If Crist Can Win As An Independent Is The Republcian Party Less Relevant?

A new Florida poll confirms a trend showing Charlie Crist ahead in a three-way race for the U.S. Senate from Florida (h/t Taegan Goddard)

Crist, whose campaign seemed in jeopardy before he switched parties in May, has jumped ahead of former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio, a Republican, and both of the Democrats battling in a primary on Aug. 24.

Regardless of whether billionaire Jeff Greene or Congressman Kendrick Meek wins the primary, neither gets even 17 percent of the vote in a three-way contest with Crist and Rubio, according to results from The Florida Poll.

So, if the …

Al Gore Cleared On Sexual Harassment Charges

Al Gore has been cleared on charges he made unwanted sexual advances toward a masseuse in 2006 in a Portland, OR, hotel.

Multnomah County prosecutors said there was no basis for prosecution following a four-week investigation.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Don Rees cited “contradictory evidence, conflicting witness statements, credibility issues, lack of forensic evidence and denials by Mr. Gore” in a memo to Multnomah County District Attorney Michael Schrunk.

According to Rees, Molly Hagerty — the woman who claimed that Gore propositioned her and tried to hug her when she came to his hotel room to give him a massage …

Arizona Governor Brewer Considering Changing Immigration Law

Now that a federal appeals court has decided not to act until November, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer is considering changes to the state’s controversial immigration law.

Republican Gov. Jan Brewer, who signed the law and appealed a ruling blocking its most controversial sections, said Friday she would consider changes to “tweak” the law to respond to the parts U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton faulted.

“Basically we believe (the law) is constitutional but she obviously pointed out faults that can possibly be fixed, and that’s what we would do,” Brewer told The Associated Press. She said she’s talking to legislative leaders …

Catholic Dissent Is Catholic Doctrine; Is Church Triumphalism Slow Suicide?

by Bruce Friedrich

Perhaps the least known aspect of Catholic doctrine, both inside and outside the church, is the “primacy of individual conscience,” which has been explained (by no less an authority than the current Pope—albeit in 1967) this way:

Over the pope as expression of the binding claim of ecclesiastical authority, there stands one’s own conscience which must be obeyed before all else, even if necessary against the requirement of ecclesiastical authority.

The Right Jumps Right To Violence

by Gabe Berman
Gabe is a freelance writer for the Miami Herald and author of Live Like a Fruit Fly

Question: In the history of our country, have those on the Left or on the Right threatened with more violence when policy hasn’t gone in their favor?

Answer: It’s a rhetorical question.

Those who consider themselves to be “normal” often say, “The far left is just as crazy as the far right.”

But the inarguable fact is this: Extremists on the Left, at their absolute worst, want the fortunate to help alleviate the suffering of the less fortunate. Extreme Righties …

Former Reagan Solicitor General Endorses Elizabeth Warren

by Stuart Shapiro

Charles Fried penned an op-ed today (h/t Kos) endorsing Elizabeth Warren for administrator of the newly created Consumer Financial Protection Agency.  What’s more, he argues that Obama should avoid the controversy in the Senate that would surely follow her nomination by giving her a recess appointment.

Capitalism and markets depend on the morality, honesty, and good faith of those who participate in them. Markets function best and deliver prosperity when they are honest and the law enforces that honesty; dishonesty, fraud, and official corruption are the poisons that keep markets in many parts of the world …

Judge Who Ruled Against Arizona Immigration Law Receiving Hundreds Of Threats

U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton began receiving hundreds of threats within hours of her ruling on Arizona’s immigration law.

“She has been inundated,” said U.S. Marshal David Gonzales, indicating his agents are taking some seriously. “About 99.9 percent of the inappropriate comments are people venting. They are exercising their First Amendment rights and a lot of it is perverted. But it’s that 0.1 percent that goes over the line that we are taking extra seriously.”

Gonzales would not say if any threats were coming from recognized hate groups or if Bolton had received threats at her home. Nor would he …

OMG! Snooki Arrested For Disorderly Conduct

Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi was arrested and is in police custody after being arrested for disorderly conduct.

Earlier in the day, Snooki was partying on the beach with a beer bong … only she was filling it up with Coca-Cola. We’re told she was also seen at a local bar taking “body shots.”…

On Friday’s Radio Show…

It’s the Friday Night Free-For-All with…

• Comedian Jimmy Tingle
• Radio talk show host Mary Walter
• Financial guru Cody Willard…

GOP Taking Body Count Home For Recess

by Sandi Behrns

In just one week, the Congress will adjourn for the August recess, and with that the midterm election cycle will begin in earnest; so it’s worth taking a look at the accomplishments the two parties take home as bragging rights. Despite having not attained ideal progressive legislation, the Obama administration and Democrats in Congress have achieved an impressive list ranging from historic health care reform to historic financial reform (and a little rescuing the nation from the brink of a Depression thrown in for good measure.) Although the political capital one would expect from such achievement has …

Israel Hammered By UN On Human Rights

By Yashwanth Manjunath

The United Nations came down hard today on Israel. A U.N. panel of experts raised concerns about alleged killings and torture of Palestinians as well as other forms of discrimination. The U.N. Human Rights Committee also called today for an end to the blockade of Gaza, (about time). Furthermore, The Human Rights Committee questioned the “independence” of Israel’s inquiry into the May 31st flotilla raid. Apparently the U.N. does not feel that Israel’s inquiry was critical enough of their military and wants to now do its own independent investigation, (only the most obvious thing in the …