Things You Don't Talk About in Polite Company

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Nobody Likes The Happening --Nobody likes The Happening.

Over at The New Republic, James Kirchick says, "
This isn't just radical environemntalist fare; it's perverse and anti-human." Meanwhile, Jesse Taylor at Pandagon calls it an "anti-science Intelligent Design film." (10:46 PM) 0 comments

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Booman on Southern Populism --See here.

I've suggested that the Democratic Party should be a progressive-populist alliance. Populists in the mold that Booman describes are not just southern, but also found in the Midwest and Mountain regions. They are better coalition partners for progressives than Blue Dogs or DLCers, I think. (8:24 AM) 0 comments

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We Are (The) Family --Here's a thread at Open Left featuringJeff Sharlet, author of a book about the Family, also known as the Fellowship, a secretive Christian group with several influential members. (2:11 AM) 0 comments

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Pfleger suspended --Via Political Punch:

Francis Cardinal George, the Archbishop of Chicago, just issued the following statement about controversial Obama friend Father Michael Pfleger:

"To put recent events in some perspective, I have asked Father Michael Pfleger, Pastor of St. Sabina’s Parish, to step back from his obligations there and take leave for a couple of weeks from his pastoral duties, effective today. Fr. Pfleger does not believe this to be the right step at this time. While respecting his disagreement, I have nevertheless asked him to use this opportunity to reflect on his recent statements and actions in the light of the Church’s regulations for all Catholic priests. I hope that this period will also be a time away from the public spotlight and for rest and attention to family concerns.

"I hope also that the life of St. Sabina’s parish may continue in uninterrupted fashion. Fr. William Vanecko, Pastor of St. Kilian’s parish, will be temporary administrator of St. Sabina’s and will assure the full complement of ministerial services during this period. I ask the members of St. Sabina’s parish to cooperate with him and to keep him and Fr. Pfleger in their prayers. They are in mine."

(4:43 PM) 3 comments

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Moinorail --matthew Yglesias notes a dispute between a Republican who wants to build a monorail and a Democrat who doesn't. I would have set the over/under for first response referencing The Simpsons at 4.5. The first response to do so is #3. I don't know if I have a career as a bookmaker. (7:47 PM) 0 comments