Republicans will tell you they’re the sole Constitutional purists in the country; they worship the document more/better than you do. But imagine if the First Amendment had to be voted on today. It would need two-thirds majority in both Houses just to be proposed. Consider it: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of… Continue reading →

The ravages of the economic downturn have left a series of empty storefronts in my neighborhood. They exist as specters of a former up-and-coming enclave of local businesses. Now they’re home to hurried graffiti, the occasional panhandler and once a year to tax accountants. Yes, the hallows of what used to be a local retail… Continue reading →

This week, AT&T announced its plans to buy their competitor T-Mobile. Now it’s up to regulators to approve the merger. Politicians pandering to the Tea Party love to talk about a free market. It sounds sexy. It sounds like wealth and freedom got married and had a perfect concept. If capitalism is a religion ””… Continue reading →

Wisconsin adopted “Forward” as their state motto in 1851. Sculptor Jean Pond Miner was commissioned to create a representation of her home state and in 1893 created a seven-foot tall bronze statue of a female figure bearing the state’s maxim. The Wisconsin Historical Society notes, “Forward is an allegory of devotion and progress, qualities Miner… Continue reading →

I consider myself to be a decent citizen. I vote. I recycle. I don’t litter. I yield to most pedestrian traffic. But when I received notice I was selected for jury service, I did what every red-blooded American does ”” I wondered if I should pretend it got lost in the mail. “Notice? What notice?… Continue reading →

The problem with the pro-life movement is their concerns for “life” end at birth. While writing a story about the famed Octomom (who living up to her comic book villain moniker managed to incense both pro-life and pro-choice groups), one of the pro-life advocates I interviewed explained they were concerned with “life that needs to… Continue reading →

Last week the Tea Party proved itself once and for all to be anti-populist. Now, I know their press says Tea Partiers are just regular Joe the Unlicensed Plumbers, angry about government fill-in-the-blank. That’s been the story ever since they first rallied against people who found themselves on the wrong end of an adjustable rate…. Continue reading →

The GOP wants to paint itself as fiscally conservative. In the face of all evidence to the contrary (i.e. George W. Bush skyrocketing the size of government and the unpaid tax cuts bearing his name being championed by his party), they want to pretend they’re the “grownups” on budgetary matters. Yes, conservatives are prudent and… Continue reading →

This year the 40th President of the United States’ 100th birthday was on February 6th. There was a weeklong celebration of adoring tributes to Ronald Wilson Reagan. The Grand Old Party went all out ”” using the occasion to give a platform to their party’s 2012 presidential hopefuls. Every potential GOP candidate from the obscure… Continue reading →

Christians were not always opposed to evolution – mainly because Christianity has progressed and made slow, significant changes over time. Darwin’s theory of evolution is 160 years old. Christianity has been thriving for more than 1700 years. So, evolution denial is a new modification for the religion. Has the church ever been against science before?… Continue reading →

Did you know the government can’t create jobs? Nearly two years ago on CNN, former Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele said, “Not in the history of mankind has the government ever created jobs.” And then, “Trust me.” When Steele said those words, he was widely panned. It was dismissed on the right as a… Continue reading →

Last Saturday morning, 20 people were shot in a Tucson Safeway parking lot by a 22-year-old who stated on YouTube he “won’t pay debt with a currency that’s not backed by gold and silver.” Fifteen minutes after the news broke, former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin tweeted, “The price of gold today is at $1,368.90 an… Continue reading →

The latest numbers show only 40% of Americans actually make New Year’s resolutions. Sure, I did it once – five years ago this week I reluctantly quit smoking. If you listen to anecdotes about people who quit smoking, they always “smoked three packs a day.” I only smoked two. Two packs. Everyday since junior high…. Continue reading →

People understand comedy like they understand electricity. They utilize it, enjoy it, know it comes from somewhere ”” but fundamentally don’t know much about it. And judging by the reaction to The Daily Show host Jon Stewart’s championing the Zadroga 9/11 responders bill to a successful passage during the lame duck session ”” most of… Continue reading →