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Apparently Senator Edwards had a close brush with the truth some months back, though like the proverbial "broken clock" that shows the correct time twice each day, he didn't linger for long on the cusps of reality. According to Edwards, we live in a split society, which he described as the "two Americas." Edwards attempted to portray this nation as being divided between the "haves" and the "have nots," by which he delineated between those who are financially well-off, as opposed to others who struggle to make ends meet. However, another far more insidious divide exists across the nation, as...

Proportional split of electoral votes on Colorado ballotDENVER — The presidential candidate who wins a majority of the vote in Colorado next month could take all nine of the state's electoral votes, or he could take five. It all depends on the outcome of Amendment 36, a state ballot measure that would make Colorado the first state in the nation to split its electoral votes proportionally, replacing the state's winner-take-all system. Amendment 36 was written to take effect this year, which means its effect would be felt immediately. That means, for example, that even if President Bush wins a majority...

France split over battle for Muslim souls and minds French intelligence has accused 'ghetto' communities of terrorist links - now the estates are fighting back Alex Duval Smith in Paris Sunday July 11, 2004 The Observer Whichever way he turns his head, Abdel Hak Eddajibi sees the same horizon: tower blocks. It may as well be a wall. Standing in the car park of his housing estate, he is unmoved by a French intelligence service report that suggests he lives in one of the most dangerous neighbourhoods in the country. 'First they put us in a ghetto, then they accuse...

William Hinson, president of a major renewal organization, dropped a bombshell during May's United Methodist General Conference: "I believe the time has come when we must begin to explore an amicable and just separation that will free us both from our cycle of pain and conflict". We find in large sections of mainline churches a sub-Christian religion with alternate doctrines of biblical authority, the church, and even salvation. Most Methodists, left and right, responded with shock, rallied around the flag of unity, and declared their dismay. This is an understandable reaction and shows a good instinct for one's church. But...

Bitter at the Top By DAVID BROOKS Published: June 15, 2004 It's been said that every society has two aristocracies. The members of the aristocracy of mind produce ideas, and pass along knowledge. The members of the aristocracy of money produce products and manage organizations. In our society these two groups happen to be engaged in a bitter conflict about everything from S.U.V.'s to presidents. You can't understand the current bitter political polarization without appreciating how it is inflamed or even driven by the civil war within the educated class. The percentage of voters with college degrees has doubled in...

How can we as a nation deal with the two irreconcilible ideologies of liberalism and conservatism? Easy! Cut the nation in two! Explore this and other similar ideas at www.twoamericas.us

PITTSBURGH — Conservatives in the United Methodist Church (search) proposed splitting the denomination Thursday, the latest sign of decades of disagreement over homosexuality that continued at a national meeting this week. The Rev. William Hinson, president of the Confessing Movement for conservative Methodists, said evangelicals were just beginning to explore the idea and that no break was imminent in the 8.3 million-member church. But he said he and others were convinced that no compromise could be found after yet another bitter General Conference debate over what the Bible says about gay sex. "We can't bridge that divide," said Hinson, former...

Blair mauls Mugabe as Commonwealth faces black-white split By Anton La Guardia in Abuja (Filed: 05/12/2003) Tony Blair last night vowed to resist attempts to end Zimbabwe's suspension from the Commonwealth and accused African leaders seeking to rehabilitate President Robert Mugabe of "defending the indefensible".President Mugabe,/i> As he set off for the Commonwealth summit, which opens today in the Nigerian capital of Abuja, Mr Blair all but put Mr Mugabe in the same category as Saddam Hussein."I would like to see all regimes that oppress their people change," he said. "But you have to accept the limitations of what you...

How al-Qa'ida has split into dozens of autonomous, hard-to-find 'franchises' By Kim Sengupta 22 November 2003 The Afghan war was meant to deprive al-Qa'ida of the protection of its Taliban allies and destroy it as a fighting force. But the Istanbul bombings are the latest example of how the organisation has reinvented itself to continue its jihad. Al-Qai'da has proved to be a many-headed hydra. One was decapitated in Afghanistan, with many of Osama bin Laden's senior lieutenants killed or captured, and much of its financial resources uncovered and blocked. But the organisation has now sprung up again in a...

FBI Probe Deepens Racial Split in Philly Tuesday October 21, 2003 2:46 AM By DAVID B. CARUSO Associated Press Writer PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Mayor John Street gets polite applause when he talks about policy on the campaign trail these days. The big cheers come when he mentions the bug planted in his office by the FBI. In the two weeks since news broke that Street was a subject of a federal investigation, Philadelphia's second black mayor has sought to cast himself as a man being persecuted because of his race, and the message appears to be resonating with black voters....

CIA and Pentagon split over uranium intrigue Mistrusted arms dealer's tangled tale of nuclear smugglers and a hidden Baghdad laboratory sparks bitter spat Julian Borger in Washington Friday October 17, 2003 The Guardian (UK) A bitter row has broken out between the CIA and Pentagon over reports that Iraqi uranium was smuggled to Iran, demonstrating that the rifts between the US agencies are as deep as ever. The tangled tale of contraband, radiation sickness, two shifty middlemen, secret meetings and demands for cash is the stuff of Hollywood, though it might make a better comedy than an action movie. Yet...

While contemplating my discomfort over the Ontario election, I came across Steve Martinovich's following statement: "Unfortunately for conservatives, Eves seems less than willing to carry on this revolution of tax cuts, fiscal responsibility and business friendly policies which have fostered economic growth and job creation. [...] Should I reward someone who seems to be abandoning the policies of Harris or should I help hand McGuinty victory by staying home. Does it matter?" I know the feeling. Ann Coulter once remarked about swing voters: "I like to refer to them as the idiot voters because they don't have set philosophical principles....

Broke and bitterly split, California is on skid row By Andrew Gumbel in Los Angeles 01 July 2003 The state of California, as of midnight last night, was officially broke. The richest, most populous state in the union - by some measures the world's fifth biggest economy - is facing a budget deficit of $38bn (£23bn). Midnight was the nominal deadline for the state legislature to balance the books for the new budgetary year, which begins today. But the legislature, riven by partisan rivalries, including a vicious battle to unseat the governor just months after his re-election, never stood a...

<p>Why are so many Democrats so confused as to where they should stand on the Medicare prescription drug bill before the Senate? Consider this: The party's two lions on health care issues, Sens. Edward M. Kennedy and Hillary Rodham Clinton, are pushing their colleagues in opposite ways.</p> <p>Just as befuddling: In interviews, each senator acknowledged the validity of the other's points. Both could agree on a drug bill if they could write it from scratch. But with Washington in Republican hands, they don't have that option.</p>

<p>The first thing you notice, talking on the phone with Shannon Larratt, is that he doesn't have a lisp.</p> <p>You thought he would, as his tongue has been split.</p> <p>Intentionally.</p> <p>By choice.</p> <p>Split.</p> <p>But the man who edits BMEzine online - that's BM as in body modification - says he's never known a splitter to develop a lisp. For that to happen, he says, the cut would have to be extreme.</p>

Britain and US split on Syria By Marie Woolf and Andrew Grice 15 April 2003 Splits have appeared between Britain and America's stance on extending war in Iraq to military action against Syria. Tony Blair insisted yesterday that Britain had no intention of making a military strike against Syria and said he wanted to pursue "dialogue and partnership" with the country. The Prime Minister struck a more conciliatory note than Washington, which threatened diplomatic and military sanctions. The US says Damascus is harbouring former members of Saddam Hussein's regime. Donald Rumsfeld, the US Defence Secretary, accused Syria of conducting tests...

Split between US and Europe a risk to world, warns Blair By Andrew Grice Political Editor 26 March 2003 Tony Blair says Europe and America will face a moment of reckoning after the war and he warned of the danger for the world if they fail to heal the wounds inflicted by the crisis. The Prime Minister said relations between the US and Europe would form a "significant part" of his talks with George Bush at the President's Camp David retreat tonight and tomorrow. The two leaders will discuss the war but Mr Blair insisted the meeting was not a...

Europe and U.S. face growing split far beyond Iraq By BARRY RENFREW, Associated Press WriterLONDON - Despite efforts on both sides of the Atlantic to limit the damage, the bitter dispute over Iraq (news - web sites) has split Europe between countries that support America and those who see it as a global menace. The division shows Europe's inability to create a united, credible voice in world affairs and threatens the unity of the West and decades of close trans-Atlantic relations, politicians and experts say. "If the Americans and the Europeans don't exercise great care in the next few weeks...

Sharp differences between the German and Italian stance towards the Iraq crisis became apparent after a hasty round of talks between Chancellor Schröder and Prime Minister Berlusconi in Bremen on Thursday evening. Not much trace of the optimism expressed by representatives from the German and Italian administrations ahead of a meeting between Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was in evidence after talks between the two heads of state on Thursday evening. Instead the gap between Germany and Italy on the issue of Iraq could hardly have been more apparent. "One could hardly expect anything else," Schröder said...