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Americans like Joe Biden as a person, but not as a president, according to a new poll released Tuesday. Roughly six in 10 Americans consider the commander-in-chief “likable” and “intelligent” but more than half question his ability to manage the government and his capability as a “strong and decisive leader,” the Gallup survey found.

LEAGUE CITY — With a karate chop to the throat, a 79-year-old resident disarmed a rifle-toting man who was accused by police of being high on bath salts while trying to break into a home. Ervin Brittnacher awoke shortly before 6 a.m. Monday to a racket in front of his house in the 3000 block of McFarland Road, League City police Lt. Bruce Whitten said. “We talked to the homeowner, who said he woke up to a guy banging on the porch,” Whitten said. “It sounded like he was ripping the screen off.” Brittnacher opened the door to see what...

BAGHDAD, May 29, 2006 — The ratification of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s cabinet ministers is another sign of progress toward unity, security and prosperity in Iraq. This past week, I met with delegations from two of the 29 nations that comprise Multinational Force-Iraq to discuss future support to Iraq’s democratic government. The El Salvadoran Minister of Defense Gen. Otto Alejandro Romero, accompanied by several Salvadoran Congressmen, reviewed the contributions of their battalion and discussed progress with Iraqi and coalition leaders. In the same week Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen inspected the Danish contingent and met al-Maliki and senior officials...

This is, in a nutshell, why I think the President won a second term. Not that Barney?s presence magically catapulted him into office again. (Not every voter is enough of a dog lover to appreciate the poetry of a White House littered with squeaky toys.) But Barney highlights the fact that, after four stressful years, Bush is still the real person he was when he took office--a man with guts, hubris, foibles, principles, and persistence. And a man who spends perhaps the most important night of his life watching TV with his dog. That takes a certain softness of spirit...

We got a call at 8:30 in the morning that traffic was jammed and the crowds were already forming at the fair grounds in Medford. We hurried up the chores here at the ranch and scooted off for Medford arriving around lunch time. Parked the car at the end of the lot and then found the end of the line. At one pm the line was over a half a mile long and the temps where in the low 80's - no shade. The gates opened at 2;45 and the line crept into the fairgounds. The end of the line...

John Edwards Claims John Kerry Is "Decisive. Strong." "John Edwards saluted John Kerry Wednesday night as a man tested a generation ago in the heat of battle, ready now to lead America in an age of terrorism. 'Decisive. Strong. Aren't those the traits you want in a commander in chief?' Edwards said at the Democratic National Convention." (David Espo, "Edwards Calls Kerry 'Decisive, Strong,' An Ideal Commander In Chief," The Associated Press, 7/28/04) Kerry Flip-Flopped On John EdwardsDuring Primary, Kerry Questioned Edwards' Lack Of Experience. (Nick Anderson, "Edwards' Track Record On Trade Has Lane Changes," Los Angeles Times, 2/19/04) Kerry:...

President Bush is viewed by more American voters as decisive and arrogant than Democratic rival John Kerry according to an Associated Press poll. Voters are more likely to see Kerry as intelligent. Asked who makes them feel more optimistic about the future, slightly more voters choose Bush than Kerry, the poll conducted for the AP by Ipsos-Public Affairs found. Both candidates are viewed as wealthy by nearly all voters, with slightly more seeing Bush as wealthy than Kerry. Two-thirds in the poll think the president is decisive, the biggest character advantage the president has over Kerry in the poll. But...

[LCMSNews] Synod affirms man-woman marriageFrom: "LCMS e-News" LCMSENEWS@lcms.orgDate: Tue, 13 Jul 2004 14:09:24 -0500 http://www.lcms.orge-News LCMS News PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS E-MAIL MESSAGE! This message comes from a Send Only" Mailbox that does not recognize replies. July 13, 2004.. LCMSNews -- 04-SC21-DM3 Worldwide Faith News http://www.wfn.org/2004/07/msg00110.htmlMissouri Synod affirms marriage as lifelong one man-one woman unionST. LOUIS: By a nearly unanimous vote, delegates to the 62nd Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod today (July 13) affirmed, on the basis of Scripture, marriage as the lifelong union of one man and one woman (Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:5-6). More...

AP Poll: More Voters See Bush As Decisive 14 minutes ago By WILL LESTER, Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON - President Bush (news - web sites) is viewed by more American voters as decisive and arrogant than Democratic rival John Kerry (news - web sites), according to an Associated Press poll. Voters are more likely to see Kerry as intelligent. AP Photo Asked who makes them feel more optimistic about the future, slightly more voters choose Bush than Kerry, the poll conducted for the AP by Ipsos-Public Affairs found. Both candidates are viewed as wealthy by nearly all voters, with slightly...

PARIS -- The argument always comes up eventually when you're traveling in the Middle East: The United States cannot play the role of peacemaker, your Arab host will insist, because the pro-Israel lobby in Washington is too strong. This is a conversation I have grown to hate -- partly for its not-so-veiled anti-Semitism, partly because it ignores the reality that most Israelis want peace, whatever right-wing lobbyists may say, and partly because of its cynical, one-dimensional view of U.S. politics. America is a country of surprises, I like to remind my Arab hosts. In U.S. foreign policy, values and strategic...

Major war position shift could be decisive (Screaming Eagles breaking capital defense line) , Baghdad opening up Tigris/Euphrates floodgates on coalition troops

George W Bush, who two years ago was an almost untested politician expected to govern as a centrist, emerged yesterday as a truly radical President determined to pursue his own ambitious agenda at home and abroad. This year's State of the Union Address was all the more extraordinary because it came against a backcloth of increasing domestic uncertainty about the American economy and a chorus of criticism from Europe over his drive towards war with Iraq. But while Mr Bush's popularity ratings had dipped to 60 per cent and Democrats had begun to sense he was no longer invincible, the...

'Decisive Response' Needed to Iraq Threat - Cheney Thu Jun 6, 6:07 PM ET WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Vice President Dick Cheney said on Thursday there was a growing danger of terrorist groups acquiring weapons of mass destruction the United States says are being developed in Iraq and that this required a decisive response. "This gathering danger requires the most careful, deliberate and decisive response by Americans and our allies," Cheney said in a speech to the National Association of Homebuilders. Cheney said the United States was increasingly concerned about the possibility that militant groups such as al Qaeda would link...