Who Will be Trump's Veep? | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: The last person Trump would select is Carly Fiorina, as she endorsed Cruz. Cruz is actually not totally out of the race if the Dump Trump movement gives him most of the remaining states. I suspect that Chris Christie would have to be on the short list of both Republicans.
Clinton's main delegate bloc are the Super Delegates. If Sanders gains a majority of earned delegates, there will be a great deal of pressure on some of these to move to Sanders. Of course, if they agree to play nice, Sanders or Clinton would be top of the list on either of their opponents picks. The HUD Secretary, Castro, is a possibility. Jack Kemp was a former HUD Secretary when Robert Dole chose him as a running mate.
Clinton's picks for Treasury will likely be from Goldman Sacks, unless she puts Sanders on the ticket which would make such a pick rude. I would hope she would not pick a Senator, unless that Senator is from a safe state. Elizabeth Warren could be chosen because Massachusetts law requires election of the replacement - which means a Kennedy might run - a decent interval having passed since Teddy's death.
Just thinking about Trump or Cruz setting up a cabinet shows how unlikely their election is, as they would not be serious about governing. Even if Sanders were the Democratic nominee, they would have no chance - even with expected red baiting.
Thursday, March 10, 2016
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
Links for 03/09/16 | National Catholic Reporter
Links for 03/09/16 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Socialism is a very Jewish thing. Its also a very Catholic thing (just ask Pope Francis). Those of us who are not exactly Zionist don't doubt Bernie's Jewishness, although I am about 2% Jewish on my paternal grandmother's side - so in some traditions, not at all. Still, he is Zionist enough. I am mostly Romany on my father's side and have come to believe that we are the other ten tribes - with as much a right to Zion as the Jews (including those of us who are Palestinians from the Samaritan line). I am waiting until we get to Maryland to really feel the Bern, and Michigan and probably Florida mean that I will get my chance to.
Congratulations to Pope Francis for three years of a papacy of quiet examples, both in his writings and in who encounters in his many energetic travels. Can't wait until after Easter to see what he has to say about marriage. Let no one say he is above controversy. Quiet example peeves some conservatives, but there has not been a public calling out. Many of us are open that the call for Mercy is extended to those of us in broken marriages.
If Cato does not like the Administration bail out of Puerto Rico than he must be doing something right. Indeed, their contention that this will hurt the borrowing powers of municipalities is hogwash, as quite a few of these have been given the right to go to bankruptcy and have control boards to help them sort things out and usually add emergency funding - since most financially sick cities and territories have real problems that normal finance can't help them with. How that effects Kansas and Louisiana whose self inflicted wounds are even worse is hard to say, although their solution looks like bigger progressive income taxes. Michigan too.
Congratulations to Pope Francis for three years of a papacy of quiet examples, both in his writings and in who encounters in his many energetic travels. Can't wait until after Easter to see what he has to say about marriage. Let no one say he is above controversy. Quiet example peeves some conservatives, but there has not been a public calling out. Many of us are open that the call for Mercy is extended to those of us in broken marriages.
If Cato does not like the Administration bail out of Puerto Rico than he must be doing something right. Indeed, their contention that this will hurt the borrowing powers of municipalities is hogwash, as quite a few of these have been given the right to go to bankruptcy and have control boards to help them sort things out and usually add emergency funding - since most financially sick cities and territories have real problems that normal finance can't help them with. How that effects Kansas and Louisiana whose self inflicted wounds are even worse is hard to say, although their solution looks like bigger progressive income taxes. Michigan too.
Clinton Falters in Michigan; Trump is On His Way | National Catholic Reporter
Clinton Falters in Michigan; Trump is On His Way | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: I am not sure Clinton can pivot to the left, as every fiber in her being believes in the DLC message and its relationship to Wall Street. In a race where one candidates wants to win at all costs and the other has a message that needs to get out at all costs, I will chose the message every time, because the other candidate is in it for themselves, not for the voters. She also still sounds snide in her stump speech. That works against Trump, who sounds worse, but not against fellow progressives.
Sanders can win if he dominates New York and California (no small task) and gets at least half the super-delegates to remember that being Democrat does not only mean making sure the Democratic candidate wins. Its time to separate the Democrats from the Republican-lite office holders.
The Trump surprise in Michigan was that Kasich did not do better. If Trump wins Ohio, Kasich is done. Rubio is already done and Cruz is not leaving. Rubio needs to get out now. I suspect our young first termer was encouraged to run (like Carson) as a contrast to Obama. The point has been made - Republicans should quit making contrasts - a move started with Sarah Palin and continued with Herbert Cain.
Obama was elected fair and square. He was competent and did a good job - despite GOP attempts to derail him. Of course, the GOP will never admit that. They just saw him as young and black. The only flaw in his presidency was that he had too many former Clintonites on his economic team - a lesson that is important to note when chosing the Democratic nominess as well.
Sanders can win if he dominates New York and California (no small task) and gets at least half the super-delegates to remember that being Democrat does not only mean making sure the Democratic candidate wins. Its time to separate the Democrats from the Republican-lite office holders.
The Trump surprise in Michigan was that Kasich did not do better. If Trump wins Ohio, Kasich is done. Rubio is already done and Cruz is not leaving. Rubio needs to get out now. I suspect our young first termer was encouraged to run (like Carson) as a contrast to Obama. The point has been made - Republicans should quit making contrasts - a move started with Sarah Palin and continued with Herbert Cain.
Obama was elected fair and square. He was competent and did a good job - despite GOP attempts to derail him. Of course, the GOP will never admit that. They just saw him as young and black. The only flaw in his presidency was that he had too many former Clintonites on his economic team - a lesson that is important to note when chosing the Democratic nominess as well.
Tuesday, March 8, 2016
Links for 03/08/16 | National Catholic Reporter
Links for 03/08/16 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: The old motto used to be Pro Deo et Patria. Now its for God and Party. In either case, there was always some doubt as to whether God came first on the list. At least the Democrats don't prostitute the Church for their political ends. As for Trump, this is likely to little, too late. If these Republicans believe in country, they will have to vote for Clinton or Sanders.
Most of us would hardly know of the Cardinal Newman Society if it were not for these pages. I am fairly sure MSW gives them better press than they give themselves. I am sure the Cardinal's husband is quite amused from Heaven at their stupidity. I am sure neither Biden nor Fr. Jenkins is losing any sleep over their opposition.
I suspect the Michiganders who were jumping on the Kasich bandwagon are reacting to the fact that he is not doing well in other states. I cannot see Catholics for Cruz and Rubio is not getting support for the same reason Kasich isn't. Like most Trump supporters, they want someone who will fix things for them and the Donald fills the bill. They are also just a little bit authoritarian in their social outlook and on race, they fall right in with the other Trump supporters. This should be a short night. (Of course, if they really want the changes that would help them, they would vote Sanders).
Most of us would hardly know of the Cardinal Newman Society if it were not for these pages. I am fairly sure MSW gives them better press than they give themselves. I am sure the Cardinal's husband is quite amused from Heaven at their stupidity. I am sure neither Biden nor Fr. Jenkins is losing any sleep over their opposition.
I suspect the Michiganders who were jumping on the Kasich bandwagon are reacting to the fact that he is not doing well in other states. I cannot see Catholics for Cruz and Rubio is not getting support for the same reason Kasich isn't. Like most Trump supporters, they want someone who will fix things for them and the Donald fills the bill. They are also just a little bit authoritarian in their social outlook and on race, they fall right in with the other Trump supporters. This should be a short night. (Of course, if they really want the changes that would help them, they would vote Sanders).
Hispanics & Catholic schools | National Catholic Reporter
Hispanics & Catholic schools | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: I would not be at all sanguine about any statistic showing English speaking at home - as these are most likely families who have been here for fifty to a hundred years, or more. I don't believe that training non-immigrants to teach the large immigrant population will work. Instead, we need teachers, principals and priests that the people can identify with. We need missionary churches and teachers from Mexico and Central America. Let them go through learning American English with their students and parishoners and experience with them the hatred some whites have for immigrants. Only then will they be an attraction to what will likely be charter schools, unless we can tax the richer diocese to offer free or very reduced price tuition (which would cover religious education that cannot be state funded).
Links for 03/07/16 | National Catholic Reporter
Links for 03/07/16 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Archbishop Naumann is less likely a hypocrite than a coward. It would not be popular to speak out in support of Sharia (which is not that different in places than the Cathechism). As for gay marriage, like abortion, its a dead issue. Even about the Supreme Court. The last Republican President appointed two justices that did not overturn Roe in supporting the partial birth abortion ban (speaking of fairly tales) - and they just denied a Louisiana request to allow their Trap laws to continue while the case is being heard. Both sides need to buy a clue on abortion - its settled law and it will never be overturned in the way that Scalia and the Federalis Society wanted to overturn it. Thomas favors the Court adjusting the time the nation recognizes the life of the unborn child (viability) to an earlier time - however it is likely best for Congress to do that - and they most assuredly would not - because it would end the issue for all intents and purposes if a compromise were reached - not good for either the NRLC or EMILY.
In Michigan, better the Leveda solution than the Wuerl solution (which took away benefits for all married couples). As long as the Church recognizes equally sinful civil heterosexual marriages, any denying of benefits to gays is simply bigotry.
Biden in Politico at the Gridiron is essential reading - and not just for the Cruz cut.
If you have 24 minutes and missed Mass on Sunday, you can watch Archbishop Cupich in Chicago yesterday. Since I am doing this at 2 AM, I won't be previewing it for you.
In Michigan, better the Leveda solution than the Wuerl solution (which took away benefits for all married couples). As long as the Church recognizes equally sinful civil heterosexual marriages, any denying of benefits to gays is simply bigotry.
Biden in Politico at the Gridiron is essential reading - and not just for the Cruz cut.
If you have 24 minutes and missed Mass on Sunday, you can watch Archbishop Cupich in Chicago yesterday. Since I am doing this at 2 AM, I won't be previewing it for you.
The Laetare Award: Dismantling the architecture of the culture warrior church | National Catholic Reporter
The Laetare Award: Dismantling the architecture of the culture warrior church | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Bravo to my Archbishop for lending his pressence to Notre Dame at this time when Vice President Biden and Speaker Boehner are honored with the Latarae award. I would not say that honoring these two working class legislators dismantles the culture war in any way. The war is not at Notre Dame, it is at select Sees like Philadelphia and Kansas City that can't get enough of the Republican Pro-life movement. Notre Dame is owned by a religious order - and most of these have opted out of the culture wars.
The honorees deserve their honors because they got things done - the right things - rather than focusing on pseudo-issues like abortion, where there is no real path forward. While Biden as a Senator had a hand in the abortion debate when it came to confirming justices - even the GOP justices he confirmed turned out to vote against overturning Roe. Neither politician has gone out of his way to bring abortion to the floor, as the partial birth abortion law, which was a stalking horse to overturn Roe, was passed before Boehner was speaker.
Sadly, there is the lost opportunity of what Biden could have contributed to the debate by publicly challenging the strategy of overturning Roe as an impossibility. Sometimes the most loyal and courageous thing one can do as a Catholic is to tell the truth when the bishops cooperate with error. He certainly could have explained the issue well without resorting to the Cuomo cop-out of pluralism. Of course, he still can - but I wish he had in 2004. Catholic voters may not like seeing the hierarchy publicly corrected - although I suspect the Democratic Catholics would have rejoiced - as we did when he voted for Obama as Catholics while condemning the pro-life movement as a Republican sham. At least I was very public about it on OFA discussion groups and it seems to have caught on. Of course, the death of Scalia makes it obvious that the movement needs a new strategy - as overturning Roe and letting the states sort it ous is as dead as the former Justice.
The honorees deserve their honors because they got things done - the right things - rather than focusing on pseudo-issues like abortion, where there is no real path forward. While Biden as a Senator had a hand in the abortion debate when it came to confirming justices - even the GOP justices he confirmed turned out to vote against overturning Roe. Neither politician has gone out of his way to bring abortion to the floor, as the partial birth abortion law, which was a stalking horse to overturn Roe, was passed before Boehner was speaker.
Sadly, there is the lost opportunity of what Biden could have contributed to the debate by publicly challenging the strategy of overturning Roe as an impossibility. Sometimes the most loyal and courageous thing one can do as a Catholic is to tell the truth when the bishops cooperate with error. He certainly could have explained the issue well without resorting to the Cuomo cop-out of pluralism. Of course, he still can - but I wish he had in 2004. Catholic voters may not like seeing the hierarchy publicly corrected - although I suspect the Democratic Catholics would have rejoiced - as we did when he voted for Obama as Catholics while condemning the pro-life movement as a Republican sham. At least I was very public about it on OFA discussion groups and it seems to have caught on. Of course, the death of Scalia makes it obvious that the movement needs a new strategy - as overturning Roe and letting the states sort it ous is as dead as the former Justice.
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