Yes, unfortunately, except for Senator Sherrod Brown (who is under GOP attack). Ohio is grasped tight in the GOP talons. They are just as bad locally as they are nationally.
What on earth is Trump saying? [Click] Max boot in the Washington Post. It seems I am not the only one who has noticed Trump's intelligibility; but this leaves out a lot of examples. Trump can't be relied upon to complete a coherent sentence. Not that that is unusual among politicians, but Trump carries it to an extreme.
Had a pleasant time with the rep from the power company today. He agreed they wouldn't use a dozer, a chipper, or chain saw in either of my gardens, not to use herbicide at all, and pretty much do as they wished otherwise. He also likes da boy who supervised the convo.
Ah, but you need to remember that “Son of Man” was a Messianic title. To call oneself the Son of Man was to call oneself the Messiah, and this would have been recognised as such at the time in the Jewish tradition. Besides, he is reported in John 10:30 to have said "I and the Father are one."
Mind you, that could be a claim of unity not sameness.
We have to remember that the Gospels were written many years after the death of Jesus, and that people of that era were not concerned with issues of plagiarism or historical reporting. They were passing on embellished stories intended to instruct, encourage and enlighten.
Can't remember because I didn't know it, listener. Thanks for the education. I recall that at least some, maybe all, of the miracles attributed to Jesus were pretty much the same as ones previously attributed to conventional deities, e.g. Apollo. Sort of "Hey, our guy can do it too!" And although perhaps outdated, the Gibbon's argument in Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire is still well worth reading IMO. The point Gibbon made that particularly stuck in my mind was that the common fundamental moral tenet of the classical world was that people should honor (i.e. follow) the way of their parents. "Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee." Which raises the question--Gibbon may well have discussed it, I don't remember--of how the ancients regarded the followers of Mithra. I should investigate that.
Gee--here's an interesting piece on Mitra & Jesus [Click] It sounds rather old and Protestant to me. But no, it is recent; the author is very much alive, but perhaps something of a crank. Fun reading, though!
"For those who oppose Trump’s policies, this has some advantages, since an effective president would be getting his way much more. If Trump is going into his meetings unprepared, lacking the bedrock of knowledge that is required to cut smart deals or balance competing interests, then his goals are unfulfilled, which is what his enemies would want. At the same time, Trump has come into office so unprepared for it that a lack of focus or depth carries as many troubles as benefits. Unstructured time seems to be incubating his biggest outbursts of rage, and those have mostly negative policy consequences. This week, he has been taunting Russia with promises to launch missiles at Syria. His sounding board on whether to indulge in such rhetoric is John Bolton, whose judgment on obnoxiousness is best compared to Caligula’s judgment on kink."
Got a letter today from the IRS wanting a bunch more money for 2016; most stressful. But I am convinced upon careful examination that it is nonsense. In the past when such things have happened they have worked out all right.
"“Mr. Trump has spent his career in the company of developers and celebrities, and also of grifters, cons, sharks, goons and crooks. He cuts corners, he lies, he cheats, he brags about it, and for the most part, he’s gotten away with it, protected by threats of litigation, hush money and his own bravado.”
You may recall that the president referred to this week’s FBI raid on his attorney’s office as “an attack on our country.” That prompted the Times to give Trump a lesson in what words actually mean:
“No, Mr. Trump — a true attack on America is what happened on, say, Sept. 11, 2001. Remember that one? Thousands of people lost their lives. Your response was to point out that the fall of the twin towers meant your building was now the tallest in downtown Manhattan. Of course, that also wasn’t true.”
Susan! This is for you:
ReplyDeleteOhio House speaker to resign amid FBI probe
[Click]
--Alan
Yes, unfortunately, except for Senator Sherrod Brown (who is under GOP attack). Ohio is grasped tight in the GOP talons. They are just as bad locally as they are nationally.
DeleteLately there seems to be a rash of current and former GOP office holders being indicted for various nasty things. May the trend continue!
DeleteThis morning's political "news" is simply wall-to-wall bad news for the GOP. Well, they earned it.
ReplyDeleteAlan
What on earth is Trump saying? [Click] Max boot in the Washington Post.
ReplyDeleteIt seems I am not the only one who has noticed Trump's intelligibility; but this leaves out a lot of examples. Trump can't be relied upon to complete a coherent sentence. Not that that is unusual among politicians, but Trump carries it to an extreme.
--Alan
Had a pleasant time with the rep from the power company today. He agreed they wouldn't use a dozer, a chipper, or chain saw in either of my gardens, not to use herbicide at all, and pretty much do as they wished otherwise. He also likes da boy who supervised the convo.
ReplyDeletePardon me, Cat, but I was under the impression that Jesus is not quoted in the Gospels as saying he was the Son of God, but rather the son of man.
ReplyDeleteNice catch, Alan. Chalk up the slip, if you'd be so kind, to irrational exuberance. *sheepish grin*
Ah, but you need to remember that “Son of Man” was a Messianic title. To call oneself the Son of Man was to call oneself the Messiah, and this would have been recognised as such at the time in the Jewish tradition. Besides, he is reported in John 10:30 to have said "I and the Father are one."
DeleteMind you, that could be a claim of unity not sameness.
We have to remember that the Gospels were written many years after the death of Jesus, and that people of that era were not concerned with issues of plagiarism or historical reporting. They were passing on embellished stories intended to instruct, encourage and enlighten.
Can't remember because I didn't know it, listener. Thanks for the education. I recall that at least some, maybe all, of the miracles attributed to Jesus were pretty much the same as ones previously attributed to conventional deities, e.g. Apollo. Sort of "Hey, our guy can do it too!" And although perhaps outdated, the Gibbon's argument in Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire is still well worth reading IMO. The point Gibbon made that particularly stuck in my mind was that the common fundamental moral tenet of the classical world was that people should honor (i.e. follow) the way of their parents. "Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee." Which raises the question--Gibbon may well have discussed it, I don't remember--of how the ancients regarded the followers of Mithra. I should investigate that.
Delete--Alan
Gee--here's an interesting piece on Mitra & Jesus [Click] It sounds rather old and Protestant to me. But no, it is recent; the author is very much alive, but perhaps something of a crank. Fun reading, though!
Delete--Alan
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/04/the-ineffective-executive-how-trumps-laziness-is-destroying-his-presidency
ReplyDelete"For those who oppose Trump’s policies, this has some advantages, since an effective president would be getting his way much more. If Trump is going into his meetings unprepared, lacking the bedrock of knowledge that is required to cut smart deals or balance competing interests, then his goals are unfulfilled, which is what his enemies would want. At the same time, Trump has come into office so unprepared for it that a lack of focus or depth carries as many troubles as benefits. Unstructured time seems to be incubating his biggest outbursts of rage, and those have mostly negative policy consequences. This week, he has been taunting Russia with promises to launch missiles at Syria. His sounding board on whether to indulge in such rhetoric is John Bolton, whose judgment on obnoxiousness is best compared to Caligula’s judgment on kink."
"...John Bolton, whose judgment on obnoxiousness is best compared to Caligula’s judgment on kink."
DeleteEyuuuuuu....
Alan
Got a letter today from the IRS wanting a bunch more money for 2016; most stressful. But I am convinced upon careful examination that it is nonsense. In the past when such things have happened they have worked out all right.
ReplyDeleteAlan
Rosenstein is Indispensible [Click]
ReplyDeleteCan Donald Trump fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller? [Click]
--Alan
https://www.progressiveliberal.net/new-york-times-puts-trump-on-notice-the-law-is-coming-for-you/?utm_source=PL&utm_medium=Content&utm_campaign=ANXShares
ReplyDelete"“Mr. Trump has spent his career in the company of developers and celebrities, and also of grifters, cons, sharks, goons and crooks. He cuts corners, he lies, he cheats, he brags about it, and for the most part, he’s gotten away with it, protected by threats of litigation, hush money and his own bravado.”
I like it, Susan! I had not known about this one:
ReplyDeleteYou may recall that the president referred to this week’s FBI raid on his attorney’s office as “an attack on our country.” That prompted the Times to give Trump a lesson in what words actually mean:
“No, Mr. Trump — a true attack on America is what happened on, say, Sept. 11, 2001. Remember that one? Thousands of people lost their lives. Your response was to point out that the fall of the twin towers meant your building was now the tallest in downtown Manhattan. Of course, that also wasn’t true.”
--Alan