The Mystery of Marc Andrus Explained?

A brief follow-up to my last post.  Sarah Hey of Stand Firm has posted the best explanation of what likely happened when TEC “Bishop” Marc Andrus was not seated at the installation of the new RC Bishop of San Francisco.

If anyone knows for sure what happened, they aren’t saying yet.  But I would be willing to bet depreciating dollars on Ms. Hey’s version.

However, I am too lazy to summarize, so get thee hence.

The Mystery of Marc Andrus and the Archdiocese of San Francisco

This much we know - TEC “Bishop” Marc Andrus went to attend the Mass for the installation of the new RC Archbishop of San Francisco, Salvatore Cordileone, but was detained by staff.  When the service began without him, he left.

But exactly why he was detained, and whether he arrived to the service on time is a mystery.  Andrus’ version from his blog:

I was dropped off at the cathedral at 1:30PM by my assistant. After making my way around protestors and showing my invitation to security guards, I was in the lower level area to which I was directed by 1:40.



The instructions the Archdiocese had given my assistant were that I should be at St. Mary's by 1:45. The service was scheduled to begin at 2.





I identified myself to an assistant to the archbishop, who spoke to someone through a headset, saying, "Bishop Andrus is here."





I saw the Greek Metropolitan, a good colleague of mine, who was in the same room with me, several Greek Orthodox priests, archdiocesan employees and security guards. I greeted the metropolitan and we spoke briefly.



An archdiocesan employee attempted to escort me upstairs with the Greek Orthodox group, but was stopped from doing so by the employee to whom I had first identified myself. This person, who appeared to be in a superior role, instructed another employee to stand with me.



At this point no other guests remained in the downstairs area. The employee and I chatted while waiting. I began to wonder about the time holdup. I checked my phone; it was 1:50PM. I asked the employee standing with me if the service indeed started at 2, which she affirmed.



At 2PM, when the service was to begin, I said to the employee, "I think I understand, and feel I should leave." Her response was, "Thank you for being understanding." I quietly walked out the door. No one attempted to stop me. No attempt was ever made to explain the delay or any process for seating. I arrived early, before the time given my assistant, and waited to leave until after the service had begun.

My intention for attending the installation was to honor our ecumenical and interfaith relations in the Bay Area.

But an Archdiocean spokesman says he was late and then did not wait long enough to be seated:

San Francisco Archdiocese spokesman George Wesolek chalked it up to a misunderstanding. Andrus had arrived late and missed the procession of interfaith clergy who were to be seated up front. Church staff were looking for an opportunity to bring the bishop in without disrupting the service, according to Wesolek. When they went to retrieve him, he had already left.

“We had no intention of excluding him at all,” Wesolek said. “If he felt like because of the wait that was insulting to him, we certainly will apologize.”

I do not know what to conclude except that Marc Andrus had best learn that neither the world nor the church revolves around him, nor any other apostate “bishop”.  And he’s supposedly Anglican.  He should know by now to show up to church early, not barely on time or late, especially for a big service.

But who, if anyone, was at fault here - well, that is a mystery.

After the Debate (or I’m a Party Pooper)

First, let's get some things out of the way.  I am encouraged by the first debate.  There is no question Romney won.  Even some prominent Lefties concede that, and a few of them even went in meltdown mode last night, particularly Chris Matthews and Andrew Sullivan, who called it “a disaster for Obama.”  I think Obama constantly looking down and smirking while Romney spoke hurt him.  And Romney effectively called out Obama’s lies (my word, not Romney’s) yet in a winsome manner, which is not easy to do.  Moreover, Romney was likeable throughout.  I've been hard on Romney, but he did good, as we say in Texas.

One of the reasons last night may be significant is that millions of viewers found out that Romney neither has horns nor advocates any number of things Obama says he advocates.  And it could be the beginning of undecided voters moving to Romney.

However . . . Obama committed no major gaffes.  And this is only one debate with two presidential debates to go.  Sitting presidents have had weak first debates before and gone on to win the election.  The remaining debates or other events could easily undo any damage Obama sustained last night and then some.  Yes, two more debates like this one, and Obama may be done for.  But that is highly unlikely to happen.

I saw a lot of my fellow conservatives get a bit carried away last night.  I am not one of them.  Last night was encouraging and certainly a setback for Obama, but, contra Andrew Sullivan, no disaster for Obama, at least not yet.

Yes, I’m a party pooper.

A Problem with Polls and a Call from Rasmussen

I’ve given certain pollsters a hard time.  But I have to admit their job is not easy.  One factor that makes it difficult is that so few cooperate with pollsters.  (And do read the interesting and detailed article at the link.)

Even though I am inclined to cooperate with what I consider legitimate pollsters, I have to admit I am one of those who have not been cooperating.

For the other day Rasmussen’s polling company called me.  I thought that was cool at first because his polls are among the few I respect.  So I eagerly cooperated even though it was a computer calling me and asking me questions.

That is I cooperated until it seemed question after question dealt in some fashion with my finances.  The computer did not ask me for bank account numbers or anything like that.  But I became suspicious that this was not Rasmussen at all but an attempt at fraud instead, and I hung up.

I was curious about the call and wanted to alert the Rasmussen people if it was fraud, so I called them.  They were very helpful, and we determined that the call was very likely indeed from Rasmussen.  And if their computer calls back again, I intend to complete the poll if I have the time.

But this episode nonetheless illustrates a problem with polls. Few answer them.  And the composition of those few who cooperate and those many who do not cooperate with polls surely affects the results.  I think it safe to say that conservatives are less likely to cooperate with a poll from NBC or CBS.  Someone, like me, who is not very trusting with financial information will be less likely to cooperate with a poll like the one from Rasmussen the other night.  And the very busy just do not have time to deal with polling calls.  Others are very prejudiced against computer calls (as I am). 

I could go on.  But surely all this self-selection has to affect polling results.

Anyway, nothing really scientific here.  I'll leave that to others.  But, as you can see, I am part of the problem with polls.

BOMBSHELL: Obama Administration Refused “Repeated Requests for Increased Security in Benghazi”

I know I’ve mentioned the Benghazi, Libya attack and the aftermath already today, but this is huge.  House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa has revealed in a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that our consulate in Benghazi repeatedly asked for increased security but that those requests were declined by Washington.

“Based on information provided to the Committee by individuals with direct knowledge of events in Libya, the attack that claimed the ambassador’s life was the latest in a long line of attacks on Western diplomats and officials in Libya in the months leading up to September 11, 2012. It was clearly never, as Administration officials once insisted, the result of a popular protest,” the committee’s chairman, Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., and subcommittee chairman, Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, write. “In addition, multiple U.S. federal government officials have confirmed to the Committee that, prior to the September 11 attack, the U.S. mission in Libya made repeated requests for increased security in Benghazi. The mission in Libya, however, was denied these resources by officials in Washington.”

I think this brings down Hillary Clinton.  Her political career is over.  

But will this bring down Barack Hussein Obama?  We shall see.  I know enough by now not to underestimate the Mainstream News Media’s commitment to suppressing the truth in service of their Dear Leader.  But this revelation (and it hopefully becoming a campaign issue) may force their hand.

Scandals? What Scandals? UPDATED

One way is which the “Mainstream” News Media has become “an enemy of the American people” in Pat Caddell’s words, is its sweeping what should be scandals from the Obama Administration under the rug.

It takes Univision to give Fast and Furious the attention it deserves.  Obama and Holder are reckless accessories to murder; they cover it up with the help of Obama’s Nixonesque executive privilege claim; and with the notable exception of one intrepid CBS reporter, Sharyl Attkisson, the MSM snoozes.  (And the Obama Regime has given Ms. Attkisson a hard time for her efforts.)

Then Obama and Hillary’s State Department are woefully negligent in securing the embassy in Benghazi, Libya.  And on the day after the attack, Obama skips yet another intelligence briefing and flies off to campaign in Vegas.  Then for days, his regime lies to us about the attack, saying it was a spontaneous demonstration against a dumb youtube video that got out of hand, when they had intelligence within 24 hours that the attack was anything but spontaneous.

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UPDATE: And now it is coming out that the Benghazi consulate was repeatedly bombed and threatened before the 9-11 attack. And yet still next to nothing was done to secure it?!?

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To top it off, the Obama Regime is leaning on defense contractors to violate the law and delay layoff notices until after the election, of course.

If this were a Republican administration, the news media would fan these and other outrages into national scandals we would hear about night after night, and said Republican administration would be going down in flames.  (And any Republican administration that incompetent and corrupt would deserve it.)

But, with Obama in the White House?  Scandals, what scandals?

Praying the Litany

It is October 1^st.  Voting has already begun in some areas of the U. S. in this crucial election.  We are just over a month away from Election Day itself.  The Crowns Nomination Committee is deadlocked.

Such are more than enough goads for me to pray The Litany this morning at sunrise, partly sung, partly said.

(The version linked is from the 1662 BCP.  I prayed the current Reformed Episcopal Church version, which has slight differences.)