Biden Warns Public to Avoid Mass Transit

Airlines are upset with Vice President Joseph Biden’s suggestion Thursday to avoid air travel and mass transit systems, and to not visit places impacted by the H1N1 swine flu.

On NBC’s “Today” show, Biden said he had told his family to avoid air travel and to take other precautions.

The swine flu has hit Mexico City hard, and there are now 109 cases confirmed in the U.S., including one in Phoenix. Twenty-three other possible cases in Arizona have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control, which is examining test samples.

Biden’s comments upset airline officials. Carriers already have been hurt by the recession, and now officials are concerned that the spread of the flu will further discourage business and leisure bookings. See Chicks FLIGHT 144.

Obama Cabinet Green Lights Iranian Nukes

In a strange scene before a Senate panel, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Clinton admitted publicly that the USA would not use military strikes to prevent Iran from developing Nuclear missiles. Even more disturbing, they admitted the USA had told Israel not to use military force to deter the Islamic State from going Nuclear as well. The only measures they said we would use will be economic and diplomatic, neither or which have worked in the past. In effect, Iran now has nothing to worry about in going forward with the program and announcing when they reach their goal. (Up until now, they denied they were trying to build nukes, saying their nuclear program was for energy.) Even poker players know not to tell their opponents what they have until the game is over. What were they thinking? See Chick's MEN OF PEACE?

Miss California rejects gay marriage; loses Miss America pageant

Miss California lost her chance at becoming Miss America after she answered a question about gay marriage on Sunday night's Miss USA telecast.

"Vermont recently became the fourth state to legalize same-sex marriage," Perez Hilton, a Miss USA judge, said. "Do you think every state should follow suit, why or why not." (See video of the event)

"We live in a land that you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage. And you know what, in my country, in my family I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody there, but that's how I was raised and that's how I think it should be, between a man and a woman."

In her interview, Prejean talks about being "tested" by God and she believes that she lost the contest because of her non-P.C. answer. Hilton also said what he would have done if Miss California had been crowned the winner.

"I would have gone up on stage -- I s--- you not – and snatched that tiara off her head and run out the door," he said in his video blog. "I would probably have been arrested. But so be it. I need a cocktail now."

Keith Lewis, who runs the Miss California competition, released a statement to the media in response to Prejean's answer last night.

"As co-director of the Miss California USA, I am personally saddened and hurt that Miss California believes marriage rights belong only to a man and a woman," said Lewis in a statement. "I believe all religions should be able to ordain what unions they see fit. I do not believe our government should be able to discriminate against anyone and religious beliefs have no politics in the Miss California family." Perez Hilton, who is openly gay, later went on a video rant on his blog calling Ms. Prejean a "b**ch." See Chick's "The Gay Blade"

Taxpayers Protest Nationwide. Obama Reacts

There were all sorts of tea parties yesterday, as angry taxpayers gathered at state capitols and demanded the government stop taxing too much and spending too much. President Obama reacted to the protests by promising to reduce loop holes and simplify the tax process. In other words, the solution to high taxes isn't to cut taxes or reduce spending, but to eliminate all those pesky "deductions." Haw-haw-haw! See Chick's THE MAD MACHINE.

"Newsweek" heralds decline of American Christianity

Ever anxious to create controversy, Newsweek, in its April 13 cover story, has proclaimed the decline and fall of Christian America. The number of Americans who consider themselves Christians has fallen 10 percentage points in two decades, Newsweeks Jon Meacham reported with scantily-disguised glee. "Our politics and our culture are, in the main, less influenced by movements and arguments of an explicitly Christian character than they were even five years ago," Meacham wrote.

William Jasper of "The New American" magazine observes, "Christian religion, morality, and culture are indeed in decline in contemporary America, in no small measure because of decades of tireless effort on the part of entities like Newsweek to persuade Americans that Christianity is a moribund belief system associated with a false and ineffectual god."
To see an America of secularist proportions, see Chick's "Operation Somebody Cares"

Mel Gibson's wife files for divorce

The passion of the wife has run dry.

Mel Gibson's wife of 28 years, Robyn Gibson, filed for divorce from the Oscar-winning director-actor, citing the ever-popular "irreconcilable differences."

"Throughout our marriage and separation we have always strived to maintain the privacy and integrity of our family and will continue to do so," the estranged couple said in a joint statement issued through their publicist, Alan Nierob.

While the divorce petition doesn't specify when the duo separated, the Gibsons have reportedly been living apart for some time.

They married in June 1980 and have seven children together, though only one—son Tom, who turns 10 tomorrow—is a minor. Robyn is seeking joint physical and legal custody of the boy, as well as spousal support.

Gibson's net worth has been estimated at upward of $900 million. Gibson has attained recent notoriety for the success of his self-funded "Passion of the Christ" and his more recent anti-semitic rants. See Chick's "The Greatest Story Ever Told"

Priest Runs Over Church Goers

Authorities and witnesses say a woman lost her leg and at least five other people were injured when a priest drove into a group of people after a Good Friday service in Pennsylvania. The crash happened in the parking lot of St. Maurice Catholic Church in Forest Hills, just east of Pittsburgh. Authorities and witnesses say the priest drove into a group of people on a patio where older people typically wait for rides. Angela Thomas, a nurse and parishioner, says she saw the woman's severed leg and gave her belt to use as a tourniquet. She also tended to a man pinned under the car. Thomas says the priest told her the accelerator just went. At least five people have been taken to the hospital. See Chick's MEN IN BLACK

Good Friday the World Over

It's Good Friday, and in many places, the Crucifixion is being reenacted. The most noteworthy example is in the Philippines, where the actor who plays Jesus is tied to the cross (for support) and his hands are actually nailed (through his palms) to the wood. Catholics there believe it is a great honor to play the role and suffer in a similar way. See Chick's THE DEATH COOKIE.

White House Says It Never Happened

The official response to the controversy over President Obama bowing to the Saudi King came from the White House Press Secretary this week. They say it never happened. Obama was just bending a little to shake with both hands. (You could call it a "waist line malfunction". The Press Secretary also became visibly agitated that anyone in the press would question what really happened. You be the judge: Did the US bow to Muslim Royalty or not? See Chick's MEN OF PEACE?

Rick Warren Flip Flops on Gay Marriage

California mega-church pastor and author of The Purpose Driven Life Rick Warren says he apologized to his homosexual friends for making comments in support of California's Proposition 8, and now claims he "never once even gave an endorsement" of the marriage amendment.

Pastor Rick WarrenMonday night on CNN's Larry King Live, Pastor Rick Warren apologized for his support of Prop. 8, California's voter-approved marriage protection amendment, saying he has "never been and never will be" an "anti-gay or anti-gay marriage activist."

"During the whole Proposition 8 thing, I never once went to a meeting, never once issued a statement, never -- never once even gave an endorsement in the two years Prop. 8 was going," Warren claimed.

However, just two weeks before the November 4 Prop. 8 vote, Pastor Warren issued a clear endorsement of the marriage amendment while speaking to church members. "We support Proposition 8 -- and if you believe what the Bible says about marriage, you need to support Proposition 8," he said. See Chick's HOME ALONE.

Vermont Democrats Vote In Gay Marriage

Vermont has become the fourth state to legalize homosexual marriage -- and the first to do so with a legislature's vote. The state's Democrats voted Tuesday to override Republican Gov. Jim Douglas' veto of a bill allowing homosexuals to marry. The vote was 23-5 to override in the state Senate and 100-49 to override in the House. (Only six House Republicans joined the Democrat led effort.) Under Vermont law, two-thirds of each chamber had to vote for override, so it passed by just one vote. The vote came nine years after Vermont adopted its first-in-the-nation civil unions law. See Chick's SIN CITY.

Gingrich Converts

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich confirms he converted to Roman Catholicism. Gingrich previously had identified as a Baptist, but two Saturdays ago in Washington, DC, the former House Speaker was officially confirmed into the Catholic Church.

Gingrich, whose third wife Calista is a Catholic, recently criticized the University of Notre Dame for inviting President Obama to speak at its commencement, saying Obama's "policies are so anti-Catholic values." In an interview with OneNewsNow, Gingrich was reluctant to explain why he "swam the Tiber."

"I haven't talked about this much in public, and I'm not going to for at least six months or a year, but I will say that I found myself deeply comforted, and a deep sense of belonging and of finding a peace in my soul in a way that I just found very, very powerful," he explains.

Other high-profile Catholic converts from the political realm include Sam Brownback, Bobby Jindal, Jeb Bush, and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. See Chick's KISS THE PROTESTANTS GOODBYE!

USA Bows To Saudi King

Much as been made of Mrs. Obama breaking protocol when she hugged the Queen of England and gave the 80 something grandmother an iPod (she must not have known her roller skate size). But it the President's bowing to the King of Saudi Arabia that is more embarrassing to US prestige. Some describe it as the USA "grovelling" to the Arab monarch at the G20 summit in London.

The new President appears to shake the King's hand and then bow from the waist while French President Nicholas Sarkozy looks on and laughs.

"The whole thing is embarrassing. Its like the `American Hillbillies go to Europe'," wrote Malkin, a popular blogger. "He is throwing American power and prestige out with both hands as fast as he can."

Dakota Voice contributor Bob Ellis said the bow was a gesture of submission.

"The leader of the most free nation in the world should not be slobbering on the ring of some king," Ellis wrote.

"So much for Obama's promise to achieve independence from foreign oil" quipped one observer, "First he wants to levy new taxes on the same domestic oil companies he says he wants to help grow, and then he literally bends over and bows to the foreign kings of Industry. Amazing." See Chick's MEN OF PEACE?

Iowa Supremes Legalize Gay Marriage

In yet another example of legislating from the bench, Iowa's Supreme Court legalized gay marriage Friday in a unanimous decision that makes Iowa the third state — and first in the nation's heartland — to allow same-sex couples to wed.

Iowa joins only Massachusetts and Connecticut in permitting same-sex marriage. In the other two states (and Canada, for that matter) the decision was not made by the people but by activist judges or lawmakers. (Even California's electorate voted to outlaw gay marriage when the public was allowed to vote on it.)

The county attorney who defended the law said he would not seek a rehearing. The only recourse for opponents appeared to be a constitutional amendment, which will take time for the public to organize. See Chick's DOOM TOWN.