PRESIDENT OBAMA SPEAKING IN NEW JERSEY AFTER INSPECTING HURRICANE DAMAGE............

President Obama is speaking having been preceded by Governor Christie in New Jersey after almost three hours of inspecting from the air and on the ground the results of Hurricane Sandy on communities in the Garden State.  Acknowledging with gratitude the role being played not only by Federal, State, and Local, public officials - but the first responders and neighbors who have pulled together in addressing the crisis, the President vowed his first priority is seeing that electrical power is restored to the millions of people still without it.  The President also urged the citizens needing assistance in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy to call or contact the Red Cross or FEMA, to register as soon as possible, to expedite the support they need............tdp

ELECTORAL COLLEGE TRACKING AND PROJECTIONS PART TWO............

In addition to the Real Clear Politics, RCP; and 538 Blog, General Election Day tracking and projections in the Presidential race between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney I blogged about yesterday, today I share findings to the moment by two other sources providing such information and insights as to the current and anticipated Popular Vote and Electoral College Vote in next Tuesday's Election.  Politico.com and NBCNews.com are the two online media resources I am blogging about in this column.  The Politico.com online blog has the Electoral College Vote standing today at Leaning or Likely States for President Obama at 237 Electoral Votes;  Leaning or Likely States for Governor Romney at 191 Electoral Votes; and 9 Swing States with 110 Electoral Votes;.
When the 9 Swing States are pushed to where Politico analyzes they will go, the projected Electoral College Vote on General Election result is shown as Obama 281 Electoral Votes; Romney 237 Electoral Votes;.  The NBCNews.com coordinated by Chuck Todd, NBC News Political Director and Chief White House Correspondent finds the Electoral College at Obama 227 Electoral Votes; Romney 197 Electoral Votes;  8 Swing States 114 Electoral Votes;............tdp

THE ADVERSITY OF HURRICANE SANDY RESHAPES THE FINAL WEEK OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN 2012............

The devastation and destruction caused by the intensity of Monday night's Hurricane Sandy on the Mid-Atlantic and NorthEastern States in the USA has effectively stopped the Presidential campaign between Mitt Romney and Barack Obama as we knew it, and reshaped the manner in which both nominees are able to complete the final days of what is a very tight race in the face of the highly substantial adversity being faced by tens of millions of Americans as a result of this natural disaster.  News reports this morning are that President Obama will be touring the damage caused the supoer storm with Governor Chris Christie in New Jersey, carrying out his role as the President, and that Governor Romney will be resuming his Presidential campaign to some degree, while dealing with the sensitivity and changed dynamic the emergency has created, especially given his previous Republican Primary Debate response to the best way of handling disaster relief, in which he stated preference to leave such efforts to the States not the Federal Government, and when possible to turn it over to the private sector.   The latest CBS News- New York Times-Quinnipiac University Poll out this morning of swing States Ohio, Virginia, and Florida, show President Obama leading Governor Romney - in Ohio, by five percent :  50%; to 45%;  in Virginia by two percent, 49%; to 47%; and in Florida by one percent, 48%; to 47%;.  This Poll was taken October 23-28, before the onset of Hurricane Sandy............Fr.  Troy

WHERE THE ALL IMPORTANT ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTE STANDS ONE WEEK UNTIL GENERAL ELECTION DAY 2012............

With the National and Swing State Polls in the 2012 Presidential Campaign in a close to tied position, and just 7 Days and counting until the General Election, what the outcome of the Popular Vote as well as the Electoral Vote is shaping up to be on November 6th, is becoming a very, if not most pertinent questions.  The Real Clear Politics, RCP online comprehensive Presidential Election analysis and projections, show in regards to a Poll of Polls averaging of the National polling in recent days, the race as to the Popular Vote total today is less than one percent apart.  Romney leads with 47.9%; to Obama with 47.1%; based on eight major national polls taken the past 8 days.  RCP'S reports the Electoral College Vote based on the States Solidly for either Obama or Romney is Obama 201 Electoral Votes; Romney 191 Electoral Votes; with 146 Toss Up Electoral Votes; remaining.  When the Likely and Leaning States are distributed by RCP to the nominee who isexpected will win them the projected Electoral College Vote they find to be Obama 290 Electoral Votes; Romney 248 Electoral Vote; with 270 the victorious number required to win the Presidency.  The 538 Blog, Nate Silver Political Calculus in the New York Times, today is reporting the Popular Vote projection as Obama 50.3%; Romney 48..8%; and the Electoral College Vote projection at Obama 294.6 Electoral Votes; Romney 243.4 Electoral Votes; .  Nate Silver has a third daily  projection in his 538 Blog survey, the Chance of Winning the Election.  Today he reports that to be Obama with a 72.9% Chance of Winning; Romney with a 27.1% Chance of Winning; the Presidential Election next Tuesday.  These are two of a number of tracking models utilized to analyze the current and projected state of the General Election.  I will share the findings from others in the next few days as I continue to Update Election 2012, and the Voting for President of the United States, seven days from today, November 6th............tdp

SIXTEEN DEATHS IN SEVEN STATES REPORTED DUE TO HURRICANE SANDY............

Hurricane Sandy, which is being called the most powerful natural disaster ever by meteorologists, is now downgraded to being a tropical storm cyclone, has exacted massive destruction in fifteen Mid-Atlantic and NorthEastern States of the USA, including a reported 16 Deaths of persons in 7 States.    Wind gusts exceeding eighty miles an hour struck much of the eastern seaboard, including New York City and Atlantic City, New Jersey; with water flooding to twelve feet high in many places and fires burning throughout the affected areas.  It is leaving more than 7 million people without electricity, with the likelihood their power will be out for three to ten days before restoration.  Extensive evacuations of residents occurred in the days prior to the landfall, and patients, including the most critical, and  neo-natal, i.c.u. infants and children. had to be removed from two hospitals in New York City, after back-up generators failed; taking ten hours plus to accomplish, with 115,000 persons evacuated in New Jersey alone and an estimated 14,000 flights in the United States cancelled as a result of the tragedy.  Since sunrise this morning rescue of the stranded in the wake of super storm Sandy and initial clean-up efforts have begun.  While the voluminous rains and freezing cold caused by the Hurricane / Cyclone, with a continuing array of rain, sleek and snow, has brought inordinately large snowfalls to 7 States from North Carolina and Virginia, to Ohio and Pennsylvania.  With the 2012 General Election, just seven days from today, to what degree voting will be impacted by this "Storm of the Century"............Fr.  Troy    

THE SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS SWEEP TO VICTORY WINNING THE WORLD SERIES............

Congratulations to the City by the Bay Baseballers, the National League West San Francisco Giants, on their four game sweep of the Detroit Tigers and victory as the Champions of World Series 2012; their second triumph in Major League Baseball's Fall Classic in two years, (2010) and their seventh World Series championship in the team's fifty four year history in the Bay Area of Northern California.  Kudos to Manager Brian Sabean, and to Team, for the heart and determination with which they played, especially in the post season, coming back from three days down against the St. Louis Cardinals to win the West; and winning four in a row from the outset against the Detroit Tigers, to become this year's World Series Champions.  A supersized orange and black shout out, to Marco Scutaro, for his fourth game, tenth inning, Series winning single.  To Pablo Sandoval, the Kung Fu Panda, the World Series' Most Valuable Player, who was 8 for 16, including 3 homeruns in Game 1.  To pitchers Matt Cain, and Sergio Romo, and all their teammates, for their splendid playing and surging spirit, that proudly brings back to San Francisco, the highest accolade and accomplishment in the sport of Baseball, The World Series Championship, yet again............tdp

THIS YEAR'S OCTOBER SURPRISE IS HURRICANE SANDY INTERSECTING WITH THE WEEK BEFORE THE GENERAL ELECTION...............

American Presidential Elections have been impacted for the past half century by what has become known as the, October Surprise.  This year the October Surprise is not overtly political, but weather oriented, in the form of Hurricane Sandy, which threatens to substantially change and affect the closing week of the General Election Presidential campaigns of Governor Romney and President Obama, in an election already becoming too close to call.  The ferocity of what is shaping up as a surging storm, Hurricane Sandy which is expected to hit high tide tonight, is impacting 8 Mid Atlantic and NorthEastern States, many of them in the 7-11 Swing States remaining as the determiners of the outcome in the Presidential Election.  President Obama has postponed personal campaigning to concentrate on preparations and oversight of Hurricane Sandy, as his re-election campaign adjusts to the potential fall-out from the urging storm.  Governor Romney has shifted his campaign schedule away from the swing States in Hurricane Sandy's path and into Ohio and the MidWest, as the electoral response on the part of residents due to the damage, power outages, and other frustrations take hold.  I am monitoring and will blog about this and developments as circumstances unfold in coming days.  For now we pray and stand in solidarity with our 50 million fellow citizens who are in the midst of this most unwelcome October Surprise interpersonally and inplicitly............Fr.  Troy

A WISCONSIN CATHOLIC BISHOP DECLARES DEMOCRATS SUPPORT INTRINSIC EVIL............

In a letter sent to Catholics in the Diocese of Green Bay Wisconsin Bishop David Ricken has declared to the Faithful that they risk eternal damnation if they vote for the Democratic Party in the Presidential General Election on November 6th.  Calling support for Abortion, Euthanasia, Stem Cell Research, Human Cloning, and Homosexual Marriage, "intrinsically evil", in his letter dated October 24th, Bishop Ricken warned Green Bay Catholics that voting for such a political party or candidate may threaten their eternal salvation.  Bishop Ricken specifically wrote in the letter, "Some candidates and one party have even chosen some of these as their party's or their personal platform.  To vote for someone in favor of these positions means you could be morally "complicit" with these choices which are intrinsically evil.  This could put your own soul in jeopardy".  Use of the words, "one party", clearly suggests Bishop Ricken is referring to the Democratic Party.  However, there is no inclusion in Bishop Ricken's letter to the failure of the Republican Party's adoption of the Ryan Budget and its adverse affect  on American society and is in opposition to Social Teaching of the Catholic Church, and which the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has criticized as contrary to Gospel Values.  Neither does it reflect any criticism of a Presidential nominee whose position on Abortion has shifted multiple times, including during this 2012 election campaign.   Bishop Ricken is the second American Catholic Bishop in two months to issue a similar statement.  Bishop Thomas John Paprocki, of the Diocese of Springfield Illinois in September, claimed Democrats are in favor of, "intrinsic evils", and that supporters of the Democratic Party put their eternal salvation in jeopardy............tdp

PRIESTHOOD SUNDAY - VOCATIONS APPRECIATION DAY OF PRAYER CELEBRATION AND DIALOGUE WITH OUR PRIESTS............

Thanks to Serra Club International and Vocations Offices in Dioceses throughout the United States, today parishes in these twenty counties and nationwide, are observing Priesthood Sunday.  Catholic parishioners are affirming the roles and responsibilities of the priests who minister to them, as Servant-Leaders in their Faith Communities, by praying for and with their priests; celebrating their dedication to ordained ministry; and engaging in dialogue for the common good  of sharing together in parish life; in building up the Community of Believers and the coming of God's Kingdom.  In this 25th Anniversary Year of my commitment to being ordained a Priest of Jesus Christ for ministry to the People of God in the Servant-Leadership of parishes in the Catholic Diocese of Sacramento, I am not residing or present in a parish on this Priesthood Sunday, but prematurely sitting on the sidelines in a retirement facility and assisted care center, when I need neither offering, nor do my physical health limitations prevent me from ministering and otherwise functioning in parish life.  I will miss the interaction denoted by this annual observance, relegated to settling for the relatively small representative number of former parishioners, friends, and fellow believers, who will take the time to mark the day with me.  What Priesthood Sunday represents is a major part of why I chose to answer God's Call to become a diocesan priest and pass on the alternative path of some combination of a professional life in politics, government, public service, teaching, and communications.  Here I sit on Priesthood Sunday in a holding pattern due to a misunderstood and unenlightened view of a perceived incapability, when it is truly a physical disability that is no longer considered a disqualification in the United States and the Western World.  Were I a political leader, governmental worker, public servant, teacher, or communications professional, and it was a day affirming any of those professions, I would not be sitting on the sidelines left out, but fully participating in the day's activities.  The discrepancy is very apparent not only to me but an increasing number of others who know me and have experienced my presence and participation in parish life as a priest and wonder why I am not currently being permitted to proceed in carrying out priestly, pastoral, ministry ?  On this Priesthood Sunday 2012, I extended to the parishioners I have been privileged to serve the past twenty five years, in Holy Family Parish, Citrus Heights; St. Johm the Baptist Parish, Folsom; Holy Rosary Parish, Woodland; St. Joseph's Parish, Yreka; St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Oroville; St. Rose's Parish, South Sacramento; Presentation Parish, Arden; St. Philomene's Parish, Arden-Arcade; Sacred Heart Parish, East Sacramento; Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Del Paso Heights/ Rio Linda/ Elverta/ Robla; my prayers, appreciation, and assurance the dialogue and discernment in Living Faith, we have shared, are treasures I continue to value and remember with gratitude.  Thank you for being the Prople of God in my life as a priest the past quarter of a century.  I continue to be with you in spirit.  And as I continue to eagerly anticipate the soonest possible return to fulltime ministry in parish life, it is also my fervent prayer that the affirmation the Church continues to provide not become an obstacle course, but an ongoing breakdown of the barriers and limitations placed on Catholic-Christians with disabilities with wholistic empowerment and inclusion that is pro-active not deactivating............Fr.  Troy

CARA's LAST PEEK AT THE LIKELY CATHOLIC VOTE IN THE N THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION............

The Center for the Applied Research of the Apostolate, (CARA) 1964 Blog, has published what they call a peek at the final outcome of Catholic Votes in the 2012 Presidential Election between Barack Obama, and Mitt Romney, declaring it Too Close To Call.  The findings of the 1964 Blog's Most Recent Survey, an aggregate of the Gallup, Pew, Politico/George Washington University, and TIPP, Polls shows President Obama with a four point lead over Governor Romney among Registered Catholic Voters, Obama 50%; Romney 46%; - but Governor Romney leading President Obama by one percent, Romney 46%; Obama 45%; among Likely Catholic Voters.  The final tally of Catholic Voters with ten days to General Election Day with 9% of Catholic Voters UnDecided may well go either way, thus the 1964 Blog's declaration the outcome of which candidate receives the most Catholic support is Too Close To Call............Fr.  Troy

SYNOD OF BISHOPS ON THE NEW EVANGELIZATION RELEASES COMPLETED MESSAGE............

The current three week World Synod of Bishops in Rome which concludes this Sunday, today released the text of the Synod message on the New Evangelization, that will be the official document issued by this gathering. The 262 representative body of bisjops, is the 23rd Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, since the first one was convened in 1967.  In this Synod's message on the specified theme of the, "New Evangelization", the document speaks of our task being like the Samaritan Woman at the Well in Sacred Scripture in the Personal Encounter with Jesus Christ we share in the Church.  By taking the occasions we have to Encountering Jesus and Listening to the Scriptures, we can succeed in Evangelizing Ourselves and Opening Ourselves to Conversion by Seizing  the Opportunities for Evangelizaion in the World Today.  The Synod Document goes on to address Evangelization in the light of the Family and Consecrated Life, by focusing on the Ecclesial Community and the many Agents of Evangelization.  It underscores the importance of Youth Encountering Christ, that the Gospel in Dialogue with Human Culture and our Experiences with Religions, and Remembering the Second Vatican Council, and Referring the Catechism of the Catholic Church, in this Year Of Faith, Contemplating on the Paschal Mystery and being at the Side of the Poor, all all vital components of the New Evangelization.  It is addressed to the Churches in the Various and is guided by the Star of Mary, that Illumines the Desert we must pass through in effectively embracing and extending the New Evangelization throughout the Church and the World.  We will hear, read, and learn, more about this Synodal Document and the role it will play in the Mission and Ministry of Being Church as the focus and fruits of the New Evangelization unfold as we go forward as Catholic-Christians in the post conciliar, third Millennium of evangelizing and being evangelized in Jesus, our Lord and Savior and the Light of the World............Fr.  Troy

MITT ROMNEY PROCLAIMS HE'S THE CANDIDATE OF "BIG CHANGE"...............

In the frenetic campaigning to the finish line, crisscrossing the remaining swing States in dueling repeated visits versus President Obama, Governor Mitt Romney today called himself and Paul Ryan the "Big Change", for America; while criticizing the President as having run out of ideas to address the country's problems and turn the Economy around.  Coming as retired General Colin Powell endorsed President Obama for a second term this morning, in which he specifically stated he supports Obama for his leadership on the Economy, Obamacare, and Foreign Policy, as well as Climate change, Immigration, and Education; while expressing he has difficulty with the positions Governor Romney has taken and now is changing his views on, as he did in the Third Presidential Debate earlier this week. Piers Morgan interviewing Romney campaign surrogate John Sununu, about the significance on the race of the Powell endorsement of Obama, responded by shifting to Powell's "boss", President George Herbert Walker Bush having endorsed Romney, and went to say there is likely another reason Powell is endorsing and sticking with Obama.  Asked by Morgan as to what reason that is, Sununu cited it is his pride in supporting him as someone of his, "own race".  Focus and fallout from the Richard Mourdock Indiana U.S. Senate nominee comments on Rape, and a resulting pregnancy as what God intended, Romney would not make any further comment about today when asked by reporters about whether he would ask Mourdock to pull the campaign ad Romney made for him.  A stir of frenzy dusted up this afternoon over President Obama's use of the word, "bullsh.....", to describe how children  see someone who shifts positions the way Romney has in this campaign.  The inappropriateness of the President using the word was alledged in response from Romney-Ryan supporters, but whether it will take on the degree of news coverage the Mourdock statement has, does not seem to be occurring.  Representative Paul Ryan's itinerary seems to have shifted from the battleground States to a number of safe Republican Southern States, such as South Carolina, and Alabama, perhaps to insulate him immediately from being forcefully confronted with how his own pro-life views on conception and abortion and rape, are the same as that of Richard Mourdock and Todd Akin, thus would drag the Romney-Ryan campaign further into the controversy in these final days of the homestretch to Election Day............tdp  

ASSOCIATED PRESS POLL OUT THIS MORNING............

The Associated Press Poll out this morning has the Presidential Race, Romney  49%;  Obama 47%   among Likely Voters; in a Obama 47%; to Romney  47%; tie with Women; and Romney 47%;  and Obama 42%; among men.  The accuracy of this poll is being questioned some for showing a complete wipeout of the gender gap between the two nominees in regards to who Women are supporting, given Obama's double digit lead with Women Voters until the First Debate; and for the closure of the double digit lead Romney has maintained among Men Voters until now.  The greatest change this week is in the Gallup Daily Tracking Poll, which last week showed as much as a seven percent lead for Romney, 52%; to 45%; for Obama, among Likely Voters; and now standing at Romney 50%; to Obama 47%;.  As Day 12 and counting to General Election Day November 6th, it is Math and Momentum in the intensity of the final roundup to victory for the Democratic incumbent President, or the Republican Presidential challenger............tdp

COLIN POWELL ENDORSES PRESIDENT OBAMA FOR RE-ELECTION............

John Heilman, of the New Yorker Magazine and a regular political analyst for MSNBC, has just shared a Tweet he received on the set of "Morning Joe", saying that former Secretary of State Colin Powell has endorsed President Obama for re-election on CBS This Morning with Charlie Rose.  I will blog more about this later this morning............ Fr. Troy

TIME MAGAZINE OHIO POLL EQUALS CBS NEWS-QUINNIPIAC FINDING............

The latest Time Magazine Poll on the Presidential preference presently in the pivotal, quintessential, swing State of Ohio; finds that Monday's five point margin in President Obama's favor over Governor Romney, 50%; to 45%; is the same margin Time released today, with Obama 49%; leading Romney, 44%;.  With Obama continuing to lead in the swing States of Ohio, Iowa, and Wisconsin, he has a potential midwestern firewall developing in the Electoral College.  Charlie Cook points out in his latest analysis as published in the National Journal that following the third and final Presidential Debate two nights ago, that President Obama has an easier path to 270 Electoral Votes and victory in the General Election than Governor Romney does.  As has NBC News Political Director Chuck Todd, Cook has put North Carolina as leaning toward Romney,
 and adds Virginia to Romney's column adding 28 Electoral Votes to the 191 he is all but sure to win, giving Romney a prospective 219 Electoral Votes, 51 short of the necessary number.  He also concurs with Todd, and places Nevada as leaning toward Obama, and adding its 6 Electoral Votes to the strong and leaning Obama present total of 237 Electoral Votes, giving him a prospective 243 Electoral Votes, 27 short of the necessary number.  Therefore, Cook posits that Obama by winning Ohio and Wisconsin with their combined 28 Electoral Votes would then be the victor, with 271 Votes, one more than required; even if Mitt Romney were to win Iowa, Florida, Colorado, and New Hampshire.  Thus, without winning Ohio, Romney most likely cannot win the White House, anymore than other Republican nominees have been able to without the Buckeye.  With Obama leading by five percent in Ohio, with only thirteen days until Election Day and exit polls showing the Early Vote in Ohio, splitting Obama-Biden having won 60%;  Romney-Ryan having won 30%; the Republican nominees will be hard pressed to win the Buckeye State and the Presidency on November 6th............tdp

POPE BENEDICT SURPRISINGLY NAMES SIX NEW CARDINALS............

For the second time this year, an unprecedented occurrence - His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, unexpectedly announced the appointment of six new members to the College of Cardinals; at his weekly General Audience meeting with pilgrims at the Vatican today.  Among the six about to receive the symbolic Red Hat, at a Consistory on November 24th, is one American.  The American Cardinal-Elect is not one of the currently serving Bishops in the United States, but one who has long served in the Roman Curia, Archbishop James Harvey, a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; who since 1998, has served Popes John Paul II, and Benedict XVI, as the Prefect of the Papal Household.  Cardinal-Elect Harvey is 63 years old.  Today's appointments brings the total numner of Cardinals to 211, of which 120 are under the age of 80, and eligible electors of a Pope in a future Conclave.  This will be the fifth Consistory held by Benedict XVI, since becoming Pope seven and a half years ago; and will bring to 90, the number of Cardinals he has appointed.  Pope Paul VI, set the maximum number of votes in a papal conclave at 120 Cardinals under 80 years old.  The current eligible membership of the College is 116 Cardinals, with two reaching age 80, before the next Consistory on November 24th; meaning the six newest Cardinals will bring the number of eligible electors to the maximum of 120.  The other five new Cardinals-Elect are Lebanese, Indian, Nigerian, Colombian, and Philipino.  The 55 year old Archbishop of Manila, in the Philippines - +Jose Antonio Tagle; and the 68 year old Archbishop of Abuja, in Nigeria - +John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, are considered papabili, possible future contenders for Pope...........Fr.  Troy

THE DAY AFTER THE LAST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE BOTH TICKETS CAMPAIGN IN TANDEM............

At this hour the day with Third and final 2012 Presidential Debate complete, both set of Democratic and Republican Standarbearers for the General Election to the White House, two weeks from today - are campaigning together in pivotal swing States.  The Republican challengers Governor Mitt Romney and Representative Paul Ryan have rallyed with supporters in Henderson, Nevada; where there are 6 Electoral Votes and a very sizable Mormon, as well as Latino, population.  NBC News Political Director and his Analysis Team this morning shifted Nevada from Toss Up, to Leans Obama; with the continuing increase in the percentage of the Silver State's electorate Latinos make up and the more than forty percent lead Obama is holding over Romney among Latino Nevadans in current polls.  President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden have appeared together at a campaign rally in Toledo, Ohio ago, where they are touting the plan for a second term the President spoke of in last night's Debate and they released in print and in a tv ad this morning, which will be the centerpiece of the closing days of this campaign.  A hard fought, spirited, and kinetic, two weeks pushing their competing plans and visions, governing philosophies, and models for management and recovery, where the 18 Electoral Votes of the Buckeye State and support for or against the American Auto Industry Bailout, holds a 49.9% chance of determining if Barack Obama and Joe Biden are re-elected, or Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are the winners of the White House on November 6th............Fr.  Troy

PUBLIC POLICY POLL THIRD PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE RESPONDENTS DECLARE OBAMA THE WINNER BY DOUBLE DIGITS............

The third poll taken tonight of the last of three Presidential Debates between Governor Mitt Romney, the Republican nominee, and President Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee, the Public Policy Poll, which surveyed 500 swing State Debate watchers in the eleven States of Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, New Hampshire, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin, picked the President as the victor by eleven percentage points : Obama 53%; Romney 42%; with 5% declaring it a Tie.  90%; of Democrats sided with President Obama as the winner; 81%; of Republicans called Governor Romney the winner; and by a margin of 55%; to 40% Independents scored Obama to be the victor.  Also following tonight's Debate which was focused on Foreign Policy, found the respondents declaring Barack Obama more Trustworthy on Foreign Policy by a four point margin, 51%; to 47%; who think Mitt Romney is.  The results of the PPP instant poll, joins the CBS News flash poll, and CNN/ORC instant poll, tonight in giving this 3rd Debate to President Obama by an aggregated average of 51%; for Obama - 35%; for Romney - and 14%; a Tie............tdp

AN INVIGORATED ALMOST EVEN THIRD PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE BETWEEN ROMNEY AND OBAMA............

The American Economy was as much a part of the third and final Presidential Debate between President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney just completed in Boca Raton, Florida, which was a strong one for both candidates, with the President and Governor often agreeing on Foreign Policy as Romney pulled back on his failed Libyan criticism at the previous Debate and more hugged than mugged Obama by moderating his positions and policy proposals yet again.  President Obama branded Romney's Foreign Policy and National Security positions as "Wrong and Wreckless", and "All over the Map", as his Republican challenger did his best to pass the Commander in Chief test on the part of the American People and bring the focus back to the recovery of the American Economy.  Romney let most of Obama's offensive pass without aggressive rebuttal except to repeat more than once that "attacks" on him, were not providing a "agenda" for the future to meet the challenges in the Middle East or take America forward.   The CBS News flash poll of 500 UnDecided Voters watching the Debate tonight scored it Obama 53%;  Romney 23;  A Tie 24%;.  As to Which One Would Handle An International Crisis Romney 46%; before tonight's Debate - 49%; after;  Obama 58%; before the Debate - 71%; after tonight's Debate; and on Who Would Deal With China Better Obama 50%; Romney 50%;............tdp

HOURS BEFORE THEIR THIRD PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE A WASHINGTON POST-ABC NEWS POLL SHOWS 1% LEAD NATIONALLY FOR OBAMA............

With Mitt Romney and Barack Obama meeting in their third and final 2012 Presidential Election in just an hour and a half, the Washington Post-ABC News has released a national poll this afternoon, showing the President with a 1% edge over the Governor, 49%;-48%; down from their last finding of a three point, 49%;-46%; lead for the President.  Tonight's Debate focused on Foreign Policy with Bob Schieffer of CBS News moderating, is shaping up from the punditry, analysis, and commentary of the pre Debate preparation and interviews with campaign staffers as a strong exchange between the two nominees, which with the principals seated at a table, will be less physical, but still probably as high powered as was their second Debate last Tuesday, with tonight being the last major nationwide audience in the tens of millions of American voters............tdp

BREAKING AWAY FOR LUNCH WITH THE PENNINGTON FAMILY............

My Our Lady of Lourdes parishioners the Pennington/Shepherd Family is doing what they have done regularly for the past two years, and invited me to join them for lunch again today.  Over the past seven and half months they have visited me regularly and extended invitations to lunch on several occasions.  I look forward to their company and the generosity of their hospitality in inviting me out and away for an hour or two from the predictable everyday subsistence of life within these walls.  The conversations with them I welcome and delight in, and the food both that they serve in their home, or at the restaurant we go out to, is always plenteous, as well as delicious.  Genuine bonds of human affection and interaction do not unravel or cease because circumstances are changed or altered.  Patty, Jack, Mary Lou, Ruby, Bill, and Mrs. Pennington, are among a very kind and considerate group of my friends and former parishioners, who authentically care about my well being and dignity as a person and a priest, and whose continuing outreach and presence to me are making the most frustrating time I have ever endured, better than it would be without them............tdp

TONIGHT'S THIRD PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE ON FOREIGN POLICY PLUS IN FLORIDA............

President Barack Obama will face off with Governor Mitt Romney in the last of three Presidential Debates tonight at Lynn University, in Boca Raton, Florida.  The specific topic of this third Debate between Romney and Obama is Foreign Policy, and will be moderated by veteran CBS News Chief Washington Correspondent and, "Face The Nation" Moderator Bob Schieffer.  The projected 60 million viewers can expect however, to hear about not only Foreign Policy and National Security from the incumbent Democratic President and his Republican challenger, but the Economy as well, as both nominees take there last major nationwide audience opportunity to try to win over the support of theremaining six percent of Undecideds, as the NBC News - Wall Street Journal National Poll out yesterday shows the Romney-Obama race for the White Housed tied at 47% - 47%.  More as the day and night proceed on the, "Battle in Boca"............Fr.  Troy

DISABILITY AWARENESS SABBATH 2012............

This year's Disability Sabbath has a particularly poignant pertinence for me and my priestly ministry, as it underscores the incongruence of what the observance of the Disability Sabbath represents and affirms, with the juxtaposition of the reality of my current situation.  The enactment of the Americans with Disabilites Act, the passage of the United Nations Convention Rights for People with Disabilities, and the U.S. Bishops Pastoral Letter on Persons with Disabilities, all proclaim the necessity of Inclusion for those among us enduring physical and developmental disabilities not as problems to be placed out of sight, out of mind, but empowered with opportunities for the fullest possible participation in the day to day experiences and activities of Society and the Church.  Just as there is a place for the unfortunate in our midst - the sick, the poor, the suffering, there is also a place in our schools, workplaces, organizations, churches and other houses of worship, for the disabled. Despite the enlightenment and progress we have made in recent decades to including and empowering the disabled in the United States and in many other nations, the seamless, unconditional, practice of carrying out the spirit and truth of affirming and providing a place for the disabled is still a challenge facing us in the Faith community, which I and other priests, as well as parishioners have imposed on us due to the lack of accessibility and indifference.  The continuing challenge we face is found in the failure to maintain a Covenant relationship with those of us with disabilities that goes beyond our physical or developmental conditions, and that provides support beyond our limitations, is sadly still in existence even now; instead of a recognition that although we may have to do things differently, (as in my case use a wheelchair) we still maintain spiritual, ministerial, and communicative, experience and abilities to contribute to the Body of Christ and the People of God.  "Full, Active, Conscious", membership in the Church on the part of all Baptized and those inquiring into the Catholic-Christian Faith, is to affirm the inclusion of persons with disabilities, not deny them participation.  As I sit on the sidelines these Sundays, not presiding, preaching, and being present, to the People of God in a parish, I am grateful for the part-time ministry opportunity Sacred Heart Parish is providing me to assist with R.C.IA. and other ministries; as there is much more I can and should be doing residing and participating in parish life.  On this Disability Awareness Sabbath, it is my unwavering hope that all persons with disabilities will be given the fullest, most active, and conscientious, opportunity for inclusion and empowerment in the Community of Believers, that allows us an equal and undeniable place in the public Prayer, Worship, Ministry, as well as Evangelization and Discipleship of being Church............Fr.  Troy

OPTIONAL MEMORIAL DATE ON AMERICAN LITURGICAL CALENDAR APPROVED FOR BLESSED JOHN PAUL II............

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops announced Friday, that the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, has approved a date on the American Liturgical Calendar for an Optional Memorial of the Blessed John Paul II.  October 22nd, the anniversary of the date of his 1978 papal inauguration is the day approved for an annual liturgical celebration of the immediate past Pope's observance in Dioceses of the United States.  Following John Paul II's beatification on May 11, of last year on the fast track to canonization as a Saint; local Bishops were given the ability to declare a date for a Mass of Thanksgiving to be celebrated in the Blessed John Paul II's memory during the twelve months following.  Yesterday's announced decision denotes the final step in establishing a date on the American Calendar for a liturgical commemoration of the late Holy Father whose nearly 26.5 years as Bishop of Rome / Pope of the Universal Church, was met with the acclamation at his death in April 2005, to his being called John Paul the Great, by many of the Faithful............Fr.  Troy

"NOT OPTIMAL" DESCRIPTION OF BENGHAZI ATTACK CRITICIZED............

Responding to a question from Jon Stewart, in an appearance on the, "Daily Show" Thursday in which Stewaet used the term, "not optimal", to describe the tragedy of the American Consulate attack in Benghazi, Libya; lasr month on September 11th, President Obama repeated the words in answering Stewart's question, and is being roundly criticized today by the Romney=Ryan campaign and other Republicans............tdp

THIS WEEK'S NBC NEWS-WALL STREET JOURNAL POLL HAS OBAMA STILL AHEAD IN IOWA AND WISCONSIN............

With significant changes in National and Swing State Polls in the past two weeks since the First Presidential Debate, which has seen a Romney surge, the NBC News-Wall Street Journal Poll out today finds President Obama leads Governor Romney in both Iowa and Wisconsin.  Current analysis of the Presidential Election is that it is imperative that of the swing States of Ohio, Iowa, and Wisconsin, the Romney-Ryan ticket must win at least one of the three in order to win the White.  President Obama according to most polls continues to lead in Ohio, intensifying this NBC-WSJ finding and increasing the need the Republicans have to win either or both Iowa and Wisconsin.  The poll which was conducted Monday through Wednesday, thus including responses after the Second Presidential Debate, has Obama ahead in Iowa by 51%; to 43%; for Romney, an unchanged eight percent  Democratic lead, equal to last month's result; with both nominees up one point each.  In Wisconsin, the current finding is a September matching six percent Obama lead, Obama 51%; Romney 45%;.  Chuck Todd, NBC News Political Director and Chief White House Correspondent announced in discussing these findings, that the Obama campaign considers Iowa and Wisconsin their firewall, as by winning them and Ohio, they can lose the other six swing States and still win 271 Electoral Votes.  95% of respondents in both Iowa and Wisconsin said they made up their minds as to who they are voting for before the second Debate.  1,137 likely voters in Iowa were polled by NBC-WSJ, with a 2.9%, Margin of error; and 1,013 likely voters were polled in Wisconsin, with a 3.1% margin of error............Fr.  Troy
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THE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEES @ THE AL SMITH DINNER TONIGHT............

President Obama and Governor Romney follow the American Presidential Campaign Year tradition going back to 1960, when John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon appeared at it, when they speak comically at the Governor Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Charity Dinner in New York City.  A white tie and tails dinner annually attended by the New York Establishment, attended by 1,600 persons which will raise $5 million for New York Archdiocesan Children's Charities, the two Presidential nominees are the invited guests of Archbishop Timothy Cardinal Dolan, who will be seated between them on the dais.  Both Mitt Romney and Barack Obama will deliver jovial remarks about themselves and one another.  The Al Smith Dinner has been held each year since 1946, begun by Cardinal Spellman two years after the death of Alfred Emmanuel Smith, the four term New York Governor, and 1928 Democratic Presidential nominee, the first Catholic nominee ever for President of the United States.............Fr.  Troy

65.6 MILLION REPORTED TO HAVE WATCHED 2ND 2012 PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE............

The Neilsen Ratings Corporation issued a preliminary overnight report on today showing the estimated audience for last night's 2nd Obama / Romney Presidential Debate from Hofstra University, in Hempstead, New York; was 65.6 million viewers.  That is 1.6 million fewer persons than watched the First Obama-Romney Debate in Denver, Colorado; on October 3rd, but is 2.4 million more viewers than those tuned in for the second McCain / Obama Presidential Debate in 2008.  The Debate aired live on the five major broadcast networks, ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC, PBS; the five cable news networks, CNBC, CNN. FOX News, MSNBC, and Current TV; and by tape delay on the Spanish speaking networks Telemundo, and Univision.  The NBC Broadcast Network and FOX News Channel on Cable television led in the numbers of viewers watching last night's second Rombey / Obama face-off.   Final ratings number will be released in coming days............tdp

THE DAY AFTER THE SECOND PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE A RESURGENT OBAMA ATTACKS A "SKETCHY DEAL"............

Coming off last night's second 2012 Presidential Debate with Republican nominee Governor Mitt Romney, the Democratic nominee President Barack Obama, the presumed victor of Tuesday's verbal slugfest, campaigned in the swing State of Iowa today; where he addressed a campaign Rally with a high spirited representation of some of the highlights of last night's contentious, in your face exchanges.  He summed up his remarks to the the assembled crowd, comparing the campaign proposals to the Administrations of Presidents Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, and Theodore Roosevelt, with the words, "You have heard of the New Deal, the Fair Deal, the Square Deal, now Governor Romney's trying to sell you a, Sketchy Deal !".  The term Sketchy Deal, being thE way Obama described Romney's proposed economic recovery plan at last night's Presidential Debate.  At his campaign Rally today, the President also delivered a riff of his record on issues directly affecting Women, beginning with signing the Lily Ledbetter Equal Pay Act.  Governor Romney appearing at a post Debate event today at a campaign Rally in eastern Virginia, focused his remarks on the adverse affects President Obama's economic failures have had upon Women.  Indicating Romney-Ryan will help Women more with their economic plan, Romney said, "This President has failed America's women"..."They have suffered in terms of getting jobs, they have suffered in terms of falling into poverty".  As both candidates spar over obtaining the decisive swing votes of White, suburban women, so called, "WalMart Moms", the words Romney spoke today are in line with those he  also used last night during the Debate.  Focusing on women's issues today may have been the Romney-Ryan's campaign effort to offset Romney's use of the words, "Binders full of Women", at last night's face-off.  Twenty days and counting to General Election Day and five days until the last of the 3 Obama-Romney Presidential Debate, will guarantee both Standardbearers and their Running Mates, will be hopscotching through the nine swing States, addressing and trying to convince those remaining soft or undecided voters, who will likely narrowly determine if Obama-Biden are re-elected, or Romney-Ryan will win the White House............Fr.  Troy

CNN / ORC INSTANT POLL GIVES OBAMA A SEVEN PERCENT WIN OVER ROMNEY IN 2ND PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE............

The CNN Opinion Research Corporation instant poll of tonight's Second Presidential Debate Town Hall Meeting finds that the President Obama is thought to be the winner by seven percentage points, with 46%; choosing Obama, compared to 39%; for Romney, with 15%; calling it a Tie.  Thus the first two snap polls give it to Obama by the same margin.  The strength of the incumbent President's comeback tonight mirrors that of incumbent Presidents Reagan and George W. Bush, in 1984 and 2004. in arresting the loss in the first Debates.  How it unfolds over the next six days until the final Presidential Debate on Foreign Policy next Monday, in the direction of the Election has been reset by tonight's outcome............tdp

CBS NEWS FLASH POLL GIVES OBAMA THE EDGE IN THE SECOND PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE............

The response of 500 UnDecided Voters polled by CBS News tonight of the Second Presidential Debate gives the ninety exchange to President Obama by seven percentage points, finding the scoring Obama 37%;  Romney 30%;  A Tie 33%;.  The same respondents to the CBS News flash poll after the Debate also found on their question of which candidate can best handle the Economy going forward, responded by nearly 2-1 that Romney can 65%; Romney,  34%; Obama.  But the early early overview of political analysis and commentary, and from the Spin Room is also calling it for the President............tdp

OBAMA COMES BACK STRONGLY IN SECOND PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE

  President Obama came back strongly in his second Presidential Debate against Governor Romney tonight, which Scott Pelley of CBS News said was a Presidential Debate like no other in history, and how both candidates went on the attack after each other on every question.  Governor also debated strongly, but was more defensive in his responses, although both candidates went toe to toe, at times physically in one another's faces.  It is evident to me the President compensated more than satisfactorily from his listless First Debate performance, and was more pointed in his criticisms of Governor Romney and in greater specific details about the effectiveness of his own record and plans for the next four years.  Moderator Candy Crowley of CNN, directed the Debate and asked followed up questions pertinent to their answers to audience questions.  More as soon as further analysis and polling are available............tdp

2ND PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE STARTS IN TEN MINUTES............

The wives of the Presidential candidates are about to be introduced and moderator Candy Crowley of CNN, will give preparatory remarks, before the start of the Second Presidential Debate ten minutes from now.  President Obama is expected to be much more animated and ready to take on Governor Romney on the issues and Governor Romney will do everything he can to maintain the momentum he gained from prevailing in the First Debate thirteen days ago.  I will blog following tonight's Debate with information, insight, analysis and commentary.............tdp

IT'S PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE NIGHT TWO IN HEMPSTEAD, NEW YORK............

With three weeks remaining in General Election 2012 for President of the United States, Barack Obama and Mitt Romney meet for the second of their three Debates, tonight's forum Hempstead, New York.  The First Debate thirteen days ago having reversed the direction of the contest with Romney decisively winning that face-off with Obama, and last Thursday's Vice Presidential Debate considered a win on substance for Biden over Ryan, the stage is set tonight to see how effectively the incumbent President can comeback in debating his ascending challenger.  The Obama-Biden campaign is saying the President will be much more assertive in debating his opponent and Romney is expected to continue his assault on Obama's record, with both of them needing to balance their appearances and responses with the Debate's Town Hall Meeting format. of interacting with the 80 invited audience members and answering the questions they pose, while also taking direction from moderator Candy Crowley of CNN.  With the Presidential campaign at the twnty one day and counting mark, within the margins of errors in almost all the national and swing State Polls, firmness, yet caution, must be exhibited by both nominees which will make for an interesting ninety minute exchange of style and substance.  More to Come today and tonight as the Second  2012 Presidential Debate transpires, unfolding its affect on the Race for the White House the next six days............Fr.  Troy

ON THE EVE OF THEIR SECOND DEBATE ROMNEY AND OBAMA IN VERY TIGHT RACE............

On this day before the second of the three Presidential Debates, tomorrow night in Boca Raton Florida between President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney; with an ascendant Republican nominee decisively besting a listless debate performing Democratic incumbent; and an aggressively assertive Democratic Vice President doing what he had to do to out debate and narrowly prevail over the Republican Congressman challenging him in the aggregation of post debate polls; the latest Presidential preference polls released today show a very tight race between the two campaigns, with 22 days before General Election on November 6th.  The Romney surge following the First Debate has slowed, from a national poll average of going up by as much as a two percent advantage over Obama,  today the 'Real Clear Politics' online aggregation averaging of seven national polls, there Poll of Polls average is only a one tenth of one  percent lead for Romney at 47.4%; to Obama at 47.3%;.  With poll results taken between October 7 - 14, the Rasmussen Daily Tracking Poll, Romney 49%; Obama 48%;  the Gallup Daily Tracking Poll, Romney 49%; Obama 47%;  the FOX News Poll, Romney 46%; Obama 45%;  the Monmouth Survey/USA/Braun Poll, Romney 47%; Obama 46%;  the Investors Daily Business/TIPP Tracking Poll, a Romney-Obama Tie, 47%; - 47%;  the Politico/George Washington University/Battleground Poll, Obama 49%; Romney 48%;  and the ABC News/Washington Post Poll released today, Obama 49%; Romney 46%; making up RCP'S Monday Average.  Swing State polls today show n emerging edge for Romney by 4 - 5 percentage points, with Romney gaining in the nine battleground States with Women voters to all but wipe-out his deficiency with them until the First Debate to now be in a Tie with the President, puts pressure on Romney to sustain his lead or for Obama to turnaround the response of Women as well as all likely voters, to retake the lead.  Tuesday night's Town Hall Meeting, and next Monday's Foreign Policy Debate, loom as the last major national event to convince and persuade the electorate of the acceptability and rationale for re-electing the President or replacing him.  What the current state of the race and polls do indicate is what I have continued to say most of this year, we are in store for a close, tight, contest to the finish and a narrow outcomel unless circumstances change in the next three weeks counting down to the General Election............Fr.  Troy

FIRST SUNDAY OF THE "YEAR OF FAITH"............

Catholics throughout the World are being asked to experience the papally declared "Year Of Faith", which is beginning today, by drawing closer to Jesus Christ in the deepening of their understanding of the Sacraments celebrated by the Church.  The Most Reverend David L. Ricken, Bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay, in Wisconsin; Chairman of the U.S. Bishops Committee for Catechesis and Evangelization, wrote in an October 4th letter to his brother American Bishops, "The Seven Sacraments continue the saving work of Jesus until he comes again and form the center of the celebration of the Christian Mystery".  Bishop Ricken also explains it is by means of the Church's Ministry, that - "All are invited to hear the Goof News, follow Christ and share in the saving mysteries".  A Year Of Faith resource put together by the Bishops' Catechesis and Evangelization Committee entitled, "Sacramental Catechesis : An Online Resource For Dioceses And Eparchies", underpins the focus on Sacramentality Catholics are asked during this year of grace to wholeheartedly embrace is specifically the Holy Eucharist.  The online resource states the Eucharist is, "Foundational to sustain the faithful union with the very life of the Trinity and to strengthen them for the rigors of living their Faith as committed Disciples", writes Bishop Ricken.  Coming with the 50th Anniversary of the opening of the Vatican II Council; the start of the Year Of Faith; and the Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization; this online resource will be used by American Bishops and Cathechetical Leaders as a means of better and further explaining, 'The aithful are called not only to proclaim the Gospel to those who have never heard it, but also to re-propose the Good News to those who are Baptized members of the Church, but who have lost a Living sense of the Faith".  As we celebrate this first Sunday of the Year Of Faith Pope Benedict XVI has proclaimed for the Universal Church may we place our hearts and minds in the Lord's welcoming presence and reinvest in our Disciple of Jesus The Christ, by pondering how to increase our witnessing to all the Seven Sacraments bring to the fulfillment of our lives and the Redemption of Humankind............Fr.  Troy

LIBYA BECOMES A FOREIGN POLICY POLITICAL FOOTBALL............

The era of political partisanship, "ending at the water's edge" on the part of both Democrats, and Republicans, in American Foreign Policy, has gone on hiatus if not ended, in the current electoral and governing environment of the United States, as currently indicated by how the partisan divide is responding to last month's Libyan Embassy attack and killing of Ambassador Stevens and three other American diplomats.  The special investigatory hearing on the part of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, on Wednesday turned into a partisan free for all as Republican and Democratic members were convened for a hearing less than four weeks before the General Election focused on potential intelligence failures, growing militant threats, the prospect of security lapses, and whether the Obama Administration underestimated the continuing dangers posed by Al Qaeda, in Libya and North Africa.  All of these matters under the Committee's right perview.  However, that does not mean seeking to use the hearing for a decidely partisan advantage, as campaign fodder, instead of advancing the common good of American national security and a non political response to addressing the aftermath of the situation seems to be the priority members of the House Committee exhibited in their questioning of, and responses to, the witnesses called to testify.  As the truth of what occurred and how it transpired on September 11th, 2012, unless the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee's intention was to sincerely and objectively assess the situation and not politicize it  for partisan advantage, it would have been far better to wait until November 7th and thereafter to carry out their responsibilities and address the matter.  Bipartisanship in Foreign Policy not Politics, should be the foremost priority and guiding principle in a crises such as this, even in the final weeks of a campaign for the White House and the Congress.  Turning American Foreign Policy into a political football only serves to divide Americans and fuel the intention of our terrorist enemies to harm and vanquish us............Fr.  Troy  

DEMOCRATS CLAIM VICE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE VICTORY......REPUBLICANS CRITICIZE VICE PRESIDENT'S DEBATE PERFORMANCE............

With a split decision on the part of the viewing audience as to whether Vice President Joe Biden, or Representative Paul Ryan , won last night's Vice Presidential candidates Debate, the Democratic and Republican campaign spokespersons and pundits are offering contrasting opinions as to the victor, as they seek to maximize the greatest benefit electorally from the Ryan-Biden Danville Duel.    President Obama  told reporters he, "could not be prouder", of the Vice President and said, "I thought Joe Biden did a terrific job tonight".  Governor Romney said at a campaign rally today, that his running mate was the one candidate on last night's Debate stage who was, "thoughtful, respectful, steady, and poised".  Analysis and commentary from the Spin Room at the Debate, and the political desks of the media has been decidedly partisan; Democrats highly pleased and re-energized by Biden's aggressive contesting of Ryan, by going on the offensive from the outset  and staying on the throughout the Debate, while Republicans are criticizing what they describe as Biden's disruptions, laughter, and rudeness, focusing more on style than substance, in their responses following the Debate.  Vice President Biden took his day after campaigning to Wisconsin, Paul Ryan's home State, where he reiterated much of his message from last night's exchange; while Paul Ryan will join Governor Romney at a campaign rally in Ohio, later this afternnon.............Fr.  Troy

CBS NEWS FLASH POLL FINDS BIDEN THE WINNER; CNN's INSTANT POLL SHOWS IT FOR RYAN............

The CBS News flash poll of UnDecided Voters responding to the Vice Presidential Debate in Danville, Kentucky; shows that 50%; think Joe Biden prevailed in the Debate; while 31%; scored it for Ryan; and 19%; declared it a Tie.  The CNN instant poll of Debate Watchers finds it to be 48% ; saying Ryan won; to 44%; calling it for Biden; and 8%; UnDecided............tdp

A VERY ANIMATED GIVE AND TAKE VICE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE BETWEEN RYAN AND BIDEN............

The table at which the Democratic and Republican nominees for Vice President of the United States sat on the Debate stage at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky; the last hour and a half, was a place of very animated, back and forth exchanges between Congressman Paul Ryan and Vice President Joe Biden contested one another, mano a mano, style, that contrasted the views they and Governor Romney and President Obama have concerning the present realities and future for America.  Biden came to the Debate ready to fight, taking the offensive from the outset, while Ryan though well armed to combat the Obama-Biden record and its shortcomings, but debated more defensively than offensively.  If Biden needed to fire up the Democratic base by his Debate performance he accomplished that; and Ryan acquitted himself sufficiently in representing his and Romney's Budget, Economic, Medicare, Social Security, and Foreign Policy, without giving specifics, even when the moderator Martha Raddatz asked him to give specifics.  Ryan was most under stress on the subject of his obvious limited knowledge on the Afghanistan War.  Both candidates being Catholics, which Raddatz pointed out before asking how their Faith forms their position on Abortion, Ryan described himself as pro-life from conception, shaped by his Catholicism to support the vulnerable, and that a Romney-Ryan Administration would oppose Abortion, except for cases of Rape, Incest, and Life of the Mother, (the 1976 Carter-Mondale position) citing he and his wife viewing the ultrasound of their first child; whereas Biden acknowledged as a practicing Catholic he accepts the Church's teaching on Abortion as de fide doctrine personally, but that he does not agree with imposing that teaching on those who are not Catholic, and questioned Ryan's disagreement with the Catholic Church's Social Doctrine, after Ryan slammed the Obama-Biden team of infringing on the religious liberty of Catholic charities,  churches and hospitals.  Early analysis is shaping up to as a probable Biden win, although FOX News is saying Biden's meter toward Ryan, calling it almost condescending, may have derailed the strength of rhetoric with which Biden debated Ryan.  I am standing by for the instant polls and will blog more when they are shared.............tdp

COMMEMORATING THE OPENING OF "VATICAN II" AS WE BEGIN CELEBRATING THE "YEAR OF FAITH"............

Marking the Golden Jubilee of the day on which the Second Vatican Council began - today in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City / Rome; His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, presided at a 50th Anniversary concelebrated Mass, joined by a throng of other Bishops, Priests, prelates, patriarchs, and a dozen senior churchmen, who like himself attended the Ecumenical Council half a century ago. Pope Benedict XVI, used the occasion today, to also open the Year Of Faith he has designated beginning with the commemoration of Vatican II.  As a young priest and theology professor Reverend Father Joseph Ratzinger, who is now Benedict XVI, attended the Second Vatican Council, as a theological advisor to Cologne Germany's Archbishop Frings, going on to become a Council expert.  Following the Jubilee Mass in St. Peter's Square, the Holy Father joined in the re-enactment of the great procession into St. Peter's Basilica, that inaugurated the Council on October 11, 1962.  Preaching at today's Mass the Pontiff called upon the Faithful to return to both the, "letter", and "authentic spirit", of Vatican II as found in the Council Documents; not the distortions of those who misinterpreted Vatican II as radical breaking with the ancient teachings and practices of the Church.  He said, "The Council did not formulate anything new in matters of faith, nor did it wish to replace anything that was ancient"..."Rather it concerned itself with seeing the same faith might continue to be lived in the present day, that it might remain a living faith in a world of change".  More on the 50th Anniversary of the start of Vatican in the days ahead as this Year Of Faith proceeds............tdp

The DUEL IN DANVILLE : TONIGHT'S BIDEN-RYAN VICE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE............

Vice President Joe Biden, and Representative Paul Ryan, will meet face to face tonight in a live,,  ninety minute, Vice Presidential candidates' Debate, at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky.  The Democratic incumbent and Republican challenger will be asked questions by the Debate moderator Martha Raddatz, of ABC News on both domestic and international issues.  Biden is expected to come ready to aggressively debate Ryan, over the alternative visions of America at home and around the globe in the next four years, as he attempts to turnaround the debate debacle for President Obama in last Wednesday's first Presidential Debate with Governor Romney.  He can be expected to press Ryan on the Budget Plan, Romney-Ryan will implement if elected as well as their positions on Tax Cuts, Health Care Reform, Women's Issues, and Foreign Policy.  Ryan, who is favored to prevail in the Debate according to a poll out this morning by an expectation of 40%-34%; is likely to lay out the Republican plans for the Budget and World Affairs, namely in the Middle East.  This Debate is the first time the two candidates for President or Vice President, have both been Catholics.  The Vice Presidential Debate begins at 9 p.m. Eastern, 8 p.m. Central, 7 p.m. Mountain, and 6 p.m. Pacific, on the broadcast networks of ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, and the cable news channels of CNN, MSNBC, FOX News, C-SPAN, and NPR, as well as on the internet.  I will be blogging this afternoon and evening before the Debate and tonight after it finishes............tdp

50 YEARS AGO TODAY THE SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL OPENED............

50 Years ago today, October 11, 1962; Pope John XXIII, opened the First Session of the Second Vatican Council, the reform and renewal gathering of 3,000 of the the Bishops of the Church, which was held in four sessions in Vatican City, between October 11, 1962 and December 8, 1965  After prolonged and rigorous debates over a multiple of topics and prepared texts, the assembled Council Fathers promulgated 16 Documents with near unanimous support of the College of Bishops present.  I will begin blogging about the history and heritage of Vatican II today, as we celebrate its Golden Jubilee, and commemorate its impact upon Catholic Christianity in the World during the past half century............Fr.  Troy

ON THE EVE OF VATICAN II'S GOLDEN JUBILEE BENEDICT XVI SPEAKS OF THE COUNCIL............

At his weekly General Audience in Vatican City today, His Holiness Pope Benedict XV1, spoke on the eve of the 50th Anniversary of the convening of the Second Vatican Council, of how the Ecumenical Council posed then, what he said is the, "question of God", to the secular World; just as it does now.  Quoting Pope Paul VI, who in 1965 at the culmination of the four sessions over three years gathering known asVatican II, the 21st Ecumenical Council in the History of the Catholic-Christian Church, Benedict XVI said today, "man is orientated towards the conquest of the kingdom of earth rather than that of heaven; a time at which the forgetfulness of God has become habitual, and seems quite wrongly, to be prompted by the progress of science; a time at which the fundamental act of the human person, more conscious now of himself and his liberty, tends to pronounce in favor of his of his own absolute autonomy, in emanicipation from every transccendent law; a time in which secularism seems the legitimate consequence of modern thought and the highest wisdom in the temporal ordering of society".  Pope Benedict spoke to some 25,000 people in St. Peter's presenting his remembrances as a college professor priest, who attended the Council as a theological consultant to Archbishop Frings of Cologne, Germany.  "I was a young professor of fundamental theology at the University of Bonn at that time, and it was the Archbishop of Cologne, Cardinal Frings, a human and priestly point of reference for me, who took me with him to be his consultant theologian, later I was appointed a Council expert".   Describing the Vatican II Council, "like a giant fresco painted in its great diversity and variety of elements, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit", the Pope said we return to it now as a moment of grace, just as we do great works of art, and stated it is an event, "particularly rich even today", and speaking of the Council's 16 Documents said, "we must return to free them from a mass of publications that often instead of making them known, have hidden them".   For the past thirty years I have personally and pastorally made the point that every Catholic-Christian should read and become familiar with the Documents of Vatican II, as the pertinent focus for our understanding and practice of the Faith and the Church in the World of the post conciliar, 3rd Millennium era of Catholic-Christianity .  At the invitation and with the encouragement of Monsignor Robert Walton, of Sacred Heart Parish, here in East Sacramento, parishioner Rita Spillane and I, will be teaming up to present a series of seminars on some of the chief Documents of the Second Vatican.  More about that here on my blog, as it develops.  In coming days I will also be blogging further on the 50th Anniversary of the start of Vatican II, and the influence and impact it has had and continues to have, on the reform and renewal of the Church in today's World............tdp

TWO FORMER CHAMPIONS FALL ON "DWTS" ALL STARS............

Although she was at the bottom of the judges scores for all performances again this week on, "Dancing With The Stars" 'All Stars', Season 15, Bristol Palin, was saved and goes forward into week 4 of the current season; while two former Champions from seasons past, Drew Lachey, and Helio Castroneves, were dropped from the competition last night in a double elimination week.  They join Pamela Anderson, and Joey Fatone, in being cut, even though arguably three of the four are superior dancers to the minimally performing Palin.  Popularity is trumping performance in this regard.  Palin, a celebrity because of her mother, Sarah Palin, the 2008 Republican Vice Presidential nominee, has a solid base of unconditional support from the Tea Party types enthralled with her mother.  The last time she participated in a season of "DWTS", Palin finished in third place and made it to the finals, on the strength of her base of support, not the quality of her dancing performances.  Conversely, Pamela Anderson, the former, "Baywatch" star, is now in the faded glory phase of her popular career.  Joey Fatone, and Drew Lachey, are well beyond the heyday of their boy band careers, and the fan base it gave them.  Helio Castroneves, had the misfortune of stepping on the dress of his dance partner Monday night, which although it did not cost him highly with the judges, knocked him out with the viewing voters.  The real winners for now, are the ABC Television network and BBC Productions, as the unpopular and contentious eliminations, while retaining a mock celebrity / minalist performer, guarantees one thing : high ratings. And the higher the ratings, the more lucrative the income derived by them and everyone associated with "DWTS"............Fr.  Troy

TACKING TO THE MIDDLE ROMNEY SHOWS INCONSISTENCIES IN HIS PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN POSITIONS............

After spending more than a year of his 2012 Presidential campaign through the Primaries, Caucuses, and the Republican National Convention, presenting himself in his own words as a, "severely conservative" candidate in seeking and securing the Republican nomination, with the first Presidential Debate last Wednesday, Mitt Romney has began moving to the middle and moderating his positions on the issues, although not without inconsistency.  With just over a month until the General Election Romney starting at Debate number one states he is not advocating a new tax cut for the wealthy, after stating he would rollback the tax rates by 20% across the board which will lower from 35% to 28%, a projected tax savings of $4.8 trillion.  And in speeches and interviews he continues to tout his more conservative opinion and then walk it back when challenged.  In the Debate, he stated his Health Care reform includes Insurance coverage for those with Pre-Existing Conditions, then only minutes later his senior advisor, Eric Fehrnstrom appeared in the Spin Room, clarifying and correcting that assertion.  Today, he is taking heat for having told the Des Moines Register newspaper that there is no legislation out there he would support affecting Abortion, only to have his campaign staff walk it back,  citing his plan to sign an Executive Order cutting off funding for Abortions overseas, as did Presidents Reagan and Bushes.  Thus the dichotomy of            'Moderate Mitt', versus the 'Born Again Conservative Romney', continue to alternate on the 2012 campaign trail, as he strives to unshackle himself from far right positions he ran on to win the nomination by moving toward the middle of the political spectrum in order to win the election; a strategy most Republicans since Richard Nixon have followed.  However, a much more pronounced move by the core of the Republic to the right expounded by the Tea Party, makes Romney's task a more difficult, thus the inconsistent back and forth we see unfolding on Governor Romney's part in the countdown to the General Election, twenty seven days from now............Fr.  Troy

PREPPING TO PRESENT AT TONIGHT'S SACHEART R.C.I.A. SESSION............

Tonight I will  e the presenter at the weekly Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, (R.C.I..A.) ministry session with the Inquirers at Sacred Heart Church in East Sacramento.  The topics I will cover and engage discussion on are : "The Good News - God Has Sent His Son"; and "The Saving Death and Resurrection of Christ"; which are from the, 'United States Catholic Catechism for Adults', our basic textbook.  My presentation will overview Catholic Faith belief in Jesus as fully and truly being both Divine and Human; and the Christological Teachings of the early Ecumenical Councils of the Church affirming Jesus Christ as True God and True Man.  Then I will discuss what we belief and why about the Paschal Mystery, namely, the Death and Resurrection of Jesus as Catholic-Christians.  Coming the week of the Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization and the 50th Anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council, it is my intention to include reference to how the teachings of Vatican II are a contemporary continuation and expression of these bedrock doctrinal and faith components of Catholic-Christianity............tdp

THE WORLD SYNOD OF BISHOPS AND THE NEW EVANGELIZATION............

During this week that includes the commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the convening of the Second Vatican Council, a three year, four session gathering of some 3,000 of the World's Bishops; one of the reforms in the renewal of the Catholic Church it led to is the Synod of Bishops.  Pope Paul VI, established the Synod of Bishops as an advisory and consultative forum, on September 15, 1965, during the final session of the Second Vatican Council, "to make greater use of the Bishops' in providing for the good of the Universal Church", so as to have, "the consolation of their presence, the help of their wisdom and experience, the support of their counsel, and the voice of their authority".  Since 1967 there have been convened at the call of the Pope, thirteen Ordinary General sessions if the Synod of Bishops, a representative group from the entire College of Bishops, who approximately every three years has been gathered to discuss particular topics of pertinence to the contemporary Church in the World.  The 2012 Synod of Bishops being held this month has been called by Pope Benedict XVI to focus on, "The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith".  The 2012 Synod, comprised of 262 participating Bishops opened on Monday with remarks from the Holy Father.  Proclaiming, "the essence of evangelization", is that, "Christians cannot be lukewarm about their Faith", but that Faith "must burn within us like a flame of love; a flame that lights our entire being, to become the great passion of our existence, igniting those around us".  The Pope's message to the assembled prelates was further reflected in the remarks of Archbishop Donald Wuerl, of Washington, D.C.,  Christians to, "overcome the syndrome of embarassment"...for announcing, "the simple, genuine, and tangible treasure of friendship with Jesus".  Archbishop Wuerl is the General Relator, or Chairman / Facilitator chosen to oversee this Synod of Bishops.  In further remarks at today's second session of the Evangelization Synod, +Wuerl called upon the participating Bishops and the Church to join in rolling back what the Archbishop calls a, "tsunami of secularism", that has, "washed" over society and the Church in recent decades; in his view 'taking most of what we lived by away'.  "We have experienced I believe, in recent decades such a movement of secular hegemony that sees the horizons of life limited to the secular World, that doesn't see a role for Faith, for the belief that we are all created in the image and likeness of God, that there is a moral order that is objective and that we cannot change".  The work of the Synod of Bishops over the next three weeks will be to discuss and provide input on the New Evangelization, not as a program, but a, "new way of thinking, seeing, and acting". ..."a lens through which we see the opportunity to proclaim anew the Gospel".  It is my hope that the relatively grave and dour view as the Synod leader Archbishop Wuerl expresses will not harness an over response on the part of the Bishops that is further polarizing more than it is good news promoting the common good through ongoing, constructive, dialogue and debate, of the concerns vital to us as People of Faith, who know what we Believe as Catholic-Christians and effectively Witness to those beliefs in a positive and participatory, influencing way............Fr.  Troy  

A SHIFT FROM OBAMA TOWARD ROMNEY SINCE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE............

The Gallup Daily Tracking Poll from September 30-October 2, had the Presidential race at Obama 50%;  Romney 45%;, going into last Wednesday night's first Presidential Debate in Denver.  For the three days following the Debate, October 4-6, the results were a three percent drop for the President, and a two percent increase for the Governor, for a tie at Romney 47;  Obama 47%; However today's finding is a return to the pre-Debate numbers of last week, Obama 50%;  Romney 45%; indicating just a one day trend toward Governor Romney immediately after Wednesday's Debate, as today's numbers incorporate the past seven days results.  A surge toward Mitt Romney since the first Presidential Debate is also evident in both a CNN Preference Poll released earlier today and the Pew Poll also released this afternoon.  Both polls find  a twelve point shift from Obama, to Romney, each showing the preference  51% Obama;  43% Romney; in September - versus  Romney 49%;  Obama 45%; now............tdp

VENEZUEALAN PRESIDENT HUGO CHAVEZ RE-ELECTED............

In a major challenge to his fourteen years of governing Venezuela, President Hugo Chavez, a steadfast Socialist, was re-elected on Sunday by a nearly ten percent margin.  President Chavez won a fresh, six year term after having served as President of Venezuela since 1999.  Chavez facing the strongest electoral challenge in his thirteen years, faced the more moderate Henrique Capriles Radonski, the charismatic leader of the Latin American Left Party, who had pledged not to change the socialist reforms enacted by President Chavez, but to make them more efficient.  Capriles Radonski also campaigned against the corruption in Venezuela's public sector.  With ninety percent of the vote counted Chavez has 7.4 million votes, 54.42%;  Capriles Radonski with 6.1 million votes, 44.62 %.  The National Electoral Council announced that nearly 81% of Venezuelans eligible to vote turned out to cast ballots in this Presidential Election.   Venezuela, with its oil rich resources which President Chavez has tapped into extensively during his tenure, to further Housing, Education, and Health, initiatives he has vowed to continue, along with doing more to address Corruption and Government Bureaucracy reform.  Personally contending with bouts of cancer, raises questions about how effectively he will continue to govern as President, as well as who among the ten prospective successors within the Socialist leadership of Venezuela will emerge when the time comes, are uncertainties at this point, as is whether the defeat of the moderate alternative leadership will thwart its future, or with a 40 year old standardbearer will become an even more viable choice for governing in the future.  The United States, often at odds with the Chavez Government, is Venezuela's largest trading partner and Venezuela is the fourth largest exporter of Oil to the United States............Fr.  Troy

DOING WHAT COMES NATURALLY ON SUNDAYS AS A PRIEST OF JESUS CHRIST............

For the thirtieth consecutive Sunday, here I am not doing what Catholic priests who are capable do, presiding at public Sunday Masses - but sitting here filling time and space as though I am intellectually, spiritually, and pastorally, incompetent, whereas I am physicially challenged, not unable to celebrate and communicate as effectively as any of my brother priests.  My return in recent weeks to part-time ministry at Sacred Heart Church here in East Sacramento, assisting with the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, (RCIA) and helping with Confessions of the students in the parish school, are most welcome additions to my mundane and underwhelming daily schedule, striving to retain the spirit and truth of my chronological age and capacity, in an environment where the focus is on retirement and assisted care, which do not reflect my life or condition.  Because I am in a wheelchair does not disqualify or disable my ability to carry out ministry, it empowers and enables it.  To think or to act otherwise only limits and marginalizes the value of the abilities I retain and the ministry I am ordained to carry out as a native born, local grown, priestly vocation of the Sacramento Diocese.  Resuming some aspects of public ministry is most welcome, in the anticipation and hope that common sense will soon prevail, allowing me to return to publicly presiding at Sunday Mass, regardless of whether I am able to stand, or need to sit; as over the past decade I have shown repeatedly how a wheelchair is an empowerment not a disablement............Fr.  Troy

AN AFTERNOON SPENT JUDGING DEBATE ROUNDS AT SACRAMENTO STATE ON THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE............

Ihave have just returned from spending several hours with Joe Gibson at our alma mater, Sacramento State University; judging preliminary rounds of student debates in the, "Ronald Reagan Great Communicator Debate Series" today with the topic being : Resolved - 'The Electoral College is no longer necessary in the election of the President of the United States'.  The basis for judging the debaters were their Display of Logic, Reasoning, and Analysis; to Utilize Evidence but not be Driven by it; to Present a Clash of Ideas; the ability to Counter the Arguments of the Opponents in Rebuttal; to Communicate Ideas with Clarity, Organization, Eloquence, and when appropriate, Humor.  The two rounds each Joe and I judged were very good expositions of the Arguments in the Affirmative and Negative positions on the Topic of abolishing the Electoral College.  As judges we were given the opportunity to pose questions to each of the debaters asking to clarify or expand on their arguments and to offer commentary on their debating  at the conclusion of their presentations before evaluating their effectiveness in a confidential marking of a Debate Ballot scoring them.  After a set of elimination rounds, the competition will conclude with a final round with the top two debaters today, who will be judged by a blue ribbon panel of judges, including Professor Barbara O'Connor, Sac State Communications / Debate alumnus, Craig Jones, State Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones, Sacramento Bee political editor Dan Walters, Capitol Public Radio correspondent Beth Ruyiak, and California State Broadcasters Association director, Stan Statham, a former television news anchorman and state assemblyman.  As a student of the American Presidency and a close follower of the dynamics and history of the Electoral College, I was delighted to have the opportunity to serve as a part of the proceedings today and I am thankful to Joe for recruiting me to assist him.  The four rounds combined we adjudicated were a wonderful and worthwhile way to spend a sigbnificant part of this Saturday. one month to the day until the 2012 Presidential Election and the role the Electoral College will play in its outcome............Fr.  Troy

SEPTEMBER JOBS REPORT SHOWS UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DROPS TO 7.8%............

The September Jobs Report released this morning shows an increase of 114,000 new Jobs were created last month, and an additional 86,000 Jobs were added to the totals for July and August, lowering the UnEmployment rate three tenths of one percent, to 7.8% nationally.  Thus the American UnEmployment rate drops below eight percent for the first time in over three and a half years and is back to where it was at the beginning of the Obama Administration. These figures were almost immediately challenged in a tweet by Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric and  Chairman of NBC; a Romney supporter, who questioned the credibility of the umemployment number a month before the General Election.  However, the statistics were are confidentially prepared by the Bureau of Labor Statistics by civil servants, not political appointees are available to no one outside the career progessional economists in the BLS, and the information was shared only with the President at 4 p.m. yesterday afternoon.  To try to offset the announced lowered unemployment number as the Presidential campaign comes into its final month as a conspiracy between the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the White House, and the Chicago Obama-Biden campaign offices, seems quite a stretch an attempt by "Jobbers", akin to "Birthers", who are intent on discrediting, if not disqualifying as President and as am honest candidate for re-election............Fr.  Troy

THE DAY AFTER THE FIRST DEBATE BACK ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL............

Last night's first Presidential Debate between Governor Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama at the University of Denver, was seen by an estimated 58 million people according to the Neilsen Ratings, in the preliminary report they released today.  Romney's winning of the Debate propelled in part by Obama's unwillingness to assert himself in responding to his challenger's bold and feisty moderation of his positions, while attacking the incumbent's record, is enigmatic and inexplicable, other than the possibility the President decided on a strategy not to aggressively challenge Romney, to stay above the fray and preserve his likeability.  Fact checks today are discovering holes in the veracity of statements made by Governor Romney last night, which may impact the final effectiveness of his overall first Debate performance.  Romney followed up today making a victory lap appearance at the Colorado C-PAC Conference before proceeding to Virginia and Florida, to resume on the countdown campaign trail.  A much more animated Obama spoke at a rally in Denver this morning  before heading to Ohio, Virginia, and Florida, to continue his campaign push. The next Obama-Romney Debate on Tuesday October 16th, is in a Town Hall Meeting format.  It will almost certainly be an extremely ramped up exchange, as both Romney and Obama will most likely be revved up to put their views before the audience and one another, while interacting with those in attendance.  Next up in this series of four - 3 Presidential; 1 Vice Presidential; Debates - is the Vice Presidential Debate between the Democratic incumbent Joe Biden, and the Republican nominee Paul Ryan, Thursday night October 11th, from Center University in Danville, Kentucky............Fr.  Troy

A LIVELY ROMNEY - OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE NUMBER ONE............

Governor Mitt Romney faced off in a very feisty ninety minute presentation of debate against President Barack Obama tonight in Denver, taking his case about the record of the incumbent on domestic issues of the Economy, Healthcare, Education, Energy, among others, in contrast to a laid back President Obama, who seemed unwilling to forcibly challenge Governor Romney, as he represented his record and responded to Romney's proposals.  Romney came prepared to reiterate two and three times over his positions on creating Jobs, Repealing and Replacing National Health Care, Tax Cuts, and Education.  Romney drove the Debate and the Obama opened strong and then seemed to struggle in responding to the questions and in clearly stating his positions for much of tonight's Debate.  The President improved in his responses seventy minutes into the Debate, but then again declined in effectiveness with a scattered closing statement.  Romney closed strong, and focused, but during the ninety minutes he also moderated his positions on Healthcare and claimed he has no plans for a Tax Cut for upper income Americans, and vowed he will restore the $716 billion cut he argued President Obama has made to Medicare.  The pundits and political analysts are largely declaring Romney the winner of this Debate, as is the Romney-Ryan campaign.  The Obama-Biden campaign is neither claiming victory or conceding defeat.   The CBS News instant poll of 523 Undecided Voters who watched the Presidential Debate tonight finds 46% feel Romney won;  22% feel  Obama won;  32% feel it was a Tie.  The campaign proceeds with two more Presidential Debates on October 16th and 22nd, a Vice Presidential Debate on October 11th, and 33 days to go until General Election Day.  Governor Romney's Debate performance in Denver tonight, puts him right back in the race for the White House and means President Obama will have to be more more aggressive in arguing the case for his re-election and disputing Romney's candidacy, in the two subsequent Debates and the closing days of Campaign 2012............Fr.  Troy

THE FIRST OBAMA - ROMNEY PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE TONIGHT IN DENVER............

First Lady Michelle Obama and Mrs. Ann Romney have been recognized in the University of Denver hall hosting tonight's Presidential Debate between Mitt Romney and Barack Obama.  Debate Moderator Jim Lehrer, of the PBS Newshour is in place at his desk on the Debate stage and is instructing the audience.  Lehrer introduces the two candidates who walk out to their podiums ready to begin their first Debate for President 2012.  Differences, Specifics, and Choices, are Lehrer's stated intention for the candidates' answers.The President opens, just as the Governor will close the Debate.  He begins by congratulating his "sweetie", on their 20th wedding anniversary.  Speaks of the circumstances he inherited as President and states tonight's debate and his candidacy focus are about the future.  The Governor congratulates the President on his anniversary and begins to describe his ability to turn the Economy around saying it has to be a different path than the one we have been on, not Obama's failed path.  He ticks off his 5 point plan which he laid out in his RNC Acceptance Speech......To be Continued......tdp

A NIGHT TO GET SPECIFIC AND NEW IN PRESIDENTIAL DETAIL AS THEY DEBATE............

President Obama and Governor face one essential test tonight if they are to provide a serious Debate in their contest for the Presidency 2012; and that is to move beyond the boilerplate and predictable responses to the questions about their candidacies and provide specific details, as to their plans and proposals for the next four years.  How will President Obama build upon or change his approach to improving the Economy, and solidify National Security, Justice, and Peace, for Americans.  What will Governor Romney say to flesh out the Economic Recovery Plan he says he has with specific proposals, such as the $17,000.00 cap on personal deductions he teased in a Denver television station interview today, which a Romney spokeswoman afterwards clarified as being one of several options he has under consideration.  Zingers, charm, or diversionary answers will neither serve either candidate, nor gain anything substantial for the American People in making their decision as to who will be the next President of the United States.  Debate Moderator Jim Lehrer and his expertise at these quadrennial forums should assist the cause of drawing them out of their pre-set comfort zones and get them to open up on their positions more precisely and convincingly............tdp    

WILL MITT ROMNEY'S ZINGERS GET UNDER PRESIDENT OBAMA'S SKIN ?............

By disclosing in advance of the first Presidential Debate, that since August Mitt Romney has been rehearsing so called, "zingers", to lob at Barack Obama in their face-off at the University of Denver, in the swing State of Colorado; what is the Romney-Ryan attempting to accomplish ?  Zingers are normally most effective when they occur spontaneously and unexpectedly; not when they are telegraphed as being fully rehearsed in advance.  So what is the reason to disclose the challenger will be throwing out such lines as he debates the incumbent ?   Is it to irritate the President and put him on the defensive in defending his record or the rationale for re-electing him; or is it as I believe it could be an attempt to throw the Barack Obama off his stride and divert his focus from zeroing in effectively on Romney's proposals ?  It could also be a fallback positioning for explaining after the fact should Romney not convincingly prevail over Obama in tonight's Debate.  Since the inception of the Presidential Debates in 1960, the challenger has customarily won the first debate among the two party candidates.  However, the major national polls released this week show a solid majority of Americans think President Obama will win the Debate tonight, thus by telegraphing their candidate's intention to zing the President, gives them the option afterwards of claiming the zingers got in the way of the Governor's wider message, as a unqualified loss in tonight's Debate all but end Romney's possibility of winning the Election.  How well prepared and able Barack Obama is to absorb the zingers and other attacks on his record and reasons for re-election, whether he stays calm, or gets provoked, will also play a pivotal role as much as the substance of their differing visions, and ideas, in determining who in the minds of the viewers who the winner of Presidential Debate 2012 will be............tdp

DEBATE NIGHT IN DENVER............

With five hours to the start of the First Presidential Debate, perhaps the most decisive night of the 2012 campaign between Governor Romney and President Obama; the candidates are in Denver, where the Debate will take place.  The Romney campaign is saying their candidate is not setting out to score a knock out punch against the President but to offer a clear choice to the American People on the Economy as he contrasts his proposals with Obama's record.  The Obama campaign is signalling in a memo released this morning that President Obama will press Governor Romney on more details about his plans for as many five issues including from Balancing the Budget, and Energy Independence.  Interestingly, as a side note, today the occasion of the first Presidential Debate is also Barack and Michelle Obama's 20th Wedding Anniversary, which CNN's Wolf Blitzer is referring to as being spent tonight on a "double date with Mitt and Ann Romney"............tdp

TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT OF THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE............

With thirty four days remaining in the 2012 General Election campaign for President of the United States, tonight is the first of the three Presidential Debates between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.  After months of back and forth from afar, the two nominees will come face to face for ninety minutes of questions and answers on domestic issues moderated by longtime PBS Newshour anchorman Jim Lehrer, a veteran Presidential Debate questioner.  How stark a contrast the challenger and the incumbent will provide;  just how aggressive a response they will make against each others' records and plans for the country; and what specifics they offer to concretize their visions and proposals for the next four years; are elements to be watched for, as the President and the Governor make their cases.  The Debate begins at 6 p.m. Pacific, 9 p.m. Eastern Time, on all the broadcast and cable networks, as well as on online.  An audience of 50 million people is expected to tune for what uis being described as the, "Duel In Denver".  I will be blogging throughout the day and into the night about it............Fr.  Troy

PAPAL BUTLER'S THEFT TRIAL UNDERWAY............

The judicial trial of Paolo Gabriele, the butler for Pope Benedict XVI, charged with the theft of papal papers and other possessions from the Holy Father's residence in Vatican City, began on Saturday.  It reaches its pivotal moments today, just three days later with the cross examination and testimony of Gabriele himself, who has already admitted to passing papal documents to Italian author Gianluigi Nuzzi, who in May of this year published the book, "His Holiness: The Secret Papers Of Benedict XVI".  The book reports internal rivalries with the Vatican's inner circle, steeped in political maneuvering and even corruption.  Gabriele in admitting his role in pilfering and passing papal documents, has said he was acting under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and for the good of the Church, seeking to expose and eradicate, "evil and corruption".  The trial judge indicated Saturday that the proceedings may be concluded within the week.  In addition to Gabriele, eight other persons, 6 police officers, a woman Religious who works in the papal apartment, and Msgr. Georg Ganswein, Pope Benedict's private secretary; are testifying as witnesses at Gabriele's trial.  What will not be entered into evidence by determination of the Court is the Report of the Commission of 3 Senior Cardinals appointed by the Pope to investigate the so called, "Vatileaks" incident.  Thus, any information discovered by them will not be entered into consideration.  If convicted, Gabriele faces a sentence of up to 4 years in an Italian prison, with Vatican City State having only holding cells.  But there is an emerging expectation that the former butler will receive a pardon from the Pope and serve a relatively short sentence, if that............Fr.  Troy

TODAY'S ABC NEWS - WASHINGTON POST AND CNN - ORC POLLS SHOW A TIGHTENING NATIONAL PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE............

Two major national preference polls in the Presidential campaign today show that President Obama has lost his post Democratic National Convention bounce and that the race with Governor Romney for the White House, is statistically tied.  The ABC News - Washington Post Poll released this morning shows just a two percentage point difference among likely voters nationally, between the candidates - Obama 49%;  Romney 47%;. However, the incumbent's lead over the challenger grows to a twelve percent advantage among likely voters, when the nine swing States are taken into account with Obama leading Romney.  The margin of error in the ABC-WP Poll is 3.5%.  The CNN-ORC released at the top of the this hour, shows a three percent difference in;  preference between the candidates nationally; with Obama at 50%; and Romney 47%; but an eleven percent lead within the swing States; and shows Romney now leading among Independents, 49%; to Obama's 41%;  while maintaining a fifteen percent advantage among White Voters, 56%; to 41%; although as CNN's John King points out Romney needs to cap  Obama's support among White Voters to 38% or less, in order to win the Election himself.  Both of these Polls find that the respondents by nearly a two to one margin, expect President Obama will win the first Debate Wednesday night in Denber, Colorado; even though historically since 1960, the challenger / underdog has usually won the initial face-off between the Presidential standardbearers.  Thus, this Wednesday night looms even larger, as to just how close the choice for President 2012 remains as the final five weeks of the Romney-Ryan, Obama-Biden campaigns stream toward General Election Day November 6th............Fr.  Troy