Larry's passing. You probably knew him as Yogi. This past week sports fans mourned the passing of a true American icon. If you are into baseball, many of the remembrance stories include titles of what are surely enjoyable books. Also, let us not forget those wonderful "Yogi-isms" that have become a part of our language. Sadly, now it's truly over. RIP, Yogi.
Pope Francis' speech. The historic joint session occasioned mention of the many Roman Catholics in public office. The Vice President, Speaker of the House, six of nine Supreme Court justices, and numerous representatives and senators are Roman Catholics. In a column entitled, "Pope Francis' profound personalism (sic)," Michael Gerson, conservative columnist with the Washington Post, characterized the Pope's message at his "State of the Soul" address....historically sophisticated, gracefully appropriate, morally ambitious....For a moment, marginalized groups — from refugees to prisoners — got the center stage of American politics. Congress got a bracing reminder of its calling, including the 'demanding pursuit of the common good.' And representatives from both parties were forced to applaud the Golden Rule..." Those assembled applauded as he praised Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton.
How do you comport yourself when His Holiness is the speaker? Interestingly, a memo on "proper behavior " was circulated to all congressional offices, not unlike the school principal's yearly reminder about behavior at graduation. Ah well.... It appeared to work. Appropriate, polite applause even as the Pope did not shrink from noting the world's -- and our nation's -- problems and challenges.
Because of the camera positions, Vice President Biden and House Speaker Boehner, both Roman Catholics, were conspicuous throughout and were often visibly moved by Francis' words. The Pope's post-speech appearance on the Capitol balcony was an impressive moment: equal parts reverence, awe, and spectacle.
Dysfunction and violence. We Americans are wont to look abroad and shake our heads disapprovingly over the governmental chaos and social violence we see. For example, Greece's high unemployment and financial mess and the Europe's immigration problems. We make assumptions about causes and solutions that may be totally unwarranted. We often do not understand a region's history, past or recent. We shake our heads in disbelief at continuing sectarian violence.
Looking inward, though, we seem not to observe similar problems here at home.
- another threatened government shut down in Washington;
- low unemployment but stagnant wages for middle and low income families that thwart upward mobility;
- minimum wages resulting in poverty-level incomes;
- state governments struggling to find tax dollars and/or on the verge of bankruptcy;
- increasing gun violence, civil unrest, etc.
John Boehner (R, OH)...Speaker of the House, resigned both as speaker and his seat in the House, effective this coming October 30th. Since the Constitution requires that vacancies in the US House be filled by a special election, Boehner's resignation will, in effect, "cost" OH taxpayers the expense of a special election. A most interesting development, to say the least, for the Congress and the nation.
A long time Democratic colleague, House Minority Whip Steny H. Hoyer
(D, MD), who has spent three decades in Congress, called Boehner’s
resignation — and the circumstances behind it — a “big loss for the
country and a loss for this institution....This is a victory for dysfunctional government,” he said just off
the House floor Friday. “This is a victory for confrontation. This is a
victory for taking positions that one knows cannot and will not be
adopted, and allowing the government to shut down, the debt [limit] to
be breached and other things to happen if you don’t get your way...This is a vote for my way or the highway,” he continued, “and that’s
not democracy. That’s not how the Congress of the United States works.
That’s not how America works.”
Not everyone thought Mr. Boehner's actions were entirely selfless. The editors at the Washington Post headline read, "Mr. Boehner’s resignation is a political cop-out." They continued,
House Sepaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) insisted on Friday that he was resigning in order to forestall a tough vote on his leadership and “protect the institution” of the House. Protecting the institution, he said, is a speaker’s primary job. We respect his devotion. But a speaker’s primary responsibility is to the nation, not the House. And what the nation needs is a Congress willing to make compromises in the national interest — compromises that Mr. Boehner may have favored but rarely had the stomach to promote.
A note on succession in the US Senate: Each state's constitution applies. Senatorial vacancies may be filled either by gubernatorial appointment or special election.A governor usually uses the first option, an interim appointment, effective until the next regularly scheduled national election, thus sparing a state's taxpayers the expense of a special election. Traditionally, a surviving spouse is offered the interim appointment.
Not everyone thought Mr. Boehner's actions were entirely selfless. The editors at the Washington Post headline read, "Mr. Boehner’s resignation is a political cop-out." They continued,
House Sepaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) insisted on Friday that he was resigning in order to forestall a tough vote on his leadership and “protect the institution” of the House. Protecting the institution, he said, is a speaker’s primary job. We respect his devotion. But a speaker’s primary responsibility is to the nation, not the House. And what the nation needs is a Congress willing to make compromises in the national interest — compromises that Mr. Boehner may have favored but rarely had the stomach to promote.
A note on succession in the US Senate: Each state's constitution applies. Senatorial vacancies may be filled either by gubernatorial appointment or special election.A governor usually uses the first option, an interim appointment, effective until the next regularly scheduled national election, thus sparing a state's taxpayers the expense of a special election. Traditionally, a surviving spouse is offered the interim appointment.
Thank you for reading. Do feel free to send along your comments on any of my ramblings.
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