The moment I realized how much I missed Ronald Reagan came at Denton Bible Church shortly after his death. The morning service had just ended when I noticed a Russian teenage boy I knew. A family or two at Denton Bible had adopted Russian children, and they added a lot to the life of our church.
The boy’s name was Reagan.
We were chatting, and loving to teach as I do, I said with a smile, “Let me tell you about who you are named after.” And I told him of Ronald Reagan and of how helped wear down the old Soviet Union. And because of that, Russia and the United States were now on good terms . . . and that was a big reason he got adopted and was with us.
The thing is, I had a lot of trouble getting all that out. I broke down crying before him before I could finish. The boy was a great kid and, with a calm smile, was patient with me.
And, to be honest, I am crying now as I type this.
That boy named Reagan, and us all, owe Ronald Reagan so much.
And I miss him.
Happy 100th birthday, Mr. President. And thank you.
Sunday, February 06, 2011
Saturday, February 05, 2011
Super Bowl: It’s Happening Again
The run up to this Super Bowl not only brings up bad memories to this Steelers-hater. It is reliving them.
Back in 2006, Seattle was going to their first Super Bowl vs. the Steelers. But did the NFL and the sports media focus on that? No. It was all about the Steelers going back to the Super Bowl. Seattle was just a bit player.
And I think that atmosphere was factor behind perhaps the most infamous botched Super Bowl of all time. The referees, particularly one from Pittsburgh, so rigged the game against Seattle that Seahawk coach Mike Holmgren remarked afterwards that it is hard to beat Pittsburgh and the refs. And last year, head ref Bill Leavy admitted his role still haunts him:
I kicked two calls in the fourth quarter and I impacted the game, and as an official you never want to do that. It left me with a lot of sleepless nights, and I think about it constantly. I'll go to my grave wishing that I'd been better ... I know that I did my best at that time, but it wasn't good enough ... When we make mistakes, you got to step up and own them. It's something that all officials have to deal with, but unfortunately when you have to deal with it in the Super Bowl it's difficult.
The NFL and the sports media certainly created an atmosphere that made it that much more difficult for the refs to be impartial.
Now, it’s happening again.
You’d think with storied Green Bay going to the Super Bowl, one would hear at least as much about “The Pack is Back” as about Pittsburgh. But no. The pre-game hype has been Steelers, Steelers, Steelers.
ESPN stands out in this regard. On Tuesday the 25th, who was featured as the lead on their home page? Troy Polamalu. And this morning, this fawning article practically declaring the current Steelers a dynasty is their lead story.
All we need now is for the refs to help the Steelers yet again in a Super Bowl, and the repeat of history will be complete.
I’ve seen this movie before, and I don’t like it.
Back in 2006, Seattle was going to their first Super Bowl vs. the Steelers. But did the NFL and the sports media focus on that? No. It was all about the Steelers going back to the Super Bowl. Seattle was just a bit player.
And I think that atmosphere was factor behind perhaps the most infamous botched Super Bowl of all time. The referees, particularly one from Pittsburgh, so rigged the game against Seattle that Seahawk coach Mike Holmgren remarked afterwards that it is hard to beat Pittsburgh and the refs. And last year, head ref Bill Leavy admitted his role still haunts him:
I kicked two calls in the fourth quarter and I impacted the game, and as an official you never want to do that. It left me with a lot of sleepless nights, and I think about it constantly. I'll go to my grave wishing that I'd been better ... I know that I did my best at that time, but it wasn't good enough ... When we make mistakes, you got to step up and own them. It's something that all officials have to deal with, but unfortunately when you have to deal with it in the Super Bowl it's difficult.
The NFL and the sports media certainly created an atmosphere that made it that much more difficult for the refs to be impartial.
Now, it’s happening again.
You’d think with storied Green Bay going to the Super Bowl, one would hear at least as much about “The Pack is Back” as about Pittsburgh. But no. The pre-game hype has been Steelers, Steelers, Steelers.
ESPN stands out in this regard. On Tuesday the 25th, who was featured as the lead on their home page? Troy Polamalu. And this morning, this fawning article practically declaring the current Steelers a dynasty is their lead story.
All we need now is for the refs to help the Steelers yet again in a Super Bowl, and the repeat of history will be complete.
I’ve seen this movie before, and I don’t like it.
Friday, February 04, 2011
Media Quiet About Obama Contempt Ruling
As I alerted you yesterday, federal Judge Martin Feldman ruled that the Obama Administration was in contempt of court due to its persisting with its moratorium in various forms on deepwater drilling in defiance of an earlier order from Feldman.
There is little question this is significant and that if such a ruling were made against a Republican administration, the “mainstream” news media would be all over it.
But the news media is being strangely quiet about this. I searched the front web pages of the Washington Post, CBS News, and CNN and found nothing. Maybe it was off in a corner on those home pages, but I could not find it. Searches of those three news sites using “Obama contempt” came up with AP stories at the Post and CBS and nothing, nada, of this story at CNN.
The news media dropped the ball when it came to informing us about Obama during the 2008 campaign. That dereliction of duty continues.
But I cannot let Republican leaders off the hook on this. They should be raising hell about this ruling and about Obama’s unlawful attacks on the offshore oil drilling industry. Few, if any, are.
There is little question this is significant and that if such a ruling were made against a Republican administration, the “mainstream” news media would be all over it.
But the news media is being strangely quiet about this. I searched the front web pages of the Washington Post, CBS News, and CNN and found nothing. Maybe it was off in a corner on those home pages, but I could not find it. Searches of those three news sites using “Obama contempt” came up with AP stories at the Post and CBS and nothing, nada, of this story at CNN.
The news media dropped the ball when it came to informing us about Obama during the 2008 campaign. That dereliction of duty continues.
But I cannot let Republican leaders off the hook on this. They should be raising hell about this ruling and about Obama’s unlawful attacks on the offshore oil drilling industry. Few, if any, are.
Thursday, February 03, 2011
BREAKING: Obama Administration Held in Contempt of Court . . .
. . . but it is not over the issue you think. Long after a federal judge ordered the Obama Administration to lift its moratorium on deepwater oil drilling, the administration persisted and persisted, costing thousands of jobs and making us that much more dependant on oil imports.
Now federal Judge Martin Feldman, stating the regime acted with “determined disregard” for the earlier ruling, has found the Obama Administration in contempt.
This is a story to watch. At the very least, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar should resign . . . at the very least.
Now federal Judge Martin Feldman, stating the regime acted with “determined disregard” for the earlier ruling, has found the Obama Administration in contempt.
This is a story to watch. At the very least, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar should resign . . . at the very least.
After Dublin: A Happier Future for Everybody
No, I am not being sarcastic in the title to this post. In fact, it is not my title, but Matt+ Kennedy’s. Now when I first saw the title to his piece, I thought he was being sarcastic. But no.
Kennedy predicts that after the Dublin Primates Meeting, there will be no dramatic split in the Anglican Communion, but more walking apart, with most of the orthodox on one side of a theological chasm and heretics and their enablers on the other. Both sides will pay less mind to each other as in the last eight years and therefore be “happier.”
I think he is correct. Now one may ask why will orthodox jurisdictions stay in the Anglican Communion at all. Matt+ gives two reasons in the comments:
1. Unlike the relationship between heretic bishops in TEC and orthodox parishes, the Communion exercises no authority over various primates. The ABC could, I suppose, not invite various orthodox primates to various meetings, but that would not mean much to primates determined not to go in the first place. The lack of Communion authority over various provinces means that there is nothing for provinces to “escape” from. They are already free to essentially do as they wish.
2. Since the Global South meeting in 2010, the more centrist conservative primates like Chew and Anis and the Gafcon primates have been seeking to act in concerted, unified ways. Listen again to Anis’ speech and Q/A at Mere Anglicanism. They seem to have committed to act as a unified group in a way that they had not before. Perhaps this is because the centrists have finally seen the light with regard to RW? In any case, declaring independence from the Communion would split the GS primates along the old lines and make both sides weaker. And, given the truth of #1 above, there is no compelling reason to do it.
The conservative primates are have no necessity or reason to declare that they have officially broken with the Communion when doing so would disrupt their own unity and they are free to essentially defect in place with no sanction.
Again, I think he is on target. I once thought there would be a formal split in the Anglican Communion. But with the way authority is structured, that is really not necessary and would split the orthodox as well.
So expect more walking apart, but not a formal split. A separation, but not a divorce if you will. And, yes, I too suspect that will make everyone happier.
Read Matt+ Kennedy’s post for more discussion.
Kennedy predicts that after the Dublin Primates Meeting, there will be no dramatic split in the Anglican Communion, but more walking apart, with most of the orthodox on one side of a theological chasm and heretics and their enablers on the other. Both sides will pay less mind to each other as in the last eight years and therefore be “happier.”
I think he is correct. Now one may ask why will orthodox jurisdictions stay in the Anglican Communion at all. Matt+ gives two reasons in the comments:
1. Unlike the relationship between heretic bishops in TEC and orthodox parishes, the Communion exercises no authority over various primates. The ABC could, I suppose, not invite various orthodox primates to various meetings, but that would not mean much to primates determined not to go in the first place. The lack of Communion authority over various provinces means that there is nothing for provinces to “escape” from. They are already free to essentially do as they wish.
2. Since the Global South meeting in 2010, the more centrist conservative primates like Chew and Anis and the Gafcon primates have been seeking to act in concerted, unified ways. Listen again to Anis’ speech and Q/A at Mere Anglicanism. They seem to have committed to act as a unified group in a way that they had not before. Perhaps this is because the centrists have finally seen the light with regard to RW? In any case, declaring independence from the Communion would split the GS primates along the old lines and make both sides weaker. And, given the truth of #1 above, there is no compelling reason to do it.
The conservative primates are have no necessity or reason to declare that they have officially broken with the Communion when doing so would disrupt their own unity and they are free to essentially defect in place with no sanction.
Again, I think he is on target. I once thought there would be a formal split in the Anglican Communion. But with the way authority is structured, that is really not necessary and would split the orthodox as well.
So expect more walking apart, but not a formal split. A separation, but not a divorce if you will. And, yes, I too suspect that will make everyone happier.
Read Matt+ Kennedy’s post for more discussion.
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
Contempt
Imagine if a law pushed by a Republican president and passed by a Republican Congress was ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge. And the response by the said president’s administration was to pour contempt on the ruling and state that implementing the law would “proceed apace” in complete disregard of the ruling. Can you imagine the furor that would create in the “mainstream” news media and other Lefty circles?
That is exactly what the Obama regime has done. And yet there is hardly a peep about it outside of conservative talk radio.
And Republicans are partly to blame for that. Where are the Republican leaders demanding that Obama respect the ruling and stand down from jamming Obamacare down our throats? Republicans should be raising hell concerning Obama’s contempt.
Yes, I know. This week’s ruling is not the final word. But to “proceed apace” as if the ruling did not happen and without some sort of injunction or stay permitting it would be simply contempt of court.
But then this whole sordid Obamacare putsch has been marked by contempt. There has throughout been contempt of the Constitution and of its champions. Remember when Nancy Pelosi was asked how the Constitution allowed the mandate that all Americans purchase health insurance? She refused to answer except to laughingly ask, “Are you serious? Are you serious?” Her attitude reflected that of Leftists everywhere. They laughed at those who strove against Obamacare as unconstitutional.
But as the ruling made clear, that was and is indeed a serious question of great import. Who is laughing now?
There was contempt of the American people. Poll after poll made clear a majority of Americans did not want Obamacare. And Massachusetts even elected a Republican to replace Ted Kennedy in the Senate largely because of this issue. Hell froze over. Yet Obama and Democrats “proceeded apace.”
That contempt continues, particularly contempt of taxpayers. It would be simple prudence to delay implementing Obamacare until the Supreme Court rules. Obama risks spending billions on a program that will be voided by the Supreme Court once and for all. Pouring tax dollars down a (Demo)rat hole does not concern Obama at all.
There’s contempt of the states. Remember that it was 26 states filing suits against Obamacare that resulted in this week’s ruling.
And now Obama’s contempt of the Constitution, of the people, and of the states is pushing him to the brink of contempt of court.
I long ago said Obama has a totalitarian streak. His contempt of the American people and of the rule of law are certainly part of that.
That is exactly what the Obama regime has done. And yet there is hardly a peep about it outside of conservative talk radio.
And Republicans are partly to blame for that. Where are the Republican leaders demanding that Obama respect the ruling and stand down from jamming Obamacare down our throats? Republicans should be raising hell concerning Obama’s contempt.
Yes, I know. This week’s ruling is not the final word. But to “proceed apace” as if the ruling did not happen and without some sort of injunction or stay permitting it would be simply contempt of court.
But then this whole sordid Obamacare putsch has been marked by contempt. There has throughout been contempt of the Constitution and of its champions. Remember when Nancy Pelosi was asked how the Constitution allowed the mandate that all Americans purchase health insurance? She refused to answer except to laughingly ask, “Are you serious? Are you serious?” Her attitude reflected that of Leftists everywhere. They laughed at those who strove against Obamacare as unconstitutional.
But as the ruling made clear, that was and is indeed a serious question of great import. Who is laughing now?
There was contempt of the American people. Poll after poll made clear a majority of Americans did not want Obamacare. And Massachusetts even elected a Republican to replace Ted Kennedy in the Senate largely because of this issue. Hell froze over. Yet Obama and Democrats “proceeded apace.”
That contempt continues, particularly contempt of taxpayers. It would be simple prudence to delay implementing Obamacare until the Supreme Court rules. Obama risks spending billions on a program that will be voided by the Supreme Court once and for all. Pouring tax dollars down a (Demo)rat hole does not concern Obama at all.
There’s contempt of the states. Remember that it was 26 states filing suits against Obamacare that resulted in this week’s ruling.
And now Obama’s contempt of the Constitution, of the people, and of the states is pushing him to the brink of contempt of court.
I long ago said Obama has a totalitarian streak. His contempt of the American people and of the rule of law are certainly part of that.
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
The Plight of Coptic Christians in Egypt
Coptic Christians are apprehensive about the current push for a new government in Egypt and for good reason.
The current situation for Egyptian Copts is not good with attacks from predatory Muslims, including bombing of churches and torching of homes, and little protection from the government. But a new government would likely be more sympathetic towards extremist Islam and less towards non-Muslims, particularly Copts. The Muslim Brotherhood gaining power would be especially bad news. Read more here.
Pray for Egypt, particularly for Coptic Christians there.
The current situation for Egyptian Copts is not good with attacks from predatory Muslims, including bombing of churches and torching of homes, and little protection from the government. But a new government would likely be more sympathetic towards extremist Islam and less towards non-Muslims, particularly Copts. The Muslim Brotherhood gaining power would be especially bad news. Read more here.
Pray for Egypt, particularly for Coptic Christians there.
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