Yesterday, four Republicans in the New Hampshire State House supported a hearing requested by a group of birthers who want President Obama officially removed from the state’s primary ballot. Of course, Birther attorney Orly Taitz is in the midst of it and had filed a complaint about Obama’s candidacy that, according to WND, was joined by several state lawmakers. Ortiz had submitted “evidence” of alleged fraud regarding his birth certificate. The evidence, she charged, “indicates...

When the Tea Party was at its heyday during the 2010 elections, when the Palins and the Bachmanns ruled the day, we were treated to some soaring oratory by real, “take-our-country-back” Americans: You know, those real Americans, real patriots, real believers who belong to the party of core values, of family values — the good party, the party of God. Feeling quite dejected, feeling like a fake American, I rambled about it then and I rambled again when the GOP presidential carnival...

It’s February 2013. It’s 3 A.M. The phone rings in the President’s bedroom — it has an urgent ring. Finally the President picks up the phone. The voice of his National Security Advisor, John Bolton: “Mr. President, we have a serious situation developing in Asia.” The President: “Asia? Which Asia? Can’t you be more specific than that …” Bolton: “In China, Mr. President.” The President: “So, why call me at three in the morning. Didn’t I tell you, China does not...

First we had Cain’s brain difficulties on handling the sexual harassment accusations; then we saw Cain’s brain malfunction on China having a nuclear capability; then we had Perry’s brain freeze on naming three departments he wanted to eliminate; today we have Cain’s total brain failure on remembering what Libya is or was and on explaining his position on Obama’s Libya policy. Even for someone who does not agree with Cain’s political positions, it was quite painful to watch this latest...

Several news sources are reporting a huge blast occurring inside an Iranian military base near the capital, Tehran. BBC News: There has been at least one explosion inside a military base west of Iran’s capital, Tehran, officials say. Windows in buildings in the nearby village of Bidganeh have been shattered. Some deaths have been reported, according to the semi-official Fars news agency, but this has not been confirmed. The blast was reportedly heard in central Tehran about 40 km (25 miles)...

Both ABC News and the Washington Post are reporting that kidnapped Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos has been found alive and well in Venezuela. According to the Washington Post: Wilson Ramos has been rescued in Venezuela and is with the police on his way back home, his agent, Gustavo Mercano, said in a phone conversation. The Interior Minster called to tell the family at roughly 10 minutes before 10 p.m. East Coast time. According to ABC NEWS (citing the Post): Ramos was with police this...

The ring, a circle that has no beginning and no end, has been a symbol of undying love, fidelity, loyalty and of life itself through the ages. But the ring can also represent patriotism, bravery and sacrifice as in a military service academy ring, a combat aviator’s ring, the ring on a fallen soldier’s finger — a Ring of Honor. As we observe Veterans Day and honor all the men and women who have worn the uniform of our Armed Forces, what could be more appropriate than to share a...

The United States District Court for the District of Columbia has denied Texas motion for summary judgment on the Republican-drawn maps for U.S. House of Representatives, State Senate and State House. The order reads in part: Having carefully considered the entire record and the parties’ arguments, the Court finds and concludes that the State of Texas used an improper standard or methodology to determine which districts afford minority voters the ability to elect their preferred candidates of...

A letter to the editor I quoted in “Homeless Veterans” created a lot of discussion — the overwhelming majority of it on how we can honor and help our veterans. Several readers suggested ways in which we can help veterans both with volunteerism and with our wallets. USA TODAY says: There are many ways we honor members of the armed services. We rise and applaud them at sporting events, wiping our eyes at the sight of muscular young men with prosthetic legs. We hang banners from overpasses,...

About three weeks ago, Reuters quoted Afghan President Hamid Karzai saying: “God forbid, if ever there is a war between Pakistan and America, Afghanistan will side with Pakistan,” Karzai also said: “Afghanistan will never forget the welcome, the hospitality, the respect, and the brotherhood showed by the Pakistani people towards the Afghan people…Pakistan will never betray their brother.” According to CBS News, “that would be the case regardless of whether the country...

Sometimes so much can be said with so few words. How about with 29 words: “Homeless veteran” should be a cultural oxymoron. The mere thought of it is profane. What kind of civil society leaves its defenders on winter streets, even for one night? * Just 29 little words. What a powerful, poignant message. Think about it this Veterans Day. * A November 5, 2011, Letter to the New York Times Editor by Mark Dowie, Point Reyes Station, Calif., in response to an Oct. 29 article, “Study Finds Slight...

The Family Research Council, a social conservative advocacy nonprofit headed by Tony Perkins, has awarded Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL), a Tea Party freshman in Congress, a 100 percent rating as a “True Blue” member of Congress because of his “unwavering support of the family”: “We thank Cong. Walsh who has voted consistently to defend faith, family and freedom,” said the Council’s President, Tony Perkins, and for “upholding the institution of marriage and family.” “I am proud...

UPDATE: I have just finished watching the CBS 60 Minutes special on Operation Proper Exit. If you have watched it, thank you. If you haven’t, please watch it when you can (I will try to have a video in the next update) It will change your outlook on these brave young men — these Wounded Warriors — who have given it their all; on war; perhaps on what life is all about … (Have a handkerchief handy) UPDATE II This is the video. Please watch it —– As we approach...

I don’t think anyone would describe Pulitzer Prize Winner for Commentary Kathleen Parker as a Liberal. A member of the Washington Post Writers Group, she describes herself politically as “slightly to the right of center.” Sharon Grisby, deputy editorial page editor, The Dallas Morning News, has described her writing and her journalistic talents as follows: In a media genre that’s all too often predictable, Kathleen Parker almost never fails to surprise – with her passion,...

In a recent piece about how the GOP seems to be bent on blowing off the Latino vote, Shaun Mullen sees the Latino answer to the GOP as being “¡Muéranse!” or drop dead. I believe that the GOP begets — deserves — such a reaction because the GOP has, for years, been telling Latinos exactly the same. According to the New York Times, seven Republican presidential candidates are telling Latinos “Gracias, pero no gracias.” This in answer to an invitation to participate in a debate...

If Halloween by itself wasn’t frightening enough, this Oct. 31 has been set by U.N. demographers as the official day when the 7 billionth person will be born, as TIME says, “on a planet already strapped for resources.” No one knows where this 7 billionth person will “officially” be born, albeit TIME says he or she may be born in India, “which will be the world’s most populous nation by 2030.” Halloween might be the appropriate day for this “sobering” event to happen, “a reminder...

Texas has been toying with the idea of issuing a so-called “vanity” license plate that contains the Confederate battle flag. A vote on this controversial issue could come as soon as next month. A previous vote on this issue this past April ended in a 4-4 tie. “The plate has been proposed by the Sons of Confederate Veterans, an ancestral history group involved in previous dust-ups over displays of the flag in state buildings and on state monuments,” says the Austin American-Statesman. Organizations...

A few months ago, I commented on a piece by Pulitzer Prize winner Leonard Pitts at the Miami Herald calling birthers “morons,” ”jackasses,” “imbeciles,” “idiots,” “doofuses” and “pinheads.” He also called the birther movement “not just claptrap, but profoundly racist claptrap.” I said, “While I agree with Pitts on the claptrap, I would not call the birthers morons, imbeciles, idiots, etc. I believe that these...

I don’t remember anymore when I first started to seriously lament and write about the dearth of recognition received by our heroes whom we sent into harm’s way in Iraq and Afghanistan and who “gave it all,” including, at times, their lives. With the award of several Medals of Honor, President Obama has started to more justly recognize the many instances of ”conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life,” as the citation for the Medal reads. However, there are instances...

A little more than a year ago, I wrote an article about a subject that I found fascinating: “The World War II Navajo Code Talkers.” It started with a reference to the great, 2002 movie “Windtalkers,” about the use of Native Americans, such as the Navajos, during World War II in the Pacific Theater by the U.S. intelligence services to transmit secret messages using “codes” built around their ancient language. Codes that are said to have been virtually “crack-proof,” and extremely...