Pope Says He Didn't Want the Job

Yesterday, the head of the Roman Catholic Church addressed disciples from Germany in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican and said that when the trend of the balloting during the recent election showed “in a manner of speaking, the guillotine would fall on me”, he started to feel dizzy at the thought. "I told the Lord with deep conviction, 'Don't do this to me. You have younger, better candidates with more elan and strength.'” Disingenuous as this admission was from a man who has known for five years he would be the next Pope and who actively sought the role, at least he didn't use Jesus' words, “Father, let this cup pass from me.” He also promised he would take steps to unite Christendom. Which must be one of those things mere mortals can't understand and that the RCC calls a “mystery”. Because Ratz has always claimed that churches that do not have “a valid Episcopate [bishops] and the genuine and integral substance of the Eucharistic mystery are not Churches in the proper sense." It's just one more instance of the RCC and the GOP being mirror images of each other. They both say to their flocks, “Listen to what I say, pay no attention to what I do.” Yesterday Pope Ratz sounded like George W. Bush when the Prez talks about freedom and peace in the Middle East. Ratz also seems to say, If you want to be saved, shut your eyes, turn off your brain and listen to me. And they both obliviously sail on, despite the negative consensus from the people. Speaking of that, this morning's WaPo/ABC News poll indicates that the majority of the 1007 people surveyed think the White House is doing a crappy job: By a 2 to 1 ratio, the public rejected easing Senate rules on filibuster. 64 percent disapproved of the job Bush is doing on Social Security. Nearly two in three said DeLay should step down. GWB's job approval rating is 47 percent. Two-thirds disapproved of the GOP energy policy. 58 percent said the United States has gotten bogged down in Iraq. Only 12 percent cited terrorism as the top issue. But Bush remains upbeat. Only those who are mentally impaired and dependent on mood-elevators can remain upbeat when the ship is sinking.