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The divide in practicing versus non-practicing Catholic voters (Gallup). Another questioner asked the president if he felt as if he had been dragged into a longtime family feud among Catholics, liberal and conservative. For the second time during the discussion, President Obama mentioned the influence of Cardinal Bernardin. “When I was first becoming interested in social justice issues, the American bishops were talking about nuclear freezes and sanctuary for illegal immigrants and protesting U.S. policy in Latin America,” said the president. “And there was, I think, a very different set of perspectives that were represented, arising out of the Second...

Mark Levin is happy now that he's got a bestseller decrying the tyranny certain to descend upon America under liberal rule, which Sean Hannity touted on his Fox News show last night. The appearance produced some plum bon mots fresh from Planet Wingnuttia: Levin: What's going on in this country is really anti-liberty. The president is -- you know, they just put Bernie Madoff away for life. The president's policies are Bernie Madoff times a thousand. He is taking a wrecking ball to this society. Levin evidently seems to have conveniently forgotten that Bernie Madoff was an exemplar of the...

Another month or two, and this really will be the biggest economic disaster since the Great Depression. Read » The chart below, from Calculated Risk, shows the percentage decline in jobs from peak employment in all the recessions since World War 2. We still haven't quite eclipsed the 1948 drop, but we likely will in another month or two. And that will leave only the Great Depression to make us feel better about ourselves. The good news in the chart, such as it is, is that employment can recover quickly once it finally turns. Anyone care to place a bet...

Incredible webcast. In the first 2 minutes of the 3 hour webcast, he Lyndon LaRouche calls Obama criminally insane. Watch Webcast

The buzz on the Internet seems to be interested in what questions were asked of the president at his meeting with members of the Catholic press, and who asked them. Given the press’ recent grilling of White House spokesman Robert Gibbs, it should be known that the questions were not pre-packaged. Here’s a rundown on who asked what… Joe Feuerherd, of the National Catholic Reporter, who was sitting on the president’s right, asked the first question. He asked, “Outside of your partisan political opponents – the Republicans – there’s one group that has also been critical of you in perhaps...

I am an admirer of Douglas MacArthur and remember a speech he gave to the people of the Philippines on his return. I also admire Palin and think she has the ability to inspire. She is no MacArthur, and she has much to prove, but we need something to fight for. Here is the speech with slight alterations to fit our time and place. I think the General would approve. To People of the United States, I have returned. By the grace of Almighty God, our forces will rise again on American soil…. The time of our redemption is here…....

Calculated Risk illustrates what we already knew: the bank stress tests weren't nearly stressful enough. The chart below looks at unemployment by quarter. The green bars are the "base case" in the stress tests (the most likely scenario, in the government's opinion). The blue bars are the "adverse case" scenario--unlikely but possible. And the red bars are what's actually happening (Q2 is a forecast). The larger story here, unfortunately, is that the Obama administration continues to blow its credibility on the economy. By being too optimistic from the get-go, the administration is opening the door for critics and opponents who...

The Top Ten Reasons Sarah Palin is Resigning.... 10.Her mounting legal bills make it difficult to relax on her porch and stare at Russia. 9. She wants to raise Michael Jackson's children. 8. To pursue her goal of becoming a Tina Fey impersonator. 7. She wants to take time to learn all of her children's names. 6. Has an opportunity to teach "winking 101" at Harvard's political science department. 5. After returning all of her campaign attire, she's out of things to wear. 4. To start her own line of lip stick for pitbulls. 3. Wants to pick off David...

Here is video of former Secretary of State Colin Powell saying - somewhat grudgingly - that he is "concerned" about all the spending and programs being pushed by President Obama. Powell made the statement after pushed by CNN's John King, who played a video of Powell speaking at the 1996 GOP Convention where he explained why he became a Republican. Powell said then he wanted a smaller government and lower taxes with less bureaucracy. King then asked Powell how he felt about Obama's policies in light of that speech. . . . . . (Watch Video)

Lt. Gov. Response to Palin’s Announcement (July 3, 2009, Wasilla, Alaska) Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell has released his prepared remarks in response to Governor Palin's announcement.Thank you, Governor. It is with a heavy heart that I hear these words. I so appreciate what you have done for our state and your sacrificial service. You have been a strong leader for our state, you've inspired a nation, and you've ignited the fire of real hope around the world.I profoundly respect your decision for I know the depth of character and integrity from which it springs. Rare, indeed, are such selfless acts...

Just spoke to a consultant plugged in with a non-McCain Republican presidential candidate from 2008. His first words: “Steve Schmidt wins.” “I don’t think she’s toast (for future office). But this makes it more difficult. I’m trying to think of a candidate who launched a serious national bid after one term or less*… I guess the last one would be Romney, and he had done one full term.” On the theory that the scrutiny of her children was the straw that broke the camel's back, the consultant said, “From the interaction I’ve had with her, that would make some sense.”...

WASHINGTON - I have covered politics for a long time. I can tell when someone is running for president. Sarah Palin is running for president. On a sunny (slow news) day in Wasilla, Alaska, the governor and former GOP vice presidential candidate appeared before the cameras and   announced that she was stepping down as the state's chief executive 18 months before her term expires. Just like that — like the distant sound of a chain saw in a stand of northern pines — the 2012 Republican race lurched into gear. Palin is not the front-runner — there IS no front-runner...

Honduras' Supreme Court rebuffed a personal appeal from the Americas' top international diplomat Friday, refusing to restore ousted President Manuel Zelaya before a Saturday deadline. Jose Miguel Insulza, who heads the Organization of American States, flew to Honduras in an attempt to persuade the forces that ousted Zelaya to take him back in the face of overwhelming international condemnation and economic sanctions. He met for two hours with Jorge Rivera, president of the Supreme Court that authorized the military to seize Zelaya on Sunday and fly him into exile.

At the Roman Synod on the Bible in October 2008, which I covered for HPR, the most common topic mentioned was the need to recommend “Lectio Divina” as a pious practice among the faithful. You have probably seen the phrase mentioned in recent articles about the synod.“Lectio Divina” (LD) literally translated means “divine reading.” What it really means is praying with the Bible by selecting a passage and meditating on it. It can be done alone by an individual and it can also be done in a small prayer group. LD has a long history of being practiced in...

They didn’t expect this to happen. They, the wealthy inside the beltway liberals who were instigating one ethics charge after another against Governor Palin, were thinking that she would at least serve her first term as Governor. These endless ethics charges would not only cost Palin financially but would serve to bloody her up politically for her run for President in 2012. The ethics charges, while baseless were still costing the Palin family $500,000. More charges and more costs would definitely continue up thru 2010 and 2012. As a Governor, Sarah would be a sitting duck for the left to...

No way to tell if this is a real window onto her mind or just spin to salve the wound of a tough day, but the Palinistas deserve some hope. Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin plans to remain extremely visible and will give serious consideration to running for president in 2012, but has made no decision, a close friend said after her startling announcement Friday that she will resign her office… Those friends say she plans to give a series of paid speeches, and will also make free GOP appearances, raising money for the party and for issues. She also plans...

I sent this website a suggestion for a bumper sticker. They did it! What do you think? http://www.patriotdepot.com/freeloadernation.aspx

Here is video from this afternoon where CNN's Rick Sanchez wondered out loud if Sarah Palin's resignation as Governor of Alaska could be because she is -- pregnant. The media is desperate to know why Palin is stepping down! . . . . (Watch Video)

CNN's Rick Sanchez wonders if Gov. Sarah Palin is stepping down because she is pregnant "again."

"President Obama says his first trip to Sub-Saharan Africa won't include a stop in his father's Kenyan homeland because of his view that the violence-plagued country still has a long way to go in becoming a free and open democracy..."