When I Met President Bush

I was walking out of class at SMU when I heard someone excitedly say, "George Bush is over there!" Another student snidely remarked, "Who cares?"

I care. How often is a President only a block away? I walked in that direction and noticed a crowd of about 50 people gathered around. I closed in and saw President Bush cheerily shaking hands and smiling for cameras.

Based on the media's assessment of things I expected rioters and violence, but all I saw was groups of ladies taking turns having their pictures taken with him and men lining up to shake his hand. President Bush was charming and polite to all.

When he came my direction I extended my hand and he gladly stepped forward and took the time to shake it heartily.

"Thank you, for everything," I told him.

I meant it. I appreciate Bush for putting good people in the supreme court and for fighting terrorism. He seemed to understand how serious I was because he looked me in the eye and said, "Is it my honor. Thank you."

He meant it, too.

I didn't get any pictures with him, but I snapped this one with my phone, which turned out remarkably well for a tiny camera that usually doesn't work.


Here's the story about it at Southern Methodist University's website. [LINK]

The Justice Department and Pornography

I'm stealing this from my good friend Emily who posted it first. I don't think she'll mind, though, since everyone ought to be aware of certain things.

The article tells of one David Ogden. According to Wikipedia, He was a high-ranking official in the United States Department of Justice and the United States Department of Defense during the administration of President Bill Clinton. What his Wikipedia entry does not mention is that he is a supporter of child pornography.

In 1991, he defended a collector of child pornography by claiming that such work was art and that it was protected under the first amendment under the "freedom of speech" clause. (Read the article for a description of the child pornography in question, in case you are wondering just what exactly David Ogden is calling "artistic.")

Our freedoms are not absolute. If the freedom of speech was absolute, it would not be wrong to shout "fire" in a crowded theater or "bomb" on an airplane. If someone calls you and threatens you on a daily basis you can sue them for harassment, and rightly so, but not if we interpret the first amendment as Ogden has done. I like to call myself a Libertarian, and even we Libertarians do not want these freedoms to be rendered absolute.

The reason for pointing this out now is that David Ogden is being considered by Obama for the post of Deputy Attorney General, which makes him influential in deciding how these lawbreakers are dealt with. Does Obama think such an appointment is appropriate? Do you?

As Emily said, you may want to contact your senators, as they will be the ones who approve or disapprove him. Let's help them make the right choice.

The Pope and the Speaker of the House. A Cautionary Tale.

I would make a lousy Catholic. I can't stomach praying to anyone but Jesus and I don't agree with Papal authority. But, for once, I am applauding the Pope.

Benedict XVI recently had a fifteen minute meeting with Nancy Pelosi in which he rebuked her for her stance on abortion. This is especially poignant because Pelosi has attempted to play the part of theologian in this arena. Calling herself a Catholic, she has, laughably, attempted to state that Augustine did not know when life began and that the church fathers have struggled over the issue of abortion. (Even the most casual student of Augustine knows that he was extremely opposed to forms of birth control; it's difficult to imagine him struggling with the question of abortion.) If there is any theological concept on which the Catholic church has been consistent it is abortion and Benedict wasted no time in telling the Speaker of the House that she was mistaken.

Pope - 1, Nancy Pelosi - zero.

Actually, there are two things I like about Pope Benedict:

1 - He told an American Democrat to defend unborn babies

and

2 - He gets to ride around in one of these: