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.

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 …

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 …

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.

Sharron Angle: I would refuse money from company that supports gay rights  —  Sharron Angle has taken some extreme positions, but this one is remarkable even by her standards: She said on a candidate questionnaire that she would refuse political contributions from a private company …

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 …

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Exotic Deals Put Denver Schools Deeper in Debt  —  In the spring of 2008, the Denver public school system needed to plug a $400 million hole in its pension fund.  Bankers at JPMorgan Chase offered what seemed to be a perfect solution.  —  The bankers said that the school system …

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.

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.

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 …

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.

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.