. . . sort of like a guy who crashes your party turning around and complaining about the dip.Neil Steinberg on Congressman Lipinski's vote of conviction against Obama Care.
How low will President Obama's Approval Numbers Limbo?
Lower than whale poop in the Marianas Trench
Lower than a snakes belly in a wheel rut at the bottom of the New Madris Fault
Lower than MSNBC's Nielson Ratings
Lower than Hog Futures in Israel
Lower than the taxes paid by Bob Creamer
Lower than the editorial skills of the Huffington Post
Ah, but do mind the cuteness of me , Flann O'Brien was wont to say! President Obama went all in with chips that did not belong to him. Them chips is ours - the Taxpayers' Chips.
If you are not a tax-payer, or have gulped enough SEIU Kool Aid, you are as happy as a clam about Obama Care. Another urban Democrat like myself, Mike Goodwn of the New York Post writes this -(click my post title for more)
Either you believe America is different and should play a unique role in expanding individual liberty, or you believe we should trim our freedoms to fit international norms, as embodied by centralized authorities and global organizations like the United Nations.
It's clear where Obama stands.
As he said in response to a question in Europe nearly a year ago, "I believe in American exceptionalism, just as I imagine that Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism and the British believe in British exceptionalism."
Though he said he was proud of his country, the answer was unmistakably no, he's not a believer. On that day and so many others -- remember his apologies and bows to foreign potentates -- he demonstrates he doesn't subscribe in the tradition of his predecessors and most of his countrymen.
His health-care obsession, with industry tentacles reaching 17 percent of the economy, reveals his vision. There is little dispute the industry has big flaws, yet Obama passed up a bipartisan chance to fix most of them.
He opted for a sweeping expansion and takeover that would put Washington in charge of every aspect, from levels of care, to cost, to mandates, to jobs and taxes.
CONGRESSMAN LIPINSKI VOTES ‘NO’ ON SENATE HEALTH CARE BILL
(March 21, 2010) Today, Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-3) released the following statement regarding his decision to vote against the Senate health care bill:
“My decision to vote against the Senate health care bill is the result of months of studying our broken health care system, developing and analyzing various proposals for reform, studying legislation, and listening closely to my constituents. I want to thank each and every one of the thousands of Third District residents who contacted me by phone, fax, email, and in person to share their views for and against the bill.
“As I have said many times, I strongly believe reform is needed to lower soaring health care costs and make insurance coverage more affordable and accessible for individuals and working families. But reform must be done right. The Senate bill does make a number of improvements to our health care system, including expanding access and reforming health insurance by doing such things as immediately banning discrimination based on pre-existing conditions for children, prohibiting lifetime coverage limits, and banning rescissions. Unfortunately, the bill also contains a number of serious flaws, and many of the good aspects could have been done without passing this massive bill. The Senate bill does not do enough to lower the skyrocketing cost of health care, cuts more than $400 billion from Medicare, is not fiscally sustainable over the long term, and breaks with the status quo by providing federal funding for abortion and abortion coverage. This bill was also marred by backroom deals that benefit pharmaceutical companies and other special interests. In the final analysis, I cannot support such a deeply flawed bill.
“Last November, after successfully fighting to make numerous improvements to the initial House health care bill, I voted to move the measure forward. I did so because I did not want to give up on reform, and because I believed we might still be able to fix the flaws in the bill before a final vote. However, I made my position very clear at the time, stating: ‘If this bill does not improve when it comes back from the Senate, I will vote against it.’ Unfortunately, the final bill is in many ways worse, not better, than the House legislation.
“To deserve the name of reform, a bill of this magnitude ought to make major progress on reducing health care costs, which continue to increase at unsustainable rates. Since 1980, overall spending on health care has risen on average at almost twice the rate of inflation, and per capita health care spending is nearly double what it was 10 years ago. Unless we address these increases, health care will continue to gobble up more and more of people’s income, and more and more of our tax dollars, until we reach a breaking point. Government subsidies alone cannot solve the problem of the increasing burden that skyrocketing health care costs impose on middle class Americans. We must change payment incentives for providers and this bill does not accomplish that.
“As the Congressional Budget Office has stated, the Senate health care bill would do little to affect the cost of premiums for those who currently get their health care through large employers. Since 70 percent of Americans who are not on Medicare are in this group, this bill fails to sufficiently reduce costs for the majority of working families in the Third District. The Senate bill also does not include several specific measures that were in the House bill that could increase competition. These include the elimination of the health insurance industry’s anti-trust exemption and a provision to begin to require health care providers to disclose their prices.
“I am also concerned that the bill’s more than $400 billion in Medicare cuts could have ramifications for seniors in my district. For instance, the Senate bill reduces Medicare reimbursements to providers – such as hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and home health agencies – by over $200 billion. The Chief Actuary of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services has stated that these cuts would likely result in roughly 20 percent of providers becoming unprofitable; this could lead to providers refusing to take care of seniors on Medicare. And if these cuts are going to be made to Medicare, the money should at least be put in the Medicare Trust Fund instead of being spent elsewhere as this bill does. In addition, unlike the House bill, the Senate bill does not allow the government to negotiate for lower drug prices, which I have long supported.
“I am also greatly concerned about the impact of this bill on our ballooning deficit. While the Congressional Budget Office has stated that the bill would officially reduce the deficit, close inspection of this analysis reveals serious problems. The CBO counts as deficit reduction over $70 billion in premiums that will be paid into the newly created CLASS Act. This well-intentioned program to provide long-term care for people with disabilities should be keeping this money in a trust fund to pay out future benefits instead of being spent elsewhere. And even if these premiums were kept in a trust fund, CBO states that the CLASS Act is fiscally unsustainable after two decades, when benefit payouts will significantly overwhelm the premiums coming in. Further, $29 billion in increased Social Security receipts are counted towards deficit reduction although they ought to remain in the Social Security Trust Fund.
“The bill also does not address this year’s scheduled 21 percent cut in Medicare reimbursements to doctors; when Congress votes to do this, likely later this year, it will cost over $200 billion over the next 10 years. Also, the CBO score assumes that in later years, the growth in federal subsidies would suddenly be allowed to decline, and that the tax on middle-class insurance plans – which I and many others already oppose – would be expanded. If Congress will not do these things today, why would it do so tomorrow? Taken together, these elements more than wipe out the supposed savings.
“Finally, of great concern to me and to a significant majority of my constituents, this bill changes current federal policy and provides funding for abortion. This is not acceptable. It is in direct contradiction of the Hyde Amendment, which for more than three decades has prohibited federally funded abortion. First, the bill allows federal funds to subsidize health plans in the insurance exchanges that cover abortion. For any insurance plan that receives federal subsidies and provides abortion, all participants would be required to contribute at least $1 per month that would fund abortion services, regardless of whether they want abortion coverage or not. It also opens the door for Community Health Centers receiving federal funding under the bill to use that money to pay for abortion. I do not believe the last minute effort to address these concerns through an Executive Order is sufficient because there is every indication that federal courts would strike down this order, and the order could be repealed at any time in the future.
For all of these reasons, I cannot support the health care bill. I am deeply disappointed that Congress did not develop a better bill. But whatever this bill’s fate, I will not stop fighting against special interests and for improvements to our health care system that will benefit all of the residents of the Third District. And in the days, weeks, and months ahead, I will continue working to create jobs and revive our economy.”
"As I have said many times, I strongly believe reform is needed to lower soaring health care costs and make insurance coverage more affordable and accessible for individuals and working families. But reform must be done right."
Congressman Dan Lipinski ( D. 3rd District)
Congressman Dan Lipinski took a heroic stand in opposition to the horrific Senate Omnibus Bill -Obama Care. This is the most divisive and foolish monstrosity ever forced down the the throats of the American People -by the very same hypocrites who get weepy about fois gras.
Congressman Dan Lipinski earned my respect and my count on the support of every voter in my house. Congressman Lipinski stood for every voter in the 3rd District and for every American taxpayer. You will have every dunce in America railing against you - but they do not vote in the 3rd District.
Well done, Congressman! You are the only Man Standing in Illinois Democratic politics.
Manya Brachear* is never a disappointment. The earnest, really, really, really interested Religion columnist and Lloyd Garrison Level No Popery Here Medill Mouthpiece has offered another of her very special earnest pieces on the Obama Care Bill.
Manya is from the school of journalism ( Progressive Doctrinaire) that likes to get every one with the exact same point of view for thematic and narrative issue overkill.
Catholics ( Catholics United and Sister Donna Quinn and Liberation Theology Marxist Bob Bossie) are trotted out to help Manya.
On Saturday, Catholics United , a non-profit that promotes social justice, launched a television campaign to counter claims that the legislation, if approved, will provide taxpayer funding for elective abortions. The ad is airing in, among others, Illinois Democrat Dan Lipinski’s congressional district.
“As a lifelong advocate for health care reform, I call on Congressman Lipinski to do what’s best for hard working people of Illinois and support reform,” said the Rev. Bob Bossie, a religious order priest in Chicago. “The reform bill before the House will save lives, support families and uphold existing laws which prevent taxpayer dollars from being used to pay for abortions.”
Bossie concedes he is “quite unhappy” with the legislation. But he finds the cardinal’s hard line unfortunate.
“I respect the cardinal’s position, but at this particular juncture on the road something is better than nothing,” he said. “I think it’s just the beginning.”
Meanwhile, 60 leaders of religious orders representing 59,000 Catholic nuns side with the Catholic Health Association, saying a yes vote is imperative.
“It will uphold longstanding conscience protections and it will make historic new investments – $250 million – in support of pregnant women,” the nuns wrote. “This is the REAL pro-life stance, and we as Catholics are all for it.”
But there’s one nun that does not support the bill.
Dominican sister and activist Donna Quinn said restrictions on abortion go too far. She said national health care must include “Medicaid funding for a woman on Medicaid … who chooses this legal medical procedure.”
“If this Health Care ‘Reform’ does pass we all know that gender discrimination was necessary to do so,” Quinn said. “Women deserve better.”
What do you think?
Congressman Lipinski - this is your moment - act accordingly! Vote No!
"With deep regret, but clear in our moral judgment, we are compelled to continue to urge House members to oppose the Senate bill unless these fundamental flaws are remedied. At this critical moment, we urge Representatives to take the steps necessary to ensure that health care reform respects the life and dignity of all, from conception to natural death," U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on Obama Care.
Let's see what happens. Some Democratic Congressmen might restore the faith of the American People in our government by holding to the Faith that they profess.
The Obama Care Bill is bad. If it were in any way good it would have passed long ago - it's not and if by some legerdemain of Progressive Hegelian magic Obama Care passes in the the most mistrusted Congress in American History, it will be a very long and very expensive process to unscrew this hideous pooch. The America People will unscrew the Obama Care Bill, make no mistake.
The Bill is packed with Planned Parenthood set-asides and Abortion Happy language.
Dan Lipinski of Illinois has said that he will vote 'No.' Okay, let's see.
In today's gospel, Jesus quietly stooped down and wrote in the sand all the sins and transgressions of the folks who wanted to stone a woman caught in adultery to death - they "deemed" her guilty. The woman was saved. Let's see over the next few 'narrative' choked hours, if some law makers look into the sand.
Chicago's most visible fatuous phony - Icon Carol Marin - wants all of us to know that " Words alone can't stop gun violence."
Yesterday, I watched Chicago Police deal with a shooting that was reported only by Fox WFLD News - Sun Times - nothing and Tribune nothing.
Across from Leo High School on 79th Street two people were shot by fleeing perpetrators. One guy took some heavy ordinance in the face and the other took one in the leg.
This took place at about 1:20 P.M. on a sunny Friday afternoon. Sixth District Police officers responded instantly and with exacting professionalism - as they always do.
Faculty and staff put our young men on the buses for home and directed them to their parents' cars and the entire school population departed for home. Teachers and staff shepherded our young men - no Kevlar.
Faculty and staff stood out on 79th Street only a few feet from where the blood was spilled.
There had been a fight at a gas station on Halsted earlier that morning and the fly-by shootings were in retaliation for someone getting 'disrespected' in that Old School dust-up. Naturally, thugs go for the artillery, because there will be little or no consequences and possibly even a police beef lawsuit jackpot for lighting up a front porch full of folks.
Thug scum are portrayed always in the Media as misunderstood Denzel Washingtons abused by beefy racist cops.
If a hard-hitting investigative journalist wanted to actually do something, the suburban dwelling hypocrite might want to investigate exactly who actually owns heavy ordinance in Chicago's Food Deserts. Nah. It is always better to pound out a full week of polls, reports, up-dates, columns and stories about a white goofball with racist garage art and so much safer, edgy and nuanced. Once we all agree that close-knit ethnic Catholics (who live in PC targeted neighborhoods like Bridgeport, Beverly, Edison Park & etc.) are the only reason that racism exists - gun violence will end and we can all have Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream and listen to NPR.
Chicago is a Thug Comfort Zone. This Comfort Zone was created by lawsuit lawyers like G. Flint Taylor and Jon Loevy, Marxist Academics and University Centers for Manure Spreading and hypocritical editorialists and columnists like Mary Mitchell, Mark Brown and Chicago's ( NBC/WTTW/Sun Times)Iconic Carol Marin.
Murders are committed for the same reason that a dog licks his privates with gusto - because one can. One can kill with impunity and immunity. Systemic racism and police brutality are the Get-Out-of-Jail Wealthy cards published in columns and editorials.
Give me the words to explain this.
Words strong enough to capture the horror of Chicago's daily diet of senseless shootings.
Words powerful enough to build a durable outrage so we are collectively moved to action.
The most recent shootings come on top of the tragedy that happened Wednesday on the South Side. It was sunny and mild, and 7-year-old Desaree Sanders and her sisters were doing what children are supposed to do when spring is in the air.
"You have suffered grievously and I am truly sorry," Benedict said, addressing himself to the generations of Irish Catholics who suffered "sinful and criminal" abuse at the hands of priests, brothers and nuns.
"It is understandable that you find it hard to forgive or be reconciled with the church," he said. "In her name, I openly express the shame and remorse that we all feel."
Not only Ireland, but his own Germany has joined America in outing the sexual predators in clerical garb.
Teachers, rabbis, ministers, community activists, camp leaders find wolves among them seeking to target the children or the needy and the afflicted to victimize and sodomize.
I was taught by hundreds of priests and brothers and never once encountered any sexual abuse or even an uncomfortable situation - I was blessed.
In my first years as a teacher and coach, I learned that one of my students was being abused by a priest. Me and my colleagues brought it to the attention of our Principal - Father Kenneth Yarno, CSV. This man had more balls than a bowling alley!
Father Ken Yarno, had been a football star at St. Pat's Central and returned to direct his alma mater as Bishop Martin D. McNamara High School in Kankakee, Illinois.
When a bunch of us brought the news of the young guy being abused by a priest in Father Yarno's very own Order - the good man reacted like any decent human being -Ken Yarno was mightily pissed off! Father Yarno is a working man and was in top physical shape with forearms like Popeye and neck on him like a Mike Lucci. He told me and the guys ( Jerry Krieg, Jim Frogge, Rich Zinanni, Dave Raiche, Charley Olson) that he'd take care of it. This was in the late 1970's. The priest, Father Burke, was lauded in the media as 'a protector of way-ward boys.'
In blink of an eye, the iconic Father John Burke, C.S.V. was arrested at his rectory in the French town of St. George ( Kankakee County) and the press had been called for the perp walk. God Bless Father Yarno! Father Burke went to jail and Father Yarno was re-assigned.
I like Pope Benedict XVI! This guy is the real deal. No parsing; no mincing - Pope Benedict gets right to the nub of the horrors of clergy abuse.
The Church will be fine with this good man's hand griping the necks of sneaks and the creeps in stiff collars.
Pope Benedict, like Chicago's Cardinal George, is a Great Shepherd. Father Ken Yarno is Great Man!
Everytime a Progressive Opens His Yap It Costs You a Lung.
Congressman Lipinski vote no on ObamaCare. Stay strong and you will get votes - cave-in like you did on Cap'N Trade and its back to the blackboard jungle.
Saying Catholics United " quiet" abortion concerns is like asking the Aryan Brotherhood to "calm" racial fears.
Such a bold and obvious lie can only come from the SEIU comic book pages of Progress Illinois. Josh Kalven, the nepotism claimant to a swell sinecure at SEIU's site, writes this nonsense. Josh's Pop is well connected racical icon Jaimie Kalven.
We've repeatedly noted the unwarranted concerns from pro-life Democratic Congressmen Dan Lipinski and Jerry Costello that the health care reform bill would lead to federal financing of abortions. In the hopes of swaying Lipinski on the issue, Catholics United is going on the air in the Chicago market today with an ad making that very point. "Some say health reform would force taxpayers to fund abortions," says the narrator. "It’s not true." Watch it:
21-October-2008 -- Catholic News Agency Share |
"Catholic" Political Groups Being Financed by George Soros
New York, Oct 20, 2008 (CNA).- The Catholic League’s president Bill Donohue has come out swinging at Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good and Catholics United for having ties to the left-wing financier George Soros.
Donohue charges that Soros’ liberal credentials couldn’t be more clear, citing a 2005 campaign by Soros-financed Moveon.org to convince Americans that they should back Democrats efforts to filibuster President George W. Bush’s judicial nominees to the Supreme Court.
At the time of Moveon.org's effort Donohue described it in a statement as: “a picture of a smiling Pope Benedict XVI holding a gavel outside the U.S. Supreme Court, along with the following inscription: ‘God Already Has a Job…He does not need one on the Supreme Court’.”
Although the incident occurred in 2005, Donohue now says that Soros is financing two organizations that have close ties to the Democrat Party and are “apologists for abortion rights.”
According to The Catholic Key, Ambassador Elizabeth Frawley Bagley, the Chair of the Board of Directors for Catholics in Alliance is the wife of former Democratic National Committee finance chair, Smith Bagley. “Ambassador Bagley has herself given hundreds of thousands of dollars to the DNC, as well as to numerous stridently pro-choice Democratic candidates including, Barack Obama, Al Franken, Barbara Boxer, Claire McCaskill, Charles Schumer and The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund," The Catholic Key reported.
Catholics United also has ties to the Democrat Party, according to the group's web site. Catholics United Director of Organizing, James Salt, "oversaw the Kansas Democratic Party's faith outreach efforts, including messaging work for Governor Sebelius and development of faith-based messaging resources," the site says. Gov. Kathleen Sebelius is currently in hot water with Archbishop Joseph Naumann for her close ties to abortionist George Tiller and her support for abortion.
Donohue alleges that these groups also have monetary links to George Soros. “In 2006, Soros’ Open Society Institute gave Catholics in Alliance $100,000 (double the amount he gave in 2005), and in the same year Catholics in Alliance listed Catholics United on its 990 (line 80b) as an organization with which it has a formal relationship,” Donohue asserts in documentation the Catholic League provided to CNA.
As further proof of a link, the Catholic League president cites a May 20, 2006 Washington Post article in which John Podesta, who runs the Soros-funded organization, Center for American Progress, “admits that he works closely with Catholics in Alliance and Catholics United.”
In an email to CNA on Monday, Catholics United president Chris Korzen denied any links to Soros. “Catholics United has no connection with Mr. Soros. We have taken money from neither him nor OSI,” he said.
The Catholic League’s Director of Communications, Susan Fani, responded to Korzen's denial by telling CNA that the League stands by its statement and that the evidence is well documented.
For his part, Donohue believes that George Soros, who is Jewish, is driven to fund Catholic groups because he has an agenda to normalize Catholic support for abortion.
“The reason Soros funds the Catholic Left is the same reason he lavishly funds Catholics for Choice, the pro-abortion group that has twice been condemned as a fraud by Catholic bishops: they all service his agenda, namely, to make support for abortion rights a respectable Catholic position,” Donohue stated on Monday.
As reported by CNA last Friday, Catholics in Alliance and Catholics United both came under fire from Archbishop Chaput of Denver, who said that the groups are doing a “disservice” to the Catholic Church.
I like Governor Pat Quinn.
I think that he plays ball with Progressives and they always land a good guy in the jackpot - ask President Obama. Remember the jackpot that the Obama Campaign had with regard to the idiotic Illinois Senate Bill 99 ? I do. That was Sue Garrett and her four friends of abortion doing Planned Parenthood's biding and it was a huge PR bump for then Candidate Obama who is now having a huge problem thanks to Abortion Industry's Planned Parenthood Health Care!
Idiot State Senate Bill 99 -Senate Bill 99 struck out grade six, changing it to kindergarten, in addition to making a few other changes in wording. It read:
Each class or course in comprehensive sex education in any of grades K through 12 shall include instruction on the prevention of sexually transmitted infections, including the prevention, transmission and spread of HIV.
Here is a tiny glimpse of State Sem. Garrett - "ain't she great" - dodging Byron York:
An assistant in Garrett’s office helpfully gave me the senator’s cell-phone number, so I was able to have a few brief conversations with her. In one, she said she couldn’t talk and asked me to call back in a few minutes. I did, and then did again, and ended up doing so several times over an extended period, all without an answer. The next day, I reached Garrett again, who told me that since the debate took place five years ago, she couldn’t speak about it “unless I have the bill in front of me . . . I’d be happy to do that if I could just print out the bill . . . I just want to be sure I get it right.” We agreed that I would email her the bill, but after I did, she didn’t answer the phone. She still hasn’t.
This morning I wished Chicago Renaissance Man Mike Houlihan -"A happy St. Joseph's Day!"
"Yesterday, Hickey Old Cock, was the Feast of St. Cyril of Jerusalem and yet I received no pithy missive, salutation, blessing, or incantation in honor of this most wedged-in Saint. Damn your eyes!"
" Mea Culpa, Houli. . ."
"Tut and stuff and nonsense, you thoughtless miscreant! Get your Butler's Lives of the Saints, you sloven! It was Cyril of Jerusalem who warned us all,"The Church declares to you the things concerning Antichrist before they arrive...it is well that, knowing these things, thou shouldest make thyself ready beforehand." Likewise my boy, God told Cyril 'I got good news and bad news - The Good News - I'm making you a Saint. The Bad News - I'm sticking you between the Potato Eaters ( St. Patrick) and the Trunk Stuffers ( St. Joseph), Get Schooled Hickey - to the books!"
"Duly chastened."
"Now Mark your calendar for 2011! Do!"
March 18
St. Cyril of Jerusalem
(315?-386)
The crises that the Church faces today may seem minor when compared with the threat posed by the Arian heresy, which denied the divinity of Christ and almost overcame Christinity in the fourth century. Cyril was to be caught up in the controversy, accused (later) of Arianism by St. Jerome, and ultimately vindicated both by the men of his own time and by being declared a Doctor of the Church in 1822. Raised in Jerusalem, well-educated, especially in the Scriptures, he was ordained a priest by the bishop of Jerusalem and given the task of catechizing during Lent those preparing for Baptism and during the Easter season the newly baptized. His Catecheses remain valuable as examples of the ritual and theology of the Church in the mid-fourth century.
There are conflicting reports about the circumstances of his becoming bishop of Jerusalem. It is certain that he was validly consecrated by bishops of the province. Since one of them was an Arian, Acacius, it may have been expected that his “cooperation” would follow. Conflict soon rose between Cyril and Acacius, bishop of the rival nearby see of Caesarea. Cyril was summoned to a council, accused of insubordination and of selling Church property to relieve the poor. Probably, however, a theological difference was also involved. He was condemned, driven from Jerusalem, and later vindicated, not without some association and help of Semi-Arians. Half his episcopate was spent in exile (his first experience was repeated twice). He finally returned to find Jerusalem torn with heresy, schism and strife, and wracked with crime. Even St. Gregory of Nyssa, sent to help, left in despair.
They both went to the (second ecumenical) Council of Constantinople, where the amended form of the Nicene Creed was promulgated. Cyril accepted the word consubstantial (that is, of Christ and the Father). Some said it was an act of repentance, but the bishops of the Council praised him as a champion of orthodoxy against the Arians. Though not friendly with the greatest defender of orthodoxy against the Arians, Cyril may be counted among those whom Athanasius called “brothers, who mean what we mean, and differ only about the word (consubstantial).”
It's a party line vote in Congress, but in America support for health care reform but disgust with the legislation before us is indeed bipartisan.Steve Rhodes Beachwood Reporter - March 18, 2010
Eric Zorn is "still waiting for someone to calmly explain why using 'deem and pass' offends the ideals of democracy or good government."
In other words, Zorn is still trying to figure out why it's offensive to use a parliamentary maneuver for a purpose it wasn't designed for in order to pass controversial and far-reaching legislation that doesn't have enough votes to pass if actually voted on.
Hell, why even have Congress vote at all? Let's just "deem and pass" everything!
Most Religious Sisters are the Brides of Christ.
The stupid ones recoil at that sobriquet.
I taught with some great nuns - women who understood their vows as well as the subjects that they taught. They were Sisters of Notre Dame. I worked with Springfield Dominican Sisters and they were equally matched to their vocations and their trade.
However, I have encountered many blithering idiots - females all - who took vows. One was an openly practicing lesbian and loudly bragged to high school girls about vive le differnce and Sapphic truth. She was also as dumb as hammered horseshit, sad to say. Another, allegedly a teaching order nun, wanted no part of the classroom and took to an Ashram - where, no doubt she was beaten to death by otherwise good people trying to find peace in a hostile world.
Abortion is murder. Simple. Just like, well gee, I think that Slavery was wrong. Too many Progressive Hegelian dimwits parse out horse manure that appears in Salon and The Nation and out of the mouths of some nuns.
Some nuns are really dumb. These are girls - probably now the youngest of them in their 50's - who were and are, as my County Kerry grandfather termed them, "Life's Unplucked Flowers." Perhaps they took vows decades ago 'to serve the Church' by being maladjusted pains in the ass and apply the principles of Hegelian Progressive Group Think to get at "The Old Boys Club" - The Bishops.
This is from the Progressive Feminist Nun's best pal CNN (Catholic Nitwit Nuns?):
"We write to urge you to cast a life-affirming 'yes' vote when the Senate health care bill (H.R. 3590) comes to the floor of the House for a vote as early as this week," a group of nuns wrote in a letter to members of Congress released Wednesday by NETWORK, progressive Catholic advocacy organization.
NETWORK said the 55 signatories represent tens of thousands of Catholic nuns in the United States.
The letter argues that the legislation "will make crucial investments in community health centers that largely serve poor women and children."
"And despite false claims to the contrary, the Senate bill will not provide taxpayer funding for elective abortions," the letter reads. "It will uphold longstanding conscience protections and it will make historic new investments – $250 million – in support of pregnant women. This is the REAL pro-life stance, and we as Catholics are all for it."
The nuns are siding with the Catholic Health Association, a group representing Catholic hospitals, which offered its support for reform earlier this week.
Both groups are diverging from the powerful U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which stepped up its criticism of the bill in recent days. The president of the bishops conference, Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, said Monday that the bill's language on abortion is not restrictive enough to satisfy Catholics.
Three Happenin' Babes!
The flu bug passed, but the idiotic Run DNC Health ( Reform?) Nonsense hammers all Americans.
This BILL is wrong ( over, under,sideways, down).
Reforming the ways and means by which Americans get medical care is crucial.
However, the same fatuous clowns and phonies who used Global Warming to package and wrap the Cap and Trade Bill have used Health, or lack there of, to boondoggle and build more control over Americans.
Nancy Pelosi, the Joan Rivers of American Public,albeit lacking Ms. Rivers' common touch, took all the girls into the Congressional Cloak Room for a chat - well, only the Democratic Girls.
Pelosi is desperate. The boondoggle has been outed. She ain't got the votes. If Jan Schakowsky is needed to make her look good on this one, Nancy will be calling the D.C. area REMAX only a few senesters before the Mayflower Van pulls up to the White House.
Here's why - from The Atlantic
"Deem and pass" has exactly the same legislative function for the House as passing the Senate bill and separately passing the reconciliation changes.
Which raises the question, why do it? Pelosi says, because many of her members do not want to vote for the Senate bill. But if I understand this procedure correctly, that is what they will be doing, with the possible consequence that the Senate bill eventually becomes law. What Pelosi is saying, almost in these very words, is that she wants her members to be able to vote for the Senate bill while telling their voters back home they have not. Her method may be procedurally correct. It is also, quite explicitly, cover for her members to lie to their voters.
What, she asks, is wrong with that? She and her supporters seem genuinely puzzled, so I had better spell it out. (1) Lying to voters is wrong. (2) Doing it so nakedly insults their intelligence (which, in addition, is unwise).
Pelosi is equally perplexed, I imagine, by the fact that she and the institution she leads are held in such contempt by the people of this country.
Kerry Mayor Bobby O'Connell (Center)
On Sunday, at Cousin Willie's Parade Day Mass and Corned Beef & Cabbage Fest, I had a chance to catch up with a cousin from Castleisland, County Kerry*. Mayor of Kerry Bobby O'Connell is son of Phil and Ida O'Connell with whom my kids and I had a wonderful visit back in 1999.
SOME of Kerry's most prominent political figures are enjoying the hospitality of our American cousins this St Patrick's Day. Kerry politicians will be part of a number of delegations visiting America to enjoy the festivities and to attempt to forge some potential business and investment links.The Kerryman
Mayor of Kerry, Bobby O'Connell and County Manager Tom Curran have already visited Chicago and they're taking part in further events in New York on St Patricks Day before returning to Kerry on Thursday. Given the state of the economy the cost of the trip is an issue and council management have ensured the budget for the American jaunt is kept as tight as possible.
The entire 10 day trip is set to cost the council €4,800 in total, thanks to shrewd bookings earlier this year or just €480 per day.
Mayor O'Connell and Mr Curran have been joined on their trip by North Kerry TD Jimmy Deenihan (FG) who organised two business breakfast meetings with leading Irish American business people in Chicago and New York. Deputy Deenihan is financing his own trip.
So far the Kerry group have met with Richard Daley, Mayor of Chicago and the Cardinal of Chicago, Cardinal Francis George attended an Irish-American reception and met with with the Kerryman's Association in Chicago.
On Tuesday the Kerry delegation had a breakfast meeting and presentation to business interests in the Consul General's Office in New York followed by evening meetings with business and Irish-American interests that evening.
On St Patrick's Day the group are due to attend Mayor Michael Bloomberg's St Patrick's Day Breakfast at Gracie Mansions and the St Patrick's Day Parade with the Kerryman's Association. St Patrick's Day itself will also feature a meeting with the Kerryman's Association at Kerryman's Centre.
Chicago Residency Angers Progressives! C.R.A.P.!
You work on the public dime then live with the folks who pop for your dimes.
Why, Il. Sen. Heather Steans, no-less a Progressive Fixed Smiler than Heather Steans is championing our Chicago Teachers Union! Heather Steans smiles more than Joan Rivers. Why not? Happy to help! Now, Heather's bio tells that she was born in Lake Forest ( a metaphor of ethnic and racial diversity in itself!) and worked as a Chicago Public School teacher. That means that Heather Steans needed to move into Chicago. Heavens! Heather still lives in Chicago -can't be all that bad.
Catalyst reports that Marilyn Stewart's Chicago Teachers Union 'demands' a change in residency for Union Members.
Are you a Union? Yes. Are you a committed educator who will do anything for the children? Now, that's a gummy one!
Heather Steans, who had been on the board of the Steans Family Foundation, and continues is a Progressive go-to-girl for Gay Marriage Pushes, Planned Parenthood Baby Barbeques and SEIU boondoggles. Hence that frozen smile. Steans is one of those dopes that Progressives always seem to gush about -"Ain't She Great?" Really, great how? Her legislation that she is try to push past Honest John Cullerton reflects a diminished if not absent intellectual capacity altogether. Great capacity for slinging C.R.A.P.!
Steans is pushing to free the Teachers! What a ton of C.R.A.P. - the sole diet of the Progressive since John Dewey smoked corn silk. Cops, Streets and Sanitation Workers, Foremen, and white collar municipal workers - any one drawing pay from the City of Chicago -my neighbors - must live within the City Limits.
The swell Chicago Public Schools need the teachers close by and comfortable in proximity to their pay envelopes.
Residency requirements for Chicago teachers are back on the Springfield agenda, this time with an unlikely sponsor.
State Sen. Heather Steans says she was able to convince Sen. President John Cullerton to extend the deadline for SB 3522, a bill that would scrap the rule requiring teachers in traditional Chicago public schools to live within the city limits. Mayor Richard M. Daley has long defended the requirement, established in 1996, as a way to try and beef up the city housing market and keep teachers close to the communities they serve.
Should Steans successfully move the bill out of the Senate Executive Committee next week, she believes it could reach a vote on the Senate floor—the first time a residency bill has done so.
Charter school principals do not have the same residency restriction.
“Principals in regular schools shouldn’t be hamstrung,” contends Steans, suggesting the rules unfairly restrict the pool of teacher talent from which principals can hire. “I don’t think it is sound education policy.”
The Chicago Teachers Union says the residency requirement can put members in a tight financial bind, especially during the recession.
“What happens to a teacher if they have to move in with a relative in the suburbs [for financial reasons]?” asks CTU lobbyist Traci Cobb-Evans. She notes that only Chicago teachers would face termination of their employment in that situation.
A solid well done to Chicago Police and Fore Departments and the Liquor Commission!
Yesterday's neighbrhood events were untroubled, because Commander Mike Kuemeth and the officers of the 22nd Police District and Chicago Fire Department specialists worked with Illinois Liqour Commissioners to prevent any all idiocies.
The neighborhood enjoyed a good day - not a great one.
The South Side Parade should march again. Chicago Sun Times writer Mark Konkol, a solid guy and an honest journalist sought out two solid Parade Advocates - James "Skinny" Sheahan, long-time Chicago Special Events Director and Renaissance Man Mike Houlihan concerning the resusitation of this great family event.
Quoth Houli and Skinny:
Born on St. Patrick's Day in 1979, she would be 31 years this Wednesday. 31 years. I'm almost twice as old as that.
When I was 31, well, I acted like a goof sometimes myself. But nobody said, "He got drunk and embarrassed us, let's kill him."
No they didn't. They believed in me. They saw the potential for something greater in me and never withdrew their love and support.
But South Side Paddy ... Well, is SHE really dead?
You've got to listen to the rest: SouthSideIrishParadeeulogy.WMA
By the way, James "Skinny" Sheahan -- Mayor Daley's former parade czar -- predicts the parade will be back next year. Why?
Because without it, Beverly is Irish, but "boring."
"I'm sure the parade will be back because we need a parade. Beverly's still Irish, but [without the parade] it's very boring," Sheahan said. "Listen, I was in charge of every parade in Chicago for 10 years. I've seen more parades than anybody in the world except for Mayor Daley, OK. This was a great, great parade. Two percent of people at the parade were goofballs, that's a fact. But the parade will be back. They'll have a heart attack when they read that, but I don't care."
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/2102550,CST-NWS-stpats15.article
Cousin Willie is a 19th Ward Icon- Special Events genius,bartender, singer, community leader, and parish-go-to-guy and beautiful Irish/Italian/Polish wife Kerry have tossed a South Side Irish Parade Day Mass longer than most in attendance have been breathing.
President Obama and Michelle and the kids attended when running for the U.S. Senate, Paul and Sharon Vallas, Sheriffs Sheahan and Dart and no end of great folks took breafast and cheer following a Mass.
Primarily Willie's house was swelled by our massive extended family and friends -Winters, Brennan, Walsh, McNamara, Dibrizio, Helmer, Demateo, Diana, Morland, and Hickey members by the butt and boatload.
Though the Parade ended this tradition continued.
Father Jim Hennighan reminded one and all about our granparents. My grandmother Nora Sullivan left Cahirciveen, County Kerry at the age of thirteen and knowing only Irish after a Wake was held for her.
The Irish who emigrated to America rarely returned; thus, the child died for all intents and purposes as she crossed the waters.
My cousin from Castleisland County Kerry Robbie O'Connell joined us. He is the one wearing the Irish Bling of Office as the Mayor of the County Kerry Council.
Willie and his brothers John and Mark made more than 100 pounds of corned beef made by Limerick Mike at County Fair cabbage, spuds, carrots, onions and tables full of Soda Bread. I used to make the bacon and sausages, but told to bring cookies (which I did) but have my nose out of joint because my kitchen skills were not wanted, evidently. Irish Alzheimers - I forget everything,but my hurt feelings.
We had dancing and music - Maura Dalton Winters is my nephew Brendan's wife and was an All Ireland Dancing Champion who now teaches Steps for Cross-Keys.
There were scores of babies and as a typical Hickey/Winters Baby Sap, I had a ball.
Thank you Willie and Kerry Winters
Against the demon snares of sin,
The vice that gives temptation force,
The natural lusts that war within,
The hostile men that mar my course;
Or few or many, far or nigh,
In every place and in all hours,
Against their fierce hostility,
I bind to me these holy powers.
Against all Satan's spells and wiles,
Against false words of heresy,
Against the knowledge that defiles,
Against the heart's idolatry,Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
Commander Michael Kuemmeth and his staff are prepared to make this a nice day for 19th Ward residents and sobering one for nitwits.
I spoke with Commander Michael Kuemmeth this morning and he remarked that we were all in unchartered waters.
There will be zero tolerance for any all breaches of the public peace. No matter what the Chi-Rish ( Faux Paddy Gras Nitwits) believe this parade is was and shall be a neighborhood celebration of Faith, Family and Friendship.
Bus loads of slobs have tossed bottles, cups and at times Fully Kreuzened losers from their doors and windows.
Buses doing such will be impounded in accordance with littering laws.
Bottle and cup wielding dopes will be consigned to the holding pens prior to the trip to the drunk tank.
God Bless the Chicago Police and Fire Departments! They are set up and preparing for the unexpected - To Serve and Protect. Thank you Commander and all the women and men of the 22nd District
Have Fun at the Beverly Arts Center!
The most horrific words that I have heard in my fifty seven years on earth were said to me by one of the most wonderful men I have met in that same time. "It's a glioblastoma."
In June of 1995, my young wife, mother of my three children, Mary had a brain tumor operated on by Loyola University Neurosurgeon Dr. Tom Origitano,M.D. - he sent a piece of the tumor to various labs and had gotten the fatal summary from many quarters.
"Mary has a glioblastoma tumor*." This savagely aggressive tumor is more prevalent in males. To my understanding, it is a death sentence. The tumor was massive! The pressure on my poor Girl must have been unbearable, but she was a beautiful, tall, skinny, redheaded, Kankakee Irish/French hardass - who else could put up with south side Irish knucklehead?
Dr. Origitano used a state of the art laser procedure, but warned me that the brain was God's domain and that he would only do as much - actually it was more - as he could do. This was Ali versus Mickey Rooney.
Dr. Origitano looked like Tom Selleck at the time that he treated Mary and they bonded immediately. The fact that I look like Barney Rubble on a good day had no impact on my relationship with this tall, dark, handsome and commanding surgeon had no impact whatsoever - " Oh yeah, Honey,He is almost a cute as you, . . .even without the soup stains all over his shirt. You didn't wear your drop-cloth at lunch again. Now, trot along and get me some ice cream, we have brain surgery stuff to do."
DR. Origitano gave Mary more time with me and the kids than should have been acceptable according to rules of science and technology. Mary kicked at the glioblastoma for the better part of two years before the Divine Ref called the Fight on January 17th, 1998. From that time on, I got periodic phone calls from Dr. Origitano about "how's things going for you?" Dr. Origitano gave me Mary's hair from the last surgery, which I store and treasure.
Today in the Chicago Sun Times, this soft eyed, humorous and very compassionate man of science and skill warns us of taking technology much too seriously - the human brain was built by God.
In the U.S., industry aggressively promotes the rapid adoption of new technology. Manufacturers spend heavily on studies, medical meetings and ads in medical journals and sign up influential physicians as well-paid consultants. This raises the possibility that money, rather than data, is driving the use of new technology. When a surgeon uses a particular brand of clip to seal off a brain aneurysm, is it because the product is truly the best clip on the market or because the surgeon is being paid by the manufacturer? (Loyola University Medical Center, like most other academic centers, has policies to pro- tect against such conflicts.)
Industry has been, and will continue to be, a partner in developing innovative technologies to prevent, diagnose and treat disease. But we need to protect against the possible corrupting influence of industry. And with health-care costs exploding, we also must make sure new technology is worth the cost. Intraoperative navigation may very well prove to be an effective way for surgeons to safely remove larger portions of tumors. But if this extends patients' lives only by two or three months, can we afford it?
Among the most-expensive new technologies are computer-assisted systems that deliver precisely targeted doses of cancer radiation therapy. Studies have found that each of these systems is effective in treating specific types of tumors and other disorders. But in many cases, they are being used to treat tumors or disorders that haven't been studied definitively.
Medical technology also has risks. CT scans and other medical imaging procedures are the greatest contributors to total radiation exposure in the U.S. population. But some CT scans may not be necessary.
This was demonstrated in a recent study at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. Our study, published in the Journal of Neurosurgery, examined the routine use of CT scans in patients after brain surgery. We found low-tech bedside exams by a skilled physician did a far better job than CT scans in predicting which patients would need to return to the operating room to treat complications. We eliminated about one-third of the post-operative CT scans because they weren't telling us anything useful.
I am a
Canna
What Flower
Are You?
