Happy Birthday, America

On July 4, 1776, we claimed our independence -- and Democracy was born. Like all newborns, we've been experiencing growing pains ever since. But this is still one of the finest places in the world to call home.

Peace!

The Tipping Point

The price of oil.
Floods in the Midwest.
Wall Street.
The home mortgage crisis.
Yahoo.
Movie product placement.
Job cuts.
The North Pole.
Consumer confidence.

Passing for Legislation

Wiretaps. Say "hi" to Big Brother. The Senate is about to approve the largest overhaul of the surveillance law since, well, Tricky Dick. And i f you haven't read the bill (a whopping 114 pages), you're not alone. Neither did the majority of House members who voted for it last week (they got the Cliff notes).

Guns. Yep, you can have 'em. Thumbs up from the trigger fingers at the Supreme Court.

EPA Green House Emissions Act. NOT!

The good news is that if ICANN soon gets its way, we can buy wtf.com in 2009.

He Said WHAT?!?

McCain's chief strategiest Charlie Black: A terrorist attack would help Republicans.

Radio talk show host Don Imus: What color is he?

Evangelist James Dobson: Obama is distorting the Bible and pushing a "fruitcake interpretation" of the Constitution.

Former American ambassador John Bolton: Israel will attack Iran.

Head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency Mohamed ElBaradei: Iran could go nuclear in six months.

Top NASA official James Hanson: We're toast.

First of the Week

What's the weather like in heaven, George? We're gonna miss you.
If you see them, say "hi" to Stan and Dodie.

Forget Tonka, HotWheels, and BigWheels. Get McCain an electric car.

Thanks to United, 1,000 pilots fly to unemployment line.

Lost your home? For only $30 million, you can get a Trump condo in Dubai.

Temperatures Rising with Summer Solstice

Heated election debate over the use, er, non-use of public campaign monies.
Sadr is hot after Maliki forces crackdown in Afghanistan.
Democrats bring on more Congressional heat regarding CIA leaks.
FBI fires up major indictments against two Bear Stearns managers.
China firing back at dissenters before Olympics.

This week's flip-flops

Bush-McCain - offshore drilling a good thing
Obama - NAFTA not so bad afterall
FEMA - hurricane surplus supplies do exist elsewhere
U.S. Congress - exams do reveal Gitmo torture
Kandahar, Aghanistan - Taliban free - NOT!
American Medical Association - menthol cigarette additive okay
Israel-Hezbollah talks (need I say more?)

Woe is US

Poor Iowa. The corn state is no longer aMAZE-ing. Thousands of farms go under(water).

Poor Tom Hanks. No Angels & Demons in the Vatican. And no filming the movie either.

Poor US. Seems we're running on empty with a gallon of gas averaging $4.08.

The only person richer for the weekend?
Amy Winehouse, who got a whopping $2 mill for a song.

I'll miss you, Tim Russert

America lost a solid news voice today; a guide to all that is political.
Farewell, Mr. Buffalo.

The Week That Was, er, Is

Hello O-bam-a.
Goodbye Strahan.
McCain says war in Iraq "not too bad."

Hotflashes in the Northeast.
Flooding sandbags Iowa.
Californians write "please send water."

Abu Dhabi scales new heights with Chrysler Building.
Cheetah wants a Hollywood star.
Snowboarders get kicked to the ground with highest injury rate.

And the national average, repeat AVERAGE price for a gallon now $4.05.

Unfortunately more to come.