A Shepherd Should Smell Like His Sheep

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The spiritual advice, “be shepherds with the smell of sheep …. people capable of living, of laughing and crying with your people, in a word, of communicating with them,” that Pope Francis gave to pastors might well be good political advice to be heeded by politicians, particularly Democrats wandering the wilderness in search of new leaders and paths forward.

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55 thoughts on “A Shepherd Should Smell Like His Sheep”

  2. in the meantime, here’s John Oliver’s Last Week Tonight show from last night in re a leader who smells more like sheep shit:


    John Oliver discusses the budget and staffing cuts being made to public health agencies in the U.S. under RFK Jr.’s new leadership, the many ways those cuts will impact all of us, and how WWII really ended. Trust us, it’s not how you think.

  3. Jamie, please put me down for
    Sandman, American Promise and Sovereignty
    (the last two are wistful thinking that we still have promise for good in america and that ukraine recovers her otherwise occupied territory)

    BTW is your thread draft to run on Derby day?

  4. The way krasnov does his “praying” routine, I am thinking he could stroke out and nobody would touch him just in case he is doing the Rosary in his head. He might pray so long that being poked by a stick would not get a reaction. There is some hope.

  5. Pat d
    I’ve got your trifecta.
    Derby Post can run day before on Friday or Derby Day Saturday. Whichever works best for you and events.

  6. BB, great photo for his official portrait.

    BTW, I can’t get images to post (even with added text as instructed). all that shows up is their link. what do I need to do more than press “choose files”???

  7. Jamie, thanks…. couldn’t pass him up after seeing clips of Sandman on local TV news of Derby. a real beauty.

    If Craig hasn’t already scheduled it otherwise, Derby day it is for your thread.

  8. Current state of betting

    1. Citizen Bull (20-1)

    2. Neoequos (30-1)

    3. Final Gambit (30-1)

    4. Rodriguez (12-1) – Sturgeone

    5. American Promise (30-1) – Patd (place)

    6. Admire Daytona (30-1)

    7. Luxor Cafe (15-1) – Pogeaux

    8. Journalism (3-1) – Blue Bronc, Jamie (Place)

    9. Burnham Square (12-1)

    10. Grande (20-1)

    11. Flying Mohawk (30-1)

    12. East Avenue (20-1)

    13. Publisher (20-1) – Jamie (show)

    14. Tiztastic (20-1)

    15. Render Judgment (30-1) – Ivy

    16. Coal Battle (30-1)

    17. Sandman (6-1) – Renee, Patd (win), (Win)

    18. Sovereignty (5-1) – Patd (Show)

    19. Chunk of Gold (30-1)

    20. Owen Almighty (30-1)

  10. Must say that “smell like sheep” line seemed odd to me when i heard it out of context in the recent coverage. Now I get it. Thanks for the highlighting, PatD

  11. “ planted in an old gutter, attached to the outside of a chain link kennel”

    awesome idea, love it

    rosemary might be too big for it, though, thyme seems ideal, oregano, chamomile and other small creepers would be great in there, maybe make the gutter out of level very slightly and it might drain that way because it must drain, thyme should be towards the high end

    Cool idea, good luck

  16. In case you did not see it yet, you will eventually, sfb had an interview in The Atlantic magazine. They had to promise to do an honest interview (something like that). The reporters agreed. I think the best reporting would be his out of this universe talking. Straight off the reporters tape recorder to print.

    One statement was that “I run the country and the world”. Yuppers. Then this morning in one of his rants was to vote for him in the Canadian election. Double super deluxe nuts. The guy is bonkers. Any republican/gop/magat in Congress, especially the House, should be wondering if they can retire soon and find some other place to live. Dems should be pounding the media twentyfour/seven with this stuff. Chuck can be given a typewriter and a ream of paper so he can write strongly worded letters to krasnov.

  17. So what happens after we stop world trade?
    I was thinking on this as I was reading about the reduction of shipping as a result of Trumps trade war. In my world expensive pieces of equipment are purchased with credit. So that backhoe digging up your sewer line has a monthly payment that has to be met. If the owner of the backhoe doesn’t have it out in the field doing work he can’t meet that monthly payment and he goes bankrupt. I suspect the same is true for those big container ships. It doesn’t stop there. See all those trucks on the interstate? They are all running down the road to meet the next payment. That Walmart truck you saw? The trailer may be owned by Walmart but the truck pulling it is a contractor or maybe even a subcontractor to the Walmart contractor.
    Remember the disorder cause by the housing crises? Think what a world shipping collapse will do. The system runs on borrowed money, what happens when everybody misses their monthly payment.

    Jack

  18. You don’t trust a fool and his team of venal, dim-witted minions to manipulate an incomprehensibly highly-complex interconnected global economic system, Jack??

    Neither do i

  20. Anon,
    Trust or distrust has nothing to do with it.
    A major CEO, I don’t remember who, made the point after looking at Trump selection of advisors. It was not a matter of if they would fail catastrophically but who and how bad.
    There is nothing I can do about it, the American people chose all I can do is jump out of the way of the avalanche. But which direction , that is what is on my mind these days.
    Jack

  24. Shipping is down, trucking is next, then distribution/warehousing, then retailers big&small, brick&mortar and online, tourism, anything unessential. The Great Depression might actually seem great compared to where we’re headed.

    Every mthfr in Congress backing him should rot forever.

  25. https://www.mlive.com/news/2025/04/cost-of-doge-cuts-appear-to-wipe-out-most-of-agencys-reported-savings.html

    Cost of DOGE cuts appear to wipe out most of agency’s reported ‘savings’

    But according to a study by the Partnership for Public Service, the cost of actually making those cuts came in around $135 billion for this fiscal year. The Partnership for Public Service is a nonprofit organization that studies federal workforce. The organization used “budget figures to produce a rough estimate” regarding the costs of all the firings, re-hirings, lost productivity and paid leave of thousands of workers caused by the DOGE cuts.

    Combined with the $135 billion in other costs and it appears the cost of DOGE’s cuts comes in around $143.5 billion.

    That total does not include the costs associated with the numerous lawsuits that have been filed in response to DOGE’s actions, which also cost the government time and money.

    *That’s because it was about stopping investigations into MuskRat’s businesses and giving him new government contracts and access to data.

  27. More JB Pritzker energy. I hope everyone is making a pest of themselves to Republic ~lawmakers~ every, single day.

    Enjoyed some of Booker & Jeffries in the steps yesterday.

    ps – The multi-millionaires and billionaires, apparently, don’t pay they taxes they do owe, so why bother with tax cuts when they don’t feel any consequences anyway?

  28. An interesting question.
    From the News letter , Truth and Consequences

    Is Stephen Miller America’s Real Commander-in-Chief?
    Does Donald Trump even fully understand and appreciate the extent to which his administration is ignoring Supreme Court decisions?

    An interesting read, well worth the time.
    Jack

  29. There is no way muskovite can force NDA’s about private businesses that have nothing to do with contracts. I had NDA’s covering interactions that covers suppliers processes for parts sold to federal government. But those were under overarching NDA which was in the clearances debriefing packages.

    This week may be the last chance to walk sfb off the ledge of killing the U.S. economy. Most of the summer goods have arrived and into warehouses, but after July 4 there might be problems. The lumber situation is still the same, no matter how many EO sfb scribbles a weird lightning bolt pattern on. The timber comes from Canada, with U.S. wood filling in certain categories. It won’t change, but I have a years supply of paper towels and TP stored away, just in case.

  30. You can make people sign stuff, but you can’t make them waive their rights. It is not your right to waive a right.

  32. 1. Citizen Bull (20-1)

    2. Neoequos (30-1)

    3. Final Gambit (30-1)

    4. Rodriguez (12-1) – Sturgeone

    5. American Promise (30-1) – Patd (place)

    6. Admire Daytona (30-1)

    7. Luxor Cafe (15-1) – Pogeaux

    8. Journalism (3-1) – Blue Bronc, Jamie (Place)

    9. Burnham Square (12-1)

    10. Grande (20-1)

    11. Flying Mohawk (30-1)

    12. East Avenue (20-1)

    13. Publisher (20-1) – Jamie (show)

    14. Tiztastic (20-1) – Craig

    15. Render Judgment (30-1) – Ivy, Anonduh

    16. Coal Battle (30-1)

    17. Sandman (6-1) – Renee, Patd (win)

    18. Sovereignty (5-1) – Patd (Show)

    19. Chunk of Gold (30-1)

    20. Owen Almighty (30-1)

  33. My man Jalen Hurts skipped the Dumbass Super Bowl party for the Eagles at the WH. Said he had a scheduling conflict. Probably had to run to the grocery store, or maybe take a dog to vet, or pick up Chinese. Good on him.

  35. Disability Protection Groups in Two States Pause Services After Missing Federal Funds

    Disability Protection Groups in Two States Pause Services After Missing Federal Funds

    “We are fighting for our very survival.”

    State organizations that advocate for disabled residents in New Jersey and Arkansas announced this week that they will have to limit their work due to not receiving the full federal funds they are owed by the US federal government.

    “Are we going to a worldview that just contracts all those social services and basically says people must stand on their own or fall on their own?” Orlowski questioned. “I think that that’s where we’re at.”

  36. Trump’s Push to Expand Logging Is A Major Threat to US Forests and Wildlife

    Trump’s Push to Expand Logging Is A Major Threat to US Forests and Wildlife

    Trump’s action targets federally protected lands, fast-tracking logging projects by loosening regulations.

    If implemented, the directive will result in swathes of trees being felled throughout the nation’s protected forests, and while the environmental consequences of deforestation are well documented, the current administration insists otherwise. Earlier this month, White House Senior Counsellor for Trade and Manufacturing Peter Navarro claimed “our disastrous timber and lumber policies – a legacy of the previous administration – trigger wildfires and degrade our fish and wildlife habitat.” Instead, Trump is dangerously pushing the belief that increased logging will come with environmental and ecological benefits.

    Basic environmental science, however, demonstrates that cutting down trees by the millions has detrimental effects on the climate, wildlife, and ultimately humanity.

    *And then, when we add a star to the flag for Canada, there’ll be more timber than you can shake a stick at.

  37. Disgraced Republican Politician John Jessup Sentenced for Raping Daughter During 21st Birthday Trip

    John Jessup, a Republican politician from Indiana who was elected to local office despite disturbing allegations, has been sentenced to six to fifteen years in prison after admitting to sexually assaulting his daughter during her 21st birthday celebration in Las Vegas.

    Shockingly, Jessup was elected to a Hancock city council seat even as the accusations became public. He has since resigned from that position following his conviction.

    *Republican voters are deeply flawed humans.

  38. Shawn, I see your comment.
    If you need help Craigs email is in the side bar under smoke signals.
    oops, almost forgot,
    Welcome!
    Jack

  40. Watching all the coverage of the cowering Congress Critters, CEOs and school heads etc., I think they may need a mass name change to Quisling.

  42. Rev. William Barber arrested in Capitol Rotunda after praying against Republican-led budget

    While arrests of protesters at the Capitol is not unusual, the response to Barber’s prayer was unusually dramatic: After issuing verbal warnings, dozens of officers expelled everyone in the Rotunda — including credentialed press.

    Barber — who is founder of the Center for Public Theology and Public Policy at Yale Divinity School, where he also teaches — said he was handcuffed by police and briefly detained. While he found the incident unsettling, he hoped it would draw attention to those who will be impacted by potential budget cuts, he said.

    *Hey! I found anti-Christian bias!

  45. https://www.newsweek.com/trump-executive-order-raises-alarm-over-women-financial-independence-2063733

    An Executive Order (EO) signed by President Donald Trump is raising concerns over the protection of women’s financial independence, as well as other potential civil rights violations.

    It calls for an evaluation of all pending proceedings under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), which was first passed in 1974 and amended in 1976 to prevent lenders from discriminating against women based on marital status.

    Although the EO cannot change the law, that can only be done by an act of Congress, if independent federal agencies abide by the order they will stall litigation protecting women from being discriminated against for credit, and they will roll back guidance and regulations which were in place to protect people’s rights.

    *Which will further contract the economy, you orange, dumbass!

  46. https://abc11.com/post/department-justice-exodus-doj-civil-rights-division-official-says-100-attorneys-departed/16271722/

    Exodus at DOJ civil rights division as official says ‘over 100’ attorneys departed

    “What we have made very clear last week in memos to each of the 11 sections in the Civil Rights Division is that our priorities under President Trump are going to be somewhat different than they were under President Biden,” DOJ Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said in an interview with conservative host Glenn Beck.

    “And then we tell them, these are the President’s priorities, this is what we will be focusing on – you know, govern yourself accordingly. And en masse, dozens and now over 100 attorneys decided that they’d rather not do what their job requires them to do.”

    *Speaks volumes! More of this!

  49. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/large-parts-spain-portugal-hit-by-power-outage-2025-04-28/

    Power started returning to parts of the Iberian peninsula late on Monday after a huge outage brought most of Spain and Portugal to a standstill, grounding planes, halting public transport, and forcing hospitals to suspend routine operations.

    The cause was unclear, with Portugal suggesting the issue originated in Spain and Spain pointing the finger at a break-up in its connection to France.
    Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said there was “no indication” a cyberattack had caused the blackout, which began around 1033 GMT.
    Nonetheless, rumours circulated of possible sabotage, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said he had spoken to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

    about 35,000 train passengers had been rescued from trains while 11 trains still remained stranded in remote areas.
    Images from a Madrid supermarket showed long queues at tills and empty shelves as people rushed to stock up on staples, while play at the Madrid Open tennis tournament was suspended.
    The Bank of Spain said electronic banking was functioning “adequately” on backup systems, though residents also reported ATM screens had gone blank.
    There were traffic jams in Madrid city centre as traffic lights stopped working, with people in reflective vests appointing themselves to direct vehicles at intersections. Local radio reported people trapped in stalled metro cars and elevators.
    Many Spaniards decided to take a half-day off, congregating in streets and plazas for impromptu get-togethers or cooking meals by candlelight at home.

    *Just to see how folks react?

  51. https://www.alternet.org/trump-order-military-police/

    Trump’s new order, which is entitled “Strengthening and Unleashing America’s Law Enforcement to Pursue Criminals and Protect Innocent Citizens,” makes various declarations about the administration’s commitment to supporting law enforcement professionals in the opening paragraphs.

    However, one section further down specifically mentions the U.S. military and the administration’s intent to have enlisted service members participate in civilian law enforcement actions.

    Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Attorney General and the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security and the heads of agencies as appropriate, shall increase the provision of excess military and national security assets in local jurisdictions to assist State and local law enforcement … [and] shall determine how military and national security assets, training, non-lethal capabilities, and personnel can most effectively be utilized to prevent crime.”

    *Well, habeas corpus is out the window, so throw out posse comitatus, too. Aaand, when SCOTUS says no, he’ll do it anyway. So much for turning everything back over to the states. This is authoritarian rule.

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