Ultra Briefly on President Trump's Visit to Poland:

In my opinion, visiting Poland was a good choice for President Donald Trump. Why? Well, they are perhaps the most pro-American country in continental Europe for one and secondly, it is a good momentum builder going into his upcoming summit with Vladimir Putin.

#KimJongMentallyIll
#ShitJustGotReal

North Korea 'successfully tests' its first intercontinental ballistic missile capable of hitting Alaska: Kim Jong-un could now strike US territory with a nuclear weapon, analysts fear

Seahawks have hole to climb out of in order to get back on track on defense

This is one reason why some of the slavish Trumpsters deserve to be laughed at!

Local Mom Claims Vaccines Caused Her Son’s Calvinism

My latest contribution to the Jaded Politics project courtesy of the Musings From Exile website{1} can be read HERE.

Note:

{1} "I link to the Musings From Exile website version so I do not trigger a trackback to it on the main page; thereby ensuring that I keep Rerum Novarum separate from that project." [Excerpt from Rerum Novarum (circa April 8, 2017)]

My latest contribution to the Jaded Politics project courtesy of the Musings From Exile website{1} can be read HERE. Its substantially the same as an earlier posting here{2}, just fleshed out a bit more and with some pictures and videos.

Notes:

{1} "I link to the Musings From Exile website version so I do not trigger a trackback to it on the main page; thereby ensuring that I keep Rerum Novarum separate from that project." [Excerpt from Rerum Novarum (circa April 8, 2017)]

{2} A Solution For Dealing With Civil Asset Forfeiture Abuse (circa June 3, 2017)

A Request For Ethical and Rational Consistency To Various and Sundry Past Critics:

Whenever I would discuss my combox policy{1} in sundry times and in divers manners{2}at this humble website, I would get some critics who would take swipes at me claiming that by not having comments boxes here that for some reason, it denoted some kind of cowardice or fear of engaging in arguments with others. I have in mind particularly certain persons who engage in apologetics with this particular point: something I note briefly here so that the audience is not confusing to the reader.

Having noted that, I came across recently the following from canonist Dr. Ed Peters on why he does not enable comments on his blog. I will quote him at some length here and where applicable to a certain extent to Rerum Novarum both past as well as present. Without further ado:

Why comments aren’t enabled here

I have thought about enabling comboxes on my blog for some time. My reasons for declining at present are:

First, open comboxes are notorious occasions for grave sin (calumny, detraction, falsehood, even blasphemy). I won’t have it here, of course. But that leaves only monitored comboxes, and monitoring comboxes takes time—more time than I have and certainly more time than I wish to devote to, well, monitoring comboxes. Of course, if someone comes up with a way for me to get paid for monitoring comments, I’m open to reconsidering—my children are always screaming for more caviar and diamonds.

...

Now the kind of education offered here can take place quite well, I think, without entertaining questions (questions that are often ill-formed and/or inappropriate for many others in my audience), and without entertaining comments (comments that, if right, would add little to what I already said, and if wrong, would often require considerable time for me correct). It seems better for all concerned if I just post what I think... and leave it at that. Time will tell whether my analysis of various issues is, in the main, right or wrong.

Third—and mind, this comes from someone who often posts in others’ comboxes!—I find that combox discussions never really resolve anything; they are effectively interminable in that, no matter how thoroughly one might have answered a question or addressed an issue, there will always be one more bloke out there able to reword the matter in such a way as to suggest that it has not yet been adequately aired. And that is not counting the people who post as breand-new questions things that were expressly dealt with just a few posts higher up! Sheesh!

...

Anyway these are some of the reasons why I haven’t enabled comboxes on this site...

I am posting the above to ask critics (present and past) who have made or intend to make light of my lack of comments boxes at this humble website to either lob similar snide crap at Dr. Ed Peters or have the guts to do what a real Christian should do in these sorts of situations.

That is all for now.

Notes:

{1} Most recently reiterated anew HERE for those who are interested.

{2} This footnote will consist of a longer footnote from a previous post to this site in years gone by which encapsulates some of my references over the years to comments boxes and my policies with them. Without further ado...

#######
In order from earliest to most recent on the matter and excluding any postings that did not to some extend extend or amplify previous comments on this subject:

Unlike major media outlets the contents of this blog are not a result of intense focus group testing nor Zogby-like polling data mind you; Rerum Novarum does not function that way. (So those who wrote about adding comments boxes, nada as I do not have the time to police them and besides: most of those who inquired about the comments boxes are not the sorts I would long tolerate posting in comments boxes at my blog.) The reason I have the occasional "guest editorial" policy is to bridge the gap if you will in that regard. [Excerpt from Rerum Novarum (circa September 30, 2002)]

I also blog and interact with emailers if (i) it is a subject I have not blogged on before (ii) it is a subject that interests me (iii) the emailer is polite and (iv) the emailer asks challenging questions. If the emailer is not polite, then their piece becomes fodder for potential fisking in accordance with my mood at the time.

I also interact with stuff on discussion lists, blogs, and the message boxes at other blogs and all of that is potentially bloggable as well. (And usually I email the link to the person so they can read and respond to it if they want to.) [Excerpt from Rerum Novarum (circa August 24, 2003)]

On the Comments Box Subject Revisited (circa June 6, 2005)

Briefly on Comboxes Again With Jonathan Prejean (circa June 10, 2005)

The Comments Box Subject Revisited (circa January 26, 2007)
#######

The Video of Philo Castile's Fatal Shooting 

Those who wonder why I am not a rah rah cheerleader for law enforcement, I have my reasons. One is the widescale prevalence of civil asset forfeiture abuse. Another is situations like this where there is the kind of presumption of guilt a priori based on flimsy bs. In this case, a camera caught it but how often has there never been a camera there in these sorts of situations?

My latest contribution to the Jaded Politics project courtesy of the Musings From Exile website{1} can be read HERE.

Note:

{1} "I link to the Musings From Exile website version so I do not trigger a trackback to it on the main page; thereby ensuring that I keep Rerum Novarum separate from that project." [Excerpt from Rerum Novarum (circa April 8, 2017)]

Finishing Most Expensive House Race Ever, Ossoff Calls For Campaign Finance Reform

 My comment: Its sorta like Jenna Jamison deciding to preach against porn.

Points to Ponder:

"'Buy American' is as silly a concept as buying anything else just because of where its supposedly from. How about this: Buy Quality. If at times that means buying American then great but do not buy low quality shit of any kind, period!" [Shawn McElhinney (circa yesterday)]

Points to Ponder:

"Had Hillary won, everyone would have expected disappointed Trump voters to show a modicum of respect for the electoral results as well as for the historic ceremony of the inauguration, during which former combatants momentarily unite to pay homage to the peaceful transition of power in our democracy. But that was not the reaction of a vast cadre of Democrats shocked by Trump's win. In an abject failure of leadership that may be one of the most disgraceful episodes in the history of the modern Democratic party, Chuck Schumer, who had risen to become the Senate Democratic leader after the retirement of Harry Reid, asserted absolutely no moral authority as the party spun out of control in a nationwide orgy of rage and spite. Nor were there statesmanlike words of caution and restraint from two seasoned politicians whom I have admired for decades and believe should have run for president long ago—Senator Dianne Feinstein and Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi. How do Democrats imagine they can ever expand their electoral support if they go on and on in this self-destructive way, impugning half the nation as vile racists and homophobes?" [Camille Paglia]

Trump To Republican Senators: The House Health-Care Bill Was “Mean”


In response to President Donald Trump at a meeting of Republican Senators throwing the Republicans in the House under the bus for provisions of their bill that he previously agreed to, Jay Cost produced a two thread Twitter rant that read as follows...

Jay Cost ✔ @JayCostTWS
This is one of Trump's greatest failures.
2:29 PM - 13 Jun 2017

Jay Cost ✔ @JayCostTWS
He has no firm and fixed opinions on public policy, nor is he well versed in the details. So he vacillates.
2:29 PM - 13 Jun 2017

Jay Cost ✔ @JayCostTWS
In so doing, he cannot provide guidance to his allies in Congress, nor can he be called upon to broker deals as need be.
5:30 PM - 13 Jun 2017

Jay Cost ✔ @JayCostTWS
Making comments like this are deeply counter-productive. If POTUS is blasting his own party's bill now, who's to say he won't later?
2:30 PM - 13 Jun 2017

Jay Cost ✔ @JayCostTWS
And what happens then to the vulnerable members who supported it, *AT HIS REQUEST*? They're left to twist in the wind, alone.
5:31 PM - 13 Jun 2017

Jay Cost ✔ @JayCostTWS
Why would you stick your neck out for Trump when you have a reasonable fear that he'll be the one to chop it off?
2:31 PM - 13 Jun 2017

Jay Cost ✔ @JayCostTWS
Gee whiz. If only people had warned about this last spring, when there were other Republicans available who knew the basics of governing.
5:32 PM - 13 Jun 2017

Jay Cost ✔ @JayCostTWS
But no no no. We had to have somebody to tear the whole system down. Blah blah blah. Little did they realize that this is impossible.
2:32 PM - 13 Jun 2017

Jay Cost ✔ @JayCostTWS
Our government is indestructible. So when you elect a wrecking ball, you're just going to knock yourself over.
2:33 PM - 13 Jun 2017

Jay Cost ✔ @JayCostTWS
But go on and keep complaining about the #NeverTrumpers. They're the real problem, not the dunce you people insisted on making president.
2:34 PM - 13 Jun 2017

Jay Cost ✔ @JayCostTWS
There is nothing to deal with. Trump is who he is. He doesn't learn lessons. He's not going to change. So we just await the blowback.
2:39 PM - 13 Jun 2017

Jay Cost ✔ @JayCostTWS
I disagree. There's catharsis in a Festivus-style airing of grievances. Also, certain people need to be rebuked so they can't do this again.
2:42 PM - 13 Jun 2017

Jay Cost ✔ @JayCostTWS
Hannity Limbaugh Scarborough Switzerland Sessions Palin Murdoch ... all need to be called out continuously and aggressively.
2:43 PM - 13 Jun 2017

Jay Cost ✔ @JayCostTWS
Hewitt, aka Switzerland, adopted a stance of neutrality during the primaries that was as outwardly pious as it was deeply disingenuous.
2:46 PM - 13 Jun 2017

195 Congressional Democrats file Emoluments Lawsuit against Trump
The odds of this actually succeeding? Maybe 10% at the most!

BREAKING: Bernie Sanders ADMITS Scalise Shooter Worked For His Campaign

Texas Animal Abusers May Face up to a Decade in Prison Thanks to New Law

Points to Ponder:

"But mom, Billy did it too!" [Nearly every political argument these days]

My child arrived just the other day

He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away
And he was talkin' 'fore I knew it, and as he grew
He'd say "I'm gonna be like you dad
You know I'm gonna be like you"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home dad?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

My son turned ten just the other day
He said, "Thanks for the ball, Dad, come on let's play
Can you teach me to throw", I said "Not today
I got a lot to do", he said, "That's ok"
And he walked away but his smile never dimmed
And said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah
You know I'm gonna be like him"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

Well, he came home from college just the other day
So much like a man I just had to say
"Son, I'm proud of you, can you sit for a while?"
He shook his head and said with a smile
"What I'd really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys
See you later, can I have them please?"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

I've long since retired, my son's moved away
I called him up just the other day
I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind"
He said, "I'd love to, Dad, if I can find the time
You see my new job's a hassle and kids have the flu
But it's sure nice talking to you, Dad
It's been sure nice talking to you"

And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me
He'd grown up just like me
My boy was just like me

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then.

[Harry Chapin Carpenter]

Rest in Peace Daddy!

Blackballing Nat Hentoff

Its a couple years old{1}, but from time to time, its worth revisiting from time to time certain fundamental principles. One of those is simple: the left who claims to be so tolerant and wanting everyone to CoExist and all that crap really is not so tolerant at all. Witness their treatment of the late great Nat Hentoff, a fellow liberal who they went from lionizing to treating like a leper. Why? Because Nat Hentoff was one of my favourite men of the left: a man of principle. Furthermore, he followed where the evidence took him, even if he did not feel comfortable where said evidences took him. For more, read the link above.

And remember: the left is not the tolerant sorts they claim to be but instead are every bit as totalitarian as any of their most feverish imaginations of what folks on the right{2}are like.

Notes:

{1} And Rerum Novarum was suspended when this first came out.

{2} For those who have forgotten (or who never knew): I am not a fan of the left-right categories as a rule and not just because I do not fit comfortably in either one.