Today Mayor Ray Nagin said that God sent Hurricanes Katrina and Rita because He’s mad at the US for our involvement in Iraq and at black people for perpetrating violence against one another.

“Surely God is mad at America. He sent us hurricane after hurricane after hurricane, and it’s destroyed and put stress on this country. Surely he doesn’t approve of us being in Iraq under false pretenses. But surely he is upset at black America also. We’re not taking care of ourselves. . . Why is black-on-black crime such an issue? Why do our young men hate each other so much that they look their brother in the face and they will take a gun and kill him in cold blood? We as a people need to fix ourselves first.

I think Pastor Jeff Box of Suburban Baptist Church in New Orleans has a sermon for Mayor Nagin:

“During the evacuation,” he said, “I was invited to preach in a church in a Mississippi town. Just before the service, the mayor said to me, ‘Katrina was the judgement of God on New Orleans. It was his judgement on a filthy city, on filthy people, who do filthy things.’ Then he said, ‘Furthermore, God sent Rita to rinse away what He had washed with Katrina.” Jeff said, “I thought to myself, ‘What an idiot.'”

That day, Jeff said, he preached on Luke 13:1-5 where Jesus mentions some well-known disasters and says, “Do you think those people were worse sinners than you for such a fate to befall them? I tell you, no, but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” He added, “I looked the mayor right in the eye and said, ‘Do you think this town in Mississippi (he named it but I won’t) is less wicked than New Orleans? God says, ‘No! Unless you repent, you will perish!'”

I got this story from the blog I mentioned a couple of posts ago, that of Joe McKeever, Director of Missions for the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans. Rev. McKeever is writing some good stuff, helping me to understand the situation in New Orleans a little better. In fact, I almost cried while reading about the first Sunday worship services of three NO Baptist churches this past Sunday.

Now if only some other folks would quit trying to decide what message God was sending to whom and get on with living their lives in repentance before God and helping others to do the same . . .

Ad Age names these Top Ten Ad Slogans of the Century. Can you name the product or company being advertised?

1. Diamonds are forever

2. Just do it

3. The pause that refreshes

4. Tastes great, less filling.

5. We try harder.

6. Good to the last drop.

7. Breakfast of champions

8. Does she … or doesn’t she? Only her hairdresser knows for sure.

9. When it rains it pours.

10. Where’s the beef?

So what “great” ad slogan did they leave out? There are some “honorable mentions” at the bottom of the list, but I find it interesting that there are no cigarette ad slogans. No “Tastes good like a cigarette should.” No “I’d walk a mile for a Camel.” And no “Be all that you can be!” Politically incorrect or just not good enough for the top ten?

I heard Hugh Hewitt going on (and on) about this yesterday, but I really didn’t believe it. With all the issues facing our country and the world, Senate Majority Leader Frist says that the Senate’s first priority when they return in January is . . . asbestos legislation, establishing a fund to compensate victims of asbestos exposure.

“Asbestos reform will be the first major piece of legislation that we consider in late January when we return,” Frist announced as the Senate began winding down its 2005 legislative session.

Specter, in a speech to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said more than 80 companies have declared bankruptcy because of asbestos-related lawsuits. “Of all of the items which could provide an economic stimulus to the U.S. economy, I think asbestos reform would be the most important,” he said. USA Today

What?? I’m sure that those who were exposed to asbestos about half a hundred years ago when it was still used commonly in buildings are very concerned about this bill. I’m sure the manufacturers and builders who would be protected from lawsuits by this bill are concerned. But The Most Important Economic Stimulus to the US Economy? The First Priority in January? What happened to Social Security reform? Or will an asbestos fund take all those baby boomer retirees off the Social Security rolls and make the system solvent again? Is the war in Iraq over, and is Iraq now a stable ally and a democracy? Is the US budget balanced–with a little left over to compensate asbestos victims? Did I fail to notice that Judge Alito has been confirmed to the Supreme Court? Are the borders secure? Are all the terrorists dead or captured? Are the economic effects of three hurricanes and several tornadoes all somehow tied to asbestos? Has some generous soul donated a few million (or is it billion) to the US government for the purpose of caring for those who are sick as a result of asbestos exposure?

In that case, sure, asbestos is definitely the top thing on my agenda, too.

Note to the French: After 1,000 cars are burned, you are allowed to shoot people. I mean, seriously. They’ve now doused and burned an old woman on crutches, burned a nursery school, youth center and businesses, burned ambulances and public buses….and they are all still walking the streets? Gosh, I am glad I live in America. Michael Spencer at BHT

There will (be) people out there who will say – nothing justifies the rioting and vandalisation that is taking place. Of course one could say that but I do not think it is particularly helpful or constructive as the rioting is happening and there are reasons why it is happening. What is taking place in France today has been brewing for the past 30 years. People and especially young people who are constantly and incessantly faced with racism and marginalistion in their daily lives whether on the streets of the US, Europe, Palestine, apartheid South Africa, or Bolivia will eventually take to the streets. The riots are the outcome of a culmination of experiences and incidents over a period of time, they are not simply happening in a vacuum of nothingness. France will have to face the reality of this otherwise it and Europe will sink into further violence as communities become even more polarised. –Sokari Ekine at Global Voices Online

For half a decade, French Arabs have been carrying on a low-level intifada against synagogues, kosher butchers, Jewish schools, etc. The concern of the political class has been to prevent the spread of these attacks to targets of more, ah, general interest. They seem to have lost that battle. Unlike America’s Europhiles, France’s Arab street correctly identified Chirac’s opposition to the Iraq war for what it was: a sign of weakness. –Mark Steyn

I spoke to Eldest Daughter, who is in Paris, on Thursday. She called me about a matter unrelated to riots, and I asked her, “What’s this we read about riots in Paris? Are you OK?”

“Riots? . . . (long pause)Oh, yeah, I saw something about that. I’m fine.”

That’s all I could get out of her. I’m glad she’s safe and seemingly oblivious to any problems. Please say a prayer for her safety anyway–and for a mother’s peace of mind.

Brett Harris from The Rebelution posts pictures and text about the devastation that still remains in southern Alabama because of Katrina. A good reminder.

OK! I have been withholding judgement on Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers and probably should continue to do so. Frankly, I think a lot of other bloggers should keep their opinions to themselves, too, because most of us don’t know enough about Harriet Miers or the Supreme Court to have an informed opinion. Nevertheless, this is the United States of America, the land where because we can speak freely, therefore we must inform everyone of what we think about any and everything. And following in that grand tradition, the blogosphere is place for opinions every kind. I feel the pressure! Everyone wants to knoiw what I think. Everyone else knows whether or not Ms. Miers should be confirmed. I KNOW, TOO!

Whew! I feel better now. Now I can step back two paces and ask a few questions. Does anyone have a cogent reason for thinking that Harriet Miers is intellectually inferior to the average Supreme Court justice? Maybe still waters run deep. If I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it a dozen times: she’s not qualified. The implication is that Harriet Miers is not fit to judge a beauty contest, much less be a judge in the highest court of this great nation. I want to know what’s so hard about deciding whether or not the Constitution applies to this or that case and how it applies. If she’s been a lawyer for thirty years and if she’s been the head of a large law firm and if she’s lawyered for the President of the United States, why can’t she, along with eight other justices, decide the cases that come before the Supreme Court? I also want to know why is she not qualified? What exactly would “qualified” look like? Don’t throw names at me; I’m sure there are lots of other people who are qualified. I want to know what makes them qualified. They’ve written great law review articles? They’ve written opinions with which you agree? I agree that kind of paper trail would make it easier to trace the ideas and abilities of a prospective judge, but the lack of articles and written opinions doesn’t prove that Harriet Miers doesn’t have any ideas or has the wrong ones. Maybe she’s a smart, conservative lady who keeps her nose to the grindstone and gets the job done and doesn’t write a lot of self-aggrandizing drivel.

But I still know without a doubt whether or not Harriet Miers should be confirmed. I’m just not telling.

We regret the people of Texas will once again have their taxpayer dollars wasted on Ronnie Earle’s pursuit of headlines and political paybacks. Ronnie Earle began this investigation in 2002, after the Democrat Party lost the Texas state legislature to Republicans. For three years and through numerous grand juries, Ronnie Earle has tried to manufacture charges against Republicans involved in winning those elections using arcane statutes never before utilized in a case in the state. This indictment is nothing more than prosecutorial retribution by a partisan Democrat.–Statement from Tom Delay’s office after his indictment by a Travis County (Austin) grand jury on charges of campaign finance violations.

Yes, Tom DeLay represents my district in the US House of Representatives, and I proudly voted for him. I doubt these charges will hold up in court, but I do wish he’d been a little more careful about crossing his t’s and dotting his i’s. We need all conservative voices at full strength these days, not weakened by the Democratic Earle virus. (How do you like the mixed metaphor? Yeah, I was rather fond of it myself–which probably means it should be excised immediately.)