Mourning with the Medveds

The father of my favorite radio talk show host passed away this week. He is eulogized lovingly by his daughter-in-law and it makes me sad that I never met the man. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, among many other interesting achievements. Mostly, he embraced life completely, and loved greatly. May he rest in peace.

Big News for Big Foot Optimists...

...and Yeti...

I read this article and the first thought that ran through my mind was, "Oh, I bet Michael Medved is over the moon excited about this" [scroll way down to the section entitled "SOME EMBARRASSING SECRETS ABOUT MICHAEL MEDVED," to the sentence about Dan Sytman. ]

I listened to his podcast/musings and my suspicions were confirmed. Tune in Friday for the press conference in Palo Alto, California.

UPDATE: Based on an interview I heard today on the radio, expect this report to be dismissed as a hoax.

Medved on Apologies

I got to speak with Michael on the 'Open Mind Friday' segment today. Yesterday, he talked about how the Congress is considering a bill that would formally apologize for slavery and he opposes it. I recalled him speaking years ago very approvingly of John Paul II's apology for misdeeds of the Inquisition, and asked him how they are different. He came up with points of distinction, but agreed that it was a fair challenge. I could tell he was thinking on the fly and he just loves that intellectual challenge. That's about the best I can do these days.

Medved, McCain and Me -- Part 3

I was pleased to be on the Michael Medved show again today during his weekly "Open Mind Friday" segment. I have been pretty upset lately with how vitriolic, venomous and personal much of right-wing talk radio has gotten over the McCain/Romney divide. It has gotten so bad that these right-wing talk radio hosts have been practically accusing him of heresy and then they attack him personally [noting his suit and his mustache]. I wondered how Medved stays in good spirits about all this and asked him how he handles MDS--Medved Derangement Syndrome.

He was pleasant and kind and told me that his wife, Diane, helps him to decompress and turn his mind to other topics. I reminded Michael that I've seen him stand up against criticism of his colleagues like when he supported Mel Gibson in the making of "The Passion of the Christ," and he stood up for Ann Coulter when she said outrageous things about John Edwards.

I had finally come to support Fred Thompson a while ago, donated $50 for the cause, whereupon he promptly withdrew from the race. Right now, I'm not really for Mitt or McCain but not strongly opposed to either of them. I will say, however, that I'm not at all impressed with the way these professional talkers are handling the subject. That is, except for Michael Medved, who continues to be a mensch.

Medved and Fred and The Authenticity Gap

I spoke with Michael Medved today during his regular Open Line Friday segment. In a Medved online podcast, he talked about the current crop of candidates with the highest negatives [both at 47%] and they are: Hillary Clinton and Mitt Romney. Medved mused that both of them come across as phoney and that their polling reflects that, especially among young voters. That got me thinking about authenticity as a political quality and wondering who in our stable of candidates is very authentic. Given Obama's excellent win, I started re-thinking the possible match-up. Who in the Republican field could go up against this authentic, likeable, yet light-weight Democrat?

I told Medved he should reconsider Fred Thompson because of his high authenticity value. I cited two things: he got in when he chose [not subscribing to conventional wisdom] and more recently, at the debate where he refused the school-marmish instructions to raise his hand for an answer. He did it in a gentlemanly way, but he refused to conform. Further, he's been endorsed by the National Right to Life, which is important to pro-lifers like me. His tax plan excites me insofar as it flattens the tax rate to only two brackets and simplifies the reporting process and still allows those who wish to remain on the current method to do so. He is a plodder in this marathon of politics. I suggested we all need to recalibrate ourselves to his pace. The show went to commercial break and that was that.

He's still da mensch.

Funny [Odd] Quote I Heard Today

Grover Norquist was a guest on Michael Medved's radio show. He was talking about the Republican candidates for president and how the party should allow people to convert in their political views from less conservative to more conservative. He added, "The reason the Catholic Church maintains its market share is because it accepts converts."

'Catholic Church' and 'market share' have never crossed my mind in the same thought.

Just for Posterity

Seeing as this blog is the cyber equivalent of a Post-it on my life,

I just wanted to pixilate that on September 21, 2007, I was on the Medved show's Open Mind Friday begging him ["For the love of Hubbard"] to never again let Republican presidential candidate Alan Keyes on his show. [Sheesh! What an indefatigable windbag!]

Also: Confession, 9/30/07.

Date Night: "Knocked Up" and Dinner with Friends

It was a rare double date and on a Friday, too. I scrambled home from work just in time. Tonight is was Jimmy's Seafood again [hey! Fish on Fridays isn't just for Lent!] and we scrambled off to see "Knocked Up." Its R-rating was well-deserved. There were lots of f-bombs throughout, plus gross-out adolescent humor and lots of pot smoking. Amid the marijuana haze, though, there were some life-affirming moments. We laughed a lot and enjoyed the not-so-neatly-tied-up ending anyhow.

Michael Medved gave it a tepid review. He liked it, but had great difficulty with the premise that a schlubby Jewish geeky guy could ever win the gorgeous blonde. Seeing as that's exactly what happened in his life, I have to say: Medved, look in a mirror.

Late on the Audio Craze

I really enjoy music and I was even a decent musician in my youth. But I haven't quite digitized my music experience. Dave gave me an iPod for my birthday [September 16th--mark it on your calendars now] and I haven't even taken it out of the box except to look at the shiny chrome and think, "now when will I use this?"

I listen to talk radio, podcasts, and archived Medved at work. There's not much time to listen to music. Plus, I have an office and I just play the radio right by my desk. At the Y, I pop in the earbuds and watch the TV that's connected to the elliptical machine while I eke-out a work-out. If the children are watching the TV, I listen to what's being said. Music just doesn't work its way into my life very much. It's more like the bump music of my otherwise talk-laden life.

That said, I always love it when my friend Reader notes what she's listening to because it affects her mood. I often don't know the song she's hearing, but I sure like knowing that someone's appreciating all the music. The other day, I got the soundtrack to "When Harry Met Sally"...it's ancient and I got it --ahem-- for a song. It's wall-to-wall vintage Harry Connick, Jr. I love it. Dave downloaded it to iTunes and it's the background music for this post. How's that Reader?

Rethinking Honeymoons

I subscribe to the Michael Medved website where he does a regular little podcast on his musings. Today, he was talking about a newly-married Jewish couple who were over to his home for dinner. Two days after their wedding and they weren't on a honeymoon. He went on to say that observant Jews tend to not take honeymoons. The principle is that marriage is a very public relationship and newly marrieds spend their first seven nights visiting other friends and family, thus emphasizing the community. The modern version of honeymoons--a romantic get-away for just the two--is at odds with the real nature of marriage, he instructs.

When Dave and I were married sixteen years ago, we were on active duty and the Operation Desert Shield deployment was in full swing. Dave was preparing for Ranger School and I was preparing to move to Fort Bragg. We were not able to get away. I often joke that I get my honeymoon in annual installments. Our standard advice to couples, however, has been "take a honeymoon."

I might be rethinking that longstanding advice.

Medved, Mel, Magisterium and Me

I was privileged to speak with Michael Medved on his nationally syndicated radio show today. The Mel Gibson controversy has been swirling lately, and Michael has devoted much air time to it. My disagreement with Michael was that he [and myriad others in the media] refer to Mel as "Catholic." In shorthand, "Catholic" means to most people to be "Roman Rite Catholic" or "Catholic in communion with Rome." Mel is not Catholic and I told Michael that. Gibson belongs to a sect that separated from Rome following Vatican II's introduction of Mass celebrated in the vernacular. They are radical traditionalists.

When Pope John Paul II issued apologies for centuries of church anti-semitism and when he visited a rabbi in a Rome synagogue, Mel's group denounced it. While Michael didn't disagree that Mel belongs to a break-away sect, he still maintained that people can self-identify as they wish. The call ended and I ripped off the following email to Michael [in its entirety]:

Michael:
If you knew a pork-eating, non-Sabbath observing man, would you allow him to self-identify as "orthodox Jew"? This stuff matters to me. I think you fluffed me off too lightly. When John Paul II apologized for a history of anti-semitism going back to the Inquisition, Mel's group repudiated it. HE AIN'T CATHOLIC. A duck can call itself a rhinocerous, but it's still a duck.

Ruth Anne

I don't expect a reply, but he was a good sport for putting me on the air.

This small issue matters to me because Catholics are often bashed and a lot of it is well-deserved. We'll take the medicine we have coming. But I repudiate Mel Gibson's anti-semitic and sexist remarks made during his DUI arrest and I don't want that to be perceived as the Catholic norm.

UPDATE: By way of disclosure, I've blogged about Mel Gibson before here and here. I am so disappointed in his latest behavior and pray for him and his wife and family.

Medved, McCain and Me: Part Deux

I had another chat with the mensch, Michael Medved, today. The subject: Senator John McCain. Michael is warming up to him as a presidential candidate. I disagreed. As support for his view, he cited the speech McCain delivered recently to the graduating class at Liberty University. He played cuts from the speech. It was full of rhetorical flourishes and was moving, I'll grant that. My position was that McCain had a lot of preparation, staffers and help in making a memorable speech, but it takes more than oration to be a good president. Michael held me over the break and we continued talking about other prospects for the Republican nomination. I tend to favor those men who've been governors because it is the best executive "practice" for POTUS. I think it's still too early and we ought to see how these mid-terms play out.

Medved and Me and United 93

I had the privilege of speaking with Michael Medved's guest, Lloyd Levin, one of the producers of today's newly-released movie "United 93." I asked him about ads for the movie touting that 10% of the first weekend's box-office would be donated to the United Flight 93 Memorial Charity. I asked him if he would consider extending that pledge to include 10% during the film's entire theatrical run. I didn't get a definite answer. I told him that to extend the charitable contribution would make it look less like a ploy to fill the seats during the premier weekend and more like a tribute to those killed in United 93.

I have heard nothing but spectacular reviews from all who've seen this movie. I plan to see it in the theater. For us, movie night is about a hundred dollar deal when you figure in baby-sitter and concession stand trips. I think this will be worth it.

Firstborn Sons

Tonight, we celebrated the institution of the Eucharist in the Holy Thursday Mass. The first reading, from Exodus, recounted the original passover story where the Hebrews were led out of bondage in Egypt. They were told to select a spotless lamb, slaughter it and place some of its blood over their doorways. Their homes were thus marked and the firstborns of that household [both man and beast] would be spared when the angel of death came later to claim the lives of all firstborns. The blood of the spotless lamb informed the angel of death: Pass over. No lives to claim here.

Today, listening to a podcast by Michael Medved, I learned that the day before Passover is a day of fasting for observant Hebrew firstborn sons. This obligation is often fulfilled in a early gathering with other firstborns where they study some Scripture and then break their fast together. He said that because he's travelling today and not in community, he's obliged to fast from food or water until the Seder meal. There are many privileges conferred on the firstborns, and with that go many obligations.

I was glad to learn something new today. Tonight, I was glad to recall our ancient heritage of Communion that goes back to the firstborn Son of God, who was fulfilling the ancient tradition of his people.

Medved, McCain and Me

A few days ago, Michael Medved had Senator John McCain as a guest on his radio show. I got through to the call screener and blathered something about "Why was Senator McCain keeping his hometown reporters from the Arizona Republic off of the 'Straight Talk Express' bus? Was he miffed at them for reporting correctly about his wife's mental health challenges?" I was really shot-gunning at that point and I was politely declined.

As the hour went on, I gathered my thoughts. I was really surprised at how tepid Michael's interview was. My goodness! He kept lobbing softballs to the guy! I tried again to get through. This time, I asked an innocuous, but better question. Senator, as a member of a 100 member body, you have a lot of legislative experience. Tell me what executive experience you've ever had that would rival some of the other potential Republican presidential candidates like Mike Huckabee, George Allen or Mitt Romney? That's what I would have asked had the hour not run out.

On disagreement day [Thursday], I got through and asked Michael why he handled McCain so gingerly? First off: he acknowledged that he had given the Senator a fluffy interview. He wanted to assist the senator in repairing rifts with the republican religious right whom he had angered during the 2000 presidential election. Fair enough. It is, after all, Medved's show.

24/Michael Medved/Joel Surnow

Yesterday, I got to speak with my favorite mensch, Michael Medved on his nationally syndicated radio talk show. His guest was television producer Joel Surnow of the FoxTV show "24". The show begins its fifth season on Sunday with a two hour spot followed by another two hours on Monday. The show, one of our faves, follows US government agent Jack Bauer, played beautifully by Kiefer Sutherland, through one twenty-four hour day of mayhem. Each episode follows one hour in real time. There are multiple story lines going and lots of intrigue and suspense.

I asked Mr. Surnow if he was influenced by the TV Show "Wild Wild West" in the way that he uses multiple screens at the end of each segment. I also wondered if he was influenced by Alfred Hitchcock. According to IMDB, Mr. Surnow will appear this season somewhere in the 7th episode. His response? They steal from everybody.

All the reviews I've heard so far are raves. This season you can bet the Adamses will be riveted.

When (My) Worlds Collide

Today, while waiting on hold to speak with Michael Medved about the religious implications to Alito's nomination, he mentioned an article written by Ann Althouse in the New York Times Op-Ed. He described her as "liberal" law professor. As a faithful visitor of the Althouse blog, I know that she wouldn't describer herself thusly. After the commercial break, I told Michael I was her student [20 years ago, like that would matter] and that I believe she would characterize herself as a moderate. Proof? She voted for Bush last go-round. Medved conceded the point with his classic, "fair enough."

We went on to discuss the role, if any, Alito's religion had in his selection by Bush or in the potential challenges he would face because of it. If approved by the Senate, he will be the 5th Catholic to currently sit on the court, a first ever that the Catholics would be in the majority on the high court. Michael asked if that would bother me. I replied, "as a Catholic, I'd have to say 'no'." End of my call.

To close the loop, I searched an appropriate post at Althouse to mention the call and found that some liberals had called her a "conservative" because of the same Op-Ed, and then, committed a cardinal sin....FAILED TO LINK! Another Althouse commenter and blogger in his own right at Poliblogger held up the bloggy mirror. And now we have a glimpse at infinity.

Recent History Re: Women in the Law in Texas

I told Michael Medved that I thought the Harriet Miers' nomination smacked of affirmative action. After reading this letter from a contemporary of hers--now a judge in Texas--I am reminded of how recently it was much much much more difficult for women like me to become lawyers and take the "mommy track". I stand corrected and I thank my friend, Carol Platt Liebau, for having the class to post the letter from Judge Sharolyn Woods.

Medved & Miers & Me

Today I had the privilege of speaking with radio talk show host Michael Medved about the Harriet Miers nomination. The thrust of my position was that I am not thrilled about her nomination because I see her nomination as an affirmative action selection for the "woman seat" being vacated by Sandra Day O'Connor. If that seat is now going to be the "woman" seat, then Bush better darn sure select the best qualified woman, and I have some serious doubts about Miers being the best qualified of either sex. But I really object to a seat on the court being seen as a set-aside. The Clarence Thomas seat was first held by Thurgood Marshall, so that, of course is the "African-American male" seat, right?

My view is that when the president limits a seat by sex or race or religion or whatever, we may miss the best qualified candidate. I'm for meritocracy on all these selections. I also am saddened to see that to play the Congressional game and actually get onto the court, we have to look at "stealth candidates" and rely on the president's opinion alone. Lately, he hasn't merited that blind allegiance from me. But at least for Roberts, [also a stealth pick in my view], he had a little more of a record which we could examine and upon which we could form our opinion. To play the game, the president lied [come on! he's known her for 10 years and they never talked about Roe v. Wade?] or parsed an answer to the press corps, and she comes off looking like a sycophantic toady.

Curses to you, John McCain and the Gang of 14 for preserving a filibuster and weakening the president's position on this very critical SCOTUS pick!!

Da Mensch Gets a Cell Phone

Today, while minding my business, listening to Medved, Michael announced that he got a cell phone. This is a long-running debate on his show, which I have blogged about previously. He attributed his change of heart to his wife, Diane, and a caller, "Ruth Anne in Winston-Salem, North Carolina". She is me! I was trying to get through to speak to him on the hour's topic--where have all the movie-goers gone?--and always got the busy signal. I spoke aloud, "Well, I won't be getting on his show today" when he mentioned my name and made the momentous announcement. I let out a triumphal "yop!" and emailed him that he made my day.

My brother Paul heard the show in California, phoned my husband, and told him to remind me to "don't let it go to my head".

Sibling rivalry--the gift that keeps on giving.