Taking Liberties with History | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: The GOP hardly knows its own history. Viewing some of the writing of Lincoln on the evils of capitalism, one cannot but think that Honest Abe had read a little Marx - or agreed with a bit of it, certainly adopting the first agenda item from the Manifesto - an income tax. Also, all of the social legislation and court decisions the GOP now decry come from a 14th Amendment written and ratifiied by the radical Republicans. Of course, in this day and age, those people - including Lincoln, would be Sanders Democrats.
Strom Thurmond, Trent Lott, Jesse Helms and George Wallace would have no place in the Democratic Party today - although they were the loudest voices of segregationism. While some old segregationists simply shut up and served their Senate terms out as Democrats, the virulent ones became members of the GOP - a little history that Republicans are loathe to admit - even now as they are beseiged by racists in the Trump camp. When you lie with dogs, you get up with fleas.
One wonders whether Sanger would be a Trump voter - especially since just a few elections ago, while exploring a run, claimed that he was 100% pro-choice. Lets see if the pro-life movement and the bishops remember that bit of history.
Thursday, March 31, 2016
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
Links for 03/30/16 | National Catholic Reporter
Links for 03/30/16 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: The Perot comparison only makes sense if the GOP runs Romney or Cruz as a rump candidate and Trump gets the nomination anyway or takes his marbles and files as a third party candidate (which he really cannot do in some places because of sore loser laws, neither can Cruz). The point is, both would be drawing from the same voter base, not from the Hillary or Sanders base. What Hillary would fear is Sanders running as the Socialist Party candidate - because that would take votes away from her - unless of course he kills it in New York and California. Unless Sanders voters go to Trump, Hillary wins against Trump. Hillary's women certainly would not go for the Donald. He may not even get Republican women. The fact that the Democrats are favored by the nuttiness of Trump and reactions to it is exactly the point of the Washington Post piece. I would think 45 states may be in play with two right-wing nut candidates.
The SCOTUSBlog post is interesting. What is most interesting is that the tie is leading to further deliberation rather than simply vacating the case. This signals that it is not likely that the justices will agree that there is no protection for "religious power" over employees. I suspect that Judge Garland may have altered the mix on that topic. Now we will see if the Church is still willing to play chicken on this or whether it will accede to what is a good compromise directed from the bench.
The SCOTUSBlog post is interesting. What is most interesting is that the tie is leading to further deliberation rather than simply vacating the case. This signals that it is not likely that the justices will agree that there is no protection for "religious power" over employees. I suspect that Judge Garland may have altered the mix on that topic. Now we will see if the Church is still willing to play chicken on this or whether it will accede to what is a good compromise directed from the bench.
Religious Liberty: S. Court, Georgia & Scare Quotes | National Catholic Reporter
Religious Liberty: S. Court, Georgia & Scare Quotes | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: The good news is that a solution is in sight on contraceptive coverage which reflects a compromise between the four liberal justices and the three moderate justices. The bad news is what is left unsaid, that religious liberty and religious power are two separate things - and we are under no obligation to support the lattter - indeed, the government is not allowed to do so under the establishment clause. The Governor of Georgia may understand that. The businesses doing business in Georgia certainly do - if only because gay people are better customers than white evangelicals - although some of that is a class issue. The use of "scare quotes" shows the media understands the principle,but has not used the language - calling what religious people refer to as religious liberty as religious power (notice I did not say people of faith).
What should the bishops do? Quit going after gays. Support ENDA without a religious exemption (last I heard, the Catholic Church ordains celibate gays - and I suspect in the future will ordain non-celibate gays and lesbians who are married). Polite society has essentially made up its mind on homosexuals. The Church can either be inside or outside - but if they stay outside, most of the people in the pews will disagree. I suspect the Pope will too. Religious liberty has become the new abortion issue - except this time the wedge is going the other way. This is entirely about conservative solidarity - which is a shambles in the Trump era.
(Private to MSW. Homesexuality is not a sin unless it is lived out promiscuously).
What should the bishops do? Quit going after gays. Support ENDA without a religious exemption (last I heard, the Catholic Church ordains celibate gays - and I suspect in the future will ordain non-celibate gays and lesbians who are married). Polite society has essentially made up its mind on homosexuals. The Church can either be inside or outside - but if they stay outside, most of the people in the pews will disagree. I suspect the Pope will too. Religious liberty has become the new abortion issue - except this time the wedge is going the other way. This is entirely about conservative solidarity - which is a shambles in the Trump era.
(Private to MSW. Homesexuality is not a sin unless it is lived out promiscuously).
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Links for 03/29/16 | National Catholic Reporter
Links for 03/29/16 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: I don't necessarily mind references to the mythical Adam and Eve (humankind is much more ancient), as long as they are regarded as symbolic and not historical. It is hard enough to argue with some that Jesus really did exist without homilies having him interact with characters who did not. That being said, the triumph of the resurrection is for us, not for God. God knows that death his beneath him. By rising, God makes death beneath us.
It is good that young people, including Republicans, are giving up on xenophobia. Perhaps there is hope for a compromise yet, but not the compromise passed by the Senate previously, which is a slave bill. We need to start from scratch and be a lot less punitive.
The reason immigration is important to Trump's evangelical white voters is because they are authoritarian. They want a strong figure to sort it out and they hate that undocumented immigrants have broken the law to come here - even though the law is only a misdemeanor (no more that Trump's aid grabbing a member of the press) as well as the law being an ass.
I doubt people are following Rush onto the Trump bandwagon. Its more likely that Rush is giving in to an opportunistic impulse and is following his audience to Trump - although Rush is as much an authoritarian as Trump is. Rush is not a conservative the way political science describes conservatives. He is a reactionary force. Maybe loss in November will purge the reactionary impulse from the GOP - but I doubt it. Clinton is the Conservative in the race, using classical definitions - only Sanders is liberal - not even very radical. When I ran, I was radical. Bravo to Gerson for equating Trump with Palin's anti-intellectualism
It is good that young people, including Republicans, are giving up on xenophobia. Perhaps there is hope for a compromise yet, but not the compromise passed by the Senate previously, which is a slave bill. We need to start from scratch and be a lot less punitive.
The reason immigration is important to Trump's evangelical white voters is because they are authoritarian. They want a strong figure to sort it out and they hate that undocumented immigrants have broken the law to come here - even though the law is only a misdemeanor (no more that Trump's aid grabbing a member of the press) as well as the law being an ass.
I doubt people are following Rush onto the Trump bandwagon. Its more likely that Rush is giving in to an opportunistic impulse and is following his audience to Trump - although Rush is as much an authoritarian as Trump is. Rush is not a conservative the way political science describes conservatives. He is a reactionary force. Maybe loss in November will purge the reactionary impulse from the GOP - but I doubt it. Clinton is the Conservative in the race, using classical definitions - only Sanders is liberal - not even very radical. When I ran, I was radical. Bravo to Gerson for equating Trump with Palin's anti-intellectualism
Trump At the Times | National Catholic Reporter
Trump At the Times | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Trump is a fascist with delusions that he is an uber-mensch. He is as personally infallible as the pope is historically - meaning he thinks he can do no wrong. His utter lack of personal humility would doom this country and is dooming his party. He could even be said to have bipolar disorder, without the benefit of a good mood stabilizer. Luckily, both Sanders and Clinton beat him in November, so maybe he is just exorcising the ghosts of Republicanism. This is why the establishment is aiming to stop his nomination. Good luck with that as he is the culmination of the FoxNews project begun so long ago.
Monday, March 28, 2016
Links for 03/28/16 | National Catholic Reporter
Links for 03/28/16 | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Unless there is some danger that Karadzic could be released and restart the genocide, there is no reason to euthanize him for the protection of others. Of course, since he will spend the rest of his life alone in a cage, he is essentially going to die in government custody anyway.
Puerto Rico needs help - and if we have to do a Hamiltonian solution for much of the state debt that is out there (even Red State debt which comes from undertaxation), so be it. The European Union should undertake similar steps for its member states, who need their own continent-wide debt and tax. Only such steps will bring the vulture capitalists to heel.
My mother was a big fan of Mother Angelica - even making a road trip (pilgrimidge) to EWTN's station in the south with friends. For those who find comfort in Adoration and in Faith as certitude, Angelica was an icon. I would rather trust God by going out on the skinny branches. Still, for her faith, may she rest in peace.
Puerto Rico needs help - and if we have to do a Hamiltonian solution for much of the state debt that is out there (even Red State debt which comes from undertaxation), so be it. The European Union should undertake similar steps for its member states, who need their own continent-wide debt and tax. Only such steps will bring the vulture capitalists to heel.
My mother was a big fan of Mother Angelica - even making a road trip (pilgrimidge) to EWTN's station in the south with friends. For those who find comfort in Adoration and in Faith as certitude, Angelica was an icon. I would rather trust God by going out on the skinny branches. Still, for her faith, may she rest in peace.
Perils of Punditry | National Catholic Reporter
Perils of Punditry | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: The analysis that Gordon made and Will cited could have been found in any book by Democratic Socialist/Marxists economists Gar Alperovitz or Richard Wollf. I am glad Comrade Will is finally coming around to the obvious. What this history also implies is that FDR essentially short circuited Marxist progress in the 1930s by dropping them in exchange for the acceptance of Social Security and unionization by the plutocrats. Reaga brought the plutocrats back. How far they are back is demonstrated by Thomas Frank, who is probably not going to get any invitations to do a reading at the White House after his next book - at least if Hillary wins. If Bernie wins, however, expect him to be a regular guest.
Kingsley is ignoring the fact that the Sanders campaign is doing quite well in going after Mrs. Clinton - not for her femininity but because she is in that group that Thomas Frank criticizes. His soft playing the racism is the opposition to the President (particularly in the Senate, perhaps?) is unfortunate.
I am not sure what to make of Will, but Kingsley is trying to buy into that hopeful idea that we are a post racial society. He he had more access to libertarian discussion groups, he would not say that.
Kingsley is ignoring the fact that the Sanders campaign is doing quite well in going after Mrs. Clinton - not for her femininity but because she is in that group that Thomas Frank criticizes. His soft playing the racism is the opposition to the President (particularly in the Senate, perhaps?) is unfortunate.
I am not sure what to make of Will, but Kingsley is trying to buy into that hopeful idea that we are a post racial society. He he had more access to libertarian discussion groups, he would not say that.
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