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House Intelligence Committee chair says he shares Pelosi's concerns about truthfulness of spy apparatus

Once upon a time, there was "The Code of the West." [Original here] That was long ago, far away and in another country. Now there is only, "The Code of the Left." I've compared the two here. W - Never order anything weaker than whiskey. L - Never order anything stronger than a decaf double latte made with soy milk. Yes, that drink will shrink your testicles and/or ovaries to the size of peas, but you weren't using them anyway. Make it a double. W - Don't make a threat without expecting dire consequences. L - Threaten everyone and every...

In a stunning report (pdf) released yesterday by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, the current financial crisis was traced back to government intervention in the U.S. housing market. Yes, you read that right. The report issued by the Republican minority didn’t disclose the names of the culprit individuals, but it sure pointed a lot of fingers at organizations, politicians, lobbyists and Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac. According to the report, government intervention “created ‘affordable’ but dangerous lending policies which encouraged lower down payments, looser underwriting standards and higher leverage. Finally, government intervention created a nexus of vested interests --...

NEW YORK – A runway at New York City's Kennedy Airport was shut down Wednesday morning after 78 turtles emerged from the bay and crawled onto the tarmac. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey says grounds crews rounded up the wayward reptiles in about 35 minutes and deposited them back in the water, further from airport property. The shutdown disrupted flight schedules, though, with delays climbing to nearly 1 1/2 hours.

Since 1948 the highest unemployment rate in the US has been 10.8% in 1982. 9.5% is the rate now. Run the chart at the attached link. Can we beat it?

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- South Carolina's top cop says Gov. Mark Sanford did not improperly use state funds for visits with his Argentine mistress. State Law Enforcement Division Chief Reggie Lloyd said Thursday that Sanford did not break any laws. The governor's spokesman says he does not intend to resign. South Carolina's attorney general asked police to investigate the governor's travel after Sanford revealed to The Associated Press he had spent time with Maria Belen Chapur more often than previously disclosed.

Ramping up the 2012 speculation this week is Indiana Republican Rep. Mike Pence, who will visit the Hawkeye State later his month to headline two events. The first, held July 24 in Linn County, will be a picnic and fundraiser for the Republican Party of Iowa. Prior to the event, Pence will tour flood-damaged areas of Cedar Rapids. The next day, Pence will be featured at Iowa Rep. Steve King’s “Conservative Family Picnic” in Sioux City. The event is a fundraiser for King’s 2010 re-election campaign.

South Korea has issued security warnings after the disruption of major Internet sites by an apparent cyber attack. Several U.S. Web sites have also been affected. Reports are emerging in South Korean media that intelligence officials suspect North Korea may have had a hand in the disruption. South Korea's Yonhap news agency quoted parliamentary intelligence committee lawmakers as saying North Korea may be behind the apparent cyber attack. Wednesday marks the 15th anniversary of the death of the North's revered first leader, Kim Il Sung. In past years, North Korea has used the occasion to show defiance or superiority toward...

Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Sotomayor and Abortion for Undesired “Populations” [Ed Whelan] In this interview from this coming Sunday’s issue of the New York Times Magazine, Justice Ginsburg sees fit to offer her views on a range of matters, including: 1. Interviewer Emily Bazelon states that Ginsburg “was forceful about why she thinks Sotomayor should be confirmed.” Just the topic, of course, that any Supreme Court justice should see fit to opine on the day before a confirmation hearing starts. Ginsburg offers this feeble defense of Sotomayor’s “wise Latina woman” comment: “Think of how many times you’ve said something that...

UPDATE: PASS Act, Why It Must Be Stopped Reality Report 13 (video) Audit the Fed Tested, Tea Parties Brewing, Ron Paul Capping, Jesse Jackson Questioned New Trailer for Camp FEMA Documentary (video) Emergency War Powers - Untold History Of America Watch out, its coming! Breakthrough: Face recognition computers can see through disguise There is One Type of Total Gun Ban We Need, Jefferson Would Agree, and It'll Bring Back 1776 Bill to Restrict Ammunition Moves Ahead Restore The Republic

Ward Churchill could find himself on the hook for up to $50,000 in out-of-pocket costs the University of Colorado incurred fighting the lawsuit the former ethnic studies professor filed against it, CU's lead attorney said Wednesday. CU attorney Patrick O'Rourke said he plans to file for recovery of those costs -- which include flying witnesses in and out of Colorado and creating deposition transcripts -- over the next 15 days and said the amount would be in the "five figures" and likely just shy of $50,000. "We've got to go through and add it up -- it's not a staggering...

ENCYCLICAL LETTERCARITAS IN VERITATE OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF BENEDICT XVI TO THE BISHOPS PRIESTS AND DEACONS MEN AND WOMEN RELIGIOUS THE LAY FAITHFUL AND ALL PEOPLE OF GOOD WILL ON INTEGRAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IN CHARITY AND TRUTHINTRODUCTION1. Charity in truth, to which Jesus Christ bore witness by his earthly life and especially by his death and resurrection, is the principal driving force behind the authentic development of every person and of all humanity. Love — caritas — is an extraordinary force which leads people to opt for courageous and generous engagement in the field of justice and peace. It is...

Declares Congress has been 'badly misinformed' on global warming Wednesday, July 08, 2009 - By Marc Morano – Climate Depot Award-winning Princeton University Physicist Dr. Will Happer, who has published over 200 scientific papers, warned Congress that it has been “badly misinformed” about man-made global warming fears. “Congress has been getting bad intelligence,” Happer, who was reportedly fired by former Vice President Al Gore in 1993 for failing to adhere to Gore's scientific views, declared in a July 6, 2009 in an interview. “Congress has been badly misinformed about the so-called science that supports the claim that increasing CO2 levels...

Every once in a while a story comes along that not only reinforces the justness of our cause but makes abundantly clear the depravity of the other side. This is the case with a story out today. When the world describes destroying children as a fertility breakthrough, we are in big trouble. [Telegraph] Researchers at the pioneering Northeast England Stem Cell Institute say they have made the breakthrough using stem cells from an embryo. Within 10 years, the scientists say the technique could also be used to allow infertile couples to have children that are genetically their own. It could...

You know it's bad when Europe is saying that we're too socialist.

It has been amusing to watch the speculation of the Alaska Governor’s motivations and future aspirations after announcing her resignation last Friday. Senate bid? “No, Alaskans would never forgive her for leaving them” said the Sunday shows. Presidential bid? “Not possible now,” say the smartest strategists and campaigners. Host a talk show? Sell books? Go on the lecture circuit? All possible, though not all probable. But the one thing most of the pundits on both the left and the right in Washington D.C. have declared certain - Palin’s political career is D.O.A. Not so fast, my friends. Since we’re all...

Hoosier Access will have a livestream of Michael Steele's speech to the Indiana State Republican Party tonight live. You can go here to find the livestream or follow HoosierAccess on Twitter.

The old adage advises people not to interfere when their opponents seem intent on driving themselves to failure. The leaders of China and India appear to understand that well. Seeing that the West will adopt senseless restrictions on energy production and economic output, they have declined to jump off the same cliff themselves, throwing the G-8 conference into a turmoil that will be unfortunately brief: Hopes of a deal on climate change at the Group of Eight industrialised nations summit in Italy were today hanging by a thread. As world leaders sat down for a working lunch at the start...

I have unilaterally decided (meaning I didn't ask Matthew and there is nothing he can do to stop me) to add a new feature to the blog. The feature is "Today's Über-Catholic Open Question?" This feature may or may not be repeated. It entirely depends on you and whether your answers are interesting, funny, or foul. Don't let reason or proportion get in your way. Feel free to be more Catholic than the Pope. So, all you Über-Catholics who find fault with 87% percent of everything we write, what is your take on this question. What is the best Über-Catholic...

After being largely snubbed by the stimulus package and so far, the climate bill, T. Boone Pickens’ natural gas vehicle mantra (backed by a $58 million marketing campaign) looks like it’s finally starting to be heard on the Hill. This afternoon Sens. Harry Reid (Majority Leader), Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) said they’ve introduced legislation called the Nat Gas Act aimed at encouraging the development and purchasing of natural gas vehicles (check out 10 Things You Should Know About Natural Gas Vehicles). Of course Pickens was there for the event and made a typically aggressive statement claiming that...