WORSE COMING IN HOUSING AND OVERALL MARKET?

Housing Bubble Smackdown: "Shadow Inventory" being hidden by banks still has to surface, portending an even bigger crash ahead.
http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/21388

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Old School Republicans are "Scared Shitless" says Meghan McCain

She's definitely got that right!  They're trapped in a web of their own making.  They refuse to change with the changing times and thus will soon become a relic of the past.

Speaking to an affectionate crowd of Log Cabin Republicans on Saturday evening, Meghan McCain ridiculed the party her father headed this past election, declaring that "old school Republicans" were "scared shitless" of the changing landscape.

The Senator's daughter, who has quickly become something of an iconic figure in the gay conservative community since the end of the election, took repeated shots at the GOP for its antiquated mores.

"I feel too many Republicans want to cling to past successes," said McCain. "There are those who think we can win the White House and Congress back by being 'more' conservative. Worse, there are those who think we can win by changing nothing at all about what our party has become. They just want to wait for the other side to be perceived as worse than us. I think we're seeing a war brewing in the Republican Party. But it is not between us and Democrats. It is not between us and liberals. It is between the future and the past."

Later, she called out those officials in the Republican tent who insist that tactical improvements, technology and brass-knuckle politicking are the path back to relevance.

"Simply embracing technology isn't going to fix our problem," she said. "Republicans using Twitter and Facebook isn't going to miraculously make people think we're cool again. Breaking free from obsolete positions and providing real solutions that don't divide our nation further will. That's why some in our party are scared. They sense the world around them is changing and they are unable to take the risk to jump free of what's keeping our party down."

The remarks, delivered at the Log Cabin Republican's national convention in Washington D.C., drew healthy applause and the occasional high-pitched whistling. McCain, at one point, declared herself a proud member of the GOP. But her pot shots at the Republican Party and its flashier figures were not thinly veiled. Describing her public tiff with Ann Coulter as non-delicate, she went on to refer to the brash conservative talker as "overly partisan and divisive." Later in the speech she insisted that "most of our nation wants our nation to succeed" - a pretty clear dig at the now-infamous remarks of talk radio host Rush Limbaugh.

As for the GOP establishment, McCain described it as a "party that was thriving at one point on a few singular issues" but could no longer "see long-term success."

"We've seen how it has contributed to some serious problems in our nation and world," McCain said, in an apparent reference to the government under GOP control. "Let me be blunt, you can't assume you're electing the right leaders to handle all the problems facing our nation when you make your choice based on one issue. More and more people are finally getting that."

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The Conservatives' Dangerous Game of Hate and Consequences

I do believe these will be the last days of extremist conservatism--the kind that preaches hate and division--and FEAR.  Despite the fundamentalist conservatives' refusal to go with us, all of us on this planet are heading into a different kind of world where brotherhood and humane treatment of others is in the ascendancy.  But, as this author says, the slowly dying-out radical right wingers are like a rabid animal backed to the wall, and God only knows what they are capable of, especially since many of them are armed with guns -- and intense hatred.  Theirs is the kind of thinking that has permeated the Ku Klux Klan for years -- and now fuels the white supremacists and neo-Nazis and those who align themselves with neocon ideology.  I wish these people would take a good look at themselves in the mirror and wonder if they really, truly represent the teachings of Jesus Christ whom they profess to follow.  Or, in their rabid anger and racist attitudes, have they lost sight of Jesus completely? 

HATE AND CONSEQUENCES by John Ridley
Empty of better ideas -- of any ideas -- of how to remain relevant, the reactionary wing of the conservative movement has chosen to quit faking respectability and get back to doing what they do best: cranking up the hate to eleven.

This is the week we have lived:

A week when Texas Governor Rick Perry -- a man with presidential aspirations -- gets comfortable being flippant about the idea secession, raising the specter of both the anti-civil rights movement and the Civil War.

A week when Texas Republican State Rep. Betty Brown (what is it with Texas?) told a hearing on voter registration that if Asians wanted to avoid problems at the polls they needed to change their names to something that's "easier for us to deal with."

A week when Illinois Republican Congressman Mark Kirk said he thought the people of Illinois "are ready to shoot" anyone who's going to raise taxes.

A week when the Caucasian Stepin Fetchit Glenn Beck -- which is more of a slam against Lincoln Perry than it is Glenn -- thought it was humorous to take on the guise of our president and pantomime him pouring gas on the average citizen before setting a match to him.

This is the week when even his cover as GOP Chairman couldn't outweigh his blackness and Michael Steele was unwelcome at the not-even-slightly-white-fright based tea parties where signs stoking the fears of WHITE SLAVERY were as prevalent as any saying: I LOVE AMERICA.

And this was the week where Minority Leader John Boehner's only take away from the Bush-authorized DHS report on the threat of extremist violence was that it was offensive to American soldiers.

Really? Offensive to soldiers? From the same John Boehner who, when presenting the Congressional Medal of Honor to the famed WW II era Tuskegee airmen repeatedly -- repeatedly -- referred to these great Americans as the "Tush-Chee-geee airmen." All those aides of his, and he couldn't have one of them run and get him a pronouncer?

Boehner could not disrespect or minimize more. Unless he were disrespecting and minimizing a warning on hate attacks directed primarily at people of color in this country.

And that's what really cuts: the conservatives, aided and abetted by their own Axis Sally Michelle Malkin who does the "that's not racist" dance of the seven white hoods at the slightest yank of her chain -- hate and deny and get indignant and deny some more when the reasoned try to connect the dots between their reactionary rhetoric and the violent consequences to which they lead. We're all just blowing some liberal kookiness and lefty conspiracies.

Tell that to the three Pittsburgh police officers killed by the young man who frequented neo-Nazi and anti-Semitic websites.

Tell that to the families of Marcelo Lucero, Jose Sucuzhanay. Both killed in the wake of President Obama's election in attacks prompted by their perceived place of origin and sexual orientation.

Tell that to the Southern Poverty Law Center which has been tracking an increase in hate crimes and hate group activities long before the "offensive" "conservative-baiting" DHS report.

Have something to say besides peppering every sentence with buzz words like "revolution," "fascism," and "secession."

And in that week what do reasonable people do? Wait to find out if CNN or Ashton Kutcher can arrive more quickly to a million Tweeters. Instead of meeting outrage head on, we let the haters slide.

These may be the last, desperate days of reactionary, anti-American Conservatism. But in the manner of a rabid animal backed against a wall, these are its most dangerous as well.

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Republicans have to change their ways -- or die out as a party: McCain Campaign Manager

It must be taken into account that this was said at a Log Cabin Republicans' national convention, with the firm intention of keeping Republican gays in the party (I have always wondered how gays can stay with a party in which the majority despises, fears, and shuns them).  It seems the party is getting so desperate now, as it continues to crumble in the wake of Bush/Cheney and the neocon debacle, that it will do or say anything to woo members into staying. 

I often wonder how many present-day Republicans are aware of how far the Republican party of today has drifted from being the "Grand Old Party" their parents taught them to follow and support. 

GOP HAS BEEN CO-OPTED BY FUNDAMENTALIST RELIGIOUS ELEMENTS

Speaking publicly for one of the first times since the end of the presidential campaign, John McCain's campaign manager Steve Schmidt painted a dire portrait of the state of the Republican Party, arguing that the GOP has largely been co-opted by its religious elements.

"If you put public policy issues to a religious test, you risk becoming a religious party," Schmidt declared. "And in a free country, a political party cannot be viable in the long term if it is seen as a sectarian party."

The remarks came in a passionate, roughly 20-minute speech before the Log Cabin Republicans' national convention, in which Schmidt laid out the case for a far more open party -- one which did not consider gay marriage to be a "litmus test" issue. And while he made it a purpose not to offend social conservatives -- they "remain an indispensable part of the Republican coalition," he said -- Schmidt did not hide his concerns that religion had become the predominant thread of the GOP.

"If you reject [gay marriage] on religious grounds, I respect that," he said. "I respect anyone's religious views. However, religious views should not inform the public policy positions of a political party because... when it is a religious party, many people who would otherwise be members of that party are excluded from it because of a religious belief system that may be different. And the Republican Party ought not to be that. It ought to be a coalition of people under a big tent."

Earlier, in the question-and-answer session, Schmidt said he conveyed a similar message to Senator McCain, though he declined to elaborate on what kind of advice was given.

"My views were known inside the campaign on this," he said.

Looking beyond the issue of marriage, Schmidt's diagnosis of the GOP's ills was fairly ominous. "Our coalition," he declared, "is shrinking and losing ground to segments of the population that is growing, whether it is with suburban voters, working class, college educated voters, Hispanics, or left handed Albania psychics, the percentage voting republican has declined precipitously."

Schmidt warned, particularly, that losses among Hispanic voters threatened to "cost the Republicans the entire southwest," a development that would make winning 270 electoral votes a near impossibility. "Had Sen. McCain not been the nominee in 2008," he said, "I am convinced we would have lost the state of Arizona."

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HIGHLY RECOMMENDED YOUTUBE VIDEOS on UFOs and Quantum Physics

For inquisitive people who are curious about our world/universe and its makeup, the following videos are thought-provoking and exciting to contemplate. Some afternoon or evening when you have about 3 hours, you may want to sit down and watch these. Most of them are very short (a few minutes long), but the one on the Disclosure Project is 2 hours long -- an utterly intriguing two hours that I believe will keep you riveted throughout! Along with many scientific explorers, I believe we are entering a new period in Earth's history--where open minds and a willingness to think outside of the old boxed-in ways will be required. We are on the edge of a new frontier. It's stimulating to consider where that is going to take us as a civilization. Probably best to educate ourselves so we won't have to be dragged kicking and screaming into what is, inevitably, the next new adventure for Earth's human species.

If you watch the Discovery Channel or the History Channel or the National Geographic Channels, you may be aware that more and more often -- almost every week -- new UFO documentaries are being shown, along with repeats of the 2-hour special about UFOs that appeared on ABC with Peter Jennings a few years ago. It is interesting to think that perhaps we are being slowly guided into the knowledge that UFOs/alien beings have been visiting Earth for years and that our government and other world governments are not only aware of their existence/visitations, but have even been involved with extraterrestrials in advancing our knowledge of science and physics. Having kept this knowledge secret from the masses for years, it appears that the powers-that-be are trying now to make it known to us in small doses to see if we will accept it without having riots in the streets and hysterics in the churches. Much speculation has been made that Steven Spielberg's movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind was an attempt to educate us in this way as well, with government approval and help behind him. Spielberg's research for the film involved contact with UFO experts such as Dr. J. Allen Hynek of Northwestern University, who was the film's technical advisor. In an interview, Spielberg said, "If an announcement were made today that extraterrestrials had made contact with us, or us with them, it wouldn't stun me. I wouldn't suffer from social dislocation. I think that we all know that we're not alone in the universe. I can't imagine that we are the only intelligent biological life form out there. I would like people to look up in the sky a little differently, and with a little more curiosity and open-mindedness."

Recently in a magazine geared to collectors of antiques, etc., former astronaut Dr. Edgar Mitchell, who walked on the moon, was interviewed. Interspersed among the questions about the primary subject of the magazine, he was asked about his having made known to the world that he knows extraterrestrials exist. His answer was that yes, he is certain they exist and that they are visiting our planet. Then, without even an "Oh" or taking a breath or commenting in any way on this extraordinary revelation, the interviewer went on asking more mundane questions. Absurd? Yes--and I can almost hear members of other civilizations out there in the universe shaking their heads and murmuring among themselves, "Only on Earth...." :-\


QUANTUM PHYSICS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfPeprQ7oGc -- Dr. Quantum Explains the Double Slit Experiment in Quantum Physics

http://www.twine.com/item/11wp44xsg-xx/youtube-quantum-mechanics-for-dummies-electrons-are-weird -- Quantum Physics for Dummies

UFOs
DISCLOSURE PROJECT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vyVe-6YdUk Two hours of FASCINATING information from extremely credible military and government employee witnesses.

Important 2-minute testimony from the Disclosure Project: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6QNzH4x1rY&feature=related Regarding structures/buildings discovered on the dark side of the moon

BRITAIN'S ROSWELL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PbfPH2SF0E&feature=related The Rendlesham Forest Incident

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Meditation in schools

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/apr/14/transcendental-meditation-in-schools

I think we can anticipate that there will be plenty of naysayers about this proposal to teach meditation to children in our schools. Even though daily meditation has been found by doctors and scientists to have a calming effect on the body and brain and a positive effect on the ability to think clearly, this idea may not be welcomed by all because it is called "Transcendental Meditation" (which might sound too scary, too foreign to the beliefs of religious mainstream Americans). There are still in our country those folks who fear anything "different" (i.e., than what they were taught by their parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents. They call it "tradition"--but it could also be termed "a fear of growth" or of thinking for oneself). Yet these same people, without complaint, will allow modern medicine to drug their children on daily doses of Ritalin and other "behavioral modification" chemicals. We have come a long way in our understanding of the mind/body connection in regard to health, but perhaps not quite far enough for a proposal of meditation being taught in our schools to be wholeheartedly approved by the entire mainstream public. Let's hope that a small minority will not prevail over the intelligence of the majority.

One doctor who wrote a book (way back in 1975) about the practice of meditation and the positive effects it has had on lowering blood pressure (and other health problems) called it simply The Relaxation Response--a term that might be more acceptable to tradition-following parents. Instead of a foreign-sounding mantra like "Om" to focus the mind, the author suggested using the word "One." This book is by Dr. Herbert Benson, Professor of Medicine at the Harvard Medical School and Chief of the Division of Behavioral Medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Mind/Body Medical Institute. Following is a review of that book, which became an all-time best-seller:

Amazon.com Review
When you look at the popularity of mind-body medicine today, it's hard to understand what a groundbreaking book this was when it was first published in 1975. Based on studies at Boston's Beth Israel Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Dr. Herbert Benson showed that relaxation techniques such as meditation have immense physical benefits, from lowered blood pressure to a reduction in heart disease. The Relaxation Response demystifies the mantra meditation used in the transcendental meditation program, explaining how anyone can reap its advantages. If you want to understand the beginnings of today's alternative medicine movement, or if you're simply looking to learn a simple meditation technique without a lot of metaphysical trappings, this is a good place to start.

Description of Book

When Dr. Herbert Benson introduced this simple, effective, mind/body approach to relieve stress in The Relaxation Response twenty-five years ago, the book became an instant national bestseller. Since that time, millions of people have learned the secret of the relaxation response--without high-priced lectures, drugs, or prescription medicine. The tremendous success of this approach has turned The Relaxation Response into the classic reference recommended by most health care professionals and authorities to treat the harmful effects of stress.

This revitalizing, therapeutic approach, discovered by Dr. Benson and his colleagues in the laboratories of Harvard Medical School and its teaching hospitals, is now routinely recommended to treat patients suffering from heart conditions, high blood pressure, chronic pain, insomnia, and many other physical ailments. Requiring only minutes to learn, and just ten to twenty minutes of practice twice a day, the Relaxation Response has proven to be one of the most effective ways to relieve the tensions of modern-day living for a richer, healthier, more productive life.

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MICHELLE OBAMA AND HUGS

Letting the people decide for themselves seems to work quite well.  The Obamas have extraordinarily high ratings across the world.  Michelle's is at 72%!  This is a victory for those of us who would rather believe our "lying eyes" than let FOX News tell us what to think. 
 

MICHELLE OBAMA AND THE HUG. NO, THE OTHER HUG
By Robert J. Elisberg

Much was made recently of The Hug between First Lady Michelle Obama and the Queen of England. Far more noteworthy, however, was another hug. Or hugs, actually. It came on the same trip during Mrs. Obama's visit to a girls school in North London. Most news attention was on the girls' presentation and the First Lady's emotional speech. But it was the reaction following the event that was far more profound.

When the visit was over, and Mrs. Obama had left, news cameras that stayed around captured the girls' explosive reaction in the schoolyard. There these young British girls were, jumping up and down, still screaming with delight among themselves, tears of exuberant joys in their eyes. One girl's face was as wide open as the sun, shouting out, "Michelle Obama HUGGED me!!!"

During the election, a friend and I were marveling how the mere photograph of a president of the United States who was black, with the name Barack Hussein Obama, would do more to instantly improve the nation's image around the world than pretty much anything conceivable. But what I didn't conceive was the reaction to Michelle Obama.

The economic conference in London was, of course, major news in the city. Meetings to resolve worldwide recession; street battles from protesters; the new, popular American president making his first state visit. Amid this, the conservative Daily Telegraph had a banner headline, "The Fightback Starts Here," detailing the conference's vital news. But directly below that headline, taking up almost the entirety of the "above the fold" page, was a color photograph that had nothing to do with the headline, nothing to do with protests, nothing to do even with any world leader -- not the Queen, Prime Minister nor U.S. president.

What the conservative British newspaper emblazoned across its front page was a massive photograph of Michelle Obama.

It's an utterly remarkable phenomenon. Not for what it is, but for what was.

Michelle Obama has been First Lady for only two months. A mere eight months ago, Republicans tried to vilify her -- not just as someone to dislike, but as a person who supposedly hated America. An edited tape made its way around right-wing talk radio to sound as if she had never before been proud of America. Fox News actually tried to suggest that she and her husband had made a "terrorist first bump." The goal was to frighten Americans of Michelle Obama. It was unprecedented -- wives are off-limits in campaigns, let alone, untouched, with the understanding that spouses aren't running for anything. Yet here were Republicans daily smearing the wife of Barack Obama. And it had its effect. A Gallup Poll last June had Michelle Obama's approval rating at only 43%.

And now, just eight months later, her popularity in polls is even higher than even her husband's, the president of the United States -- and his are really high. Barack Obama's approval is a soaring 69%-28%. Michelle Obama's rating, however, is ethereal -- 72% approval-17% disapproval.

And here are young girls in a foreign country beside themselves in panegyrics of ecstasy at being hugged by Michelle Obama.

And here is the Queen of England reaching out and touching her, in a rare moment, according to Buckingham Palace itself, of affection.

First Ladies are often more popular than their husbands, but that usually comes deep into the president's term, when the public has had a chance to be critical of policies. Coming into office, however, new presidents are at their most popular. Yet just two months after arriving at the White House, Michelle Obama has already risen above her wildly-popular husband.

Again, what's remarkable about Michelle Obama's popularity is not how popular she is (72%-17%), but how popular she is only eight months after being demonized by the Republican Party. Barely half a year later, she's almost double the then-43% approval. And this didn't occur through any significant event that changed peoples' opinion of her. It's that after eight months... people got to see her with their own eyes, unfiltered by right-wing talk radio and Fox News. The American public didn't know her before, they only had reports on how they were supposed to feel about her. But seeing her in action, seeing her grace, charm, intelligence, kindness and warmth -- seeing how incredibly well-raised her children were -- seeing someone who tells children in school, as she did those girls in London, "I liked getting A's... I thought there was nothing cooler than being smart" -- Americans saw for themselves, got to know her themselves, and made up their own minds. And in doing so, utterly repudiated the shameless, unprecedented, cruel Republican smears of a mere eight months earlier.

Just two months in office. From 43% to 72%. It's remarkable. But then, so is she.

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When the shoe is on the other foot, listen to the Republicans howl

I'm sure we all remember how the Republicans demanded that Bush and Cheney be proclaimed the winners in the 2000 presidential election, even though there were many, many questions about the legality of the Florida votes and despite the fact that Gore had over 500,000 more popular votes than Bush. They stormed the gates in Florida, in acts of enraged coercion, shouting for Gore to give up his attempt to determine legalities of the votes there.

Isn't it interesting how their story changes in the present and they now fight like pit bulls over a legally conducted election that it is obvious was won by the Democrat? Their greed and power plays have laid low the Republican Party. I have doubts that it will ever recover. Just look at the insane scramble of candidates who want to grab the leadership of their ragtag political party that is lying in ruins after eight years of the Bush/Cheney debacle: Sarah Palin, Michael Steele, Rush Limbaugh, Newt Gingrich, Bobby Jindal -- and, oh yes, we can't forget Joe the Plumber(!). What an array of stupidity, arrogance and ignorance. As for the totally misnamed neocon "compassionate conservatism," let us all hope and pray it has breathed its last, due to its incredible cruelty and meanness of spirit.

MINNESOTA SUPREME COURT: FRANKEN WON
By John Amato

The question now is when will Gov. Pawlenty issue the certification?

Al Franken really did win the election for U.S. Senate in Minnesota last November. That’s the decision of the three judges who heard former Sen. Norm Coleman’s lawsuit challenging Franken’s recount victory.

“Franken is entitled to receive the certificate of election,” states the order signed by Judges Denise Reilly, Elizabeth Hayden and Kurt Marben.

---

The overwhelming weight of the evidence indicates that the November 4, 2008 election was conducted fairly, impartially, and accurately. … After seven weeks of trial, the factual record is devoid of any allegations of fraud, tampering, or security breaches on Election Day, during the recount process, or during the election contest.

Even if Coleman takes it to the Supreme Court, Al Franken should be sworn in. We know Gov. Pawlenty will wait until the State Supreme Court rules. Nate Silver has a long analysis on Coleman's chances. It's just another bad day for Bill O'Reilly.

I'm no fan of DNC Chairman Tim Kaine, but he released the Following Statement via presser:

Despite losing ground in the vote count, and credibility after increasingly questionable and inconsistent legal challenges, Coleman and his attorneys have vowed to appeal the decision to the Minnesota State Supreme Court and if unsuccessful there possibly the U.S. Supreme Court. Leading Republicans in Washington, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Republican Campaign Chairman John Cornyn, are supporting Coleman’s appeals as a way to obstruct Franken from being seated to a Senate seat he has rightfully won to prevent Democrats from claiming their 59th seat in the 100 member body.

Continue reading »

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Christian Charity (as non-practiced by vocal right wingers)

Right wing "Christians" who yammer on and on with their criticisms of Obama need to take a look at some of the statements of their founding father heroes:
Christianity is the most perverted system that ever shone on man. -- Thomas Jefferson (He wrote his own treatise on Christ, called The Truth and Moral Teachings of Jesus of Nazareth)
Lighthouses are more useful than churches. -- Benjamin Franklin
This would be the best of all possible worlds if there were no religion in it. -- John Adams

Resurrection of Intolerance
by Walter Brasch

The fanatic right-wing, after taking a few days off to catch their breath, is back again with vengeance.

Name anything that President Obama is doing, and this broken wing will try to slap it down, unmindful that more than two-thirds of Americans support the President, with his popularity rising each week, according to several independent polls.

During the campaign, they attacked Obama for being a Muslim. After all, they figured anyone with a name that wasn't WASP-sounding must not be a Christian. Of course, they overlooked the Constitution, which says anyone—Christian, Muslim, Jew, or even atheist—has a right to be president.

When the Muslim connection didn't wash with the people, the right-wing said that Obama went to the wrong Christian church. The United Church of Christ, many claimed, wasn't even Christian because it allowed people of all views into its congregations. For the shrill-voiced pretend-Christians, their religion is more a religion of exclusion than of inclusion.

This past week, the holiest of Christian holidays, the lunatic fringe has shown just how far from Christianity it is. On talk shows and in vitriolic columns, the hard-core conservative base blasted the President for not going to church every Sunday. But then, the President and his family attended Easter Day services at St. John's Episcopal Church. The family's plans had been kept secret, both for security reasons and because the President had stated many times both before and after his inauguration that he needed time to find an appropriate congregation and because he was mindful that his presence would, even unintentionally, disrupt services.

Undoubtedly, the harpies of the extreme right-wing will now suggest that the President attended services only because they had raised the issue, and that his attendance was solely for political reasons.

What these self-righteous harpies don't point out, is that while the President and his family are looking for an appropriate church, he's hosted prayer meetings and a Passover Seder, and acted in a way that is far more what Christian charity asks than many who put out litmus tests made up of requirements that might make God weep.

So, here's a few facts for this group—just in case they were foaming at the mouth during their own religious education, and didn't hear their lessons.

One: More presidents didn't attend church weekly than did. Among those who had very irregular church attendance was Thomas Jefferson, a deist not a Christian, who had insisted that freedom of religion be a part of the Constitution.

Two: People can go to church twice a week, and participate in every ritual and still not understand the words and teachings of God and his prophets.

Three: Persons who don't go to church every week aren't worse than those who do.

Four: A church is a building. If God is omnipresent, he is present in every part of this universe, not just in buildings. Persons can understand and have their own faith without going into a building, for the spirit of God is within their hearts.

Five: No one has absolute truth, and any attempt to impose one's faith upon others is a selfish and egocentric approach to religion, something Moses, Jesus, Buddha, Confucius, and Mohammad would find appalling.

Finally: If the fanatics continue their shrill screeches that President Obama and his family attend church every Sunday to show the nation they are "true Christians," they should consider that one of the most influential conservative presidents never attended Sunday services while president, believing his presence would disrupt Sunday services. That man was Ronald Reagan.

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Palin nominates nutcase, causing her huge political fallout

More political "astuteness" from the Republicans. Just think of what our country could be like with her and McCain in charge. OMG, No, don't think about it! It's too painful even to contemplate.

Sarah Palin Suffers Massive Political Fallout from Her Latest Nutcase Nominee

by Max Blumenthal | April 14, 2009

The governor is reeling after nominating for attorney general a man who allegedly defended the right of men to rape their wives.

— from The Daily Beast

While priming her political machine for a likely 2012 presidential primary run, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has fomented a scandal that threatens to further erode her reputation in the Last Frontier.

In March, Palin nominated Wayne Anthony Ross for attorney general. Ross, a colorful far-right lawyer and longtime Palin ally who sports his initials, W.A.R., on his Hummer’s vanity plates, was once considered a shoo-in for confirmation. However, his nomination was thrown into grave peril when his opponents presented evidence that he called homosexuals “degenerates,” hailed the “courage” of a student who lionized the Ku Klux Klan, vowed to undermine the sovereignty of Native American tribes, and allegedly defended men who rape their wives. According to two sources close to the confirmation hearings, Palin may ask Ross to withdraw before his appointment comes to a vote.

» article continues...

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GUNS -- The American Way

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/14/opinion/14herbert.html?_r=1

EXCERPT: Murderous gunfire claims many more victims than those who are actually felled by the bullets. But all the expressions of horror at the violence and pity for the dead and those who loved them ring hollow in a society that is neither mature nor civilized enough to do anything about it.

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Insanity continues on our planet, thanks to the GOP

From Arianna Huffington:

This week, the Grand Old Party continued its march into madness -- and irrelevancy. Rep. Spencer Bachus pegged the number of Congressional socialists at 17. Rep. Michele Bachmann said she fears the Obama administration will use "volunteerism" to create "re-education camps for young people." Sen. James Inhofe responded to news that Obama plans to increase military spending by $31 billion dollars by claiming the president "is disarming America." And Rick Santorum penned an op-ed accusing Obama of having "disdain for American values."

Elsewhere, proving that stupid has no borders, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said the 17,000 survivors of Italy's deadly earthquake "should see it like a weekend of camping" -- a lovely companion to Barbara Bush's memorable observation that Katrina victims housed at a relocation center in Texas "were underprivileged anyway, so this is working very well for them."

Happy Easter!

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Obama looks at ways to cool Earth -- shooting particles in the upper atmosphere?

Who does this government think they're kidding? They're talking publicly now about shooting particles into the upper atmosphere to reflect the sun's rays back -- what in heck are the chemtrails, if not that? This was proposed back in 1997 at a climate symposium in Sicily -- by Dr. Edward Teller. I believe the governments in all western countries started spraying our skies later that same year and are continuing to this day to spread barium and aluminum particles in the upper atmosphere through trails laid down by high-flying military jets. Chemtrails are an almost daily affair in our skies here in central California. But no one in the government will talk about it or admit anything. Yet our "lying eyes" continue to tell us something is being sprayed in our skies -- something that turns blue skies into murky gray sludge-like "cloud" cover. And the rate of asthma in children and coughing/allergies in adults and seniors continues to grow at an alarming rate. Coincidenza???

I was just talking with a friend about this very subject today, wondering how much Obama has been told about the secret projects of the government. Does he know about chemtrails? Does he know about UFOs? I guess this announcement tells us he does know about chemtrails. I believe they are preparing us to accept chemtrails -- when they finally admit they are doing them. Of course, they will say it is a "new thing" -- and those of us who protest and ask too many questions will be told our eyes these past ten years have been deceiving us.

Just look up at the skies above you -- very often you will see criss-crossing trails that spread out to cover the entire sky. These are NOT normal contrails!!! Go into google and type in "chemtrails" and see the sites that are brought up, with photos galore!!!

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D97ECHLG1&show_article=1

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SHAMEFUL! How the govt. is treating our soldiers!

Throughout the Bush years, this is how it has been--our mentally wounded soldiers have been treated as throwaways. Or they've been sent back into combat with their mental injuries untreated. Plus, the disgusting Bush/Cheney administration actually lowered the benefits of our soldiers at the same time!!! I hope the Obama administration will make it possible for our soldiers to receive the full benefits and medical treatment they are due! I was glad to see that finally we are able to see the terrible effects of Bush's unnecessary war. Since Obama has taken the reins, our soldiers' coffins being brought back from Iraq are now viewable by the public and press as they arrive at Dover, Delaware. Bush/Cheney refused to let us see the thousands of fallen soldiers' coffins -- and shamefully had them brought back in the dead of night. Their motto on everything was "Out of sight, out of mind."

http://www.salon.com/news/special/coming_home/2009/04/08/tape/

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Prophetic Mark Twain quote

It seems on Earth some things stay the same, century after century...

"Next the statesmen will invent cheap lies, putting the blame
upon the   nation that is attacked, and every man  will be glad
of those conscience-soothing falsities, and will diligently
study them, and refuse to examine  any refutations of them;
and thus he will by and by convince himself that the war is
just, and  will thank God for the better sleep he enjoys
after this process of grotesque self-deception."

-- Mark Twain (1916)  

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Video: Finally, a president and First Lady to be proud of!!!

Even the queen feels affection for Michelle -- and her visit to an ethnic girls' school evoked heart-touching feelings in her and in the girls at the school.

http://crooksandliars.com/media/play/wmv/7753/27107

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Oops...another Palin in the news

Sarah Palin's sister-in-law arrested for burglary: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/04/diana-palin-sarah-palins-_n_183097.html

Some of the readers' comments at the end of the article are on the mark. (i.e., Glenn Beck had a field day mocking some relative of Obama--mocked her for using a cane in fact and for being an illegal immigrant. Who wants to bet the mortgage money with me that we'll never see even a sly reference to the Palin family on his show?

and

People who hold themselves and their families up as paragons of Christian virtue, then judge others as they see fit, make themselves targets when the going gets rough. Sorry, but they deserve as much compassion as they have shown to others. How easy some of us forget the ridicule, condemnation and outright lies that were heaped upon Barack Obama or any other progressive during the campaign. Sorry, I'm not feeling that magnanimous anymore.)

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A touching moment between Michelle Obama and the queen

It seems the Obamas almost single-handedly are changing the bad-taste-in-the-mouth image of America left by Bush and Cheney. Even Britain's queen, not known to show affection in public, put her arm around Michelle. You can't hide who you are. Everyone can feel the difference between phony (the Bushes and Cheneys) and genuine (the Obamas).

One reader of this article says it best:

Our First Lady and the late Princess Diana are very much alike. Comfortable in their own skin, very warm, kind, caring of others. They both send the world a huge message." Be who you are" don't stand on, or worry about protocol. I am sure the Queen with time, age, and Grandsons is now aware of Love.

See article and video at:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/G20/article6022502.ece

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Newt Gingrich becomes a Catholic (sort of)

If I hadn't already left the church, this would be enough to make me do it...

NEWT SAYS: MY THIRD WIFE WANTS ME TO BE A GOOD CATHOLIC  (and hey, those votes Catholic votes might come in handy when I run for president in 2012)
by Cenk Uygur

Newt Gingrich has converted to Catholicism. He apparently has the zeal of the converted because he is already attacking Obama for having anti-Catholic values. He tweeted it out the other day about Obama giving the commencement speech at Notre Dame:

"It is sad to see notre dame invite president obama to give the commencement address Since his policies are so anti catholic values."

Newt has been divorced twice, married three times and left one of his wives when she was in the hospital with cancer. Stop me when I get to pro-Catholic values. Newt is also in favor of the death penalty, which is also against Catholic values. How come no one ever protests that?

Obama is going to Notre Dame and people claiming to be devout Catholics are up in arms. They were just as concerned about John Kerry when he was running for president. They even wanted to deny him communion. How come no one ever protests or denies communion to pro-death penalty politicians?

The answer is because religion has been turned into a political farce in this country. Nobody gives a damn what the Bible actually says or what the religions are supposed to stand for. The Religious Right have simply inserted the Republican platform for where the Bible used to be.

The pope was against the Iraq invasion. Has any politician in America been denied communion because they were for the war? The Bible says it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to go to heaven. Has any politician been chastised by any of the major religious figures in America for providing further tax cuts for the wealthy?

It's a joke. But now Newt has taken the joke one step further. He is apparently converting because his third wife is Catholic. Does no one see the irony of this?: My third wife wanted me to be a good Catholic!

But don't worry, Newt is pro-Catholic values. How do I know? Because he is a registered Republican. That's apparently all you need these days.

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VIDEO: Stephen Colbert on Glenn Beck -- A KEEPER!

Don't miss this one.  The parts showing Glenn Beck making his crying pleas to his followers are priceless.  After listening to Beck's rant on the 9/11 victims' families, it's difficult to imagine that some people actually take him seriously.  It really does take all kinds to make up our world (sigh)....
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/01/stephen-colbert-rips-apar_n_181673.html

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