Rubbish. Every American ought to challenge the notion that Israel must be supported without question. We can't subjugate our national interests for the sake of anyone else's - including Israel. Accusing those with whom you disagree of anti-semitism is a tactic for leftists and liars. Either argue your points (whatever they are) on the merits, or pipe down.

I've been to Rome. Toured the Vatican. Why doesn't the Pope demonstrate the courage of his convictions, and give some of those glittering gold treasures to the poor? Is he a greedy heartless selfish demon? Or just a huge hypocrite? Liberty and freedom are ideals worth fighting and dying for Pat. Whatever "good" comes from allowing corrupt politicians the power to decide which imports get what level of duty isn't worth the cost. Americans should be free to engage in free enterprise.

Leave it to W to argue that we need more -- not less -- intervention abroad. My 2000 vote for him is one I'll never forget, nor repeat. I'd rather vote for a million losers like Gary Johnson than one winner as thick as W. Among his accomplishments: 1) New entitlement program, 2) Huge expansion in size and scope of govt, 3) Huge increase in debt which grandchldren will inherit, 4) Two longest wars in U.S. history, neither of which will accomplish any lasting good, 5) World's highest incarceration rate, 6) Financial/Housing crisis. And all of his blundering basically set the satge for Obamacare (not to mention his and Daddy's choices in Supreme Court appointees).

The idea that any serious person would take counsel from McCain and Graham is absurd. Is there any country they don't want to attack? We might finally be looking at an end to the longest two wars in our nation's nearly 250 year history, and our govt seems hell-bent on getting us into yet more Middle-Eastern quagmires, with no reasonable chance at a good ultimate outcome. At some point, I have to wonder at the mental state of our political leaders. What kind of madness would compel them to get us into another Islamic war?

Belief in God is one thing. Belief in strict adherence to a specific religious dogma is another. Religion holds the power of truth and beauty, and the power to distort and destroy. Mostly it's used to exert power and control. I worship liberty.

Please. DA's don't even want to release people who've been exonerated by DNA, they're so obsessed with "winning". They care not one whit about truth. They even like to joke that any prosecutor can convict the guilty, but it takes real talent to convict the innocent. Open your eyes, man.

Some people need killing. I don't deny that. But far more than 18 death row inmates have been exonerated. And it's a statistical certainty that we have executed innocent people. You okay with that?

I enjoy Mike's columns, especially when he skewers the idiotic, mindless Academy. But this column diminishes his value as a pontificator. How many death row inmates have been exonerated since the advent of DNA technology? Yet Mike finds those endless appeals a mere nuisance. The horror of executing an innocent man apparently doesn't register with Mike. Our legal system isn't designed to find truth. It's a contest, where super-egotistical lawyers battle on an uneven playing field. Prosecutors and police are virtually immune from any kickback as a result of malfeasance. Govt simply isn't competent enough to be trusted with capital punishment.

Politicians will naturally look to shear the sheep who present the easiest pickings. In a democracy - majority rules. So they excuse a select few at the tip-top (in exchange for hard-to-track backroom financial support), and the masses of voters. Those in the upper middle -- fewer in number and not rich enough to really count -- will be shorn to the bare skin. The media will aid and abet. We need politicians who will insist that Americans must pay for the amount of govt we want. No more bailouts. No more borrowing. But it won't happen until we demand responsibility from govt officials. Given a near 90% incumbent reelection rate even in this time of gross ineptitude and mass corruption, I have little hope we ever will.

More than half of Catholics express support for gay marriage. And over 60 percent are opposed to abortion. There's significant overlap there, refuting your contention of a "vast majority" (but I'm sure you're probably used to being wrong).

If by "moral" you mean a sense of self-responsibility, strong work ethic, embracing liberty (even when some people use their freedom to do things we disapprove of personally), respect for the private choices of our fellow citizens - then yes, morality is essential. If, on the other hand, by "moral mooring" you mean the same thing the perfumed preacher-men on Sunday AM TV mean when they cluck away about immorality (suggestive dancing, loud rock music, homo parades, etc.) - then you're the one who's 'wrong and deceived" (an odd choice of phrase, by the way).