IRAN'S NUKE ACCORDING TO BIBI

Did anyone in the audience at the UN laugh out loud?  How could they contain themselves upon seeing Netanyahu show a bomb right out of a Looney Tunes cartoon?  My first thought was of Wile E. Cayote.

The Israeli Likud Party’s cover story for why it wants to draw the United States into a war with Iran makes no real sense. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has been predicting an Iranian nuclear bomb since 1992 (a time when Iran had no nuclear program at all), and he has been wrong for 15 years in a row. Minister of Defense Ehud Barak and other Israeli officials have said publicly that Iran has not decided to go for a nuclear weapon. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has given more than one fatwa or formal religious ruling that making and stockpiling nuclear weapons are forbidden in Islamic law. Netanyahu is in a position similar to that of someone who wants to argue that Pope Benedict XVI secretly has a condom factory operating in the Vatican.

Bibi makes the case for war with Iran on the same bases that he made the case for war in Iraq.  By changing only one letter in the name of the country and using pretty much the same pattern of lies and misinformation which were successful in persuading Cheney/Bush to launch a war in Iraq, Bibi's script promoting an attack on Iran was written.  Check out the 2002 video of Bibi's testimony before Congress, explaining the dangers of Saddam's weapons of mass destruction, which were later proved to be non-existent.

Check out the winners of  the caption contest of the photo above at The New Yorker.

STILL NO WHITE SMOKE

The panel choosing the next archbishop of Canterbury is rumoured to be deadlocked after meeting in secrecy for three days last week.

The lack of a clear winner so far has led to speculation that the original frontrunner, the archbishop of York, John Sentamu, has divided the Crown Nominations Commission, and that he may even be out of the race.

Reports indicated that the 16-strong panel may also have ruled out the bishop of London, the Rt Rev Richard Chartres.

It is understood the panel will be holding a further session, indicating it has been unable to agree on a candidate.
....

Other frontrunners in contention are the bishop of Durham, Justin Welby, and the bishop of Norwich, Graham James.

Thinking Anglicans has many more links to articles on the Crown Nominations Commission's efforts to complete the task of choosing the next Archbishop of Canterbury.

From the comments at Thinking Anglicans;

If stalemate or deadlock really has resulted at the last meeting of the CNC - then why not have a period of interregnum in order to reflect thoughtfully and prayerfully on who should succeed the saintly Rowan? After all - in a bid to economise many dioceses seems to positively encourage long interregnums in parishes - often of two years or more - in order to save on stipends. That is unless the benefice becomes a "House for Duty" parish - as the number of these former livings seem to grow by the week in the advert columns of the Church Times. Now, there's a thought - why not a "Palace (or two) for Duty" for the next ABC?

Heh heh.  

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - ETERNAL LIFE

If you are a blogger and do not believe in eternal life, then you must never have hit publish by mistake and had to delete a post. The post remains alive and visible in Google Reader forever and ever. Amen.

STORY OF THE DAY - 'SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER'

Still in his Saturday Night Fever stage, because after
all these years in corporate, it was the last time he can
remember when he really felt alive.

From StoryPeople.

NO WHITE SMOKE YET

It is reported that the Crown Nominations Commission cannot agree on a candidate for Archbishop of Canterbury.  See The Lead, headlined Times source on ABC nomination: "A decision is not imminent".

According to Ruth Gledhill in the Times:

The body responsible for choosing the next Archbishop of Canterbury has failed to agree who should be the successor to Dr Rowan Williams.

Despite a three day session, aided by prayers invoked on Twitter with the hashtage #prayforthecnc, the 16-member committee has been unable to decide on who should take on the job that the present incumbent today implied was “impossible”.

SHE WAS MEAN TO ME

Rep. Todd Akin (R) says of his Democratic opponent in the US Senate race in Missouri:

“I think we have a very clear path to victory, and apparently Claire McCaskill thinks we do, too, because she was very aggressive at the debate, which was quite different than it was when she ran against Jim Talent,” Akin said. “She had a confidence and was much more ladylike (in 2006), but in the debate on Friday she came out swinging, and I think that’s because she feels threatened.”

Read more here: http://midwestdemocracy.com/articles/todd-akin-confident-hell-prevail-over-claire-mccaskill/#storylink=cpy#storylink=cpy#storylink=cpy

This is the same Todd Akin who said women rarely become pregnant from "legitimate rape".

So.  According to Akin, Sen. Claire McCaskill is aggressive and unladylike.  Sounds to me as if Akin is the one who feels threatened.  Poor baby.  A good many Republicans urged Akin to drop out of the race after his "legitimate rape" comments and allow another Republican to replace him, but he didn't.  Now some Republicans are, once again, rallying round.  

Read more here: http://midwestdemocracy.com/articles/todd-akin-confident-hell-prevail-over-claire-mccaskill/#storylink=cpy#storylink=cpy#storylink=cpy

MY THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

With blogging, some days are for gathering, and some days are for scattering.

EVENING PRAYER AND SUNSET

At times, even what I think of as a rather ordinary sunset turns out to be lovely on second look.  With sunsets, the only way to have a second look is to take a photograph, because the sky view changes within seconds.  The picture was taken earlier in the week.

That this evening may be holy, good, and peaceful,
We entreat you, O Lord.

That your holy angels may lead us in paths of peace and goodwill,
We entreat you, O Lord.

That we may be pardoned and forgiven for our sins and offenses,
We entreat you, O Lord.

That there may be peace to your Church and to the whole world,
We entreat you, O Lord.

That we may depart this life in your faith and fear,
and not be condemned before the great judgment seat of Christ,
We entreat you, O Lord.

That we may be bound together by your Holy Spirit
in the communion of all your saints,
entrusting one another and all our life to Christ,
We entreat you, O Lord.

(Evening Prayer - Book of Common Prayer)

WEEKLY REMINDER

Romney is now claiming credit once again for the health care bill which he signed into law in Massachusetts after distancing himself from it for quite a while.  Well, kinda, sorta....  With each new day one wonders what will be Romney's position du jour on the various issues.

CHOOSING THE NEW ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY

The body responsible for choosing Rowan Williams's successor as archbishop of Canterbury will meet on Wednesday amid great secrecy and speculation that an Old Etonian former oil executive may become the 105th man to sit on the throne of St Augustine.

As the 16 voting members of the Crown Nominations Commission (CNC) gather at a secret location for a final two-day meeting, Justin Welby, the bishop of Durham, has emerged as one of the leading candidates to take over when Williams stands down at the end of the year.

That choosing the man (for now) to lead the Church of England, to perform whatever other duties are assigned to the head of the established church in England, and to serve as Primus inter pares of the churches of the Anglican Communion is in the hands of 19 people, 15 men and 4 women (3 non-voting members), on the CNC in secret proceedings in a secret place seems strange to most members of the Episcopal Church in the US, where our presiding bishop and all bishops are chosen in a more open and democratic process.

At one time, the concern of Episcopalians in the US about which person was chosen as ABC was for the sake of our sisters and brothers in England, but ++Rowan Williams changed all that with his interference in the governance of our church and his attempt to impose the odious Anglican Covenant on all the churches in the Anglican Communion.

Prayer for the Crown Nominations Commission

A Prayer to be used for the Crown Nominations Commission on the 26th and 27th September 2012 as they consider the appointment of the new Archbishop of Canterbury

Almighty God,
you have given your Holy Spirit to the Church
to lead us into all truth:
bless with the Spirit's grace and presence
the members of the Crown Nominations Commission.
Keep them steadfast in faith and united in love,
that they may seek your will, manifest your glory
and prepare the way of your kingdom;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.
Amen.