May
31
Confronting evil with evil
May 31, 2009 | Comments Off
That affair, in its philosophy, corresponds with the many attempts, related in history, at the assassination of kings and emperors. An enthusiast broods over the oppression of a people till he fancies himself commissioned by Heaven to liberate them. He ventures the attempt, which ends in little else than his own execution. Orsini’s attempt on [...]
May
29
On second thought . . .
May 29, 2009 | 2 Comments
This may be as good a time as ever to bring back my “Rethinking” series, because I may have misjudged the Gary Sheffield signing. I initially wasn’t so hot on the idea. Ugh. I guess we could do worse than $400,000 for an occasional pinch-hit homer. Well, he’s done a bit more than hit an [...]
May
29
And I was having such a good day so far
May 29, 2009 | Comments Off
Then I had to go and read this post at Amazin’ Avenue. It basically compares the attitudes of Manny Acta and Jerry Manuel, and let’s just say they don’t reflect favorably on the latter. Of course people will retort that Manuel manages a first place team while Acta’s is the worst in baseball. Before you [...]
May
29
Patrick Ruffini is making sense (Updated)
May 29, 2009 | 4 Comments
Patrick Ruffini’s take on how to approach the Sotomayor nomination is one which most closely resembles my own. Like me, Ruffini is not advocating an all-out blitz, but rather a vocal if restrained “get it on the record” approach. I think his first point is most salient. Not Blowing the Whistle on a Solid Liberal [...]
May
28
Hey, was that a ringwraith?
May 28, 2009 | Comments Off
Nope, just the baby making a cooing sound that the neighbor’s dog just heard. And by neighbor, I mean our neigbors back at our old house. That was proceeded by what seemed to be rehearsal for the opera. Happy babies make such wonderful noises.
May
27
Not missing you so much
May 27, 2009 | 1 Comment
The words “Scott Kazmir” have much the same effect on your average Mets fan as garlic has on a vampire or logic has on Steve Phillips. Any combination of Kazmir, Victor Zambrano, and Jim Duquette used in the same breath will have the Mets fan running for the nearest signed Mike Piazza poster. The trade [...]
May
27
Yeah, this was pretty predictable
May 27, 2009 | 6 Comments
Prepare yourselves for a shock, but Grima Wormtongue Doug Kmiec has come out in support of Sonia Sotomayor. I’ll give you a moment to recover from the surprise. Sooner or later the Catholic faith of Judge Sonia Sotomayor will be raised as an objection to her nomination and appointment to the Supreme Court of the [...]
May
26
On opposing Sotomayor
May 26, 2009 | 1 Comment
I generally agree with my friends Feddie and Jay Anderson that conservatives and Republicans should not make too much of a ruckus in opposing President Obama’s Supreme Court pick of Sonia Sotomayor. First of all, we have to just accept the fact that elections have consequences, and this is one of them. It’s a trite [...]
May
22
Picky, Picky
May 22, 2009 | 1 Comment
Last night I attended a beautiful Extraordinay Form celebration of the Feast of the Ascension. As I was sitting there, I couldn’t help – and for this I should engage in a bit of self-flagellation – but start thinking that the choir was over-doing the polyphony. It was beautiful, as I said, but I prefer [...]
May
21
The world is definitely coming to an end
May 21, 2009 | 2 Comments
In a day where I’ve already expressed agreement with Bill Maher, I suddenly find myself nodding in agreement with Howard Fineman. Right now there are two RNCs here in Washington, side by side. The contrast is instructive. One, the Republican National Committee, is a clueless self-parody. The other, the (R)ush-(N)ewt-(C)heney tag team, is providing the [...]
May
21
The most painful post I may ever write
May 21, 2009 | 1 Comment
It absolutely pains me to agree with Bill Maher, but he is absolutely on the money here. You see, our state is designed to be ungovernable because we govern by ballot initiative, and we only write two kinds of them: “Spend money on things I like” and “Don’t raise my taxes.” More money for teachers [...]
May
20
Sleep is for the weak
May 20, 2009 | 2 Comments
Could we have kippers for breakfast Mummy dear, mummy dear They gotta have them in Texas Because everyone’s a millionaire A bunch of random personal items, because most other subject matters are too depressing to mull. – Here’s a new way to comfort of out of control crtying baby: take her outside. In my case, [...]
May
20
These guys blog so I don’t have to
May 20, 2009 | 1 Comment
So much good stuff out there, I just have to link to it all. Or just the best of the best. Dale Price absolutely smokes yet another ridiculous America editorial. I really, really hope I never get on Dale’s bad side. A pair from The American Catholic. First, Eric Brown explores the issue of women [...]
May
19
Hey, I finally have something in common with the President
May 19, 2009 | Comments Off
Michelle Obama was at the re-opening of the American wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art yesterday, and relayed this anecdote. “Thank you for reminding me,” she said. “You know, after 20-some-odd years of knowing a guy, you forget that your first date was at a museum. But it was, and it was obviously wonderful; [...]
May
19
Ascension ThurSunday
May 19, 2009 | Comments Off
This week I find myself a victim of the confusing and shifting placement of the Feast of the Ascension. This Sunday I will be in New York, one of the few diocese that does not transfer the feast from Thursday to Sunday. Of course I live in the Washington Archdiocese, which does transfer the feast [...]
May
19
Verizon Fios
May 19, 2009 | 6 Comments
Do any of you have or have had Verizon Fios, and if so, what is your experience with it? Is it better than cable?
May
18
Principles vs. Politics
May 18, 2009 | 1 Comment
Ramesh Ponnuru and Jerry Taylor have been having a discussion on the Corner over the Medicare prescription drug benefit. You can start here and work your way backwards through the links. Frankly, the two are talking past each other because they are approaching it from different perspectives. Ramesh is looking at the political reality of [...]
May
18
Notre Dame and le President
May 18, 2009 | Comments Off
Not only is this one of the best articles I’ve read about the Notre Dame commencement, but it’s just one of the best articles I’ve ever read about abortion and moral culpability. Read the whole thing. H/t: Feddie. Also, a great post by Matt Archibold: why reduce unwanted pregnancies? Matt asks the question that always [...]
May
18
Meanwhile, Great Britain is burning
May 18, 2009 | Comments Off
Anybody who takes a gander at the right hand of my sidebar and sees my reading list can appreciate that I tend to be a bit of an Anglophile. I have a deep appreciation for the nation’s history and culture. So it breaks my heart to see the country continuing down a path of destruction. [...]
May
18
ND
May 18, 2009 | Comments Off
Opinionated Catholic has the roundup of coverage on the commencement. I have little to add to what’s already been said elsewhere. I will simply re-iterate what I said in my graduation post: it was an honor to have attended and graduated from a true Catholic university that does more than pay lip service to the [...]