Smoky Mountains Sunrise

Friday, January 22, 2010

The Fall of the House of Kennedy


"Republicans have been given a very narrow opportunity ... to align themselves with voter sentiment."

Daniel Henninger discusses what Scott Brown's victory means for Democrats and Republicans.




Poll Finds Majority of Americans, and Nearly 6 in 10 Young Adults, Say Abortion 'Morally Wrong'



On the 37th anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion throughout the United States, a new survey shows a strong majority of Americans believe abortion to be "morally wrong."

"Millennials" (those 18-29) consider abortion to be "morally wrong" even more (58%) than Baby Boomers (those 45-64) (51%). Generation X (those 30-44) are similar to Millennials (60% see abortion as "morally wrong"). More than 6 in 10 of the Greatest Generation (those 65+) feel the same.

The most recent Knights of Columbus -- Marist survey -- conducted in late December and early January -- is the latest in a series of such surveys commissioned by the Knights of Columbus and conducted by Marist Institute for Public Opinion. In October of 2008 and July of 2009, the survey has been tracking an increasing trend toward the pro-life position -- a trend confirmed by Gallup and Pew surveys in mid-2009. K of C -- Marist surveys are available online at www.kofc.org/moralcompass.

"Americans of all ages -- and younger people in even greater numbers than their parents -- see abortion as something morally wrong," said Supreme Knight Carl Anderson. "America has turned a corner and is embracing life -- and in doing so is embracing a future they -- and all of us -- can be proud of."

He added: "Advances in technology show clearly -- and ever more clearly -- that an unborn child is completely a human being. That, coupled with the large number of Americans who know one of the many people who has been negatively affected by abortion are certainly two of the reasons that Americans are increasingly uncomfortable with Roe v. Wade's legacy of abortion, and with abortion generally. The majority of Americans now understand that abortion has consequences, and that those consequences are not good."

The question on abortion was part of a larger survey, which will be released in the next several days.

This report presents the findings from a survey of 2,243 Americans -- including an oversample of 1,006 Millennials. Reports for Americans have a margin of error of +/-2% and for Millennials it is +/-3%. Data were collected from December 23, 2009 through January 4, 2010 using an online, probability-based panel from Knowledge Networks, Inc.

Air America Radio Closing, Filing for Bankruptcy


AP – FILE - In this Aug. 24, 2004 file photo, former Air America
radio host Al Franken is seen during a news conference in New York.

From The Associated Press
By Ryan Nakashima

Air America Radio, a radio network that was launched in 2004 as a liberal alternative to Rush Limbaugh and other conservative commentators, on Thursday shut down abruptly due to financial woes.

The network once boasted hosts such as Al Franken and Rachel Maddow, but struggled from the outset, including multiple management shake-ups, a bankruptcy in 2006 and sale for $4.25 million the following year.

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Thursday, January 21, 2010

Mike Huckabee: Join the Virtual March for Life


By Mike Huckabee

I am joining the Virtual March for Life today on Washington and I hope you will as well.

Last Friday, Americans United for Life launched the first Virtual March for Life to make sure your voice is heard as the real March for Life kicks off this Friday, January 22nd, in Washington, DC.

If you are unable to join fellow Americans in Washington, DC you can still stand and be counted by going to www.VirtualMarchforLife.com now.

It's very easy to do and will only take seconds. Go to this website, choose the “For Life” avatar for yourself and then we will place “you” in front of the U.S. Capitol building alongside other Americans marching online. The current health care bill with taxpayer funding for abortion is hanging in the balance, help make our voice heard.

Please go to www.VirtualMarchforLife.com to show your support for life, then forward this email to your friends and family and ask them to stand for life today.

So much is at stake in this moment. Join me today!

Marching for Life,

Mike Huckabee

PS Don't forget to choose the "For Life" avatar!


Pelosi Says She Can't Pass Health Bill


Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that she lacks the votes to quickly move the Senate's sweeping health overhaul bill through the House, a potentially devastating blow to President Barack Obama's signature issue.

Pelosi, D-Calif., made the comment to reporters after House Democrats held a closed-door meeting at which participants vented frustration with the Senate's massive version of the legislation.

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Justices Overturn Key Campaign Limits


Senators John McCain and Russ Feingold, pictured in 2006,
were the co-sponsors of the campaign finance law.
From The New York Times
By Adam Liptak


S
weeping aside a century-old understanding and overruling two important precedents,
a bitterly divided
Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that the government may not ban political spending by corporations in candidate elections.

The ruling was a vindication, the majority said, of the First Amendment’s most basic free speech principle — that the government has no business regulating political speech. The dissenters said allowing corporate money to flood the political marketplace will corrupt democracy.

The 5-to-4 decision was a doctrinal earthquake but also a political and practical one. Specialists in campaign finance law said they expected the decision, which also applies to labor unions and other organizations, to reshape the way elections are conducted.

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Obama to Campaign for Harry Reid


On the heals of a failed effort to save Martha Coakley's Senate campaign in Massachusetts, Roll Call is reporting that "President Barack Obama will appear with politically embattled Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) in Las Vegas next month."

We are attempting to confirm reports that Senator Reid responded to the gesture by saying "that's real white of him."