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.
Thanks to YOUR briefing governleastgovernsbest. Great writing. Your briefing and FReeper comments/links are infinitely more interesting than the scam of TODAY
Speaking of difficulty of these morons to cover the conclave, have you read anything about how certain journalists wanted to have access to the ballots cast by the cardinals? Can't remember where I did.
Talk about taking recount to a higher level...can just see a cardinal eating chads!!!
Barney looked a little rough when I saw him being interviewed by a nameless reporter. He had a sore or two near his mouth.
Whoever is chosen, the press will go after him in droves, because they saw how beloved Pope John Paul was.
"We can't have THAT, you know! The Pope cannot be loved! The Pope must be a villain, because he doesn't agree with US on liberalizing the Church!"
You might not be Catholic, but you do understand. The Pope's job is not win a personality contest or even to put butts in the pews. The Pope's job is to bring his flock to salvation but speaking the truth. The truth doesn't change.
I guesst that would be kind of hard considering they burn them after each ballot. LOL. =)
The libs want Gene Robinson as the next Pope!
The Vatican will be as concerned about The Perky One's cares as Hillary is concerned about decency and honesty.
Hillary/Katie/2008
;-)
Oh, I know...but I predict a discussion about cardinals pressuring other cardinals to vote in certain ways, for third world cardinals to have been oppressed by cardinals of European ancestry, for sexuality of cardinals to be brought to question...
Oh, this is going to be sick...sick...sick...without the shenanigans of hanging chads and such.
You are right. They want total freedom to do whatever they want. Only one thing wrong....GOD is watching.
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.
heh,heh...oh I thought the Vatican was waiting anxiously to hear what keteee (grow up) kerick thought. Why, I thought the Vatican thought maybe kateee was as smart as hillereee.
Well, if the church would stop appearing on all the chs and yakking about it all there would be no one to interview. Turned on the TV this morning and there it all was. Turned it off and it will stay off until the white smoke appears.
Bingo.
This ain't about making Katie happy. It ain't about making the AmChurch feel comfortable with their sins.
It's about picking the successor to St. Peter as the Vicar of Christ.
And, as an aside, I hope Couric gets her wish. From what I've read, the so called 'third world' cardinals are on the front lines of the battle, as it were. These are the guys who might actually be killed for their faith, whether by the local political strongman or islamofascist group.
They don't believe, they BELIEVE.
Yeah, Katie, I hope you get JUST WHAT YOU WISHED FOR...
heh heh heh...
Snoop would pop a cap in yo ass just for insinuating that he would ever say any word ending with that 'izzle' thing.
Excellent rhetorical question!
Thanks, PG - as always it's my twisted pleasure.
Just let us know if you start to really enjoy it, and we'll arrange an intervention!
You never regretted anything you've ever done?
To Katie, Black=Liberal.
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