Berkeley professor explains gender theory | Judith Butler

New Year's Resolution and Lenten Devotion

Unless something really important comes up, I am taking a break from this blog  - (both reading MSW and writing responses) for the New Year and Lent. Both topics covered and what I say in response are easily predictable. I need to find better things to do.

How dark money prostitutes the US church and distorts Catholicism

How dark money prostitutes the US church and distorts Catholicism

The Pro-life movement prostituted Trump.

He was pro-choice (if not pro-abortion) until he made an unwavering commitment to ending abortion. He even thought through what that meant and was quickly told that, no, we are not out to prosecute women (even though that is the natural result of recognizing the unborn as legal people - and without doing the latter, privacy protects the woman's right to abortion). There was a quick retraction.

Why support Trump? He was gaining in the polls. A Pro-Choice Republican president is essential to keeping the movement, and its fundraising establishment, well fed. When is became clear that Russia was helping Trump, they looked the other way. It may even be that the way the Midwestern Catholic bishops were ready to pounce on Clinton's defense of partial birth abortion in the debate (and Trump brought up the issue) was that her briefing book showed she was soft on the issue. Who do we know that was able to hack her briefing book? I will give you three guesses and the first two do not count.

It is not that Trump was afraid of Russian support coming out, it was that he acknowledged his debt to them - which he tried to fulfill by blocking appropriated funds to Ukraine to kill invading Russian tanks. The "perfect phone call" was the cover-up to that attempt. At some point, Trump knew that this would all come out and he was mistaken in the impression (which the media went along with) that he could not be prosecuted while in office. 

No court, from Manhattan to Washington, have ever acknowledged this and have hinted strongly that this is not the case. They cannot rule on it, however, until Trump is arrested. The Federal Judiciary to not issue advisory opinions (which is why the Texas abortion ban has not yet been overturned). No one tried. Trump's belief in what was wrong led to the Insurrection. In for a penny, in for a pound.

All of those involved with Trump knew that, if he went down, their fingerprints would be found.

And they will be.

Michael Sean is shocked, shocked he says, that the Catholic Church - especially the pro-life side - contains Authoritarians.  As Trump would so, so sad.

Spiritual but not religious recognizes that institutions are open to bad behavior. From the sexual teachings of St. Augustine and the bloodshed over finalizing the Creed, to Nepotism in clergy appointments and papal elections to the attacks on free thought, democracy, science, religious freedom and sexuality do not have their origins in the spiritual. They are all about the Catholic brand and its worldly interests. There has never been as time when the Church has not suffered corruption.

Spiritual but not religious is the easy path. Being Spiritual AND Religious as a Catholic is only for the courageous.  That Fortitude used to require greater commitment. The Church used to torture and burn dissent. Now being attacked as a dissenter is a boon to sales. Sadly, Francis has cut off the heretic hunters at the knees.

I have more than one book that the Church would try to ban. More's the pity. They are finding that ignoring dissent is much easier and more effective than fighting it. That Michael Sean never covers dissidents from the Catholic Left - meaning me - is the best service he can render to those who would buy the Church for the Republican Party.

Will US bishops find their voice and defend democracy?

Will US bishops find their voice and defend democracy? 

Garibaldi's success did not help the American cause. Rome was feeling the brunt of defending their own tyranny from democracy. They did not notice that British subjects were already used to democratic ideals - although given their opposition to the Glorious Revolution (which was the result of defeating Catholic James II), the British roots of American democracy were also a problem.

While Kennedy was important, Catholic chaplains serving in the war touched many who began the war thinking the Pope was the anti-christ. Catholic leadership at the time fit in with the post-war vision of American civic culture with its white picket fences and loyal White majority. The whole idea of individual rights was not on the Church's to do list. It was on America's however - including John Courtney Murray, who opened the door at Vatican II.

Mario Cuomo and Joe Biden understand the implications of Dignitatis Humanae. In battles between human dignity and authority, authority must lose (and would be better surrendering). To restore unity to the Church, it is the bishops who must yield. Many of them have embraced the authoritarianism of Trump. It is a sin that they must atone for. 

There is much more to do than reject Trump and make nice with Biden, although this could be a starting place. Endorsing the Child Tax Credit's continuation at higher levels with refundability will shake things up enough

Links: JD Vance's Catholicism, Jan. 6 sentences and mezzo-sopranos

Links: JD Vance's Catholicism, Jan. 6 sentences and mezzo-sopranos 

Hardship is bringing him close to God, is it is apt to do. This is not because God likes suffering but because God grants strength to those who suffer. Trivial things become less important. Godspeed to Michael.

The convicts so far were victims of the conspiracy. The instigators are about to get their just deserts. Ironically, Trump will probably only get house arrest because no prison wants or can handle him. Those who planned this for him, however, will get serious prison time. The odd thing is that this was all about him trying to use the presidency to stay out of jail. Helping someone else cover up their relationship with Russia is both pathetic and worthy of punishment.

Authoritarianism is the main feature of capitalism. It is only liberty for the few. His kids are wannabe authoritarians who don't have the DNA or training to think like free people or act with courage.

J.D. is correct on how some Catholics put loyalty to the group  (The Faith) over real faith in God. It is a feature of authoritarianism. Catholic authoritarianism is good training for MAGA membership. Mention abortion and some Catholics will follow you anywhere - even when it is not your issue (Trump is most likely personally pro-abortion - not just pro-choice).

Cutting support (or raising tuition) for community college students is often done to keep up with Pell Grant levels. It is a dance that public schools have to do. Bernie is right that tuition should simply be free up to Sophomore year in college. Build Back Better was going to implement this goal, but Joe Manchin would not let him.

My mother was a mezzo-soprano and was world class. She reserved her talents for her children and the Church. She sang until the end. One Monday, she was singing in the Resurrection Choir. The next, they were singing to her. There are many hidden angels like her.

What stories about the Catholic Church will we be following in 2022?

What stories about the Catholic Church will we be following in 2022? 

The legacy of Francis is that he does not use the royal We. This is the news that the media has not covered. It is a huge thing. The curial changes may be quietly radical as well. I am still expecting an enhanced role for Cardinal Advisors - more of a Patriarchal one. Of course, Africa already has a patriarch, whose jurisdiction should go beyond the Coptic rites. That would be huge news and worthy of sending MSW to Africa to cover it. 

One can be an A+ Catholic and not go to weekly Mass. The Mass is for us, not for God. Morality too. The pre-Vatican II sect are not capable of understanding that the Humility of God is not just found in the submission of Christ to the Father. Indeed, the Father was a co-submitter on the cross in reaching out to us. The whole point of salvation is the now - not a means of getting to Heaven.

If Faithful Citizenship does not include enhancing the Child Tax Credit (Building Back Better), then it is not worth the bandwidth to put on the USCCB website. Bishops who do not endorse it are not worth their keep. They will also continue to be local lordlings until selection is local, not papal. Organizational forms matter. Imagine how local election and removal would change the USCCB. 

The CUA presidency is a question for the alumni. I only rented a dorm room there as an intern. The libertarianism of the business school reflects the authoritarianism of capitalism. They are not the same thing and not unlike the authoritarianism of the Catholic bishops. The CUA business school's direction is a feature, not a flaw. To change the business school, change the Church, and not just whether bishops are allies of Francis.

Links: Tim Busch on Roe; Cardinal Dolan on secularism; a plug for church charging stations

Links: Tim Busch on Roe; Cardinal Dolan on secularism; a plug for church charging stations 

Busch is correct, letting the states decide for themselves without federal scrutiny is the wrong way, but it is unlikely that the Court will abandon federal power in this area (much as Mississippi would like them to - because they have a list of other cases to rehear). It is up to Congress to modify the terms of the 14th Amendment before viability and the Majority should state that. 

Barring that, the Court can use delegated power under the Civil Rights Act of 1875 to pick an earlier time than viability to protect the unborn (which is the approach Justice Thomas favors - and if Roberts is in the minority, Thomas gets to write or delegate writing the opinion). This is the least bad result, although reversing the 5th Circuit forcefully is preferable. Either way would end the impetus to overturn Roe any further. It would end the argument on both sides - and the ability to fundraise on the issue.

Dolan cheapens the Church by going on Newsmax. Secularism can be seen as doing real natural law thinking, not the doctrinal version that convinces no one but true believers. As long as I have been in the civil rights movement (almost 30 years now), it has had (and continues to have) a strong religious focus. Conservatives may not respect the spirituality of some in the LGBTQIA community, but that does not mean it does not exist.

Who am I to complain if Alaska voters elect a Democrat because the GOP nominates a Trump-nutter. Michigan too. Not seeing the Insurrection as a major reason for GOP losses is very short-sighted, if not bat-blind.

The Justice Department is bringing suit (or will) against any obviously racist restrictions (or ones that disenfranchise college voters - the real targets of the GOP). With Omicron providing immunity to SARS level variants, people will be voting in person this year. Getting them to vote must be V.P. Harris' full-time job this year.

Charging stations at church's are a great idea, although this won't help weekend travelers. The better option is to use overhead wires (connected to a roof deck covered in grass).

Neither the DOI or the House will let Tongass be harvested if they have a say, although big timber will (as usual( be funding Republican candidates because of this).

My Missouri cousin (possibly an in-law) had a cynical streak based on having clear eyes. Pointing out such truths always comes from a place of optimism because he believed words matter - and his still do.

What to expect in the world of US politics in 2022

What to expect in the world of US politics in 2022 

I would have expected those on the left to think democracy was in trouble, given what we hear on certain cable news stations. It turns out those on the right have a case of sour grapes. This is normal. The survey has nothing to do with the actual state of our democracy.

Restrictive voting laws are being challenged by the Justice Department, who will win the challenge. Republicans who ignore laws on redistricting will face electoral consequences. No one likes cheaters.  

Action on warming will not occur until there is more damage (it's how humans roll) and inflation should take care of itself. Raising interest rates (and taxes) may slow speculation and prevent a downturn. Pandemic inflation will be over soon because Omicron functions as a vaccine against later SARS-CoV-2.

The Court is not going to be packed and the filibuster should not be ended - although 55 is a good number for cloture. It would have stopped some of Trump's judges. Judges, Justices and Senators are not immortal. Systemic change in response to this moment should recognize that majorities change too. Comity needs to return in both houses, with a return to Open Rules in the House being the necessary first step. The Speaker cannot decry partisanship when she practices it as well as Hastert did.

The common wisdom that Casey will be overturned (Roe was overturned by Casey) is faulty. It will never give states the last word, although it may move away from viability on its own accord. State power over civil rights cannot be allowed to succeed.  Only Scalia was for that. He is still dead.

To pass Build Back Better, it needs to put off everything but the Child Tax Credit, Childcare and paid family leave. The other points need to be what the Democrats run on. BBB should be sold as pro-life legislation and Biden needs to dare the Catholic Bishops to label it thusly. That will take leadership rather than partisanship. The Pro-Choice side will not oppose such a measure. Those pro-lifers that believe in freedom through work might. Their issue is not life, it is sexuality and capitalism.

Note to MSW on cultural issues. Progressives do not bring these up until Reactionaries do. Protecting non-binary people only became a thing when Republicans started attacking them. They do that kind of thing to distract low information voters from economic issues. They always have and always will.

The PRIMARY political issue for this year is punishing those who sparked the Insurrection - especially those members of Congress who were in on the planning for the day. Every member of a conspiracy is legally responsible for the bad acts of the other conspirators - and the upcoming hearings are going to lay this out in fine detail. The GOP would be smart to cut their losses and have the guilty among them resign, with Trump's cronies pleading guilty so that we can forget about them. The GOP is not that smart.

Links: Cincinnati Men's Conference; fragmenting Trumpism; airport design award

Links: Cincinnati Men's Conference; fragmenting Trumpism; airport design award 

The Men's Conference simply proves P.T. Barnum's point.

The story of Protestantism likely led Mary Douglass to call egalitarianism sectarianism too. The radical fringe on the vaccine shows P.T. Barnum also owns the Internet. And the GOP.

The passage of the ACA was about exploiting the rules. Passing the CTC reforms needs to be both bipartisan and pro-life. We need Jesus, not Rahm Immanuel. Are Biden and Harris capable of thinking that far outside the box? So far, not yet.

National Airport also connects Terminal C to Metro. Also Tyson's Corner Mall. It's all about the walkways. Thank you, Minneapolis! 

Thanks to the Internet, we can all get Connecticut cheese. It is not just for crazy Republicans.

In 2021, it became obvious the US bishops and the pope are singing from different hymnals

In 2021, it became obvious the US bishops and the pope are singing from different hymnals 

The current majority at the USCCB (which includes retirees), learned Latin as altar boys and identified Ronald Reagan, St. John Paul, anti-communism, anti-sexual revolution and devotion to Our Lady as their essential creed. They likely believed arms for hostages was OK. Their major donors reflect their views. They are faced with an ECLAM pope who might even support Liberation Theology and is open to ordaining women as deacons. What could go wrong? 

Links: Puerto Rico's energy grid; loss of Desmond Tutu; rising number of clergy quitting

Links: Puerto Rico's energy grid; loss of Desmond Tutu; rising number of clergy quitting 

What people pay depends on how well their local electric monopoly is regulated. Also, the whole grid needs to be modernized, especially (but not only) in Texas.

May Tutu rest in blessed peace (as if there is any doubt).

Elaine is wrong. The majority of the items in the bill will require reconciliation to pass. The biggest piece, the child tax credit (along with childcare and the ACA reform), need to be paid for with a more broad based tax - preferable on employers rather than employees and passed as pro-life legislation. Biden will not do either. More's the pity.

It is not up to the Post to discuss theological implications. For that, you must do your own data analyses. The article is mainly about Protestant clergy (many of whom are not technically in the clerical state). Many are quitting (or at least taking a sabbatical) from medicine as well. They will be back.

The sad thing is that the Latin Mass boosters are turning the sacred into a Creative Anachronism.

At Midnight Mass, I sang along to Adeste, Fidelis in Latin for the first verse in memory of my father. 

In 2021, Biden's decency couldn't save democracy. The real test will come in 2022.

In 2021, Biden's decency couldn't save democracy. The real test will come in 2022. 

Biden saved us from tyranny by breathing. The Freedom Caucus is likely shivering in its booth. They may still think Trump can protect them, but the Select Committee is making it clear that this will not happen. Holding the treason caucus accountable will save democracy. 

As for the economy, that will take some luck and some time. Biden is making his own luck by the rumor of a tax increase. This is causing an asset sell-off, which decreases the chances of an economic downturn. If he waits a bit, supply chain issues will right themselves and prices will decline. The GOP won back the seats that went to Democrats because of Trump. Without Trump, we went back to a 50% nation. Until one side offers a vision, we will stay there. 

On abortion, Biden can let the Supreme Court defend Roe against state government power. Moving the line from viability to assisted viability or fetal nervous system development (the ability to react to  pain) won't do much either way. What will lead to less abortion is Build Back Better as a pro-life matter. 

Biden needs to risk a backlash by women by calling out the pro-life movement for not supporting the child tax credit on a bipartisan basis. (hint, there won't be one, feminists like measures that protect family economies). If conservatives resist, he can then explain why people think the pro-life movement is about sex - and he would be right. THAT would help democracy.

Links: Evil in conservativism; unions are good for all; parody of wokeism

Links: Evil in conservativism; unions are good for all; parody of wokeism 

The election will be won by letting inflation run its course and by the natural result of the Trump criminal enterprise being held to account. All pork is local.

The Left did not start the culture wars. They are as old as 1630 and the enslavement of John Punch and later the Salem witch trial. Also the Mexican War and sodomy laws. All of these things have protecting capitalism in common by conservatives finding an enemy to hate. To be woke is to call the right wing out on their bad behavior. As for young Mr. Rittenhouse, its complicated and its wrong to make him an icon. It does not help him to identify with conservative snake oil salesmen.

Hopefully the new retirees have good portfolios that are not based on Crypto. Their are lots of exit events, both the Great Recession and the Great Sequestration of 2011 led to retirement - the latter for me. The bright spot is that many people probably went back to school this year. Let's see what the enrollment numbers say.

Unions are essential, although they need to involve to facilitate worker ownership and their decision making. This was the goal of Leo, who did not approve of the right to strike. People forget that part. Also on the topic....teachers unions and the Church.

For Biden to go beyond the old politics, he needs to focus his attention on the family support portions of Build Back Better as an abortion issue and dare the conservative bishops to oppose him. Childcare and paid leave are important too. On climate change, Americans wait for consequences before acting. Until Florida starts to disappear, don't expect much.

The vast majority of people don't care about fundraising gimmicks from the woke. Again, fighting wokeness is as offensive as anything the woke do. In the Magnificat, Mary stands with the people who object to those who are woke and with the marginalized. What she preached remains radical, even to this day. The Church's turning her into an icon of sexual purity is another attempt to marginal her message. 

US bishops should help Latin Massgoers understand purpose of Francis' new restrictions

US bishops should help Latin Massgoers understand purpose of Francis' new restrictions 

January 6th demonstrates that the spirit of the civil rights movement does not live in certain hearts. The same can be said for Vatican II, especially among "John Paul priests." It is up to the Spirit to change hearts. If we wish to help, we need to show love, not firmness. That is the lesson we all need (including from those who do not like the reforms). 

Before we try to educate the people in the pews on Vatican II, let's start with clergy, especially the bishops. They also need training in gender theory, aka, queer theory. There is much they can learn about their own asexual orientation and why it should not be imposed on others. Dignitatis Humanae and its implications for the abortion debate must be added to the curriculum. 

On the Mass, offer the current Roman Missal in its Latin form, preferably at the early morning Mass on Sundays (but with readings in English). We might even do the offertory prayer in the original Hebrew. It is not so different.   Maybe the Mass could be too - and celebrated in households in the same way.  The consecration could be added for home worship. Wouldn't that be something. 

Links: Expanding the Supreme Court; the 'Four Freedoms'; vaccine mandates

Links: Expanding the Supreme Court; the 'Four Freedoms'; vaccine mandates 

All justices respect the law, which has a capitalist bias. Most of what the Court does has nothing to do with cultural issues and most of these are unanimous. McConnell obstruction on justices, however, makes catering to Manchin a necessity - not for preserving abortion rights - which will not get another case and the current one has been heard. 

Racial issues may be harder, but that is because the law does not make good sense - and won't until random selection is the solution. Also, Thomas is old, so the balance will again shift from 4-5 to 5-4. In reality, the balance is 3-3-3 - with Gorsuch, Roberts and Alito in the center - or it could be Kavanaugh.

The Insurrectionists don't like FDR and many think Nixon was railroaded. A To Do list will not change their minds.  Some Republicans also don't believe the Insurrection happened - so getting a mention in the Register is a good thing. Democracy is not in danger. The courts will strike down election interference when asked by the government. More importantly, the career leaders in the courts, the military and the civilian government are committed to the rule in law. Trump could never have succeeded. The authors are correct that the bad guys will get caught and prosecuted - especially those in Congress.

LULAC is correct, but ignores the fact that Latinx was always meant to describe the gender fluid. Those who want to use it widely (or think it was meant to) are intellectually lazy.

People with religious objections have forgotten their ethics classes - both in terms of remoteness and the double effect. Unless the fetus was aborted specifically as a source of genetic material, it is not unethical to use that tissue for a good act. I can see medical personnel not wanting to be vaccinated because they have already been sick and know that they won't die of a breakthrough infection. The vax helps against Delta and may prevent getting sick from Omicron - but Omicron is not severe unless you take immunosuppressive drugs or you fall out of bed reaching for a tissue and hit your head on the table. The Court will be in a quandary on free exercise when it does not differentiate between Churchmen attempting to use religious power under the label of religious freedom. Until they do that, wrong answers are inevitable on such questions as not firing gay marrieds from Catholic schools.

The best comedy is subtle. I love my Lucy. 

Fox and EWTN make truth a casualty of the culture war

Fox and EWTN make truth a casualty of the culture war 

Fox News was designed to tell Republican truth. It arose because Nixon got caught. Some Fox viewers may still think Nixon was innocent. This is is all you need to know. Bearing false witness is not lying, it is accusatory. For example, if I said (based on speculation) that Fox anchors were definitely part of the conspiracy that led to and planned the Insurrection, that would be false witness. If they were, however, this explains why they were nervous when it got ugly and are distancing themselves from it (or worse, denying it) now.

Inflation has the country on edge. Democrats need to find better ways to address it

Inflation has the country on edge. Democrats need to find better ways to address it. 

As long as the Fed does not repeat the mistakes of the late 70s in fighting inflation, we should be fine. Their recent rate cuts did not benefit us, they benefited Wall Street. I am glad they are stopping such nonsense. 

For now, as another round of COVID safety measures become necessary to slow production, many are still flush with cash - or think they are because they hold inflated stock and Crypto assets, prices will go up. 

Because Omicron is not severe, we have cleared the zone where hyperstagflation is a problem. The problem is inflated asset prices - and the Build Back Better tax proposals that increase capital gains tax rates are causing a slow sell-off. We may yet avoid another financial crash. 

Oil went up because Mulvaney, as acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Authority, eviscerated new rules to prevent what is happening now in the oil futures market. The best way to fix this is quietly, just as the best way to fix inflation is to let supply catch demand. The moral imperative is to keep aid flowing to the poorest of families, rather than to the upper working class (many of whom bought speculative assets).  

The Child Tax Credit provisions from the American Recovery Plan Act need to be made permanent and this must be done as anti-abortion legislation. Biden needs to dare the Catholic bishops to support him in doing so. That some GOP pro-lifers won't is all you need to know about their movement (that it is anti-sex, not pro-child). 

Biden needs to focus on helping the victims of inflation rather than fighting it head on or deny it is happening.  He has already helped unblock the ports, just in time for Christmas. It is not the message that will save his poll numbers. It is results. He has been around long enough to know that, even if his staff has not.

Links: Trumpian propaganda; global inequality; Latino voters

Links: Trumpian propaganda; global inequality; Latino voters 

The issue is not religious freedom, it is the sacred right of employers as authoritarians the Court is bound to uphold. It is the bias in law.

People do not realize that their support for Trump is support for Putin and many won't believe they could ever be Soft on Putin - even as they decry Build Back Better as socialism.

The problem with inequality starts with bad math. When everyone gets the same percentage of wage increase, actual dollar differences grow until they are unmanageable. Worse than the financial inequality is the inequality of personhood in the workplace. Wealth is leverage to the enforce obedience of others. Don't call capitalists libertarian. They are authoritarian - and some employees like it that way or believe it is the only way. On the 10% number - the 1% own 77% of what the top 10% hold. And so on, and so on, and so on. That includes ownership of assets which hold Treasury bonds. Indeed, such ownership leverages capitalism itself. It was baked into our economy by Hamilton.

People who cite Plessy as evidence that Roe can be overturned and the matter sent back to the states are ignorant of the theory of law behind Plessy - which is that states were the final say on such issues. It is beyond Kafkaesque to cite the overturn of Plessy in order to bring it back. Give the Reactionaries this victory and they will use it to go after all the other civil rights guaranteed by the 14th Amendment (and with the full support of the Catholic bishops).

Hispanics are essentially multiracial, meaning they identify as White, Black and Indigenous and vote (or don't vote) accordingly. Many of the Indigenous are Adventists, which don't vote Democratic either (same for light skinned Catholic Hispanics - who vote like other Catholics). The gender divide is a more important predictor in these communities - yet Hillary still lost.

Wizards are very real. They are the celebrities of authoritarian capitalism. They have power because we let them.

Capitalists believe that when they pay benefits to their workers, they are giving them a gift. Mark has a point. This is why raising the minimum wage and channeling the child tax credit through employers as part of wages is the best way to deliver them - or through benefits for those who have no job. Even receiving benefits should be equated with pay if beneficiaries are receiving unemployment or some form of training or education. 

Baroque Advent and Christmas music makes it hard to understand that the true nature of the Divine is Humility (and not just Jesus himself). Worship should not be considered a gift to God, who needs no such thing. It is entirely for our sakes.

 

Opposition to Black icon at Catholic University ignores Christ's universality

Opposition to Black icon at Catholic University ignores Christ's universality 

YAF is for people who do not like College Republicans. They are a barometer for what privileged White kids think. So is the student body at CUA (where I stayed while an intern in Roger Jepsen's office - I had also been a CR). Sadly (or maybe gladly), they do reflect the biases of upper class Catholics, whose opinions are more cultural than Catholic. Universality in the Church is an ideal, not a practice or its history. We are good at finding Christ in ourselves. Finding the humility of Christ is hard. In the entire Godhead, much hearder, yet that is what we must do - by finding it in others.

Links: Cordileone rescheduled; Newsom's gun proposal; GOP shenanigans in Georgia

Links: Cordileone rescheduled; Newsom's gun proposal; GOP shenanigans in Georgia 

The Archbishop of Paris should have stood up against celibacy and sacred continence. The Archbishop of San Francisco is only standing up for Republican talking points. Sadly, some see no problem with that.

Meadows is refusing to testify because, if convicted of contempt, it will be a concurrent sentence. He could not stop the FBI from getting his materials. He is not alone. If the House wants to punish him, they need to remove his floor privileges for life. He won't be the only one among current and former members.

Republican primary voters love their celebrities. They hope that enough Democrats and Independents will too, despite the likelihood that 2022 will look like 1974. With 130 Republicans voting to go along with sedition after the fact, the term Soft of Putin needs to be said loud and often.

Olympic games should be spread over multiple permanent sites and spread throughout the summer and winter. Put distance running in Africa, swimming in the US, diving in China, skiing in Norway, speed skating in Denmark, etc. Give nations with dominant teams home field advantage.

Newsom has never been above the odd publicity stunt. Any gun ban should come from the government debarring any gun or ammo manufacturer that sells to the public. Standing questions will soon doom the Texas law. Plaintiffs and Defendants are needed to make this happen. The pro-life movement is as bad as Newsom in trying to look busy. We will see what happens with Dobbs v. Mississippi.

Redistricting efforts need to be challenged with lawsuits, although this is as likely to harm Democrats as Republicans in many states. Voter suppression will not stand. Even without pre-clearance, the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department will sue to get the same result.

Imbelli and Francis have moved the needle, but we have a long way to go to acknowledge the Perfect Humility of the Blessed Trinity, the Crucifixion as reaching man rather than placating God and realizing that justice is a human concept - that claims that God is all just sell God short. It is not that he won't look upon evil. Instead, She simply does not see it when She sees us.

The best Advent music is O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. All else is ostentation.