Saturday, January 12, 2013

Is Lipinski Quiting?


Is this a trial balloon? He has been in office for 8 years. That is a long time. If so, who should replace him? We have plenty of talent in the 19th. Any names?
Filling the slot tends to be a special headache for Democratic presidents," Vatican 

expert
and papal biographer John Allen wrote in a column this week for the National Catholic Reporter.
Allen said Vatican diplomats have their sights set on a number of Catholic scholars and politicians, including an Illinoisan: U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski, a socially conservative Democrat who opposes abortion rights and the health care mandate.
In an interview, Lipinski told the Tribune he has not been offered the job but would welcome consideration.
"Certainly I am honored with the suggestion that I would be a candidate," Lipinski said. "It's certainly, as a Catholic, something I'd be interested in considering."
The U.S. ambassador to the Holy See confers with the Vatican on matters of foreign policy. It also relies on the Vatican to emphasize common values in countries where the U.S. does not have as much influence, said Mark Lagon, a professor in Georgetown University'sSchool of Foreign Service. 
Nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate, ambassadors report to the secretary of state. Beginning in 1933, several presidents tapped a liaison to the church in Rome, but the U.S. did not establish official diplomatic relations with the Vatican until 1984. Since then, the appointee has always been Catholic.
The nomination is especially challenging for Democratic presidents because of the party's difficult relationship with the Catholic hierarchy in recent times.
"The custom that it has to be a Catholic complicates things further because it's not just a candidate's policy positions that might cause problems, but his or her internal standing in the church," Allen wrote.
Six former U.S. ambassadors to the Vatican endorsed Republican Mitt Romney in the last election. One of them was Ray Flynn, the former Democratic mayor of Boston who was appointed by President Bill Clinton and knows firsthand that the nomination can cause friction.
"It takes a bit of a courageous act on the part of the president to appoint somebody that he disagrees with on some of these issues, as President Clinton disagreed with me," Flynn said. "You need someone who is going to be well-received, well-respected and at the same time is going to be loyal. Loyalty is the key word here — loyal to his church and loyal to the United States, and that can be done."
The ambassadorship vacancy was created when Miguel Diaz resigned in November to teach at the University of Dayton in Ohio. Obama broke ground in 2009 by appointing Diaz, the first Latino in the position. A Cuban-American theology professor, Diaz said he constantly reminded Vatican officials that he handled foreign policy, not domestic issues.

16 comments:

  1. CHICAGO - Democrat Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-3) is considered a top candidate to become the Obama Administration's new ambassador to the Vatican.

    A Catholic, Lipinski has often campaigned as being opposed to abortion, and has even hornswoggled recognitions from groups such as the Christian Coalition and Lake County Right to Life. However, Lipinski voted to pass Obamacare, telling his constituents that it would not require taxpayer-funding of abortions, which turned out to be an obvious lie.

    The congressman made a rambling statement about the post, saying:

    "The ambassador to the Holy See has the opportunity to really hear more from around the world, not just from the Holy See, but what the Holy See hears," he said. "It's different from other ambassadorships. It's not just about the Catholic Church's relationship with the United States. There is sort of a wider-ranging diplomatic role that the Vatican plays in the world that is, in many ways, different from other countries."
    It should be interesting to see if Lipinski can continue his pro-life charade with Pope Benedict XVI and the Church.

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  2. Anonymous1/12/2013

    Obama will not fill the post. If he does fill it, it will not be filled with a straight White male.

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  3. Anonymous1/12/2013

    So Prince Danny is giving up the cushy do-nothing job his daddy all-but-wrapped-up for him. Who will Madigan anoint next for this "elected" position. Perhaps his personal butt boy Steve Landek who was given a state senate seat for his loyal service to King Madigan. Maybe Danny has a kid who's old enough, that would be convenient so no one has to remember a different name to vote for. Maybe he'll give it to little Lisa since a Daley may be throwing his hat into the gubernatorial race, and in Chicago, which all but controls this state, the only thing that has a chance of trumping a Madigan is a Daley whose tongue is firmly planted in a presidential tush.

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  4. Anonymous1/12/2013

    Ambassador to the Vatican is an absolutely perfect gig for a person who inherits political power in the United States and loves to do nothing. What an excellent and suitable job for a person of Dan Lipinski's character.

    The pervasive corruption in Illinois is bizarre and comical.

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  5. Anonymous1/12/2013

    When Lipinski refers to "The Holy See" is he referring to Obama ?

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous1/12/2013

      for the record, Lipinski as his father before him always voted for traditional middle class values.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous1/12/2013

      Ha, ha ha! Lipinksi sure did a hell of a lot for the middle class in his capacity as successor to his father in the federal Cong.


      All those votes for "traditional middle class values" put not one but two chickens in my pot.


      If gifting a Congressional seat is a middle-class value, then you keep it. In my opinion, a guy like this that throws this "middle class value" stuff is a victim. Completely exploited by the blue dogs, like Lipinski, and many Republicans. It is sad. No wonder the Congress is so dysfunctional, and Lipinski contributes to that dysfunction.

      Delete
  6. Anonymous1/12/2013

    I hope a Republican wins.

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  7. Anonymous1/12/2013

    ...."When Lipinski refers to "The Holy See" is he referring to Obama ?"......

    And for all libs their sacrament is abortion.

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  8. Stanley Kowalski1/12/2013

    No Irish need apply.

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  9. Anonymous1/12/2013

    Lipinski does vote Pro-Life. However that is not really a big issue at the moment and when it came to the Obamacare vote he waited and waited and waited til the very last minute - and once he was assured it would pass without his vote, and when the Democrats said (I mean lied) that abortion would NOT be covered - then and only then did he vote against it .....He is fairly middle of the road though overall...anyone else we get will be a true believer liberal most likely.

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  10. Anonymous1/13/2013

    yeah lets put in a white protestant republican to keep t honest.....

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  11. Anonymous1/14/2013

    I think Michael Joyce would be an excellent candidate; he is a brilliant attorney, committed community activist and longtime defender of the south west suburban city and communities. Michael…”pickle” has a long record of public service to the community outreach and is NOT A POLITICIAN, we need more private sector attorney/business persons like Michael Joyce to step up and fill the void.
    Please Michael step up for us in the community, we need you!


    SL

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous2/06/2013

      NOT A POLITICIAN ?

      Give me a break.

      Delete
  12. Anonymous1/14/2013

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  13. Anonymous1/27/2013

    Pickles is going to run for Alderman in 2015

    ReplyDelete