What Happens When A Politician Starts To Believe His Own Hype
...and a few other thoughts on the ObaMessiah

This is pretty interesting. Here's some of the article from the Washington Post; (Emphasis mine) Obama was waxing lyrical about last week's trip to Europe, when he concluded, according to the meeting attendee, "this is the moment, as Nancy [Pelosi] noted, that the world is waiting for."

The 200,000 souls who thronged to his speech in Berlin came not just for him, he told the enthralled audience of congressional representatives. "I have become a symbol of the possibility of America returning to our best traditions," he said, according to the source.Speaking of his trip to Berlin, allow me to say that there's just something fundamentally disturbing about 200,000 Germans chanting one man's name over and over again.

But from what I hear, they weren't all Germans. There're rumblings that over half the crowd repeatedly kept falling to the ground on little rugs and faced towards Saudi Arabia. But that's just what I heard.

One other observation - I heard The ObaMessiah just yesterday call again for higher taxes on evil oil companies. As I've posted in the past; Oil companies, soap companies, brick companies, turd polish companies... hell, all of 'em.... if they get hit by a government tax increase, they just smile and say "OK!!", then they pass the tax increase onto the consumers. So in essence, the government hasn't done a damn thing except double the amount of taxes on gasoline that WE PAY!

Blistering
Tom Roeser drops a truth nuke
Helmet tip to PreVat2

It's not often that I post lengthy articles... this is one of those exceptions. This is a freakin' bombshell. Do yourself a favor and read this. (Emphasis mine) Rockford Diocese Drops Mundelein for Seminarians—Guess Why?...Meanwhile Kicanas, Permissive ex-Rector of Mundelein Will Be the Next Head of the USCCB

Mundelein seminary. Same old sex scandals continue but don't hold your breath until the supine media cover them.

Rockford.

The Rockford, Illinois diocese will not send seminarians to St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein for training. Two upperclassmen propositioned a Rockford youth for homosexual favors. So much for the change that has been promised in archdiocesan public relations pronouncements.

Thus the Rockford diocese has decided it is finished with Mundelein. Thus you have the archdiocese of Chicago where layman Chancellor Jimmy Lago (believe it or not that’s his baptismal name, not to be confused with his brother Timmy, his baptismal name as well)…Jimmy the best precinct captain onetime Democratic Cook county chairman now under indictment Ed Vrdolyak ever had… has been put in charge of combating sexual abuse and the same-old, same-old is happening. Of course the supine Chicago “religious” press is asleep at the switch. The “Tribune’s” religion correspondent, one Manya Brachear, was sold a bill of goods by Lago who convinced her to write he is the guardian-at-the-gate implying the Cardinal archbishop is lax. She writes a blog which calls herself the “Seeker.” She is so naively liberal she swallowed the bait, hook and all, which Jimmy dangled before her.

Furthermore, don’t expect the remainder of the Chicago media to inquire. And if it does and goes to the top office in the archdiocese, it will get the regular parsing that goes with every question born of the view that with two doctorates all distinctions can be blurred with requisite sophistry. An authenticist bishop in another diocese told me that the parser should be teaching in a university where administrative expertise is not required. As far as controlling events in this archdiocese, the bishop said, “the parser can’t run a two-car funeral.”

Kicanas.

The man who ran St. Mary of the Lake Seminary, Mundelein when it was a hot-house of homosexual excess…and who was quoted in the “Sun-Times” as saying he does not regret ordaining Fr. Dan McCormack, who is now serving time for child abuse…is second in command of the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. He is Gerald Kicanas, now bishop of Tucson, having been promoted from Mundelein (as were all others who ran the dissolute institution) to auxiliary bishop of Chicago and then to Tucson. In Tucson, Kicanas led Tucson through the filing of Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization to the point where he ponied up $22 million in settlement for victims of priest child abuse.

Last month Kicanas received an award name for…who else?.. the late Joseph Cardinal Bernardin whose departure from this world was serenaded by the Gay Men’s Chorus at Mass…for “efforts in handling the sexual abuse both locally and nationally.” The Common Ground initiative formed by Bernardin which selects recipients for the honor described Kicanas as “a champion of dialogue on contentious issues.” Kicanas received the award at Catholic University in Washington, D. C. where Tim Russert, moderator of “Meet the Press” was supposed to be the keynote speaker at the event. Russert was unavoidably detained by death which prompted a national wailing and a funeral Mass celebrated by- (who else?) Theodore Cardinal McCarrick (ret.). Russert in his earlier incarnation as Democratic strategist convinced both Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Senator from New York and Mario Cuomo, governor of New York, to support pro-abortion initiatives. Because he couldn’t attend the Kicanas tribute, Russert was lionized in death by the group.

Kicanas is slated to become the next president of the U. S. Catholic Conference of Bishops. If there is any justice at all, his automatic election should be greeted with grassroots opposition…not that it will make any difference with an organization that meets in a marble palace and has a huge roundtable with every bishop fortified with microphone based on the UN Security Council. The archbishop of Chicago is president of the USCCB who was elected on the same ticket as the former Mundelein rector Kicanas.

The Hopiate Of The Masses
Prepare to laugh your butt off

Here's some of the coloumn by John Kass of the Chicago Tribune; Hopium helps you forget several unpleasant facts

Hi, my name is John. I'm a hopium addict. It's true. Yes, I'm a journalist. And that led to the harder stuff. Then one day, Barack phoned the Tribune and called me "bro."

Now, I'm addicted to hopium.

So if you're addicted to hopium, or you're worried that your loved ones might fall prey to its power, then please click on this link for the hard left's Moveon.org commercial for Barack Obama

"I never thought it could happen to me," says a shaggy blond-haired surfer dude in the ad, a guy who should have carried a bong. "I've been living with it for a while now," says a young woman, talking as if she'd contracted a sexually transmitted disease.

That's how they discuss hopium. Like a disease. But they have nothing to be guilty about. It's not some disease that cranky old Republicans can't get because they stopped having sex.

It's hopium.

Once you see it, you won't be the only one addicted to hope. You'll all become addicted—you, your family and friends, even your pets, except for various crustaceans in your aquarium, which are immune. But you and yours are not immune. You'll all become hope-heads, together.

It's America's most powerful drug. Once on hopium, you won't care if Iran has nukes or if taxes are raised during a recession or whether Obama keeps flipping and flopping on everything from foreign wiretaps to withdrawing troops from Iraq.

Who cares? Relax. Hopium is your friend.

"This is your brain," says a woman in the Obama ad holding a hard-boiled egg. She's an actress who once killed sexy vampires on TV. "This is your brain on hope!" says an angry fellow sitting next to her, another actor, who played some random guy on "Boy Meets World."

He's still angry, holding a newly hatched chicken. It looks like a Peep, only alive and fluffy. Alive. It's alive. Hope is alive. "Hope. It could happen to you," says the narrator with a deep voice.

Then the screen is filled with Obama '08 and you realize it's a campaign commercial for Obama and you start to cry, like when you cry at Kodak commercials, or life insurance spots. We Americans are so emotional these days.

Obama hopium was so powerful, that that first rush of it, well, it sent a tingle up my leg. Or down my leg. Then up. So now, when I read newspaper stories about Obama's political history, like a recent gooey, puffy profile in the Washington Post and it didn't mention Obama as a willing member of Chicago's Daley machine, well, I didn't get angry.

Not anymore. Why? Because I'm a hope-head.

Now, I don't get upset when foreign and national journalists fail to mention Tony Rezko, or the Daley boys, or how the Chicago machine plans to staff the Department of Justice, and the new Department of Homeland Casinos.

Who cares? I'm numb with hopium.

"I mean, this could happen to anybody," says a man in the ad. "Anybody," says a doctor in scrubs. "I'm sorry, Mom, I'm sorry," cries the stoned surfer dude.

For eight years—while the Republicans ran things—they thought hope was gone. Now, they think it's back.

I'm not the only one attending Hope-Heads Anonymous. Millions of us every day—including those 200,000 hope-head Europeans at the Obama rally in Berlin—are caught in its clutches.

One colleague whose blood is clear of hopium watched the Moveon.org ad, and said she wasn't hopeful. Rather, she was disturbed.

"The ad plays on irony, and at the same time, it supports the Obama propaganda about hope," she said. "How is that done? Irony on one hand, while driving the Obama message about hope. It's more than funny."

What is it, then?

"I don't know," she said. "I'm waiting for you to tell me."

I forgot. But then, they don't teach civics in schools anymore, so young people targeted by the Moveon.org ad can't tell me either.

What is this so-called "civics," anyway? Is it a bone near the pelvis? An economy car? Or, is it an Indonesian cat that eats coffee beans from the tree?

Does it matter, really? Not if you're on hopium.

The Eyes Have It
This is what happens when you drink the Kool-Aid





Be afraid... be very afraid.

Is Is Illegal Immigration A Bad Thing?
I'm getting mixed signals, here.

First, here's some of an article from the USCCB's version of Pravda; (Emphasis mine) Cardinals say immigration at 'dark moment' in US but call for hope

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Two Catholic cardinals called the current U.S. immigration situation "a terrible crisis" and "a dark moment in our nation's history" in remarks they made July 28 at the opening Mass and plenary session of the 2008 National Migration Conference.

Both Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, retired archbishop of Washington, and Cardinal Roger M. Mahony of Los Angeles urged participants to hold on to hope in their work with immigrants for local and national church agencies.

Much of the agenda, built around the theme "Renewing Hope, Seeking Justice," reflected the struggles faced by those who work with immigrants.

Workshops were scheduled on topics such as "How to respond to federal raids," "Identifying and supporting survivors of traumatic events," (anything like the 'traumatic event' posted below?) "A Catholic response to human trafficking" and "Parenting challenges from an African immigrant perspective."

Another two dozen workshop sessions dealt with legal issues including "Filing waivers of inadmissibility" and "Immigration law and crimes"; strategies for fundraising; and getting out the church's message on immigration* (here's the REAL Church Teaching).And then we have this from some of the piece done on Spero News; (Emphasis mine) Protecting illegal aliens at US citizens' expense

Members of the Mara Salvatrucha criminal gang allegedly murdered a San Francisco father and two sons. The perps benefited from San Francisco's liberal attitude towards illegal migrants.

It was a Sunday afternoon last June and Anthony Bologna and his sons Michael and Matthew were almost home from their family picnic. Anthony, driving the family car, briefly blocked another car from completing a left turn down a narrow San Francisco street. Angered by this momentary delay in his trip, according to police reports, Edwin Ramos got out of the car and opened fire on the Bologna’s car with an AK-47, shooting all three men. Tony Bologna, 48, and his son Michael, 20, died at the scene, and Matthew, 16, died a few days later in the hospital.

Police arrested Ramos a short time later, believing he was the gunman, although two other men were seen in the car with him. Ramos is an El Salvador native and a reputed member of the notorious gang known as MS-13, one of hundreds or thousands of illegal aliens in San Francisco who have benefited from the city's long-standing practice of protecting illegal immigrant juveniles who have committed felonies from possible deportation, according to The San Francisco Chronicle.

Now charged with three murders, the 21 year-old Ramos was previously found guilty of two felonies as a juvenile: attempting to rob a pregnant woman, and as part of a gang-related assault on a city bus passenger. By all accounts, Ramos is a vicious animal who has no business being in the United States, and no business being in San Francisco.
Officials with the city's Juvenile Probation Department failed to alert federal immigration authorities following both of the felony convictions because it was the agency's policy not to consider immigration status when deciding how to deal with an offender. Had city officials investigated, they would have found that Ramos lacked legal status to remain in the United States, and should be deported. Three members of the Bologna family would likely be alive today if that had happened.But why pay attention to the law, either Church or secular? Our own leaders don't.

In the meantime, real American heroes, Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, remain in solitary confinement for protecting our country.

*2241 The more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and the means of livelihood which he cannot find in his country of origin. Public authorities should see to it that the natural right is respected that places a guest under the protection of those who receive him.

Political authorities, for the sake of the common good for which they are responsible, may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions, especially with regard to the immigrants' duties toward their country of adoption. Immigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to obey its laws and to assist in carrying civic burdens.

Ten Things I'd Like to See in Action: A Meme
I've been tagged by the Ignorant Redneck 1. A real life smoting. Lightning, smoke, zapped into ashes... all that happy shit.

2. The coaching genius of Charlie Weis. Haven't seen any yet.

3. GI Joe. All that standing around. He's overrated.

4. US Immigration Law. Use it or lose it. Oops... we've lost.

5. A film trilogy of Red Storm Rising.

6. A Classic Rock station that doesn't play any Fleetwood Mac. Or even one with more than just 100 songs on it's playlist.

7. The Catholicism of one Roger Cardinal Mahony. Much like the Loch Ness Monster, we've all heard of it, but never seen it.

8. A new Mel Gibson movie in a live language. Et tu, Vir Spelincae?

9. A Republican running for President.

10. A Catholic Re-Awakening.I tag (chosen at random) the following:

Kit Brookside from http://kitbrookside.blogspot.com/
Suzy Rice from http://www.suzyrice.com/BIRD/
Vir Simplex from http://american-rumpo.blogspot.com/
Joe of St Therese from http://truthbloggedhere.blogspot.com/

Speaking Of The Spirit Of Vatican II
This is what happens when "Priests" become "Presiders"

Helmet tip to The Remnant.

Pastoral Planning Must Consider Priest Personnel
Better stewardship of resources – human, financial and spiritual – and a more effective practice of the parish mission are the primary goals of the pastoral planning process.

Also, pastoral planning must consider the declining number of priests available for active service.

In 1966, the Diocese had 476 priests in active service, the most in its history. By 2001, that number had fallen to 241. Today, there are fewer than 190 priests available for active service in the 11-county Diocese.

The Diocese projects that the number of active priests will fall even more – to 147 or fewer – by 2012.A drop of greater than two thirds. In this day and age of horizontal vice vertical worship, I can't help but wonder if this is an example of the so-called Springtime of The Church, or the Abomination of Desolation?

It Looks As If There's Something To What Bishop Willaimson Said
Amazing the way the "Catholic" Bishops of England & Wales consistently tell the Pope to go to hell

As my co-conspirator, PreVat2 pointed out in the posting just previous to this one, Bishop Williamson, SSPX, stated that one of the bitter fruits of the spirit of Vatican II was
Collegiality – which has transformed the Pope into a mirror of the Archbishop of Canterbury – basically a symbolic figurehead who is not obeyed even by his own Bishops, never mind the SSPX!Speaking on behalf of The Holy Father, didn't Cardinal Alfonso López Trujillo, President of the Pontifical Council for the Family, say that allowing homosexuals to adopt was tantamount to violence upon the children? Yep... he sure did. Just don't tell that to the Bishops of England and Wales.

Here's some of the article from The Catholic News Agency; (Emphasis mine)
Catholic adoption agency’s new policy will allow homosexuals to adopt

London, Jul 27, 2008 / 05:57 pm (CNA).- The largest Catholic adoption agency in England and Wales has decided to implement an adoption policy that does not rule out same-sex couples in the face of new laws that forbid such screening. The change in its adoption policy was made with the full support of the bishops who oversee the agency.

The decision, made by the Catholic Children’s Society of Arundel and Brighton, Portsmouth and Southwark (A&BSP) means the society will not turn away any homosexual couples who present themselves as potential adopters.

Terry Connor, chief executive of the society, explained to The Universe that any changes would not start until January and were a direct result of the recent Sexual Orientation Regulations which enforced “rights” for same sex couples who wish to adopt.

The move will undoubtedly be seen as controversial in some quarters. In January 2007, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor wrote to the-then Prime Minister Tony Blair suggesting that Catholic adoption agencies in England and Wales would be forced to close down if they were not allowed to opt out of new gay rights laws, which he said contradicted Catholic teaching.

The cardinal said forcing people to act against their consciences would mean discrimination on the grounds of belief, adding that it would be an "unnecessary tragedy" if Catholic agencies were forced to close.

In the cardinal's Westminster archdiocese, the Catholic Children's Society has opted to mount a legal challenge to the regulations by amending its constitution. But A&BSP, which prepares between 40-50 potential adoptive parents a year, has instead decided to comply with them.

In a letter sent to the society's supporters by Mr. Connor, he suggested that such a course offered the "only transparent, straightforward and guaranteed way of preserving our full range of much needed services for some of the most vulnerable children in the country."

His letter added that the bishops concerned - together with trustees, management and staff - had all agreed that, in the circumstances, it was the most reasonable and responsible course of action for the greater good.

Mr. Connor also stated clearly that that eligibility to apply to adopt a child was only the first step on the road to adoption.

"I suspect if a same-sex couple arrives at any of the agencies just to test out the system, they will not get very far," he said this week. “We do not know whether we will actually be asked to consider same sex couples for the placing of children because, statistically, very few same sex couples go for adoption anyway.”

"We have to give an interview to same sex couples asking to be considered for adoption. But we are not anticipating we are going to get lots of same sex couples. It is much more likely that they will go to their local authority because it is the local authority which makes decisions about matching children with approved adopters, not the society.”Mr. Connor certainly does place a lot of stock in hoping that queers won't show up and try to adopt. I for one, certainly do get the impression that Connor's reasoning is pretty much along the lines of an Obama for President bumper sticker.

And that's a helluva way to run a "Catholic" adoption agency.

Interview with Bishop Williamson, SSPX

The following is a response to an interview with Bishop Williamson, SSPX, found on Fr. Z's blog site, "What Does the Prayer Really Say?" Very interesting observation by Matt Robinson. Needless to say, I have great respect for the SSPX, and for what they have done for Tradition these past 38 years.
________________________________________________________
Williamson is wrong with regard to his degree of angst, but not with regard to his diagnosis of the substantial problem.

By “Vatican II”, he is not being vague. He means precisely:

1. Collegiality – which has transformed the Pope into a mirrorof the Archbishop of Canterbury – basically a symbolic figureheadwho is not obeyed even by his own Bishops, nevermind the SSPX!This policy is a direct result of Vatican II’s Lumen Gentium.A practial denial of authority on the part of the Pope, whichis followed in example by Bishops, and then by priests. Like every revolution, we are now ruled by faceless Councils with no individualtaking responsibility for the mess.

Read John XXIII’s opening address to the Council, this model for the Church is there…it’s all laid out there.

“Medicine of mercy” rather than correcting error – a virtual abdication of papal and conciliar responsibility in most respects.

2. Ecumenism – created a politically correct, anemic faith indicoeses worldwide. This lead to efforts to consult protestants on how to “exercise the papacy” vis a vis Unitatis Redintegratio, and the endless streams of apologies to non-Catholics for what prior Popes did ect. Ecumenism continues to cause massive confusion concerning soteroliogy and a “guilt complex” that Pius XII lamented would come via the modernists. On the realistic level, it was a complete waste of time, due to the RCC focusing on the fastest dying and most culturally irrelevant (not to mention heretical) liberal protestant dinosaurs.

Ecumenism was never defined in the council, alluding to another chief problem with Vatican II: its deliberately vagueconcepts and policies. However the Decree on Ecumenism wasCLEAR in pointing out that ecumenism has nothing to do withEvangelism (another myth propogated by many people of good willbut please read the council).

3. Aggiornamento “updating”: like “Hope and Change” it soundsnice, but is a challenge to implement. This results in the RCC, especially in its liturgy being stuck forever somewhere around 1975. Coupled with an outlook on the world which is hopelessly stuck in the naive optimism of the early 1960’s. (Pre Tet, Pre 1968, Pre Woodstock, Pre-Watergate, Pre- Roe Vs Wade )- basically hopelessly incapable of dealing or confronting the REAL modern world, which is anything but friendly to the faith.

4. Religious Liberty. Benedict in his December 2005 address on theCouncil stated that by secularizing the State (i.e. no roomfor Christ in the State) we are getting back to the Gospel.He is condemning 1,750 years of Catholic history. The practicalresult today is 57 Muslim countries who dominate the UN and 0 Catholic ones. We had many only 40 years ago.

Another result within society is a dictatorship of relativism in public life: because the modern secular state is no a friend of the Church, nor does it help souls get to heaven. The Kennedy Compromise repeated 1000 times without any politician being reprimanded.

A third result: with the Vatican forcibly laicized many nations in the 1970’s and 1980’s, it was nolonger illegal for every protestant sect and cult to prostheletize Catholics. Practically speaking, this was a boon for protestant missionaries who literally flocked to Latin America to completely undermine the Catholic faith. Latin America today is a patchwork of charismatic sects and cults directly thanks to this policy of the state not speaking on matters of faith nor restraining error.

An additional problem is that the secular state is now the GOAL! We are not to strive for a truly Catholic society or Catholic lawmakers, because this violates Nostrae Aetate! Unbelievable. True lawmakers must make their law according to Christ the King, (this includes providing special provision for the True Faith) yet this is impossible when Rome has abandoned the Social Kingship of Christ.

5. Guadium et Spes (written mostly by Hans Kung, need I say more??)This resulted in a mass exodus of monks from monasteries worldwide, as they were forcibly brought before psychologists. Nuns doing yoga, abandoning their communities and historic charters in order to “commune” with the modern world and “understand perfectly modern man”...again it’s all here. If you do nothing else, please go to the Vatican website and read it folks. Please educate yourselves!

6. Sacrosanctam Concilium – bascially followed the “camel’s nose under the tent approach” to experimentation, giving individual Bishops carte blanche authoirity to mess about with the sacred. Total chaos.
Clear enough?

Many problems in the modern world are a DIRECT result of Vatican II and its practical effect of causing the Church to “auto-destruct”, using Paul VI own words of assessment.

If you don’t believe me, look around your parish and tell me what the demographic spread is? And where do you think it will be in another 5-20 years?

If you don’t want to be stuck in the past, why are we then stuck with a Council 45 years in the past and hopelessly outdated in its assessment and approach on every level?
Comment by Matt Robinson — 27 July 2008

Is That What They Mean By "Spiritual Exercises"?
Theological road work

Yet again, my parish priest gave a sermon that made me think to myself "sheesh... I've really been screwin' up a lot lately. I gotta straighten up and fly right".

Maybe it's just because I'm weird, but my thoughts usually string together with no logical pattern. Here's what I thought about after Mass (with Father's sermon still fresh on my mind);

Thought One - "I have to put greater effort to my spiritual exercises."

Thought Two - "I remember back in my Marine Corps days, I use to exerciser a lot".

Thought Three - "I wish I was in shape to lift weights like I use to".

Thought Four - "Sometimes, picking up that Rosary is heavier than any weight I use to bench, curl or dead-lift".

Thought Five - "But if I don't, my soul will become weak, out of shape and easily beaten."

Thought Six - "OK, time to hit the beads. And everything will turn out alright. After all, I've got The Holy Mother spotting me."

RepubliCrats Vs. DemoCans
Programs, here! Ya can't tell the players apart without a program!

Did I mention that we have essentially a couple of the same species of political beast running for President this year? If there's any doubt, just look to a couple of names that are being floated around for Veep -

The alleged Republican, Senator John McCain, is considering life-long Democrat (current quasi-independent) Senator Joe Lieberman.

It's rumored that supposed Democrat, Senator Barack Obama, has his eye on one of the current Republican Senators from Nebraska, Chuck Hagel.

Sheesh, at least when Reagan was running against Carter, there wasn't any question as to who the Republican or Democrat was.

Well, Swing Me From An Ineffable Gibbet!
As Presider Fishperson frantically searches for his dictionary (or is it correctly called a "gynotionary?)

Here's some from the Catholic World News; (Emphasis and comments mine.) Vatican approves new English translation for Mass

Vatican, Jul. 25, 2008 (CWNews.com) - The Vatican has given formal approval to a new English translation of the central prayers of the Mass for use in the United States.

In a June 23 letter of Bishop Arthur Serratelli, the chairman of the US bishops' liturgy committee, the Congregation for Divine Worship announces its recognitio for the translation, which had already won the approval of the US bishops' conference, despite strong protests from some liberal prelates. (And just who might these "liberal prelates" be... and why are they pouting?)

The new translation adheres more closely to the Latin of the Roman Missal. Since the 2001 publication of Liturgiam Authenticam, the instruction on the proper translation of liturgical texts, the Vatican has pressed for more faithful translations of the official Latin texts. (How Catholic.)

Alluding gently to the fierce debates over English-language liturgical translations in the past decade, the Congregation for Divine Worship reports "no little satisfaction in arriving at this juncture." The letter from the Vatican is signed by Cardinal Francis Arinze (bio - news) and Archbishop Albert Malcom Ranjith, the prefect and secretary, respectively, of the Congregation. (Ahhh... I see bigger things in the future of Abp Ranjith!)

The Vatican's binding approval covers only a portion of the entire Roman Missal. The entire process of translating the Roman Missal is expected to take at least until 2010. However, the prayers given the Vatican recognitio are the most common texts for the Order of the Mass. (Count on a barrage of monkey-wrenches being thrown by the liberals as they eagerly await the death of Pope Benedict.)

The Vatican approval comes just after the US bishops' conference voted against approval of another installment in the series of translations that will be required to complete the overall project.

The new translation is not to be used immediately, the Vatican letter indicates. Instead the US bishops are directed to begin "pastoral preparation" for the changes in the language of the Mass. During this same period, the Congregation for Divine Worship notes, some musical settings for the text could be prepared. (Monkey-wrench alert!! Can anyone lend their sabots to Fishperson and Friends?)

Among the noteworthy changes that Catholics will notice when the new translation goes into effect are:

At the Consecration, the priest will refer to Christ's blood which is "poured out for you and for many"-- an accurate translation of pro multis-- rather than "for all" in the current translation. (Gee... just like Jesus said, huh?)

In the Nicene Creed the opening word, Credo, will be correctly translated as "I believe" rather than "we believe."

When the priest says, "The Lord be with you," the faithful respond, "And with your spirit," rather than simply, "And also with you."

In the Eucharistic prayer, references to the Church will use the pronouns "she" and "her" rather than "it."

In the Agnus Dei, the text cites the "Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world," rather than using the singular word "sin."

In the preferred form of the penitential rite, the faithful will acknowledge that they have sinned "through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault."

Throughout the translation of the Offertory and Eucharistic Prayer, the traditional phrases of supplication are restored, and the Church is identified as "holy"-- in each case, matching the Latin original of the Roman Missal. (Isn't all this the initial and true intent of V2?)

Umm... So Much, Umm... For Being The, Umm... Smartest Guy In, Umm... The Room
Umm...

I recently read somewhere (I forget) that when The Obamanation delivered an 11 minute speech, he said "umm" 141 times. Keep in mind this was a pre-written speech that he had the chance to practice.

Today, the House Sergeant Major and I were watching a bit of the Sarkozy-Obama press conference in Paris. Not too deep into the luvfest, the Boss looked to me and said "you know what really irritates me about Obama? His non-stop 'umms'. He must say 'umm' once every 10 seconds!"

So I decided to time one of his responses to a think on your feet question that one of the reporters threw his way (keep in mind, it was a softball of a question, something along the lines of "do you like soft and cuddly kitty cats?"). In the span of 3 minutes and 12 seconds, he said "umm" 47 times.

Now I have to correct my wife. Not once every 10 seconds, once every 4.08 seconds.

Umm...

Now THIS Is Funny!
I just wish I'd have thought of it first
An extra large helemt tip to The German-Egyptian

Gerard Baker of The Times (of London) absolutely nails it.
He ventured forth to bring light to the world
The anointed one's pilgrimage to the Holy Land is a miracle in action - and a blessing to all his faithful followers

And it came to pass, in the eighth year of the reign of the evil Bush the Younger (The Ignorant), when the whole land from the Arabian desert to the shores of the Great Lakes had been laid barren, that a Child appeared in the wilderness.

The Child was blessed in looks and intellect. Scion of a simple family, offspring of a miraculous union, grandson of a typical white person and an African peasant. And yea, as he grew, the Child walked in the path of righteousness, with only the occasional detour into the odd weed and a little blow.

When he was twelve years old, they found him in the temple in the City of Chicago, arguing the finer points of community organisation with the Prophet Jeremiah and the Elders. And the Elders were astonished at what they heard and said among themselves: “Verily, who is this Child that he opens our hearts and minds to the audacity of hope?”

In the great Battles of Caucus and Primary he smote the conniving Hillary, wife of the deposed King Bill the Priapic and their barbarian hordes of Working Class Whites.

And so it was, in the fullness of time, before the harvest month of the appointed year, the Child ventured forth - for the first time - to bring the light unto all the world.

He travelled fleet of foot and light of camel, with a small retinue that consisted only of his loyal disciples from the tribe of the Media. He ventured first to the land of the Hindu Kush, where the Taleban had harboured the viper of al-Qaeda in their bosom, raining terror on all the world.

And the Child spake and the tribes of Nato immediately loosed the Caveats that had previously bound them. And in the great battle that ensued the forces of the light were triumphant. For as long as the Child stood with his arms raised aloft, the enemy suffered great blows and the threat of terror was no more.

From there he went forth to Mesopotamia where he was received by the great ruler al-Maliki, and al-Maliki spake unto him and blessed his Sixteen Month Troop Withdrawal Plan even as the imperial warrior Petraeus tried to destroy it.

And lo, in Mesopotamia, a miracle occurred. Even though the Great Surge of Armour that the evil Bush had ordered had been a terrible mistake, a waste of vital military resources and doomed to end in disaster, the Child's very presence suddenly brought forth a great victory for the forces of the light.

And the Persians, who saw all this and were greatly fearful, longed to speak with the Child and saw that the Child was the bringer of peace. At the mention of his name they quickly laid aside their intrigues and beat their uranium swords into civil nuclear energy ploughshares.

From there the Child went up to the city of Jerusalem, and entered through the gate seated on an ass. The crowds of network anchors who had followed him from afar cheered “Hosanna” and waved great palm fronds and strewed them at his feet.

In Jerusalem and in surrounding Palestine, the Child spake to the Hebrews and the Arabs, as the Scripture had foretold. And in an instant, the lion lay down with the lamb, and the Israelites and Ishmaelites ended their long enmity and lived for ever after in peace.

As word spread throughout the land about the Child's wondrous works, peoples from all over flocked to hear him; Hittites and Abbasids; Obamacons and McCainiacs; Cameroonians and Blairites.

And they told of strange and wondrous things that greeted the news of the Child's journey. Around the world, global temperatures began to decline, and the ocean levels fell and the great warming was over.

The Great Prophet Algore of Nobel and Oscar, who many had believed was the anointed one, smiled and told his followers that the Child was the one generations had been waiting for.

And there were other wonderful signs. In the city of the Street at the Wall, spreads on interbank interest rates dropped like manna from Heaven and rates on credit default swaps fell to the ground as dead birds from the almond tree, and the people who had lived in foreclosure were able to borrow again.

Black gold gushed from the ground at prices well below $140 per barrel. In hospitals across the land the sick were cured even though they were uninsured. And all because the Child had pronounced it.

And this is the testimony of one who speaks the truth and bears witness to the truth so that you might believe. And he knows it is the truth for he saw it all on CNN and the BBC and in the pages of The New York Times.

Then the Child ventured forth from Israel and Palestine and stepped onto the shores of the Old Continent. In the land of Queen Angela of Merkel, vast multitudes gathered to hear his voice, and he preached to them at length.

But when he had finished speaking his disciples told him the crowd was hungry, for they had had nothing to eat all the hours they had waited for him.

And so the Child told his disciples to fetch some food but all they had was five loaves and a couple of frankfurters. So he took the bread and the frankfurters and blessed them and told his disciples to feed the multitudes. And when all had eaten their fill, the scraps filled twelve baskets.

Thence he travelled west to Mount Sarkozy. Even the beauteous Princess Carla of the tribe of the Bruni was struck by awe and she was great in love with the Child, but he was tempted not.

On the Seventh Day he walked across the Channel of the Angles to the ancient land of the hooligans. There he was welcomed with open arms by the once great prophet Blair and his successor, Gordon the Leper, and his successor, David the Golden One.

And suddenly, with the men appeared the archangel Gabriel and the whole host of the heavenly choir, ranks of cherubim and seraphim, all praising God and singing: “Yes, We Can.”

“Other Spiritualities”
Political correctness at Mass!

I’m sorry, I was in high school when Vatican 2 started and already in college before the modernists highjacked the intent of the Council and began their 40 years of nonsense and novelties on the road toward Protestantism. Thanks to the sacrifice of my parents (for which I’ll forever be grateful), I had the advantage of 12 years of Catholic school, taught by religious Sisters and Brothers who were still loyal to Rome and 2000 years of Catholic doctrine. They believed and I was taught the Catholic Church is the One True Church instituted by Christ to lead all men to His Father.

Back then, if you went to a wedding or funeral where it was likely some non-Catholics would be in attendance, the priest didn’t make any special modifications or accommodations for the non-believing guests. They could follow along and stand, sit, and kneel with the rest of us, or they could just sit there and let everyone know they were non-Catholics (prompting us to prayer for their salvation).

Why is this all relevant? I attended a funeral recently and, given the family’s connections, it was obvious the large number of people in attendance were not all going to be Catholic. So what did the priest do?

Did he use this opportunity to show our fallen brethren or other heathens the majesty and awe of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass? No chance of that – it was a plain ol’ Ordinary Form. (No surprise, this priest is a definite child of Vat2.)

Did he use the chance to catechize the congregation about Catholic beliefs of death and resurrection, the necessity of being purged of the stain of our sins before entering the Divine Presence, oreven final judgment? Well, partially. He did talk about redemption and the resurrection of the body, but then he canonized the deceased by telling everyone the person was now in heaven!

Worse yet, not once, not twice, but three times during the funeral Mass, the priest included those “of other religions or spiritualities” when addressing the congregation. Excuse me! Other spiritualities!! What? The wiccans, tree worshippers, voodoo adherents, and other pagans are now given recognized status at a Catholic Mass?! Lord help us!

Better the priest should have taken holy water and blessed salt and conducted a spiritual cleansing of the church after the service to drive out whatever evil spirits they brought in.

The Amazing Obamantini!
Prestidigitator extraordinaire

He pulls facts out of thin air... makes evidence of his inexperience vanish!!

Check out this first rate bit of common sense from Don Surber of the Daily Mail (London);
Let’s fact check Obama
Beginning with getting wrong the bio of his father, Barack Obama Sr.

Democratic Sen. Barack Obama Jr. gave a speech in Berlin tonight and let me count the factual errors.

The first factual error to leap out was this:


At the height of the Cold War, my father decided, like so many others in the forgotten corners of the world, that his yearning - his dream - required the freedom and opportunity promised by the West. And so he wrote letter after letter to universities all across America until somebody, somewhere answered his prayer for a better life.
Um no. Not hardly.

His father’s education had nothing to do with the Cold War, but everything to do with post-colonial African politics.

Wikipedia said:


Due to a program offering Western educational opportunities to outstanding Kenyan students that was organized by nationalist leader Tom Mboya, Obama Sr. was awarded a scholarship in economics, and at the age of 23 he enrolled at the University of Hawaii. He left behind a pregnant Kezia and their infant son.
I know what it is like to grow up without a father. I was 2 when my parents divorced and 47 before I met my father, Don Surber Sr.

So it is understandable that Democratic Sen. Barack Obama Jr. might not know much about his father. But certainly the senator has heard of Wikipedia.

Next up was the very next paragraph:


That is why I’m here. And you are here because you too know that yearning. This city, of all cities, knows the dream of freedom. And you know that the only reason we stand here tonight is because men and women from both of our nations came together to work, and struggle, and sacrifice for that better life.
No, America and Germany hooked up not because of freedom, but rather a little thing called World War II. Germany tried to take over Europe. We helped stop the Germans and conquered Germany.

Berlin was pretty much rubble.

Next up:


The people of Berlin refused to give up. And on one fall day, hundreds of thousands of Berliners came here, to the Tiergarten, and heard the city’s mayor implore the world not to give up on freedom.
He has that one bass ackward. The mayor of Berlin did not make this call but rather Gen. Lucius Clay, who told the mayor: “I may be the craziest man in the world, but I am going to try the experiment of feeding this city by air.”

Next up:


The terrorists of September 11th plotted in Hamburg and trained in Kandahar and Karachi before killing thousands from all over the globe on American soil.
While there were a few foreigners among the 3,000 people who were murdered on 9/11, most of the victims were Americans. He left out the part where the hijackers were, like his father, foreign students in the USA. They trained in Florida as well.

Next up:


The poverty and violence in Somalia breeds the terror of tomorrow.

15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudis. None were poor kids from Somalia. Osama bin Laden is the son of a wealthy Saudi contractor.

Next up:


The walls between old allies on either side of the Atlantic cannot stand. The walls between the countries with the most and those with the least cannot stand. The walls between races and tribes; natives and immigrants; Christian and Muslim and Jew cannot stand. These now are the walls we must tear down.

What walls? France has replaced the aider and abetter of Hussein, Jacques Chirac, with L’Americain, Nikolas Sarkozy. For the first time, NATO is engaged in a mission outside of Europe as NATO fights in Afganistan. Obama’s worldview is stuck in 2002.

Next up:


That is why America cannot turn inward. That is why Europe cannot turn inward. America has no better partner than Europe. Now is the time to build new bridges across the globe as strong as the one that bound us across the Atlantic.

Again, factually in error and logically flawed. Bridges have been repaired and strengthened. France is thinking of returning to NATO militarily for the first time in 40+ years.

In fact, it is Obama who wants the USA to curl up in a ball like an armadillo and concentrate on throwing billions — if not trillions — on social welfare programs that repeatedly fail. Poverty in Somalia is last on the Obaman agenda.

Next up:


This is the moment when we must renew the goal of a world without nuclear weapons. The two superpowers that faced each other across the wall of this city came too close too often to destroying all we have built and all that we love.

The Cuban missile crisis was too close. But it happened once. Not often. The Berlin Wall’s construction came because the Soviets judged correctly that a novice president was weak on foreign policy. This led to the Cuban confrontation as Kennedy finally stood up.

By the way, in other venues, Obama has called Kennedy’s embargo of Cuba a failure. It succeeded in isolating a very real threat to national security — without throwing one bomb.

Finally:


And despite past differences, this is the moment when the world should support the millions of Iraqis who seek to rebuild their lives, even as we pass responsibility to the Iraqi government and finally bring this war to a close.

Obama wanted to abandon Iraq by March 31, 2008.

It will be interesting to see if FactCheck.org or anyone else fact-checks this speech.

Thank You, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seaton
For favors received

When I finish my Rosary, I have my own personal little Litany of the Saints who I ask for their intercession and thank for favors received. I don't really know why, but I recently started asking St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton to pray for our daughter, Elizabeth. I don't know why I felt the need to, I just did.

So anyhow, no more than a couple of days after I asked St. Elizabeth for her intercession, our daughter was involved in an auto accident, pictured below.


My Elizabeth was seated in the right back seat, and walked away with just a couple of bruises. Who says Saints don't intercede for us? Thanks again, St Elizabeth.

By the way, it wasn't until about she was 10, did my wife and I realize than our daughter's birthday just so happens to be on St Elizabeth's Feast Day. Oh, and by the way, it was while my wife (a convert from Episcopalianism) was teaching at a Catholic school... in Maryland.

Coincidence? I think not. Take my word for it, the Saints watch out for us.

As Usual, Dymphna's Obervations Cut To The Quick
As would the observations of a "Catholic chick who lives in Virginia"

God love Dymphna! Here's her latest; WYD

I've said it before and I'll proabably be tiresome and say it again some time: WYD is mostly silly. However, there are moments when it's almost worth the time and money. Tonight Rocky is watching the Holy Father celebrate Mass in Oz on EWTN. It's beautiful.

If they would just drop the dumb stuff--- the rapping priests, the lousy fake pop music, and the carnival atmosphere. And for pity's sake, no more semi nude locals in loincloths in front of the pope!

I was reading a book last night, it's the memoir of a Bennedictine monk who spent a year with the Copts of Egypt. He went to a dinner at the home of Pope Shenouda (the Copts call their leader, pope) and was astonished. There were about 5000 people there. Most were teens and 20 somethings. They politely asked Shenouda questions and he answered them. That's it. No dancers, no singers, no jugglers. They didn't need to be entertained. That struck me. Later the monk was having dinner at the home of the American ambassador. The ambassador's wife was Catholic and asked him about the Copts. The monk told her that he thought the Copts did a much better job teaching their youth than we Catholics do. The ambassador's wife was offended but when I watch the WYD photos I have to agree with the young monk.

I'm One Of You... Really I Am!!
What a phoney

Excellent article from The Washington Times;
Obama drops his father

As the battle between John McCain and Barack Obama for Hispanic votes heats up, it raises the question of what relates better, an immigrant father or an absentee father? For Obama, the answer is an absentee father.

This morning Obama's campaign e-mailed reporters the script for his first Spanish-language radio ad of the general election, designed to portray him as sharing the same experiences as many Latino voters, and it included these lines:

"His father was an immigrant. His mother from a humble, middle class family. Through student loans and hard work, he graduated from college. Obama never pulled people down as he made his way up…"

But about an hour later the campaign sent out what it said was the final script, which changed those lines to read:

"He grew up without a father — raised by his mother with the support of his grandparents. Through student loans and hard work, he graduated from college. Obama never forgot his roots…"

On a conference call with reporters, the Obama campaign said the first version was a draft.

Rep. Xavier Becerra, a campaign surrogate, told reporters the ad was designed to show Obama was "one of us" because "his experience is our experience."I think Homer J. said it best.

Religion Of Peace Alert #846,019
*Yawn...*

I feel all warm and fuzzy now. How 'bout you? Here's some of the article from the Catholic News Agency; (Emphasis mine) Muslim ‘warriors’ threaten harm if Catholic bishop does not convert to Islam
Manila, Jul 24, 2008 (CNA) - A Catholic bishop in the southern Philippines’ Basilan province has received a letter from self-described “Muslim warriors” possibly linked to Abu Sayyaf who are threatening him with harm if he does not convert to Islam or pay “Islamic taxes.” Further, authorities are seeking the return of three adults and two children, all Catholics, who were kidnapped in the same area this week.

The writers of the letter claimed to be “Muslim warriors” who “don't follow any laws other than the Qur'an.” They say the bishop should convert to Islam or pay the Islamic tax, called a “jizya,” to their group in exchange for protecting him “in the place of Muslims.”

If the bishop refuses, the letter threatened, “force, weapons or war may be used” against him. Citing bombings in other Philippines cities, the letter said he should not feel safe even if protected by soldiers.

Is This What They Mean By "The Smoke Of Satan"?
It's a big day for the Ecumaniacs!

Here's some of a rather bizarre article from the New Hampshire Union Leader; (Emphasis mine) Woman spoke of Catholic 'devils'
By PAULA TRACY
New Hampshire Union Leader Staff

LACONIA – A statement made to her pastor that there are "devils in the Catholic church" led police to a 27-year-old Laconia woman now charged with trying to torch the Sacred Heart Church in May.

Yesterday, Jasmin L. Braley of 322 Union Ave. was arraigned on charges of arson, a Class B felony, for the May 20 attempt to burn down the stately brick Roman Catholic church at Union and Gilford avenues. The fire caused more than $1,000 in damage.

In an affidavit in support of the arrest, Detective Kevin M. Butler said St. James Episcopal Church Pastor Hayes Judkin told him on June 24 he had read news reports about Braley being charged with the arson of her home, which is next to the Roman Catholic church.

The affidavit said Junkin told police he been involved in pastoral work with Braley for eight months -- since the death of her infant son. He had gone to Braley's apartment with Joy Dickinson, a parishioner, before the arson at the church.

"As Junkin and Dickinson were leaving Braley's residence she made the statement, 'There's nothing you can do as long as there are devils in the Catholic church over there.' Junkin stated he did not understand what this statement meant or to what devils she was referring to, but Braley then stated, "Those people over there say evil things.'"And the Episcopalian dude kept his mouth shut... interesting.

Marines & Dogs Keep Off The Grass
And out of this city

Shame on Wilmington, NC. I'd like to remind the city attorneys that purposefully discriminating on the grounds that one is a member of the Armed Forces is a felony offence.

From WRAL.com; Marines ask Wilmington mayor to change bar policy
Posted: Jul. 19, 2008

Wilmington, N.C. — A group of Camp Lejeune Marines have sent a letter to Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo asking him to change a policy that allows downtown bars to refuse entry to service members.

The four Marines said they were turned away at three separate downtown Wilmington bars on July 12 between 11 p.m. and midnight. The Marines said they were surprised to be turned away as they had all visited the bars previously.

One member of the group, who did not have a typical Marine haircut, was allowed inside one of the bars.The above terse news snippet is just the tip of the iceberg. It's much worse that this article leads to believe. And I've spoken to more than a few young people locally who've told me that it's an open secret that most downtown bars refuse service to "Jarheads and Squids" solely because they're in the military (from nearby Camp Lejeune).

I've also had some of the same locals tell me that Marines and their Navy Corpsmen "sometimes get into fights at the bars". And the locals don't? And keeping in mind what these combat veteran Marines and Corpsmen have been through, I'd say that they conduct themselves rather civilized, bar fights or no bar fights.

I personally don't see the City of Wilmington moving quick on this... but I wonder how they would react if the discrimination wasn't aimed at "Jarhead and Squids", but at Blacks and Jews. I have a funny feeling things would be much different.

Take That PETA!
Not that I'm a big Jessica Simpson fan...

But ya gotta give credit where credit's due.

Imagine That... Marines That Kill The Enemy
A Marine isn't happy unless he's complaining

Excellent review by Lt. Col. Gordon Cucullu, US Army (Green Beret, Ret) of the upcoming HBO mini-series "Generation Kill". Like anything else coming out of Hollywood concerning the Armed Forces, it's best to view with a jaundiced eye.

Here's some of the review; Five years after Evan Wright was embedded with the Marines in the invasion of Iraq, his book, Generation Kill, has made the small screen. In the HBO opening episode, “Get Some,” we meet the Marines of First Marine Recon Battalion in Kuwait preparing for the attack. In this episode, Wright joins the Marines who react with distain to his Rolling Stone credentials, but respond with enthusiasm when they learn that he was the porn flick reviewer for Hustler magazine in a previous job.

Having very recently returned from an embed with soldiers in Iraq, and from more than two decades spent as enlisted and officer, I can say that the dialogue sounded like authentic soldier-speak to me. If you’re looking for erudite, philosophical discussions, try a coffee shop or college campus. Avoid the barracks. Conversely, some of the dialogue accurately reflected the fighting-man’s point of view about how naively civilians view war, and what war is really about. “We’re here to kill,” one of the characters says. And that is about as succinct a summary of the infantry mission as one is likely to find.

While accomplishing his goal to present war from a grunt’s-eye view, Wright missed much of what has to take place at the senior non-commissioned officer and officer levels in order to bring the entire force to the show. He repeats Marines’ lines about officer and NCO incompetence, leaving the uninitiated viewer to believe that such observations are factual. By doing so, Wright, perhaps unintentionally, creates the distinct impression that the enlisted Marines are victims of the system, simple troops trying to accomplish an impossible mission while being led by incompetents.

This series has value for the viewer. Wright successfully puts you into the heads of the grunts who are fighting the war. Unlike the failed scene in Heartbreak Ridge in which Marines get somber and introspective when told that they are going into Grenada to fight, the reality is better portrayed in Generation Kill. Whenever highly trained, motivated soldiers or Marines – such as the First Recon unit, are alerted for a fight they engage the prospect with enthusiasm. Wright captures this attitude precisely in this first episode.

The unfortunate lack of bigger-picture perspective ultimately mars the final product and is sure to confuse civilian viewers who may mentally turn the Marines into victims and the senior leaders into mindless robots. Neither is factually correct, and the grunts on the ground will be the first to express contempt at any attempt to victimize them.For those who would be shocked by the attitude of these young Marines, I can tell you from personal experience... if you don't get yourself into the mind set that you are going to visit upon the enemy crushing firepower and extreme violence, then be prepared to be sent home in a Zip-Lock bag, and your wife be handed a folded up American flag.

And like I've said before, I'm no war hero by any stretch of the imagination. I was just another REMF doin' my best to serve God, Corps and Country. I'm just realistic enough to come to grips that while I was in The Corps, the end result of my labors were dead bad guys. Period.

Ma Lettre Ouverte à l'Imbécile Américain
Et quel imbécile il est!

Cher Imbécile,
Vous récemment avez réprimandé seulement la grande majorité de la foule Américaine pour le crime élevé de pouvoir dire' merci beaucoup si nous ainsi s'avèrent justement visiter l'Europe.

Dans la lumière que vous êtes tout à fait le linguiste, vous ne devriez avoir aucun ennui traduisant cette correspondance. Mais mes excuses, vous ne pouvez pas parler Français, l'un ou l'autre.

Mais je le trouve impair que vous le voyez permis pour dégrader et ricaner à vos compatriotes, particulièrement dans la lumière que vous ne pouvez pas même parler la langue que vous aviez l'habitude comme exemple de humilier vos propres personnes.

Est-ce que c'est l'exemple que nous pouvons compter si vous êtes élu à la Présidence des Etats-Unis? Ou courez-vous pour le Président du Monde?


For a rough translation, cut and paste this posting to here or here.

General Confusion
Too many Chiefs, not enough Indians

Here's the amount of Generals and Flag Officers (Admirals) for each of the Services;

(1) For the Army, 302.
(2) For the Navy, 216.
(3) For the Air Force, 279.
(4) For the Marine Corps, 80.
(5) For the Coast Guard, 44. (Helemt tip to JACK)

And that's for only 1.4 million total, both Active and Reserve.

Now with all that said, here's a report more than a few years old, but the numbers haven't changed that much since this was first given to Congress: ARMY. In 1945, the number of Army generals per active Army division was 14. In 1986, at the height of the Cold War, the army had 24 generals per division. Now, as we face no major threat, there are 30 generals per division.

NAVY. At the end of WWII there were 130 Navy ships per admiral. In 1986, at the height of the Cold War, there were 2.2 ships per admiral. Now, as we face no major threat, there is an average of only 1.6 ships per admiral.

MARINES. In 1945 there were 469,925 Marines commanded by 81 generals; by March 1997, 79 generals commanded a mere 173,011 Marines.

AIR FORCE. In 1945 there were 244 aircraft per general in the Air Force. In 1986, at the height of the Cold War, there were 28 aircraft per general. Now, as we face no major threat, there are only 23 aircraft per general.

Also, in 1945 there was one officer - ranging from lieutenants and ensigns through generals and admirals - for every 11 enlisted personnel. Now there is one for less than every six enlisted people.Two maxims I lived by before I retired from The Corps;

- That Lieutenant looks so young, I didn't know if I should salute him, or burp him.

- When all else fails, ask a Lance Corporal.

The Main Reason I Won't Vote For John McCain
"Suffer the little children"

When Jesus said the above quote, I'm fairly sure He meant ALL of the little children.

I'll wholeheartedly agree that the Obamanation is a first class baby-butcher. After all, in regards to children who survived the abortion procedure, he's the same guy who did not want to concede -- as he explained in a cold-blooded speech on the Illinois Senate floor -- that these babies, fully outside their mothers' wombs, with their hearts beating and lungs heaving, were in fact "persons."

All that aside, it's time for an integrity check... there's no getting around it - John McCain is also in favor of murdering children.

Here's some of the article from LifeSiteNews.com; (Emphasis mine) McCain Takes Obama to Task on Abortion, Still Defends Embryo Destroying Research

McCain brought up his pro-life record on abortion at the meeting on Thursday, after a discussion about the problem of sexually graphic material on the internet.

"I also would like to say one other thing very quickly to you - that is, I am proud of my record of protecting and advocating the rights of the unborn. I believe this is also an important issue..."

"Life means the rights of the born and the unborn," McCain continued. "You can count on my active advocacy for the rights of the unborn."

The Wall Street Journal reports, however, that McCain continues to stand by his support for embryonic stem cell research.

McCain told his Union Station audience, "At the moment I support stem cell research [because of] the potential it has for curing some of the most terrible diseases that afflict mankind."

McCain's staunch position on embryonic research is puzzling pro-life voters, however, since to date no therapies have been developed from ESCR, while scientists have indicated that embryonic stem cells have a significant risk of growing into tumours or being rejected by the patient as foreign tissue. On the other hand, adult stem-cell research, which does not involve the destruction of human embryos, has made historic leaps forward in regenerative medicine, yielding numerous therapeutic successes in just the past few years.

In a conference call with journalists, Frank Donatelli, deputy chair of the Republican National Committee, was asked to explain McCain's ignorance of these major scientific and medical advances of adult research and his continued support for embryonic research.

According to Donatelli, McCain is watching very carefully the scientific developments on the matter so that "we won't have to go there."Well, thanks a lot, grrl frayun'! What the hell kind of answer is that? "Won't have to go there"... Good Lord. Did Donatelli snap his fingers as he said that?

Anyhow, unless McCain fully, sincerely and substantially renounces his stance on ESCR, there simply is no way I can vote for him. We all know what the five non-negotiables are. We can't pick-and-choose. We either abide by them all, or throw them all out the window. Period, end of story.

And I know that I'm not the only Catholic who feels this way. McCain's style of killing children is a quieter, not as messy, more subtle form of slaughter. If mass murder could ever be described as antiseptic, this is it.

It's time to cut through the bullshit - when we face the reality of when it comes down to the business of killing the absolutely most vulnerable, John McCain is nothing more than a kinder, gentler Barack Obama.

The Obamanation Visits The Brandenburg Gate
"Take my picture, I'm a foreign policy expert now!"

"Ich bin ein Berliner" - President John F. Kennedy

"Ich bin ein Beginner" - Senator Barack H. Obama

Tom Hanks and Opie Banned From Vatican
No filming blashphemy in the Holy See

The Vatican has barred Tom Hanks and producer-director Ron Howard from filming the controversial "Angels & Demons," the follow-up to the equally anti-Catholic “The DaVinci Code,” in two historic cathedrals after branding author Dan Brown's works anti-Catholic blasphemy.

"Normally we read the script, but this time it was not necessary," said Msgr. Marco Fibbi, spokesman for the diocese of Rome. "The name 'Dan Brown' was enough."

The crew wanted to film in the churches of Santa Maria del Popolo and Santa Maria della Vittoria, two architectural jewels in the heart of Rome crammed with Renaissance art and sculpture.

Archbishop Velasio De Paolis called it a no-brainer to ban the film, accusing Brown of turning "the Gospels upside down."

"It would be unacceptable to transform churches into film sets so that his blasphemous novels can be made into mendacious films," said the archbishop.

NEWS FLASH!!
Rescuing hostages a violation of the Geneva Convention

Interesting article from Catholic World News;
Colombian hostage rescue violated Geneva accord

Bogota, Jul. 17, 2008 (CWNews.com) - Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe has admitted that during a dramatic July 2 rescue mission in which 15 hostages were liberated from their guerrilla captors, one Colombian soldier wore a Red Cross emblem: a violation of the Geneva Conventions.

President Uribe said that he had contacted Red Cross officials to apologize for the move. He said that an individual soldier wore the Red Cross insignia, "contradicting official orders," in a misguided effort to complete the deception of the guerrillas who were holding the hostages.

Red Cross officials have welcomed Uribe's apology, explaining that it is crucial to the group's work to protect its neutrality, and clarify that "we played no part in this operation." The wearing of Red Cross insignia by soldiers is forbidden under international law in order to preserve Red Cross workers from suspicion that they might be soldiers in disguise.

In the July 2 rescue mission, Colombian soldiers successfully persuaded troops of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia that they were allies, arranging a prisoner transfer.As far as I'm concerned, the Colombian troops could have dressed up like Maryknoll Sisters... if that's what it took to rescue the hostages from the Communist terrorists.

I take that back, Maryknollers would have saddled-up with the Communists.

I've Been Sitting On This For A Reason
Kool-Aid all around

I've been waiting to see if there are any reasonable individuals who identify themselves as Democrats. That was time poorly spent.


Not all that long ago, The New Yorker magazine penned a satirical cartoon cover of Mr. & Mrs. Obama. And more than a few people have gone horse screaming "RACISM!"

The NAACP and Governor of New York are two such. Governor Paterson states the magazine cover is "one of the most malignant, vicious covers of a magazine I have ever seen," drawing a loud applause. "It depicted them as angry, hateful, violent and unpatriotic," Paterson added.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People released a resolution that calls the cover "tasteless, Islam-a-phobic, mean spirited and racially offensive." It calls on other Americans who are offended by the cover to contact the magazine about their concerns.

According to the Chicago Examiner, the cartoon is stating that the cover is "... an example of Yellow Journalism".

The Boston Globe called decried the "the insensitivity" of it all and went on to say "...the drawing may reach far and wide in denigrating a most honorable man and his family and place a dark stain on his candidacy for president."

And I'd like to point out to the Democrats that The New Yorker isn't exactly a member of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy. The New Yorker is actually one of the most liberally minded propaganda rags that the Democrats could have on their side.

The biggest joke of all, is that this cover is actually an insult to all those (as the Democrats describe us) right-wing fanatics who are busy clinging to our Bibles and guns.

Lemme say this slowly.... the cover was suppose to illustrate that it is us inbred Republican crackers who froth at the mouth telling the world that Barrack Hussein Obama is really a moslem, and that his wife is really Angela Davis incarnate.

In other words, you dip-shit Democrats... this cartoon was made to sling pointed barbs at us unedjumikated Repunlikuhns... knuw whut I'm talkin 'bout, Bubba? But as anticipated, the Dems have all the depth of a kiddie wading pool. They're the electro-plated gold of political savviness. Just scratch the surface, baby... scratch the surface.

But nonetheless, I've figured out what rank and file Democrats REALLY are - sheep. Bleating, aimless, cowardly, weak-of-mind, knee-jerk and oh-so-easily led around their the nose sheep. And like all sheep, they're all easily led to slaughter.

I Guess He Got His Job Through Back Door Channels
It's time to wash the gay away

From Fox News; (Emphasis mine) Police: Catholic School Principal Arrested for Outdoor Sex Scene; Another Man Sought
Wednesday, July 16, 2008

GREENBURGH, N.Y. — Police in suburban New York are searching for a man they say fled naked from an outdoor group sex scene that included a Catholic school principal.

Greenburgh Police in Westchester County discovered three naked men having sex in the back yard of an abandoned home on Sunday night.

Police say Francesco Autera of Thornwood and Gabriel De Jesus of Ossining have been charged with public lewdness, trespassing and disorderly conduct.

De Jesus is the principal of a parochial elementary school in Mount Vernon. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York says it's investigating.

Autera has an unpublished number and there was no listing under Gabriel De Jesus' name.

Ahhh... The Modern Olympics
If you can't draw blood, it's not a real sport

WARNING!! This post is exceedingly Politically Correct. If un-PC comments upset you, I suggest you skip this post.

In the irrelevancy that is rapidly becoming the modern Olympics, I've noticed that they've retained Synchronized Swimming, but mercifully scratched Ballroom Dancing, Rhythmic Gymnastics and Ice Dancing. Does hope spring eternal for Rugby? Not a snowball's chance in hell.

And as far as National Olympic Committees are concerned... don't even get me started. Oops, too late. Why the hell am I subjected to former Soviet Republics such as Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, that no one can spell... more or less even find on a map? The only Stan I give a damn about is that Polack guy down the street who owes me $10.

And even though this'll piss off every Guamanian I'm related to, I still can't figure out why there are "nations" that aren't really nations fielding teams. Hey guys, and yes I'm talking to Guam, The Dutch Antilles, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, The British Virgin Islands, when you can issue passports, exchange ambassadors and declare war... then you're a real country. In the meantime, accept the fact that you're all essentially nothing more than the right answer on a Trivial Pursuit question.

Anyhow, here are some L o/t CC predictions for the upcoming goat-rodeo that is the Peking Olympics -

Using You Tank Treads To Squash Pro-Democracy Students Into A Greasy Stain - Being the only nation allowed to compete, China is expected to take the Gold.

Parental Guilt - Israel, Ireland, Italy. Win, place, show. A big day for the letter "I".

Bad Food - Great Britain, Great Britain, and then Great Britain. Jellied Eels, anyone?

Dropping Everything And Run Screaming Like A Little Girl In The Other Direction (50m - 100 m - Marathon) - France. Was there ever a doubt?

The Boombox/Color TV Dash - Puerto Rico. PR isn't expected to do well in of the other Track & Field events, though. Something to do with platform shoes. "Why ju look a' me like dat? Ju so stoooopid!"

Pole Vaulting - Newcomer People's Democratic Republic of San Francisco is the heavy favorite. Don't ask.

A Blast From The Past
It's been a slow news day

Origionally posted in August, 2006______________________________________Reverse Discrimination. Geographic, That Is (Updated)
Apologies to all my Northern friends!

WARNING! Crude humor alert!!

We've all seen those movies. You know, the ones where the unknowing but well meaning Northerners somehow get lost in the Deep South... and every negative stereotypical redneck falls out of the sky and ends up terrorizing our Yankee heroes. What would happen if they had a movie about Southerners present day getting lost "Up North"?

And that got me to thinkin', which is always dangerous...

OLD SOUTHERN "YANKEE OUTSIDER" STEREOTYPE ~ Young and idealistic, and not to mention freshly minted Columbia Law School grads, head down South and battle against impossible odds to protect the Civil Rights of oppressed Blacks.

NEW NORTHERN "REDNECK OUTSIDER" STEREOTYPE ~ Young and idealistic, and not to mention freshly minted Clemson Law School grads, head up North and battle against impossible odds to protect the 2d Amendment Rights of oppressed.... well.... everyone.

OLD SOUTHERN COP STEREOTYPE ~ Rod Steiger's character, Police Chief Bill Gillespie in The Heat of the Night, or possibly Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrain from The Dukes of Hazzard. The Southern Cop ranges from a foaming at the mouth rabies infected mad-dog, to a 110% incompetent boob who couldn't pour piss out of a boot if the directions were printed on the heel.

NEW NORTHERN COP STEREOTYPE ~ The oh, so politically correct lawman. Imagine Alan Alda's Hawkeye Pierce from M*A*S*H, but with a badge and a gun. On second thought... scratch the gun. He smugly pontificates really profound things like "if we just understood the reasoning why people commit crime, then we can better deal with it, just so long as we respect them and make a REAL effort to know them as people. Everybody knows that all it takes! Why is the rest of the world so stupid that they can't see that!!?? I weep for everyone else who isn't as smart as me."

OLD SOUTHERN DOCTOR STEREOTYPE ~ This guy would make Torquemada look like Dr. Jonas Salk. This character has a grand total of three teeth: one pointing north, one pointing south, and one in his pocket. That coupled with a thick as 90 weight Southern accent... no one can understand what in the hell he's saying. His medical bag consists of a rusty hacksaw and a bottle of leeches.

NEW NORTHERN DOCTOR STEREOTYPE ~ Arrogant know-it-all. It doesn't matter if he's wrong, don't correct this guy. If he wants to treat a head wound with a tourniquet around the neck... he's "the one that went to Medical School for eight years!!". And to make matters worse, his Bahh-Stun accent makes it impossible for anyone to understand what the hell he's saying. "A hat attack, dis man's had a HAT ATTACK! Don't ya know whud a hat attack is? His hat stopped beatin'!! Whaddya mean ya don't undah-staaand me? Whud aah ya... wicked retaaaaded?

OLD SOUTHERN JAILER STEREOTYPE ~ VERY old school Strother Martin as The Captain in Cool Hand Luke. "What we have here, is a failure to communicate...". Mass abuse is the order of the day.

NEW NORTHERN JAILER STEREOTYPE ~ VERY new school anyone on the University of San Francisco staff. "What we have here, is a failure to differentiate between 'gay' and 'queer'" Mass self-abuse is the order of the day.

Can anyone think of any others?

Have You Received Your Stimulus Check Yet?
Check... one, two... check, check... two, two

God The Father is the Creator of all... check
Jesus is God The Savior... check.
The Holy Ghost is the Paraclete... check.
The Death of Christ made my salvation possible... check.
God gave us Holy Mother The Church... check.
God gave us Saints in Heaven to intercede for us... check.
I can choose to accept God and all He gave us... check.
Even if I stumble, the forgiveness of God will always be there through His priests... check. I can choose to reject God and all He gave us... check. I don't know about you, but I'm feeling pretty stimulated right about now. Check.

The Latest From The Archdiocese Of Sodom & Gomorrah
St. Francis, pray for us

Does it ever end at this ecclesiastical freak show? Who needs Westboro Baptist Church to tell the Pope to go to hell, when you have the good folks at the Archdiocese of San Francisco?

Here's some of the rather disturbing article from The California Catholic; (Emphasis mine) Wiccans, Druids and Catholics
San Francisco archdiocese and USF offer facilities for meeting of North American Interfaith Network

The North American Interfaith Network will hold its NAINConnect 2008 conference in San Francisco next week. The July 24-28 conference, which will celebrate NAIN’s 20th anniversary, will feature a banquet hosted by the San Francisco Interfaith Council at St. Mary’s Cathedral in San Francisco on July 27. Workshops will be held at Fromm Center at the University of San Francisco, a Jesuit institution.

Two presenters, Susan Cook and Peter Laurence, will lead the workshop, “How do we talk theologically about the big issues we face?” -- a question Cook and Laurence will address from their perspective as members of the Urantia Fellowship. The Fellowship promotes The Urantia Book, which, according to the Fellowship’s web site, “revitalizes the archetypes of Judeo-Christian religion by providing extensive accounts of the stories of Adam and Eve, the rebellion of Lucifer, the evolution of Judeo-Christian monotheism, and a spiritually compelling account of the life and teachings of Jesus.“ (Remember, the "Catholic" Archdiocese of San Francisco is partaking in this.)

The Urantia Book offers a different twist to the Incarnation. Because God is infinite, says the Urantia Book, he “shuts him[self] off from all direct personal communication with finite material beings and other lowly created intelligences.” To make contact with his creatures, God uses intermediaries, such as the “Paradise Sons of God,” who can partake of the “very flesh and blood of the planetary races, becoming one of you and one with you; thus, as it were, God becomes man, as occurred in the bestowal of Michael, who was called interchangeably the Son of God and the Son of Man.” This “Michael” is “the God-man of Nebadon, Jesus of Nazareth and Michael of Salvington,” the sovereign of the universe to which Urantia belongs. (Shades of Jehovah's Witnesses heretical belief that Christ and the Archangel St Michael are the same person. Remember, the "Catholic" Archdiocese of San Francisco is partaking in this.)

Another workshop presenter will be William Swing, who, since his retirement as Episcopal bishop of California, has been directing the United Religions Initiative. The URI’s purpose, according to its charter, is "to promote enduring, daily interfaith cooperation" and to "end religiously motivated violence."

In the past, the Archdiocese of San Francisco has participated in URI events, and Fr. Gerry O’Rourke, the archdiocesan director of ecumenical and interreligious affairs under Archbishop William Levada, served on URI’s board of directors. URI has included Wiccans and Druids among its membership. (Remember, the "Catholic" Archdiocese of San Francisco is partaking this.)

In April 2003, Swing used the occasion of a pilgrimage taken with Levada and San Francisco’s Greek Orthodox Metropolitan to Canterbury, Rome, and Constantinople to promote not only URI but women’s ordination. According to his diary of the trip, Swing noted that he mentioned to the Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew, "that I have ordained more women than any other bishop in the history of the Church and would be glad to talk about my experience.” To which, His All Holiness replied, “I don't want to know your experience.”

“That was that," wrote Swing.Pope Benedict has stated that he's "a worker in the vineyard of The Lord". Rightly so... I just wish he's start cutting away some of the diseased plants.