Day: August 7, 2012

The tone-deaf mayor

Bloomberg and the Sikhs:

Mayor Bloomberg, on a visit yesterday to a Sikh community in Queens, turned a moment that called for the delivery of condolences to magnificent, patriotic population of immigrant Americans into yet another opportunity for posturing and double-speak on guns.

His one-track mind:

The mayor’s hysteria on this issue is pushing him into a territory where, if he goes much further, his integrity is going to be questioned.

Says crime not guns is his concern, but:

he keeps talking about illegal guns. To the Constitution, he feigns fealty. “Guns,” he said yesterday, “you have a right to carry by the Second Amendment. The courts have said that municipalities, states, and the federal government have the right to enact reasonable protections to the public.” In fact the Supreme Court has left only a little leeway to the states and municipalities — schools, hospitals, government buildings — and the Mayor doesn’t agree with the court.

Turn him off.

Priest and hero, born on Flag Day

Have some inspiration with our coffee or tea or beer:

One of the most highly decorated chaplains of World War II, Father Elmer W. Heindl used to joke that his decorations were simply due to him being in the wrong place at the right time.  Born on June 14, 1910 in Rochester, New York, the oldest of six children, Heindl decided at an early age that he was meant to be a priest and was ordained on June 6, 1936.  He said that being born on Flag Day indicated to him that during his life he would do something to honor the Stars and Stripes.

In March of 1942 he joined the Army as a chaplain.  Assigned to the 2nd Battalion of th 148th infantry attached to the 37th Division, he served on Guadalcanal, New Georgia and in the Philippines.  He quickly gained a reputation for utter fearlessness under fire, giving the last Rites, tending the wounded and rescuing wounded under fire.    In regard to the Last Rites, Father Heindl noted that he did not have time to check dog tags to see if a dying soldier was a Catholic.  “Every situation was an instant decision.  You didn’t have time to check his dog tag to see whether he was Catholic or not. I’d say, in Latin, ‘If you’re able and willing to receive this sacrament, I give it to you.’ And then leave it up to the Lord.”

Put the coffee etc. aside now and keep reading.  You won’t stop until the end.

Were Harry Reid’s parents married?

To this by Krauthammer, slamming Harry Reid et al. for coming out of nowhere with accusation of Romney that he’s paid no taxes in last 10 years, add this by Steve Huntley in Sun-Times:

Another bad jobs report, so it’s time to demagogue Mitt Romney’s tax returns, or so President Barack Obama’s campaign and his supporters believe.

It’s a masterpiece of controlled (righteous) anger, or so it seems to me, at least indignation, rivalling what Krauthammer showed on Fox last night.  Both call Reid’s claim and his support from Nancy Pelosi and others willing to use Reid’s stuff for campaign gain for what they are.  Both get it.

Huntley:

Their hope is that Americans care more about how much taxes Romney paid than they do about their own economic well-being after nearly four years of his failed economic policies. Such is the contempt the Obama camp holds for the voters.

Obama loves it, of course.  It’s reminiscent of the Oxford debater’s ploy of many decades ago, asking an opponent if his parents were married, hearing yes, asking further if the opponent had their marriage certificate with him.  No?  Then until you produce it, the debater said, do you mind if I call you a bastard?

Does Harry Reid mind?