Read Part 1 of Marielena's article here.

I don't know why, but when I read this headline, I thought of Advocatus Militaris and imagined that he would have an insightful editorial comment.

No... not that one.

I don't see U.S. first lady as a fashion star, or for that matter, do I think she has much positive public presence. She seems irritated and angry most of the time.

On the other hand, I've sort of developed a bit of a mini-crush on Russian first lady Svetlana Medvedeva. She's married, I know, but there's a lot to admire in this woman *ahem* lady. She's pro-life, pro-family, anti-abortion, pretty, and publicly religious -- promoting the roles of tradition and culture. In a few paragraphs of a recent news article, you get the snapshot:

Week Against Abortions

In addition to promoting strong families in the Russian tradition, Medvedeva said, today’s holiday is intended to teach young people about the importance of marriage and children and to oppose abortion. Indeed, when asked about the specific measures this holiday involved, she pointed to plans for a “Week against Abortions” beginning tomorrow.

Traditional Family

Many people, the Russian first lady said, now talk about “the collapse of the traditional family” as some kind of “natural” trend. But she argued that one should oppose that trend with all the resources available. On the one hand, she said, when women enjoy equal rights, “the importance of the family is only growing.”

State Power Cannot Force People to Change -- Fight the Negative Forces

And on the other, “even if it is not so simple to stop negative tendencies, this does not mean that one should do nothing,” a task that requires the combined efforts of state and church because “the efforts of the state alone are insufficient. No one can force people to change if they themselves do not want to.

Undoing Marxist Communism By Reinvigorating Tradition

In order to achieve that end, Medvedeva said, the role of Russian traditions is critical. Many of the country’s current problems are the result of “the break with traditions which took place in the last century. And what is a tradition? This is the living experience of previous generations, our parents, grandparents and great grandparents.”

And about that Socialism thing... here's a different spin:

and don't miss Cow Invasion Petrifies Russian Town: Roving Bovines Prove Udderly Unruly

Real Clear Politics has a video posted of Obama on the Today Show being asked about placing a sur-tax on the rich to pay for universal socialized health care. The clip has a revealing exchange:

Folks need to get their facts straight. The blogs are what do everything bad. FUMARE, in particular, has single-handedly destroyed whole institutions.

FUMARE didn't like Fr. Fessio, and we put the administrative hit on him. Monaghan, in his pesky pride, is just trying to take credit for it by craftily blaming the University Chairman.

You've heard it before, nothing bad happens without being caused by FUMARE. This time, it was the AMU board that claims to have gotten rid of Fessio. Last time, Monaghan did it himself. It doesn't matter to FUMARE who did the dirty work, as long as the contracts get done.

American Papist got it wrong (and they should know better because it is part of the destructive force of bloging). AveWatch got it wrong, too -- and we all know that AveWatch is the secret base camp of academic terrorism.

Well, FUMARE is tired of all the PR that shifts blame onto meaningless factors like Monaghan or Boards, or management, and is taking it on the chin for the team! We are team players!!!

Even two years ago, the seeds of this great lie were planted, when Whispers in the Loggia reported that a meeting between Fessio and Monaghan resulted in Fessio being fired.

There's no telling how much money AMU had to pay Fessio to blame them instead of FUMARE, but it's surely part of the settlement between them.

All these crooked blogs are craftily shifting blame onto Monaghan, when in fact, FUMARE FIRED him. U.S. News and World Reports realizes it. That's why the law school has such a low rank. Somebody needs to clue Brian Leiter in, though.

Cause: Criticism of AMU administration (and other unspecified things). No word on whether office was FedEx'd overnight to San Francisco.

UPDATE: The text of Fr. Fessio's email explaining the situation may be found at AveWatch here.

Mr. Richard Armittage, successful entrepreneur, businessman, and frequent Monaghan defender sat down with Fumare to give his candid assessment of the recent events concerning the faculty lawsuit and goings on in Ave Maria Florida.

This post is really about my laziness. There has been a partial settlement in the lawsuit. A commentor to my previous post links to the NDN article and avewatch has more. Much more. http://www.avewatch.com/ or something.

Also, a fumare poll that I am too lazy to create, let alone imbed:

There are three types of people:

1) Those who initiate purges.
2) Those who survive purges.
3) Those who get purged.

T$M and Joseph Stalin are examples of the first type. Jim Sonne and some jagoff Russki whose name I can't be bothered up to look are examples of the second type.

Query: Of which type is Mr.Dobranski an example (and don't say "three")?

As was reading through the Encyclical I was struck by the echoes of the work of Dr. David L. Schindler in the text.

At first reading it may not seem to be all that critical of an insight that the pope is making, but on further reflection, the pope is making a significant step in the development of the social doctrine.

In case you missed Elvisfest in Southeast Michigan this year, you won't find him in Florida. If you didn't know, Elvis is still alive:


watch the five part series on the truth about Elvis's staged death here:


some people say the following is authoritative evidence of the whole question:

and again at Graceland

He rides Line 15 in Poland everyday.

If you don't believe that, then you need to know that ELVIS was an occult practitioner:
(Elvis recognized the devil's part in his success; Elvis was under the influence of occult spirits. Previous bodyguard reveals that Elvis bragged of occultic power and Elvis stated himself to be a prophet. Elvis was not Christian. Elvis )

I assume you're all reading Avewatch. Good stuff recently. The note about Rice is classic. Can't wait for more Post-Its to become public. That's gold, Jerry, gold!

I've been busy with work and not-work, and one assumes Big T is otherwise engaged, but please tell your family and friends to keep up with all doings Ave. We especially invite informed comments to keep us up to date. And speaking of being up to date, I just received confirmation that the availability of the Vineyards campus on Day One-F(la) is a long-shot. It's just so far from being ready as of, well, today. So that will be a fun story to follow. Is there a Cleary across the street in which they can hold classes for the first month or so? (Answer: No.) Minimal parking, too. We all see the humor in that, right?

Let's see, what else? Sonne seems to be working for a firm in Cali. The class schedule hasn't been made public yet (one wonders if it has even been finalized), but he may be a total no-show in FLA. He only showed up in AA last year when the ABA was visiting. To teach a class on employment ethics. You can't make this stuff up. And he was caught in a three-way make-out session with T$M and the Dean in the downstairs hallway. (You can make that up. I just did!!1!) Sonne seems to have had all his bases covered. One wonders if he had inside info re the very real possibility that the school would have closed had ABA approval for the move not been granted.

Big news in the lawsuit, which I can't tell you. But it goes on.

There is a Monaghan Museum at the AMT piazza (sp?) (get it?), as one of our commenters mentioned. Lots of tiger sculptures. Well, two, as memory serves. Same number as stuffed turkeys at Chez L's. And L would be interested to know that there is a nearby casino in the slums of Immokalee. And Publix is a really good grocery. I heard T$M and Barron Collier are covering their losses for the first few years. Condoms are available behind the counter, but one has to request them. I actually consider this a win. They compromised to us, for a change. The Oratory isn't horrible. The sanctuary is unfinished. How they choose to complete it will determine whether it's lame or rather neat. (Has anyone seen the previews for that creepy little kid movie? Is that Thorncrown she firestarters?) The outside of the Oratory is weird, though. I hope they finish the outbuilding-type buildings in stone.

Okay, a little more. AMT is huge, but not at all built up. Which makes the small developments seem smaller and isolated. And I saved a turtle there. Does that make me an American hero? Well, "hero" is your word, but yes. And thank you.

It has finally arrived.

I was dumbfounded for a way to reconcile Monaghan's and Dobranski's statements of the law school being independent of the Catholic Church with the now claimed unity required to obtain the clerical ministerial indulgences of civil law.

You've seen my posts -- there is no reconcilliation if we understand them to mean the Catholic Church, that is, the one with the successor of Peter. No, that doesn't make sense, but that's when it hit me, Ad maijorem Monaghani gloriam!

They don't mean that Catholic Church!!!!! They mean the version Tom and Bernie created that reconciles utility under the pro life cover. The Church of Tom which is more CATHOLIC than any other Catholic place... In my opinion, it all makes sense. It was at that point that an angel came and delivered a prayer card with these words:

+TNB+
(AMMG!)

The Founder's Creed

I believe in Tom, the Founder Almighty, creator of the schools and the town,
and of all party lines, written or unwritten.

I believe in one brand, Ave Maria, the only begotten brand of Tom. begotten of Tom before all other so-called catholic places. Orthodox of orthodoxy, conservative of conservatives, very brand of catholic brands, of one substance with the Founder, by Whom all we say is determined.

Who, for us peons and our salvation, came down from his Lions sky box and was incardinated in Southeast Michigan, and was made in glossy print; and was crucified for us by the liberal press and the other people who aren't true believers, like the terrorists and democrats; He recapitulated, saw a profit in Florida, removed his area impact study in order to be denied planning; in the third year He rose the plans again in Florida, according to the agenda he set in 2001; he ascended into Naples and sits sits at the right hand of Patron Collier but in the town of Marco; He will come again and again with PR and attorneys to judge the peons, the terrorists, and the naysayers.

And I believe in his PR Machine, the word and destroyer of adverse facts; who proceeds from the Founder and the Brand; who with the Founder and the Brand is to be blindly adhered; and is spoken by the now favored ones.

And I believe in one, unified, universal, and violently defended party line. I acknowledge one chance to be on the Founder's good side; and I look for a mortgage free property in the town, as well as a chance to vote. Amen.

On the back side is an unrecognized picture (sorry, I don't have a camera or scanner), with little children saluting an image of Tom in the sky over the oratory, and this pledge:

I pledge allegiance to the Founder
and the great town and schools he founded
and to his whims
for which we act
one religion
under Tom
with one will and PR message for all.

Here.

It looks like Kmiec has gotten his reward for his support of President Obama.

Just in case anyone thought the West debate was over, I wanted to point out Dr. Schindler's analysis of his student West:

It is important to understand, however, that good will is not synonymous with sound thought; and I must say, not without reluctance, that West’s work seems to me to misrepresent in significant ways the thought of John Paul II.

click here to see full article.

BUT WAIT! There's more! Idiot lawyer Chris Ferrara, who has some precision but no accuracy, lucked into a grouping pretty close to the mark in his latest attempt to fire some rounds-- published in today's Remnant click here

Typical of his style, he front-loads his bias in conclusive transitions (and over uses the magical word "clearly") but this quote is worth mention:

I rather doubt that theological truths of momentous importance for the Church and the world were left unspoken for nearly 2,000 years, only to emerge suddenly in “John Paul’s thought” by way of little-known addresses so “dense” they need to be “translated” by “secondary literature.” Yet the lay “translators” of TOB preposterously “interpret” a series of opaque commentaries as nothing less than the hope of the world in our time, the implication being—and this is classic neo-Catholicism—that the Church’s teaching on marriage and procreation before Vatican II was all pretty much worthless.

Schindler's crtique is worth the read. Ferrara makes a good point in criticizing the "holy sex" exhuberance.

So let's see if the West fans and TOB Luddites can overcome their prediliction to write off crticism as warrantless because it comes from traditionalists (an inherent fallacy of ad hominem) and properly respond to Schindler (Smith's attempt was laughably flat) or Ferrara (who is a trad, but lucked into some ok points). I don't think they can do it. They rely on emoting, while what I'm asking for takes reason.