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1.  You may not know this, but sex trafficking and human slavery/smuggling is a serious international issue. CNN reports: “At a briefing, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice denounced ‘the sordid trade in human beings’ and said the fight against trafficking is ‘a great moral calling of our time.’”

I anticipate that this issue will gain greater profile as Bush looks for other ways to appeal to religious conservatives, as Congress seeks bipartisan iniatives, as Senator Sam Brownback explores a presidential run in 2008, and Walden Media (the group behind the Chronicles of Narnia) brings out “Amazing Grace,” the life story of William Wilberforce, on the silver screen (My personal favorite Ioan Gufford, aka A&E’s Horatio Hornblower, will play Wilberforce).

2.  And the rookie mistakes continue. 23rd district State Assembly candidate Jim Ott was called out by Eye on Wisconsin for messing up on some of the facts in his campaign platform. If you want wishy-washy rhetoric that’s sometimes factually wrong, then your answer is clear. For real conservative leadership from a candidate whose rhetoric is backed up by his record, I commend to your attention Ott’s primary opponent, John Wirth.

3.   His poll numbers may be a little low, but the Vice President’s spirits are certainly high. I love a dry sense of humor like this, his remarks to the US Naval Academy Commencement:

THE VICE PRESIDENT: As I learned about this class, I was naturally interested, as a resident of Wyoming, in how many graduates happen to come from my home state.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: (Cheers.) (Laughter.)

THE VICE PRESIDENT: That’s one of them. (Laughter.) Actually, I found out there are two in this class — one from Gillette and one from Rock Springs.

AUDIENCE MEMBERS: (Cheers.)

THE VICE PRESIDENT: I would have expected more, considering Wyoming’s maritime traditions and the breadth of our coastline. (Laughter.) But I will remind Midshipmen McFarrin and Rawson — (applause) — of the motto I used to have when I was the lone congressman from Wyoming: It may be a small delegation, but it’s all quality. (Laughter and applause.)

4. You may recall that last school year I raised some flags over the opening of an Amnesty International chapter on Marquette’s campus because of Amnesty’s position on abortion. LifeSiteNews.com reported yesterday that:

Roman Catholic Bishop Michael Evans, a 30-year member of Amnesty International (AI) and author of last year’s Amnesty Prayer, has condemned the organization’s move to promote abortion as a fundamental human right, saying he will be forced to withdraw his membership if the agency continues with the proposal. 

[In a letter to AI's UK director, Bishop Evans wrote] “I will continue my commitment to bringing the candle of justice to those in the darkness of oppression, but I would not feel able to continue as a member of a body which amidst its great work for humanity, excluded the most vulnerable of all—the unborn human—from its protection.” 

LifeSite has been on the story for a while now. Bishop Evans joins Bishop Fred Henry of Canada, and the President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India, Archbishop Oswald Gracias, who said that “If the much-respected organization adopts a pro-abortion policy, it would mean that Amnesty International is bidding good-bye to human rights, which has been it’s hallmark for over forty years.”

I’m just saying, folks.

5. A moment for big-brotherly pride. Andrew Suhr, who graduates from Homestead H.S. this weekend, ran the anchor leg for the gold medal winning 4×100 relay team at the state high school track meet last weekend. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported:

FILLING IN: One of the most impressive performances of the day came from the Homestead 400 relay crew of Ray Daniel, Brian Gensrick, Andrew Handeland and Andrew Suhr, which won in 42.61 seconds. Homestead’s fastest runner, B.J. Winters, aggravated a hamstring injury running the 100 in sectionals, and Suhr had to step in as a replacement. The four didn’t drop a beat, with Suhr holding off Reynolds down the anchor stretch to clinch the victory. “Ray flew out of the blocks like Superman, we did our job in the middle, and I think Suhr ran a 10.0 split,” Handeland said. “I don’t know about that,” Suhr said with a grin. Winters watched happily from the stands.

He also got a great MJS headline from sectionals: “Yes Suhr!”

• An Ecclesiastical Interlude - August 29th, 2008
• DNC Scorecard Day 3 - August 28th, 2008
• Thoughts on DNC Day 2 - August 28th, 2008
• DNC Convention Scorecard, Day 1 - August 26th, 2008
• Random Thoughts and Notes - August 26th, 2008