Tag Archives: Pope Francis

Bernie Sanders, Blog, Politics, Sanders Presidential Bid

In A World Of Contrast, Rome Feels The Bern

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Awoke this morning to news that Bernie Sanders had been granted a meeting with Pope Francis. It was only five minutes in the foyer of the hotel on the Vatican grounds, but it was nontheless, a meeting with the Pope.

Sanders left for the Vatican conference on social justice just prior to the primary vote in New York, even though it’s unlcear whether his meeting with Pope Francis will have any impact on his campaign for the presidency.

Brooklyn born Bernie Sanders, is the first Jewish American to win a presidential primary.   New York City, has the largest Jewish population outside of Israel.   Polls indicate that New York’s Jewish population is supporting Hillary Clinton and not Sanders.

While Sanders was in Rome, speaking at an international conference on human rights and economic justice, Hillary Clinton was in San Francisco, hangin’ with movie stars.   Tickets were going for $353,400 to sit at the head table with George and Amal Clooney.  Sander’s supporters protested outside.

After his meeting with Sanders, the Pope flew to the Greek island of Lesbos, to meet with Syrian refugees.   He returned to the Vatican with three refugee families in his plane,  6 adults and 6 children who were bombed out of their homes.

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And In The Center Ring – Bomb Threats, Rotating First Ladies And Pope Francis

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From the political circus, a few items for your consideration and possible amusement before we bring out the dancing bears.

Item 1:   Bomb threat shuts down hearing on bomb threats

Members of the United States Senate were holding a hearing on problems with the Transportation Security Administration, which currently has multiple issues including an inability to stop fake bombs from being smuggled through their security web, when the Senate  Office Building had to be evacuated because of a bomb threat.

Item 2:   Rotating First Ladies

Republican Senator Lindsay Graham, who is a bachelor, says he has a sister and that he’ll have “rotating first ladies” if elected President of the United States.

“Well, I’ve got a sister.  She could play that role if necessary,”  Graham told the Daily Mail Online.  “I’ve got a lot of friends.  We’ll have a rotating first lady,” he said.

Item 3:  Take My Mother-In-Law, Please  

Hillary Clinton’s been making some interesting charges lately, condemning the huge salaries being paid CEO’s, and tax breaks being given to hedge fund managers.  “There’s something wrong when hedge fund managers pay less in taxes than nurses or the truckers I saw on I-80,” she said at campaign stop in Iowa.

It is perhaps pertinent that Mrs. Clinton has taken tens of thousands of dollars in speaking fees from some of those very same CEO’s she now condemns and that her daughter Chelsea, is married to a hedge fund manager.   Is there anything politicians won’t say to get past a primary?

Item 4:  Say It Ain’t So Dennis

Former Speaker of the House, Dennis Hastert, a Republican,  just made his first court appearance to face charges that he paid hush money to bury sexual misconduct issues allegedly related to something that happened years ago when he was a high school teacher and wrestling coach.    Fascinating to note that Hastert, became Speaker at the very same time the Republicans were skewering Bill Clinton for his problems with Monica Lewinsky and her little blue dress.    Following in Clinton’s shoes, Mr. Hastert, has pleaded not guilty.

Item 5:  Santorum Spins And Twirls

Another Republican hopeful, attorney Rick Santorum, says the church should stay out of science and specifically, that he wants the Pope to stop talking about climate change.    Interesting comment, since Pope Francis holds a degree as a chemical technician and worked as a chemist before becoming a priest.   So technically, he is a scientist while Santorum, is not.

However, Santorum is a devout Catholic and says it’s his belief “The church has gotten it wrong a few times on science, and I think that we probably are better off leaving science to the scientists…”    Meaning, apparently, that Santorum believes the majority of the science that’s out there and will therefore join the Holy Father (who is trained in science) in his quest to take steps to combat climate change – even while Santorum argues that the church should stay out of science.

And this guy wants to be president.   Then again, he’s no more confused than Dubya was, and the country elected him to two terms.   Sort of.

If all  else fails,  the Republicans can always turn to the Supreme Court.

H/T to Ellen Ratner & John Oliver