For many disturbing reasons—personal, financial and global—I unequivocally declare 2008 one of the most miserably catastrophic years within memory. With a new government promising a new strategy of reform and change, I join the rest of the world in a new thing called hope. But before we dust off...

First my father-in-law, a tough old cob who had previously been declared dead on two occasions (Once after being crushed in a mine disaster, and once after being shot in the face with a shotgun. Seriously.) was finally brought down by age, black lung, and the lingering effects of his injuries. Then ...

It's his personal business—but isn't it a little quirky that Barack Obama did not attend Grandma Toot's funeral—the “typical white woman� who raised him? With the exception of Lindsay Lohan, everyone attends the funeral of their grandmother, especially if she was their surrogate Mom for a lo...

I’m liveblogging the RNC convention and the Giuliani/Palin speeches here Regarding Gov. Sarah Palin, the press and the Angry Left remind me of those beetles in the film The Mummy - the pass over something in a swarm and it is destroyed and stripped bare…we must be reaching the climax of ...

I was deeply honored to have me and the work of Operation HOPE mentioned in this incredible speech by former U.S. President Bill Clinton; my friend, Operation HOPE's partner, and one of the best president's the U.S. has ever had.  Read the full text here. June 17, 2008 | New York | Bill Clinton...

Actor and comedian Bernie Mac was laid to rest today. A public funeral was held at Chicago’s House of Hope Church where family members, friends and thousands of fans gathered to say goodbye to a good man. Mac told The New York Times in 2001: “The success of my comedy has been not being a...

The Washington Post/Newsweek "On Faith" web site recently posed a question to its bloggers about how appropriate it was for Sally Quinn, a Post reporter and a non-Catholic, to have taken communion at Tim Russert's Catholic funeral. I wouldn't have done what she did. True, I might personally find obj...

One of the things that distresses me greatly is the inability of some political partisans to put their humanity ahead of their politics. What do I mean? Last weekend, former White House Press Secretary, Tony Snow died after a courageous battle with cancer. The vast majority of people, liberal and co...

"Not a Moment Too Soon, I Thought of Tim Russert" by Michael Bicks of the New York Times. (July 8, 2008) Christopher Hitchens, naturally, has a take-down of those who would lionize a dead man and heap sentiment on the fact of his death. (E-mails entitled "The Russert Miracles" and plaintive whimpers...

Police Line at the White House "Out of these troubled times, our...objective can emerge--'a New World Order.'" - George Bush, Sr., Dubya's Daddy When you mention the word "conspiracy" to explain a situation, most people tune you right out. They think you're a whack-oh. Yet, the U...