Don't you go mixing up my image with that woman, plu-shizzle!"
Posted on 04/18/2005 4:41:09 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
It's so predictable that you could have written the script yourself without bothering to tune into the Today Show this morning. And of course, when it comes to Today, FReepers in droves don't bother to tune in!
There was Katie Couric, interviewing Today's Vatican regular, the made-for-TV handsome and articulate Father Thomas Williams, an American priest stationed at the Vatican.
And what was the focus of Katie's questioning? You don't need me to tell you. Her opening gambit: "what are the odds a cardinal from a Third World country could be elected Pope?" [Watch out what you wish for, Katie - Third World cardinals tend to be among the most conservative].
Next on Couric's agenda: disqualifying Cardinal Josef Ratzinger, the German cardinal who was Pope John Paul II's closest confidante and who is a champion of traditional Catholicism. Over the weekend he gave a speech warning his fellow cardinals against "the dictatorship of moral relativism," an interesting formulation that no doubt sent shivers up Katie's spine.
Katie trotted out various epithets that have been applied to him, including that of "God's rotweiler." She also mused that at 78, he might be too old. Obviously Katie is concerned that a conservative might be chosen, and even resorted to opinion polls, the reliable standby for liberals who see the election of the Pope as just one more political venture.
She cited a poll saying that 78% of American Catholics want the church to be less conservative, and asked [fingers no doubt crossed behind back], "is there any chance the next Pope will call for greater reforms and a looser interpretation of doctrine?"
Williams observed that "it's hard to say. I don't think [ideology] will be the focus, bur rather on the kind of person to be selected."
Speaking of cliches, Today again had an utterly predictable piece on Tom Delay, even trotting out the hackneyed line about "storm clouds gathering on Capitol Hill." Reporter Chip Reid intoned that "Democrats say he has no one but himself to blame." Gee, what a surprise.
Reid then claimed that Delay "rallied supporters in his typical take-no-prisoners style." But the only evidence he offered in support was Delay's good-natured quip to the NRA that when a man is in trouble, it's good to be surrounded by friends, preferably armed. Guess what, Chip? At NRA conventions's there tend to be references to guns. Don't faint.
Today next aired a clip of uber-liberal Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank [presumably from his Meet the Press appearance] who opined that Delay is accused not merely of peccadilloes, but of "serious ethics charges."
What does it say about the Democrats when their lead man on ethics is someone who was reprimanded for letting a prostitution ring be run out of his home and who fixed tickets for his prostitute lover?
Finally, Today aired a clip of notorious TV hound and political commentator Norman Ornstein, who ominously warned that Delay's problems are "dangerously close to affecting the Republican party." Translation: the Dems have yet to come up with anything that will stick.
Consider the overall reporting on Delay: there was NO focus on any specific charges against him. Rather, it was all about the mood, the "gathering clouds," blah, blah, blah.
If there were any serious, substantiated, charges, we would have been treated to intensive coverage of them. That the coverage is exclusively limited to the atmospherics gives away the game: the Dems and their MSM friends don't have the goods on Delay.
Today Show ping.
Tomorrow, Katie will be asking whether the Pope actually has to be a Catholic? Isn't it unfair to require this? Isn't the Vatican a state? What about the separation between church and state? Can't Bill Clinton be Pope?
If it's acceptable within the MSM to refer to Cardinal Ratzinger as a rotweiler, I think we can come up with some doggy names for Hillary, don't you? LOL
Don't you go mixing up my image with that woman, plu-shizzle!"
Why would anybody bother doing a poll of American Catholics? It is not like the Cardinals are electing an American Pope. In an age where Catholicism is growing by leaps and bounds in Africa and Latin America, and there are a Billion people in China who desperately need to hear the Truth, the concerns of American Catholics seem fairly insignificant in the great scheme of things.
To any decent party, and to any decent constituents, Barney Frank (Old Marble Mouth)would be an embarassment that would be quickly removed from office. Since he's a Dem from Massachusetts, though, there is literally nothing he could do or say to get removed.
And I just don't know about these polls that 80% want the Pope to let up on some of the conservative stuff. Isn't the Pope supposed to be following what the Bible says? How could one Pope see things one way and then another one comes in and translates a different way? That's like dems and repubs. It probably shows that I'm not Catholic so maybe I don't understand.
The libs long for a Pope who will excuse and promote evil and perversion in defiance to God's teachings. God doesn't change to assuage the feelings of sinners, including me.
Thank for the uber-liberal MSM update.
Maybe congress can get back to work this week without the Deaniacks at the DNC shooting blanks.
Thanks for your report. Where and how did you learn to write so well?
Katie won't be happy unless Desmond Tutu gets the nod.
(Conveniently forgetting, of course, that he was responsible for *converting* his country (South Africa) to 3rd world status).
A religion reporter on one of the news shows said that the Vatican has practically given up on the West (America and Europe). I don't think the Vatican will particularly care about what Katie Couric and her ilk want. It looks like they're out of the picture.
Will she also opine that a bear does not necessarily poop in the woods?
Thanks, M_R.
These political scandals seem to follow an inexorable pattern, in which mounting charges lead to defections by members of the person's own party and a media chorus of condemnation, ultimately resulting in his resignation.
But I have a sneaky feeling that Delay is not going to play according to the script. The Dems have taken their best shot, and come up with some very feeble goods. I'm predicting that despite "the gathering clouds over Capitol Hill" of which Chip Reid spoke so portentously, Delay will ride out the storm.
Color me naive, but for the life of me I'll never understand why Couric gets paid big bucks for her "talent".
Someone should tell Katie that the term "Third World" is out of date. Beyond that, I hope she gets her wish. These African cardinals are among the most conservative, a complication she seemingly hasn't grasped.
On Fox they interviewed a Time Magazine reporter, and she referred to Cardinal Ratzinger as the "Hillary Clinton of the cardinals" because he is the supposed frontrunner.
Aside from the horrific comparison, it demonstrated how difficult it is for them to cover the Conclave; their only frame of reference is American politics.
Barney Frank also has his family on his payroll. I think he should step down.
The entire Kennedy family should step down for that matter. I'm sure that they've paid their family members millions of dollars over the years to work on campaigns.
Ummm .. Did Katie or Barney mention the fact the Dems are blocking the Ethics Committee because of their pal Jim McDermott??
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