Wasn’t that the argument for voting for the war?

Posted: January 28, 2009 by datechguy in opinion/news
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Marc Ambinder explains why Republicans who are in trouble should vote for the stimulus bill:

Now – President Obama’s approval rating is about 70%;

Congressional approval is still around 20%;

After the election, Democrats still have a 9 point lead in generic identification.

The public approves of the stimulus plan by a very large margin – the numbers vary with the wording of the poll question, but it’s at least a plus 40%.

Obama is the most talented political figure of our generation – Boehner and McConnell are, uh, less talented.

Obama’s got the megaphone, they’ve got…

Two points both like the article on strictly political grounds:

Does anyone remember the approval ratings for President Bush after 9/11 and before the votes on the Iraq war? That sure worked out for house members at the time didn’t it?

This is the same advice that might have been given to republicans in the first two years of the Clinton administration. Not taking it gave them control of the house for the first time in 40 years.

Anyone who thinks a vulnerable republican congressman who goes along with this plan will survive a primary challenge is silly. Remember our democrat friends were the same ones who told us McCain was the man to win with.

Bold prediction time: Anyone who thinks Obama will have approval ratings in the 60’s in two years is dead wrong. They will not be above 50%. It would not surprise me to see his ratings in the low 40’s.

Ars gratia pecunia

Posted: January 28, 2009 by datechguy in opinion/news
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Tim Blair notes that art for arts sake has now been replaced by Show me the money:

As the Obama administration tackles the challenge of shoring up the economy through infusions of capital and job creation, cultural leaders are urging the president not to forget arts institutions, which are also reeling from the market downturn.

“We wanted to make sure arts were not left out of the recovery,” said Robert L. Lynch, president of Americans for the Arts, a national lobbying group. “The artist’s paycheck is every bit as important as the steelworker’s paycheck or the autoworker’s paycheck.”

Read the whole thing, nobody does a comedy fisking like Blair

Pope Benedict Crazy like a fox

Posted: January 28, 2009 by datechguy in catholic
Tags: ,

Told ya:

Statement of His Excellency Bernard Fellay, Superior of the Fraternity of St. Pius X

We have become aware of an interview released by Bishop Richard Williamson, a member of our Fraternity of St. Pius X, to Swedish television. In this interview, he expressed himself on historical questions, and in particular on the question of the genocide against the Jews carried out by the Nazis.

It’s clear that a Catholic bishop cannot speak with ecclesiastical authority except on questions that regard faith and morals. Our Fraternity does not claim any authority on other matters. Its mission is the propagation and restoration of authentic Catholic doctrine, expressed in the dogmas of the faith. It’s for this reason that we are known, accepted and respected in the entire world.

It’s with great sadness that we recognize the extent to which the violation of this mandate has done damage to our mission. The affirmations of Bishop Williamson do not reflect in any sense the position of our Fraternity. For this reason I have prohibited him, pending any new orders, from taking any public positions on political or historical questions.

We ask the forgiveness of the Supreme Pontiff, and of all people of good will, for the dramatic consequences of this act. Because we recognize how ill-advised these declarations were, we can only look with sadness at the way in which they have directly struck our Fraternity, discrediting its mission.

This is something we cannot accept, and we declare that we will continue to preach Catholic doctrine and to administer the sacraments of grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Menzingen, January 27, 2009

Exactly as predicted. Who wants to be on the society putting out such a statement if the excommunications weren’t lifted? anyone? Bueller, Bueller?

Damian Thompson comments:

The arrogant group took its time, I must say, but by punishing and disgracing Williamson it has helped clear the path for eventual reconciliation with Rome. Let’s hope that this nasty old man now takes himself off to the SSPV or some other loony sect. He can be their Pope (or Führer, if he prefers).

I’ve gotta blogroll this guy. One disagreement with his article I suspect the Pope anticipated this result and if he didn’t the Holy Spirit did. Via LGF.

Update: Well this is going to win a lot of friends in the Catholic community. Perfect timing too right after the Society’s move and the Vatican statements.

Well at least Obama will be behind them 100% and if nothing else it will guarantee Israel good press for at least 30 seconds, maybe longer!

Update 2: Catholic and Enjoying says he didn’t know that Bishop Lefebvre’s dad died in a concentration camp. Neither did I.

Hey how is that peeling conservatives from Rush business going?

Posted: January 28, 2009 by datechguy in opinion/news
Tags: ,

…It’s going so well that rep Phil Gingrey is on Rush’s show at his request backtracking faster than Michael Phelps in a pool.

Update: Could the Obama administration have demonstrated the power and dependency of Republican congressmen on Rush’s support to keep their seats in any more effective way?

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