You can't turn on the TV without seeing wall-to-wall coverage of Pope John Paul II's imminent demise.

It was even on talk radio. Implementing a religious test for calling-in yesterday was Hugh Hewitt, who was only taking calls from Catholics who wanted to share what the pontiff meant to them.

This sort of thing brings out the very worst of the 24-hour news channels -- they all turn into CNN's Headline News. You can watch any 30 minute block and get everything you need to know -- then they repeat it and repeat it and repeat it.

It wouldn't have been so bad if he'd passed away last night, but it keeps on keeping on.

To me, the Terri Schiavo case wasn't quite as bad when it came to TV, because you had legal maneuverings taking place right up until the end, which gave the situation some drama. With the Pope, it's all over but the waiting.

I'm no Catholic, but I will say this about the Pope: He stood up to communism and was one of the key players helping to bring about its end in Eastern Europe. The Pope also didn't succumb to popular (read: "enlightened, liberal") opinion when it came to Christian principles.

Last night on Fox News' "Special Report" program, Mort Kondracke, who is not a Catholic, mused that the Pope could've really made an impact and cemented a lasting legacy had he approved the ordination of women. You can debate whether or not women should be ordained, but doing it because some enlightened intellectuals think you should is the worst reason in the world to do it.