themselves to Christ and his Church through the Sacrament of Holy Orders, and an opportunity for parishioners to thank, affirm and convey our love and support for our priests.
Give Thanks To Our Priests … Read More »
Saturday Night Live had a Joe Biden and Jack Murtha parody last night which wasn’t too much wilder than statements they actually have made.
Just Barely a Parody Read More »
See here and here. I’m perfectly fine with that… maybe she’s not the hope for the future of populist conservatism that many believe she is or was, but I’d rather have her in the mix than not. And while she certainly bears some responsibility for some of her poor performances in interviews, an equal amount
Sarah's Going Rogue Read More »
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?aq=f&emb=0&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fvideo.google.com%2Fvideosearch%3Fq%3Dsouthern+soldier+boy&v=TFFHMNBiYvM] Something for the weekend. One of the most haunting songs of the Civil War sung by the endlessly talented Kathy Mattea.
Southern Soldier Boy Read More »
The fact that most of the Press has been completely in the tank for Senator Obama is obvious to everyone except the most fervent Obama supporters. ABC News columnist Michael S. Malone has written a column which discusses how such naked advocacy is a betrayal of the most basic principles of journalism. Update-Joe Biden encounters a
The Fourth Estate Finds True Love Read More »
Doubtless many have seen this already, but if you haven’t, you should. Cardinal Egan of New York published an impassioned plea with a simple message: But you might protest that all of this is too easy. Why, you might inquire, have I not delved into the opinion of philosophers and theologians about the matter? And
Let Those Who Have Eyes See Read More »
A good part of what I was trying to say in my Socialist post the other day concerned the relationship between precision in political rhetoric and its ability to persuade; in short, I think that “toned-down” rhetoric is more likely to convince an interlocutor (let alone an observer) of at least the plausibilty of one’s
Measured Rhetoric Is More Effective Read More »
The government of Argentina plans to nationalize, read steal, the private pensions of Argentinian citizens. Good thing we’re Americans right? That could never happen here, right? Depending on how the election next month goes, maybe it could happen here? Hmmm, that investment strategy of gold in coffee cans buried in the back yard is sounding better
Trust Your 401(k) to Uncle Sam? Read More »
The most accurate poll from the 2004 presidential election, the Investors Business Daily (IDB) poll, shows a phenomenal 20 point switch towards Senator McCain among Catholic voters . In the previous IDB tracking poll Senator Obama once held a commanding 11 point advantage among Catholic voters. In the latest tracking poll Senator McCain now has a nine
A Huge Switch Among Catholics Towards McCain Read More »
The dotCommonweal blog links to a Vox Nova post by Mornings Minion reacting to the clarifications which various bishops have issued to their dioceses on the USCCB document Faithful Citizenship and its application in the coming election. However, there are clearly some serious problems with MM’s analysis, and I think it’s worth looking at them
Let the Bishops Interpret Their Document Read More »
Last week I posted on Father Francis Duffy who served as chaplain of the Fighting 69th in World War I. In World War II there was another Father Duffy, John E. Duffy, also an army chaplain.
The Other Father Duffy Read More »
Election fever is catching everybody these days, even bishops, and since it’s so fashionable to issue clarifying statements about the 30+ page Faithful Citizenship document, Cardinal Justin Rigali (chairman of the USCCB* Committee on Pro-Life Activities) and Bishop William Murphy (chairman of the USCCB Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development) have issued a clarification about
Bishops Call For Both/And Approach to Life Read More »
With each presidential debate it struck me more that both presidential candidates are wrong about taxes: wrong both in that neither man’s proposals are realistically enactable, in that they are not the correct responses to our current circumstances, and that they suggest some basic problems with their political philosophies. McCain wants to provide a tax
Both Candidates Are Wrong on Taxes Read More »
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5wHnzQx81g] “It could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly native American criminal class except Congress.” Mark Twain
Last week InsideCatholic.com editor Deal Hudson complained about the use of the Bishops’ document “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship” to justify a vote for Senator Barack Obama — who as Robert P. George persuasively argued, is “not merely a pro-choice politician, but rather as the most extreme pro-abortion candidate to have ever run on a
Bishop Joseph Martino: "No Social Issue Has Caused The Death Of 50 million People" Read More »
Much has been said of Archbishop Chaput’s statement on pro-choice politics and their standard bearers. Rocco Palmo of Whispers in the Loggia now reports that Bishop Joseph Martino of the Diocese of Scranton, Pennsylvania, made another bold statement for the most defenseless among us.
The Lion of Pennsylvania Read More »
This started out as a reply to Chris’s “We’re All Socialists Now” post, and just kept going, so I decided to make a whole post out of it instead of clogging the comments. There is a huge intellectual dishonesty in all of politics, in which it is never so important to simply call a spade
Calling a Spade an Earth-Destroying Instrument of Destruction Read More »