Popcorn, Politics and Cannonballs
You have to hand it to Joe Biden, he knows how to draw attention to himself. There is a reasonable amount of chatter on the internet not only about the depth of the impending vice presidential debate but the lurking possibility that some Monty Python type of moment will unfold before the eyes of the nation. It is hopelessly preposterous not to consider the potential of a cringe worthy moment occurring. Biden’s presence brings the very real possibility of some magnificent folly. The man is a walking conversation starter.
This debate may have been a nonstarter with the masses had things not gone so horribly wrong for Obama when Romney expeditiously dismantled him in their debate last week. Obama’s lack of performance left no doubt that the impending debate puts Joe Biden’s performance front and center.
The Democrats are pinning their hopes on a turnaround at this event. I imagine they are cringing a bit in closed circles considering who they are relying on. Ryan and Romney have more to lose. They have the momentum and it is Ryan’s job to not only keep that momentum but to present a steadying force behind Romney and sell himself as a national voice of reason.
The popular perception is that Joe Biden is completely outclassed intellectually by Paul Ryan. Biden doesn’t care what the perception is. He will go into attack mode like an angry honey badger on each point delivered by Romney in the Presidential debate. Ryan mentioned as much in an interview with The Weekly Standard, “I expect the vice president to come at me like a cannonball.” While I agree with Ryan’s assessment, given Biden’s historical missteps I cannot help but ponder whether he will take that comment literally and show up in his cape and leotards as Cannonball Man.
Ryan will enter his wonky, blue eyed assassin mode. He will utilize his Leave it To Beaver charm to employ his encyclopedic grasp on facts and statistics to both attack and eschew the current President, his policies, and administration. Where others fear turning the brain matter of the audience into porridge with a data dump of details, Ryan’s rhythm, cadence, and grasp of the language tends to get people nodding their heads in agreement.
If Biden cannot get traction on his efforts to discredit Romney, he will likely try to steer the conversation to Ryan’s Roadmap for America/Path To Prosperity. It is feasible that this is where he will try to unload multiple zingers. He will hit Ryan on the Medicare similarities between Obama’s plan & Ryan’s budget, the voucher system to Medicaid, Ryan’s marathon comments, and his effort to tie Obama to the closing of the GM plant in Janesville. If the debate tacks this direction, Ryan will have the opportunity to hit the nerve center of a myriad of shortcomings perpetuated by both Obama and Biden.
Expect Biden to fully ignore the directional control attempts by debate moderator Martha Raddatz. Ryan will be respectful and behave like a statesman.
On the surface it would seem an easy debate to handicap. Conventional wisdom would indicate that Ryan will wipe the floor with him. I’m not so certain. Crazy Joe is enough of a wild card that he could turn this debate multiple directions. Biden reminds me of a professional wrestler, big on showmanship and low on reality. Let us not forget that a large audience exists that enjoys watching Atomic Leg Drops and Cobra Choke Holds.
Unfortunately there are no Sun Tzu Seven Considerations to forecast victory in this debate. Foot in Mouth Joe is just too unpredictable. Biden is like Kramer from Seinfeld. He can fall over backward into good luck and unwittingly deliver a gift to the Obama machine. Pick a winner? I’ll take Ryan in a nail biter.
Perhaps the country could use a timeout, intermission, or some levity before getting back to impending November rumble. With that in mind pour an adult beverage, get the popcorn ready, tune into the debate, and keep an eye out for cannonballs.
@Liberal1 (Objectivity):
Lean to the left? Hell, Lib1, you lean so far to the left you need a down guide to keep you from falling over and allow you to stand.
@Liberal1 (Objectivity):
Think Progress. Didn’t I just tell you that you’ve been misinformed if that is where you are getting your information. So, you pick one and I’ll destroy it for you. How’s that?
@Aqua: Biden’s mega lie #3 — imposing their crap on other people is all the demoCraps do.
@retire05: My position on Obama’s showing at the first debate—and I don’t need 1200 words to express it (quantity of exposition does not necessarily prove a point better)—was that Obama could tell from the first few exchanges that Romney was changing his previous positions to fit the situation better. He was like the salesman—which his was—who’ll say anything to make the sale. You can’t win a debate with someone who’ll just counter with another ‘stretch-of-the-truth’. Normally, when we encounter such a situation, we can either leave the place of business or hang-up the phone. President Obama could do neither.
@Aqua: Why don’t you just go ahead and destroy them all—it would be good for the readers—you certainly don’t need me to participate in such folly.
@retire05: Very clever—but not too factual.
@Liberal1 (Objectivity):
Let’s go to your guy’s myths, shall we. I’m sure others can add to these:
Even Politifact gives this a half-true. If it were a republican claim, it would be listed as Pants on Fire.
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/jun/29/barack-obama/barack-obama-says-under-his-health-care-law-those-/
That’s a direct quote, in context. Deal with it.
Rate three Pinocchios by the Washington Post.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/president-obamas-claim-that-insurance-premiums-will-go-down/2012/08/09/424048f2-e245-11e1-a25e-15067bb31849_blog.html
When congress decided to not fund the Czars, Obama added into the signing statement that he interprets the law to fund the Czars, so essentially Obama wrote legislature from the executive branch, just as he criticized Bush for doing.
Do I really need to provide a link to prove this a lie?
They weren’t
Maybe it was a slip of the tongue and he meant with the stimulus.
The whole thing was an Earmark
No need to comment
Still open.
@Aqua: Knocked ya down a point for being nice to libby.
@Budvarakbar:
I don’t like to be too hard on the libs, I feel sorry for them most of the time. It’s not that they are stupid, many are very intelligent. It’s that they are ignorant and choose to remain so.
@Liberal1 (Objectivity): I think you’re a little under-thinking on the issues, and married to what you want to see rather than anything resembling objectivity.
The issue is that Hillary decided she wanted to be president in 2008 . . . and got promptly derailed by the media and an unqualified demagogue. That’s the direction the Dems decided to go. As I said, the dems are a irrelevant party that are hanging on by a desperate thread. By exploiting minorities, the poor, and the ignorant, they’ve given the impression that they are a viable party, but nothing could be father from the truth. That’s observation.
I think you’d better brace for the Romney win, however, because it’s going to be tough for you. Even if he doesn’t win, the majority of American people know Obama’s a fraud. It’s just a matter of undoing the brainwashing damage done by a desperate democratic party.
@Liberal1 (Objectivity): Many of us see Obama in this way. Promise whatever it takes to get votes. But if your truly objective, you’d see that Obama couldn’t make a point. Everything Romney said was valid–not “stretching the truth”. The popular fallacy amongst liberals, as they watch the election slop away from them, is to play the “liar” card.
“Romney’s lying!”
Uh huh…
Never mind that Obama is saying . . . saying . . . well, outside of attacking Romney, he doesn’t have much to say, does he?
“These aren’t the droids you are looking for . . . ”
Yes, yes they are.
@Liberal1 (Objectivity): The hildabeast — after Libya? — don’t make me laugh — time to send that olde hag to the glue factory.
@Aqua: Please quit feeding the trolls — imho you are wasting your time —
@MataHarley:
Exactly. Going by the criteria of the reaction to the Romney/Obama debate, one would have to conclude Biden cleaned his clock. That debate was judged here and elsewhere, across the ideological spectrum, as a story of performance, crispness of delivery, execution, and aggression. What did I hear about Obama? He was listless, not aggressive, too wonky, poor body language, didn’t go for the easy catch-phrases. I myself am on record on this site praising Romney’s performance, which was impressive. Yet we see many of the same people who blasted Obama for his approach blasting Biden for doing the opposite. Did the criteria change overnight? And let me say, there is no doubt that performance, or force of personalty, is part of this. It’s not just about issues and ideology, if we’re talking about convincing the American public to vote for you. If it was, who in their right mind would have called Romney a winner? This is a person who pivoted hard to the center the night of the debate.. Since we now know the ratings for that debate were through the roof, we can assume there are many people out there who think Mitt Romney is a moderate who agrees with Obama on a whole range of issues, from abortion to Medicare, to entitlement reform. As far as the big issues, Mitt Romney still refuses to fill in the blanks on his tax cut/budget reduction plan; Mitt Romney continues to confuse dunderheaded machismo and belligerence with foreign policy. Even if you hate Obama, the man is consistent and willing to parse details, almost to a self-defeating degree. Obama came to debate, Romney came to perform, and the American public ruled on which approach it prefers. So cries of “Biden was so mean” are ridiculous. He came to rally a moribund Left and put the opposition back on the defensive, and he succeeded. As for Romney, if winning is perpetrating an act on the American people, giving them what they want to here without any connection to your actual intentions or past documented positions, then, yes, Romney won his debate too.
Much to their own disadvantage, the White House is admitting one thing Biden said last night was true……even though it makes them look REALLY bad!
White House: Obama and Biden were never aware of requests for more Benghazi security
We already knew Obama skips out on most of his Presidential Daily Briefings.
But Biden, too?
Not aware that the Embassy staff had repeatedly asked for more protection.
Hillary knew.
Others who were supposed to brief Obama knew.
Incompetent?
Lazy?
Priorities in the wrong place?
What could possibly be their excuse?
And WHY would the White House admit to such a lax attitude toward the safety of our international representatives?
Just to make Biden look a bit better?
Was it worth it?
What’s funny is biden and raddatz teamed up to interrupt Ryan 113 times, and the dems still lost.
As we can see, this is what the dems want. Abuse your opponent, but whatever you do don’t let them talk because they cannot win with facts. Another page from alinsky’s book.
I object to Congress outsourcing power to make law to an unelected, 15 member panel. Because of the timing and fast response required by Congress… a traditionally slow (if not ineffective) deliberative body – any IPAB recommendations can effectively be considered law first, unless Congress jumps Herculean tasks in a short time to *not* make it law. This is entirely backwards from logical, or Constitutional construct.
I was complaining about the IPAB when I wrote a post about in in August 2008… then referred to as the IMAC. As first proposed, any object to the panel’s recommendations had to be reversed/objected to by a joint Congress within 30 days. In it’s final incarnation, it’s not much better.
Wesley Smith at the Daily Caller summarized the legislative procedure this past July.
Shifting this kind of legislative power to an unelected body of people, assuming their recommendations are “law” unless Congress says otherwise, is extraordinarily dangerous and, in my opinion, totally contrary to the Constitution’s intent that all legislation is to be created by the elected members of Congress. The liberal Congress that created this panel has proven they are cowards, and lazy… rejecting their own Constitutional duties.
All that dry mouth, water sipping was happening during uncomfortable and uncertain exchanges, Skook. You could see the areas where Ryan was comfortable… Medicare, economy. You could also tell the places where he knew he was on shaky ground in presenting his case.
Biden didn’t care. He delivered his points with authority… even when they were blatant lies. i.e. the CIA intel intercept on the Libyan consulate attack was known to be planned, but only given the green light because of the protests in Cairo over the film. They always knew it wasn’t *only* the film. But Biden delivered that lie with a straight face.
I watched Romney deliver lies with that straight face and authority during the primaries. Probably the better debate would be Romney against Biden…
Now don’t be going to the opposite spectrum, Tom. I disagree with any emphasis being put on Biden’s aggressive and most definitely rude approach as any type of excuse. But there is no doubt that Romney’s aggression was far more polite than Biden’s constant interruption and interjections.
Biden’s demeanor isn’t getting all that many accolades from the left. Granted many liked it because the VPs have more latitude to roll in the mud than the POTUS candidates, so it was always going to be a free for all. But there is a large segment of even the liberals who thought that Biden was over the top.
Personally I chalk it up to Biden’s excited passion, combined with a bit of pressure and desperation. He knew he had to be a bull, charging for the duration and I think that adrenaline took over, totally disconnecting social civility.
In the end, it was all for entertainment, and a comparison between the two. For Biden, his task was not to blow it like Obama did. For Ryan, he merely needed to look competent enough to be in the #2 slot. In that quest, each accomplished their goals.
Personally, I think the bar is set low for POTUS/Veep these days. And in these fiscal end times, what we have for choices is downright depressing.
Not suprisingly I think Larry’s take in #23 is the best. Biden may have temporarilly stopped the bleeding. Dem. turnout is critical.Romney now leads in Fla. Obama must hold Ohio which appears a toss-up. Momentum is clearly with Romney who as expected has moved to the middle to secure Indies.
Tea Party has been forgotten by Mitt the Mass Moderate. At this point he wants only to win. He’s got a damn good chance.
Larry How great is Justin Verlander? Only shame is he can’t go 3 if needed in next series. Maybe in World Series against the comeback kids Giants.
@MataHarley:
As does anyone else who actually cares about the Constitution and the rules set in place for how law is written/changed.
And it is unsurprising that Greg, a person who supports Obama unequivocally, wouldn’t see that an unelected panel making changes to law is unConstitutional. After all, Greg also supports Obama making law himself by his use of executive orders, even over the objections of Congress.
I’d imagine that if/when Romney wins, and issues proclamations similarly as the Obama admin has done, Greg will be here blasting the unConstitutional power grab of the Executive Branch.
Biden’s performance is no surprise. The left typically figures that they can ‘win’ with their “get in their face” antics. In a debate that is supposed to be governed by rules, it is hard for someone following the rules to overcome someone who is not. Imagine if there was a boxing match where one person followed the rules and boxed and the other discarded the rules and resorted to MMA. The lefties think that by being intimidating they can win. Remember when their master Obama told them to go out and get in everyone’s faces? That’s exactly what Biden did. On the street, someone behaving like that with someone else probably would have resulted in a physical confrontation. On a national scale when a large group starts to behave like that towards another group, it can spiral out of control into something much worse.
@Richard Wheeler:
Actually, Rich, Mata’s take on the debate was better, imo, although I agree with Larry about this;
And Biden certainly delivered there, as evidenced by how happy it seems Greg and Lib1 are, following the debate.
Of course, never mind that quite a bit of what came out of Biden’s mouth was pure lies that could be fact-checked by a 10-year old. What Biden claimed is what the liberal/progressives believe, no matter how true/false it is.
As for Ryan, although he was certainly polite, he lacked the punch needed to blast Biden off the stage. And there were more moments that could have been accomplished than the other way around.
I’d say that both lost out on opportunities in that debate. Biden, for being rude and obnoxious, lost out on a great chance to sway the undecideds, especially given Ryan’s subdued performance. And Ryan lost out on a great chance to sway even more of those undecideds by not jumping on the outright falsehoods Biden kept talking about.
So, objectively, I’d call it a draw. Even as I thought Ryan was much more truthful in his responses than Biden was.
After 4 years of harlequin performances from this Administration too many have somehow accepted Biden’s bizarre discharge in the debate into the realm of ‘normal.’ This wasn’t a high school debating class. This is a Nation’s leadership on display. The Vice President of the United States was an embarrassment.
Biden sure as hell didn’t look presidential. He is, to use Skook’s term above, a “buffoon.” The MSM thinks he looked good ‘attacking’? That showed Character? That showed leadership? What the hell?
Ryan wasn’t exactly ‘johnny-on-the-spot’ and missed opportunities for slamming the buffoon, but at least he wasn’t personally boorish and embarrassing.
In these times when society is bombarded by lies and ignorance cluelessly flowing from the Oval Office, it’s understandable that behaviour such as Biden’s would be unremarkable.
And the Obama sycophanting media is ensuring that the Nation is “dumbed-down.” What’s wrong with this picture?
How does anyone who is unemployed or underemployed, look at this and think that this display of ignorance, classless, and dimwitted behaviour will lead toward anything positive in their lives?
@Liberal1 (Objectivity): My impression and the majority of Americans was that 0-blama failed. Once the discussion focused on his failed Presidency he had nowhere to go. He also did not have a teleprompter which he clearly needs. Finally, he is not used to having people challenge his failures. Basically, he lost big time!!
J.G Mata’s takes are always good and well researched.Larry’s are often outstanding, especially considering the crowd. Gotta give props to Tom, a smart fighter who Biden could learn from.
Agree debate a draw. Biden played to energize his base.Ryan showed ability to be a good V.P in his unyielding support of the Mass.Moderate.
Hi Rich,
Best pitching performance in “modern” post-season MLB history was Mickey Lolich in the 1968 Series, Tigers vs Cardinals. Lolich pitched 3 COMPLETE GAME victories in 7 games, including the 7th game on only 2 days’ rest, against Bob Gibson.
I think that Verlander is strong enough/durable enough to do the same thing, which would be unheard of in this day and age of pitch counts, 5 days’ rest, and platoons of relievers. But were the Tigers to play St. Louis again (a possibility) and Verlander were to do that, then the TV audience for game 7 would be of epic, Super Bowl-like magnitude. Sigh, a guy can dream…
– Larry Weisenthal/Huntington Beach CA
P.S. Biden got the better of the last two segments, imo. The earlier stuff was political. The last two were personal/reflective. The penultimate was when they were asked how their Catholic faith informed them. Biden immediately got out of road rage mode into calm, reflective mode. I think he gave the more moving answer, which resonated well with Catholics (most of whom practice contraception and many of whom would never have an abortion themselves but wouldn’t presume to make this decision for a non-Catholic) and women. Ryan at first appeared not to know how to answer the question — he came across as cold and calculating, in contrast to Biden.
With the final statements, Biden again gave a calm, seemingly heart-felt response. Ryan essentially gave a robotic political advertisement/commercial.
I think that Biden did help out with the Catholic vote and with the women (who, among the other considerations, tend not to see a downside in getting out of Afghanistan on schedule – no ifs ands, or buts). Prior to the Romney/Obama debate, the Catholic vote was clearly breaking for Obama, who had the good fortune to be linked to the nuns, while GOP was linked to the Bishops (the nuns being much more popular, these days). I think that Biden may have undid the damage that Obama did, to the Catholic constituency (particularly women). I’m sure that retire05 will have a different take on this. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
– larry w
@openid.aol.com/runnswim:
Agreed, Larry, it’s all about perspective. Those who lean left will not see the rudeness of Biden, and those who lean right won’t see the ineffectiveness of Ryan at certain points in the debate.
TOM
TAKE THE Hard Right number 20,
and put that in your pipe and smoke it,
be careful not to choke on it
It stood out to me that Biden said, during the debate, that Obama and he were only for letting the Bush tax cuts expire on those making a million dollars of more.
It flew in the face of Obama’s statements that $250,000 was the cut-off of who is RICH.
So, I was a little pleased with Biden saying it takes $1 million in annual income to be RICH.
One problem.
Today Carney walked Biden’s remark back.
http://freebeacon.com/carney-walks-back-bidens-million-dollar-threshold-for-tax-hike/
$250,000 a year is RICH in the USA.
So, take that all you RICH nurses and firemen.
Biden reminds e of the guy at the party with a lamp shade in his head.
I work in a very diverse area and mentioned to the security guard ( black) that I was worried about Biden taking the reins if, god forbid, Obama needed major surgery like a hip replacement.
He agreed with me that this was a nightmare.
Could you imagine Biden making a speech to the UN or meeting with merkel?
He came across as a strange relative that’s always invited to the reunion or Thankgiving dinner.
No class. Just an ass.
@Richard Wheeler:
If you think tom is smart, you have set the bar extremely low.
In Saving Private Ryan, he was concerned about honoring the memory of the fallen with how he lived his life. It would be nice if you did that too rich.
@openid.aol.com/runnswim:
Of course I disagree with you. And if you think that a bunch of hippy nuns hold more sway over Catholics than do the Cardinals, you are probably smoking something that is only legal in your far left California. So while letters from Bishops, Archbishops and Cardinals are often read during every Sunday Mass, your nuns? Most Catholics are only vaguely familiar with them. The Bishops, Archbishops and Cardinals are the radio host. The nuns are nothing more than annoying background static.
October 12, 2012
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued the following statement, October 12. Full text follows:
Last night, the following statement was made during the Vice Presidential debate regarding the decision of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (H-HS) to force virtually all employers to include sterilization and contraception, including drugs that may cause abortion, in the healthg insurance coverage they provide their employees.
“With regard to the assault on the Catholic Church, let me make it absolutely clear. No religious institution—Catholic or otherwise, including Catholic social services, Georgetown hospital, Mercy hospital, any hosptial—none has to either refer contraception, none has to pay for contraception, none has to be a vehicle to get contraception in any insurance policy they provide. This is a fact. That is a fact.”
This is not a fact. (italics and bold mine) The HHS mandate contains a narrow, four-part exemption for certain “religious employers”. That exemption was made final in February and does not extend to “Catholic social services, Georgetown hospital, Mercy hospital, any hospital,” or any other religious charity that offers its services to all, regardless of the faith of those served.
So you see, Larry, USCCB is flat out calling Joe Biden a liar, and believe me, this announcement will be read in Catholic Churches all across the nation in two days during Mass.
Larry I was in V.N. listening to that game 7,Lolich vs Gibson. Yankees are next. Cards need to get by Nats and Giants,no mean feat. I think Tigers can win it all with Verlander doing whatever is necessary. Remember when Randy Johnson won 2 and 6 and 7 in relief against the Yankees? If Fister can be Schilling like the Tigers will win it all. IRISH 5-0 with Stanford coming in.First National Title since 89? Talk about dreaming.lol
H.R. Pls explain #89. I live right next to Camp Pendleton and through the VFW,Marine Corps League and my Church help Marines on a regular basis.
openid.aol.com/runnswim
are you stuck on the catholic in order to slip arrogant quotes under the rug?
it look like you believed BIDEN RHETORIC and manic behavior,
he played the game of OBAMA, TRYING TO KILL PAUL RYAN,
AND HE FAIL, even with his disrupting him trying to put him of his thought,
he gesticulate like a nut case ready for the restraint shirt, he had uncontrole controled LAUGHTERS
meant to reach his intent to get the people find PAUL RYAN NOT CREDIBLE ,
HE PLAYED HIS GAME WELL TO OPEN THE EYES OF THE PEOPLE WHO DECIDE THEY SURE DON’T WANT THESE TWO FAKE LEADERS OF DEMOCRATES
FOR FOUR MORE YEARS, and even as vicious as they try, they don’t fool the people anymore,
stop looking into your gadget to find the diseases for a while and pay attention,
or ask your father, he will tell you for sure who is best to run this AMERICA,
THIS IS YOUR MOST IMPORTANT VOTE OF YOUR LIFE AND OF AMERICA,
SINCE HER FOUNDATION.
Nan G
I heard PAUL RYAN SAY, there are not enough rich companies to bleed that money from,
[maybe in other words] but there is also the fact we know of those COMPANIES WHO MOVED
ABROAD AND ARE WAITING FOR THE ELECTION TO DECIDE,
AND IF OBAMA WIN THEY WILL STAY PUT ABROAD,
BUT IF MITT ROMNEY AND PAUL RYAN WIN, THE COMPANIES WILL COME BACK AND
GET JOBS FOR AMERICANS, BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IN MITT ROMNEY, THEY TRUST HIS WORD,
SO OBAMA WON’T HAVE THE COMPANIES TO SOAK IN ORDER TO SPEND IN HIS UN-CONTROLED SPENDING SPREES, NOT FOR AMERICANS, LIKE HE DID THESES LAST YEARS,
A Pew Poll in June showed a two point advantage for Obama in the Catholic vote. Then the US Bishops (UCCB) instituted their “Fortnight for Freedom,” complaining about an alleged attack on religious liberties in the Affordable Care Act. Then the Vatican went after the LCWR (nuns). The next Pew Poll, in September, showed Obama’s Catholic advantage up to 54 – 39 percent. So much for the political influence of the Bishops.
I’ll report back on this week’s homily, locally speaking.
Hey Rich,
Regarding the Irish, I’m glad that they are having a good season (been down too long, and college football benefits when ND is in national title contention — too darn much SEC, these days), though you’ll lose more games than you win, when you get 4 straight picks in 4 straight passes and still only win by a TD.
– Larry
A Pew Poll in June showed a two point advantage for Obama in the Catholic vote. Then the US Bishops (UCCB) instituted their “Fortnight for Freedom,” complaining about an alleged attack on religious liberties in the Affordable Care Act. Then the Vatican went after the LCWR (nuns). The next Pew Poll, in September, showed Obama’s Catholic advantage up to 54 – 39 percent. So much for the political influence of the Bishops.
I’ll report back on this week’s homily, locally speaking.
Hey Rich,
Regarding the Irish, I’m glad that they are having a good season (been down too long, and college football benefits when ND is in national title contention — too darn much SEC, these days), though you’ll lose more games than you win, when you get 4 straight picks in 4 straight passes and still only win by a TD.
– Larry
Larry N.D. will take that win over your beloved Wolverines anyway they can. Did you see where N.D, football is joining ACC in 2015 and as a result dropping Michigan rivalry, Big mistake.
Big comeback win for Cards tonight. Giants-Cards Tigers-Yankees Play Ball.
@Richard Wheeler:
And by supporting this administration and people like tom, you fight against what they died fighting for. Thos Marines you “help”? Means little. I recall a liberal who bragged how he worked at a VA hospital and claimed it was prooof of how he truly cared about our soldiers, while we did not. He also liked to bash those who joined the military saying how stupid they were for joining. You are no different than him. It’s all for your ego. You’ve proven that with your comments here. You are the atypical liberal narcissist.
Not liking or supporting the GOP is one thing. I can understand that, but obama and co. are socialists and have no respect for the Constitution. Your mindless support for them is like going to Arlington and pissing on graves.
@Hard Right:
There is really no love loss between the military branches. It’s not really a secret that we fight each other all the time. In my 10 years in the Air Force, I was in more fights with Marines than I care to remember; and all those fights happened in a brief year and a half period when I was stationed in Okinawa. But when someone from the outside attacks a brother-in-arms, it’s a different story. If you want to attack Rich and Greg on their political beliefs, knock yourself out; I sure do. But to attack their service? Less than 2% of Americans serve in the military and the Marines are the smallest branch, (not counting Coasties).
I have a friend IRL that is a Marine and a liberal. I don’t agree with him politically, but I guarantee you that if the crap hit the fan, he would be one of the first in line to defend this country. Defending people like Tom and you is exactly what people like Rich and Greg have done. There are people like Rich and Greg serving in the military right now. They don’t know you, but they are willing to die so you can call their brothers-in-arms a disgrace.
@openid.aol.com/users/110:
Pew is far left leaning. Got anything else? Perhaps like a report in Catholic News USA in September that the Catholic vote is split and too close to call? Add to that the recent speaking out against this Administration by hundreds of pastors, including Black pastors, and what do you have? Obama on shaky ground with the religious who do not support his pro-abortion, pro-gay marriage stance.
As to your “homily” reporting, you live in California, right? The same state that has Bishops that have not demanded that Nancy Pelosi either abandon her pro-abortion stance or cease to call herself Catholic?
Aqua Thanks buddy.
H.R. How many times must I remind you that atypical means NOT typical? If you learned to read you would see there are times (overrun of Benghazi consulate) that I don’t support Obama. Take off your blinders and see the world.
Aqua
you where more in fight with MARINES THEN YOU REMEMBER
AND I bet the MARINE WHERE RICHARD WHEELER,
GEEZ HE FOLLOWED YOU HERE, BECAUSE HE HAD SO MUCH FUN FIGHTING YOU.
BYE
@openid.aol.com/runnswim: In case you are wondering what happened to Lolich. This is an awesome web site for BB lovers. You can get lost in there for hours.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lolicmi01.shtml
Morning homily report:
Gospel reading was Mark 10:17-30. Appropriately, the intention prayer included asking that political leaders remember their responsibility to the poor. Nary a word about political assaults on “religious freedom.”
Tigers over the Yanks; exciting game. Thanks for the great BB reference (bookmarked it).
– Larry Weisenthal/Huntington Beach CA
@openid.aol.com/runnswim:
From the website of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange (which Huntington Beach is in)
USCCB Nationwide Bullentin Insert
September-October 2012
(excerpt)
The U.S. bishops have since raised numerous concerns over the increasing threats to religious freedom, especially the now-finalized rule of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which would force virtually all private health plans nationwide to provide coverage of sterilization and contraception–including abortifacient drugs.
While there is an exemption for certain “religious employers,” it only covers employers that serve people of their own faith. Jesus and his apostles would not qualify. Mother Teresa would not qualify. As the bishops noted in their statement, United for Religious Freedom, this is an extremely narrow and unprecedented federal definition of religion, resulting in coercion to act against our teachings and the violation of civil rights.
Federal law has long been generous in protecting the rights of individuals and institutions to not act against their religious beliefs or moral convictions. Is that now changing? Are we entering a time when the federal government may now force the Church–consisting of its faaithful and all but a few of its institutions–to act against Church teachings?
While we seek remedies from the White House, Congess, and the courts, the U.S. bishops have called upon the Catholic faithful, and all people of faith, throughtout our country to join in prayer and penance for our political leaders, and for the complete protection of our first freedom–religious liberty.”
Words in bold were copied exactlyfrom the website.
Larry, since this was an insert to the Sunday bulletin for the entire nation, if it was not in yours, perhaps you should call the pastor later on today, or tomorrow, and complain that it was not provided to the faithful as was directed.
openid.aol,com/runnswim
hi,
in case you haven’t heard, the two scientists who won the NOBEL PRIZE,
DR BRIAN KOBILKA FROM STANFORD UN. CALIFORNIA, AT 57
AND HIS MENTOR ROBERT LEFKOWITZ FROM DUKE UN. MED. CENTER IN DURHAM N.C. AT 69,
THEY WORK 4 DECADES TO FIND TO CHARACTERIZE THE EXACT STRUCTURE OF AN IMPORTANT CLASS OF PROTEINS KNOWN AS ; G-PROTEIN -IN-COUPLED, RECEPTORS OR GPCRS WHICH SERVE AS A MAIN CONDUIT FOR CHEMICALS TO GET PAST A CELL’ MEMBRANE AND BE TAKEN UP BY A CELL,
WHEN I read that, I THOUGHT ABOUT YOU AND YOUR WORK, AND ASSUME THAT YOU ALSO WOULD BENEFIT FROM THAT EXTRAORDINARY FIND IN CHEMISTRY,
IT ALSO MENTION; ROUGHLY 1000 HUMAN GENES CARRY GENETIC CODES FOR THE RECEPTORS
WHICH AFFECT A VARIETY OF FUNCTIONS, FROM THE BEATING OF THE HEART TO
THE WORKINGS OF THE BRAIN, AND EVEN HOW CELLS IN THE NOSE DETECT ODORS,
A subset of theses receptors, some several hundred respond to hormones and
neurotransmitters in the body, and theses have been targets for drug discovery in many cases
even before RESEARCHERS KNEW THESE RECEPTORS EXISTED,
ABOUT 4O/CENT OF DRUGS ALREADY USE THESE RECEPTORS OR DOORS TO GET INSIDE OF CELLS,
INCLUDING ELI LILY’S ANTIPSYCHOTIC DRUG ZYPREXA AND BRISTOL-MYERS’ DIABETES
TREATMENT BYETTA, THE PROBLEM IS THAT DRUGS OFTEN ACT ON MORE THAN ONE RECEPTOR
and so they have side effects,
we hope the more we know about the structure of theses proteins, the more we wil be able to develop
safer more effective drugs KOBILKA SAID
LEFKOWITZ SET OUT IN THE 1970 TO PROVE THESE RECEPTORS EXISTED AND THAT THEY COULD BE STUDIED, CLONED, AND MANIPULATED TO DEVELOP NEW DRUGS,
KOBILKA WHO WORK IN LEKOWITS LAB IN THE 1980’S EXTENDED THAT RESEARCH BY HELPING TO DEFINE THE EXACT CRYSTAL STRUCTURE OF EVERY ATOMS OF THESES RECEPTORS AT A MOLICULAR LEVEL, SOMETHING THAT HAD ELUDE RESEARCHERS,
THEIR FINDING HAS SHONE A LIGHT ONTO THE STAGGERINGLY COMPLEX WORLD OF HOW
HORMONES, NEUROTRANSMITTERS AND DRUGS CONTROL CELLULAR FUNCTION AND OPEN THE DOOR TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW THERAPEUTICS WITH POTENTIAL TO TREAT
A VAST ARRAY OF DISEASES , THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN AWAITING
FOR YEARS , SAID SID TOPIOL,
THERE IS MORE ON MY COPY. IF YOU NEED IT , I WILL GIVE IT TO YOU ON ANOTHER COMMENT,
JUST ASK
BYE
Hi Retire, Thanks for the reference. I went to the website.
http://www.rcbo.org/home.html
I couldn’t find it. Probably I’m just a dense cyber-munchkin. I’d like to discuss this further with you; can you possibly give me the direct link to the document you reference (before I go calling up the parish Pastor to complain).
– Larry W/HB
P.S. Thanks for the reference, Bees. It’s very important work. Back when I was a graduate student in pharmacology, receptors were only inferred — an receptor had never actually been isolated to study the physical structure. With the isolation of actual receptors, it’s been possible to custom design drugs on a rational basis (i.e. to fit the receptor, like a key fits a lock). It’s just been a huge advance for the pharmaceutical industry and, ultimately, for patients.
@Aqua:
Tell me Aqua, where have I attacked rich’s service? It’s what he’s done since he served and I have said as much many times over. Please post where I have done that since you want to defend him. Sounds like your reading comprehension wasn’t up to snuff on that one.
If you want to defend someone who has denigrated those who couldn’t serve as inferior, who has smeared those who served in the National Guard as inferior and/or cowards, then YOU are the one who needs a lecture, not me.
Let me tell you about a relative of mine who passed away recently.
He fought in WWII. You know, the war that saved America and the world. He landed on Omaha beach. He was one of the first into each of those towns shown in Saving Private Ryan. At one point, he was in combat 160+ days straight. He was wounded by a German 88 and even a P.O.W. briefly.
Yet, he was a humble and kind man. Not once did I ever hear him denigrate someone who didn’t serve, or couldn’t serve, or served but didn’t go into combat. Not once. If anyone had the right to show the chest thumping arrogance rich has displayed, it was him. Yet he didn’t. Rich, you aren’t fit to shine his boots. So spare me your elitest snobbery.
Something else my relative didn’t do? He didn’t vote for obama. He knew what he was and he didn’t want the sacrifices he and his friends made on the field of battle to be tossed away by surrendering at home.
@openid.aol.com/runnswim:
http://www.rcbo.org/images/stories/USCCB-Religious-Freedom-Bulletin-ENG.pdf
You didn’t look very hard.
The fact remains; it should have been placed in your Sunday bulletin, at least in the last couple of weeks. It was in mine last Sunday and I am in central Texas.
Either way, the USCCB is not going to let up on Obama. One of the first things that needs to be done is that Kathleen Sebelius needs to be publicly excommunicated, along with Nancy Pelois, Joe Biden, John Kerry and any other elected Catholic that has supported abortion/gay marriage.
Thanks Retire05. I’m going to look into it (what’s going on with that Bishops’ memorandum, which seems to be buried as a website PDF (which I couldn’t find, in 5 minutes of clicking and scrolling, when I was specifically looking for it).
Regarding excommunicating pro-choice politicians: Pope John Paul II personally administered the eucharist to the pro-choice mayor of Rome, who stated that he (the mayor) was personally opposed to abortion but that he didn’t feel it appropriate to impose his own religious beliefs on people of other faiths. This is precisely the position of Vice President Biden and many other Catholic politicians.
In 2004, the UCCB considered the issue (brought to light when John Kerry was the Dem nominee). The conclusion was that there wouldn’t be a national policy and individual Bishops in individual dioceses could institute their own policies.
I’d like to ask you a question. What’s a greater evil: practicing contraception (which is done by a large majority of Catholics, in the absence of confession, and these Catholics continue to receive the eucharist)? Or not being “pro-abortion,” but rather taking the position that it’s inappropriate to impose one’s religious beliefs on other people, enforced at gunpoint?
– Larry Weisenthal/Huntington Beach CA