Video Meliora, proboque; Deteriora sequor

We are blessed in the 21st century with crystal-clear photographs and action films of the living realities within their pregnant mothers. No one with the slightest measure of integrity or honor could fail to know what these marvelous beings manifestly, clearly, and obviously are, as they smile and wave into the world outside the womb. In simplest terms, they are human beings with an inalienable right to live, a right that the Speaker of the House of Representatives is bound to defend at all costs for the most basic of ethical reasons. They are not parts of their mothers, and what they are depends not at all upon the opinions of theologians of any faith. Anyone who dares to defend that they may be legitimately killed because another human being “chooses” to do so or for any other equally ridiculous reason should not be providing leadership in a civilized democracy worthy of the name. - Cardinal Egan of NY responding to Nancy Pelosi's comment about abortion on Meet the Press

Our Church is no longer a place where telling a few 'Pat and Mike' jokes and stories about Notre Dame football or Georgetown basketball can take the place of basic Catholic beliefs. - Deal Hudson, on the end of strictly cultural Catholicism

The question, "When does ensoulment occur?" is interesting, philosophically and historically. But…you can go off and put together the historically most complete and philosophically most unassailable answer you like, but when you bring it to them you'll find they were just messing with you. They will tell you, as Nancy Pelosi herself said immediately after burning herself on the flame of St. Augustine, "The point is, is that it shouldn't have an impact on the woman's right to choose." - Tom of Disputations

<- Speaker Pelosi's new book as imagined by Curt Jester

There is a treatise to be written on the transient brevity similar to protesters' signs and e-mail spam. This hypothetical document could cite Alisdair MacIntyre's remarks on protest and emotivism. What do these people praising peace, anarchy, or Fox News hope to accomplish besides appearing in a digital photo to be forgotten with haste? - Kevin Jones of Philokalia, at the Democratic party convention

90% of everything is crap. But we're alive now, and so let's have more crap, please, because telling people to stop is just arrogance. I even enjoy the stuff which I myself feel is rather of a lower quality, the way Enbrethiliel mentions liking Nancy Drew. Nothing wrong with it. Or with Enid Blyton, the most prolific author of childhood books that I ever
encountered. - Commenter on "Sancta Sanctis"

One thing I’ve noticed about this [Democratic] convention — it’s impossible not to — is that America is portrayed as a deeply suffering place. It’s a Grapes of Wrath nation, plagued with injustice, want, and desperation. We are one big lousy dust bowl. Needless to say, economic problems have not been eliminated in America (along with other problems). Man still lives here. But this is a very prosperous, comfortable nation — one of the envies of the world (which is why so many seek to come here). Complacency is inadvisable; we should always strive to do better. But a little perspective, please. By the way, you know the story about the man from Calcutta, decades ago, whose greatest desire was to visit America? “Why?” asked his friends. “Because I want to see a place where poor people are fat.” Does that sound cold to you? It wouldn’t to many Third Worlders, I can tell you. - Jay Nordlinger on NRO

He's a career Congressman, which is akin to saying he's accepted early retirement on the backs of the American Taxpayer. - My bro-in-law, reacting to Sen. Biden as VP pick

He knew the hypnotic fascination of family trees. Genealogy 'has a curious, personal interest, which history lacks.' - from a Henry Adams biography

A picture is worth a thousand assumptions. - Zippy of "Zippy Catholic", on the inexplicable resignation of a college president simply for drinking with reportedly of age students

Whenever you have an efficient government you have a dictatorship. - Harry Truman

The Republicans now have a completely lawyer-free ticket... all the Democratic candidates for President and Vice President since 1984 have been lawyers (or, in the case of Al Gore, whose only real career has been in politics, a former law student). On the Republican side, the only lawyers in that period have been Dan Quayle and Bob Dole. Not only Senators Obama and Biden, but Senators Clinton and Edwards–all lawyers. What does that tell us? - Henry of "A Plumbline in the Wind"