McCain's Snarling Mob

I've spoken before about what a dangerous game I think the McCain/Palin campaign plays in trying to rouse fear about Obama in the electorate. The video demonstrates the results of that tactic. They're ugly, and even McCain seems to think that things are getting out of hand. You reap what you sow, Senator. Will he stop the vicious ad campaign? Will he muzzle himself, but especially, will he muzzle Palin? I think not.

Josh Marshall at TPM says:

And yet this conveys too much suggestion of planning and intent. I have more the sense of someone desperately casting about and losing control of the situation itself. Even hypocrites can get in over their heads. Indeed, in a more nuts-and-bolts strategic sense McCain has really gotten himself into a hole because the campaign he's been running has almost entirely been premised on the claim that you should be scared of an Obama presidency. Not that McCain, if he'd run a very different campaign, couldn't have run on issue disagreements with Obama. But right now if you take away fear of Obama becoming president, there's almost no reason not to vote for him since McCain has basically conceded the issue agenda to Obama. If you look at every poll for months, voters are dying for change. Fear of Obama is the only thing keeping him from leaving McCain in the dust. Take that away and McCain's done.

Further, Juan Cole at Informed Comment says:

So having created this foaming-at-the-mouth mob, McCain finds himself booed by it when he offers some pro forma boilerplate about Obama being decent and a family man. But his campaign ads haven't been alleging decency, they've been alleging "terrorist ties." You can't wave raw meat dripping blood at Doberman Pinschers and then suddenly pull it away without producing snarling, baring of incisors, and straining at the leash.

I have nothing further to add.

Bloggers' Prayer

Fr. Scott quotes the prayer below which he will pray, and he invites other bloggers to join with him in praying.

"Almighty God, you proclaim your truth in every age by many voices: Direct, in our time, we pray, those who speak where many listen and write what many read; that they may do their part in making the heart of this people wise, its mind sound, and its will righteous; to the honor of Jesus Christ our Lord."

(Book of Common Prayer, page 827)

The prayer is one of the many hidden treasures in the BCP, which I had not yet discovered in my 14 years in the Episcopal Church. Shame on me. It's a lovely prayer. I've prayed a version of it myself, asking God's help that my blog will bring honor to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (No, don't laugh. I am not kidding!) I well know that I have, too often, failed to live up to that ideal, but I hold on to it in hope that one day I will, and I shall continue to try.

My only quibble with the prayer is in the joshing comment I left at Scott's place on "what many read". I told Scott, "Depending upon what you mean by 'many'...."

Another Good Man Gone

Fr. Geoff Farrow, a Roman Catholic priest from Fresno, California, about whom I posted earlier, has been suspended from the priesthood and removed from his position as pastor of his parish for speaking out publicly in his church against his bishop's "pastoral" letter advocating a vote in favor of Proposition 8, which would ban gay marriages in California.

In a letter which I wrote to our bishop early this week. I explained that I intended to take a private retreat and then, unless I heard otherwise from him, resume my duties at St. Paul's this weekend. Today, I heard from the bishop that I have been suspended as a priest and removed as pastor of the Newman Center. In all candor, I had anticipated that response which is why, I had removed my personal property from the parish house and offices. I bear no personal animosity to the bishop for his decision.
....

I have no regrets since, it was my hope that this statement would lead to greater discussion of the treatment of gay and lesbian people in and by the Church. Also, it is my earnest hope that in some small way, this helps to preserve the civil rights of gay and lesbian persons which are currently under attack by the proponants of Propostion 8.

How sad that a courageous and compassionate man such as Fr. Farrow will no longer be permitted to continue in his ministry. My prayers are with him during this very difficult period.

H/T to Brian at Noble Wolf.

How Can I Not Love This Man?

In the New Orleans Times-Picayune, Chris Rose interviews Michael Almereyda, movie maker and all-around Renaissance man from Kansas. Almereyda's film tltled "New Orleans, Mon Amour", will be shown on Sunday at the New Orleans Film Festival. I like it already just from the title. It's the story of two people who meet doing relief work after Hurricane Katrina. All right then! Now it's a must-see.

Anyway, since it's his third movie about the city, Chris asks Almereyda what draws him to make movies about New Orleans. He answers:

I'm the same as most people: Crazy about New Orleans. I love the people, the architecture, the music, the food, and the way they all blend together. I love the hauntedness and the sense of immediacy. And I love the unique rhythm of the place -- the way things are always switching from slow to fast, lazy to frenetic, and back again.

My heart melts. But wait! There's more.

Chris asks Almereyda if the New Orleans Film Festival has reached "big-time" status, and he answers:

You seem a bit fixated on this idea of "bigness." The thing is, if you have to ask, it's hard to pretend this is a big potato festival. But the bigger potatoes aren't necessarily the tastiest. And the big, self-important festivals aren't the most fun. I'm sure the New Orleans Fest will yield a fair number of treasures this year and I'm assuming it's one of the few festivals on the circuit that allows you to bring to-go cups into the theaters. That's good enough for me.

That's telling him, and it's good enough for me, too.

Connecticut Court Rules For Equal Treatment Under The Law

From Mike in Texas and Holy Foolishness in an email:

The Connecticut Supreme Court posted its decision on Kerrigan v. Public Health -- a marriage equality case --

Here's the whole decision.

Here's the bottom line:

We conclude that, in light of the history of pernicious discrimination faced by gay men and lesbians,1 and because the institution of marriage carries with it a status and significance that the newly created classification of civil unions does not embody, the segregation of heterosexual and homosexual couples into separate institutions constitutes a cognizable harm.

We also conclude that (1) our state scheme discriminates on the basis of sexual orientation, (2) for the same reasons that classifications predicated on gender are considered quasi-suspect for purposes of the equal protection provisions of the United States constitution, sexual orientation constitutes a quasi-suspect classification for purposes of the equal protection provisions of the state constitution, and, therefore, our statutes discriminating against gay persons are subject to heightened or intermediate judicial scrutiny, and (3) the state has failed to provide sufficient justification for excluding same sex couples from the institution of marriage.

Very good news, indeed. The opponents of gay marriage are engaged only in a holding action. Movement is in the direction of acceptance. The acceptance may not come as swiftly as some of us might like, and others will see the decision as the rush toward Armageddon, but the outcome is not in doubt.

Companies That Are Merging

Investment tips for 2008 for all of you with any money left, be aware of the next expected mergers so that you can get in on the ground floor and make some BIG bucks.

Watch for these consolidations in 2008:

1.) Hale Business Systems, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Fuller Brush, and W. R. Grace Co. Will merge and become:

Hale, Mary, Fuller, Grace.

2.) PolyGram Records, Warner Bros., and Zest Crackers join forces and become:

Poly, Warner Cracker.

3.) 3M will merge with Goodyear and become:

MMM Good.

4. Zippo Manufacturing, Audi Motors, Dofasco, and Dakota Mining will merge and become:

ZipAudiDoDa

5. FedEx is expected to join its competitor, UPS, and become:

FedUP.

6. Fairchild Elec tronics and Honeywell Computers will become:

Fairwell Honeychild.

7. Grey Poupon and Docker Pants are expected to become:

PouponPants.

8. Knotts Berry Farm a nd the National Organization of Women will become:

Knott NOW!

And finally ...

9. Victoria 's Secret and Smith &Wesson will merge under the new name:

TittyTitty Bang Bang

OH YOU KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO FORWARD THIS ONE.

Oh no, Susan S. I'm going to post it. Thank you. In these trying times we need any help that we can get.

Geaux Joe!

From FirstRead at MSNBC:

“All of the things they said about Barack Obama in the TV, on the TV, at their rallies, and now on YouTube … John McCain could not bring himself to look Barack Obama in the eye and say the same things to him,” Biden said this morning. “In my neighborhood, when you’ve got something to say to a guy, you look him in the eye and you say it to him.”

To which Josh Marshall adds (forgive me if I offend anyone, but I simply could not resist):

After the election, in the interests of national reconciliation, I imagine Obama and Biden may allow McCain to make special non-custodial visits to his testicles.

Hey! It's just a word, a part of human anatomy.

Another Good Man

Fr. Geoff Farrow is a Roman Catholic priest in Fresno, California. Upon receiving a "pastoral" letter from his bishop asking all the pastors in the diocese to advocate to their parishioners to vote in favor of Proposition 8, which would overturn a recently passed law permitting same-gender marriages and enforce a ban on them once again, Fr. Farrow could not keep silent and publicly expressed his disagreement with the bishop's "pastoral".

He now has a blog. His first post, titled How It All Began, explains the reason for his disagreement and his decision not to remain silent. His words are beautiful and eloquent.

Fr. Farrow faces serious consequences by publicly expressing his opposition to the bishop's letter advocating for a "Yes" vote for the proposition. I admire him greatly for his honesty and courage. I urge you to visit his blog and read his initial post and perhaps leave a word for him. His comments moderation is enabled, so your comment may not appear immediately.

I can't help but wonder at the RCC bishops' many admonitions to the laity about bringing forth life and procreating, since they do not follow their own advice in the matter. Why aren't they doing their part by marrying and procreating?

Further, how is it life-giving to condemn gays and lesbians to lives of loneliness by not allowing them to bind together and express their love for one another, even if they are in faithful and committed relationships? It seems to me that members of the bishops' flocks are left unpastored. Anyway, Fr. Farrow says all of this a lot better than I ever could.

I offer him my prayers and support.

John McCain On The Trail Today

From TPM.

"Across this country, this is the agenda I have set before my fellow prisoners and the same standards of clarity and candor must now be applied to my opponent."

The video is now posted.

Watch Sarah's expression after he says "prisoners".

The manner in which Sarah Palin and other surrogates of McCain whip up the crowds into a frenzy to the point where there are shouts of "Terrorist!" or "Treason!" about Obama is quite dangerous. Or are they plants as Josh Marshall asks? Whatever it is, this campaign tactic is irresponsible in the extreme.

What Breed Of Liberal Are You?

My Liberal Identity:

You are a Peace Patroller, also known as an anti-war liberal or neo-hippie. You believe in putting an end to American imperial conquest, stopping wars that have already been lost, and supporting our troops by bringing them home.

Take the quiz at www.FightConservatives.com

I don't believe that I am liberal. I lean more toward the radical persuasion.

From Merriam-Webster: Definition of RADICAL:

Etymology:
Middle English, from Late Latin radicalis, from Latin radic-, radix root — more at root
Date:
14th century

1: of, relating to, or proceeding from a root: as a (1): of or growing from the root of a plant (2): growing from the base of a stem, from a rootlike stem, or from a stem that does not rise above the ground b: of, relating to, or constituting a linguistic root c: of or relating to a mathematical root d: designed to remove the root of a disease or all diseased and potentially diseased tissue

2: of or relating to the origin : fundamental

3 a: marked by a considerable departure from the usual or traditional : extreme b: tending or disposed to make extreme changes in existing views, habits, conditions, or institutions c: of, relating to, or constituting a political group associated with views, practices, and policies of extreme change d: advocating extreme measures to retain or restore a political state of affairs

4: slang : excellent, cool

I'll take 3 and especially 4.

Thanks to Lapin, who can tell you himself his results of the quiz, if he so chooses.