TexAnne, I was using the issue of the Anglican Church as an example to show what happens when religious leaders differ in their opinion of what the scriptures say.
That some churches in the US have openly declared they would no longer follow the bishops in the US, but instead realign themselves with the Bishop of Ethiopia (if memory serves) because of theological grounds sounds very schismatic to me. True, they have not had a formal declaration and a splitting of the communion. But that realignment on theological spheres instead of cartographic spheres is a fairly large step toward formal declaration.
Scott, you may be surprised to learn that at least one Pope was exhumed and put on trial for heresy. Also, at one point there were two sitting Popes. As to what happens if a Pope believes something his Cardinals/Flock doesn't, it's call schism. One lead to the Reformation. Another prompted Vatican II. The World-wide Anglican Church is also experiencing one at this moment.
As for power over the Pope, making his job difficult and obstructing his work; yes to all three. And it depends on the Pope and his political alliances of how far the Cardinals and Bishops can oppose him (see current schisms on ordination of women, celibacy, political activism, withholding communion, and birth control). You might have heard about how the former Pope's visits to the US were to bring the US Church back under control.
Not being Catholic myself, I'm sure there's plenty of issues I've missed.
Scott @ 16, well there were the persistent rumors that John Paul II was a secret Marianist and desired to elevate Mary to the status of co-redeemer. And that it was only because he knew his Cardinals would rebel against it that kept those desires from being manifest. The conspiracy theory also continues that if he had 5 more years on the throne of St. Peter, he may have brought his plans to fruition (having personally elevated almost a majority of the Cardinals). The Papacy, besides leading the church, is also a political position.
Wait, the Pope doesn't adhere to strictly American Conservative Values? Or is that "doesn't shit in the woods." I always get my Pope v. Bear rhetorical questions confused.
Or is it the "How do you get the Pope to conform to American Conservative Politics? Remove his hat." Yeah, I think that's the one.
#6 heresiarch and #7 Glenn Hauman, by photographing the crayon with the fabric not only are you adding in the complication of the photographic medium with an additional layer of color abstraction, you also add in the complication of how different materials photograph (ie. the crayon wax and fabric) and what light is used to make the photograph (sunlight, incandescent, flash). Better to stick with the "close enough" of Crayola's color fidelity.
"or he can have people sending shoes in his direction for the rest of his life."
I know what's on my Xmas gift giving list now. Thanks, Teresa, for the gift giving idea. In a size 10 if memory serves.
::sniff, sniff:: What's that smell? It smells like springtime. And why is it suddenly so bright in here? What's that big shiny thing up in the sky?
Welcome back fresh air and sunshine. How we missed you.
Hmm, she must have been too young to remember the 2000 Campaign and that whole "SE Asian Love Child" kerfluffle.
I won't question your dissection of Palin, as I agree with the majority of it (although sometimes what appears to be malicious intent is merely incompetence), and that she is a genuine, reconstituted, freeze-dried wack-a-loon. But I'm not seeing McCain's motivation here. He had the nomination wrapped up, so he'll be anointed no matter who he picks. But for such a deal with the devil (Council for National Policy) to really make sense, such a deal would have to have been struck sometime in May or June. At that point I would have expected to see some grooming of Palin to be ready to accept the nomination (behind the scenes and off everybody's radar to have it appear as last minute). Also, the social conservative whales would have started flowing money into the campaign and national party (as well as the interest groups). That doesn't appear to have happened.
And, again, what's McCain's motivation to accept the deal? If his game plan is, "grab the brass-ring, and screw the rest because I'll be dead," as a politico he had to know that he could have done better in the general election by selecting one of the other candidates. Lieberman would have peeled off some Democratic support for Obama and moved McCain back to the middle to gain the independent vote. Sure, firing up the socially conservative base has advantages, but none that he can really exploit at this late time (money, organization, etc). I have no doubt that the selection of Palin was done to energize the base and put the social conservatives back in play (as they were probably going to sit this one out). But then wouldn't Huckabee have been a better choice? Certainly wouldn't have been such a boat anchor to his campaign. And if he was in the "screw them when I'm dead" mind set, why not screw the very people who denied him the Presidency in 2000. Instead he embraces them, still. Why not with having the nomination in his pocket, knowing that he had a Senate seat for a few more years, use that to exact personal revenge by creating schism in his party (one of the possible early outcomes if he had been the republican nomination in 2000, and one he campaigned for).
It seems more probable that he was running out of options coming into the convention. That each of the front runners brought with them their own problems, and that without doing a full vetting, the campaign asked Palin if there was anything that could be a problem. With the narcissism she would have said "Nope." Down to the wire, with all the other options seemingly worse, Palin looked golden and got the nod without the McCain campaign having full knowledge of her. Occam's Razor.
More prayers and best thoughts for a quick recovery and for the doctors to have some helpful advice.
It's people like this Vin why I approve my Police Chief's request for more training, equipment and moving to a police radio band that standard scanners can't pick up (even through it irks the crap out me personally). We have a few of these "patriots" in our Village. Including those that complain when the police run their plates (because they're listening in on the scanners) or that we're picking on them because they just got out of jail (DWI had nothing to do with it, we were waiting to trap them). Whenever we have to deal with them, stories like this keep playing in my head. It doesn't change my decisions or votes, but it keeps me at a heightened alert when they're at meetings, or I'm invited on their property to "witness" some "problem the Village caused."
Hmm, I wonder is Russia has all those military satellites that the old USSR had. You know, the ones like we have. The ones that could spot the Georgian troop and artillery movements. Maybe give them a few days of advanced notice that something was happening.
As for our satellites as David Bell in #33 asked. Well, I'm sure we did. However the Russians had just finished major war games in the area (the previous week), so it wouldn't be uncommon for Russian troops to be outside their bases, in formations for that time period. For a quick glance interpretation it probably didn't look strange (unless the analyst would have known the Georgians were also moving).
The Russians would lie? Shocked, shocked I am...
Well, hey, at least Condie Rice gets to use that PhD research now.
Now that's a social network I think could really catch on. You know, except for all the members dropping dead.
Gee, I'm so glad we escaped having a head on fight with the Russians with the fall of the Wall and the end of the Soviet Era, oh, wait. Damn.
Automated hate mongering, it is to laugh.
What next, robot KKK marches?
Xopher @67, I have to agree with Neil Willcox @ 71 about your sneakily slipping in that argument all the while talking about how tired McCain looks. I mean, he should really start taking naps, he does look so tired. Maybe a nap on the veranda in the rockin' chair is just what he needs. Before going to the early-bird special at Denny's.
While I haven't read or heard much of the criticism of the McClellan book, most of what I've heard or read aren't actually refuting the accusations, but instead are trying to simply dismiss it all as "silly" or "just like one of those blogs."
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| 2008 | 33 |
| 2007 | 206 |
| 2006 | 167 |
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