NewsMax: Network Snub: ...ABC anchorman Peter Jennings, for instance, begged off on making the trek - saying he was "feeling under the weather," according to the New York Post.

Then the NY Post: ...Although the pope's death is arguably the television news story of the year, network news divisions are treating it like just another funeral Mass.

ABC News anchorman Peter Jennings — the last of the Big Three still on the air — was feeling under the weather and stayed home.

It was announced Jennings has lung cancer. Get well Peter.

as Cornyn justifies Violence Against Judges.

How does anybody try to defend murderers of judges? I'm trying to find his Psychology degree. Oh wait..I see he has the Ronco degree. When you graduate, you get the Showtime Rotissere and BBQ oven for just three easy payments of 39.95. That Ron Popeil is one whacky guy.

from the Texas Observer 6/7/2002

I read a couple of weeks ago that John Cornyn had pledged to keep the issue of race out of his upcoming U.S. Senate campaign against African-American Democratic nominee Ron Kirk. That was a relief, because the John Cornyn I knew in high school was a big supporter of George Wallace and seemed oblivious to the dangers of Wallace’s racial demagoguery...read on

Here's an interesting snipet: ...the government has become increasingly dictatorial and oppressive while the state and local governments have become more weak,"

Having server problems so read the article, and let me know what you think while the techies fix it...

The tech guys are on it.

or Why I Hate Bill O’Reilly with a Fiery Passion that Burns Brighter than 10,000 Suns.

I've never heard a more vile opening to any show period. He keeps topping himself, or should I say lowering himself.

Download | play -wmp

Download | play -QT

Here's the transcript. Read it until the video works.

What kind of man would use the Pope's death as a "talking point memo" for his anti-abortion opinions? People sometimes ask me to ignore these vermin, but I have to do what I can to help expose this slim. That's my role. There is no honor among these people. Nothing is sacred or off limits to them. Michelle Malkin was offended that CBS aired the NCAA basketball games on the day of the Pope's death. How about if somebody put fake words into his mouth? Do I seem angry?The Terri Schiavo spectacle for the most part was I believe a case for anti-abortion activists and judiciary attack poodles. (There were obviously some genuine people involved.) I post. You watch. Then you decide.

oreilly@foxnews.com FOX News Channel via Media Matters
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via Kos: It's not just the FEC bloggers need to worry about. Local governments will likely try to get into the act, as this ridiculous San Francisco effort proves....read on

Steve Gilliard points out: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances

So why, exactly, is some second rate pol in SF trying to abridge the constitution? What exactly is the goal here? Are they trying to force people who occasionally comment on politics to have to register? So when do the newspapers register and have their sales audited.

In a preview of the concise, expert, and thoughtful commentary Tucker Carlson will bring to MSNBC. Tucker had this to say about the Pope.

Carlson: ...You're huge. You're bigger than Bono.

Download | play -WMP

Download | play -QT

There you go. Scintillating! He boils down the Pope's worldwide popularity into the simplest of all terms: A Rock Star. Maybe this Pope really is more popular than the Beatles!

via AmericaBlog:

SENATOR JOHN CORNYN: "I don't know if there is a cause-and-effect connection but we have seen some recent episodes of courthouse violence in this country. Certainly nothing new, but we seem to have run through a spate of courthouse violence recently that's been on the news and I wonder whether there may be some connection between the perception in some quarters on some occasions where judges are making political decisions yet are unaccountable to the public, that it builds up and builds up and builds up to the point where some people engage in - engage in violence.

These guys are "way, way, way" beyond the crossing point. Are they so worried about Tom Delay that it's now open season on judges to cover his tracks? I'm waiting for the "JudgeWatchBlog" to start; manned by Hal Turner. Vegas odds on what judge is going to get it, and how activist they are. Probably along the lines of David Horowitz's Front Page rag. At this point it doesn't matter what party or religion, and who made the appointment. I'm sure the.." I was taken out of context" statement will soon be issued. I'm not holding my breath.

More from Talking Points Memo:

So the recent murders of judges and their families are blow-back from widespread judicial activism?

Suddenly the folks in robes are like the girl who dresses too provocatively to the fraternity dance.

And who knew Cornyn and crew wanted to embrace Brian Nichols, the accused rapist who murdered Fulton County Superior Court Judge Rowland Barnes and three others last month, as one of their own?

Congressman Conyers rips Senator Cornyn for justifying violence against judges.

(Update) Digby joins in.

Mathew Yglesias joins in.

AmericaBlog has more. It's getting uglier and uglier.

Update-The Left Coaster and Daily Kos and Eschaton and Oliver Willis and Ezra Klein and Talk Left

When I was twelve, I made my Confirmation. I'm not going into the whole process, but part of it was that I had to first make my Confession. About thirty of us were all sitting in the pews waiting to be called on. "Don’t get Father Lyons," whispered Jimmy DeSalvo said. "Don't get Father Lyons." Why?" I asked. "He's giving everyone a lot of prayers," said Jimmy.

The usual punishment was about ten "Our Fathers" and ten "Hail Mary’s." There were three other priests taking confessions. I prayed "Oh please God, please don't let me get Father Lyons. I swear I'll never miss Mass again."

Of course I got Father Lyons.

Now I was a good kid, my mother always said that I really didn't give her much trouble, so I sat down, scared, knowing that I had Father Lyons. He slid the little wooden panel open so I could barely make out his visage. I said "Bless me father for I have sinned" He asked me what my sins were. I couldn't really think of any because I really was a good kid, so I made up a few small things. Nothing too bad. I knew that I had to confess something right?

Father Lyon's gave me a hundred Hail Mary's and a hundred Our Fathers.

I sat down at the pew, knees against the wood and started "Our father, who art in heaven..." As I kept up the prayers, I heard the other kids laughing at me as they left. He's still praying, he's still praying? What did he do?

I felt their eyes burn into my back and the humiliation was unbearable. I got to thirty and said I'm sorry father, but I can't do this anymore. I made the sign of the cross like I was finished and ran out of there. I looked up at the sky all the way home and was ready to dodge the lightening bolts that were headed my way. I made it home still intact. I breathed a sigh of relief. From then on, I never got Father Lyons again.

via Body and Soul

I had planned yesterday to write more about the papacy of John Paul II, but unfortunately whenever I think I should write about something, it's almost a guarantee that I won't be able to. I become paralyzed under the weight of all I want to say. That's especially true when I'm dealing with something as paradoxical, and as personally inspiring and distressing, as the the Catholic Church...read on

Jeanne has a great piece on the dichotomy she feels about the Church.