Republican Senator: Jesus's ‘Golden Rule’ Inspired His Vote For Pro-Abortion Kagan  —  (CNSNews.com) - Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said that Jesus's Golden Rule inspired him to vote to confirm Elena Kagan to the U.S. Supreme Court and suggested it would be a good thing …

Five myths about the ‘tea party’  —  The grass-roots conservative activists who march under the “Don't tread on me” Gadsen flag and the “tea party” label have put a new twist on Gandhi's maxim: First they were ignored; then they were ridiculed; then they began to fight.

Time for a divorce  —  In the 1500s, a pestering theologian instituted something called the Marriage Ordinance in Geneva, which made “state registration and church consecration” a dual requirement of matrimony.  —  We have yet to get over this mistake.  But isn't it about time we freed marriage from the state?

What collapsing empire looks like  —  (updated below)  —  As we enter our ninth year of the War in Afghanistan with an escalated force, and continue to occupy Iraq indefinitely, and feed an endlessly growing Surveillance State, reports are emerging of the Deficit Commission hard at work planning …

Reminder to critics who think a mosque is offensive to the legacy of 9/11: There's already one at the Pentagon.  —  In opposing the planned Islamic community center two blocks from Ground Zero in New York City, conservative stalwarts have picked up on right-wing extremists' paranoid hysteria over the initiative.

Dean: Individual Mandate Will Be Removed From Health Care Reform By 2014  —  WHAT'S YOUR REACTION?  —  Former DNC Chairman Howard Dean has never been a fan of the individual mandate for insurance coverage, both on policy and political grounds.  And once Senate negotiators removed any hope …

Sharron Angle opposes gay adoption  —  Sharron Angle doesn't believe gays should be able to adopt, according to a questionnaire she filled out.  AP  —  Nevada GOP Senate candidate Sharron Angle believes that gays should not be allowed to adopt children and that religious leaders should be allowed …

Palin helping RNC raise money  —  Sarah Palin is helping the RNC raise funds.  —  Palin has attached her name to a letter and survey being mailed to RNC donors soliciting contributions for the committee's Victory 2010 program, a nationwide get-out-the-vote effort.

America Is at Risk of Boiling Over  —  And out-of-touch leaders don't see the need to cool things off.  —  It is, obviously, self-referential to quote yourself, but I do it to make a point.  I wrote the following on New Year's day, 1994.  America 16 years ago was a relatively content nation …

Spanish police close public beach for Michelle Obama's £250,000 Spanish holiday  —  Michelle Obama today faced a fresh wave of attacks over her lavish break in Spain with 40 friends, which could easily cost U.S. taxpayers a staggering £50,000 a day.

Manchin's Office Confirms Subpoenas  —  Gov. Joe Manchin's office confirmed today that state government officials have been contacted by the U.S. Attorney's Office this week regarding an ongoing investigation.  The target may be Manchin himself, according to a source who asked to remain anonymous.

Palin vs. PolitiFact  —  Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is duking it out with PolitiFact.com, the fact-checking arm of the St. Petersburg Times, over her claim that “Democrats are poised to allow [the] largest tax increase in U.S. history” by letting the Bush tax cuts to expire.

Dick Morris' Plan for Economic Recovery: Bankrupt States; Break Unions  —  It's silly season, and Republican consultants are leaving no stone unturned in their effort to confuse, conflate, attack and stir up anger and fear.  But Dick Morris' latest may possibly be one of the most evil.

Obama Fed Pick Diamond Referred Back to White House by Senate  —  Aug. 6 (Bloomberg) — The Senate sent the nomination of Peter Diamond, one of President Barack Obama's three nominees for the Federal Reserve Board, back to the White House because of objections from at least one lawmaker.

Fox News chief packs heat  —  Fox News chief Roger Ailes has a license to carry a firearm in New York City on his person at all times, according to the NYPD's newly released list of handgun-permit holders.  And he's not alone among his Fox News colleagues: Prime-time shouter Sean Hannity also has a city license to carry a gun.

FEINGOLD'S FAKE PERSON?  —  In Senator Feingold's new ad, he features some footage designed to make the argument that his $787 stimulus bill created Wisconsin jobs.  —  One piece of footage features a nameplate being placed outside an office or cubicle, and it appears the person named does not exist …

Private Sector Adding Jobs, State Budget Crises Killing Economy  —  The new unemployment report highlights the fact that the economy remains lousy and John Boehner is going to be the next Speaker of the House of Representatives.  Ironically, it also demonstrates the bankruptcy of Boehner's way of thinking.

At the crossroads to peace and war in the Middle East  —  Rarely have the lines in the Middle East's sands been drawn so distinctly.  Arrayed on one side is the peace-seeking camp that opposes militant extremism and favors direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

The problem with Larry Summers  —  You're seeing some White House pushback on the idea that Christina Romer is leaving because she's tired of fighting with Larry Summers.  And fair enough: People do tire of serving in the pressure cooker that is the White House, Romer and Summers were often …