up to his mouth

(sigh)

Who do I criticize here? Do I chastize the press for the way this article reads, making him sound ridiculous? Or do I chastize him for stupid comments?

Ernie: Let's play two.

Press: Don't pretend like you respect the humility in his statement. The continued mention of his countrymen intimate that he's only beloved by Germans. And the Hitler youth comments? How does that relate to his comment again? You're not just rehashing his past -- you're invoking images. And what of the sex abuse reminders? Just want to kill the church, obviously. Lastly, how often do you want to tell me he's old? The only care you have of his age is that in a few years maybe you'll get to cover another pope funeral for a week and save yourself work, sloth.

Ratzinger: Evidently He didn't listen to you this time? No, He listened. You mean He didn't answer. Know the difference. Secondly, after the first vote when it was clear you were a frontrunner, if you really wanted to spend your time fishing, why not say something? A cardinal could pass you a note about the blind leading the blind -- what, you want to pull an Oedipus?

It's tough being a Catholic/non-Catholic.