Republicans of good will

During the stimulus/spending bill debate, Senator Reid again used the phrase, “Republicans of good will”.*What can he possibly mean? Is this an oxymoron? or an example of a null set?

Reid has used this formula before, prior to Reid it is hard to find. Bob Dole used it in July of 1996. Is this a concept in existence to-day?

Reid said two were in existence.* I am reminded of the following conversation:

What if there be five less than fifty just persons? wilt thou for five and forty destroy the whole city? And he said: I will not destroy it, if I find five and forty. And again he said to him: But if forty be found there, what wilt thou do? He said: I will not destroy it for the sake of forty. Lord, saith he, be not angry, I beseech thee, if I speak: What if thirty shall be found there? He answered: I will not do it, if I find thirty there. Seeing, saith he, I have once begun, I will speak to my Lord. What if twenty be found there? He said: I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty. I beseech thee, saith he, be not angry, Lord, if I speak yet once more: What if ten should be found there? And he said: I will not destroy it for the sake of ten. And the Lord departed, after he had left speaking to Abraham: and Abraham returned to his place. ― Genesis xviii. 28-33. DRC

How small a dwindling number can be found and set?
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*“Do we have the votes? We believe we do, we believe we can find two Republicans of good will who are going to do the right thing for the country”. ― 5 February 2009.

Boxer fights

11.41 a.m. 5 February 2009. Barbara Boxer responding to Lindsey Graham, whom had just previously displayed the bill, and the near ream of paper it was printed upon.*:

I find it really rather amazing that the senator is holding up a bill. Holding up a bill ― theatrical. (small chortle) Did you ever do that when George Bush was president and he sent down a bill twice as big as that? Did he ever do that?...d ev ya...Cause you can do that, that's theatrics. You can do that.

The petite, californian senator has repeatedly, almost, reflexively countered punched preening, overstepping arrogance. Inhofe tried to assume power over Al Gore’s testimony 21 March 2007:

BOXER:Would you agree to let the Vice President answer your questions? And then, if you want an extra few minutes at the end, I'm happy to give it to you. But we're not going to get anywhere --
INHOFE: Why don't we do this? Why don't we do this? At the end, you can have as much time as you want to answer all the questions.
BOXER: No, that isn't the rule of -- you're not making the rules. You used to when you did this. (holding gavel) You don't do this anymore. Elections have consequences.

At Rice’s confirmation hearing, 19 January 2005, Boxer was not allowing Rice to clench, stall and prevaricate:

MS. RICE: ... ... And so we knew what his intentions were in the region; where he had attacked his neighbors before and, in fact, tried to annex Kuwait; where we had gone to war against him twice in the past. It was the total picture, Senator, not just weapons of mass destruction, that caused us to decide that, post-September 11th, it was finally time to deal with Saddam Hussein.
SEN. BOXER: Well, you should read what we voted on when we voted to support the war, which I did not, but most of my colleagues did. It was WMD, period. That was the reason and the causation for that, you know, particular vote.
But, again, I just feel you quote President Bush when it suits you but you contradicted him when he said, "Yes, Saddam could have a nuclear weapon in less than a year." You go on television nine months later and said, "Nobody ever said it was" --
MS. RICE: Senator, that was just a question of pointing out to people that there was an uncertainty. No one was saying that he would have to have a weapon within a year for it to be worth it to go to war.
SEN. BOXER: Well, if you can't admit to this mistake, I hope that you'll --
MS. RICE: Senator, we can have this discussion in any way that you would like. But I really hope that you will refrain from impugning my integrity. Thank you very much.
SEN. BOXER: I'm not. I'm just quoting what you said. You contradicted the president and you contradicted yourself.
MS. RICE: Senator, I'm happy to continue the discussion, but I really hope that you will not imply that I take the truth lightly.
SEN. LUGAR: Let me intervene at this point.

While I can not agree, or disagree, approve, or disapprove with every cause, statement or action a politician, or any individual stands for or commits, I am impressed with the mien of this woman. She will, even as part of a small minority† or alone, speak up for what is right, or what she believes is right. She repeatedly confronts bullshit, and does not back down.
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*Now, I saw this broadcast, locally, on the PBS channel, not on their own news broadcast, but on the BBC’s, nor did I see it on another broadcast. I have found, again and again, non-american news sources covering and describing the more salient and telling information on american politics, often in more direct and honest language. The rest of the world has been slow to adopt american coined euphemisms and obfuscations.
†She along with Feingold and Harkin voted to censure bush junior on illegal wiretapping 31 March 2006.
She was the only senator to object to Ohio’s electoral vote 6 January 2005.

noto bene: I realise she is not always right. She is an extreme abortion supporter, and has shown hostility to catholicism on, at least, that and related matters. On those matters, she is equally pugnacious.

Power of Posters

A generation ago, the communist government and society of Poland was challenged by dissent. The dissent was peaceful and systemic throughout the country. One slogan, the name of the labor union, which, gave name to the movement was placed in the world’s consciousness ― Solidarność, Solidarity. On posters, banners, clothing, the one word spoke tremendously, and one iconic formulation was recognised by the world, and the world knew.

During World War II, the british government printed over 2 million posters with a message, that would be understood, for its reserve and resolve. The threshold of emergency was not crossed for it to be issued, but, now looking at it, one can see its message. It would have been effective, it is effective in hypothetical retrospect.

Last year, during the american presidential campaign, Shepherd Fairey took a photograph, and drew and silk screened a poster of the, then, future president and the word ― Hope. It was much reproduced. The artist made no money on it, that was not his aim; yet, now Associated Press wants to sue him, because the model he used was from a cropped photograph by an AP employee. Simple, reflexive, presumptuous greed on the part of someone, or agency, living in a culture that elevates private gain to ne plus ultra.

Many found Fairey’s poster a source of imitation and even humor. There was one with Palin and the word, “NOPE”, there was one of Bob Hope. Also, last year Benedict XVI visited New York City, and a poster was commissioned. The idea was simple and endlessly adaptable. One can take the design and use it for anything. You can take your photo, and have it, transformed similarly. In the 1960s, Andy Warhol had a similar ethos on subjects, including a series on soup cans. It is popular art. It is popular art, that can have greater public, and political interest.

Nagasaki Martyrs

Twenty-six men and boys were martyred, on account of the christian faith, in a spectacular fashion, in Nagasaki on the 5th of February 1597. Most were japanese, but there were spaniards, a mexican and an asian indian. Nagasaki is, and has been, the center of christianity in Japan. Nagasaki has become inseparable from martyrdom. It is the entrance gate of christianity.

In the generation after Francis Xavier, christianity became a significant factor in the country. Many converts were made, the feudal aristocrats often had their populace convert. There was fervor and zeal in the new faith, but not without bad behavior and impolitic action.

The shogun, and the power behind the emperor, Toyotomi Hideyoshi turned against christianity. Several reasons gave him cause: the destruction of buddhist and shinto art and architecture, which was japanese cultural patrimony, criminal behavior of certain christian merchants, possible imperial desires of Spain and other europeans, the dissension between spainards and portuguese, the franciscans and the jesuits, and the greater dissension between these former and the dutch and english heretics, and in contradiction, a possible christian hegemony. Hideyoshi was a champion commander, and there had been generations of internecine war; he wanted a centralisation of power in his own hands. With the buddhist monks, the bonzes, also having political, military and economic power, which, had become, weakened; he did not want a greater threat in the christians. In Hideyoshi’s childhood there were no christians (catholics), now there were, perhaps many more than, 300,000.

These early japanese christians were romanced with the Cross. They were evangelised with the Passion, and knew well of the early martyrs, and the rewards of heaven. With understanding of buddhist resignation and samurai honor and toughness, they had a stoic appreciation. Cruel irony found crucifixion (haritsuke) a novel and effectively, vicious form of torture and execution. They were to be paraded from Kyoto (literally, the capital then), after mutilation and constant abuse, over a thousand kilometers to their deaths. They were to be tied to a cross and speared by lances. If they renounced christianity, they would live. All the countryside would know of their degradation and fate. Yet, this did not end the faith in Japan. These martyrs engaged their deaths so bravely, that, they caused others to be ardently steadfast.

One of the martyrs, Paul Miki had been a jesuit for eleven years. He was an enthusiastic preacher, but not yet ordained. He exhorted crowds along the way and on the cross. Hideyoshi, as the english, feared and hated the jesuits. Miki made the appeal, that, the accusations against him (and the others) were false. They had no ulterior motives, they were merely faithful christians, and he, Miki, was not a foreign agent from the Philippines, but a nipponese as they were. His and all their deaths were unflinching and unwavering. This did not end christianity. It would be along time before the first man would either betray, or, disgrace himself and, the faith under pressure.

These martyrs are not well known in english speaking america, but in latin america, where there was contemporaneous evangelisation, and where one was born, their story, and their images were known. In 1862 they were placed on the universal calendar, first as Sts. Peter Baptist and Twenty-Five Companions on the 5th of February, and later as Sts. Paul Miki and his Companions on the 6th.

Nagasaki remained a center of both the faith and of martyrdom throughout the centuries. The last spectacular execution of innocents occurred on the 9th of August 1945. One dirty atomic bomb detonated over the cathedral, its radiation is still killing, far beyond the initial incineration. There is a memorial building, attached to a church dedicated to St. Philip of Jesus, the martyr from Mexico, and the first to die. It commemorates the 100th year of the canonisations. On the outside of the building there is a bronze, by Angelico Funakoshi, of the 26 in line. There is a Peace Park in Nagasaki to beg for the end of nuclear terror.

Governors and senators in flagrante

Rod Blagojevich was on Letterman last night. He became nationally known for a single act of corruption: he was about to peddle a US senatorship to the highest bidder. He found no takers. He was impeached 114 - 1, and found guilty 59 - 0. Previously, Elliot Spitzer resigned his governorship for renting women. How easy, and quickly, does scandal remove Democrats from office. How many Republicans would, even, allow the thought of impeaching any bushevik, to be expressed? The media, certainly, did not, as it seemingly promotes all Republican arguments.

Diaper Dave Vitter, a frequent brothel customer in Louisiana, and about DC, is still senator. Diaper Dave Vitter, is a man who, voted to impeach Bill Clinton. Diaper Dave, is a man who, campaigns on family values. Diaper Dave pegs the pole as a Republican conservative, but falls about mid-range as a Republican hypocrite. Mark him as another, outrageous Republican. Stevens, financial ethically challenged, was defeated at the polls, very narrowly. Craig, a deviant adulterer, finished his term. It is extremely difficult to find a Republican who shows shame, or applies a single standard.

Milorad Blagojevich is now an ex-governor of Illinois. For whatever reason, he has shown an appreciation of victorian, british poets. He has publicly quoted Tennyson* and Kipling†, in apparent reference to his circumstances. As a serb, from a people whom have heralded defeats in song and poetry for centuries, it is not, particularly surprising to relish lyrics in defeat; nor from an american politician, hubris in failure. But, as he repeatedly said, he was not convicted, nor was he defended. Letterman posited, that, he will have time in the future for due process.

Don Siegelman, former governor of Alabama, was sent to prison, as a political prisoner, so as to be removed from the stage, by Rove and the Republican party. He has been since released, and Rove, and his gang have not been forthcoming. This swift removal of Blagojevich was not pro forma, and Blagojevich wants the stage.
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*Ulysses, not reflecting the homeric Illiad, but the infernal Dante
†If, celebrating failed, imperial freebooting

Saint Blaise

Twenty-five years ago, a small book of humor, Growing Up Catholic, came out. On a corner of a page, there was listed two, and only two, Catholic fun days; one was Saint Patrick’s, there were irish on the committee, and the other was ― Saint Blaise. Now, in protestant America, it is doubtful that Blaise is even known, considering, the often, odd naming practices as a given, christian name.

On his name day ― 3 February, or Sunday of Candlemas, throats are blessed by crossed tapers. During mass, or after, people line up to hear the words, in the old latin, “Per intercessionem S. Blasii liberet to Deus a malo gutteris et a qouvis alio malo”, or in english, “May God at the intercession of St. Blaise preserve you from throat troubles and every other evil”, as beeswax candles are pressed about the throat, and the priest, or deacon, pronounces the sign of the cross.* This little ceremony, as with the imposition of ashes, is both optional for the faithful, and open to all, irregardless of their faith, meaning ― you do not have to be a Catholic. Some people remember this, fondly, from their elementary school days. Others still enjoy it as adults, and are even disappointed if the local priest does not celebrate the blessing.

Why this? Blaise is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. He was a bishop and physician in Sebaste of Armenia, at that interesting time, when christianity was becoming legal. He was tortured and beheaded, under Licinius, in 316, after the Edict of Toleration. While imprisoned, he saved a boy from choking on a fish bone, hence his help for the throat.

Now, there is a bit of an english wordplay with candles and the name Blaise (Blaze). We can also, other than being safe from choking and malady, be free from uttering bad, or hurtful words. Some of us can still be in the need of his intercession.
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*sometimes said so rapidly as to resemble a mumbling blur of syllables
noto bene: St. Blaise is patron of Dubrovnik on the Dalmatian coast, banner supra. Recently, in Sivas (modern Sebaste), archaeologists have found a grave, that, they believe may have been for Blaise. Some of his relics reside in Dubrovnik.

4th Sunday after Epiphany

Eugène Delacroix. Christ Asleep during the Tempest. c.1853. New York City.

In illo témpore:
Et ascendénte eo in navículam, secúti sunt eum discípuli ejus : et ecce motus magnus factus est in mari, ita ut navícula operirétur flúctibus : ipse vero dormiébat. Et accessérunt ad eum discípuli ejus, et suscitavérunt eum, dicéntes : Dómine, salva nos : perímus. Et dicit eis Jesus : Quid tímidi estis, módicæ fídei ? Tunc surgens imperávit ventis, et mari, et facta est tranquíllitas magna. Porro hómines miráti sunt, dicéntes : Qualis est hic, quia venti et mare obédiunt ei ?

At that time:
And when he entered into the boat, his disciples followed him: And behold a great tempest arose in the sea, so that the boat was covered with waves, but he was asleep. And they came to him, and awaked him, saying: Lord, save us, we perish. And Jesus saith to them: Why are you fearful, O ye of little faith? Then rising up he commanded the winds, and the sea, and there came a great calm. But the men wondered, saying: What manner of man is this, for the winds and the sea obey him? ― Matthew viii: 23-7. DRC

Now, the Gospel message to one’s own life is straight, forward enough: in a tumultuous world, with Christ in your midst, be calm and be without fear. Now, at that time, people were astounded and astonished, with the power of Jesus and his ability, to halt and tame the turbulence of the tempest.