Mike Sweeney

Adjunct Fire Tech. Instructor, Retired CAL FIRE Battalion Chief. Fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish ☘☘☘

[Mike Sweeney @msweeney6509]

@LeifBabin Outstanding, Leif. The only thing more deplorable than this man’s statements, are the podcasts that allowed these outrageous claims to go unchallenged. Both you & Jocko have discussed how important the sworn shooter statements were in case falsehoods were brought up.

[Mike Sweeney @msweeney6509]

@TheFP Outstanding, Leif. The only thing more deplorable than this man’s statements, are the podcasts that allowed these outrageous claims to go unchallenged. Both you & Jocko have discussed how important the sworn shooter statements were in case falsehoods were brought up.

[Mike Sweeney @msweeney6509]

This guy is a JOKE.

[Mike Sweeney @msweeney6509]

@AndyStumpf77 @jockowillink Good deal. Congratulations on an awesome book!

[Mike Sweeney @msweeney6509]

@AndyStumpf77 Dumb question. Do ebook versions of your book “Drownproof” count toward the best seller list? I’d have purchased a physical copy, but @jockowillink has so many books there’s no room on the bookshelf for yours! LOL GREAT work Andy! Keep it up.

[Pray The Rosary @PrayTheRosary]

Pray for the Pope and for peace

[Saint Adaugoijele ✝️ @JustAdaugoijele]

A Beautiful Moment♥️🥹

[Pope Leo XIV @Pontifex]

Woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic, and political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth. #ApostolicJourney #Cameroon https://t.co/bKteFZ3iWE

[RosarySon @SkyVirginSon]

With all due respect to the Office of the President, this post contains several claims that are factually inaccurate and theologically misguided, and as a Catholic I feel compelled to respond.

1. The Pope was not elected to please any president.

Pope Leo XIV was elected by 133 cardinals from across the world in a sacred conclave, on the fourth ballot, on May 8, 2025. 

The Holy Spirit guides the conclave, not American politics.

To suggest that “if I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican”  is not only historically ignorant but theologically offensive to every Catholic on earth.

2. He was not an unknown outsider.

Pope Leo XIV served as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops under Pope Francis, one of the most powerful roles in the Vatican, responsible for selecting bishops for dioceses worldwide. 

He was one of the most qualified candidates in the College of Cardinals.

3. He is deeply rooted in service, not politics.

An Augustinian missionary who worked for decades in Peru, Pope Leo XIV dedicated his life to the poor and the Gospel long before any political figure noticed him. 

His name honors Leo XIII, the Pope who championed workers’ rights and the poor during the Industrial Revolution, a tradition of Catholic Social Teaching that predates any modern political party.

4. The Pope’s role is prophetic, not partisan.

When the Pope speaks on peace, nuclear weapons, immigration, or the dignity of nations, he is fulfilling the mission of Christ, not opposing any government.

His first words as Pope were “Peace be with you all,”  echoing the Risen Christ (John 20:19).

A Pope who is silent on injustice would be failing his divine mandate.

5. Demanding a Pope “get in line” with a president contradicts 2,000 years of Church history.

From St. Peter before Nero, to St. Thomas More before Henry VIII, to John Paul II before Soviet communism, the Church has never existed to validate earthly power.

“We must obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29)

As Catholics, we pray for all leaders, including President Trump.

But we stand firmly with our Holy Father.

Habemus Papam. And he answers to God alone.

[Pope Leo XIV @Pontifex]

God does not bless any conflict. Anyone who is a disciple of Christ, the Prince of Peace, is never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs. Military action will not create space for freedom or times of #Peace, which comes only from the patient promotion of coexistence and dialogue among peoples.

[Leif Babin @LeifBabin]

“It’s not the kind of car you drive. It’s the size of the arm hanging out the window.” - Confucius

[Mike Sweeney @msweeney6509]

@TheMonologist The true star of the movie for me was the gentleman who played General Horrocks. Stole the show!!

[Mike Sweeney @msweeney6509]

@TheMonologist “Start the Purple!”

[Mike Sweeney @msweeney6509]

@MJSarraille @Bubblebathgirl His service was diametrically opposite to yours, but, he did serve. You use your various platforms to express your opinions and he expresses his. There is nothing more fundamentally American than what the two of do. We are damn fortunate to have folks who can thoughtfully do it.

[Mike Sweeney @msweeney6509]

@BrendanCarrFCC Funny, I was sure this post was a hoax of some type. Sadly, I am wrong.

[Mike Sweeney @msweeney6509]

@AndyStumpf77 Yes, populated automatically and I printed it out with no issue. Thanks.

[Mike Sweeney @msweeney6509]

@LeifBabin @SmartHerNews @GordonGChang @YouTube I think Mr. Chang was on with Imus a few times. Gonna check this out. Thanks!

[Super 70s Sports @Super70sSports]

Willie Stargell gave his Hall of Fame induction speech while looking like every exasperated movie police captain who’s sick and tired of dealing with loose cannon cops.

[Mike Sweeney @msweeney6509]

@KnockoNolan @hubermanlab @OfficerDunphy @californiapost They snagged a couple of really good writers from the Times for the sports section (Dodgers beat). Really good stuff.