The American Pharaoh Arrives in India

Eighty years ago, Calvin Coolidge argued in his autobiography why it might be useful for an American President to have his own railway car. He and most of America's Presidents would be shocked by the pretensions of this illegitimate president, a former ACORN street thug and agitator, who is grabbing for all the goods and glory while he still can.

From The Daily Mail

Bomb-proof tunnel with air conditioning: Obama's security go to extraordinary measures for his tour of the Gandhi museum

• American warships to patrol off Mumbai during visit
• Coconuts removed from trees as a precaution
  
• 250 U.S. business executives with Obama on 'biggest ever trade mission'
• $200 million Asia trip cost denied but the President will have huge entourage

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle arrived in India's commercial hub of Mumbai on Saturday, days after voters punished his Democrats in mid-term elections.

Probably not since the days of the Pharaohs or the more ludicrous Roman Emperors has a head of state travelled in such pomp and expensive grandeur as the President of the United States of America.

While lesser mortals – the Pope, Queen Elizabeth and so on – are usually happy to let their hosts handle most of the security and transport arrangements when they venture beyond their home shores, the United States creates a mini-America on the move to ensure that nothing is left to chance.

Read the rest of this entry >>

From the Pastor - 'Time and Eternity'

A Weekly Column by Father George Rutler

The autumnal days of November, with the falling leaves and early darkness, are reminders of the edge where time meets eternity. Celebrating all the saints on the first day of the month, and praying in solemn hope for all the holy souls is part of the pattern. Then too is the civil remembrance on November 11 of the armistice ending the First World War with its heavy toll, and of all those who have given their lives for their country: “Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn…” The hospitality of Thanksgiving includes the wistful remembrance of those who no longer sit at our earthly table for they have gone on to the Heavenly Banquet.

In the universality of the Catholic Church, the living and the dead are united in worshiping the Creator of all things. Blessed Teresa of Calcutta often asked me to remember her each time I add the drop of water to the wine of the chalice at the preparation of the Eucharistic gifts. I still do that, and include all the faithful departed whose presence is mystically imparted to us who are still on earth. St. Thomas Aquinas said that when the priest commingles one small particle of the Body of Christ with the Precious Blood, we have a sign of the absorption of the saints into the Beatific Vision of Heaven.

Last Sunday in Baghdad, Islamic terrorists killed 58 people along with their two young priests, and wounded 75 others, mostly women and children, as they were preparing to commune with Christ. Horrible as that was, it was also a grace to die so close to Our Lord who was with all Christians gathered around their altar on that same Sunday in every church.

As a student in Rome, I lived near the Pantheon, built first in 27 B.C. to all the Roman gods, and rebuilt in A.D. 126 by the Emperor Hadrian. In 609, Pope Boniface IV consecrated it as a church and celebrated a feast of All Martyrs on the same day as the old pagan feast of Lemuralia, when the ancient Romans used to offer sacrifices to protect themselves from ghosts. The Resurrection defied such superstitions and gave cause to rejoice in the gift of eternal life. The pagan haunted world is now hallowed by the Saviour. In Christian worship, death and life commune in a harmony by which autumn is nature’s novitiate for spring. As high energy physics shows the importance of every subatomic particle in the material order, so in the moral order is every soul of importance to God. All souls are meant to be in communion with him and with each other in the fellowship of the Church. “But you spare all things, because they are yours, O Lord and lover of souls, for your imperishable spirit is in all things!” (Wisdom 11:26, 12:1)

The Aussie Way: An Interview with Former Australian Prime Minister John Howard

John Howard was a member of the Australian House of Representatives from 1974 to 2007, and prime minister of Australia from 1996 to 2007.

Prime Minister Howard offers insights into Australia's own special relationship with the United States beginning with why Australia's participation in the Iraq war was in his nation's best interest. Echoing parallels with the United States, he offers his views on multiculturalism which he calls a very confused credo—and Australia's role in the Anglosphere, particularly as it relates to China, its largest and most powerful Asian neighbor. He speaks of the current financial crisis and the need to remain confident in the market and the dangers of over-regulation.

CNN Poll: Huckabee GOP Frontrunner, Beats Obama 52-44 Percent

We have always sensed a spark of greatness in Governor Mike Huckabee. Perhaps after another two years of gangster government in the White House, the times will find the leader America needs.

From Talking Points Memo

A newly-released CNN poll, conducted a few days before this past midterm election, shows President Obama in for a competitive race in 2012, with him trailing two potential Republican candidates and leading two others among registered voters.

The numbers:

• Mike Huckabee leads Obama by 52%-44%. In the previous CNN poll from April, Obama led Huckabee by 54%-45%.

• Mitt Romney leads Obama by 50%-45%. In the previous CNN poll from April, Obama led Romney by 53%-45%.

• Obama edges out Newt Gingrich by 49%-47%. In the previous CNN poll from April, Obama led Gingrich by 55%-43%.

• Obama leads Sarah Palin by 52%-44%. In the previous CNN poll from April, Obama led Palin by 55%-42%.

The survey of registered voters has a ±3% margin of error.

As for the Republican nomination, nationwide GOP voters at this early juncture give Huckabee 21%, Romney 20%, Palin 14%, Gingrich 12%, Ron Paul 7%, plus 3% each for Haley Barbour, Mike Pence and Tim Pawlenty, and 2% for Rick Santorum. This question has a ±4.5% margin of error.

Bankruptcy of U.S. is ‘Mathematical Certainty,’ Says Former CEO of Nation's 10th Largest Bank

Senate Banking Chairman Chris Dodd (D.-Conn.) and House Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank (D.-Mass.) with President Barack Obama. (Associated Press photo)

John Allison, who for two decades served as chairman and CEO of BB&T, the nation's 10th largest bank, told CNSNews.com it is a “mathematical certainty” that the United States government will go bankrupt unless it dramatically changes its fiscal direction.

Read the rest of this entry >>

Obama's Visit to Mumbai to Cost $200 Million a Day

It will be worth it if he defects. Will Bo, the family dog, have his own plane, or is that just for his trips to the Cape?

From CatholicOnline

When U.S. President Barack Obama visits Mumbai, the most populous City in India, it will cost a whopping $200 million a day. The majority of the expenses will go towards security.

"The huge amount of around $200 million would be spent on security, stay and other aspects of the Presidential visit," a top official of the Maharashtra Government, who had access to information about the arrangements for the high-profile visit said.

About 3,000 people, including Secret Service agents, U.S. government officials and journalists will accompany the President. Several officials from the White House and U.S. security agencies have already been in Mumbai for the past week with helicopters, a ship and high-end security instruments.

"Except for personnel providing immediate security to the President, the U.S. officials may not be allowed to carry weapons. The state police [are] competent to take care of the security measures and they would be piloting the Presidential convoy," the official said on condition of anonymity.

The Navy and Air Force have been asked by the state government to increase patrols along the Mumbai coastline and airspace during the president's stay. The city's airspace will be closed half-an-hour before the President's arrival for all aircraft barring those carrying the U.S. delegation.

The personnel from SRPF, Force One, besides the NSG contingent stationed here would be roped in for the President's security, the official said.

The area from Hotel Taj, where Obama and his wife Michelle will stay, to the Shikra helipad in Colaba would be cordoned off completely during the president's stay.

North Carolina Street Brawling Congressman Facing Likely Defeat

Street brawling Congressman Bob Etheridge, D-NC, who assaulted a student asking if the Congressman "fully supported the Obama agenda," is refusing to concede defeat to Renee Ellmers, who leads by about 1500 votes.

Ellmers has declared victory, but the testy Congressman is hoping that provisional and absentee ballots from overseas may reverse his apparent loss. A recount is expected.

We expect it won't be long before his former constituents are asking Etheridge: "Who are you?"