Free Republic

Many on the left obsess over this strange notion that the religious right is conspiring to turn America into a theocracy. A case in point was a recent guest on my radio program “Fairness Radio with Chuck & Patrick.” Our guest, the ultra-liberal author and columnist Frederick Clarkson, stated, in a very scholarly and suave tone that he was convinced, after decades of research, that the Christian right was plotting a takeover. I asked him to name names and, after some hemming and hawing, he came up with Rev. Pat Robertson and the late Rev. R.J. Rushdooney. He darkly identified...

Jeremy Clarkson and his Top Gear co-stars have sparked religious outrage after dressing up in burkas on the Boxing Day special. Clarkson and Richard Hammond decided to dress in niqabs, a form of the burka where everything but the eyes are covered, in order to disguise themselves on the road. They also got James May in on the act when they greeted him from hospital after he fell and hit his head on rocks in the Syrian desert.

Much has been written about the Insight, Honda’s new low-priced hybrid. We’ve been told how much carbon dioxide it produces, how its dashboard encourages frugal driving by glowing green when you’re easy on the throttle and how it is the dawn of all things. The beginning of days. So far, though, you have not been told what it’s like as a car; as a tool for moving you, your friends and your things from place to place. So here goes. It’s terrible. Biblically terrible. Possibly the worst new car money can buy. It’s the first car I’ve ever considered crashing...

An earlier thread posted another video of Mr. Clarkson shooting up cars skeet style. I love that video and decided to watch some other videos from "Top Gear's" Jeremy Clarkson. I now have a new personal favorite... Mr. Clarkson outfits a Porsche 944 Turbo with rocket launching tubes and goes hunting for traffic cams, signs and traffic cops. Too funny! Click here for the video.

The bad body image blues has been hitting some big names in music hard these days. First, British sensation Lily Allen posted on her MySpace blog that she was researching liposuction because she thinks she is chubby. Now Star magazine (via I'm Not Obsessed) is reporting that Kelly Clarkson is on a mission to lose weight in order to get a boyfriend.

PASADENA, Calif. - Singer Kelly Clarkson, who vaulted to fame as the first "American Idol" winner in 2002, is not letting any of her songs be used by new contestants on the show. A spokesman for Clarkson insisted it's nothing personal, but the stance prompted a public scolding from "American Idol" judge Simon Cowell. "I think that by ignoring the show you're ignoring the audience who put you there," Cowell said Tuesday. Clarkson has become a major star in the past year, with her hit "Since U Been Gone" earning both massive sales and critical respect, particularly from a rock...

After thirty years running from the law, a man with alleged ties to one of Canada's most notorious gangs has been caught. Christopher Clarkson was arrested in Florida. Clarkson is allegedly a member of the Stopwatch Gang, a group so-named in the 1970s because of their reputation for timing their robberies to the second. The gang was linked to the robberies of more than 100 banks and armoured cars across Canada and the United States. Their biggest job was a $750,000 gold bullion armoured car heist in Ottawa. Clarkson, believed to be 61-years old, allegedly joined the Stopwatch gang in...

LOS ANGELES — Music producer Phil Spector has hired Leslie Abramson, one of the country's best known and most colourful criminal defence lawyers, to handle his murder case, ending his relationship with Robert Shapiro, Abramson told The Associated Press today. Abramson, who became famous for her role in the murder trial of brothers Lyle and Erik Menendez, said she had been phasing out her defence practice with an eye toward retirement when she was contacted by Spector. "I was about to hang it up when I got the call," she said. "No other defendant would get me to give up...

Norway's 'Pop Idol' Wins World Title LONDON - Norway's "Pop Idol" Kurt Nilsen moved a step up to "World Idol" on Thursday when he triumphed in a singing competition with winners from 10 other nations "American Idol" Kelly Clarkson (news) won second place, and Belgium's Peter Everard came in third when the vote was announced on Britain's ITV television Friday evening following a Christmas Day broadcast of the international singing competition. "This is totally amazing," said a thrilled and tearful Nilson. "I love you guys," he told the 10 other competitors. The competitors are all winners of the first season...