CatherineFavazza.com

Catholic Speaker Month: Kathryn Jean Lopez

Catherine Favazza — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:36:14 +0000

Matthew Warner of Fallible Blogma recently organized Catholic Speaker Month, calling on bloggers to post information about the top 100 or so Catholic speakers, as determined by him and his readers. I volunteered to sing the praises of Kathryn Jean Lopez–and I hope I can do her justice.

Kathryn Jean Lopez has long served as an inspiration to me because she successfully balances two hats in her writing career: politics and religion. Sure, Lopez is the editor of National Review Online and contributors almost hourly to The Corner blog on the site, but she also makes time to frequently craft columns for nonpolitical Catholic newspapers, magazines and websites. Looking for two recent examples of her work that cover her spectrum? Read “What do women want?” and “Setting a new standard for Catholic colleges” for a quick sampling.

I first became a fan of “K-Lo,” as she’s known among her fellow bloggers at National Review Online, while I was an intern at Townhall.com. In my circles, Lopez was a bit of a celebrity, which is to say, she was smart and reasonable. It’s a bit like Intel, really. Our celebrities are not like your celebrities.

One day I happened to forward something brilliant of hers to my brother, who — as it turns out — knew her from Catholic University of America, where she, he and I all attended undergraduate school. I hadn’t realized before then that K-Lo went to CUA and was excited to begin what slightly resembled Kathryn’s path. At the time I had no idea that I’d continue working with Townhall for awhile, and would later report on the Claremont Institute’s panel discussion, “Marriage, Modesty and Modernity,” moderated by Lopez, for the March 2008 issue of Townhall Magazine.

I’ll never forget how inspired I was to see Lopez and think, “That could be me.” It’s not hard to see why she’s a good fit to address groups, particularly high school and college students, setting out on their own paths. She’s an exemplary role model for young Catholics and would be an asset to your school or organization’s upcoming event.

You can also follow her on Twitter: @kathrynlopez.

To learn more about Catholic Speaker Month and other notable Catholic speakers, visit Matthew Warner’s Fallible Blogma.

Put it on the board!

Catherine Favazza — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:59:56 +0000

Back when I re-launched my blog, I had visions of grandeur for a category on my blog called “On the Board,” but I’m sad to admit that I’ve done a terrible job following through. But no more. I’m committing to at least one post a week that puts something “on the board” or analyzes something that used to be “on the board.”

Let me back up.

The expression comes from an ESPN podcast and refers to the predictions that two guys make about sports. When they make predictions, they say, “Put it on the board!” to make it official. The Board, then, is the online record of their fantasy bets.

A friend of mine – a fan of the podcast – started using this expression to refer to the things in and around DC that he wanted to do. It doesn’t make sense because there was clearly no bet involved, and that element is pretty critical to the ESPN idea, but nevertheless, the phrase stuck. New museum opening up? Put it on the board! Restaurant week? Put it on the board! You get the idea.

How does this get back to me? Well, the way I see it, I’m not going to live in DC forever. There’s things about this town that drive me bananas and are driving me away from living in DC and/or the suburbs. But there area things I love, too. I love the history. I love the arts. I love that, for better or worse, there are so many things that I can do and see here that I can’t see and do anywhere else. Not to mention, so much of it is free!

I don’t want to ever move away and regret not trying attending that gallery opening, lecture, museum event or performance. So there you have the story of “on the board” and my intentions to track my non-political experiences around town.

A note: The Real Board online claims that the saying “put it on the board!” is almost trademarked. Hope that doesn’t create any problems, ha.

Another note: I’m also a fan of the UPS board.

New Look, New Name, Same Blog

Maybe you should have had a political agenda.

Catherine Favazza — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:41:26 +0000

Just sayin’.

Check out this Google ad that appeared in my Gmail tonight, just after 10pm, from the candidate who lost to Ken Cuccinelli tonight:

Now, I’m new to the world of political web advertising, but it doesn’t take a professional to ask this question: Why is this guy running (read: paying for) Google ads to run at 10pm local time on election night? Maybe he should have put that money into advertising sooner–try, before the polls closed.

Regardless, congratulations to all the candidates who won this evening, particularly to Bob McDonnell, Ken Cuccinelli, and Chris Christie!

Spare $9 to Save Jersey in ‘09

Election Day in Virginia, New Jersey

Catherine Favazza — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:56:35 +0000

I’m feeling extremely confident about Republican victories in Virginia and we might just pull through in New Jersey, too. All that’s left is for folks to vote – so please, if your state or district has elections today, do your duty – and to pray. Pray for the candidates and their families, regardless of the outcomes today, in thanksgiving that they stepped forward to be public servants and to strengthen our future leaders and the people who support them. Pray too for all the people of this great country, that we may choose our leaders wisely and have the strengthen to follow our consciences.

Cor Jesu alumna Ann Wagner named Roy Blunt’s campaign chairman

Catherine Favazza — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:30:26 +0000

Here’s to an inspirational conservative woman–and to Roy Blunt for selecting a brilliant chairman for his Senate campaign.

Mrs. Wagner and I graduated from the same high school. She sent the kindest words of encouragement to me a few years ago when I passed along a blog post I wrote defending myself from a nasty attack. I’m so thankful a woman with her character is undertaking the important work of electing Roy Blunt to U.S. Senate.

Her bio, featured in the Monday press release announcing her new role in the Blunt campaign, follows:

Following nomination by President George W. Bush and confirmation by the U.S. Senate, Ann Wagner was sworn in as the 19th U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg where she served for four years until July, 2009. Previously, Ann Wagner was Co-Chair of the Republican National Committee for two terms and also held the position of Chair of the Missouri Republican Party for more than six years. She served for nine years as a local committeewoman in Lafayette Township, Missouri. In the private sector, she held management positions for two Missouri companies: Hallmark Cards in Kansas City, and Ralston Purina in St. Louis. A graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia, Ambassador Wagner earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, attending university on a vocal music scholarship. Ambassador Wagner, a St. Louis native and her husband, Ray, live in Ballwin. They have three children: Raymond III, 20, Stephen, 19, and Mary Ruth, 14.

“…a bill that the American public clearly does not like, and doesn’t support.”

Catherine Favazza — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:40:22 +0000

Who else is tired of the health care debate? Sen. Mitch McConnell is right: the American public doesn’t like this and doesn’t support it. Shouldn’t that be enough?

“While final details of this bill are still unknown, here’s what we do know: It will be a thousand-page, trillion-dollar bill that raises premiums, raises taxes and slashes Medicare for our seniors to create new government spending programs. That’s not reform. So, wholly aside from the debate over whether the government gets into the insurance business, the core of the proposal is a bill that the American public clearly does not like, and doesn’t support.”

Who’s ready to move on?

Thank You, Washington Post

Catherine Favazza — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 02:39:57 +0000

I’m a Sunday subscriber to the Washington Post largely because I like the idea of reading the paper and drinking coffee on a Sunday morning.

In reality, I end up getting so frustrated by the bias and the politics that the only section I read in full is the Arts section, in search of an excuse to get to the Kennedy Center. In reality, Sunday often gets away from me and I sometimes recycle the outdated paper without having read a word.

I’m thrilled to say that didn’t happen today.

No, today I woke up and didn’t need to hurry anywhere, so I opened up the paper–albeit reluctantly–wondering what the staff of the Post would have to say today. Like a masochist, I made my usual first move: the unsigned editorials. And I was shocked to find the Post unexpectedly and unabashedly opposing a second stimulus plan and defending Michelle Rhee, a take-no-prisoners enemy of the AFL-CIO.

They didn’t sound like “the liberal media” today:

“Government has managed to blunt the recession, but at a cost — a higher national debt burden, which future Americans must pay off by working harder and saving more than they otherwise would have. The real question is whether the benefits of pumping even more government fuel into America’s engine outweigh the risks.”

Spoken like a Rush baby, right? It gets better.

“So what is really the cause of the continuing rift between school and union leaders? Is it Ms. Rhee’s blunt style and her budget-mandated reduction in force? Or is it that the union cannot abide, above all in the nation’s capital, a contract under which schoolteachers — like employees throughout the private sector — might have their work judged, and their compensation awarded, in part on how well they do their jobs?”

Take that, union thugs.

The Washington Post better be careful; if they keep up this refreshing attitude on their editorial page, they’re never going to shake this right-wing subscriber.

To be clear, I’m not saying today’s paper was without bias. I’m saying the unsigned editorials were. The top story, “In Today’s Viral World, Who Keeps a Civil Tongue?” suggests that Michelle Malkin doesn’t. It’s the tone I’ve come to expect from the Post, with a forced attempt to appear fair–finally, they acknowledge CodePink is irrational!– and a broad smack at the Right, plus a personal attack at Michelle. I expect articles like this in the Post, as I’m sure Michelle does, too.

But I think Michelle would also applaud the Post for needling the AFL-CIO and Democrats who want to drive the country further into debt.

It’s one small step for the Post, one giant leap for reasonable dissent.

Update: Hmm… Interesting.

No related posts.

Tired of politics? Join me at my food blog, TheFoodventure.com

Catherine Favazza — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 23:09:30 +0000

If you need a break from politics, head over to TheFoodventure.com, born out of popular food posts from this blog, written by my boyfriend and I. Though it sat fairly dormant for awhile, it’s back and better than ever with daily updates, more pictures, more interaction, more reviews, more wine and, most importantly, more delicious food.

Tomorrow on TheFoodventure.com, look for a review of Sticky Rice, a sushi restaurant in DC’s trendy (but still a little dangerous) H street. You know you love a restaurant when the food makes you sick and you keep going back! Details tomorrow.

Also, be sure to follow us on Twitter: @TheFoodventure.