National Cathedral Thinks “Fuck the UAW” and “Fucking R****ds” Will Heal National Discourse
Our national discourse is becoming increasingly shrill. We are faced with complex economic, social, and foreign policy questions that need a safe atmosphere in which to explore solutions that will work for the long term. Partisan attacks have taken hold in Washington and throughout the country, and reasoned analysis is harder and harder to find. Can we turn it around? What will it take to shift from accusation to reflection and purposeful debate? Can we find mutual respect that allows us to “govern across the divide?”
On the evening of Tuesday, October 5, as part of its commitment to present programs at the intersection of faith and public life, Washington National Cathedral hosts the 2010 Nancy and Paul Ignatius Program. This year’s program features two presidential chiefs of staff: Rahm Emanuel, chief of staff to President Barack Obama, and Joshua Bolten, chief of staff to former President George W. Bush. Historian Michael Beschloss provides a reflection following the main dialogue featuring CBS anchor Bob Schieffer as moderator. Knowing firsthand how intense the political climate can get, Emanuel and Bolten share a sense of how and why Washington has become so divisive and how we might return some civility and cooperation to the discourse. [my emphasis]
If you didn’t already know, I’m all in favor of the occasional F-Bomb.
What I’m not in favor of is attacking your allies, particularly not if you’re in a position of power made possible by the hard work of those allies.
But I guess the National Cathedral ascribes to that well established religion of the Village, flaccid bipartisanship that ignores things like mutual respect.
And to answer your question, yes, the Ignatius family sponsoring this is columnist David Ignatius’.
Asking Emanuel and Bolten how we might return some civility and cooperation to the discourse is the same as asking wolverine to be nice to anything that isn’t another wolverine.
Boxturtle (If you want a return to civility, the first thing to do is to tell Rahm to F-off back to Chicago)
So many people this week evince no concern whatsoever for the people of Chicago!
As if Rahm’s buzzing around the seat of national government had anything to do with us.
Do you think he has the slightest chance?
I can’t imagine that offensive screw up could get elected as dog catcher these days. I love Chicago, but I also hope Rahm’s arrogance leads him to bail on the WH gig so he can run for mayor and get his ass handed to him. You don’t think he’s got a snowball’s chance, do you?
Rahm used to be a high grade fund raiser for Daley; if the Daley machine backs Emanuel, he has much more than a chance.
I despair for my country and the people of Chicago ; )
We can hope that the people who actually live and vote in Chicago don’t want Rahm as mayor. He certainly doesn’t seem to stick to any job for very long.
That Shakir quote fits in a tweet? It’s more than 200 words!
Anyway, I am hard pressed to think of any two individuals LESS qualified to lead a discussion on healing the national discourse.
Bob in AZ
On the way to the bathroom at the National Cathedral there’s a stone in the wall with the word “Gitmo” engraved on it.
Michael Beschloss, the rabbi from “Seinfeld”?
Perhaps the National Cathedral is on to something. If it is constructed like medieval churches, there is probably a trapdoor under the altar.
Dropping those two into an abattoir will certainly improve the national dialogue!
I believe you mean dropping them into an oubliette.
An abattoir is, IIRC, a slaughterhouse.
Having a national cathedral (however ecuminecally it may be run) in the land of no state religion is as perverse as corporations having political free speech rights in a representative democracy, or considering the nonextension of the Bush tax cuts for the top 2% to be controversial.
It’s enough to make one feel like a pre-Revolutionary colonial.
Actually, it has nothing to do with the government. It’s only called the National Cathedral. Wiki says it’s officially named the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, and it’s Episcopal.
(I could do without it being called ‘National’ also. Too many wrong implications.)
D’oh!
Now if it were John Bolton, instead of Joshua Bolten, there could be some real entertainment value there… Two of the most aggressively foul-mouthed men in politics. ‘Course he and “Fuck the UAW” pretty much bat for the same team, so there would probably be a few choruses of kumbaya and everyone would head out to hit the pubs and punch some hippies.
Oh— Joshua Bolton. My bad. My brain read “John”. Guess I was assuming the worst.
Thanks for your assistance.
Bob in AZ