Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-Camelot) has found something about which to disagree with Governor Howard Dean (D-Berkeley). The issue, oddly, is guns. Dean doesn't mention it much, but in order to win statewide office in Vermont you have to be pro-gun, and he's received top NRA ratings throughout his tenure as governor.
To a Democratic primary voter, this is almost as bad as running as a pro-lifer. Recall that the 100%-pure pro-abortion Algore attacked the 100%-pure pro-abortion Bill Bradley in 2000 for being insufficiently zealous about the abortion license. Dean doesn't mention his pro-gun past, but expect that to come up more often if it looks like the establishment Dems are going to lose.
Kennedy -- one of the dimmest members of an overhyped family -- comes up with this tasteless attack on Dean:
"This is a personal issue with me, and I'm very disturbed at the fact that people are not paying attention to Dr. Dean's record" on guns, said Kennedy, nephew of President John F. Kennedy and his brother Robert, both of whom were assassinated by guns.
I wonder if he considers statutory rape to be a "personal issue" with him, since his late campaign manager/brother admitted to sex with a babysitter over five years, beginning when she was 14 (though to be fair, after five years she was no longer underage.) This is the Kennedy equivalent of "waving the bloody shirt" -- trotting out the corpses of John and Robert Kennedy to remind the public of the Kennedys' "sacrifices" for their lowly subjects (that's us).
The extended Kennedy family has homes scattered around North America, all guarded to keep the cruel world at bay. What kind of weapons do the guards carry? Sharp sticks, perhaps?
I'm curious what you think about the push by some Catholic gun owners to have a patron saint of gun owners.
Actually, the babysitter-violator was Patches Kennedy's late uncle, Michael, brother of former Congressman Joe. I know, you need a scorecard. We get plenty of practice herebouts.
Mark, I did mention that it was Patrick's brother (without mentioning his name). though truthfully when I thought of it, I thought Patrick was the child predator. I figure if they haven't been accused or indicted of something, it's only because they've managed to bribe or intimidate the witnesses. Or is that too cynical?
Ken, I don't really know about the whole patron saint thing. I guess I'm always in favor of patron saints, so why not? I'll keep praying for St. Michael's protection regardless.
Okay, because I've read occasionally about some gun rights group urging the Vatican on this point. I think the NRA has also written about it in some of their publications.
Me, gun or no gun I'm still professing Psalm 91. ;)
I'll see your Psalm 91, and raise you a Psalm 58, especially verse 10.
Ken must be thinking of the St. Gabriel Possenti Society.
As a matter of opinion, I wouldn't expect "gun owners" to be given a patron. Ownership itself isn't a profession, a community, or a skilled activity, so what's there for the patron to foster? On the other hand, St. Gabriel could be plausibly named patron of marksmen.
The Society may have to overcome the burden of appearing to be politically motivated.
Yeah, I'd be wary of a group whose leader says bishops "are pacifists up the wazoo. They don't really understand their own faith. They don't understand the religion of which they are officials."
I did learn from that site that St. Fiacre, the patron saint of gardeners and Parisian cab drivers, is also the patron of venereal diseases. A large St. Fiacre medallion is on the back of my house -- I'll never look at it the same.
While we're on the Psalms. There is some Protestant minister back in the day who read through and recorded the entire Bible for radio broadcasts. It still airs on WFSI in Annapolis, I believe. It's called the Family Bible Reading Fellowship. I think he used the New American Standard Bible. Maybe the KJV. It's been a while since I've heard it. Anyway, in the opening theme intro, he quotes from Psalm 90:1-2: "Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God."
Anyway, the music is stirring and that passage just kicks. And it's good to just pull out your Bible and read along and let the Word come alive.