February Archive

Political summit or theater?

Sheila Liaugminas | 26 February 2010

Before the health care ’summit’ began Thursday morning, there was plenty of media skepticism over whether Washington politicians, in the Congress and the administration, can actually put bitter partisanship aside and finally and responsibly deliberate over the people’s business. Consensus is that it’s doubtful.

‘The persistent issue of abortion’

Sheila Liaugminas | 25 February 2010

The pivotal Washington health care summit is about many things and much of it is political posturing. Maybe most. By both parties. What’s getting little attention is the persistent issue of abortion at the core of both House and Senate versions, and how the policians in Congress are handling it.

Teed off

Sheila Liaugminas | 24 February 2010

Though it was much-anticipated and rather heavily promoted in the media, I made no note of the Tiger Woods press conference scheduled to televise his first public statement since his scandalous affairs broke last November. But an interesting thing happened.....

Big win in Vegas

Sheila Liaugminas | 24 February 2010

Oddsmakers would either not touch this one, or laugh at you if you even suggested the wager. 'During an abortion, the mother makes the other choice. And they lived happily ever after...'Okay, we won't know about the 'ever after' part until time goes by, but the rest is true, and it did happen in Vegas.

Health care summit: Pros and cons

Sheila Liaugminas | 21 February 2010

The embattled president is taking the embattled debate over health care reform to the American people, which he promised to do throughout his campaign but failed to follow through on until the Democrats lost a pivotal Senate seat. He was called out on that lack of transparency and abject lack of bipartisanship which he also promised in his presidency, so he called this upcoming health care summit for Democrats to meet with Republicans and it will be televised. He is a pro at turning crisis into opportunity, to apply a phrase his chief of staff likes to use.

Beautiful chaos

Sheila Liaugminas | 19 February 2010

Ever since I heard a most poignant story many years ago about a young woman, wife and mother, whose life ended much too young and her husband referring to something she saved ‘for special occasions’ by saying ‘every day you’re alive is a special occasion’…I have repeated that story and that lesson and tried to live it. Here's a variation on that theme...

The ‘real’ reason Bayh is leaving

Sheila Liaugminas | 19 February 2010

Actually, Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh made it perfectly and startlingly clear why he’s leaving Congress in the press conference he gave when he dropped that bombshell announcement. Washington is a mess, it’s broken, mired in partisan political bickering, and nothing’s getting done for the people. In fact, the business of running the nation’s affairs is just one more business that’s gone bankrupt.

What keeps them hanging on

Sheila Liaugminas | 18 February 2010

Those who dissent from teachings of the Catholic Church periodically take their organized protests public and often vilify Church hierarchy for not changing with the times to accommodate cultural trends. But one unasked question in news reports covering these angry protestors is…..why do they stay?

Time of atonement?

Sheila Liaugminas | 17 February 2010

The monotheistic religions have their times set apart from ordinary time to reflect on how we humans, individually and personally, are doing in the struggle to conform our lives to align better with God’s will. It’s the ‘mystery of faith’ that is knowable only within human limitations. Each one…Yom Kippur, Ramadan, Lent…involve repentance, prayer and fasting. It's time to check in again...

The State is not the source of ethics

Sheila Liaugminas | 17 February 2010

Religiously informed people already know from where moral guidelines derive, and it's not government. But Pope Benedict XVI brought up that point again when he addressed “problems revolving around the issue of bioethics” with the Pontifical Academy for Life, in their annual meeting.

Verbal violence

Sheila Liaugminas | 17 February 2010

We're in a bout of unusual Press introspection again, because someone High Up mis-spoke, and touched off another war of words.

Can you hear me now?

Sheila Liaugminas | 16 February 2010

American citizens have grown increasingly unhappy with our congressional representatives, and polls show they’re getting disenchanted with the Obama administration in larger numbers. Funny, but before the loss of one Democratic Senate seat with Scott Brown’s victory in Massachusetts, voter’s voices weren’t much heard. Or rather…..not many members of Congress were listening. They are now.

‘Political street-fighting’

Sheila Liaugminas | 15 February 2010

Last week, President Obama angrily alleged that Republicans (though some of that bloc were conservative Democrats) were holding up confirmations on a bundle of his nominees to various posts, so he threated to make recess appointments if necessary. Within about a day he got his way and backed off, satisfied with the power of the threat.

Troop fatalities….what to say?

Sheila Liaugminas | 14 February 2010

Each and every member of the armed services who loses their life is mourned and grieved over and missed beyond words. But when their death is in battle or at the hands of enemy forces, there are at least words of condolence from the president, for whatever comfort that carries the bereaved loved ones. What about the ones who fall by their own hand? This is a very tough one…

Olympics open

Sheila Liaugminas | 13 February 2010

The 2010 Winter Olympics are now open. It was bittersweet, recognizing the tragic accident early in the day that took the life of an athlete in practice. Organizers incorporated that dose of solemn respect and reality throughout the program that though these are the highest level of goodwill games and competetion in international sport, the loss of a human life is more important than any game or sport. The Games nicely transcend geopolitics and international entanglements. An athlete's fatal accident transcends the Olympics. The ceremonies combined it all.

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