'It's 106 miles to Chicago. We've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses.' Dear Mr. Belushi may have left our company for the time being, but on Saturday night, the Grillmaster and his official New Orleanian roommate did our best to channel Brother Jake along with Brother Elwood. Cheap black sunglasses, cheaper black hats, and the damned cheapest cigarettes we could find [Basic's, for the curious] made us at least passable copies of that legendary rhythm and blues duo, the Blues Brothers. Three cheers to Kate for scoring us the invite. There's nothing quite like a dark party, sunglasses, and knowing absolutely no one to ensure that you stay in character and have one hell of a time in the process.
Speaking of missions from God, there has been rejoicing from the Christian Right today with the nomination of Scalia Jr. to the Supreme Court. It appears that after the debacle of Harriet Miers, the President has felt the whip of Robertson, Dobson, et al., and gotten back in line. The sacred mission of overturning Roe v. Wade may finally be nearing its completion...
Not so fast my friends! Or so says Pat Robertson. What! No, that's not a typo. It seems that Mr. Robertson does not know that Scalito would overturn Roe, but still extols the nominee's virtues. Memo to liberal friends: be afraid! This means that Robertson is SO convinced of Scalinni's conservatism that he is more worried about rejection from the mainstream than about doubts from his right wing disciples. Do you honestly think Robertson would be on the air supporting this guy if he thought the nominee would let Roe stand!? I think not.
An interesting, and as yet only mildly discussed feature of this nomination that makes him of particular interest to this Papist: that's right, it's another Catholic. Son of Italian immigrants from Jersey, he had about as much choice as the Grillmaster did (proud son of Boston Irish and Chicago Polish) in selecting his faith. And, for those keeping score, that's a Supreme Court grand total of:
5 Slaves of Rome
4 Other
Santa Maria de la Powdered Wigs, are you serious! It's interesting that Catholics have made such attractive nominees in recent years. Sure, we're smarter, better looking, and more graced by God than the rest of you heathens, but I doubt those are the only reasons. To the right, conservative Catholics are an attractive combination: disposed to restrained judicial power, but not as scary to mainstream Americans as some in the evangelical crowd. Accustomed to a country in which their spiritual compatriots faced (and face) truly ugly persecution and suspicion, these Catholic jurists learned long ago to take their faith seriously, but remain somewhat reticent about it in public. Americans like that in our judges, those great bastions of supposed neutrality who sit objectively over our nation. Interesting that the Kerry campaign may indicate that while we like such detachment from faith in judges, we mistrust it in elected politicians.
Wait a minute. We like men in black for our judges. Who are cold, calculating, and tireless in their work. And who are willing to stand up to Illinois Nazis, rednecks, and even oppressive law enforcement to complete their Divinely sanctioned mission. President Bush, I've got two sharp dressed guys from Chicago who are always looking for work. They sing one hell of a song too.
