So I Wake Up To A New Year

A time for fresh beginnings, new goals, and -- nothing's changed.

Billionaires get their feelings hurt by Pope Francis' remarks on unfettered capitalism. Digby has an interesting take on it:

This is a perfect illustration of a psychiatric condition known as Narcissistic Personality Disorder:

Symptoms of this disorder, as defined by the DSM-IV-TR include:

Expects to be recognized as superior and special, without superior accomplishments

Expects constant attention, admiration and positive reinforcement from others

Envies others and believes others envy him/her

Is preoccupied with thoughts and fantasies of great success, enormous attractiveness, power, intelligence

Lacks the ability to empathize with the feelings or desires of others

Is arrogant in attitudes and behavior

Has expectations of special treatment that are unrealistic

So does David Atkins:

As Digby posted earlier, wingnut CEO of Home Depot and incredible narcissist Ken Langone is very concerned that Pope Francis just doesn't understand how exceptional are the American rich. As Digby says, there's something pathological in his reaction.

I think I can explain what's going on. It cuts to the heart of American conservatism.

Langone's reaction is part of a growing response among American Catholics to Pope Francis' economic statements: that Pope Francis just doesn't understand true capitalism in a moral nation, because all he knows about rich people he learned from the corrupt kleptocrats in Argentina. This explanation is very prevalent among devout Catholics on conservative blogs and forums who need to square their conservatism with the Pope's infallibility. Our rich people don't behave like that. Theirs do. We're exceptional, doncha know. Pope Francis is talking about their rich people.

I think they're all sociopaths.

Utah finally managed to file a request for a stay with Justice Sotomayor. It's not impressive.

(Graphic from Politics With Jarred and Dave via Joe.My.God..

Get this: Franklin Graham, the incredibly bigoted son of Billy, is taking Christians to task for not siding with Daddy Duck in the "religious war against Christians." Seriously.

“I appreciate the Robertson family’s strong commitment to biblical principles and their refusal to back down under intense media pressure over Phil Robertson’s comments in a recent interview,” Graham wrote. “As the Robertson controversy winds down—at least for now—I have been amazed at how many churches have apparently ‘ducked’ out on the issue (sin).”

He chastised those churches that “have fallen into the trap of being politically correct, under the disguise of tolerance.”

“God is not ‘politically correct,’” he wrote, “and He is certainly not tolerant of sin.”

Um -- which god would that be, exactly?

And U.S. Customs is almost as much on the ball as the TSA. At least they didn't strip-search the poor guy.

That's enough. I can't take any more.