The Anchoress

But it must be Bush’s fault, all the same:

A ranking Louisiana health official turned down federal offers to help move or evacuate patients as Hurricane Katrina bore down on New Orleans, a newly released document shows.

The state official, identified in the Aug. 27 e-mail as Dr. Roseanne Pratts, “responded no, that they do not require anything at this time and they would be in touch if and when they needed assistance,” wrote HHS senior policy analyst Erin Fowler.

The investigation into “what went wrong” re Katrina is going to end up exposing incompetence at the state and local (read Democrat) level. I expect we won’t hear much about it.

A good read for today, Joseph Bottum takes a serious and interesting look at the decline in the political influence of the Catholic Church, even as Catholic “thinking” ascends.

“…Somewhere in the last 50 years, however, the mainline Protestant churches went into catastrophic decline. The reasons are complex, but the result is clear. By the 1970s, a hole had opened at the center of American public life, and into that vacuum were pulled two groups that had always before stood on the outside, looking in: Catholics and evangelicals.”

[…]

Still, the national prominence of, say, John Cardinal O’Connor before his death in 2000 seemed the natural order of things: Archbishops of New York have always occupied a powerful place in American affairs–or, at least, they always used to occupy a powerful place. O’Connor’s successor, Edward Egan, appears mostly to wish he belonged to the Church Invisible, and he remains little known even to his fellow New Yorkers. With some exceptions (such as Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver and Francis Cardinal George of Chicago–neither, it is worth noting, implicated in the cover-up of the priest scandals), the vast majority of America’s bishops have joined Cardinal Egan in full retreat from public engagement.

[…]

In one sense, such claims are palpable nonsense: Among the Democratic senators on the Judiciary Committee, Patrick Leahy, Ted Kennedy, and Richard Durbin are just as officially Catholic as Samuel Alito, the nominee they spent four days grilling last week. Of course, those same senators are manifestly not believers in the coherent system of Catholic thought in the American context that a set of (mostly) conservative theorists have developed in the 33 years since Roe v. Wade was handed down. The Committee for Justice simply got the phrasing wrong. In truth, for the Democrats, Catholics are more than welcome. It’s Catholicism that’s right out the window.

You’ll want to read the whole thing.

Because I am a few days behind the news, I only just read this excellent piece by John at Powerline. In it he takes apart the various and sundry leftist Ahabs who are obsessed with destroying the White Whale named Bush by any means necessary - most particularly by lying. It is a stunning piece.

The most deeply misleading aspect of the Times article, however, is its treatment of the federal court precedents on the issue of Presidential authority. The chief embarrassment faced by those who try to claim that the NSA’s international surveillance program is illegal, is the fact that at least five federal appellate courts have specifically held that the President has the inherent constitutional authority to order domestic warrantless surveillance for foreign intelligence purposes–let alone the international surveillance at issue in the NSA program. The Times reporters are well aware of these precedents, in part because we have repeatedly called them to their attention. This is their fraudulent attempt to deal with this unanimous body of judicial authority:

So, on the key legal issue, the Times misrepresented the FISA appellate court’s decision, and attributed its own misrepresentation to “some legal analysts” because no legal scholar, no matter how liberal, would be caught dead asserting the position argued for by the Times. The Times’ coverage of this issue continues to be deeply dishonest.

There is lots more - you’ll really be glad you read it. On the topic of the NSA and the FISA court, you’ll also want to read Rich Lowry’s piece which spells out precisely how the Dems have become hung up in mid-straddle:

Democrats are both outraged by President Bush’s National Security Agency surveillance program and content to see it continue. They are at this incoherent pass because their reflexive hostility to the program is tempered by the dawning suspicion that they might be on the wrong side politically of yet another national-security issue — thus, the NSA Straddle.

Rick Moran, over at Right Wing Nut House focuses on Nancy Pelosi and the NSA and finds that she is also seriously hung up. “Trapped” might be a better word.

Speaking of Ahabs and Whales, Democrat Congressional Candidate (and former whistleblowing heroine) Colleen Rowley made a whale of mistake in allowing her campaign to depict her decorated marine opponant as Col. Klink. As Hugh Hewitt observes:

Where are the Democrats who should be denouncing this? The ones who, rightly, slammed the comments directed at Congressman John Murtha’s service? A party in free fall cannot pause to summon the moral courage to denounce this repulsive comparison of Marines to Nazis? I guess Dick Durbin was just the first of many Democrats to come clean with their feelings.

The photo was taken down without comment or acknowledgement, but not before it was cached. Seems an ethical and mature candidate would be able to say “oops…sorry” on that. Michelle Malkin points to a stark contrast in maturity here:

“Contrast Rowley’s refusal to accept responsibility for her Nazi-card demagoguery with GOP Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate Bill Scranton’s immediate firing of his campaign manager last week for leveling a reckless slur against rival candidate Lynn Swann.”

I almost hate to say this, because I know it will be interpreted as “extreme,” but I read about the strange, spoiled brat behavior of Hamas, essentially saying - “give us what we want and don’t make us have to do anything for it” and it has an all-too-familiar ring to it. Too many in our country seem to have the same mindset: allow us to be reckless and disingenuous and destructive, and don’t make us deal with reality…” It’s very dangerous.

Meanwhile, slightly off topic, AJ Strat shows us that on the issue of Abramoff and the Democrats and “the culture of corruption” the White Whale may yet be slipping away again. And the ACLU, another dishonest Ahab, missed the target, too.

I haven’t the head to sit down and figure out what I want to hear at tonight’s State of the Union address. To be honest, the left is so crazed right now, I’m more concerned with the safety of all present than anything else.

But Lorie Byrd at Polipundit, and Dan at Gay Patriot, have put down their thoughts, and they are worth reading and thinking about.

I DO hope that - as Lorie suggests - the president will talk up the economy, since the press won’t.

Jason at Generation Why brilliantly sums up the SOTU in 16 words…which should please the Dems, who are obsessed with 16 word rhetoric: Writes Jason:

“Economy up. Wiretaps work. Adios terrorists. Here comes the veto. Borders will be closed. Thank you.”

You’ll have to check out his site for the links!

James Lileks takes on the ever-thankless task of reminding us that words mean things; words are important; use them well.

I call it a “thankless task,” but actually, I’m thankful that he’s doing it.

A few people have written, wondering why I have not commented on this story.

I haven’t commented because the whole thing seems pretty lame to me, and obvious. It’s all about - eventually - taking down the Catholic Church - and perhaps even about who sits as SecGen at the UN.

The Catholic church has existed for 2000 years by the grace of the Holy Spirit - it has not been perfect (nothing is perfect where human beings are in place) and it has at times seemed doomed due to those imperfect humans within it. But it continues and will continue, in one form or another. And also because if someone wants to put Jesus on trial, well…the last time they tried to do that, he just came back stronger…

I have no doubt that sometime in the coming decades the church (both big and little C) will be attacked politically, financially, legally - in every way. I have no doubt that at some point we will be worshipping underground again. When the church is oppressed, she is also most fervent.

I ain’t worried. Shrinkwrapped has interesting commentary on it though.

I’m also not upset about the Sexy Priest Blesses Woman With Coke Sweat ad being run down in Australia. I kinda like it, actually. My l’il bro Thom likes it too, and thinks it is “a serious nod to ‘the Passion.’ ” He may be on to something, there, as the priest looks a bit like Jim Caviezel. Perhaps the film has seeped into the secular subconscious…

You know, after all the madness, and Ted Kennedy’s overdramatic rhetoric, I think this man is going to sit and be a sterling justice. And THEN what are the Democrats going to do?

It’s kind of like when Benedict XVI was elevated to the papacy, and all the chattering “progressives” were weeping and wailing and gnashing their teeth and predicting doom, gloom, fascist crackdowns within the church, etc. Now, Benedict has shown himself to be beautifully pastoral, gentle, loving and shy - and all of the critics look precisely like the dramaqueen adolescents they were and are. I believe they’ve done it again - and much more vividly - with Sam Alito.

The Democrats have just shown the country that their partisanship is so out of control that they are unable to govern, at all, because they cannot put it aside for a moment.

A superbly qualified man was almost not seated because they could not put partisanship ahead of statesmanship and even professionalism. That Ruth Bader Ginsberg could be seated unanimously while Alito almost didn’t get seated at all, is simply a disgrace.

I’m glad Alito is confirmed. I hope the perpetual adolescents who - as my Dem neighbor pointed out a few weeks ago - seem to have forgotten why they were elected; it wasn’t simply to obstruct the president - start to grow up.

I think Ed Morrissey has a terrific analysis of the vote and the state of the Democrat party right now. And I love Alexandra’s graphic and round up. She’s really on top of things.

Michelle Malkin has a nice list of stories leading up to this day Ankle Biting Pundits is praising Kos. You’ll have to go read why.

Once again, I thank everyone who is offering prayers for Jane’s children. They will need your prayers for a long time.

Yesterday I learned that when it was learned that Jane was sick, the craftsmen of the parish immediately went to work on her house, an old house badly in need of repair everywhere. As you can imagine, a woman left by her husband with a (then) 7, 2 and 1 year old had no money or time for serious home and yard work. My understanding is that the Knights of Columbus and the members of our parish who are plumbers, painters, tile-workers, firefighters, basically took over the house (the kids have been either at the hospital or the elderly grandmothers’ while this has been going on) and they are renovating every room - the kitchen, the bathroom have been gutted and are being re-done, every room is being painted, closets improved, bookshelves put up. New fixtures and appliances, everywhere. When the kids go back to the house, without their mother, it will be a very different place than the one in which they grew up. Everyone is sort of saying the same thing - it’s too bad Jane won’t get to enjoy it - but no one had expected things to move as quickly as they have.

I know that some sort of fund is being established, but when last I spoke to the pastor it hadn’t been finalized. I’ll keep you posted, for those of you interested.

I spoke for a long time with Jane’s 80-something year old mother last night. She seems in such shock that I worry for her. When my brother died last January, even though we knew it was coming, had known for months, there was still a sense of unreality about it. For Jane’s mom and kids, it must be a hundred times worse. I worry about her mother because I don’t think it’s really going to “hit” her until she goes into the wake…which will begin tomorrow.

Yesterday, my plan was to run the few errands and then find out more information about which hospital Jane was at, and visiting hours. I had stopped by church for Adoration. And I never pray telling God “what to do…” It’s always, “your will be done,” or “thy grace is sufficient,” most of the time it is simply silence - I pray nothing but my love. Yesterday I was praying very differently. I was pleading for a life to be spared. I’ve never prayed that way before. There is lots to think about, lots going on.

I don’t know what to say to all of you who have emailed me (some of you with very touching stories of similar situations you have gone through with friends and family) or left comments and prayers, here. You are so very kind. I appreciate it and hope you will remember these kids in your prayers for a long time.

And Girl on the Right has it all. Please stop by and take a gander at what conservative women are blogging about this week!

I cannot believe this. No one can.

Two days after a wonderful Christmas she has a backache that sends her to a doctor.

Jane was not doctor-phobic. Being the sole provider for her children, she understood that she needed to stay healthy. She ate right, she had yearly check-ups, mammograms, etc.

There was no clue that anything was wrong, and yet the doctors last week said this growth inside her was so massive it must have been going on for years. From her kidney to her heart, the blackness grew. She is gone.

I know that the parish is rallying around for her kids, but I don’t have details yet. Some of you have been kind enough to ask about contributing to any fund established for them, and I when I have that information, I will pass it on.

I thank you - all of you - who have offered your prayers on her behalf and for Jane’s children. You are all so generous and good-hearted. Please keep praying for them; they will need it. Right now, as I type this, the three of them, ages 21, 16 and 15 are at the funeral parlor making arrangements. They wanted to do it themselves, and they are. Everyone is in shock; we are all in an daze of incomprehension.

Jane was a humorous, self-deprecating, pithy, pragmatic, realistic, droll, kind, warm, self-sacrificing woman of faith. Last time I saw her, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, we had joked about life being too busy - how we lived only four miles from each other and yet would only get caught up by chatting after Mass. We promised to get together “after the new year” for a glass of wine or an Irish coffee.

Beside me I have poured a glass of Ecco Domani Merlot, 2003. Ecco Domani could be translated, I think, to “here is tomorrow.”

Jane probably would like it, but she always complained that red wine put her to sleep. I can’t even imagine what tomorrow will be like. Tonight, I toast her and wish she were here to share it.

For you, Jane. God rest you, my friend. Sleep in heavenly peace.

I am utterly without words.