A little local news here: security nabobs for this summer's Dem convention in Boston are planning to shut down the city's inbound highways and commuter rail access for four days in July. Even Mayor Tom ("Mumbles") Menino, who brought this money-losing disaster to town for the glory of Massachusetts Democrats, has given up the happy face and is telling businesses to take the week off.
What are the odds that the voters will make the Dems pay a price for this? Slim and none.
Do you live in Massachussetts, RC? The impression I have is that folks there have simply abandoned reason. They see the name "Kennedy" or "Democrat" and pull the lever like zombies out of "Night of the Living Dead," Chappaquiddick or no Chappaquiddick. You don't see this happening in other old-line, industrial, labor states like Ohio or Michigan. What's the deal?
My theory: the formerly Catholic states seem to be the worst. Mass., Rhode Island (Patrick Kennedy), and Maryland (Barbara Mikulski). They seem to turn the most militantly liberal. One wonders if strong, intelligent, and happy teaching of good doctrine over the past generation might have mitigated this situation.
Cardinal Law bears a lot of responsibility in Mass--in 22 years as Boston Archbishop, he never confronted the Quimbys/Kennedys over their scandalous votes and conduct. We don't know, of course, if he tried in private, but after awhile the need for teaching and witness for the sake of the common good takes over. For Law it obviously didn't.
Something for Archbishop O'Malley to think about while he wrings his hands and wonders whether or not to properly enforce Canon 915 and show concern for Kerry and Kennedy's salvation.
An additional note re Law: When the Boston archdiocese homosex predator-priest scandal broke, the mainline media always referred to Law as a "big friend of Republicans." They cited his trips up to Kennebunkport to chill with the Bush family, and some meetings with other GOP leaders.
I always found this claim amusing. Law was far and away the big political friend of the Kennedys, Kerrys and Massachussetts liberal Democrats in general. By never publicly insisting that they abandon their vehement pro-legal abortion advocacy, Law sent a clear message: you can be pro-abortion and Catholic. It's not a stretch to suggest Law might have ben the best political friend the Kennedys, Kerrys et. al. ever had.