Columns
In the New York Times, Rev. James Martin says that "Benedict XVI's resignation might be the most unexpected papal decision since the convening of the Second Vatican Council in the early 1960s." He seems excited. Others less so.
John Patrick Shanley says good riddance. Of Benedict XVI, he says: "He was utterly bereft of charm, tone-deaf and a protector of priests who abused children. He'd been a member of the Hitler Youth. In addition to this woeful résumé, he had no use for women."
Yow.
There is no place like home
Dr. Oz, according to the New Yorker, has some interesting ideas about orgasms and how you are supposed to poop. I will say no more. Should you chose to spend your limited reading time elsewhere, I will fully understand. On the other hand, if you are a Oz fan, I'd suggest to take a dive into
Michael Spector's deeply researched article.
In the L.A. Times, Dana Frank notes how the U.S. is expanding its military presence in Honduras on a massive scale, obstensibly to combat drug trafficking, which it has been doing ever since the military there ousted a democratically elected leader in a coup.
Pushback
Jon Fleischman, a leader of California's Republican Party, apparently thinks he will make his party more attractive by regularly running a list of "Idiots of the week."
At first, I thought he was referring to the three remaining readers of the Flash Report.
Then I realized -- he is referring to people who disagree with him.
Is this part of the GOP's strategy to win over independent voters? Does GOP state party leader Jim Brulte think it will help his party by labeling those who Fleischman disagrees with as "idiots?"
I am the latest to earn this label. For that I am grateful, because the CEQA reform I propose pisses off those on the left and right extreme edge, the latter of which Fleischman has already fallen over.
But I am a bit surprised, partly because, just a few days earlier, I had agreed to publish a piece by Fleischman responding to an op-ed on our pages he disagreed with.
Perhaps Jon is right. I am an idiot.
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