Saturday, September 26, 2015

Suggested Readings from Sept. 26, 2015

Note: Each block of text actually is a link to a story or a web page that I am commenting on. Click on that text and it will take you to the page being referred to.

I was tempted to forgo today’s edition … I have been pretty busy going hither and yon, plus I spent the better part of the evening watching Pope Francis at the Festival of Families Conference … very interesting … and I probably will take the time at another point to go into depth about my reaction. Still, there is some papal stuff among this list … so  you can make your own mind up.

I sometimes think progressive socialist Bernie Sanders has his head up his derriere ... this commentary explains why. Unfortunately, today's educational system apparently does not do a real good job teaching about what the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution really say ... nor the battles that went on in shaping both documents.

Another article that lays the blame for the gridlock and chaos on Capitol Hill at the feet of the Republicans ... while failing to acknowledge that it is the Democrats who are using the power of the filibuster and the veto to force compliance with its demands ... such as to fund Planned Parenthood. They are the one who are blocking votes and refusing to let the majority in Congress to act. Doesn't sound all that democratic to me.

Yet another WaPo analysis that fails to acknowledge that gridlock takes two to cause ... and it is not just a small group on the right that wants to fight, but then entire Democratic membership of Congress, which seems unwilling to make any accommodations or compromises ... especially on any issue tinged with the taint of abortion.

And another WaPo analysis that ignores the take no prisoners and yield no ground policies of the Democrats in the House and Senate. It is no wonder that the GOP gets blamed for everything, because the gatekeepers who feed us our daily dose of opinion-making news keeps painting that it is the dysfunction and debate within the GOP that is the problem.

Kevin McCarthy, John Boehner's apparent replacement, has his work cut out for him ... but even then it is being painted that not confronting the Democrats and "governing" is more important that challenging them on their obstructionism.

Not to defend the current government-corrupted version of capitalism that seems to be in vogue right now, but the criticism of Pope Francis' view of capitalism is quite accurate, in my humble opinion ... which would distress most progressives. Just because a man is the Pope (despite papal doctrine), he remains a man and therefore is fallible and quite often wrong. That is why, in my humble opinion, Pope Francis seems to close each of his remarks with a plea to is audience to pray for him or at least wish him well. The pontiff, I suspect, recognizes his own humanness and its frailty and fallibility.

Welcome to America, Pope Francis, where you will find that people will ignore what you say that they disagree with (like you never said it) and overstate your position on things they like. It is the American way.

Interesting commentary referencing a piece on the web site The Onion ... a parody news site for the uninitiated ... but it makes a good case for free markets.

Another ringing defense of capitalism ... based on the evidence and not emotion.

Paul Greenberg on the impact of the Pope on Cuba and in a way, the world ... I think he has a point.

It seems that the Russians are back to revising history ... and the Poles ain't buying their new version.

Now this development about the tragedies comes as absolutely no surprise to me ... remember my conspiracy theory? Well, it seems that the Iranians at hell-bent at destroying the Saudi kingdoms authority as the Custodians of the two Holy Mosques (Mecca and Medina).

I watched this on TV ... it was quite an interesting performance ... Pope Francis' is one of the most charismatic leaders the church has seen, probably, in centuries ... and I suspect surpassing John Paul II, who is now a saint for his efforts.

Ben Carson strikes again. And, yes, the media should stop being stupid and grow up. It would also help if they would report and base their analysis and commentary on what a candidate actually says and not what they think they heard or the spin they want to put on what the candidate said.

No comments: