The Flimflam Man  —  One depressing aspect of American politics is the susceptibility of the political and media establishment to charlatans.  You might have thought, given past experience, that D.C. insiders would be on their guard against conservatives with grandiose plans.

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?

Obama Fed Board Pick Diamond Gets Referred Back to White House by Senate  —  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.

What Collapsing Empire looks like  —  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 how to cut Social Security …

Private Growth Is Tepid as U.S. Economy Sheds Jobs Overall  —  With the American economic recovery hanging in the balance, private employers added 71,000 jobs in July, up from a downwardly revised 31,000 in June but below the consensus forecast of 90,000.  The unemployment rate stayed steady at 9.5 percent.

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.

RNC approves 2012 nominating calendar  —  The RNC has approved a 2012 presidential calendar that pushes the first GOP primaries to February 2012.  —  Kansas City, Missouri (CNN) - The Republican National Committee on Friday passed an amendment that would shift the 2012 presidential calendar …

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 …

Sen. Bennet pushes back against critical report  —  Sen. Michael Bennet is pushing back against a critical report published Friday in the New York Times.  —  (CNN) - A front page article in Friday's New York Times could spell trouble for Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado …

Source: Federal probe subpoenas Manchin  —  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.

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.

Palin's Fraternal Greetings  —  No sooner had President Obama concluded his dirge before the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations than Sarah Palin was out with a posting on her Facebook page, commiserating with her husband's fellow union members on having to sit through another “Blame Bush” lecture.

2010 Arab Public Opinion Poll: Results of Arab Opinion Survey Conducted June 29-July 20, 2010  —  Shibley Telhami, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy, Saban Center for Middle East Policy  —  On Thursday, August 5, Shibley Telhami, Anwar Sadat Professor for Peace and Development …

Sharron Angle's views rooted in biblical law  —  When Republican Senate candidate Sharron Angle told a Christian news interviewer this year that “entitlement programs (are) built to make government our God,” she voiced a central tenet of Christian Reconstructionism, according to academics who study the movement.

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 …

Hiroshima and the Art of Outrage  —  THE Futenma Marine Corps Air Station on Okinawa, one of the largest United States military bases in East Asia, is in the center of a crowded city.  The American and Japanese governments acknowledge the dangers of this situation, and they agreed nearly 15 years ago …

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 …