Well, the longest election campaign is now over and I certainly wish the results were different. Nevertheless, congratulations are certainly in order for President-elect Obama. While I don’t agree with some of the financial doings of his campaign or some of his policy positions, he certainly ran a successful campaign. His success is due in large part to the campaign’s grassroots outreach. I was consistently impressed by all the local campaign activity I saw. It’s important that a whole new... Read more

Today is election day – here are some tips (and perks!) for the day. I recall going with my parents to vote – it was always an important occasion. Every time I vote, I get teary eyed. It’s one of those moments when I experience the overwhelming awareness of how much has been given by others so that I can have this opportunity to participate in my government. That awareness has only increased this year since my brother Bruno was... Read more

If you look beyond the veneer of the what the mainstream media calls news, or if you just listen to ordinary people, you find a completely different Sarah Palin. While she’s been attacked from all sides, even by fellow Republicans/conservatives, Sarah Palin continues to impress. I’ve written about her on my site because I admire her success – professional and personal. I admire that she’s true to her values and that she hasn’t compromised her femininity by forgoing family. Nor... Read more

We’ve had an interesting presidential campaign. Not only has it been the longest, it has also once again stirred controversy over a matter that has been settled for Catholics for 2000 years. Tom McCluskey, VP of Government Affairs at the Family Research Council (and my former colleague), has this excellent piece examining Senator Obama’s radical abortion position. As Tom points out, in a time when the economy and the war are first on people’s minds, it’s remarkable (at the very... Read more

My brother Capt. Bruno de Solenni died in Afghanistan on September 20 when his vehicle was hit by an IED. Please keep him and our family in your thoughts and prayers. Additionally, two Afghan interpreters were killed and at least two soldiers were injured. Please keep them all in your prayers. You might appreciate this letter from Bruno that was published in our local paper just recently, before his death on Saturday. Here is a poignant note from a friend... Read more

So far, most of the debate surrounding same-sex marriage has been cast as a liberal-conservative divide, but guess again. It’s more fundamental than politics. I’ve heard that John Paul II was attributed with saying that every child has the right to be out of (as a result of) love. I find this concept deeply profound and will have to save my musings on it for another time. But David Blankenhorn, a self identified liberal Democrat, offers some tremendous food for... Read more

So…it’s still news that the Catholic Church is against abortion. Actually, the news is that this might affect how Catholics vote. The New York Times has this piece on the topic of abortion and the role it will play in the votes cast by Catholics this November. In the words of the NYT, it’s about “dividing” the Catholic vote. But the piece illustrates that when people are educated about their faith, they will vote accordingly. In case of abortion, the... Read more

Remember how Oprah wouldn’t have VP candidate Governor Palin on her show? This clip from documentary footage of Governor Palin reveals so much. I’ll leave it to you, but it’s too bad Oprah hasn’t taken a trip to Alaska or – as suggested elsewhere – invited Todd Palin on the show. Read more

The attention surrounding the nomination of Governor Palin as Senator McCain’s vice presidential running mate continues to build and reveal…. Most interestingly, the debate about feminism has been challenged, perhaps as never before. The question facing us is whether a woman who happens to be pro-life and who prays can exemplify the goals of feminism. For many of us, the answer is unabashedly in the affirmative, regardless of our views on abortion and religion. Cathy Young has this concise piece... Read more

Governor Palin’s nomination as a VP candidate has certainly shaken things up, even (especially?) for feminists. Camille Paglia has this piece in Salon examining the effect of Governor Palin’s nomination. While I may not agree with all of Paglia’s views, I certainly respect and welcome her as a provocative and insightful thinker. The article is on the longish side, but worth the read for anyone who has any interest in feminism or matters related to women. Here are a few... Read more