Tuesday digest
- Green activists have taken to criticizing Canada's Environment Minister, pictured above, for taking an interest in her appearance. No doubt this is something foreign to most in that movement.
- I find it telling that the United Church, the branch of Protestantism which most resembles what everyone seems to think the Roman Catholic Church should become, is finding it hard to attract followers.
Meanwhile, every time I hit Mass, it's usually pretty packed (and that includes not just on weekends but also the daily 12:15 PM one at St. Patrick's Basilica in downtown Ottawa which I stop into from time to time). Moreover, there are less grey heads in the congregation than at any time I can remember since my childhood.
People seem to be voting with their feet and so I'm not too sure that Catholicism needs to "change with the times" to attract followers. The more modern United Church sure isn't providing any proof to the contrary.
- Today is election day in the States. The Dems need to pick up 6 seats for control of the Senate and 15 seats for control of the House of Representatives. Most observers expect the Dems to take the House, increasing their seat totals by about 20, while the Republicans are expected to slip by about 4 seats in the Senate as the electorate expresses their frustration with the war, the President's brand of leadership, ethical hiccups, and big-government conservatism. However, the real story in my opinion is the likelihood that the Dems aren't going to go over by a more hefty majority. You'd think that in this environment, they'd be able to carry both Houses, easily, but they're not expected to. In advance of the results, both the New York Times and Wall St. Journal are counselling partisans of the left to calm down and resist any temptation to gloat. I agree and believe that both parties, not just the Republicans, should interpret tonight's numbers as a message to shape up and get it together.
(Notable exceptions to the above are neo-con poster boy Bill Kristol who expects the GOP to lose 40 House seats and 7 Senate seats, and Patrick Basham of the fledgling Democracy Institute who predicts that the Republicans will carry the House by one.)
posted by Road Hammer @ 12:03 PM
6 comments
6 Comments:
They shouldn't gloat... they did not win this one, as much as the Republicans lost it. Much like the Ontario Liberals in 2003.
That being said, the Republicans did their fair share of gloating in '04, so you can't fault them for getting theirs back.
I wonder how much the Dems will come to regret putting in Nancy Pelosi as Minority Leader (soon to be Majority Leader).
The Dems picked some good candidates. I'm a particular fan of Tester in Montana.
You make a good point about the United Church. You rarely hear Presbyterians or Baptists complaining about being able to retain congregants.
What about Tester is so appealing, that he is an organic farmer?
That he lost a whack of fingers in a meat grinder.
The watered-down, anything goes type of religion that the United church is trying to sell won't go very far. People in the 30 -45 age group can recognize the truth (or lack of it) as well as any other age group. The Roman Catholic Church has always taught the truth that Jesus proclaimed. Sometimes people don't like to hear the truth and sometimes it hurts, but in the end, everyone wants good solid doctrine to turn to when they need answers.
You are right, Hammer, when you say that people are making choices with their feet.
So, the GOP got smoked. Lost the House and looks like they lose the Senate. Thanks to David's favorite Mr. Tester.
I would gloat if I were them. JC Watts was about as honest as I've seen a pundit be last night. Admitted defeat, didn't try and sugar coat it. Very gracious.
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