This book is well defined by its subtitle: An Appreciation of the History, Practice & Mystery of Ancient Faith. Sweeney is not a Catholic and isn't interested in becoming one. He is interested in how to adapt (not adopt) some Catholic practices into his faith life and there he finds much that he can use.

I am a reasonably new member of the progressive community. In fact, in college, I was vice chair of my school's College Republicans. Not a particularly forward-thinking organization. But with the rise of the "Religious Right," not to mention my own evolving political and religious beliefs, I'm now a proud Democrat. I also recently found a very open and welcoming congregation in my local United Church of Christ.

How bad is the GOP?  

The Swing State Project has put together the most comprehensive compendium of Republican hubris, f*ckups and misfortunes you will find anywhere, ever. Call it the "Year of Living Catastrophically", if you will. I hope you packed a snack, because this is gonna take a while.

The 10 Most Awesomely Bad Moments of the Bush Presidency

Watch out below....

McCain hearts Osteen

McCain's transformation is so complete that at a recent town-hall meeting in Nashville, when asked to name an author who inspired him, the candidate — who once described televangelists of the Jerry Falwell genus as "agents of intolerance" — put none other than Joel Osteen at the top of his list. "He's inspirational," McCain said.

 More of this outrage below...

My hero (my senator) strikes again  Feingold Will Filibuster Telecom Immunity

The sound of unity:  Obama Asks Donors To Help Hillary With Her Campaign Debts

The sound of unity II: Clinton Urges Donors To Unite Behind Obama

More below.

News clips on Youtube show us the real McCain  Most of it is devastating and ought to be played and replayed throughout the coming campaign.

On your mark. Get set. Grind your teeth!  McCain Campaign Agrees With CNBC Pundit: Americans Making $200,000 Are ‘Not Rich’

Look out below....

Welcome to the hardball world of religious politics 2008.

Republican denied communion for supporting Obama
By E.J. DIONNE JR.

A special Thursday edition, just because there's so much going on.

"Report on Whether Public Statements Regarding Iraq by U.S. Government officials Were Substantiated by Intelligence Information"

"Report on Intelligence Activities Relating to Iraq Conducted by the Policy Counterterrorism Evaluation Group and the Office of Special Plans Within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy"

Spoiler: They lied to us.  You're shocked, I know.  More below.

[editor's note, by PoliSigh] promoted by me. Now it's nap time!


Wrong track's up to 82% http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...

So, what are the McCains hiding? Cindy McCain was asked about releasing her tax returns, on the Today show, and reiterated that she would never release them -- ever -- even if she becomes First Lady:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vZi6...

We're All Hacks Atrios is right

It's important to remember that none of us are above the fray, that we all have hackish tendencies to suppress information which doesn't fit our worldview and privilege information that does. We're more likely to excuse behavior from people we like and exaggerate the ills of people we don't like. I try to fight hackish tendencies especially during this intra-Dem battle, but I don't claim to have superhuman Nonhack powers.

For the record, I make no effort to be above the fray nor any pretense of being fair or balanced.  I'm not only a member of the Hack Club for Men, I'm the president.  It's good to know your own filters....

More hackery below.

The Deceit of Dubya's Folly Behind TV Analysts, Pentagon's Hidden Hand

In a lengthy article based on 8,000 pages of Pentagon records, the Times details the Pentagon's program for directing, co-opting and using network 'military analysts' to spin viewers with DOD-crafted talking points. The DOD used analysts' financial ties to military contractors and control over access "to transform the analysts into a kind of media Trojan horse -- an instrument intended to shape terrorism coverage from inside the major TV and radio networks."

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/wa...

More Monday morning news below.

[editor's note, by PoliSigh]for your edumacation.


How stupid do they think we are? The bizarre spectacle of multimillionaire television journalists adopting faux working-class personae. http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?...

More news below.