Our transparently left-wing pope.

Pope Francis has reportedly refused to meet with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during his visit to Rome over a dispute between the Vatican and China.

Mr Pompeo plans to visit the Vatican this week to protest the imminent renewal of a two-year-old deal between the Catholic church and China, which the secretary of state has claimed would endanger the church’s moral authority.

He is slated to meet with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the foreign minister for the Vatican. But Pope Francis, whom Mr Pompeo met with last October, would not be meeting with him.

Well, any good Peronista would do the same. Plus, he’s stubborn and has a churlish attitude when he considers himself provoked.

Ready to deal with Chi Coms, however. Still fuming over gringos north of the border.

Too bad. PRAY FOR HIM!!

Let us now read another chapter in the long, dreary tale of media dissolution in our time, by the shrewd, major-media veteran Taibbi.

The New York Times published a massive expose about Donald Trump’s taxes on Sunday, starting the world on yet another trip up the Trump delirium coaster. The stages of the morality play are burned in our brains. Pundits scream bombshell, rush up a ladder of indignation, jump squealing into an abyss of apocalyptic predictions, dust off and do it again.

How many of these stories have there been? A hundred? Five hundred? A thousand? I tried physically counting and gave up. Our heads are packed with years of half-told stories that were discarded the instant they stopped having commercial or political utility. Some involved Trump, some not, who can remember them all? From sonic weapons in Cuba to spies gone dark to a secret bank server to hacker huddles in Prague to probable cause for an “agent of a foreign power” to Mike Flynn’s mistress to the Manafort-Assange confab to the exfiltrated agent with a home on Realtor.com to Putin’s niece and treason in Helsinki and North Korea and the Oval Office, we remember beginnings and not ends.

Etc.

A grim tale.

“Not sure we need to bring George Soros into this,” said a Fox regular, interrupting Newt Gingrich.

On September 16, Newt Gingrich was cut off the air on a Fox News show, “Outnumbered,” for merely mentioning the role that George Soros is playing in fomenting the anti-cop agenda of the left. Here is what he said.

“The number one problem in almost all these cities [where riots
have taken place] is George Soros-elected left-wing anti-police pro-criminal district attorneys who refuse to keep people locked up.”

“Progressive district attorneys are anti-police, pro-criminal, and [are] overwhelmingly elected with George Soros’ money.”

Gingrich was interrupted by one of the show’s regulars, Melissa Francis, who said, “I’m not sure we need to bring George Soros into this.” The former Speaker of the House replied, “He paid for it. Why can’t we discuss the fact that millions of dollars….” Gingrich was then cut off again, this time by Marie Harf who took Francis’ side.

Newt Gingrich, you are wanted somewhere else. Now.

Is it too late in Joe’s campaign for a really good theme song?

(Verse)
Some fellers love to “Tiptoe Through the Tulips.”
Some fellers go on “Singing in the Rain.”
Some fellers keep on “Painting Skies With Sunshine.”
Some fellers must go “Swingin’ Down the Lane.”

(Chorus 1)
But I’m bidin’ my time
‘Cause that’s the kinda guy I’m
While other folks grow dizzy
I keep busy
Bidin’ my time

Next year, next year
Somethin’s bound to happen
This year, this year
I’ll just keep on nappin’

And bidin’ my time
‘Cause that’s the kinda guy I’m
There’s no regrettin’
When I’m settin’
Bidin’ my time

(Chorus 2)
I’m bidin’ my time
‘Cause that’s the kinda guy I’m
Beginnin’ on a Monday
Right through Sunday
Bidin’ my time

In case you never heard it, Listen.

Perfect for Joe, right?

Had occasion recently to refer to this “fact-checker,” which turns up a lot, especially since Factbook, I mean Facebook, pays it to clean up errors. That’s a pity, actually.

Politifact bills itself as an independent fact checker, and they’ve scored all kinds of accolades for their efforts. Not only did they win a Pulitzer Prize for their work, they have a “fact checking partnership” with Facebook to combat “fake news.” The supposedly independent Politifact is a project of the Tampa Bay Times, which endorsed Hillary Clinton’s 2016 Presidential campaign.

Of course they did. She cleaned up on endorsements. Just couldn’t swing the electoral college.

Anyhow, this piece dissects and analyzes some of the Politifact

An incense primer.

Battleground city.

CHICAGO — Twelve people have been shot, two fatally in another weekend of violence across Chicago, police said Saturday.

Four people were shot early Saturday in the South Side Chicago Lawn neighborhood. They were standing next to a vehicle on the street when an unknown male in a passing dark-colored sedan shot at them, Chicago police said.

“We have seen the enemy, and the enemy” is anyone standing there when I want to shoot.