It Always Has Been About Trig  —  I waited a whole day before posting about the Sarah Palin resignation.  Well, not a whole day, but longer than almost everyone else in the blogosphere.  Here's my take as of this moment in time, subject to change:  —  I don't know why Sarah Palin resigned …

READERS ARE SENDING PHOTOS FROM TEA PARTY PROTESTS AROUND THE COUNTRY.  Here's one from Perrysburgh, Ohio, sent by reader Chris Zarecki, who reports about 3,000 people attending.  —  Here's one from Bel Air, Maryland, sent by reader Maya Leonetti.  The Debt Star makes another appearance!

Advocacy Groups Should Halt Attacks on Moderate Democrats, Obama Says  —  Advocates Should Turn Attention to Promoting Legislation, President Says  —  President Obama, strategizing yesterday with congressional leaders about health-care reform, complained that liberal advocacy groups ought …

More on Palin  —  I spoke to a few friends in Alaskan Republican politics yesterday.  None of them had a clue that Palin was going to resign her office, and none has any idea what her motivation might be in doing so.  It was widely assumed in Alaska that Palin wouldn't run for a second term.

July 5th Oration by Frederick Douglass: Tomorrow I am hoping to attend a recreation of Frederick Douglass's Independence Day oration at his home in Anacostia, DC. … Today, historian Jonathan Bean has a nice essay on National Review Online entitled, The Party of Lincoln, and of Douglass …

Matalin Thinks Palin is Brilliant—Rollins and Gergen Think She's Toast  —  You can view this video right here by getting the latest version of Flash Player!  —  DOWNLOADS: (253)  —  PLAYS: (2325)  —  What a surprise.  Neocon and former Cheney advisor Mary Matalin thinks …

‘Family Friendly’ White House Is Less So for Aides  —  WASHINGTON — When President Obama talks up the family-friendly vibe at the White House — the nightly family dinners, the flexibility to attend school presentations and join impromptu plunges in the pool with his girls — his chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, sets him straight.

Storm Clouds on the Fourth of July  —  I don't think I've ever seen my country so divided and depressed on the Fourth of July in my lifetime and - no matter what Bob Dylan dreamed up - I'm not young, forever or otherwise.  That includes the Vietnam War period when both sides at least …

Honeybee mobs overpower hornets  —  Honeybees mount a very effective mobbing defence  —  Honeybee hordes use two weapons - heat and carbon dioxide - to kill their natural enemies, giant hornets.  —  Japanese honeybees form “bee balls” - mobbing and smothering the predators.

WEEKLY ADDRESS: President Obama Celebrates Independence Day and the American Spirit  —  WASHINGTON - In his weekly address, President Barack Obama celebrated the unyielding American spirit that has defined our past and will lead us into the future.  Even as we face daunting challenges …

Tensions mount as Honduras defies OAS  —  Supporters of the new government, lead by Roberto Micheletti, rallied at the presidential palace as the Honduran army maintained control.  Ousted President Manuel Zelaya is set to return to the country over the weekend; Micheletti has threatened to arrest him.