Charlotte Front and Center

Patrick Kennedy's Silly Lecturing of the Pope and Bishops

Nuns,Obama-care, and Patrick Kennedy became the topic of a lot of Catholic news commentary this weekend starting with Maureen Dowd and her new version of "The Nuns Story", full of a lot of Dowd's lambasting against the evil patriarchy of Rome.  This commentary can be countered by an earlier article on the same topic by Elizabeth MacDonald's inspiring "How Catholic Nuns Shaped America."  Both articles give one a better idea of what is going on in the American theater of Catholic politics than the silly sputtering we heard from Patrick Kennedy's lecturing of the Pope and Bishops and what they should find  acceptable for Catholics concerning Obama's health-care bill. 

If Patrick Kennedy, John Kerry, Nancy Pelosi, and a host of other "Catholic" politicians wish to defy Catholic teachings, that's perfectly acceptable and legal to do so in a free democracy. The problem is that they can't expect the Pope to follow along with their "progressive" political beliefs simply because it conveniently suit the currrent philosophy of Kennedy, Pelosi and other such progressives.

But back to Dowd  and MacDonald and their reminiscing of the good sisters who taught in Catholic schools during the 1950's and 60's. Anyone who received a Catholic education know the nuns were tough just as Dowd remembers in her story of Sister Hiltruda. Or better yet, consider the memories of MacDonald and the way she sums up her memories of the 1960's with.." And yes, if you're Catholic and you've been taught by nuns, you've likely run across the jokes about Catholic sisters, about being taught by a Sister George C. Scott or a Sister Mary Handcuffs or the Sisters of (No) Mercy, or Sister Mary Aloysius Expialodocious, you know, the nuns who will haunt you until you can recite your multiplication tables in your sleep. I get all that....and MacDonald then goes on to add "*Throughout periods of struggle and controversy, Catholic sisters have opened orphanages, schools, hospitals, colleges, universities, and provided other social services that have served millions of Americans..."

So are the memories of many adult Catholics from the 50's and 60's who were fortunate enough to receive an education from these fine Sisters. But how must it strike many of these same Catholics who hear American politicians speaking and lecturing the Pope and bishops on how Catholic affairs should be conducted?  Surely many of us can fantasize the smart-alecky Patrick Kennedy receiving the coldest and iciest stare-down (at best) ever received from the likes of a Sister Hiltruda,or Sister Mary Hand-cuffs. Yet, in all sincerity, and not to disparage the nuns...we know that Patrick Kennedy would really have received a worse outcome at the hands of these Sisters of the 1960's.

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Change! Obama Stumps for Scandal Ridden Senator Chris Dodd

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If we do not change...Obama warned: "... if we do not change our politics � if we do not fundamentally change the way Washington works � then the problems we’ve been talking about for the last generation will be the same ones that haunt us for generations to come..." ~Obama, 2007.

Now reality sets in and Sen.Chris Dodd of Connecticut is in trouble with voters back home. Dodd has been hounded by nasty scandals all year long beginning with a report in June that he was on a list of V.I.P.’s who were given preferred rates on home loans by Countrywide Financial, a lender heavily involved in the sub-prime mortgage meltdown. Remember, Dodd had oversight of that industry as a member, and now is Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee.  Back in April, the New York Times wrote an article saying of how much help Obama could be to the beleagured Dodd back home in Connecticut. 

Today things are a little different. Obama will now start to look at the upcoming elections as a portent of things to come down his own political path. His poll ratings are down considerably.  So  Obama has spent the last few days jetting around the N.E. campaigning the same old talk for Senator Chris Dodd, Gov. Deval Patrick, and poor gubernatorial hopeful Creigh Deeds of Virginia.

So..."Hello Connecticut!"...."Hello, Boston!"...and soon "Hello, Virginia!" ..."and if we do not change...well, we can not change...not just yet."

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Afghanistan: Maybe Yes Maybe No Maybe Present

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How frustrating Obama's "leadership" must be to the military. One would think the President would at least try to give the illusion of being strong and decisive.  Apparently the military has a lot of opinion it's giving about Obama's commandeering of the war, but fear of reprisal from the White House only allows them to speak anonymously with exception of Secretary Gates.

This is the type of confusing language coming from the White House and the news wires that report it: " WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has not yet determined whether he will make a decision on sending more troops to Afghanistan before the November 7 election runoff, a US official said Tuesday." Reuters reports that "Meetings among his (Obama's) senior advisers will continue next week. The debate has exposed divisions over what to do next."

Reuters also reports McCrystal as giving Obama this advice: "the option of sending more than the 40,000 additional troops -- up to 80,000 according to some sources -- and has described the option of sending no additional troops as "high risk." McChrystal has spoken in grave tones about Afghanistan, warning that success in the campaign against the Taliban could not be taken for granted."

Who is the biggest dissenter to McChrystal's plan?  Joe Biden. Biden has served on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for many years and has Rahm Emanuel's agreement. Rahm is concerned that Afghanistan will be a U.S. quagmire and distract from Obama's successful conclusion of Health-Care reform.  Media talk seems to imply that Hillary Clinton supports Gates thinking on Afghanistan.  Meanwhile, casualties are high among our troops.

America will at least lose a moral victory if we retreat from Afghanistan.  Yet when our President is so consumed with political play, it would do our troops a deserved service not to be involved in Afghanistan.

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Obama White House Fears Fox News

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Many of us who watch Fox News are not Republicans.  In fact, many of the viewers Fox has acquired is due to the pro-Obama slant that belongs to the media in general.  Fox is a news source that has asked the tough questions of the Obama administration.  The Chicago-styled administration can not tolerate old-style journalism represented by reporters such as Chris Wallace and Major Garrett.  

Fox News has its news programs and its opinion programs.  The opinion programs have struck a nerve that Obama and this current White House can not tolerate.  Fox brought to light the Acorn videos of corruption, and the unraveling of Czar Van Jones White House career long before CNN and other news sources would even admit such issues were newsworthy.  We also know that Van Jones would still be positioned in the White House if it had not been for the vetting accomplished from a determined Glenn Beck.  Do we think any news from the Tea Parties would have been  sufficiently covered without Fox News?

It is one thing to present a "slant" on the news, but it is wrong to cover-up or not report information to citizens on the serious misuse of their tax dollars as alleged against A.C.O.R.N., simply  because it sheds a "poor" light on Obama and his political connections.

Yet, as White House officials made the Sunday Shows to disparage Fox as a bastion of Republican talking points, Terry McAuliffe appeared on Fox to say: "President Obama's going to talk to all the networks," said former Clinton adviser and administration confidant Terry McAuliffe, who appeared with Rove on Fox News. "He's going to go out there. He loves competition. He loves being engaged in the battle."

Many will find McAuliffe's opinion about Obama being engaged in battle something that 'Obama enjoys'.... hard to swallow.  In fact, Obama seems to be "thin skinned" when it comes to tough challenges.  Obama operates best when giving speeches, not when governing or making tough decisions.

In the long run though, viewer ratings will continue to tell the truth about Fox.  Americans will go to great lengths to get the real news.  Obama needs to worry about the issues Americans are concerned about...and it isn't Fox News.

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Senators Take Money from Soldiers to Fund Pet Pork Projects

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Remember the concern over our soldiers on the front in Afghanistan and Iraq not having the protective vests they needed?  Remember the Humvees we were concerned about being vulnerable on the bottom to road-side bombs?  Do you think our senators were concerned enough when reports came out about straining military equipment?

In February of 2007,the Center for American Progress reported reported on the lack of equipment for our soldiers and noted how forces were resorting to "sharing".

Today, CNN reports the following on our Senators who continue to abuse funds for pork barrel projects:

"Funds meant to help U.S. troops at war are instead being spent on senators' pet projects that are geared more toward helping their home states.

Utah National Guardsmen returning from risky deployments receive a gesture of appreciation, a video scrapbook about their battalion and tour of duty. The videohe Washington Times is produced by a business in Utah called StoryRock.

Utah's Republican Sen. Robert Bennett wants to help his home-state company take their project nationwide, so he's secured a $5 million earmark in the defense spending bill.

That $5 million comes from the fund that's supposed to pay for troops' basic needs such as food, fuel and ammunition."

All in all, Senators diverted 2.7 million from funds intended for our troops to cover the cost of funding pet projects in their home states.  The list includes Republicans and Democrats. In fact, since Oct. of this year, the pork barrel spending has increased rather than subsided as Obama promised it would.

The Washington Times talked to Winslow Wheeler who conducted the independent investigation or the Center of Defense Information said:

"These are the accounts that pay for troop training, repairs, spares and supplies for vehicles, weapons, ships and planes, food and fuel," Mr. Wheeler said. Raiding those accounts to fund big-ticket projects the military does not want, but that benefit senators' home states or campaign contributors, amounts to "rancid gluttony".

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North Carolina Imposes Fat Fees and Smoker Penalties

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The "Fat Tax" has arrived for North Carolina state workers in the guise of paying heavier premiums for the states insurance plan.  Smokers will face the same penalties.

Yes, there are good arguments to both sides, but lets include state workers who live risky by driving motorcycles,consuming alcohol,and those who refuse to buy organic food products.  Couldn't we go on and on?  What about the state worker who "works out" and has an increased BMI? How discouraging.

Why not use health incentives for state workers?  Let's consider using the same argument we have heard for the Stimulus Bill.  If N.C. gave state employees a health club membership, the state would save money in the long run with these workers losing weight.  We could also consider sending addicted nicotine addicts to "smoking clinics". Great things could be done for their lifestyles, and money saved...in the long run..of course.

Yet, on the other hand, nothing could bring in more money to the government than to tax bad habits.  If we think about it long enough...most anything good or fun is bad for you.  There's a lot of money to be made off of the state worker and the rest of us.

Wouldn't it be great if we could penalize our congressional reps for their idiotic thinking and over-spending?  Congress should be super-penalized for being unhealthy Ding Dongs.

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Depression Speak: "Prosperity is Right Around the Corner"

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All month Turner Classic Movies will be showing movies with depression-era themes.  In "My Man Godfrey" (MGM, 1935), cynical referrals are made to the popular slogan of that era: "Prosperity is right around the corner."  It is much of what we hear from the White House today when they refer to the bright signs from Wall Street, and the fact that not as many Americans are now losing jobs.

With the 2010 elections staring the House and Senate in the face, we are now seeing the panicky comments about unemployment from our reps. given at every opportunity to the media... whether it is the topic of interest at the moment or not. Take our trusted Charlie Rangel.  All of a sudden, he is interested in the unemployed in this country...'we need to do something for the unemployed'..."code words" for the second stimulus.

Extending unemployment benefits seems appropriate considering these same workers paid into unemployment benefits for many years.  These extensions will be paid by extending a federal unemployment tax. Still, the extensions will cost over 25 billion.  Yet, this is just a drop in the bucket. The other domestic bills being considered by Pelosi are astronomical in their detail,depth,and cost.

My Way News reports: "Rep. Dave Camp, D-Mich., the top Republican on the Ways and Means Committee, said: "The fact that they're putting forward all of these things is really an indication that the stimulus was a failure. It didn't work."  That probably says it best. After all, "prosperity is just around the corner", and while we contemplate that, we can think of all the jobs saved by the "first stimulus".

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Obama not so Loved by the World

Let's face it.  The media keeps trying to tell us that the world loves Obama, but in actuality that is only evidence of a delusion that our media has been giving us and the rest of the world...in spite of any evidence to support their claims.

We do have to concede that Omar Gadafy and Hugo Chavez find much to admire in our President,but where is the proof that the "big bad United States" is profiting from this "citizen of the world"?

Abdom M. Pallasch, a political reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times, said in his recent article that 'Obama did not have time to un-do the terrible image the world has of America'. Pallasch quoted Jesse Jackson who said:  "There must be" resentment against America, the Rev. Jesse Jackson said, near the stage where he had hoped to give a victory speech in Daley Center Plaza. "The way we [refused to sign] the Kyoto Treaty, we misled the world into Iraq. The world had a very bad taste in its mouth about us. But there was such a turnaround after last November. The world now feels better about America and about Americans. That's why I thought the president's going was the deal-maker."

Obviously, no other European country has rushed to parrot us in infusing more money into their economies, and Obama has angered our allies in his refusal to blast Iran for its nuclear developments when speaking last week at the U.N. This fact was revealed by a Paris newspaper-not our own own media.  Next, the Taliban get words of encouragement from Obama when he tells the world we are not interested in "victory" in Afghanistan.

There is danger in an ego as big as the one that consumes Obama.  His narcissism is fed by the American media. Obama and our media go into denial when evidence of Obama's failures are clear to see.  The Olympics fiasco is one thing, but the lives of our soldiers and the health of our economy can not be a victim to this President who seems to be spread too thin with his perceptions of grandeur. 

It is frightening to consider what event it would take to give Obama a reality awakening before serious harm befalls this nation.  We don't deserve the failings of Obama's decisions...not even those who voted for him.