Here's a snapshot of America in July 2008, and just watch CNN or any network or local news program to know this simple fact: Inflation is at its highest level since 1991, driven by rising gas and food prices.

By Stephen C. Fehr, Stateline.org Staff Writer  

Energy is too important to be left to businessmen and markets, right? We need people who we really can trust to get things under control.

Like politicians.

Let's call it what it is: The war in Iraq has nothing to do with 'protecting freedom' or 'fighting terrorism', it's all about about the oil.  Old news, you say. Not quite.

Barack Obama's strategy to attack all 50 states and win over traditionally 'red states' to 'blue states' is a recipe for disaster.

Americans are hearing so much these days about how bad we are that we're starting to believe it.

In a recent Gallup poll, 68 percent said they are "dissatisfied with the position of the United States in the world today," and 55 percent said they think that the rest of the world views us unfavorably.