Vatican Bashes Israel

From the folks that brought you the largest child-rape cover-up in human history, we now have official recognition of the non-existent Arab state of Palestine. The Roman Catholic Church- you know the one that gave us the Inquisition- has just granted its diplomatic blessing to the terror state of Palestine. Just look what a great job of protecting Christians the other real existing Arab countries are doing. So why not reward the Muslims who are murdering, ethnically-cleansing, and chasing Christians from their midst with one more intolerant hate state? The Jewish State is the only nation in the Middle East where Christians are not routinely persecuted and where Christian patrimony is not being obliterated. In many ways, the Vatican is an enemy of good.

The Train Crash

The Amtrak train that crashed was traveling at one hundred to one hundred and seven miles per hour in a fifty mile per hour zone according to various reports. A supposed collapsing national infrastructure has nothing to do with last night's disaster. If the passenger train was speeding that much over the limit, no modernization of the rail system would have averted the tragedy. No feat of engineering can overcome someone so cavalierly risking so many lives by doubling (or more than doubling) what had been determined to be a safe rate of travel. Sometimes a speed limit is not arbitrary, but there to protect travelers. More investigation is necessary, but going around a dangerous curve at 107mph is an invitation to catastrophe.

A Transportation Tragedy

Train passengers have been injured (and perhaps even killed) in a terrible Amtrak crash in Philadelphia. At this point, it is not certain what caused this event. What is known is that hundreds of rescue personnel are trying to save the wounded. I have heard that mass transit is statistically safer than driving a car. It may well be, but I would rather not place my fate in the hands of a stranger. Please pray for those on the train.

Hillary Losing Steam

I have seen no groundswell of support for Hillary Clinton. In fact, with recent allegations against the Clinton Foundation gaining traction, Hillary's campaign has actually lost momentum. The inevitable Democrat nominee for 2016 may not be so inevitable after all. Martin O'Malley and Elizabeth Warren have both been mentioned as potential contenders to challenge Hillary. Jim Webb may also be in the mix. Bernie Sanders has declared, but his campaign is already floundering. There are several Republicans who seem capable of defeating Ms. Clinton, should she secure the Democrat nomination. Hillary is definitely beatable.

No World Order

US Presidents have for some time promised (or threatened) a "New World Order". In the event, they have actually delivered chaos and anarchy. How stable does the Middle East look with ISIS chopping off heads like decapitation is a box score sport? How safe are Christian communities and other religious minorities in Iraq and the Levant? Is Iran now a stabilizing force or are the Mad Mullahs more threatening than ever as they approach owning a nuclear arsenal unfettered from guarantees by American Presidents who promised Tehran would never be allowed a single atomic weapon? Civil disorder reigned for days in Baltimore. A New York City policeman was assassinated last week, followed just yesterday by the murder of two law enforcement officers in Mississippi. Both at home and abroad, we see the opposite of order.

The Right Direction

I am somewhat heartened that the political Left was crushed in elections in Israel recently and this week in the United Kingdom. While the candidates who won the premierships in both those plebiscites were not as conservative as I hoped, they are certainly better than the far Left. Netanyahu in Israel is center right. Cameron in Great Britain, while nominally conservative is a centrist. Neither Netanyahu nor Cameron is hard Right. Both are preferable to the socialist appeasers of radical Islam who opposed them. Can you imagine how much weaker the fight against Islamism would be had Livni or Lapid won in Israel or Ed Miliband gained victory over David Cameron?

A Forgetful Friday

With a new baby, life is pretty hectic. With my Mom recovering from a stroke a three hour car ride away as well, I find myself overtaken at times by events. I attempt to submit a fresh column every day. These days, my daily commentary takes a back seat to my family situation. I may not be able to write a daily "Despot". I remain firmly committed though to helping a conservative win the US Presidency in 2016.