Today, the SEC announced fraud charges against a third banker for selling worthless and non-existent mortgages to Colonial Bank, leading to its collapse. This is on the heels said executive confessing to conspiracy and being sentenced to 30 years in prison. Most reporting on "mortgage fraud" centers on one of two themes: Joe Average knew perfectly well he couldn't afford the … [Read more...] about Connecting the Foreclosure Fraud Dots
Nine Boys and a General’s Son
Behind the headlines, two swatches of news reflect a reality that tells us much about our moral lives today. In Afghanistan, boys under 15 are collecting firewood when a U.S. helicopter swoops down to kill nine of them. Gen. Petraeus says, "These deaths should have never happened.” Meanwhile, another high-ranking General talks about losing his son there and the bitterness … [Read more...] about Nine Boys and a General’s Son
Obama’s Political Incompetence is Breathtaking
WASHINGTON -- The findings blare: NBC/WSJ Poll: 60% Say Reduce Social Security & Medicare Payments to Wealthier Americans. Like we needed yet another poll to tell us what we already know. Unfortunately, Pres. Obama and the Democratic Party do. From the latest NBC/WSJ poll: Less than a quarter of Americans support making significant cuts to Social Security or Medicare … [Read more...] about Obama’s Political Incompetence is Breathtaking
Time To Revisit Last Year’s “Compromise” Tax Breaks For the Rich
Here's a simple proposal to meet the federal budget crisis: Revisit the debate on the Bush-era tax cuts, and take back the extension of lower income tax rates given to well-to-do earners. This won't completely do away with the need to cut programs for the poor and middle class, of course, and the need to reduce the federal workforce that administers these programs. But it … [Read more...] about Time To Revisit Last Year’s “Compromise” Tax Breaks For the Rich
For Governors: Responsibility Equals Invisibility
WASHINGTON -- If you want to get national attention as a governor these days, don't try to be innovative about solving the problems you were elected to deal with -- in education, transportation and health care. No, if you want ink and television time, just cut and cut and cut some more. Almost no one in the national media is noticing governors who say the reasonable … [Read more...] about For Governors: Responsibility Equals Invisibility
This Isn’t Mere Duplication; It’s Unbridled Idiocy (Guest Voice)
This Isn’t Mere Duplication; It’s Unbridled Idiocy by Michael Reagan Uncle Sam is spending a lot of your tax dollars on programs that do the exact same thing as other federal programs, and you are paying the tab, a shocking new report shows. According to a report by the watchdog Government Accounting Office (GAO), Uncle Sam hosts 47 job-training programs, 44 of which do … [Read more...] about This Isn’t Mere Duplication; It’s Unbridled Idiocy (Guest Voice)
A Christian Argument for Civil Unions
Scripture reads: “Then Jesus said to them, ‘Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's.’ And they were amazed at him.” (Mark 2:17) In the Book of Mark, our Lord Jesus Christ states that there are some decisions that should be properly left to human government and other issues that clearly belong to God. In our system of government in the United States, the … [Read more...] about A Christian Argument for Civil Unions
Weird Dude
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China Threatens to Revoke Foreign Journalists’ Visas if they Cover Demonstrations
Add China to the list of countries that is more than ever cracking down on those who might communicate a non-p.r. message to the world and chronicle repression. And, the Christian Science Monitor reports, it's part of a larger package of clamp-down moves to keep a lid on politically assertive citizens: The Chinese government is threatening foreign correspondents that … [Read more...] about China Threatens to Revoke Foreign Journalists’ Visas if they Cover Demonstrations
State Rep. Debbie Riddle: Same Texas Twang, but with a Twinge and a Texas Tweak
First, a Texas state representative, Leo Berman, R-Tyler, joined the “birthers’ movement” by introducing a bill with a real Texas twang. A bill that would require presidential candidates to present their birth certificates to the Texas secretary of state “because we have a president whom the American people don’t know whether he was born in Kenya or some other place.” Now, … [Read more...] about State Rep. Debbie Riddle: Same Texas Twang, but with a Twinge and a Texas Tweak
Oh, No Problem, Dave; Apology Accepted
Actually, I can't be certain of that last part, but I do think the parents will accept Gen. Petraeus's sincere apology -- everyone makes mistakes now and then, and it's not as if you took away the only thing that mattered to them, right? … [Read more...] about Oh, No Problem, Dave; Apology Accepted
Two Fetuses to Testify at Ohio Legislative Hearings
You read that title correctly. You are not hallucinating: … [Read more...] about Two Fetuses to Testify at Ohio Legislative Hearings
Huckabee Jumps Into the Tea Party Rhetorical Pot
So much for Mike Huckabee appealing to independent voters and moderates who are not enamored with the Democrats but are turned off by candidates mouthing Tea Party demonizing rheotoric. It sounds like he's going the John McCain route and doing a political makeover. UPDATE: Chris Matthews is also dismayed. … [Read more...] about Huckabee Jumps Into the Tea Party Rhetorical Pot
Gingrich and Santorum Suspended as Fox News Paid Contributors (UPDATED)
Fox News is sending a signal that it wants to be taken seriously as a news organization: it has started to deal with the ticklish issue of what to do with paid commentators who are on their payroll who decide to run for President. It has suspended the its contributor arrangements effective today with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and with former Senator Rick Santorum -- … [Read more...] about Gingrich and Santorum Suspended as Fox News Paid Contributors (UPDATED)
Supreme Court Decides Snyder v. Phelps (Westboro) UPDATE
Readers will remember the unconscionable appearances by members of a so-called religious group from the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas, at military funerals claiming that the deaths of our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan are God's punishment for America's acceptance of homosexuality. They show up at military funerals regardless of whether the fallen hero was gay or … [Read more...] about Supreme Court Decides Snyder v. Phelps (Westboro) UPDATE
Kathryn Lopez Thinks You’re A Stupid Slut
We've come to expect less for and from ourselves, and for and from one another. In part, it's the fruit of the contraceptive pill. New York magazine recently observed in a cover feature: "The pill is so ingrained in our culture today that girls go on it in college, even high school, and stay on it for five, 10, 15, even 20 years." That, of course, has had all kinds of fallout: … [Read more...] about Kathryn Lopez Thinks You’re A Stupid Slut
Strike Up the Bland (Guest Voice)
Strike Up the Bland by Peter Funt It says here that Mitt Romney will be the Republican Presidential nominee next year. It also says here that if it's not the former Massachusetts governor, then it will be a fairly dark horse – someone currently trotting way below the radar. Although a Romney candidacy comes with plenty of overweight political baggage, the rest of the … [Read more...] about Strike Up the Bland (Guest Voice)
New Hampshire Bill Would Make TWA Pat Downs a Sexual Crime
While many Americans have been groping for a way to cope with TSA pat downs at airports, some angry legislators in New Hampshire think they have a solution: make those who do the pat downs sexual offender felons and put them on the Sexual Offender Registration list. Any government security worker viewing or touching someone’s private parts at airports would be a felon and … [Read more...] about New Hampshire Bill Would Make TWA Pat Downs a Sexual Crime
GOP’s Fat Chances for 2012
Since William Howard Taft a century ago, no American president has come close to matching his portly presence at 300 pounds, but next year's Republican field could change that. The subject comes up after a GOP split over Michelle Obama's campaign against obesity, with conservatives mocking the First Lady as Mike Huckabee and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie applaud her efforts … [Read more...] about GOP’s Fat Chances for 2012
Charlie Sheen and Charles Manson
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